Binocular Viewing Device with Digital Sensor and Folded Optical Path
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional binoculars face a design trade-off between compact size and high resolution and magnification, with small objective lenses leading to degraded performance due to diffraction and low contrast, and existing digital integration solutions fail to enhance the viewing experience or achieve pocketability.
Innovation Solution
An optical device with a variable external envelope, a sensor for image detection, and a processor for image processing, combined with a display for image viewing, along with a slide mechanism for interpupillary distance adjustment and a folded optical light path for compactness, allowing for high magnification and low-light viewing while maintaining compactness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the objective lens diameter is reduced to make binoculars compact, then the device size is reduced, but the resolution and magnification capability deteriorate due to diffraction and low contrast
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a sensor to capture an optical copy of the image formed by the objective lens, then processes and displays this copy digitally. This allows the use of a smaller objective lens while maintaining effective resolution through digital enhancement, resolving the contradiction between compact size and resolution capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional optical magnification system with a digital imaging and processing system. Instead of relying solely on optical magnification through large lenses, the system uses a sensor to capture images and digital processing to enhance resolution, enabling compact binocular design without sacrificing measurement precision
2Measurement precision
If the objective lens diameter is increased to improve resolution and magnification, then the viewing quality improves, but the device size becomes too large to be compact
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor creates a digital copy of the optical image, allowing post-capture enhancement of resolution through digital processing. This eliminates the need for large objective lenses to achieve high resolution, enabling compact device size while maintaining viewing quality
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the resolution parameter from being determined by optical physics (lens diameter) to being determined by digital processing capabilities. This parameter change allows high resolution to be achieved independently of objective lens size, resolving the contradiction
3Productivity
If high theoretical magnification is achieved with a small objective lens, then magnification power increases, but the exit pupil becomes too small causing degraded performance due to diffraction and dimness
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor captures a digital copy of the image at the image plane, allowing magnification to be achieved through digital zoom and processing rather than optical magnification. This eliminates the exit pupil limitation, enabling high magnification power while maintaining viewing performance through the display system
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the optical magnification path with a digital imaging and display system. The sensor captures the image and the display presents it to the user, eliminating the traditional optical path constraints including exit pupil size, thereby achieving high magnification without degraded performance
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 enables high magnification and resolution with improved low-light performance, achieving a compact and pocketable design that maintains high image quality and user convenience.
Implementation Method 1
at least one objective system having an entrance pupil diameter Φ mm
Implementation Method 2
at least one sensor adjacent to the at least one objective system for detecting images of distant objects received by the at least one objective system
Data Source
AI summary
An optical device for viewing distant objects. The device includes an objective system and at least one ocular and achieves a magnifying power of greater than 0.6 mm−1 times the entrance pupil diameter in millimeters with an exit pupil of at least 2 mm. Images from the objective system are detected by a sensor, processed and recorded. The images are displayed on a display which is observed by the user through one or more oculars. The optical device works well at low light levels. The device also has a slide mechanism for adjusting the interpupillary distance between the oculars.