Rotating Deflection Unit with Dual Reflection Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optoelectronic sensors with rotating deflection units require larger components and more complex mechanical suspensions to increase light sensitivity, leading to increased installation space and maintenance efforts, while also being sensitive to vibrations and misalignment.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a second reflection surface within the deflection unit, which is rotatable and curved in two spatial directions, forms an optical system with the first reflection surface, eliminating the need for additional receiving optics and reducing sensitivity to vibrations and misalignment, and allowing for improved beam guidance and focusing of the reflected light.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional receiving optics (lens and deflection mirror) are enlarged to increase light sensitivity, then light sensitivity is improved, but installation space and mechanical suspension complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the receiving optics functions directly into the rotating deflection unit by integrating a second reflection surface onto it. This eliminates the need for separate receiving optics (lens and deflection mirror), thereby reducing installation space while maintaining light sensitivity. The combined structure allows the deflection unit to perform both deflection and light reception functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating deflection unit is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as both a deflection element for the light beam and as the receiving optics for detecting reflected light. The second reflection surface on the deflection unit enables it to function as a receiver, eliminating the need for separate receiving components and reducing overall system complexity and space requirements.
2Reliability
If conventional receiving optics are enlarged to increase light sensitivity, then light sensitivity is improved, but mechanical suspension complexity and maintenance effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the second reflection surface directly onto the rotating deflection unit, the patent eliminates separate receiving optics that would require additional mechanical suspension. This reduction in component count directly reduces mechanical suspension complexity and associated maintenance requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The deflection unit serves dual purposes as both a deflection mechanism and a receiving optics platform. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components and their corresponding mechanical support structures, thereby simplifying the overall mechanical suspension system.
3Ease of operation
If separate receiving optics are used, then beam guidance can be achieved, but structural complexity and sensitivity to vibrations increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the receiving optics functionality directly into the rotating deflection unit through the second reflection surface. This integration eliminates separate receiving optics components and their associated mounting structures, thereby reducing structural complexity while maintaining effective beam guidance capability.
4Ease of operation
If separate receiving optics are used, then beam guidance can be achieved, but sensitivity to misalignment increases
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the second reflection surface directly onto the rotating deflection unit, the patent eliminates the need for separate receiving optics that would require precise alignment between multiple components. This integration reduces the number of alignment interfaces, thereby reducing sensitivity to misalignment and improving manufacturing tolerance.
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 configuration enhances light sensitivity and aperture, reduces production costs, and minimizes the impact of mechanical tolerances and vibrations, resulting in a more efficient and accurate optoelectronic sensor with reduced structural complexity and increased robustness.
Implementation Method 1
a deflection unit that can be rotated about an axis of rotation and has a concave first reflection surface for beam shaping and deflection of the reflected light beam
Implementation Method 2
the rotatable deflection unit has a second reflection surface for deflecting the light beam deflected by the first reflection surface to the light receiver
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The sensor (10) has a light transmitter (12) for emitting a light beam (14) into a monitoring area (16), and a light receiver (18) generating a receiving signal from the light beam. A deflection unit (22) is rotated around a rotational axis (R), and comprises a concave reflecting surface (26) for beam molding and deflection of the light beam. An evaluation unit (30) obtains information about objects in the monitoring area. The deflection unit has a convex reflecting surface (28) for deflecting the deflected light beam to the light receiver, where the surfaces are connected with one another.