Plate-Spring Prism Drive for Centered Dual-Axis Optical Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional prism driving devices face issues of optical path decentration, image distortion, and high assembly complexity, particularly in high-precision imaging and long-focal-length scenarios, leading to increased costs and limited market adoption.
Innovation Solution
A prism driving device design utilizing a carrier, rotatable member, base, and plate spring unit, allowing prism rotation around X and Z axes without traditional mechanical connectors, simplifying assembly and reducing component count, while ensuring optical path symmetry and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional XY-axis rotation mechanism is used to adjust optical path, then path adjustment capability is achieved, but optical path decentration occurs causing image distortion and color aberration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the rotation axis from the traditional XY-axis configuration to the XZ-axis configuration. This asymmetric change in the rotation mechanism fundamentally alters the optical path adjustment approach, allowing the prism to rotate around the Z-axis (optical axis) while maintaining adjustment capability. This asymmetric design eliminates the optical path decentration problem that plagues traditional symmetric XY-axis rotation mechanisms, as the rotation occurs around the optical axis itself rather than perpendicular to it.
2Manufacturing precision
If XZ-axis rotation design is adopted to optimize precision and stability, then optical path adjustment precision is improved, but assembly difficulty and manufacturing cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the rotation support function into the carrier structure itself. The carrier is designed with a through-hole that accommodates the rotation axis, and the prism is directly mounted on the carrier. This integration eliminates the need for separate complex mechanical support structures and connectors that would be required in traditional designs. The carrier simultaneously provides mechanical support, rotation guidance, and positioning functions, greatly simplifying the assembly process while maintaining high precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier structure is designed to perform multiple functions: it holds the prism, provides the rotation axis guidance, supports the weight of the prism, and enables precise rotation around the Z-axis. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for multiple separate components, reducing assembly complexity and manufacturing cost while achieving the desired optical path adjustment precision.
3Stability of the object's composition
If traditional mechanical connectors like metal guide shafts or balls are used, then structural stability is achieved, but device complexity and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the complex mechanical connectors (metal guide shafts, ball joints, etc.) from the system. Instead of using these separate stabilizing components, the design relies on the integrated carrier structure and the XZ-axis rotation mechanism to provide structural stability. The carrier's through-hole design and the prism's direct mounting create inherent stability without requiring additional connectors, thereby reducing device complexity and assembly difficulty.
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 design improves imaging quality and resolution by preventing optical path decentration, reduces assembly difficulty and costs, and facilitates mass production, making it suitable for high-precision optical applications.
Implementation Method 1
The plate spring unit is used for connecting the carrier and the rotatable member and allowing the carrier to rotate around the first axis relative to the rotatable member
Implementation Method 2
The plate spring unit is also used for connecting the rotatable member and the base and allowing the rotatable member to rotate around the second axis relative to the base
Implementation Method 3
The prism is used for refracting light entering from a Y-axis direction to a Z-axis direction perpendicular to the Y-axis direction
Data Source
AI summary
A prism driving device includes a carrier for carrying a prism, a rotatable member supporting the carrier, a base supporting the rotatable member, a first driving unit used for driving the carrier to rotate around a first axis relative to the rotatable member, a second driving unit used for driving the rotatable member to rotate around a second axis relative to the base, and a plate spring unit located on a −Y direction side of the carrier and the rotatable member. The first axis, the second axis and the Y direction are perpendicular with each other. The plate spring unit is connected between the carrier and the rotatable member to allow the carrier to rotate around the first axis. The plate spring unit is also connected between the rotatable member and the base to allow the rotatable member to rotate around the second axis.