Lens and lens device

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a lens and a lens device. The lens device includes a lens including an optical unit and a rib portion extending outward from the optical unit along a radial direction, wherein the rib portion includes a light-transmitting region and a light-blocking region, wherein the light-blocking region is disposed at an inner side of the rib portion. The light-blocking region can include a non-polar colorant. The lens can include a cyclic olefin compound. The lens device can include one or more lenses having a rib portion with a light-transmitting region and a light-blocking region, and can include a lens assembly having one or more lenses.

Description

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0110350, filed with the Korean Intellectual Property Office on August 20, 2021, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. Technical Field

[0002] The following description relates to a lens and a lens device. Background Technology

[0003] When strong or bright light (e.g., in a dark room or under fluorescence) is incident on a lens included in a camera module at a specific angle, internal reflections may occur due to the light passing through the rib surface of the lens at that angle. Because internal reflections can cause flare or ghosting in the image during image capture, such internal reflections may be undesirable for accurate image formation. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This summary is provided to introduce the selected concept in a simplified form, which will be further described in the detailed description below. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to help determine the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[0005] In one general aspect, a lens device includes a first lens having a first optical unit and a first rib extending radially outward from the first optical unit, wherein the first rib includes a first light-transmitting area and a first light-shielding area, wherein the first light-shielding area may be disposed inside the first rib and includes a first non-polar colorant.

[0006] The first light-shielding area may extend from one surface of the first rib along the optical axis on the inner side of the first rib.

[0007] The first light-shielding area may extend from the two surfaces of the first rib along the optical axis on the inner side of the first rib.

[0008] The first light-shielding area may extend from the surface of the first rib toward the optical axis of the first lens on the inner side of the first rib.

[0009] The first light-shielding area may be disposed on at least one surface of the first rib inside the first rib.

[0010] The average thickness of the first light-shielding area in the optical axis direction can be 15 μm or less.

[0011] The first light-shielding area may have an average transmittance of 20% or less for light with wavelengths from 400 nm to 650 nm.

[0012] The first light-shielding area may contain alkane having 1 to 16 carbon atoms.

[0013] The first non-polar colorant may be a light-shielding dye, and the concentration of the light-shielding dye may decrease as the distance from the surface of the first rib toward the first light-transmitting area increases.

[0014] At least the first rib of the first lens may contain a cyclic olefin compound.

[0015] The lens device may further include a second lens adjacent to the first lens. The second lens may include a second optical unit and a second rib. The second rib extends outward from the second optical unit along a corresponding radial direction, wherein the second rib may include a second light-transmitting area.

[0016] The second rib may further include a second light-shielding area, the second light-shielding area including a second non-polar colorant, wherein the second light-shielding area may be disposed on the inner side of the second rib, wherein the first non-polar colorant and the second non-polar colorant may be the same or different.

[0017] The first light-shielding area may surround the entire outer peripheral edge of the first lens, and / or the second light-shielding area may surround the entire outer peripheral edge of the second lens.

[0018] The lens device may include a lens assembly and may also include a lens barrel that houses the first lens and the second lens.

[0019] The first shading area may be adjacent to the second shading area.

[0020] In one general aspect, a lens includes an optical unit and a rib extending radially outward from the optical unit, wherein the optical unit and the rib comprise a cycloolefin compound, the rib includes a light-transmitting region and a light-shielding region, the light-shielding region being disposed inside the rib and comprising a nonpolar colorant for reducing light transmittance.

[0021] In one general aspect, a lens device includes a lens assembly comprising: a lens barrel including an internal space; and one or more lenses stacked along an optical axis in the internal space of the lens barrel, wherein each of the one or more lenses includes a respective optical unit and a respective rib extending outward from the respective optical unit along a respective radial direction of the stacked one or more lenses, wherein one or more of the respective ribs includes a respective light-transmitting area and a respective light-shielding area, wherein the respective light-shielding area is disposed inside the one or more respective ribs, and each light-shielding area may contain a respective non-polar colorant.

[0022] The respective light-shielding area of ​​the respective light-shielding area of ​​the respective ribs of at least one of the one or more lenses may extend along the optical axis from one or both surfaces of the respective rib inside the respective rib.

[0023] The respective light-shielding area of ​​the respective light-shielding area of ​​the respective ribs of at least one of the one or more lenses may extend radially outward from the inner side of the respective rib toward the optical axis of the at least one lens.

[0024] The respective light-shielding area of ​​the respective light-shielding area of ​​the respective ribs of at least one of the one or more lenses may be disposed on at least one surface of the respective rib inside the respective rib.

[0025] Other features and aspects will be readily understood from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0026] Figure 1 This is a schematic perspective view of a lens according to one or more embodiments.

[0027] Figure 2 It is according to one or more embodiments along Figure 1 The cross-sectional view taken from line I-I'.

[0028] Figure 3 It is according to one or more embodiments along Figure 1 The cross-sectional view taken from line I-I'.

