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Reflective-type photonic displacement sensor incorporating a micro-optic beam shaper
Optics Express
|February 12, 2014
Summary
This study introduces a novel photonic displacement sensor using a compact optical head with a micro-optic beam shaper and rotary scale. The sensor achieves high resolution for linear and angular displacement measurements, enabling precise motion tracking.
Area of Science:
- Photonics
- Optical Sensing
- Micro-optics
Background:
- Traditional displacement sensors face limitations in precision and size.
- Integrating micro-optics with VCSELs offers potential for compact, high-resolution sensing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose and realize a reflective-type photonic displacement sensor.
- To achieve high resolution in linear and angular displacement measurements.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a compact optical sensing head with a micro-optic beam shaper and a rotary scale.
- Employed ray tracing simulations for design and alignment tolerance analysis.
- Constructed a cost-effective beam shaper using plastic injection molding and passive alignment.
Main Results:
- Achieved a focused beam spot of approximately 30 μm using a single-mode VCSEL.
- Obtained a modulation depth of 7% with a 10-μm pitch rotary scale.
- Estimated linear resolution better than 5 μm and angular resolution better than 0.02°.
Conclusions:
- The proposed photonic displacement sensor demonstrates high precision and a compact design.
- The integration of micro-optics and VCSELs is effective for advanced displacement sensing applications.
