Cemented Spheric Liquid Lens for Aberration Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The current manufacturing processes for optical lenses, particularly aspheric lenses, are complex and costly due to their reliance on traditional molding methods, limiting the production of diverse lenses with adjustable optical characteristics.
Innovation Solution
An image capturing lens is developed that incorporates a cemented lens composed of a spheric lens and a liquid lens, allowing for dynamic adjustments to the overall refractive index, surface shape, and curvature radius, overcoming the manufacturing constraints of conventional solid lenses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional molding processes are used to manufacture aspheric lenses, then manufacturing precision can be achieved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The lens system is divided into multiple components: a cemented lens combining a spheric lens and liquid lens, plus 4 or 5 additional lenses with refracting powers. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured using simpler processes while achieving the overall optical performance through coordinated design of individual elements rather than requiring complex single-piece molding.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the liquid lens component to dynamically adjust optical parameters including refractive index, surface shape, and curvature radius. This parameter variability is achieved through material properties of the liquid lens rather than complex manufacturing processes, allowing the same physical structure to provide different optical characteristics through material selection and configuration.
2Manufacturing precision
If complex molding processes are used for aspheric lenses, then optical characteristics can be precisely controlled, but manufacturing cost increases substantially
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the optical system into multiple simpler lens components rather than requiring a single complex aspheric lens, the patent reduces manufacturing cost. Each individual lens element can be produced using standard, less expensive molding or machining processes, while the combination achieves the desired optical performance through careful design of each component's refracting power and geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The cemented lens combines a spheric lens with a liquid lens, creating a composite optical element that leverages the advantages of both material types. This composite structure enables precise control of optical characteristics through material selection and configuration rather than requiring complex single-material molding processes, thereby reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining optical precision.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional solid lenses are used, then manufacturing process is simplified, but adaptability to adjust optical characteristics is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid lens component introduces dynamic adjustability to the otherwise static solid lens structure. The liquid lens can be configured to provide variable refractive index, surface shape, and curvature radius, enabling the optical system to adapt to different imaging requirements. This dynamic capability is integrated into a relatively simple manufacturing process that treats the liquid lens as another optical element in the sequence.
4Manufacturing precision
If aspheric lenses are manufactured through complex molding, then imaging quality can be optimized, but field curvature aberrations and distortion remain challenging to control
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system segments aberration control across multiple lens elements rather than relying on a single complex aspheric lens. Each lens in the sequence (including the cemented lens with spheric and liquid components, plus 4 or 5 additional lenses) contributes specific refracting power that collectively manages field curvature and distortion. This distributed approach makes aberration control more manageable and less complex than optimizing a single lens element.
Solution Approach 2:
The cemented lens combines spheric and liquid lens materials to create a composite element with tailored optical properties. This composite structure provides flexibility in controlling aberrations through the interaction of different material properties and geometries, enabling precise management of field curvature and distortion without requiring overly complex single-material lens designs.
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 approach enables the production of lenses with improved imaging quality by effectively eliminating field curvature aberrations and reducing distortion, while simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
the cemented lens has a positive refracting power and includes a spheric lens and a liquid lens
Implementation Method 2
the overall refractive index, the surface shape, the curvature radius, and other optical characteristics of the cemented lens are dynamically adjusted
Data Source
AI summary
An image capturing lens including a cemented lens is provided. The cemented lens has a positive refracting power and includes a spheric lens and a liquid lens. In addition to the cemented lens, the image capturing lens has 4 or 5 lenses with refracting powers.