Reticle Unit Optical Fiber Spherical Incident Portion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional reticle units face challenges with low light visibility due to small light dots, fragility, and manufacturing inefficiencies, particularly under low light conditions and during impact, due to the small diameter and plane-cut ends of optical fibers.
Innovation Solution
A reticle unit with an optical fiber that has a spherical light incident portion and an inclined light-emitting portion, fixed along a sight line, increasing light entry and reflection, and using a metal or glass reticle with integrated sight lines for improved durability and manufacturing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the optical fiber diameter is kept small to match the sight line width, then the reticle maintains precision and minimal visual obstruction, but the amount of light guided to the dot becomes extremely small making it difficult to see under low light conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The optical fiber is segmented into two functional parts: a larger diameter light incident portion for efficient light entry and a smaller diameter light-emitting portion for precise alignment with the sight line. This segmentation allows each part to optimize its function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the optical fiber have different diameters tailored to their specific functions. The light incident portion has a larger diameter to maximize light entry, while the light-emitting portion has a smaller diameter to match the sight line width, ensuring local optimization of both light gathering and alignment precision.
2Strength
If the optical fiber end surfaces are cut perpendicular to the central axis for simple manufacturing, then the structure is simple, but the outlet cannot reflect light in the direction of the eye and the bonding area is extremely small causing easy deviation under impact
Solution Approach 1:
The light incident portion is formed with a spherical surface instead of a flat perpendicular cut. This spherical shape increases the surface area for light entry and provides a larger bonding area that is more resistant to deviation under impact, while still being manufacturable through thermal melting processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical fiber ends are made asymmetric with different shapes: a spherical light incident portion and an inclined light-emitting portion. This asymmetry allows each end to be optimized for its specific function - light gathering and bonding stability at the incident end, and light reflection at the emitting end.
3Reliability
If the optical fiber is cut to predetermined length through conventional cutting and polishing processes, then the fiber can be manufactured, but the fragile fiber is often broken or cracked during cutting and defective products are extremely likely
Solution Approach 1:
The manufacturing process changes from mechanical cutting and polishing to thermal melting and shaping. By changing the physical state and processing method, the optical fiber can be formed into the desired spherical and inclined shapes without the fragility issues associated with cutting, significantly reducing defects while maintaining manufacturing efficiency.
4Illumination intensity
If a plane surface outlet is used for the optical fiber, then the structure is simple, but the light cannot be reflected in the direction of the eyepiece lens and the dot visibility is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The optical fiber is given asymmetric end shapes with the light-emitting portion having an inclined surface. This inclined surface is specifically oriented to reflect light in the direction of the eyepiece lens, improving dot visibility without requiring complex additional optical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The spherical light incident portion provides a curved surface that efficiently captures and guides light into the fiber, while the inclined light-emitting portion directs the light output. This combination of curved and inclined surfaces optimizes light transmission and visibility.
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
Enhances light visibility, impact resistance, and manufacturing efficiency by increasing the amount of light emitted and securely bonding the optical fiber, reducing defects and improving dot visibility and reticle unit reliability.
Implementation Method 1
A light incident portion for receiving light is formed at one end of the optical fiber. The light incident portion has a spherical surface that has a diameter greater than a diameter of the optical fiber.
Implementation Method 2
The light-emitting portion has an inclined surface that reflects light passing through the optical fiber.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a reticle unit 40 that includes a reticle 41 with a sight line 410, and an optical fiber 42 that forms a dot by guiding light from a light source to a center 410a of the sight line 410, wherein a light incident portion 42a for receiving light is formed at one end of the optical fiber 42, a light-emitting portion 42b for emitting light is formed at the other end 42b of the optical fiber 42, the light incident portion 42a has a spherical surface having a diameter greater than that of the optical fiber 42, the light-emitting portion 42b has an inclined surface that reflects light passing through the optical fiber 42, and the optical fiber 42 is fixed along a part of the sight line 410 so that the light-emitting portion 42b is positioned at the center 410a of the sight line 410.