3D Scanner Dichroic Beam Splitter Parallax Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical scanning devices face challenges with parallax errors and space utilization in integrating color information, leading to inefficiencies in shadowing effects and focal length limitations.
Innovation Solution
The arrangement of a color camera on the same side of the rotary mirror as the receiver lens, combined with a dichroic emission mirror and a central mirror, allows for parallel light beam reflection, reducing parallax and optimizing space usage, while a hybrid rotor design maintains balance and focuses light efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a color camera is arranged on the optical axis behind the receiver lens, then parallax errors are reduced, but the device complexity increases due to additional mirrors and space optimization requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a conventional linear optical path to a three-dimensional folded optical path by introducing a rear mirror and central mirror. This spatial reconfiguration allows the color camera to be positioned on the optical axis behind the receiver lens while maintaining parallel light beam reflection, thereby reducing parallax errors without simply extending the optical path linearly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested optical structure where the color camera is positioned within the optical path already defined by the receiver lens and rotary mirror system. The folded optics configuration nests the color camera arrangement within the existing scanning mechanism, allowing multiple functions to share the same spatial envelope.
2Volume of moving object
If a rear mirror is added to reflect the reception light beam, then space utilization improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rear mirror and central mirror configuration transforms the optical path from a simple linear sequence to a three-dimensional folded structure. This allows the optical system to utilize vertical and lateral space more efficiently, compacting the overall device volume while maintaining the necessary optical functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The folded optics system with rear mirror and central mirror serves multiple functions simultaneously: it directs the reception light beam to the color camera, enables parallel reflection for accurate measurement, and compacts the overall device volume. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components.
3Measurement precision
If the focal length is increased for better focusing, then measurement precision improves, but the device volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The folded optical path with rear mirror and central mirror extends the effective focal length by utilizing three-dimensional space rather than simply increasing the linear distance between optical elements. This allows the system to achieve better focusing capability for both near and far fields without proportionally increasing the device's linear dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a spherical receiver lens and aspherical mirrors to achieve effective focusing over extended focal lengths. The curved optical surfaces enable the system to focus light from both near and far objects by manipulating light paths through reflection and refraction, achieving long focal length behavior in a compact configuration.
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 minimizes parallax errors, enhances space utilization, and increases focal length, enabling accurate color scanning with improved dynamic behavior and balanced rotor design.
Implementation Method 1
By providing a dichroic beam splitter on the path of the return light to the light receiver, it is possible to split off an energy signal, which might be electromagnetic radiation, for example, to be received by a suitable detector.
Implementation Method 2
an emission mirror in front of the color camera is provided, where the emission mirror is reflecting for the emission light beam and is transparent for the color camera
Implementation Method 3
A collimator of a light emitter is seated in the center of a receiver lens. The receiver lens reproduces the reception light beam on a light receiver
Implementation Method 4
A rotary mirror which rotates and which comprises a polished plate of a metallic rotor, deflects both an emission light beam and a reception light beam.
Implementation Method 5
A suitable form of the mirrors supports focusing, wherein the focusing length with respect to the unfolded optics can still be increased. The central mirror can be used for near-field correction
Data Source
AI summary
In a device for optically scanning and measuring an environment, where the device is a laser scanner having a light emitter which, by a rotary mirror, emits an emission light beam, with a light receiver which receives a reception light beam, which, after passing the rotary mirror and a receiver lens which has an optical axis, is reflected from an object in the environment of the laser scanner. The laser scanner also includes a color camera which takes colored pictures of the environment of the laser scanner, and a control and evaluation unit which, for a multitude of measuring points, determines the distance to the object and links it with the colored pictures, the color camera being arranged on the optical axis of the receiver lens.