Optoelectronic Sensor Reflector for Compact Beam Path Merging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing opto-electronic sensors, such as color and contrast sensors, face challenges with complex optical designs due to the use of cylindrical optics, light guides, and dichroic mirrors, which require significant space and adjustment efforts, and add complexity with additional beam splitters.
Innovation Solution
The use of a reflector with multiple reflecting surfaces, forming a sawtooth or roof-edge-like structure, allows for the combination of transmission and reception beam paths into a common optical axis, reducing complexity and space requirements by eliminating the need for sequential associations and additional beam splitters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If cylindrical optics or light guides are used to mix different colors of transmitted light, then the optical mixing function is achieved, but the device requires significant space and high adjustment effort in production
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple beam paths (transmission and reception) into a common optical axis using a reflector with multiple reflecting surfaces, eliminating the need for separate optical mixing elements like cylindrical optics or light guides. This merging approach reduces both the space required and the adjustment effort in production.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates the need for complex optical mixing elements (cylindrical optics, light guides, dichroic mirrors) by using a simpler reflector-based system that achieves the same optical mixing function through geometric arrangement of reflecting surfaces.
2Device complexity
If additional beam splitters are used to separate transmit and receive beam paths, then the beam path separation is achieved, but the optical design complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the separation function into the reflector structure itself, where different portions of the reflecting surfaces route transmission and reception beam paths to their respective destinations without requiring separate beam splitter components. This reduces overall device complexity while maintaining reliable beam path separation.
3Ease of manufacture
If dichroic mirrors are used to mix colors in a mirror staircase, then the optical mixing is achieved, but the device requires significant space and precise orientation adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex dichroic mirror staircase structure and replaces it with a simpler reflector system that achieves optical mixing through the geometric arrangement of multiple reflecting surfaces, eliminating the need for precise orientation adjustments and reducing space requirements.
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 results in a more compact and less complex optical design that effectively combines multiple beam paths, enhancing the sensor's ability to detect contrast marks or colors with improved light mixing and reduced production adjustments.
Implementation Method 1
a reflector with multiple reflecting surfaces, forming a sawtooth or roof-edge-like structure, allows for the combination of transmission and reception beam paths into a common optical axis
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
An optoelectronic sensor (1) is specified with at least one transmitting light source (2a, 2b, 2c) for emitting transmitted light, with a transmitting beam path (3a, 3b, 3c) associated with the transmitting element, with at least one light receiver (11a, 11b, 11c) for receiving reflected or remitted transmitted light and with a receiving beam path (10a, 10b, 10c) associated with the light receiver.The optoelectronic sensor also comprises a control and evaluation unit (12) and at least one reflector (13, 23, 33, 43) for combining transmit and/or receive beam paths onto a common beam path (6), wherein the reflector (13, 23, 33, 43) has a plurality of reflective surfaces (14, 24, 34, 44) which have an inclination to a reflector plane (15, 19) perpendicular to the common beam path (6), wherein each of the transmit and/or receive beam paths (3a, 3b, 3c, 10a, 10b, 10c) combined by the reflector (13, 23, 33, 43) has a predetermined proportion (14a, 14b, 24a, 24b, 24c, 34a, 34b, 34c, 44a, 44b, 44c) of the reflecting surfaces of the reflector.