Adaptive Lens Assemblies with Peripheral Boundary Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Deformable optical lenses in wearable devices, such as AR and VR systems, face challenges in precise control due to the difficulty in managing forces and displacements required for shape deformation, particularly in consumer-wearable products like head-mounted displays, where actuators need to balance force, stroke distance, size, and weight.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a deformable optical element with an adaptive element positioned at its peripheral region, which alters physical boundary conditions through mechanisms like set screws, bendable cantilevers, rotatable cams, or transducers, allowing for precise control of the lens's shape and position, and using electroactive materials like dielectric elastomers or piezoelectric materials to change optical properties upon voltage application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If small actuators are used to reduce size and weight for consumer-wearable products, then device portability is improved, but force capability and stroke distance are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
A lever arm mechanism acts as an intermediary between the small actuator and the deformable lens. The actuator applies force to one end of the lever arm, which pivots to amplify the displacement and apply it to the lens periphery. This mechanical leverage allows a lightweight actuator to achieve sufficient lens deformation without requiring large force or stroke capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from direct linear actuation to rotational/pivoting motion through the lever arm. By converting the actuation dimension from linear displacement to angular rotation, the system achieves amplified lens periphery displacement while maintaining compact actuator dimensions, effectively adding a rotational dimension to the actuation mechanism
2Force
If large forces are applied to deform the lens, then optical power adjustment capability is improved, but control precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of applying force uniformly across the lens, the system applies force locally at the lens periphery through the adaptive element. This localized actuation provides precise control over the deformation profile, allowing independent adjustment of peripheral lens curvature while maintaining central optical quality, thereby achieving both sufficient deformation force and high shape control precision
3Length of moving object
If actuators with large stroke distance are used, then lens deformation capability is improved, but device size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The lever arm serves as a mechanical intermediary that amplifies the actuator's stroke distance. A small linear displacement at the actuator end of the lever arm translates into a larger arc displacement at the lens periphery, achieving sufficient lens deformation without requiring a large-stroke, heavy actuator
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 enables improved control over the deformable optical lenses, enhancing their precision and adaptability, allowing for better adjustment of optical properties such as focus and aberrations, while reducing the load on actuators and improving the overall performance in wearable devices.
Implementation Method 1
a substantially transparent electroactive element positioned at least partially within an optical aperture of the deformable optical element and an electrical driving circuit configured to apply a voltage to the electroactive element to deform the electroactive element
Implementation Method 2
The electroactive element may include at least one of the following materials arranged in a single layer, double layer, or multi-layer structure: a dielectric elastomer material; a piezoelectric material; or an electrostrictive material
Implementation Method 3
The electroactive element may include at least one of the following materials arranged in a single layer, double layer, or multi-layer structure: a dielectric elastomer material
Implementation Method 4
The electroactive element may include at least one of the following materials arranged in a single layer, double layer, or multi-layer structure: a dielectric elastomer material; a piezoelectric material; or an electrostrictive material
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosed optical lens assemblies may include a deformable optical element and at least one adaptive element positioned at a peripheral region of the deformable optical element. The deformable optical element may include a substantially transparent electroactive element positioned at least partially within an optical aperture of the deformable optical element. An electrical driving circuit may be configured to apply a voltage to the electroactive element to deform the electroactive element and thus change at least one optical property of the deformable optical element. The at least one adaptive element may be positioned outside of the optical aperture and may be configured to alter a physical boundary condition of the deformable optical element. Various other methods and systems are also disclosed.