Anamorphic Lens Assembly With Translating Spherical Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional anamorphic lenses suffer from astigmatism, bulkiness, complexity, and high cost due to the use of cylindrical lenses, and exhibit non-uniform anamorphic squeeze leading to undesirable artifacts like the 'anamorphic mumps effect', especially at close focus.
Innovation Solution
An anamorphic lens assembly with a translatable spherical lens element between cylindrical lens elements, allowing adjustable spacings and optical corrections to maintain a consistent anamorphic ratio and reduce astigmatism, resulting in a less complex and cost-effective design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional cylindrical lenses are used for anamorphic squeeze, then anamorphic effect is achieved, but astigmatism and image artifacts occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes cylindrical lenses from the optical system entirely, extracting the source of astigmatism and anamorphic artifacts. Instead, it uses only spherical lenses combined with translational movement to achieve the anamorphic effect without the harmful optical distortions caused by cylindrical elements
Solution Approach 2:
Rather than using cylindrical lenses to create anamorphic squeeze (the traditional approach), the patent inverts the methodology by using spherical lenses with translational movement. This reverse approach achieves the same anamorphic effect without the inherent astigmatism problems of cylindrical optics
2Reliability
If traditional anamorphic lens design is used, then anamorphic effect is achieved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the complex cylindrical lens assemblies from the traditional anamorphic lens design, simplifying the overall structure. By eliminating these complicated components and replacing them with simpler spherical lenses and a translation mechanism, the device complexity and manufacturing cost are significantly reduced
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs simpler, more cost-effective spherical lens elements instead of expensive cylindrical lens assemblies. This substitution with cheaper optical components reduces manufacturing costs while maintaining the anamorphic effect through the translational movement mechanism
3Reliability
If fixed spherical lens position is used, then focus is maintained, but anamorphic ratio varies with object distance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static, fixed spherical lens position into a dynamic system where the lens can translate along the optical axis. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the lens to maintain both focus stability and consistent anamorphic ratio across varying object distances, resolving the contradiction between fixed position benefits and ratio consistency requirements
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 compact, cost-effective lens assembly that corrects astigmatism and maintains a nearly constant anamorphic ratio within a small range, minimizing noticeable changes as the distance to the object varies, thus improving image quality and reducing artifacts.
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 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
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 cylindrical lens elements and one or more spherical lens elements disposed between the cylindrical lens elements and translatable along an optical axis of the anamorphic lens assembly with respect to the cylindrical lens elements. Optical characteristics of the anamorphic lens component are adjustable as the one or more spherical lens elements translate along the optical axis such that the cylindrical lens elements and the one or more spherical lens elements in combination produce a first astigmatism that is opposite to a second astigmatism produced by unequal movement of an image plane along horizontal and vertical axes as an object moves from infinity focus toward the lens assembly.