Adaptive Lens Flexible Glass Membranes Wavefront Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing adaptive lenses face limitations in generating arbitrary wavefronts with high spatial frequency and fast response time, while maintaining optical quality, and are unsuitable for large optical bandwidths and high-energy laser sources due to refractive index mismatches and slow response times.
Innovation Solution
The adaptive lens design employs flexible glass membranes with low flexural rigidity and an elastomeric layer to create a sealed chamber, allowing for rapid deformation and arbitrary wavefront generation, using actuators to modulate the optical aperture shape, and incorporating a rigid frame and elastomeric material to enhance flexibility and reduce refractive index differences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If soft elastic membranes are used for actuation, then the lens can be manufactured easily, but the initial surface quality deteriorates due to manufacturing process and bonding problems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a thin elastic membrane as the optical surface that can be deformed by actuators. The membrane is made sufficiently thin to be deformable yet maintains optical quality by being free from the bonding problems that affect thicker membranes. This principle allows the membrane to achieve both ease of manufacture and high surface quality simultaneously.
2Length of stationary object
If the lens size is increased, then the optical power increases, but the surface quality deteriorates due to gravitational effects on the filling material
Solution Approach 1:
The patent orients the lens horizontally so that the gravitational force acts perpendicular to the optical axis, creating an equipotential distribution of the filling material across the optical aperture. This horizontal orientation eliminates the asymmetrical shape that would otherwise be created by vertical gravitational effects, allowing larger lens sizes without degrading surface quality.
3Manufacturing precision
If thick spacers are used to generate arbitrary wavefronts, then the optical aberration control improves, but the response time slows down due to limited volume change
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a thin elastic membrane instead of thick spacers to generate arbitrary wavefronts. The thin membrane can deform rapidly in response to actuator activation while still providing the necessary spatial modulation for arbitrary wavefront generation. This resolves the contradiction by achieving both precise wavefront control and fast response time through the use of a thin, flexible optical surface.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a reservoir is added to accommodate volume changes, then the lens adaptability improves, but the response time slows down due to fluidic impedance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a thin elastic membrane that can expand and contract to accommodate volume changes of the filling material, eliminating the need for a separate reservoir. The membrane's flexibility allows it to absorb volume changes locally without creating fluidic impedance, thereby maintaining both lens adaptability and fast response time simultaneously.
5Manufacturing precision
If a glass disc is used to stiffen the central part, then the spatial modulation capability improves, but wavefront distortions occur due to refractive index mismatch
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a thin elastic membrane without adding a glass disc for stiffening. The membrane is made sufficiently thin and is supported by the filling material and actuator forces, eliminating the need for a stiffening disc. This avoids the refractive index mismatch problem entirely while still providing the necessary spatial modulation capability through the membrane's deformation.
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 design achieves high spatial frequency wavefront generation with fast response times, improved optical quality, and increased damage threshold for high-energy laser sources, suitable for various spectral ranges and large optical bandwidths.
Implementation Method 1
flexible glass membranes with low flexural rigidity... suitable for being deformed
Implementation Method 2
an elastomeric layer suitable for being deformed... a filling material... suitable for transferring a force from the actuators to the optical surfaces
Data Source
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AI summary
An adaptive lens structure comprises a first and a second spaced apart flexible glass membranes forming the opposite sides of the optical aperture of the adaptive lens. A transparent fluid or elastomeric material is placed between the flexible glass membranes (101, 115) and extends at least in the space comprised between the first and second transparent central portions (101', 115').