[0029] Figure 4 This is a schematic perspective view of a lens assembly according to one or more embodiments.

[0030] Figure 5This is a graph showing the light transmittance with respect to wavelength in a non-limiting example embodiment and a comparative example.

[0031] Figure 6 This is a graph showing the color thickness of the ribs of lenses in non-limiting example embodiments and comparative examples.

[0032] Figure 7 The graphs show non-limiting example embodiments and comparative examples of light transmittance according to wavelength, wherein the respective ribs are colored with different solvents.

[0033] Throughout the accompanying drawings and detailed embodiments, unless otherwise described or specified, the same reference numerals will be understood to indicate the same or similar elements, features, or structures. The drawings may not be drawn to scale, and for clarity, illustration, and convenience, the relative dimensions, scale, and depiction of elements in the drawings may be exaggerated. Detailed Implementation

[0034] The following detailed embodiments are provided to aid the reader in gaining a comprehensive understanding of the methods, apparatus, and / or systems described herein. However, after understanding the disclosure of this application, various changes, modifications, and equivalents of the methods, apparatus, and / or systems described herein will be readily apparent. For example, the order of operations described herein is merely illustrative and is not limited to those orders of operations set forth herein, but rather, obvious changes can be made after understanding the disclosure of this application, except for operations that must occur in a specific order. Furthermore, for clarity and conciseness, descriptions of features known after understanding the disclosure of this application may be omitted.

[0035] For illustrative purposes, certain elements, components, or features may be omitted in the discussion of some embodiments; however, the omission of these elements, components, or features is not intended to imply that these embodiments may exclude any or all of these elements, components, or features. Similarly, for such illustrative purposes, and as a non-limiting example, the thickness of such elements, components, or features may be shown in an enlarged or expanded form or shape to focus the explanation on various layers and areas, but the embodiments are not limited thereto. For example, as mentioned above, the drawings may not be drawn to scale, and the relative sizes, proportions, and depictions of elements in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity, illustration, and convenience. Furthermore, components having the same or similar functions within the scope of the same or similar concept may also be indicated as identical, but the embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0036] Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular form is intended to include the plural form as well. Furthermore, the terminology used herein is for describing various examples and not for limiting this disclosure. Expressions such as “having” or “may have,” “including” or “may include,” “comprising” or “may contain” specify the presence of said features, numbers, operations, components, elements, and / or combinations thereof in various embodiments, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, operations, components, elements, and / or combinations thereof in other various embodiments. Additionally, it should be noted here that such use of the term “may” with respect to examples or embodiments, for example, regarding what an example or embodiment may include or implement, indicates the existence of at least one example or embodiment that includes or implements such a feature, while not all examples and embodiments are limited thereto. Similarly, such expressions indicating that corresponding characteristics (e.g., numerical values, functions, operations, or components such as parts) may appear or may exist relative to such stated features, numbers, operations, components, elements, and / or combinations thereof do not exclude the presence of additional or alternative such corresponding characteristics, while again it should be noted that unless otherwise clearly stated in this disclosure, the use of the term “may” also indicates that embodiments are not limited to the appearance or presence of corresponding characteristics.

[0037] In this specification, expressions such as “A and / or B”, “at least one of A and B”, or “one or more of A and B” may include all possible combinations of the items listed together. For example, “A and / or B”, “at least one of A and B”, or “one or more of A and B” means (1) including at least one A; (2) including at least one B; or (3) including both at least one A and at least one B.

[0038] Although terms such as “first,” “second,” and “third” may be used herein to describe various components, assemblies, regions, layers, or parts, these components, assemblies, regions, layers, or parts are not limited by these terms. Rather, these terms are used only to distinguish one component, assembly, region, layer, or part from another. Therefore, without departing from the teaching of the examples described herein, the first component, first assembly, first region, first layer, or first part mentioned in the examples may also be referred to as a second component, second assembly, second region, second layer, or second part.

[0039] In the accompanying drawings, the X direction can be defined as a first direction, the L direction, or the length direction. The Y direction can be defined as a second direction, the W direction, or the width direction. The Z direction can be defined as a third direction, the T direction, the thickness direction, or the optical axis direction. Additionally, for ease of description, other spatial relative terms such as "above," "upper," "below," and "lower" may be used to describe the relationship between one element and another element as shown in the figures. Such spatial relative terms are intended to cover not only the orientation depicted in the figures but also different orientations of the device during use or operation. For example, if the device in the figures is flipped, an element described as "above" or "upper" relative to another element will be "below" or "lower" relative to that element. Therefore, the term "above" covers both "above" and "below" orientations depending on the spatial orientation of the device. The device may also be oriented in other ways (e.g., rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations), and the spatial relative terms used herein will be interpreted accordingly.

[0040] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein (including technical and scientific terms) shall have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains, upon understanding the disclosure of this application. Terms such as those defined in common dictionaries shall be interpreted as having the same meaning as they have in the technical field to which this disclosure pertains and in the context of the disclosure of this application, and shall not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly defined herein.

