Photonic integrated adaptive delay lines for high-speed absolute distance measurement.

拉夫堡大学开发了一种用于超高速、高精度绝对距离测量的新光学技术，该技术由EPSRC资助的未来计量中心开发。该技术具有许多潜在的工业应用，特别是在汽车和航空航天领域，如低成本的无夹具装配、机器人路径规划和尺寸质量控制。已经进行了概念验证实验，提交了专利申请(“测量距离的方法和装置”：希腊PA编号：20200100260，英国PA编号：2009723.4)，并就此发表了两篇论文(Josa A，37，11,1874年(2020年)；OSA Continuum，2020年1月12日接受)。最初的演示装置(尺寸为1m^2)随后与南安普顿光电子研究中心的硅光子组合作，在一个光子集成电路(尺寸为1 cm^2)上进行了小型化。这将具有显著的好处，可以将包含本发明的高度便携的计量系统嵌入生产线，并且只需花费当前大宗光学系统的一小部分成本。这个iCASE专业的学生将研究芯片规模演示器的性能，以测试基于该技术的未来产品的商业可行性。新的研究挑战第一个演示器实现了每秒100,000次测量(目标距离、位移和速度)，距离分辨率&lt；100 nm，位移分辨率&lt；芯片规模的器件提出了新的挑战，以匹配和超过这一性能，包括：热稳定、芯片上有源开关的电子控制、串扰、色散对信号线性度和距离不确定性的影响、可调谐激光光源频率扫描的校准和实时信号处理。工作计划：11.1年关于所提议的技术和光电子学器件的理论方面的培训；1.2建立芯片规模的系统，测量范围到后向反射器目标几厘米；1.3研究和减轻波导损耗和光学色散的影响。22.1年光路校准和偏振不稳定性的影响；2.2测量开关之间的相位/温度耦合及其对测量不确定度(距离、位移和速度)的影响。第1篇，第24个月33.1对干扰信号进行实时分析，以提供目标距离和轴向速度，吞吐量为每秒100,000个坐标；3.2针对不同目标范围的热稳定性和不确定性研究。论文2，36个月44.1与雷尼绍合作提出的案例研究(例如机床主轴计量、机床定位)；4.2研究采用该技术的未来产品的商业可行性；4.3撰写论文。论文3，48个月。

A novel optical technique for very high speed, high accuracy absolute distance measurement has been developed within the Loughborough University spoke of the EPSRC funded Future Metrology Hub. The technology has many potential industrial applications, particularly in the automotive and aerospace sectors, such as low-cost jig-less assembly, robot path planning, and dimensional quality control. Proof of concept experiments have been carried out, patent applications have been submitted ("Method and Apparatus for measuring Distance": Greek PA No: 20200100260, UK PA No: 2009723.4) and two papers published on the subject (JOSA A, 37, 11, 1874 (2020); OSA Continuum, accepted 1/12/2020). The initial demonstrator (size 1 m^2) was then miniaturized on a photonic integrated circuit (size < 1 cm^2) in collaboration with the silicon photonics group at Southampton Optoelectronics Research Centre. This would have significant benefits allowing highly portable metrology systems incorporating the invention to be embedded on the production line, as well as costing a tiny fraction of the current bulk optics system. This iCASE studentship will study the performance of the chip-scale demonstrator to test the commercial viability of future products based on this technology.Novel research challengesThe first demonstrator achieved 100,000 measurements (of target range, displacement and velocity) per second, with a range resolution <100 nm, displacement resolution < 1nm, and velocity resolution of 12e^-6 m/s for ranges up to ~0.3 m. The chip-scale devices present new challenges to match and exceed that performance, including: thermal stabilization, electronic control of active switches on the chip, cross-talk, dispersion effects on the signal linearity and distance uncertainty and calibration of the frequency scan of the tuneable laser source and real-time signal processing. Work planYear 11.1 Training on the theoretical aspects of the proposed technique and photonics devices; 1.2 Set up chip-scale system with a measurement range of a few cm to a retroreflector target; 1.3 Study and mitigate effects of waveguide losses and optical dispersion.Year 22.1 Optical path calibration and effects of polarization instability; 2.2 Measure phase/temperature coupling between switches and its effect on measurement uncertainty (range, displacement, and velocity). Paper 1, month 24Year 33.1 Implement real-time analysis of the interference signal to provide target range and axial velocity with a throughput of 100,000 coordinates per second; 3.2 Thermal stability and uncertainty study for different target ranges. Paper 2, month 36Year 44.1 Case studies proposed and coordinated with Renishaw (e.g. machine tool spindle metrology, machine tool positioning); 4.2 Study commercial viability of future products that incorporate the technology; 4.3 Write Thesis. Paper 3, month 48.