Toroidal Mirror Illumination System for Compact Optical Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical measuring apparatuses for metallic and pearl-color coatings are bulky due to the need for radial arrangement of illuminators and long distances between collimator lenses, making them difficult to use in portable settings.
Innovation Solution
The use of a toroidal mirror with a concave reflecting surface formed by rotating a parabolic curve around an axis, allowing light beams from multiple illuminators to be reflected in parallel directions, reducing the size of the apparatus by eliminating interference between collimator lenses and enabling compact illumination and detection systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional radial arrangement of illuminators and collimator lenses is used, then measurement precision is maintained, but apparatus size becomes large and portability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by replacing conventional collimator lenses with a toroidal mirror having a curved reflecting surface. This curved surface reflects light from multiple illuminators arranged along a focal point arc, enabling parallel light beams to be generated without requiring multiple separate collimator lenses. The curved geometry of the toroidal mirror allows compact arrangement of optical components while maintaining the precision needed for measuring reflection characteristics of metallic and pearl-color coatings.
2Illumination intensity
If multiple collimator lenses are arranged radially to illuminate object surface, then illumination coverage is improved, but interference between lenses occurs and apparatus complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of multiple collimator lenses into a single toroidal mirror. Instead of using separate collimator lenses for each illuminator, the toroidal mirror's curved reflecting surface performs the collimation function for all illuminators simultaneously. The illuminators are arranged along a focal point arc of the toroidal mirror, and their light beams are reflected in parallel directions, achieving comprehensive illumination coverage without the complexity of multiple lenses and their associated mounting and alignment 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
This configuration results in a significantly smaller optical measuring apparatus that maintains high-precision measurement capabilities for reflection characteristics, eliminating the need for extensive space and allowing for portable use.
Implementation Method 1
a toroidal mirror having a concave reflecting surface formed by circularly rotating a parabolic curve or its approximate curve around an axis with the focal point of the parabolic curve or the substantial light focusing point of the approximate curve forming a focal point arc, and a plurality of light emitters of which light emitting portions are arranged on or in the vicinity of the focal point arc such that the beams emanated from the light emitting portions are reflected by the toroidal mirror in parallel with each other
Data Source
AI summary
An optical measuring apparatus includes: an illumination system having a toroidal mirror which is by circularly rotating a parabolic curve or its approximate curve around an axis with the focal point of the parabolic curve or the substantial light focusing point of the approximate curve forming a focal point arc; and a plurality of illuminators which are arranged in the vicinity of the focal point arc to reflect beams emanated from the illuminators by the toroidal mirror as parallel beams for projection onto the object surface in different directions on the measurement plane; a light detecting system which detects the reflection beams from the object surface in a specific direction; and a controller/calculator which successively turns on the illuminators, measures the reflection beams from the object surface in respective illuminating directions of the illuminators, and calculates reflection characteristics of the object surface in the respective illuminating directions.