[0041] Figure 1 This is a schematic perspective view of a lens according to one or more embodiments. Figure 2 The following are shown according to various embodiments. Figure 1 A cross-sectional view taken by line I-I'. For example, Figure 1 A lens 100 is shown, which includes an optical unit 110 and a rib 120 extending radially outward from the optical unit 110. The rib 120 may include a light-transmitting area 122 and a light-shielding area 121. Figure 3 The following are shown according to various embodiments. Figure 1 A cross-sectional view taken from line I-I'. Furthermore, Figure 4 This is a schematic perspective view of a lens assembly according to one or more embodiments. For example, the lens assembly according to one or more embodiments includes one or more lenses, which may have one or more respective light-shielding areas 121 according to various embodiments. Therefore, in the following, reference will be made to... Figures 1 to 4 Example lenses according to various embodiments are described in more detail, but it should be noted that the examples are not limited thereto.

[0042] Reference Figures 1 to 4As described above, the lens 100 may include one or more ribs 120, and the one or more ribs 120 may each include one or more light-transmitting areas 122 and one or more light-blocking areas 121.

[0043] For example, each of the light-shielding area 121 and light-transmitting area 122 of the example rib 120 may be disposed within a portion of the rib 120, for example, the light-transmitting area 122 may be located further inside the rib 120 than one or more light-shielding areas 121 of the rib 120. Here, as a non-limiting example, the fact that a certain "area" is disposed inside the rib 120 may mean that the maximum dimension of the corresponding area in the first direction, the second direction, and / or the third direction is smaller than the maximum dimension of the rib in the first direction, the second direction, and / or the third direction, and may mean that the outer boundaries of the corresponding area are all inside the rib.

[0044] The shape and / or type of lens 100 are not limited. While exemplary embodiments may include one or more lenses or lens assemblies in or for optical devices such as camera modules, the examples are not limited thereto, and by way of non-limiting example, exemplary embodiments may include one or more lenses or lens assemblies in or for other devices or systems. Lens 100 may be a plastic resin lens comprising a resin component, which, according to an example, may contain a cyclic olefin compound. Lens 100 may be manufactured by molding a resin composition containing a cyclic olefin compound into a predetermined shape, but the manufacturing method is not limited thereto. According to an example, both the optical unit 110 and the rib 120 of lens 100 may contain a cyclic olefin compound.

[0045] In the examples, the cyclic olefin compound may be, for example, one of the following resins: a resin obtained by ring-opening (co)polymerization of a monomer having a norbornene backbone and adding hydrogen thereto; a resin of a monomer having only a norbornene backbone; a resin obtained by addition (co)polymerization with an α-olefin; and a resin obtained by addition (co)polymerization of an aromatic olefin monomer and adding hydrogen thereto, but not limited thereto. Examples of cyclic olefin compounds include, but are not limited to, norbornene polymers / copolymers, benzocyclobutene polymers / copolymers, etc.

[0046] Detailed examples of monomers may include 2-norbornene, 5-methyl-2-norbornene, 5,5-dimethyl-2-norbornene, 5-ethyl-2-norbornene, 5-butyl-2-norbornene, 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene, 5-methoxycarbonyl-2-norbornene, 5-cyano-2-norbornene, 5-methyl-5-methoxycarbonyl-2-norbornene, 5-phenyl-2-norbornene, 5-phenyl-5-methyl-2-norbornene, dicyclopentadiene, 2,3-dihydrodicyclopentadiene, tetracyclo-3-dodecene, 8-methyltetracyclo-3-dodecene, 8-ethyltetracyclo-3-dodecene, 8-hexyltetracyclo-3-dodecene, 2,10-dimethyltetracyclo-3-dodecene, 5,10-dimethyltetracyclo-3- Dodecene, 1,4:5,8-dimethano-1,2,3,4,4a,5,8,8a-octahydro-2,3-cyclopentadieno naphthalene, and 6-ethyl-1,4:5,8-dimethano-1,4,4a,5,6,7,8,8a-octahydronaphthalene α-octahydronaphthalene), 1,4:5,10:6,9-trimethano-1,2,3,4,4a,5,5a,6,9,9a,10,10a-dodecahydro-2,3-cyclopentadienoanthracene, adducts of cyclopentadiene and tetrahydroindene, and their derivatives or substituents, but not limited thereto.

[0047] As a non-limiting example, the lens 100 according to the example may include an optical unit 110 and a rib 120, such as Figures 1 to 4 As shown in any of the diagrams.

[0048] Optical unit 110 may be the region in which the optical properties of lens 100 are presented, for example, the region in which light reflected from an object (or subject) is refracted. For example, a portion or surface of optical unit 110 of lens 100 may have positive or negative refractive power. Rib 120 may be the region for securing lens 100 to another structure (e.g., lens barrel, other lens, and / or spacer), and rib 120 may support optical unit 110. Rib 120 may be a region extending outward along the radial direction of optical unit 110. Here, "radial direction" may refer to the direction from the center of optical unit 110 toward the outer peripheral surface of lens 100, and may refer to the direction perpendicular to the optical axis. Rib 120 and optical unit 110 may be distinguished by their position or function, and may refer to, for example, a divided region within the same lens. For example, optical unit 110 and rib 120 may constitute a single lens.

