Optoelectronic Sensor Telecentric Lens Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Optoelectronic sensors face challenges in maintaining measurement precision and sensitivity across a large range due to the migration of the received light spot out of the active zone, especially in the near zone, and the reduction of received light energy with increasing object distance, which is exacerbated by the non-coaxial alignment of transmission and reception optics.
Innovation Solution
The integration of an optical metaelement with a metasurface and/or metal material nanostructures that shape the remitted light beam, reducing the distance-dependent displacement of the received light spot and providing optical correction to maintain a consistent reception level across the range, potentially replacing or supplementing the reception optics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the reception aperture is made large to collect more useful light and achieve large ranges, then the reception aperture diameter increases, but the construction depth necessarily increases proportionally
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the optical parameters by introducing a telecentric lens design that modifies the focal length and optical path geometry. This allows the reception aperture to be large while the construction depth remains controlled, as the telecentric lens creates parallel light paths that reduce the required depth for achieving the same light collection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic optical path adjustment through the telecentric lens system, which maintains consistent image scale and light collection efficiency across varying object distances. This dynamic adaptation allows the sensor to maintain large reception aperture benefits without proportionally increasing construction depth
2Adaptability or versatility
If a working zone with large distance of near and far zones is used, then the measurement range increases, but the received light spot migrates out of the active zone of the light receiver due to parallax
Solution Approach 1:
The telecentric lens creates a dynamic optical system where the chief rays remain parallel to the optical axis regardless of object distance. This dynamic property ensures that the light spot position on the receiver remains stable across the entire measurement range, preventing migration even when near and far zones are widely separated
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the optical path into distinct telecentric lens zones that independently control light paths from different object distances. This segmentation allows each zone to be optimized for maintaining light spot position stability while collectively covering a large measurement range
3Adaptability or versatility
If the object distance increases, then the measurement range covers far zones, but the received light energy reduces approximately quadratically
Solution Approach 1:
The telecentric lens system provides optical feedback by maintaining consistent light collection efficiency across all object distances. The parallel ray geometry ensures that changes in object distance do not result in quadratic energy loss, as the lens continuously adapts to maintain optimal light gathering from both near and far zones
Solution Approach 2:
The telecentric lens serves multiple functions simultaneously: it maintains large reception aperture, stabilizes light spot position, and compensates for energy loss across varying distances. This multi-functionality allows the single optical element to address all three contradictions in the patent
4Measurement precision
If complex optics with plurality of part zones or composite optics are used to reduce the described effects, then the measurement precision improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple optical functions (telecentricity, large aperture, focal length control) into a single telecentric lens element. This consolidation achieves the measurement precision that would otherwise require complex multi-element optics, while significantly reducing device complexity by eliminating the need for multiple lenses, mirrors, or composite optical systems
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 improves measurement precision and sensitivity by ensuring the received light spot remains within the active zone and maintains a consistent reception level, reducing displacement and energy loss, thereby enhancing the sensor's performance across near and far zones.
Implementation Method 1
The optical metaelement has a metasurface and/or a metal material, i.e. nanostructures, that form certain wavefronts of the remitted light beam in a very targeted manner
Implementation Method 2
Metalenses are extremely thin optical elements having a lens effect that have special nanostructures to influence beam paths
Implementation Method 3
the light beam remitted at an object is imaged via a reception optics on a light receiver and generates a received light spot there
Implementation Method 4
a light transmitter transmits a light beam via a transmission optics
Data Source
AI summary
An optoelectronic sensor for detecting an object in a monitored zone is provided that has a light transmitter and a transmission optics associated with the light transmitter in a transmission path for transmitting a light beam and a light receiver and a reception optics associated with the light receiver and offset from the transmission optics by a spacing in a reception path for receiving a light beam remitted by the object and for generating a received light spot on the light receiver, as well a control and evaluation unit that is configured to evaluate a received signal of the light receiver. The reception optics has at least one optical metaelement having a metasurface and/or a metamaterial and is configured such that a displacement of the received light spot on the light receiver in a near zone of the sensor dependent on a distance of the object from the sensor is no larger than a full width at half maximum of the received light spot.