Anamorphic Lens Assembly with Translating Spherical Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional anamorphic lenses suffer from astigmatism issues due to different focal lengths along horizontal and vertical axes, leading to bulkiness, complexity, high cost, and undesirable artifacts like the 'anamorphic mumps effect', and non-uniform anamorphic squeeze across the image field.
Innovation Solution
An anamorphic lens assembly with first and second cylindrical lens elements and a translatable spherical lens element between them, which adjusts to correct astigmatism and maintain a consistent anamorphic ratio within a small range, reducing complexity and cost while minimizing perceptible changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional anamorphic lenses use different focal lengths along horizontal and vertical axes to achieve widescreen imaging, then the anamorphic effect is achieved, but astigmatism occurs leading to image quality degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic focusing mechanism where the spherical lens element can translate independently along the optical axis relative to the cylindrical lens elements. This dynamic adjustment allows the spherical lens to compensate for astigmatism by changing its position, thereby maintaining uniform focus across the entire image field while preserving the anamorphic widescreen effect.
2Manufacturing precision
If traditional anamorphic lenses use multiple cylindrical lens elements to correct astigmatism, then image quality improves, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the astigmatism correction function from the cylindrical lens elements and assigns it to a separate spherical lens element. This separation allows the spherical lens to be optimized specifically for correcting astigmatism while the cylindrical lenses focus solely on providing the anamorphic effect, thereby simplifying the overall lens design and reducing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The spherical lens element acts as an intermediary between the cylindrical lens elements and the image sensor. It mediates the optical path by correcting the astigmatism introduced by the cylindrical lenses, thereby improving image quality without requiring modification to the cylindrical lens structure itself.
3Stability of the object's composition
If traditional anamorphic lenses use fixed focal lengths to maintain consistent anamorphic ratio, then the anamorphic effect is stable, but the lens becomes bulky and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic translation of the spherical lens element along the optical axis to maintain consistent anamorphic ratio across different focusing distances. This dynamic adjustment allows the lens to adapt to varying object distances while preserving the desired anamorphic compression ratio, eliminating the need for multiple fixed-focal-length lens elements.
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
The solution provides a less complex and cost-effective anamorphic lens assembly that corrects astigmatism, maintains a consistent anamorphic ratio, and reduces artifacts, ensuring high-quality image focus across varying distances without noticeable changes.
Implementation Method 1
a first spherical lens element translatable along an optical axis of the anamorphic lens assembly with respect to the first and second cylindrical lens elements
Implementation Method 2
an anamorphic lens component including a first cylindrical lens element, a second cylindrical lens element, and a first spherical lens element disposed between the first and second cylindrical lens elements
Data Source
AI summary
Lens assemblies according to the disclosure include an anamorphic lens component and a primary lens component. The anamorphic lens component includes a first cylindrical lens element, a second cylindrical lens element, and a first spherical lens element disposed between the first and second cylindrical lens elements and translatable along an optical axis of the anamorphic lens assembly with respect to the first and second cylindrical lens elements. Optical characteristics of the anamorphic lens component are adjustable as the first spherical lens element translates along the optical axis such that the first cylindrical lens element, the first spherical lens element, and the second cylindrical lens element in combination produce a first astigmatism that is opposite to a second astigmatism produced in an image plane by the primary lens component as an object moves from infinity focus toward the lens assembly.