[0049] As described above, the rib 120 of the lens 100 according to the example may include a light-transmitting area 122 and a light-shielding area 121. The light-transmitting area 122 may refer to the area through which light can pass, and may refer to the area where the light-shielding area 121 is not formed. As a non-limiting example, for instance, the light-transmitting area 122 may refer to an area having an average transmittance greater than 80% for light with wavelengths in the range of 400 nm to 650 nm, and the light-shielding area 121 may indicate an area having an average transmittance of 20% or less for light with wavelengths in the range of 400 nm to 650 nm. For example, the light-shielding area 121 and the light-transmitting area 122 are terms used to distinguish between areas within the same lens that are stained with a non-polar dye and areas that are not stained with a non-polar dye, and the light-transmitting area 122 and the light-shielding area 121 may not have a clear boundary with each other. For example, the concentration of the nonpolar dye varies with the depth from the surface of the rib 120. For example, the concentration of the nonpolar dye decreases as the distance from the surface of the rib 120 toward the light-transmitting area 122 increases. As the concentration of the nonpolar dye increases, the light transmittance of the rib 120 in the light-transmitting area 122 closer to the light-blocking area 121 may gradually decrease, and / or as the concentration of the nonpolar dye decreases, the light transmittance of the rib 120 in the light-blocking area 121 closer to the light-transmitting area 122 may gradually increase.

[0050] In the example, the light-shielding area 121 of the lens 100 according to the example may be disposed inside a surface of the rib 120 in the optical axis direction. In this specification, the term "optical axis" may refer to a virtual line pointing to the path of light, and may refer to the axis of symmetry when the curved surface of the lens has rotational symmetry. For example, refer to... Figure 2Assuming a virtual Z-axis passes through the center of the lens, the Z-axis can be the optical axis, and the direction of the Z-axis can refer to the direction of the optical axis. In this example, when the light-shielding area 121 is located inside one surface of the rib 120 in the optical axis direction, the light-shielding area 121 can be located inside either of the two surfaces of the rib 120 in the Z-axis direction. In this example, when the lens is tinted only in one Z-axis direction, production efficiency can be improved.

[0051] In the example, the light-shielding area 121 of the lens 100 can be disposed inside the two surfaces of the rib 120 in the optical axis direction. For example, the rib 120 of the lens 100 in this example can have a structure in which the light-shielding area 121, the light-transmitting area 122, and the light-shielding area 121 are arranged sequentially in the Z-axis direction. In this case, since the light-shielding area 121 is disposed inside the two surfaces of the rib 120 in the optical axis direction, the light transmittance of the light-shielding area 121 of the rib 120 can be further reduced.

[0052] In another example, the light-shielding area 121 of lens 100 may be disposed inside the radial surface of rib 120, for example, extending inward toward optical unit 110 from the outer peripheral surface of lens 100 along an inward "radial direction". In this example, the light-shielding area 121 of lens 100 may be disposed on the radial surface of rib 120, for example, in the outermost portion of rib 120 in a direction perpendicular to the Z-axis. In this case, the light-shielding area 121 may be configured to surround the light-transmitting area 122, thereby blocking light incident in directions other than the optical axis direction, thus reducing or preventing flare or ghosting in the image. For example, flare, as a general term, can refer to the phenomenon that image quality may deteriorate due to typical reflections outside the intended design path, and flare can be caused by various reasons such as module housing, device reflections, and internal reflections.

[0053] In the example, the light-shielding area 121 of the lens 100 may be disposed inside the rib 120 and disposed on at least one surface of the rib 120, for example, contacting or being in contact with at least one surface of the rib 120. As an example, at least one surface of the rib 120 may be one surface of the rib 120 in the optical axis direction, two surfaces in the optical axis direction, or a surface in the radial direction. The light-shielding area 121 being disposed on at least one surface of the rib 120 may mean that the light-shielding area 121 is disposed on the end of the rib 120 in the X-axis, Y-axis, and / or Z-axis directions, meaning that the spatial boundary of the rib 120 in the X-axis, Y-axis, and / or Z-axis directions coincides with the spatial boundary of the light-shielding area 121 in the X-axis, Y-axis, and / or Z-axis directions, and meaning that the light-shielding area 121 is exposed to the surface of the rib 120. Because the rib 120 can be colored, for example, with a non-polar dye, the lens 100 according to the example can have excellent balance, so additional structures such as coatings do not need to be provided on the outside of the rib 120, as will be described in further detail below. The light-shielding area 121 on the inner side of one rib 120 of a lens 100 can also be configured to contact the surface of the rib 120 of another lens (e.g., a second lens), for example, to contact the light-shielding area 121 or the light-transmitting area 122 of another lens.

