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1. Core Definition of Multi-Optical-Axis Technology

Multi-optical-axis technology refers to integrating two or more optical axes with different functions and wavebands into a single optical system. Through the collaborative work of each optical axis (such as synchronous detection, complementary imaging, and cross-calibration), it achieves a “1+1>2” functional upgrade. The core requirement is that the parallelism, coaxiality, or angular relationship of each optical axis meets strict precision standards (usually arcsecond-level/microradian-level). Its typical forms include: multi-band detection optical axes (visible light + infrared + laser), multi-sensor fusion optical axes (camera + LiDAR + millimeter-wave radar), and multi-beam collaborative optical axes (detection + ranging + guidance).

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2. Detailed Applications of Multi-Optical-Axis Technology in Various Industries

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2.1 National Defense and Military Industry (Core Application Field)

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（1）Details of Multi-Optical-Axis Applications

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• Electro-optical Sight System: Electro-optical sights equipped on small arms and artillery integrate visible light imaging optical axis, infrared thermal imaging optical axis, and laser ranging optical axisto achieve day-and-night all-weather aiming — relying on the visible light optical axis for precise positioning during the day, detecting heat sources through the infrared optical axis at night, and synchronously measuring target distance via the laser optical axis. The collaboration of the three determines the aiming accuracy;
• Missile Seeker: Infrared-guided missiles integrate an “infrared detection optical axis + laser correction optical axis”. The infrared optical axis captures the target’s thermal radiation, and the laser optical axis real-time corrects the flight trajectory deviation;
• Shipborne/Airborne Multi-Band Detection System: Early warning radars and optical detection systems (visible light + infrared + ultraviolet) carried by warships and aircraft form multi-optical-axis collaboration, enabling all-round and anti-jamming detection of air and sea targets.
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（2）Core Role of Off-Axis Reflective Collimators

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• High-Precision Detection of Optical Axis Parallelism: Adopting a large-aperture off-axis parabolic mirror (effective aperture up to 400mm or more), it generates high-parallelism light beams without central obstruction (parallelism ≤ 5 arcseconds). By measuring the center offset of the light spot of each optical axis, it accurately calculates the optical axis deviation angle (error ≤ 0.1 mrad), solving the problems of large errors and strong subjectivity in traditional detection methods (pentaprism method, small-aperture collimator method);
• Wide-Spectral Adaptive Calibration: The reflective structure has no chromatic aberration, which can simultaneously adapt to visible light, infrared (far/near infrared), and laser wavebands. It can complete synchronous calibration of multi-optical axes without replacing equipment, meeting the multi-band collaborative requirements of electro-optical sights and seekers;
• Simulation of Infinite-Distance Combat Targets: By loading standard target plates such as star targets and terrain targets, it simulates long-distance battlefield targets (equivalent to infinite distance), providing a closed-loop environment for testing the dynamic tracking accuracy and imaging quality of multi-optical-axis systems, and ensuring the capture and strike accuracy of long-distance targets in actual combat.
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2.2 Aerospace Industry

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（1）Details of Multi-Optical-Axis Applications

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• Satellite Optical Payload: Remote sensing satellites carry multi-spectral cameras (visible light + infrared + ultraviolet) and laser altimeters to form multi-optical-axis collaboration — the multi-spectral optical axis is responsible for surface imaging, and the laser optical axis measures terrain elevation. It is necessary to ensure optical axis parallelism to avoid geographic coordinate offset;
• UAV Navigation System: Military/civilian UAVs integrate “visual navigation optical axis (camera) + laser obstacle avoidance optical axis + infrared reconnaissance optical axis”. The synchronous work of multi-optical axes realizes autonomous navigation, obstacle avoidance, and target reconnaissance;
• Space Telescope: For example, the James Webb Space Telescope adopts a multi-optical-axis system composed of multiple off-axis parabolic mirrors to avoid central obstruction and achieve high-resolution observation of deep-space celestial bodies.
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（2）Core Role of Off-Axis Reflective Collimators

