Anamorphic Lens Assembly With Balanced Astigmatism for Close Focus

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional anamorphic lenses suffer from astigmatism issues due to different focal lengths along horizontal and vertical axes, limiting close focus capabilities and requiring precise alignment, which is difficult to achieve.

Innovation Solution

An anamorphic lens assembly with first and second anamorphic lens components, each having astigmatism at infinity focus greater than at close focus, where the astigmatism of the second component is equal and opposite to the first, allowing for proper focusing through counter-rotation of third and fourth cylindrical lens elements to balance astigmatism across focus configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional anamorphic lenses use different focal lengths along horizontal and vertical axes to achieve widescreen format, then the widescreen aspect ratio is achieved, but astigmatism occurs that limits close focus capabilities

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewidescreen aspect ratio capabilityVSAvoidclose focus capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The anamorphic lens is divided into multiple lens components, each with specific cylindrical and spherical power characteristics. By segmenting the lens into distinct elements with controlled astigmatism properties, the system can manage and balance astigmatism across different focus configurations while maintaining widescreen capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs lens components with equal and opposite astigmatism to counterbalance each other. This counterweight approach allows the system to neutralize astigmatism effects at close focus distances while preserving the anamorphic widescreen format, effectively canceling out the harmful optical aberration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

2Device complexity

If traditional anamorphic lenses are designed with fixed focal lengths, then the optical design is simplified, but the range of focus from infinity to close distances is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoptical design complexityVSAvoidfocus range

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The lens system incorporates variable focus capability through multiple lens components that can be positioned at different distances from the imaging sensor. This dynamic configuration allows the lens to adapt between infinity focus and close focus modes, expanding the focus range without requiring a complete redesign of the optical system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If anamorphic lenses use cylindrical lens elements to achieve image compression, then widescreen format is achieved, but sensitivity to rotational angle increases near infinity focus

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage compression capabilityVSAvoidrotational alignment precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Different lens components are assigned specific optical properties and positions within the anamorphic system. By optimizing the local characteristics of each component (cylindrical power, spherical power, position relative to sensor), the system reduces overall sensitivity to rotational misalignment while maintaining effective image compression for widescreen format.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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

Enables proper focusing at close distances by balancing astigmatism, reducing sensitivity to rotational angle near infinity focus, and allowing for a wider range of focus without significant spherical aberration or distortion.

Implementation Method 1

an anamorphic lens assembly having first and second anamorphic lens components, each having an astigmatism at infinity focus that is greater than an astigmatism at close focus

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentUS12535663B2Astigmatism-reducing anamorphic lens assemblies

Publication Date: 2026.01.27 ATLAS LENS CO

AI summary

Anamorphic lens assembly having first and second anamorphic lens components, each having an astigmatism at infinity focus that is greater than an astigmatism at close focus. As the anamorphic lens assembly transitions from infinity focus to close focus, the astigmatism decreases for both of the first and second anamorphic lens components, which allows for proper focusing at close focus (when the object is close to the lens assembly). The astigmatism of the first anamorphic lens component may be equal and opposite to the astigmatism of the second anamorphic lens component, such that the astigmatisms of the anamorphic lens components cancel out one another.