Rotating Prism Optical Delay Line for High-Speed Sampling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical delay lines are inadequate for high-speed sampling applications due to limitations in speed and delay time, making them unsuitable for use in high-speed optical systems.
Innovation Solution
A rotatable wheel with corner cube or porro prisms mounted around its circumference, which retroreflects the optical beam to create a variable delay or phase shift as the wheel rotates, allowing for high-speed sampling and adjustable delay times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If a retroreflector is used to extend or shorten the optical path, then the delay time can be adjusted, but the acquisition speed is limited by the reciprocation speed of the retroreflector
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the optical delay function into multiple stationary prisms arranged in a circular array, each providing a fixed delay. By using a rotating beam steering mechanism to select between multiple stationary delay elements, the system achieves variable delay times without requiring a single moving retroreflector to traverse the entire path, thereby increasing acquisition speed while maintaining adjustable delay capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic beam steering using a rotating mirror or prism that rapidly switches the optical path between multiple stationary delay prisms. This dynamic selection mechanism allows the system to achieve variable delay times at high speeds by electronically or mechanically selecting among pre-positioned delay elements, rather than physically moving a retroreflector back and forth.
2Speed
If a rotating wheel with prisms is used to create variable delay, then high-speed sampling is enabled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating wheel assembly serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a beam steering mechanism, a delay selection switch, and a timing reference generator. The same rotating structure that directs the beam to different prisms also provides the temporal sequencing for high-speed sampling, consolidating multiple functions into a single mechanical assembly and reducing overall system complexity despite the high-speed capability.
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
Enables high-speed sampling with adjustable delay times, achieving a high duty cycle and precise control over optical delays, suitable for applications like THz imaging systems, with potential for up to 90% usable time and delays ranging from picoseconds to nanoseconds.
Implementation Method 1
one or more corner cube or porro prisms mounted around its circumference, which retroreflects the optical beam to create a variable delay or phase shift as the wheel rotates
Data Source
AI summary
A system for varying a delay of an optical beam has a rotatable wheel and a set of one or more prisms mounted about a circumference of the rotatable wheel. The set of one or more prisms are positioned to retroreflect the optical beam that passes approximately tangent to the rotatable wheel to cause a delay or phase shift to the beam as the rotatable wheel rotates.