Periscope Optical Path Offset Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional periscopes for lightweight tanks suffer from image degradation and noticeable shifts in the line of sight due to inertial forces causing optical elements to displace perpendicular to the optical axis, which existing flexible image guides and image conductors fail to adequately address, especially under off-road high-speed conditions.
Innovation Solution
The optical transmission path is designed with at least two optical elements arranged between the second optical reversing element and the eyepiece, with one element positioned downstream of the intermediate image plane, ensuring the object image remains constant even when optical elements shift, and compensation for offset is achieved through carefully positioned and potentially displaceable optical elements to cancel out bending-induced offsets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the eyepiece arm is designed to be longer to accommodate the command post in lightweight tanks, then the observer can be positioned correctly, but the eyepiece arm bends under inertial forces causing optical elements to displace and image quality to degrade
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the positional parameters of optical elements along the optical axis to compensate for transverse displacements. By strategically positioning optical elements at specific distances from the eyepiece, the system achieves automatic compensation for bending-induced image shifts without requiring active control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a dynamically adaptive optical system where the relative positions of optical elements automatically adjust in response to bending forces. The system transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic configuration that adapts to changing mechanical conditions during vehicle operation.
2Device complexity
If conventional fixed positioning of optical elements is used, then the structure is simple, but displacements perpendicular to the optical axis cause noticeable shifts in the line of sight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the axial positioning parameters of optical elements to create an offset compensation mechanism. By placing optical elements at specifically calculated positions along the optical axis, the system automatically compensates for transverse displacements, maintaining line of sight stability without complex active control systems.
3Ease of manufacture
If optical elements are rigidly fixed in the eyepiece arm, then alignment is easy to maintain, but inertial forces during off-road driving cause displacements that degrade image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the positional parameters of optical elements along the optical axis to create a passive compensation mechanism. This allows the system to maintain ease of manufacturing with fixed elements while achieving improved reliability under shock conditions through the geometric arrangement of components.
4Reliability
If the periscope uses a flexible image guide to reduce vibration influence, then mechanical decoupling is achieved, but optical elements still cause imaging errors when radially displaced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the axial positioning parameters of optical elements to compensate for radial displacements. This works in conjunction with flexible image guides to provide dual-layer protection: mechanical decoupling from vibrations plus optical path compensation for remaining displacements, achieving both vibration resistance and imaging accuracy.
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 design maintains high image quality and stability of the line of sight, even under strong shocks, by automatically or actively compensating for optical element displacements, ensuring parallelism of the periscope axis and target axis, and allows for precise adjustment to dynamic bending changes.
Implementation Method 1
an optical transmission path with at least two optical elements which are arranged along an optical axis of the optical transmission path and generate an object image from an intermediate image of an object on a final image plane
Implementation Method 2
optical deflection elements are arranged. These direct light rays falling vertically into the tube, which are reflected by an optical deflection element, into the tube and out again parallel to the original direction of incidence
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3
AI summary
A periscope comprises a first optical deflection element (16), a second optical deflection element (18), an eyepiece (36), and an optical transmission path (26) with at least two optical elements (28, 30, 32). These are arranged along an optical axis (44) of the optical transmission path (26) and generate an object image or an intermediate image on a final image plane (34) of the optical transmission path (26). The transmission path (26) is flexible transversely to the optical axis (44). When bent, the at least two optical elements (28, 30, 32) shift perpendicular to the optical axis (44) according to a resulting bending line, thus creating an offset (76) of the object image.The at least two optical elements (28) are further arranged along the optical axis (44) such that offset components of the at least two optical elements (76), caused by the displacement of the at least two optical elements (28, 30, 32; 50), compensate for each other, so that the offset (76) of the object image in the final image plane (34) is minimized. The optical transmission path (26) extends horizontally between the second optical reversing element (18) and the eyepiece (36). One (28) of the at least two optical elements (28, 30, 32) is arranged at a position downstream of an intermediate image generated by the object, located towards the eyepiece (36) (Fig. 1).