Optical Power Measurement via Deflector Image Displacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for measuring the optical power of lenses, particularly opto-adjustable lenses, are limited by their complexity, cost, and inability to accurately capture dynamic changes at high speeds, often requiring moving parts and sensitive positioning, which complicates the measurement process and introduces errors.
Innovation Solution
A device and method that utilize an optical object generator, a deflector assembly, and a digital image detector to produce and capture both a displaced and reference optical image, allowing for the calculation of optical power with low sensitivity to positioning errors and vibrations, without the need for moving parts, enabling high-speed and robust measurement of optical power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If moving parts are used to measure optical power by changing spacing between optical elements, then measurement capability is achieved, but device robustness and measurement speed are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of moving optical elements with a digital image processing system. Instead of physically changing spacing between optical elements to measure optical power, the invention captures images of an optical object through the lens and processes these images digitally to calculate optical power, thereby eliminating moving parts and improving device robustness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a digital copy (image) of the optical object as it appears through the lens under test. By analyzing this digital representation rather than manipulating physical optical elements, the system achieves measurement without mechanical movement, improving both robustness and measurement speed.
2Measurement precision
If sophisticated aberrometry-based techniques are used to accurately calculate optical power, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential information needed for optical power measurement from the captured image. Instead of using complex aberrometry techniques that analyze multiple optical aberrations, the invention focuses on measuring the displacement of the optical object's image, which directly relates to optical power, thereby simplifying the optical assembly while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the traditional approach by using a simple optical system to capture an image and then applying computational methods to extract optical power information. Rather than using complex optical components to directly measure optical power, the system uses a simple lens and digital processing, reversing the traditional complexity hierarchy.
3Productivity
If methods sensitive to image quality and blurring are used to measure optical power at high speed, then measurement speed is improved, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to offsets and defocussing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the captured image is processed to determine image displacement, which then feeds back to calculate optical power. The system uses the actual captured image data (including any blurring or offsets) to compute the displacement, making the measurement robust against image quality variations while maintaining high measurement speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful effects of image blurring and offsets into beneficial information. By measuring the displacement of the optical object's image in the captured photo, the system uses the very blurring and positioning variations that normally degrade image quality as the basis for calculating optical power, thereby turning measurement challenges into measurement opportunities.
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
The solution provides a simple, cost-effective, and robust method for measuring optical power, capable of capturing dynamic changes in opto-adjustable lenses with high accuracy, even at frequencies beyond human visual perception, and can be used for both static and dynamic measurements.
Implementation Method 1
a deflector assembly located between the optical object generator assembly and the digital image detector, intended to produce a lateral displacement at least in on part of the initial optical image
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4b
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a device (1) for measuring the optical power of an optical test system (4). The device (1) comprises an optical object generator assembly (2), a support (3) for the optical test system (4), a digital image detector (5), and a deflector assembly (6). The deflector assembly (6) is intended to generate a lateral movement in respect of the initial optical image (41), thereby producing a displaced optical image (61) and a reference optical image (60). The digital image detector (5) captures the displaced optical image (61) and the reference optical image (60) in at least one digital image (50) containing data relating to the lateral movement. The device (1) comprises processing means for calculating the optical power of the optical test system (4) from the data relating to the lateral movement. The invention also relates to a measurement method.