Semifinished Prism Orientation Measurement Using Large-Angle Specular Reflection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods struggle to accurately determine the orientation of unpolished surfaces of semifinished prisms, which is crucial for aligning faces correctly during the production process without damaging already polished surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that utilize a test beam path with a large angle of incidence to generate a specular reflection from an unpolished surface, allowing the orientation of the surface to be determined by analyzing the reflected beam path, and subsequently calculating the angle between two faces of the prism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a conventional measurement method with small angle of incidence is used to measure an unpolished surface, then the measurement can be performed with standard equipment, but the light is scattered diffusely and no accurate orientation determination is possible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the measurement parameter by using a large angle of incidence (obtuse angle between incident and reflected beam paths) instead of the conventional small angle. This parameter change transforms the light interaction from diffuse scattering to partial specular reflection, enabling accurate orientation measurement of unpolished surfaces.
2Manufacturing precision
If the orientation of faces is determined late in the production process, then fewer reprocessing operations are needed, but already polished surfaces may be spoiled during reprocessing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables orientation measurement of unpolished surfaces before polishing is completed. This preliminary measurement allows the production process to detect orientation errors early, enabling reprocessing of only the unpolished face without risking damage to already polished surfaces.
3Measurement precision
If a large angle of incidence is used to generate specular reflection from an unpolished surface, then accurate orientation measurement becomes possible, but the measurement geometry becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an autocollimator, which is a universal optical instrument capable of measuring both polished and unpolished surfaces. The device integrates the function of generating test beam paths at large angles and detecting reflected beams, providing a multi-functional solution that handles different surface conditions without requiring separate measurement systems.
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 accurate determination of the orientation of unpolished surfaces, allowing for precise alignment and potential reprocessing of semifinished prisms without damaging polished surfaces, thereby improving the efficiency and accuracy of the prism production process.
Implementation Method 1
A large angle of incidence leads to a more favorable ratio between the wavelength of the light and the roughness of the face, which affects the light, so that with otherwise unchanged conditions the light is no longer scattered diffusely but is in part specularly reflected
Data Source
AI summary
A method for measuring a semifinished prism in which a first test beam path is produced, by which a first test image is imaged to infinity, and in which the first test beam path is guided as an incident beam path onto a first non-polished surface of the prism. A beam path reflected from the first non-polished surface is captured by a telescope, wherein the first test image is imaged onto a detector in the telescope. The incident beam path forms an obtuse angle with the reflected beam path. A second test beam path reflected from a second surface of the prism is captured by a telescope, wherein a second test image, which is imaged to infinity by the second test beam path, is imaged onto a detector by the telescope. The angle between the first surface and the second surface is determined on the basis of the difference between an orientation of the first surface, derived from the first test image, and an orientation of the second surface, derived from the second test image. The invention also relates to an associated measuring device.