Optical Element Adjustment Using Compressed Air and Magnetic Fields
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for adjusting optical elements in optoelectronic sensors face challenges in achieving precise and stable fixation due to mechanical over-determination and play, leading to inaccuracies in positioning, especially when using UV self-hardening adhesives and air-bearing systems.
Innovation Solution
A judicial device and process that utilize a cylindrical optics carrier with compressed air to move the optical element along its longitudinal axis without contact, using grooves and recesses to achieve precise alignment and attachment, allowing for stable fixation without mechanical over-determination and play, enabling precise adjustment in two degrees of freedom while allowing movability in a third.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a gripper is used to fix the optical element in a plane and move it using a high-precision travel axis, then positioning precision is improved, but mechanical over-determination occurs resulting in play and instability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical gripper and travel axis system with a magnetic field-based positioning system. Magnets are used to hold and position the optical element without mechanical contact, eliminating the mechanical over-determination and play that occurred with the gripper system, while maintaining high positioning precision through magnetic field control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a pneumatic system with compressed air outlets that create an air cushion to support the optical element. This pneumatic bearing system allows the optical element to be positioned and stabilized without mechanical contact, replacing the problematic mechanical gripper system and eliminating play while maintaining precision.
2Strength
If the optical element is fixed using UV-curing adhesive, then stable attachment is achieved, but adhesive distortion during curing causes positioning inaccuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the magnetic field system to pre-position the optical element with high precision before the adhesive is applied. The magnetic holding force maintains the optimal position during the adhesive curing process, preventing any movement or distortion that would occur with mechanical fixation, thereby ensuring both strong attachment and positioning accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic field acts as an intermediary between the optical element and the mechanical structure during the adhesive curing process. The magnetic force compensates for any distortion forces from the adhesive, maintaining precise positioning throughout the curing process while the adhesive provides stable long-term attachment.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the optical element is completely fixed in three dimensions, then stable fixation is achieved, but adjustment and alignment become impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a dynamic positioning system where the optical element can be freely adjusted in three dimensions using magnetic and pneumatic forces. Once the desired position is achieved, the system transitions to a stable fixed state where the adhesive provides permanent attachment. This dynamic-to-static transition allows both easy adjustment during alignment and stable fixation after positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and control parameters of the optical element positioning. During adjustment, magnetic and pneumatic forces are actively controlled to allow free movement. After positioning, the adhesive cures and the system transitions to a fixed state, changing from an adjustable parameter regime to a stable fixed regime, achieving both adjustability and stability at different stages.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution ensures a stable, play-free fixation of the optical element, allowing for precise alignment and attachment without mechanical over-determination, enabling optimal collimation and angle alignment of the lighting or light reception unit, and compensates for adhesive delay during hardening.
Implementation Method 1
compressed air can be introduced into the optics carrier in order to fix the optical element provided in the optics carrier in the direction of a first and a second degree of freedom within the optics carrier transversely to a longitudinal axis and in order to be able to move the optical element in the direction of the longitudinal axis into a defined operating position without contact
Implementation Method 2
compressed air can be introduced into the optics carrier in order to fix the optical element provided in the optics carrier in the direction of a first and a second degree of freedom within the optics carrier transversely to a longitudinal axis
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
To ensure simple and precise adjustment of an optical element (3) relative to a light transmitting (4) or light receiving unit (5) of an optoelectronic sensor (S), an adjustment device (1) and an adjustment method are provided, wherein the optical element (3) is mounted in a cylindrical optical carrier (2) and the light transmitting (4) or light receiving unit (5) is arranged on an electronic circuit board (6) of the sensor (S), and wherein the adjustment device (1) is designed such that the optical carrier (2) is fixed in a defined position relative to the light transmitting (4) or light receiving unit (5).a light receiving unit (5) can be arranged, and compressed air (DI) can be introduced into the optical carrier (2) to fix the optical element (3) provided in the optical carrier (2) in the direction of a first and a second degree of freedom (x and y) within the optical carrier (2) transversely to a longitudinal axis (L) and to move the optical element (3) in the direction of the longitudinal axis (L) into a defined operating position, wherein contactless movement of the optical element (3) along the longitudinal axis (L) of the optical carrier (2) towards or away from the light transmitting (4) or light receiving unit (5) is possible, so that the optical element (3) can be aligned with the light transmitting (4) or light receiving unit (5) into the defined operating position and fixed in the operating position in which the optical element (3) is aligned with the light transmitting (4) or light receiving unit (5). (4) or light receiving unit (5) is adjusted.