[0054] In a non-limiting example, the average thickness of the light-shielding area 121 of the lens 100 according to the example in the optical axis direction may be 15 μm or less. (Refer to...) Figure 2 and Figure 3 The average thickness t of the light-shielding area 121 in the optical axis direction can be the average value of the thickness measured in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the rib 120 in the optical axis direction. For example, the average value can be the arithmetic mean of the thickness measured at positions obtained by dividing an imaginary circle into 10 equal intervals, wherein the imaginary circle connects, for example, the position where the maximum length of the rib 120 in the radial direction is 1 / 2.

[0055] In the example, the light-shielding area 121 of lens 100 may be an area colored with a light-shielding dye. For example, as mentioned herein, the term "dye" may refer to a colorant that is soluble in a solvent, and may refer to a component different from a pigment that is insoluble in a solvent and exists in a dispersed state. The light-shielding area 121 may also be referred to as containing a non-polar colorant.

[0056] Typically, methods for forming light-shielding portions may involve forming a pigment-containing coating on the surface of the non-optical unit portion of a lens. However, in this typical method, the lens surface may be damaged during the curing process of the coating when the release layer is formed, and if the coating thickness is unevenly formed, problems may arise that could disrupt the lens's weight balance.

[0057] In the lens 100 according to one or more embodiments, the potential damage to the lens can be significantly reduced by forming the light-shielding area 121 by coloring the rib 120 with a light-shielding dye compared to damage caused by typical coating methods. Furthermore, since such a typical coating adhered to the outer side of the lens can be omitted, a lens with excellent balance can be provided.

[0058] As described above, the concentration of the light-shielding dye contained in the light-shielding area 121 of the lens 100 according to the example decreases with increasing distance from the surface of the rib 120. The concentration of the light-shielding dye also decreases with increasing depth from the surface of the rib 120, which may refer to a position at a predetermined distance from the surface of the rib 120 where the concentration of the light-shielding dye is lower than that of the surface. The predetermined distance may be a vertical distance from the surface of the rib 120 and may refer to a depth corresponding to half the average thickness of the light-shielding area 121. The concentration of the light-shielding dye may be a value measured at a position where the thickness of the light-shielding area 121 has been measured and may be detected, for example, by Raman analysis. As described later, the lens 100 according to the example can be colored by dissolving a predetermined dye in a predetermined solvent and can have excellent physical equilibrium by forming the light-shielding area 121, for example, without using a separate external structure.

[0059] In the example, the light-shielding dye applied to lens 100 may be a nonpolar dye. As used herein, "nonpolar" may refer to the absence of relative positive (+) and / or negative (-) charges due to the absence of charge separation, and may refer to a nonpolar property. Conversely, "polar" may refer to the property of having dipoles or more poles due to the bias of charges in the molecule, and may refer to the property of having relative positive (+) and / or negative (-) charges. In lens 100 according to the example, the nonpolar dye can be used as a light-shielding dye, and thus can have relatively high solubility in the example solvent described later, thereby effectively forming the light-shielding region 121 of the lens.

[0060] Nonpolar dyes may include nonpolar functional groups (such as alkyl or phenyl groups) as functional groups. In this case, the nonpolar dye may include only nonpolar functional groups and not polar functional groups. However, nonpolar dyes may also include some polar functional groups (such as amino, hydroxyl, carboxyl, ketone, and aldehyde groups), in which case, in order to have nonpolar properties, the number of polar functional groups included in the nonpolar dye may be, for example, three or fewer.

[0061] While the types of nonpolar colorants are discussed as examples, the examples are not limited to these. In the examples, colored nonpolar dyes or dark-colored nonpolar dyes can be used. As a non-limiting example of a nonpolar dye, at least one of the following nonpolar dyes can be used: nonpolar anthraquinone dyes, nonpolar benzoquinone dyes, nonpolar perylene dyes, nonpolar phthalocyanine dyes, nonpolar quinacridone dyes, nonpolar azo dyes, and nonpolar diphenylmethane dyes, but the examples are not limited to these. Furthermore, as a nonpolar dye, one type of nonpolar dye can be used, but combinations of two or more types of nonpolar dyes can also be used.

[0062] In the example, the light-shielding area 121 of lens 100 may contain an alkane having 1 to 16 carbon atoms. The alkane having 1 to 16 carbon atoms may be from methane (CH4), ethane (C2H6), propane (C3H8), butane (C4H4), etc. 10 ), pentane (C5H) 12 ), hexane (C6H) 14 ), heptane (C7H) 16 ), Octane (C8H) 18 ), nonane (C9H) 20 ), decane (C 10 H 22 ), undecane (C 11 H 24 ) and dodecane (C 12 H 26 One or more of the groups consisting of ) can be selected, and there can be two or more of them.

