Interactive Projection Device Beam Splitter Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Interactive projection devices face position detection errors due to independent operations of projectors and cameras, requiring frequent calibration and refocus, and often rely on external pointers with limited applications and low signal-to-noise ratios.
Innovation Solution
An interactive projection device that uses multiple beam splitters to split and filter light beams, allowing for accurate projection and capture without displacement, utilizing the reversibility of light to ensure alignment and enhancing signal-to-noise ratio.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a projector and camera operate independently, then the device can perform projection and capture functions, but position detection errors occur due to relative position changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the projector and camera into a single integrated system where the camera is optically coupled to the projector through a beam splitter. This merging ensures that the projection and capture paths share common optical elements, eliminating relative position changes and ensuring consistent positioning without requiring frequent calibration.
Solution Approach 2:
The beam splitter acts as an intermediary optical element that directs light from the projector to the screen while allowing the camera to capture light from the same screen area. This intermediary component enables both projection and capture functions to share the same optical path, maintaining positional accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If calibration is performed to expand captured area to cover projected area, then displacement can be corrected temporarily, but re-calibration is required when projector is refocused
Solution Approach 1:
The optical coupling between projector and camera is established in advance through the beam splitter configuration, pre-aligning the projection and capture paths. This preliminary optical alignment ensures that when the projector is refocused, the camera automatically maintains correct positioning without requiring re-calibration, as the optical relationship remains fixed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is designed so that the camera automatically maintains proper alignment with the projector through the fixed optical coupling. The beam splitter configuration ensures that any focus adjustment of the projector automatically translates to corresponding adjustments in the capture path, making the system self-aligning without external intervention.
3Measurement precision
If a single beam splitting mirror is used to make photoelectronic detector and projection lens coaxial, then alignment is improved, but signal to noise ratio decreases due to imperfect splitting performance
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a single beam splitting mirror, the patent employs multiple beam splitters arranged in sequence. Each beam splitter handles a specific portion of the light path separation, distributing the optical functions across multiple components. This segmentation improves the overall signal to noise ratio by reducing the imperfect splitting performance accumulation that occurs with a single mirror, while maintaining coaxial alignment through the shared optical axis.
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 enables precise projection and capture without displacement, simplifying operations and improving detection accuracy, while providing higher signal-to-noise ratios compared to conventional technologies.
Implementation Method 1
a beam splitter configured to split the input light beam into first and second split light beams, and split a scattered light beam received from a surface into third and fourth split light beams
Implementation Method 2
a filter configured to filter out visible light of the third split light beam
Implementation Method 3
a detector configured to detect the invisible light of the third split light beam from the filter, thereby acquiring a scattering image from the surface
Data Source
AI summary
An interactive projection device includes a light source configured to emit an input light beam, wherein the light source comprises a visible light emitting device; a first beam splitter configured to split the input light beam into first and second split light beams; a second beam splitter configured to split a scattered light beam received from a surface into third and fourth split light beams; an image forming device configured to produce an image light beam based on the first split light beam and emit the image light beam onto the surface through the first and second splitters, thereby generating a projection image on the surface; and a detector configured to detect the invisible light of the third split light beam, thereby acquiring a scattering image from the surface.