Catoptric Dioptric Imaging Optical System for Compact Wide-Angle Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing imaging optical systems face challenges in achieving a balance between small size, wide angle, and low component count while maintaining manufacturability and optical performance, as they often require larger reflective surfaces and increased lens numbers to correct aberrations.
Innovation Solution
The proposed imaging optical system consists of a catoptric system with three reflective surfaces, including a first and third reflective surface on a single member, and a dioptric system with rotationally symmetric lenses, which forms an intermediate image to reduce the size and number of components, and includes a second intermediate image to optimize the optical path length, allowing for a wide angle and reduced aberration correction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If one aspheric reflective surface is used to re-form the intermediate image, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reflective surface size must be increased to achieve wide angle
Solution Approach 1:
The catoptric system is divided into three separate reflective surfaces (first, second, and third reflective surfaces) instead of using a single large reflective surface. Each surface performs a specific function in the optical path: the first reflective surface receives light from the dioptric system, the second reflective surface redirects the light path, and the third reflective surface forms the final image. This segmentation allows each surface to be smaller while collectively achieving wide-angle imaging functionality.
2Area of stationary object
If the reflective surface size is reduced, then the device size is reduced, but the load on the dioptric system increases and the number of lenses must be increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the functions of multiple reflective surfaces into a unified catoptric system that works synergistically with the dioptric system. The three reflective surfaces collectively perform aberration correction and image formation, sharing the optical correction burden with the dioptric system. This merging approach allows the dioptric system to maintain a reasonable number of lenses while achieving both compact size and wide-angle performance.
3Reliability
If three aspheric reflective surfaces are used as separate members, then the burden of aberration correction for the dioptric system is reduced, but the number of components increases and alignment becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The first reflective surface and the third reflective surface are merged into a single integrated member, reducing the total number of separate components from three to two. This integration maintains the aberration correction performance provided by the three reflective surfaces while simplifying the assembly and alignment process. The integrated member contains both the first and third reflective surfaces with precise relative positioning, eliminating the need for separate alignment operations.
4Ease of manufacture
If the number of components is reduced, then the manufacturability is improved, but achieving wide angle with small size becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system is segmented into two main subsystems: a dioptric system with multiple lenses for focal length control and aberration correction, and a catoptric system with three reflective surfaces (integrated into two members) for compact image formation. This segmentation allows each subsystem to be optimized independently for manufacturability while collectively achieving wide-angle functionality in a compact form factor.
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 configuration enables a compact, wide-angle imaging optical system with fewer components, improved manufacturability, and enhanced optical performance by minimizing the size of reflective surfaces and reducing aberration correction burdens on the dioptric system.
Implementation Method 1
a dioptric system which includes a plurality of lenses and forms a first intermediate image between the dioptric system and the catoptric system on an optical path
Implementation Method 2
a catoptric system which consists of a first reflective surface, a second reflective surface, and a third reflective surface in order along the optical path from the magnification side and re-forms the first intermediate image on a magnification side imaging surface
Data Source
AI summary
The imaging optical system consists of, in order from a magnification side: a catoptric system; and a dioptric system that includes a plurality of lenses. The dioptric system forms a first intermediate image between the dioptric system and the catoptric system on an optical path and at a position conjugate to a reduction side imaging surface, and the catoptric system re-forms the first intermediate image on a magnification side imaging surface. The catoptric system consists of a first reflective surface, a second reflective surface, and a third reflective surface in order along the optical path from the magnification side. The first reflective surface and the third reflective surface are formed on one member and have the same surface shapes.