[0063] According to the example, alkanes having 1 to 16 carbon atoms may be distributed inside the light-shielding area 121 of lens 100 and may be included in a cross-linked structure formed by the aforementioned cyclic olefin compounds. As used herein, the term "cross-linked structure" may refer to a structure formed by cross-linking between molecules, and "cross-linking" may refer to a network structure formed by chemical / physical bonding between molecules (such as ionic bonds, van der Waals bonds, hydrogen bonds, or covalent bonds). The presence or absence of alkanes having 1 to 16 carbon atoms can be confirmed using a time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometer (TOF-SIMS) (e.g., the TOF.SIMS M6 manufactured by ION-TOF, Germany).

[0064] In the example, an example alkane having 1 to 16 carbon atoms contained in the light-shielding area 121 of the lens 100 may be a solvent used to color the light-shielding area 121. As described above, the lens 100 according to the example may include a cyclic olefin compound. When the lens 100 containing a cyclic olefin compound according to the example comes into contact with a solvent, the solvent may cause the surface of the lens to swell. In this case, the aforementioned nonpolar dye may penetrate the surface of the solvent-swollen lens to form the light-shielding area 121.

[0065] Typically, when coloring lenses to block or control the path of light, the coloring is achieved by dispersing pigments in a dispersion medium such as water. However, when using dispersed pigments to color lenses, it is often difficult to achieve the desired coloring effect based on the properties of the lens and the solvent, and problems such as flare or ghosting can occur due to relatively low coloring intensity and ineffective light blocking. For example, when coloring hydrophobic lenses using dispersed pigments in which the pigments are dispersed in a dispersion medium, the coloring process must be carried out at high temperatures for an extended period, or a carrier such as trichlorobenzene or dichlorobenzene must be added to the coloring solution. In such cases, the problem with this typical coloring method is that the optical properties deteriorate due to deformation of the lens itself.

[0066] In one or more embodiments, a nonpolar dye can be dissolved in an alkane having 1 to 16 carbon atoms and used to color the light-shielding area 121 of the lens 100. In the example, the dye achieves excellent coloring even when coloring is performed for a short period of time at a relatively low temperature. Furthermore, since the light transmittance of the lens in the colored area can be significantly reduced compared to typical dispersed pigment methods, flare or ghosting phenomena caused by the colored area can be reduced or prevented, while deformation of the lens, etc., can be suppressed.

[0067] For example, the light-shielding area 121 of the lens 100 according to the example can be formed using a dyeing solution obtained by dissolving the aforementioned nonpolar dye in an alkane having 1 to 16 carbon atoms. For example, the lens can be immersed in the dyeing solution or dyed by applying the dyeing solution, but the dyeing method is not limited to this. The concentration of the nonpolar dye relative to the solvent in the dyeing solution is not particularly limited, but can be 0.01 wt% or higher and / or 10 wt% or lower. As an example, the concentration of the nonpolar dye relative to the solvent in the dyeing solution can be in the range of 0.01 wt% to 10 wt%.

[0068] In the example, when dyeing a lens by immersing it in a dyeing solution, dyeing can be performed at a temperature of 50 °C or lower. Dyeing can be performed at temperatures of 50 °C or lower, 45 °C or lower, 44 °C or lower, 43 °C or lower, 42 °C or lower, 41 °C or lower, or 40 °C or lower, but the dyeing temperature is not limited to these. When the lens is immersed in the solvent under such temperature conditions, the time required for coloring with non-polar dyes can be reduced without damaging the lens compared to typical pigment dispersion coloring methods or typical spraying or coating methods, thus having a favorable effect on productivity. There is no particular limitation on the lower limit of the temperature, but it can be, for example, 15 °C or higher, but is not limited to this.

[0069] Additionally, according to the example, a lens assembly 200 may be provided. Figure 4 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the lens assembly 200 according to the example.

[0070] Reference Figure 4 The lens assembly 200 according to the example may include a lens barrel having an internal space, and one or more lenses 100 stacked along the optical axis within the internal space of the lens barrel. Each lens 100 may include an optical unit 110 and a rib 120 extending outwardly from the optical unit 110 in a radial direction. The rib 120 may include a light-transmitting area 122 and a light-shielding area 121, with the light-shielding area 121 disposed inside the rib 120.

[0071] One or more lenses 100 are stacked along the optical axis and disposed within the internal space of the lens barrel. In this case, the rib 120 of each of the plurality of lenses 100 may contact the rib 120 of the adjacent lens 100. In addition, each of the plurality of lenses 100 may contact the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel.

[0072] There is no particular limitation on the number of lenses 100 included in the lens assembly 200, and the optical properties such as refractive index of the multiple lenses in each lens 100 may be the same or different from each other.

[0073] The lens barrel may have a hollow cylindrical shape, and a lens aperture 200a through which light can be transmitted can be formed by passing through one surface of the lens barrel.

[0074] The description of the light-shielding area 121 included in the above description also applies to the light-shielding areas 121 of the respective ribs 120 of one or more lenses 100 of the lens assembly 200.

[0075] In the following, for purposes of explanation, non-limiting experimental and comparative examples will be described in more detail according to various embodiments, and it should be noted that the spirit of this disclosure is not limited to these examples.

