Deformable Lens Membrane Curvature Control for Wide Focal Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing adaptive optical devices are limited by gravity-induced deformations, small size, high cost, and complex actuator mechanisms, which restrict their ability to achieve wide focal adjustments and maintain optical quality.
Innovation Solution
The device employs elongated, flexible membranes with actuator means that allow large variations in curvature, using movement members to deform the membranes up to several millimeters, and incorporates stiffening strips to prevent deformation, enabling precise control over focal adjustments and astigmatism correction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the diameter of the membrane is increased to achieve larger aperture, then the aperture area is improved, but gravity-induced deformations increase and optical quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane is divided into multiple zones with different functional characteristics. The central zone is more rigid to maintain optical quality, while peripheral zones are more flexible to accommodate deformations. This segmentation allows the membrane to achieve large aperture area while maintaining optical precision in the critical central region.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the membrane are assigned different mechanical properties. The central area has higher rigidity to prevent gravity-induced deformations that would compromise optical quality, while peripheral regions have lower rigidity to allow necessary deformations for focusing. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between large aperture and optical quality.
2Manufacturing precision
If the membrane is made more rigid to reduce gravity-induced deformations, then optical quality is improved, but the ability to deform for focal adjustment is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane structure is segmented into a rigid central zone for maintaining optical quality and flexible peripheral zones for enabling focal adjustment. This segmentation allows the membrane to simultaneously achieve both rigidity where needed and flexibility where needed, resolving the contradiction between optical quality and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane exhibits local quality differentiation where the central region is more rigid to maintain optical precision during focal adjustments, while peripheral regions remain more flexible to accommodate the mechanical deformations necessary for focusing. This local property variation allows the membrane to satisfy both optical quality requirements and focal adjustment capabilities.
3Manufacturing precision
If complex actuator mechanisms are used to achieve precise curvature control, then focal adjustment precision is improved, but device complexity and production cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane structure itself provides the necessary curvature control through its inherent mechanical properties and design, rather than requiring complex external actuator mechanisms. The segmented structure with different rigidity zones automatically responds to applied forces in a controlled manner, achieving precise curvature control through the membrane's own characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
Complex mechanical actuator systems are replaced or supplemented by a simplified membrane-based mechanical system that achieves curvature control through the membrane's inherent properties. The segmented membrane structure uses its own mechanical characteristics to provide precise control, reducing the need for additional complex actuation mechanisms.
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 enables wide focal adjustments, maintains optical quality, and reduces production costs by simplifying actuator control, ensuring reliable and frequent maintenance-free operation.
Implementation Method 1
a deformable lens (100) comprising a first membrane (2), transparent and deformable, facing a support wall (14) that is substantially flat and transparent. Between the membrane (2) and the support wall (14), a chamber (5) is defined which houses an optical layer (4), normally transparent, which defines the refraction body of the lens
Implementation Method 2
adaptive optical devices have been known that are provided with lenses intended to be traversed by a light beam in order to refract the light with a variable wavefront, for example in order to converge such light beam towards a specific point at a pre-established focal distance
Data Source
AI summary
Adaptive optical device provided with a deformable lens including a membrane which is extended between a first end and an opposite second end and is provided with an internal face placed on an optical layer. In addition, the deformable lens includes actuators arranged for varying the curvature of the membrane with respect to the optical axis of the lens. The actuator comprises a first movement member and a second movement member movable parallel to the optical axis and connected, respectively, to the first end and to the second end of the membrane, and a drive member operatively connected to the first and to the second movement member and arranged to move them by moving the first end and the second end of the first membrane parallel to the optical axis, in order to place the first membrane in a curved configuration.