Variable Focus Lens Shutter for Laser Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shutter systems for laser light sources face challenges in achieving a high light-blocking rate without mechanical vibration, which is essential for precise applications like hologram recording, and are either expensive or inefficient in terms of light-blocking performance.
Innovation Solution
A laser light source shutter system utilizing a variable focus optical element, such as a variable focus lens or mirror, controlled by a controller to adjust focal lengths for transmission and blocking, eliminating mechanical movement and allowing for high light-blocking efficiency at a lower cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mechanical shutter is used to achieve high light-blocking rate, then the light-blocking performance is improved, but mechanical vibration occurs during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical shutter system with an optical system consisting of a variable focus lens and pinhole. The controller adjusts the focal length of the variable focus lens to control beam transmission and blocking, eliminating mechanical moving parts and associated vibrations while achieving high light-blocking rates through optical focusing and spatial filtering.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the focal length parameter of the variable focus lens to control the shutter state. By adjusting the focal length to specific values, the system achieves different states (transmission or blocking) without mechanical movement, thereby eliminating vibration while maintaining light-blocking performance.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If an electronic shutter (AOM or LC shutter) is used to eliminate mechanical vibration, then vibration is reduced, but the light-blocking rate and light efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electronic shutters (AOM or LC shutter) with an optical system using a variable focus lens and pinhole. This substitution achieves superior light-blocking rates through precise optical focusing and spatial filtering while maintaining the vibration-free advantage of electronic control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a pinhole as an intermediary element in the optical path. The pinhole acts as a spatial filter that works in conjunction with the variable focus lens to achieve high light-blocking rates by blocking scattered light and improving contrast, thereby overcoming the light-blocking limitations of electronic shutters.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If an electronic shutter is used to eliminate mechanical operation, then the system becomes vibration-free, but the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive electronic shutters (AOM or LC shutter) with a more cost-effective optical system consisting of a variable focus lens and pinhole. This substitution maintains the vibration-free advantage while significantly reducing system cost by using simpler, more affordable optical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses relatively inexpensive optical components (variable focus lens and pinhole) to replace expensive electronic shutters. The variable focus lens can be implemented using cost-effective technologies such as liquid lenses or mechanically adjustable lenses, providing a budget-friendly solution that achieves the desired performance.
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
The system achieves a high light-blocking rate with electrical control, eliminating vibration and reducing costs, while enabling easy implementation across various wavelength bands without mechanical complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a variable focus optical element configured to transmit a beam emitted from the light source
Data Source
AI summary
A laser light source shutter system includes a light source, a variable focus optical element to transmit a beam emitted from the light source, a pinhole located on an optical path through which the beam travels from the variable focus optical element, and a controller to control a transmission and blocking of the beam by controlling a focal length of the variable focus optical element to be equal to a distance between the variable focus optical element and the pinhole or to be equal to other distances different from the distance. Therefore, a laser light source shutter free from vibration can be realized electronically with a low cost and a high light-blocking rate using a variable focus optical element such as a variable focus lens and a variable focus mirror.