Tilted Cavity Lens System for Optical Alignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical rotary joints require significant effort for exact adjustment of collimators or micro-lens arrays, which is time-consuming and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A lens system comprising a micro-lens array and a plane-parallel cavity with an optical medium of different refractive index, tilted at an angle, is used to achieve parallel displacement of light rays, allowing for simple and reproducible adjustment by introducing liquids of varying refractive indices into the cavity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional collimators or micro-lens arrays are used in optical rotary joints, then optical signal transmission can be achieved, but significant effort and time are required for exact adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a plane-parallel cavity filled with liquid of adjustable refractive index as a parameter adjustment mechanism. By changing the refractive index parameter of the liquid in the cavity, the optical path length is modified, enabling easy and rapid adjustment of the lens system without mechanical repositioning. This resolves the contradiction by providing a simple parameter-based adjustment method that reduces both adjustment effort and time.
Solution Approach 2:
The plane-parallel cavity acts as an intermediary element between the light source and the micro-lens array. It mediates the optical path by introducing a controllable refractive index variation that compensates for misalignment, thereby simplifying the adjustment process and reducing the time required for exact alignment.
2Manufacturing precision
If complex adjustment mechanisms are used to achieve exact alignment, then manufacturing precision can be improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms, the patent employs a parameter change approach by varying the refractive index of the liquid in the plane-parallel cavity. This simple parameter adjustment achieves the desired alignment precision without adding mechanical complexity to the device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical adjustment systems with an optical parameter-based solution. Rather than mechanically repositioning components to achieve alignment, the system uses refractive index modulation in the cavity to adjust the optical path, thereby reducing mechanical complexity while maintaining alignment precision.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional lens systems are used, then optical coupling can be achieved, but cost and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the optical system into distinct functional components: a fixed micro-lens array and an adjustable plane-parallel cavity filled with liquid. This segmentation allows the complex adjustment function to be isolated in the cavity component, simplifying the manufacturing of individual parts while maintaining overall adjustment precision through the liquid refractive index control.
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 solution enables low-cost, easily adjustable optical rotary joints with reduced effort for alignment, improving the efficiency of optical signal transmission and packing density of light-waveguides.
Implementation Method 1
the cavity has in its inside an optical medium having a refractive index different from a refractive index of surroundings of the cavity
Implementation Method 2
The cavity is tilted at an angle with respect to an axis of incidence of light and the cavity has in its inside an optical medium having a refractive index different from a refractive index of surroundings of the cavity
Data Source
AI summary
In a lens system, such as for use in optical rotary joints, obliquely tilted cavities are inserted in a light path between light-waveguides and lenses to be coupled thereto in order to compensate lateral displacements between the light waveguides and the lenses. The cavities are filled with an optical medium having a predetermined refractive index in order to achieve a parallel displacement of a light-ray path, so that the ray path passes centrally through the lenses.