[0076] In Experimental Example 1, according to one or more embodiments, a cyclic olefin copolymer resin lens was used as the lens, a mixture of anthraquinone and azo dyes was used as the nonpolar dye, and heptane was used as the solvent. A dyeing solution was prepared by dissolving the dye in the solvent at a concentration of 0.01% to 10% by weight or less (e.g., 10% by weight), and the lens was then immersed in the dyeing solution to form a light-shielding area. The dyeing temperature of the dyeing solution was room temperature to 50°C or lower (e.g., 50°C), and the light-shielding area was formed by immersing the lens for approximately 600 seconds. The lens with the light-shielding area was then prepared by washing and drying.

[0077] In Experimental Example 2, according to one or more embodiments, a lens with a light-shielding area is manufactured in the same manner as in Experimental Example 1, except that decane is used as a solvent.

[0078] In Comparative Example 1, a cyclic olefin copolymer resin lens in which no separate light-shielding area is formed is used.

[0079] In Comparative Example 2, the lens with the light-shielding area was manufactured in the same manner as in Experimental Example 1, except that tetrahydrofuran (THF) was used as the solvent.

[0080] In Comparative Example 3, the lens with the light-shielding area was manufactured in the same manner as in Experimental Example 1, except that toluene was used as the solvent.

[0081] Figure 5 This is a graph showing the light transmittance of the lenses according to Experimental Examples 1 and 2, and Comparative Example 1. (Refer to...) Figure 5 As can be seen, Comparative Example 1 exhibits a very high light transmittance compared to Experimental Example 1, in which the nonpolar dye is dissolved in a nonpolar solvent. Similarly, referring to... Figure 5 As can be seen, Comparative Example 1 also exhibits relatively high light transmittance compared to Experimental Example 2, in which the nonpolar dye is dissolved in another nonpolar solvent. Therefore, it can be confirmed that the lens according to one or more embodiments can have excellent light-blocking efficiency.

[0082] Figure 6 This is a graph provided by analyzing the content of the coloring dye based on the depth of the ribs in Experimental Example 1 and Comparative Example 1. (Refer to...) Figure 6 In the case of Experimental Example 1, it was confirmed that a specific level or higher concentration of dye was detected at a depth of approximately 5000 nm or more from the surface of the rib, thereafter, starting at a depth of approximately 7000 nm or more from the surface of the rib, the dye concentration decreased further away from the surface of the rib. Therefore, it was confirmed that the light-shielding area of ​​the lens according to one or more embodiments can have sufficient depth.

[0083] Figure 7 This is a graph showing the light transmittance at wavelengths according to Experimental Example 2 and Comparative Examples 2 and 3, where the ribs are colored using different solvents. (Refer to...) Figure 7 When alkane is used as a solvent to color the light-shielding area of ​​the rib, it can be seen that the light transmittance is uniformly low across the entire wavelength range of 350 nm to 650 nm, and the light transmittance is less than 10% in all portions. On the other hand, in Comparative Examples 2 and 3, the light transmittance varies according to the wavelength band, and it can be seen that the light transmittance is higher than 20% in cases of relatively high light transmittance. Therefore, in one or more embodiments, when alkane is used to color the light-shielding area of ​​a lens containing a cyclic olefin compound, it can be confirmed that the alkane causes the lens surface to swell, and the nonpolar dye effectively forms the light-shielding area.

[0084] As described above, based on the example, image flare or ghosting can be reduced or prevented compared to typical light blocking / light reduction methods.

[0085] Therefore, in lens devices or lens systems, such as those comprising lenses, two or more lenses, or lens assemblies having one or more such lenses, wherein at least one light-shielding area is formed on the inner side of the rib of at least one lens, the efficiency of the production process of lenses and lens assemblies can be improved compared with typical pigment dispersion coloring methods or typical spraying or coating methods.

[0086] While this disclosure includes specific examples, it will be readily understood upon understanding the disclosure of this application that various changes in form and detail may be made to these examples without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims and their equivalents. The examples described herein are to be considered descriptive in nature only and not for limiting purposes. The description of features or aspects in each example is to be considered applicable to similar features or aspects in other examples. Suitable results may be achieved if the described techniques are performed in a different order, and / or if the components in the described system, architecture, apparatus, or circuit are combined in a different manner, and / or if the components in the described system, architecture, apparatus, or circuit are replaced or supplemented by other components or their equivalents. Therefore, the scope of this disclosure is not limited by the specific embodiments but by the claims and their equivalents, and all variations within the scope of the claims and their equivalents should be construed as being included in this disclosure.

Claims

1. A lens device, comprising: A first lens, the first lens comprising: First optical unit; and The first rib extends radially outward from the first optical unit. The first rib includes a first light-transmitting area and a first light-shielding area. The first light-shielding area is located inside the first rib on at least one surface of the first rib, and is an area dyed with a first non-polar dye. Wherein, the first light-transmitting area is the area that has not been dyed with the first non-polar dye, and Wherein, at least the first rib of the first lens contains a cyclic olefin compound, and the first light-shielding area contains an alkane having 1 to 16 carbon atoms.

