Optical Zoom Lens Deviation Detection via Marking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing zoom optical units in microscopes face challenges in accurately determining and correcting mechanical deviations along their displacement paths, leading to statistical errors in image recording, which are difficult to address with current methods that require complex structural modifications or image stabilization assemblies.
Innovation Solution
A method that introduces an optical marking into the beam path to detect mechanical deviations by tracking the position of the marking during zooming, allowing for the determination of both systematic and statistical deviations using image processing, thereby enabling correction of displacement errors without significant hardware additions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If structural means such as highly accurate guidance elements or force-fit connections are used to reduce guidance errors, then manufacturing precision and reliability improve, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical guidance error correction (using complex mechanical structures like high-precision guidance elements) with an optical detection system. A sensor detects the position of an optical marking in the intermediate image plane, and electronic processing determines guidance errors, substituting mechanical complexity with optical-electronic measurement and control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an optical marking as an intermediary element in the intermediate image plane. This marking serves as a reference that mediates between the mechanical displacement of the zoom optical unit and the detection system, enabling indirect measurement of guidance errors without direct mechanical intervention.
2Reliability
If image stabilization assemblies or complicated components are used to compensate for guidance errors, then image recording reliability improves, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback loop where a sensor continuously detects the position of the optical marking, the evaluation unit determines guidance errors from these positions, and the system uses this information to correct image displacement errors. This closed-loop feedback replaces complex open-loop stabilization assemblies.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes mechanical image stabilization assemblies with an electronic correction system. The sensor-detected marking position feeds into electronic evaluation and correction algorithms that adjust the recorded image position, replacing mechanical stabilization components with optical-electronic processing.
3Loss of information
If the entire area of the image sensor is used for representing an image, then productivity and information capture improve, but measurement precision of displacement error decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image sensor area into two functional zones: one for detecting the optical marking (guidance error measurement) and another for capturing the actual image. This segmentation allows simultaneous optimization of both measurement precision (through dedicated marking detection) and information capture (through full sensor utilization).
Solution Approach 2:
The optical marking acts as an intermediary reference element that occupies a small portion of the sensor area while enabling precise displacement error measurement. This intermediary allows the system to maintain full sensor utilization for image capture while dedicating specific regions for high-precision error detection.
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 the detection and correction of mechanical deviations with minimal additional hardware and cost, improving image accuracy in microscopes by continuously adjusting the image sensor's region to compensate for statistical errors during zooming.
Implementation Method 1
The beam path with the optical marking passes the zoom optical unit (03), whereupon an image of the object to be recorded but also an image of the optical marking are imaged on an image sensor (04)
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates firstly to a method for determining a mechanical deviation on a displacement path of an optical zoom lens, in particular on a displacement path of an optical zoom lens of a microscope. The optical zoom lens is arranged in a beam path between an object to be recorded and an electronic image sensor. In a first method step, an optical marker is introduced into the beam path at a position of the beam path located between the object to be recorded and the optical zoom lens, such that the optical marker passes the optical zoom lens and then is depicted on an image in whicha position of the optical marker is detected and determined. This is compared with a reference position of the optical marker in order to determine the mechanical deviation on the displacement path of the optical zoom lens. The invention further relates to a method for correction of a displacement error of an image recorded by an electronic image sensor and to an electronic image recording device.