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• Pre-Launch Calibration of Satellite Payloads: Large-aperture off-axis reflective collimators (aperture up to several meters) simulate infinite-distance targets in space, calibrate the boresight consistency of satellite multi-spectral cameras, and ensure the registration accuracy (pixel-level alignment) of images in different wavebands during on-orbit imaging;
• Dynamic Calibration of UAV Optical Axes: Combined with an electric turntable, it simulates changes in UAV flight attitudes, tests the parallelism stability of multi-optical axes under dynamic conditions, and eliminates optical axis offset caused by vibration through real-time calibration to improve navigation reliability;
• Detection of Large-Size Optical Components: It provides uniform collimated light beams for large-aperture components such as space telescopes and satellite optical windows, detects their surface shape errors (RMS accuracy up to 1/20λ) and transmission uniformity, and ensures the upper limit of imaging quality of multi-optical-axis systems.
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2.3 Security Monitoring and Intelligent Sensing Industry

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（1）Details of Multi-Optical-Axis Applications

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• Multi-Band Security Cameras: Integrate “visible light imaging optical axis + infrared night vision optical axis + laser fill light optical axis” to achieve 24-hour non-dead-angle monitoring — high-definition imaging with visible light during the day, detecting heat sources through the infrared optical axis at night, and enhancing details with laser fill light via the laser optical axis;
• Border/Coastal Defense Early Warning System: Adopt “visible light detection + infrared tracking + laser ranging” multi-optical-axis collaboration to identify personnel, vehicles, or ships several kilometers away and accurately locate target positions.
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（2）Core Role of Off-Axis Reflective Collimators

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• Precise Calibration of Infrared Optical Axes: The off-axis design reduces stray light interference (reflectivity ≥ 85%), adapts to weak infrared signal wavebands, calibrates the parallelism between the infrared optical axis and the visible light optical axis, and avoids position deviation between “targets seen during the day” and “targets detected by infrared at night”;
• Quantitative Detection of Imaging Quality: By loading standard resolution plates, high-quality parallel light generated by the collimator detects the resolution and distortion of multi-optical-axis systems, ensuring the clarity and consistency of imaging in different wavebands and providing reliable image quality assurance for security monitoring;
• Verification of Long-Distance Detection Performance: Simulate infinite-distance targets several kilometers away, test the detection distance and recognition accuracy of multi-optical-axis systems, and optimize the matching relationship between laser fill light intensity and infrared detection sensitivity.
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2.4 Automotive Electronics and Autonomous Driving Industry

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（1）Details of Multi-Optical-Axis Applications

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• Autonomous Driving Multi-Sensor Fusion: On-board systems integrate “visual camera optical axis (visible light/infrared) + LiDAR optical axis + millimeter-wave radar optical axis”. Multi-optical-axis collaboration realizes environmental perception — cameras identify traffic signs, LiDAR measures distances, and millimeter-wave radar resists harsh weather interference;
• On-Board Night Vision Assistance System: The infrared optical axis collaborates with the visible light optical axis to detect pedestrians and obstacles at night or under low visibility conditions, providing early warnings for drivers.
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（2）Core Role of Off-Axis Reflective Collimators

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• Calibration of Multi-Sensor Optical Axis Consistency: Calibrate the consistency of optical axes between cameras and LiDAR, solve the position deviation problem between “visually recognized targets” and “LiDAR-ranged targets”, and improve the accuracy of autonomous driving decisions (error ≤ 0.5°);
• Testing of Complex Environmental Adaptability: By replacing target plates and light sources, it simulates scenarios such as rainy days, foggy days, and nights, tests the environmental robustness of multi-optical-axis systems, and provides a standardized test environment for sensor algorithm optimization;
• Efficient Detection on Mass Production Lines: Adopt miniaturized off-axis reflective collimators integrated into automotive production lines to achieve rapid calibration of multi-optical-axis sensors (calibration time per device ≤ 5 minutes), meeting mass production efficiency requirements.
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2.5 Semiconductor and Precision Manufacturing Industry

