Rod Lens Optical Marking for Tile Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices struggle to efficiently generate and project optical markings, particularly on floor surfaces, to facilitate tasks like aligning tiles or other floor coverings, as they require complex setups to achieve the desired fanning and reflection of light beams effectively.
Innovation Solution
A device featuring a cuboid lens with a channel-shaped depression and a triangular projection on its rear surface, which totally reflects and fans out light radiation, allowing the optical marking to be projected both in front of and behind the light source, using a geometric design that aligns the optical axis at an angle to ensure effective refraction and reflection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a laser beam passes through a collimator lens and falls on a rod lens to generate a line running across a wide angle, then the line-shaped light beam is generated without interruption, but the device complexity increases due to the need for multiple lenses and semi-transparent surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the functions of reflection and refraction into a single rod lens component. The lens integrates a semi-transparent first surface for reflecting light back toward the source and a completely transparent second surface for refracting light to generate the line-shaped beam, eliminating the need for separate reflection and refraction components.
Solution Approach 2:
The rod lens serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both a reflective element (via the semi-transparent first surface) and a refractive element (via the completely transparent second surface), while also serving as the structural body that shapes and directs the laser beam to create the optical marking.
2Illumination intensity
If multiple cylindrical lenses or mirrors are used to fan out the light beam, then the required light distribution is achieved, but the device complexity and number of components increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the light-fanning function with the primary beam-shaping rod lens. The line-shaped optical marking itself serves as the fanned-out light distribution, eliminating the need for additional cylindrical lenses or mirrors that would otherwise be required to achieve the same light distribution effect.
3Illumination intensity
If a lens with rounded edge is used to fan out light, then the desired light fanning is achieved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the lens surface into distinct functional zones: a semi-transparent first surface for reflection and a completely transparent second surface for refraction. This segmentation allows each surface to be optimized for its specific function with standard manufacturing tolerances, rather than requiring precision across the entire lens geometry including rounded edges.
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 enables the simple and effective fanning and reflection of light beams to create optical markings on floor surfaces, ensuring accurate alignment of tiles or other coverings by projecting the marking both in front of and behind the light source, enhancing the alignment process in the construction sector.
Implementation Method 1
a rod lens, which has a semi-transparent surface on the light source side, in order to reflect a linear light beam in the direction of the light source
Implementation Method 2
The non-reflected light then passes through a completely transparent surface of the rod lens facing away from the light source and is refracted in order to generate a line-shaped light beam in a second direction opposite to the first direction
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The device has a light source (12) emitting light radiation such as laser radiation, along an optical axis (16). A channel-shaped recess is provided in a transverse side surface (20) and a projection is provided in another side surface (22), where the recess and projection are geometrically designed and arranged in such a manner that the radiation striking on transient area between the projection and the transverse side surfaces is totally reflectable and refractable, and the radiation hitting on the recess is expanded. An independent claim is also included for a method for reproducing a line-shaped optical marking on a boundary.