Optical Displacement Sensor Lens Adjustment for Scheimpflug Condition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional optical displacement sensors require labor-intensive adjustments and increased size due to the need to adjust multiple components to meet the Scheimpflug condition, complicating the manufacturing process.

Innovation Solution

The method involves adjusting the optical system by moving only the light-receiving lens to meet the Scheimpflug condition, reducing the need for additional mechanisms and simplifying the adjustment process, thereby reducing labor and size requirements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If multiple components (light-receiving lens and CCD) are adjusted to meet the Scheimpflug condition, then focus accuracy is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefocus accuracyVSAvoidadjustment mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the adjustment function from multiple components and concentrates it solely on the light-receiving lens. By removing the need to adjust the CCD position and orientation, the invention simplifies the adjustment mechanism while maintaining focus accuracy through single-component optimization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The light-receiving lens is designed to perform multiple functions: it simultaneously achieves focus adjustment and Scheimpflug condition satisfaction. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate adjustment mechanisms for different optical requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Manufacturing precision

If multiple components are adjusted to meet the Scheimpflug condition, then optical performance is improved, but adjustment time and labor increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoptical performanceVSAvoidadjustment time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the time-consuming CCD adjustment step by extracting the adjustment function from the CCD and assigning it solely to the light-receiving lens. This reduces the number of adjustment operations from multiple steps to a single step.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The light-receiving lens is pre-designed with specific optical characteristics that enable it to satisfy the Scheimpflug condition when positioned correctly. This preliminary design preparation eliminates the need for iterative adjustments during assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If multiple adjustment mechanisms are provided for meeting the Scheimpflug condition, then optical accuracy is improved, but the size of the sensor increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoptical accuracyVSAvoidsensor size
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the adjustment functionality from multiple mechanical mechanisms and consolidates it into a single light-receiving lens positioning system. This elimination of redundant mechanisms reduces the overall sensor volume while maintaining optical accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Measurement precision

If multiple components are adjusted to meet the Scheimpflug condition, then measurement accuracy is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplacement measurement accuracyVSAvoidease of adjustment
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the adjustment requirement from multiple components and concentrates it on the light-receiving lens only. This simplification makes the manufacturing process easier while maintaining measurement accuracy through precise single-component positioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 approach allows for easy and efficient adjustment of the optical displacement sensor, minimizing labor and facility size, while ensuring accurate focus and displacement measurement.

Implementation Method 1

a light-receiving lens 14 for imaging the reflected light on the light-receiving face 13a of the light-receiving element 13

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical focusing: Lens

Implementation Method 2

a laser diode 101a for radiating light to an object to be measured 106

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight emission: Laser

Implementation Method 3

a projection lens 101b for collecting light from the laser diode 101a

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight collection and focusing: Lens

Implementation Method 4

a CCD 103 for receiving the reflected light on a light-receiving face 103a

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotoelectric detection: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentEP2538172B1Method for adjusting optical displacement sensor and method for manufacturing optical displacement sensor
Publication Date: 2019.09.04 OMRON CORP
  • EP2538172B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2538172B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2538172B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

In an optical displacement sensor (10) having a predetermined optical system, the predetermined optical system is adjusted to meet the Scheimpflug condition. The predetermined optical system has a projection module (9) configured to project light onto an object to be measured (16); a light-receiving element (13) configured to receive reflected light reflected by the object to be measured (16) of light projected from the projection module (9); and a light-receiving lens (14) configured to image the reflected light onto the light-receiving element (13), the light-receiving lens being positioned between the object to be measured (16) and the light-receiving element (13). The adjustment method performs an adjustment by moving only the light-receiving lens (14) in a direction of an optical axis (Z1 direction) of the light-receiving lens (14) and in a direction perpendicular (X1 direction) to the direction of the optical axis of the light-receiving lens (14).