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（1）Details of Multi-Optical-Axis Applications

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• Multi-Beam Alignment of Lithography Equipment: Semiconductor lithography equipment adopts “illumination optical axis + alignment optical axis + detection optical axis” multi-optical-axis collaboration to ensure precise positioning of photoresist exposure (nanometer-level precision);
• Dimensional Measurement of Precision Parts: Industrial inspection equipment integrates “visible light imaging optical axis + laser ranging optical axis” to realize simultaneous surface defect detection and 3D dimensional measurement of parts.
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（2）Core Role of Off-Axis Reflective Collimators

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• Nanometer-Level Optical Axis Alignment: Provide ultra-high parallelism light beams (parallelism ≤ 2 μrad), calibrate the illumination optical axis and alignment optical axis of lithography equipment, ensure the positional accuracy of exposure patterns (deviation ≤ 10 nm), and support advanced process chip manufacturing;
• Non-Contact High-Precision Detection: Through laser beam expansion function (matched with laser light source), it generates uniform parallel laser beams to detect dimensional deviations and surface flatness of precision parts, avoiding damage to parts caused by contact measurement;
• Wide-Spectral Adaptation to Manufacturing Requirements: Compatible with ultraviolet to infrared wavebands, adapting to the detection needs of parts of different materials (such as visible light for transparent materials and infrared for metal parts), improving detection versatility.
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2.6 Scientific Research and Experimental Testing Industry

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（1）Details of Multi-Optical-Axis Applications

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• Multi-Spectral Analysis Experiments: Research institutions build “visible light + infrared + ultraviolet” multi-optical-axis spectral systems to study the spectral response characteristics of materials;
• Quantum Optics and Laser Physics Experiments: In quantum communication and femtosecond laser systems, multi-optical-axis collaboration realizes precise control of photon transmission, laser focusing, and detection;
• R&D of Optical Instruments: During the R&D process of new telescopes, microscopes, and cameras, multi-optical-axis debugging is required to optimize imaging performance.
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（2）Core Role of Off-Axis Reflective Collimators

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• Provision of Experimental Benchmark Optical Axes: As a “standard ruler” for optical experiments, it provides repeatable and high-precision benchmark parallel light, ensuring the reliability and comparability of experimental data;
• Multi-Band Experimental Adaptability: It can adapt to experiments in different wavebands without replacing core components, reducing the complexity of multi-spectral experimental equipment and improving experimental efficiency;
• Meeting Extreme Precision Requirements: With surface shape accuracy RMS better than 1/40λ and parallelism up to microradian level, it meets the extreme precision requirements of cutting-edge fields such as quantum optics and precision optics.

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3. Core Summary: Irreplaceable Value of Off-Axis Reflective Collimators

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• Technical Advantages Determine Core Position: No central obstruction (energy loss reduced by 40%), wide spectral adaptation (visible light – infrared – ultraviolet), high parallelism (≤ 5 arcseconds), and easy realization of large apertures (up to several meters) perfectly solve the core needs of multi-optical-axis systems for “multi-band collaboration, high-precision alignment, and interference-free detection”;
• Precise Solution to Industry Pain Points: Targeting the pain points of multi-optical-axis systems in various industries such as “optical axis deviation, imaging distortion, and poor environmental adaptability”, it provides a full-process solution from R&D testing, production calibration to operation and maintenance debugging;
• Future Development Trends: With the development of multi-optical-axis technology towards miniaturization, integration, and high resolution (such as multi-sensor fusion in autonomous driving, micro-satellite payloads), off-axis reflective collimators will upgrade towards “miniaturization, modularization, and intelligence”, further expanding their applications in emerging fields such as consumer electronics and medical equipment.