Range Finder Night Vision via Large-Aperture Lens
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional range finders with night vision capabilities are costly due to the use of a prism and infrared ray transmitter, and the intensity of reflected light and infrared rays is reduced after passing through the prism, affecting their operation.
Innovation Solution
A range finder design utilizing a large-aperture objective lens and a high-sensitivity image sensing device to collect and receive a great amount of light, eliminating the need for a prism and infrared ray transmitter, and incorporating a semiconductor laser, avalanche photodiode, and charge coupled device or complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor image sensing element for improved performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a prism and infrared ray transmitter are used to provide night vision function, then the range finder can operate at night or in insufficient light, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the infrared ray transmitter and prism from the conventional range finder structure, extracting only the necessary optical components (objective lens and image sensing device) to achieve night vision functionality through high-sensitivity imaging rather than active infrared illumination
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the key parameter from active infrared emission to passive light collection by using an objective lens with large aperture (small f-number) and an image sensing device with high sensitivity, allowing the system to capture sufficient light in low-light conditions without requiring infrared transmitters
2Adaptability or versatility
If a prism is used to provide night vision function, then the range finder can capture images at night, but the intensity of reflected visible light and infrared ray decays after passing through the prism
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the prism from the optical path, eliminating the source of light decay and allowing reflected visible light and infrared rays to reach the image sensing device without intensity loss
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the optical path by removing the prism that caused uniform light decay, allowing the image sensing device to receive light with preserved intensity and quality directly from the objective lens
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
Enables effective night vision functionality without the prism and infrared ray transmitter, reducing manufacturing costs and maintaining light intensity, thereby enhancing the range finder's operational efficiency in low-light environments.
Implementation Method 1
The objective lens unit is configured to allow visible light reflected by the measured object to pass therethrough
Implementation Method 2
The image sensing device is configured to receive the visible light passing through the objective lens and generate an image signal
Implementation Method 3
The laser transmitter is configured to emit a laser beam to a measured object
Implementation Method 4
The laser receiver is configured to receive a reflected laser beam reflected by the measured object
Data Source
AI summary
A range finder includes a laser transmitter, a laser receiver, a large-aperture objective lens unit, an image sensing device, a display device and a microphone. The laser transmitter is configured to emit a laser beam to a measured object. The laser receiver is configured to receive a reflected laser beam reflected by the measured object. The objective lens unit is configured to allow visible light reflected by the measured object to pass therethrough, includes an objective lens and a focusing lens and has a length defined by the objective lens and the focusing lens. The image sensing device is configured to receive the visible light passing through the objective lens and generate an image signal. The length is constant when the objective lens unit is moved with respect to the image sensing device for focusing operation.