Compact Intensified Camera Module Using WFOV Relay Lens
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image intensified camera systems are bulky and restrictive due to their length, making them difficult to transport and use effectively, especially in applications requiring compactness and lightweight designs.
Innovation Solution
A compact image intensified camera system is developed with a wide field of view (WFOV) lens assembly positioned between the receiving sensor assembly and the output sensor assembly, utilizing a small WFOV lens as a relay optic to reduce the optical axis length, weight, and size, while maintaining image fidelity through axially symmetric collinear optics and a concave fiber optic output.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If two relay lens assemblies are used to interface the image intensifier with the camera, then the image can be transferred between different formats, but the optical train length increases and the assembly becomes unwieldy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the unnecessary relay lens assembly from the optical train. By using a camera with a sensor size that directly matches the image intensifier output format, the intermediate relay optics are eliminated, reducing the optical train length while maintaining image format compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a universal camera platform that can accommodate different image intensifier formats through interchangeable adapters or sensor selections, eliminating the need for dedicated relay optics for each format combination.
2Reliability
If the image intensifier is powered through wires from a battery pack, then the intensifier can operate, but the cylindrical tube must be punctured which complicates the design
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical wire penetration through the vacuum tube with a wireless power transmission system. This could involve inductive coupling or other wireless energy transfer methods that maintain the vacuum seal integrity while providing power to the image intensifier.
3Device complexity
If a flat focal plane is configured at the output of the image intensifier, then the optical design is simplified, but it does not accommodate the concave fiber optic outputs of commercially available image intensifiers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a curved focal plane that matches the concave geometry of commercial image intensifier fiber optic outputs. This curved sensor array or curved focal plane corrector maintains compatibility with existing intensifiers while preserving image quality across the field of view.
4Manufacturing precision
If the original camera objective lens is used, then chromatic aberration is corrected, but the relay lens assembly between the objective lens and image intensifier also requires chromatic aberration correction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the intermediate relay lens assembly entirely by direct coupling the image intensifier output to the camera sensor. This removes the source of additional chromatic aberration while maintaining the optical quality provided by the original camera objective lens.
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 results in a significantly reduced size and weight of the camera system, enabling easier handling and use, with improved field of view and image resolution, and eliminates the need for additional relay lenses, thus simplifying the mechanical design and reducing manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
a wide field of view (WFOV) lens assembly (18) that conveys or relays the visible output image (14) from the receiving sensor assembly (10) to the output sensor assembly (16)
Implementation Method 2
the high majority of commercially available image intensifiers have concave fiber optic outputs transmitting the intensified imagery
Implementation Method 3
An image intensifier uses a photocathode to convert the light from an imaged scene into electrons
Implementation Method 4
The electrons are amplified by a thin disc array of millions of channels known as a micro channel plate (MCP)
Implementation Method 5
The electrons output from the MCP impinge on a phosphor screen
Data Source
AI summary
A compact viewing device (M) has a receiving sensor assembly (10) with a display (12) that generates a visible output image (14) and an output sensor assembly (16) that receives and processes the visible output image (14) from the receiving sensor assembly (10) into an electronic image format. A wide field of view (WFOV) lens assembly (18) conveys the visible output image (14) from the receiving sensor assembly (10) to the output sensor assembly (16). The WFOV lens assembly (18) is positioned between the receiving sensor assembly (10) and the output sensor assembly (16), and has a central longitudinal axis (20) through the WFOV lens assembly (18) that is co-linear with both a central optical axis (22) of the receiving sensor assembly (10) and having an centered input sensor (42) which is co-linear with the central longitudinal axis (20).