Controllable Lens Flexure Joints for Aberration Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing variable focal length lenses suffer from deformation of membranes that cause aberrations and wave front errors, necessitating an improved actuator mechanism to transfer motion without deforming the lens membranes.

Innovation Solution

A controllable lens design featuring transparent cover members and a deformable non-fluid body, connected by actuators and elastic elements with differential stiffness, allowing controlled bending without significant axial deformation, using elastic connections to transfer actuator motion efficiently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If actuators are directly connected to lens membranes to control focal length, then optical power control is achieved, but membrane deformation occurs causing aberrations and wave front errors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoptical power controlVSAvoidwave front error

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism consisting of elastic elements and flexure joints between the actuators and lens membranes. These intermediaries transfer actuator motion to the lens membranes while filtering out deforming forces that would cause aberrations, thus resolving the contradiction between achieving optical power control and maintaining wave front precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The actuator system is segmented into multiple independent actuators, each controlling specific degrees of freedom. This segmentation allows precise control of lens shape parameters without introducing unwanted deformations, thereby maintaining both operational ease and manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If lens membranes are deformed to change focal length, then variable optical power is achieved, but aberrations are generated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevariable focal lengthVSAvoidaberrations

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameters of lens deformation by using multiple actuators to independently control different degrees of freedom. This allows achieving variable focal length while maintaining controlled deformation patterns that minimize aberration generation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of membrane deformation into a beneficial controlled process. By using elastic elements and flexure joints, the deformation is channeled in specific directions that achieve focal length variation while minimizing aberrations, turning what would be a harmful effect into a controlled and useful one.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Productivity

If actuator motion is transferred directly to lens membranes, then focal length control is efficient, but membrane deformation causes performance degradation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefocal length control efficiencyVSAvoidlens performance quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The elastic elements and flexure joints serve as intermediaries that efficiently transfer actuator motion to lens membranes while filtering out deforming forces. This intermediary mechanism maintains high control efficiency while protecting lens performance quality by preventing harmful deformations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 design reduces membrane deformation, minimizing aberrations and wave front errors, enhancing lens performance and optical power control.

Implementation Method 1

at least a portion, such as an elastic portion, of each of the one or more elastic elements is arranged to deform elastically in response to a relative radial displacement between the first cover member and the actuator displacement elements

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

each of the one or more elastic elements has a first stiffness in the radial direction and a second stiffness in the direction of the optical axis, wherein the first stiffness is smaller than the second stiffness

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDifferential elastic stiffness: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS12405406B2Controllable lens actuated via flexure joints

Publication Date: 2025.09.02 POLIGHT

AI summary

The invention relates to a controllable lens with variable optical power. The lens comprises a first and second cover members (111, 112), a transparent, deformable, non-fluid body (105) sandwiched between the first and second i transparent cover members, so that the first and second transparent cover members and non-fluid body constitute a lens, one or more actuators arranged to provide displacement in a direction along the optical axis, and one or more elastic elements (130, 130_1, 130_2) connecting the actuator displacement elements with the first cover member, wherein at least a portion of each of the one or more elastic elements is arranged to deform elastically in response to a relative radial displacement between the first transparent cover member and the actuator displacement elements. A first stiffness in a radial direction of each of the one or more elastic elements is smaller than a second stiffness in the direction of the optical axis of each of the one or more elastic elements.