Array Camera Optical Arrangements for Aberration Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical manufacturing techniques for array cameras lack flexibility and accuracy, particularly in substrate thickness requirements and aperture stop placement, limiting their ability to produce high-performance optical arrays.
Innovation Solution
The development of novel optical arrangements, including three-surface and five-surface designs, and substrate embedded hybrid lens configurations, which utilize different materials and substrates to optimize lens surfaces and aperture placement, allowing for improved flexibility and accuracy in manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional WLO manufacturing techniques are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but manufacturing precision and flexibility are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system is divided into multiple lens elements (first lens element with first and second surfaces, second lens element with third and fourth surfaces) that can be fabricated separately and then assembled. This segmentation allows each lens element to be manufactured with high precision using conventional WLO techniques while the overall system achieves the required complex optical performance that cannot be obtained from a single lens element.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple lens elements are combined in a stacked configuration to form a complete optical system. The first lens element and second lens element are assembled with their respective surfaces facing each other, creating a multi-element optical system that achieves superior image quality and aberration correction while maintaining compatibility with conventional manufacturing techniques.
2Adaptability or versatility
If standard polymer-on-glass WLO techniques are used, then ease of manufacture is maintained, but adaptability to high performance requirements is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent provides flexibility in the optical design by allowing the aperture stop to be positioned at different locations within the optical system (e.g., between lens elements, at the image plane, or at the object plane). This dynamic positioning capability enables optimization for different imaging requirements while maintaining compatibility with the WLO manufacturing process through proper design of the lens element configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical system allows for variation in key parameters including substrate thickness, lens element spacing, and aperture stop position. By changing these parameters, the system can be adapted to different performance requirements such as improved aberration correction, adjusted field of view, or optimized imaging depth, all while maintaining manufacturability through conventional WLO techniques.
3Area of stationary object
If multiple copies of optical elements are formed laterally for array cameras, then imaging coverage is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lens element design and manufacturing process is made universal and scalable. The same WLO techniques and lens element configurations used for single-element systems can be applied to manufacture multiple lens elements in an array configuration. This universality allows the imaging area to be expanded by simply replicating the proven lens element design across multiple positions without introducing new manufacturing complexities.
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
These designs enhance image quality by reducing aberrations, increasing manufacturing yield, and enabling superior image processing capabilities in array cameras.
Implementation Method 1
a first lens element having a first convex proximal surface and a first concave distal surface... a second lens element having a substantially flat second proximal surface and a second convex distal surface... arranged sequentially in optical alignment with an imager
Data Source
AI summary
A variety of optical arrangements and methods of modifying or enhancing the optical characteristics and functionality of these optical arrangements are provided. The optical arrangements being specifically designed to operate with camera arrays that incorporate an imaging device that is formed of a plurality of imagers that each include a plurality of pixels. The plurality of imagers include a first imager having a first imaging characteristics and a second imager having a second imaging characteristics. The images generated by the plurality of imagers are processed to obtain an enhanced image compared to images captured by the imagers.