2. The lens device according to claim 1, wherein, The first light-shielding area extends along the optical axis from one surface of the first rib inside the first rib.

3. The lens device according to claim 1, wherein, The first light-shielding area extends along the optical axis from the two surfaces of the first rib inside the first rib.

4. The lens device according to claim 1, wherein, The first light-shielding area extends radially outward from the outer surface of the first rib toward the optical axis of the first lens on the inner side of the first rib.

5. The lens device according to claim 1, wherein, The average thickness of the first light-shielding area in the optical axis direction is 15 μm or less.

6. The lens device according to claim 1, wherein, The first light-shielding area has an average transmittance of 20% or less for light with wavelengths from 400 nm to 650 nm.

7. The lens device according to claim 1, wherein, The alkanes are derived from methane (CH4), ethane (C2H6), propane (C3H8), and butane (C4H4). 10 ), pentane (C5H) 12 ), hexane (C6H) 14 ), heptane (C7H) 16 ), octane (C8H) 18 ), nonane (C9H) 20 ), decane (C 10 H 22 ), undecane (C 11 H 24 ) and dodecane (C 12 H 26 Choose one or more from a group consisting of ).

8. The lens device according to claim 1, in, The first nonpolar dye is a light-blocking dye, and The concentration of the light-blocking dye decreases as the distance from the at least one surface of the first rib toward the first light-transmitting area increases.

9. The lens device according to claim 1, wherein, The first nonpolar dye is at least one of the following: nonpolar anthraquinone dyes, nonpolar benzoquinone dyes, nonpolar perylene dyes, nonpolar phthalocyanine dyes, nonpolar quinacridone dyes, nonpolar azo dyes, and nonpolar diphenylmethane dyes.

10. The lens device according to any one of claims 1-9, wherein, The lens device further includes: A second lens, adjacent to the first lens, comprises: Second optical unit; and The second rib extends outward from the second optical unit along a corresponding radial direction. The second rib includes a second light-transmitting area.

11. The lens device according to claim 10, in, The second rib also includes a second light-shielding area. The second light-shielding area is located on at least one surface of the second rib inside the second rib, and is an area dyed with a second non-polar dye. The second light-transmitting area is the area that was not dyed with the second non-polar dye. Wherein, the first nonpolar dye may be the same as or different from the second nonpolar dye, and The second lens contains at least a second rib containing a cyclic olefin compound, and the second light-shielding region contains an alkane having 1 to 16 carbon atoms.

12. The lens device according to claim 11, in, The first light-shielding area surrounds the entire outer peripheral edge of the first lens, and / or the second light-shielding area surrounds the entire outer peripheral edge of the second lens.

13. The lens device according to claim 11, wherein, The lens device includes a lens assembly, and the lens assembly includes a lens barrel that houses the first lens and the second lens.

14. The lens device according to claim 13, in, The first shading area is adjacent to the second shading area.

15. A lens, the lens comprising: Optical unit; as well as Ribs, which extend radially outward from the optical unit. The optical unit and the ribs contain cyclic olefin compounds. The rib includes a light-transmitting area and a light-blocking area. The light-shielding area is located on at least one surface of the rib on the inner side of the rib, and is an area dyed with a non-polar dye. The light-transmitting area is the area that was not dyed with the non-polar dye, and The light-shielding area contains alkanes having 1 to 16 carbon atoms.

16. A lens device, comprising: Lens assembly, the lens assembly comprising: The microscope tube includes an internal space; and One or more lenses, stacked along the optical axis within the internal space of the lens barrel. Each of the one or more lenses includes a respective optical unit and a respective rib, the rib extending outward from the respective optical unit along the respective radial direction of the stacked one or more lenses. Each of the respective ribs includes a light-transmitting area and a light-blocking area. Wherein, in at least one of the lenses, the respective light-shielding areas of the respective ribs of the one or more lenses are disposed inside the respective ribs at at least one surface of the respective ribs, and are areas dyed with respective non-polar dyes and containing alkane having 1 to 16 carbon atoms. Wherein, the respective light-transmitting areas of the respective light-transmitting areas of the respective ribs of the at least one of the one or more lenses are areas not dyed with the respective non-polar dye, and Wherein, at least one or more of the ribs of the at least one lens in the one or more lenses contain a cyclic olefin compound.

17. The lens device according to claim 16, wherein, The respective light-shielding areas of the respective light-shielding areas of the one or more respective ribs of the one or more lenses extend along the optical axis from one or both surfaces of the respective rib inside the respective rib.

18. The lens device according to claim 16, wherein, The respective light-shielding area of ​​the respective light-shielding area of ​​the respective ribs of the at least one of the one or more lenses extends radially outward from the inner side of the respective rib toward the optical axis of the at least one lens.

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