Rangefinder Synchronization for Handshake Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional range finders face issues where the sighting target and ranging target become misaligned due to hand movements, leading to blurring corrections that either require separate optical system adjustments for the transmitting and receiving units or result in an enlarged apparatus.

Innovation Solution

A range finder design that includes a sighting optical system with a correction member driven by a drive unit to correct blurring, a light transmission unit, a light receiving unit, and a control unit that synchronizes the output and reception of measurement light based on the correction member's drive, ensuring accurate distance computation even with hand movements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If a sighting optical system is corrected without correcting an optical system of a transmitting and receiving unit, then the apparatus size is reduced, but the sighting target and ranging target become misaligned

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapparatus sizeVSAvoidtarget alignment accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the correction function into a single shared optical system that serves both the sighting function and the transmitting/receiving function. By using one correction member to correct both optical paths simultaneously, the patent avoids the need for separate correction mechanisms, thereby maintaining compact apparatus size while ensuring that the sighting target and ranging target remain aligned.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The correction member is designed to perform multiple functions: it corrects blurring in the sighting optical system and simultaneously corrects blurring in the transmitting and receiving optical system. This multi-functionality allows a single component to address alignment issues for both sighting and ranging operations, eliminating the need for separate correction systems and maintaining compact design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If an optical system of a transmitting and receiving unit is corrected in addition to a sighting optical system, then the target alignment accuracy is improved, but the apparatus is enlarged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetarget alignment accuracyVSAvoidapparatus size
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the correction of the sighting optical system and the transmitting/receiving optical system into a single correction operation. By using one correction member that affects both optical paths, the patent achieves dual correction without requiring separate correction mechanisms, thereby avoiding apparatus enlargement while maintaining high target alignment accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The correction member is designed with universal functionality to correct both the sighting path and the transmitting/receiving path simultaneously. This multi-functional design allows a single component to provide correction for multiple optical systems, achieving high alignment accuracy without the need for multiple separate correction systems that would increase apparatus size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Manufacturing precision

If the correction member is driven to correct blurring, then the image quality is improved, but the complexity of synchronizing light transmission and reception increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage qualityVSAvoidcontrol synchronization complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback control mechanism where the drive unit receives information about the correction member's position or state and adjusts the timing of light transmission and reception accordingly. This feedback loop enables automatic synchronization without requiring complex manual coordination, thereby maintaining image quality through effective blurring correction while managing control complexity through automated feedback-based timing adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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 maintains accurate targeting by synchronizing the light transmission and reception with the correction of blurring, preventing misalignment and reducing the apparatus size by sharing optical components, thereby enhancing precision and usability.

Implementation Method 1

a sighting optical system which sights a target to form an optical image of a sighting target and which includes on a light path thereof a correction member driven to correct a blurring of the optical image

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical correction: Lens

Implementation Method 2

a light transmission unit which outputs a measurement light to the sighting target; a light receiving unit which receives a back reflected light from the sighting target

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 3

a distance computation unit which computes a distance to the sighting target based on a timing when the measurement light is output and a timing when the light receiving unit receives the back reflected light

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTime of flight: Time of Flight

Data Source

PatentEP3187823B1Rangefinder and ranging method
Publication Date: 2020.08.26 NIKON VISION
  • EP3187823B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3187823B1 patent drawingFigure 2(a)~2(c)
  • EP3187823B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(c)

AI summary

Provided is a distance detection apparatus comprising: a light output unit which outputs a light; a computation unit which computes a distance to a detection target by using a time until when the light output from the light output unit is received in a light receiving unit; a deblurring optical system which is driven based on a detection result of a blurring and through which the output light is transmitted; a detection unit which detects a position of the deblurring optical system; a storage unit which stores a predetermined range; a determination unit which determines whether the position detected by the detection unit is included in the predetermined range; and a control unit which controls a light output by the light output unit in accordance with a determination result of the determination unit.