Scanning Optical Device Relay Lens Adjustment Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing scanning optical devices face challenges in precisely adjusting the distance between relay lenses while maintaining the positional relationship between the entrance and exit pupils, leading to adverse effects such as changes in the conjugate relationship of pupils and fluctuations in light beam incidence.
Innovation Solution
A scanning optical device with a relay optical system that includes a first and second mirror supported by a common member, allowing for precise adjustment of the distance between front and rear group lenses without altering the positional relationship between the pupils, using a mechanism that moves in a specific angle to maintain optical system alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the distance between relay lenses is adjusted by moving the relay lenses themselves, then the points of focus of the relay lenses can be adjusted, but the positional relationship among the relay optical system and its front and rear optical systems changes, causing adverse effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the adjustment function into two independent parts: (1) the relay lenses remain fixed to maintain stable positional relationships with front and rear optical systems, and (2) folding mirrors are made adjustable to achieve points of focus adjustment. This segmentation allows independent optimization of both adjustment precision and positional stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The folding mirrors serve as an intermediary element between the relay lenses and the subsequent optical system. By adjusting the folding mirrors instead of the relay lenses themselves, the patent achieves focus adjustment while maintaining the stability of the relay optical system's positional relationship with other components.
2Stability of the object's composition
If folding mirrors are shifted to adjust the points of focus of the relay lenses, then the positional relationship among the relay optical system and its front and rear optical systems is maintained, but the incident positions of the light beam on the folding mirrors fluctuate, causing adverse effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple folding mirrors (first and second folding mirrors) onto a single movable support structure. This allows coordinated adjustment of both mirrors simultaneously, maintaining the conjugate relationship of pupils while adjusting the optical path length to achieve precise focus without fluctuating incident positions.
3Measurement precision
If the folding mirrors are adjusted to change the optical path length, then the points of focus can be adjusted, but the conjugate relationship of pupils in front and at rear of the relay optical system changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a movable support structure that can dynamically adjust the positions of folding mirrors along the optical axis while maintaining their relative angular relationships. This dynamic adjustment capability allows precise focus control while preserving the conjugate relationship of pupils through coordinated mirror movement.
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 fine adjustment of the distance between relay lenses with high precision, maintaining the conjugate relationship of pupils and stabilizing light beam incidence, thus improving the focusing accuracy and reducing the sensitivity of optical path length adjustments.
Implementation Method 1
the first mirror is arranged so as to make an angle (180-ω) with an incident optical axis of the front group lenses, and folds an incident light beam from the front group lenses
Implementation Method 2
the second mirror is arranged so as to make an angle α with the normal vector of the mirror surface of the first mirror, and folds the incident light beam from the first mirror toward the rear group lenses
Data Source
AI summary
A scanning optical device that scans a light beam through a relay optical system, the relay optical system comprising: front group lenses arranged at a light source side; rear group lenses arranged at a side of a surface to be scanned; and first and second mirrors arranged between the front group lenses and the rear group lenses and supported by a common supporting member, wherein a normal vector of a mirror surface of the first mirror makes an angle (180−ω) with an incident optical axis from the front group lenses, a normal vector of the second mirror makes an angle α (α≠180×m) with the normal vector of the first mirror, and the supporting member includes a mechanism being linearly movable in a direction which makes an angle (ω−α+90) with the normal vector of the first mirror.