Annular Optical Element V-Groove Inspection Light Reflection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in improving imaging lens modules for portable electronic devices lies in ensuring effective glue dispensing quality for annular optical elements within narrow spaces, which is difficult to verify visually or through conventional inspection methods, leading to potential deviations from the optical axis and compromised image quality.
Innovation Solution
An annular optical element with specific surface features, including an outer diameter surface, inner annular surface, object-side surface, and image-side surface, featuring an annular reflecting surface and a V-shaped groove, allows for total reflection of inspection light, enabling visual or image-based inspection of glue dispensing quality and assembly accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If glue dispensing is used to fix the annular optical element, then the assembly can be maintained together, but the glue dispensing quality is difficult to verify and may result in deviation from optical axis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the color changes principle by utilizing optical reflection properties to make the inspection area visible. Specifically, the annular optical element is designed with a reflecting surface that reflects inspection light back to the observer or camera, making the glue dispensing area illuminatable and detectable. This allows quality inspection without direct visual access to the narrow glue dispensing space.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an intermediary approach by introducing inspection light as a mediator to transmit information about the glue dispensing quality. The light reflects off the annular optical element's surface and carries information about the assembly condition, enabling indirect observation and measurement of the glue dispensing area that would otherwise be inaccessible.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If the inspection area is made illuminatable, then glue dispensing quality can be verified, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by designing the annular optical element to serve both its primary optical function and a secondary inspection function. The reflecting surface on the annular optical element is designed to reflect inspection light, enabling the same component to facilitate both optical performance and quality inspection, thereby avoiding the need for separate inspection fixtures or structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The annular optical element performs self-service by incorporating its own reflecting surface that enables inspection of its assembly condition. The element itself provides the necessary optical path for inspection without requiring external complex inspection equipment, as the reflecting surface on the element wall allows light to enter and exit through the element itself.
3Device complexity
If conventional inspection methods are used, then the inspection process is simple, but the narrow space prevents effective verification
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by transitioning from direct visual inspection in the narrow glue dispensing space to an indirect optical inspection path. By using light reflection through the annular optical element's wall, the inspection is performed from a different dimensional perspective, allowing observation of the glue dispensing area through the element's reflecting surface rather than direct line-of-sight access.
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 solution enhances the inspection efficiency and accuracy of glue dispensing in imaging lens modules, preventing deviations and ensuring better image quality by allowing for clear visualization of assembly conditions, thereby improving the production and shipment quality of imaging lens modules.
Implementation Method 1
allows for total reflection of inspection light, enabling visual or image-based inspection of glue dispensing quality and assembly accuracy
Data Source
AI summary
An annular optical element having an optical axis includes an outer diameter surface, an inner annular surface, an object-side surface and an image-side surface. The object-side surface includes an annular reflecting surface, an annular auxiliary surface and a connecting surface. The annular reflecting surface is inclined with the optical axis. The annular auxiliary surface is closer to the optical axis than the annular reflecting surface is to the optical axis. The connecting surface is for connecting to an optical element, wherein the connecting surface is closer to the optical axis than the annular auxiliary surface is to the optical axis. The image-side surface is located opposite to the object-side surface and includes an annular optical surface. A V-shaped groove is formed by the annular auxiliary surface and the annular reflecting surface of the object-side surface.