Compound Lens Array Time-Shifted Control for Oscillation Artifacts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Focus tunable lenses in Multi-Focal Display (MFD) devices suffer from significant oscillation artifacts such as overshoot and ringing due to lens inertia, which affect image quality and cause flickering, especially when switching between focal planes.
Innovation Solution
A compound lens assembly comprising multiple focus tunable lenses, where each lens is controlled with a specific control signal, and the signals are applied in a time-shifted manner to reduce oscillation artifacts and achieve faster settling times, resulting in improved image quality and reduced flickering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single focus tunable lens is used to switch between focal planes, then the device structure is simple, but oscillation artifacts such as overshoot and ringing occur due to lens inertia, causing image quality degradation and flickering
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides a single focus tunable lens into multiple smaller focus tunable lenses arranged in an array. Each lens in the array can be independently controlled to reduce oscillation artifacts. This segmentation approach maintains relatively simple device structure while significantly improving image quality by eliminating overshoot and ringing effects that occur with single-lens designs.
2Device complexity
If control signals are applied simultaneously to all focus tunable lenses, then the control system is simple, but oscillation artifacts persist and settling time is extended
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by applying control signals to the focus tunable lenses in a time-sequenced manner rather than simultaneously. The controller activates lenses in successive time intervals, which exploits the periodic nature of lens response to minimize oscillation buildup. This approach extends settling time reduction while maintaining manageable control system complexity through systematic signal sequencing.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller applies preliminary action by pre-coordinating the activation timing of each lens in the array. Before switching between focal planes, the control system prepares the lens array by sequentially adjusting individual lenses according to a predetermined time sequence. This preliminary coordination prevents oscillation artifacts from accumulating and reduces overall settling time.
3Productivity
If high-speed focal modulation is implemented to achieve flicker-free display, then frame rate is increased, but oscillation artifacts become more pronounced due to reduced time for lens stabilization
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the focus modulation task across multiple smaller lenses, the patent enables faster individual lens responses. Each lens in the array requires less time to stabilize compared to a single large lens, allowing the system to achieve high frame rates while maintaining image quality. The segmented approach permits rapid focal plane switching without pronounced oscillation artifacts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses periodic action by implementing time-sequenced control signals that exploit the natural oscillation periods of the lenses. By coordinating lens activation in periodic time intervals, the system achieves high-speed focal modulation while minimizing oscillation buildup. This allows flicker-free display at high frame rates without sacrificing image quality.
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 use of a compound lens with individually controlled focus tunable lenses and time-shifted control signals significantly reduces oscillation artifacts, leading to faster settling times and improved image quality by minimizing spurious overshoot and ringing, thereby enhancing the overall performance of MFD devices.
Implementation Method 1
a first focus tunable lens and a second focus tunable lens of the plurality of focus tunable lenses, respectively, with a same natural oscillation frequency f＝1/T, wherein T is a corresponding oscillation period
Implementation Method 2
with a same natural oscillation frequency f＝1/T, wherein T is a corresponding oscillation period
Implementation Method 3
significantly reduces oscillation artifacts, leading to faster settling times
Data Source
AI summary
A focus tunable optical system includes a compound lens, which includes a plurality of focus tunable lenses. Further, the focus tunable optical system comprises a controller, which is configured to shift a focus of the compound lens from a first focal plane to a second focal plane. To this end, the controller is configured to apply, individually to each focus tunable lens of the plurality of the focus tunable lenses, a control signal having a first value for the first focal plane and a second value for the second focal plane.