Anamorphic Lens Stigmatic Imaging Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Anamorphic lenses often produce astigmatic images, which are undesirable for imaging applications as they lead to poor image quality, and existing designs face challenges with large size, weight, and difficulty in focusing.

Innovation Solution

An anamorphic lens design with two planes of symmetry, featuring a first lens section and a second lens section with anamorphic optical elements, a diaphragm in between, and specific focal length and refractive power relationships to achieve stigmatic imaging, along with a focusing unit composed of rotationally symmetrical elements to correct aberrations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional anamorphic lenses with separate lens groups are used, then anamorphic imaging function is achieved, but the lens becomes heavy and difficult to focus

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanamorphic imaging functionVSAvoidlens weight
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple lens groups into a single integrated anamorphic lens structure, merging the functions of different lens elements into one compact unit. This integration eliminates the need for separate lens groups while maintaining the anamorphic imaging capability, thereby reducing overall weight and simplifying the focusing mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The anamorphic lens is designed to perform multiple functions within a single optical element, including anamorphic imaging, focusing, and aberration correction. By incorporating universal design principles, the lens achieves versatile functionality without requiring additional separate components, thus reducing weight while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If traditional anamorphic lenses with separate lens groups are used, then anamorphic imaging function is achieved, but the lens becomes difficult to focus

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanamorphic imaging functionVSAvoidfocusing difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the focusing mechanism with the integrated lens structure, allowing focusing to be achieved through a single unified system rather than coordinating multiple separate lens groups. This integration simplifies the focusing operation while maintaining the anamorphic imaging function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The lens incorporates dynamic focusing capabilities within its integrated structure, enabling smooth and precise focusing adjustments. The dynamic design allows the lens to adapt its focal length and maintain sharp focus across different shooting distances without the mechanical complexity of traditional multi-group systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Quantity of substance

If anamorphic optical elements are used to achieve compression, then image compression is achieved, but astigmatic distortion occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage compression ratioVSAvoidimage quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs optical elements with locally varied properties, where different regions of the lens have specifically tailored refractive indices and surface curvatures. This local quality optimization allows the lens to maintain compression ratios while correcting astigmatic distortion in specific areas, thereby improving overall image quality without sacrificing compression capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The lens design utilizes parameter changes in the optical elements, such as varying refractive indices, surface curvatures, and thickness distributions, to achieve both compression and aberration correction. By carefully adjusting these parameters, the lens maintains the desired compression ratio while minimizing astigmatic distortion and other optical aberrations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 design achieves stigmatic imaging, improving image quality and facilitating focusing, while maintaining a more compact and lightweight structure compared to traditional anamorphic lenses.

Implementation Method 1

The anamorphic optical element exhibits a first refractive power with respect to the first plane of symmetry and a second refractive power with respect to the second plane of symmetry

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentEP2535752B1Anamorphic objective
Publication Date: 2021.02.24 CARL ZEISS AG
  • EP2535752B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP2535752B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP2535752B1 patent drawing

AI summary

The lens (100) has two objective lens sections (200, 300) arranged in the direction of an image detection unit (BE), and a diaphragm (B) arranged between the lens sections, where a symmetry plane of the lens is oriented perpendicular to another symmetry plane. Two anamorphic lenses (L5, L15) are arranged in the respective lens sections, where the lens fulfills a condition in which distance (S't) between one of the lens sections and the detection unit in the former plane is equal to distance (S'w) between the lens section and the detection unit in the latter plane.