Optical System Focus Tuning on Non-Flat Planes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Optical systems, such as projectors and cameras, have a narrow depth of field, making it difficult to achieve a sharp image when projecting or detecting images on non-flat planes, as portions of the image may fall outside the working distance range, resulting in unfocused images.
Innovation Solution
An optical system comprising an image device and a lens group, where the image device's image center and the lens group's optic center form a connection line, with the plane having a tangent surface intersecting this line, allowing the lens axis, tangent, and image surface to intersect at a straight line, enabling precise tuning of the image device's position and tilt angle to maintain focus across the image plane.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the image is projected onto a non-flat plane, then the coverage area is improved, but the image focus deteriorates because portions of the image fall outside the working distance range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the image device adjustable in both position and tilt angle. The tuning device enables dynamic adjustment of the image device's orientation and location, allowing the system to adapt to different plane geometries (flat, inclined, or non-flat surfaces). This dynamic capability resolves the contradiction by enabling the image device to maintain proper optical alignment with the projection plane regardless of its shape, thereby preserving image focus while expanding coverage area.
2Device complexity
If the working distance range is limited, then the optical system complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to different plane types deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by introducing a tuning device that dynamically adjusts the image device's position and tilt angle. This dynamic adjustment mechanism allows a relatively simple optical system with limited working distance range to adapt to various plane types (flat, inclined, non-flat) by changing the orientation and location of the image device, thereby achieving high versatility without significantly increasing optical system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the dimensionality change principle by introducing angular adjustment (tilt angle) as an additional degree of freedom. Instead of only moving the image device linearly within the limited working distance range, the system now operates in both translational and rotational dimensions. This enables the image device to compensate for plane inclination and non-flatness, expanding adaptability while maintaining a simple optical design.
3Manufacturing precision
If the image device position and tilt angle are tuned, then the image focus on non-flat planes is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the universality principle by designing a tuning device that performs multiple functions: it adjusts both the position and tilt angle of the image device, and it works with various plane types (flat, inclined, non-flat). This multi-functional approach achieves high image focus quality across different scenarios while avoiding the need for separate adjustment mechanisms for each function, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the image device to automatically tune its own position and tilt angle through the tuning device. The system can detect the plane geometry and autonomously adjust its parameters to achieve optimal focus, reducing the need for complex external control systems and manual intervention, thus limiting the overall device complexity while maintaining high focus quality.
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 configuration ensures that all pixels of the projected or detected image focus on the tangent surface of the plane, resulting in a clear and focused image, even on non-flat or inclined surfaces, by aligning the optical and image centers with the plane's geometry.
Implementation Method 1
The lens group is disposed between the first image device and the plane... forming an image by the image device. The image is projected to a plane through the lens group
Implementation Method 2
The beam splitter is disposed between the first image device and the lens group for reflecting the second projection image formed by the second image device to the lens group and allowing the first projection image to pass therethrough
Data Source
AI summary
An optical system includes an optical apparatus. The optical apparatus is for projecting a first projection image to a plane or detecting a first detected image of the plane. The optical apparatus includes a first image device, and a lens group. The first image device has an image surface having an image center. The lens group is disposed between the first image device and the plane and has a lens axis surface and an optic center. The optic center and the image center form a connection line. The plane has a tangent surface to an intersecting point of the connection line. The lens axis surface, the tangent surface, and an extension surface of the image surface substantially intersect at a straight line.