Relay Optical System for Flight Simulators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image projection apparatuses for flight simulators require larger and more expensive relay optical systems to achieve high contrast for night take-off and landing training, leading to increased costs and size due to the need for multiple lenses and free-form surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A relay optical system with a configuration of a first reflection surface having positive power, a second reflection surface with negative power, and a third reflection surface with positive power, where the curvature radii satisfy specific conditional expressions to optimize conjugate relationships and aberration correction, reducing the overall size and cost while maintaining high contrast.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a relay optical system uses multiple lenses and free-form surfaces to correct aberrations and ensure performance, then the optical quality is improved, but the overall length increases and the apparatus becomes larger
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of the optical elements from lenses to mirrors, and specifically uses three mirrors with alternating signs of curvature (positive, negative, positive). This parameter change allows the system to achieve the required optical performance with a more compact configuration, reducing the overall length while maintaining aberration correction capability through the conditional expression on curvature radii
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using the conventional approach of multiple lenses with positive and negative powers, the patent inverts the approach by using three mirrors with alternating curvature signs (positive, negative, positive). This inversion of the conventional lens-based design enables compactness while achieving the same optical function of aberration correction and image relay
2Manufacturing precision
If expensive glasses are combined to improve chromatic aberration in the relay optical system, then the optical performance is improved, but the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the material-based chromatic aberration correction (using expensive specialty glasses) with a geometric-based correction system using three mirrors. The alternating positive-negative-positive curvature configuration of the mirrors provides aberration correction through geometry rather than material properties, eliminating the need for expensive chromatic correction glasses and reducing manufacturing cost
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses ordinary mirrors with standard coatings instead of expensive specialty glasses to achieve chromatic aberration correction. The mirror-based system provides sufficient performance at lower cost, effectively replacing expensive optical materials with more economical alternatives
3Ease of operation
If the first DMD and second DMD are arranged in parallel to make parallel optical axes, then the optical alignment is simplified, but the relay optical system becomes larger to avoid interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the spatial conflict by using the third dimension (vertical stacking) to arrange the DMDs and optical components. Instead of placing DMDs side-by-side in parallel, the system stacks components vertically with the second DMD positioned above the first DMD, allowing compact arrangement while maintaining proper optical paths and avoiding interference between illumination and projection systems
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 results in a smaller, less expensive optical apparatus that achieves high contrast and resolution, avoiding the need for extensive lens combinations and free-form surfaces, thus reducing the apparatus's size and cost while maintaining performance.
Implementation Method 1
The relay optical system includes, in order from the predetermined surface to the first light modulation element, a first reflection surface having a positive power, a second reflection surface having a negative power, and a third reflection surface having a positive power
Data Source
AI summary
An optical apparatus includes a light source unit, at least one first light modulation element, an illumination optical system configured to illuminate the first light modulation element using light from the light source unit, and a relay optical system configured to make conjugate with each other a predetermined surface on an optical path between the light source unit and the first light modulation element, and a surface of the first light modulation element. The relay optical system includes, in order from the predetermined surface to the first light modulation element, a first reflection surface having a positive power, a second reflection surface having a negative power, and a third reflection surface having a positive power. The relay optical system satisfies a predetermined condition.