Inverse-Designed Diffractive Optics for Stray Spot Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
High diffraction efficiency in diffractive optical elements causes stray spots on captured images and obscures the camera aperture, leading to reduced image quality and slower shutter response speeds.
Innovation Solution
A diffractive optical element is configured through inverse design to minimize stray spots by reducing the etching depth and narrowing the patterned region, enhancing light transmission and background light intake.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the diffractive optical element is designed with high diffraction efficiency, then the diffraction pattern is enhanced, but stray spots appear on the captured image and image quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the diffractive optical element by reducing the etching depth from the conventional deep etching to shallow etching (depth less than one-tenth of the pattern period). This parameter change reduces the diffraction efficiency to minimize stray spots while maintaining sufficient diffraction pattern visibility, thereby resolving the contradiction between high diffraction efficiency and stray spot reduction.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the diffractive optical element is designed with high diffraction efficiency, then the diffraction pattern is enhanced, but the camera aperture is obscured and light transmission is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the etching depth parameter to be shallow (less than one-tenth of the pattern period), which reduces the light absorption and scattering in the patterned region. This increases the light transmission capacity of the diffractive optical element, allowing more light to reach the camera aperture and sensor, thereby resolving the contradiction between diffraction efficiency and light transmission.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the diffractive optical element is designed with high diffraction efficiency, then the diffraction pattern is enhanced, but the shutter response speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces the etching depth to shallow etching, which increases light transmission capacity. This allows the camera to capture sufficient light in a shorter time, thereby improving the shutter response speed and resolving the contradiction between diffraction efficiency and shutter response speed.
4Use of energy by moving object
If the diffractive optical element is designed with high diffraction efficiency, then the diffraction pattern is enhanced, but the overall image quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the etching depth to a shallow value (less than one-tenth of the pattern period), which balances the diffraction pattern intensity with the reduction of stray spots and improvement of light transmission. This parameter optimization enhances overall image quality while maintaining sufficient diffraction pattern visibility, resolving the contradiction between diffraction efficiency and 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
This approach minimizes stray spots, improves light intake, and enhances shutter response speed, resulting in high-definition images with seamless integration of diffraction patterns into the background.
Implementation Method 1
When light emitted from a point source enters a diffractive optical element, its surface with a diffractive structure splits the beam into multiple rays, which can be redirected, shaped, or combined in various ways to produce a diffraction pattern.
Data Source
AI summary
A diffractive optical element and a camera are disclosed. The diffractive optical element may be arranged at a camera head of a camera for assisting the camera in imaging. The diffractive optical element may be configured by inverse design. The diffractive optical element is inversely designed to minimize stray spots during image capture and to enhance its light transmission capability. The inverse design is applied to reduce an etching depth of a patterned region in the diffractive optical element, thereby lowering primary and secondary diffraction efficiency, increasing light transmission capacity, and minimizing stray spots in captured images. The inverse design is further applied to narrow the patterned region in the diffractive optical element, thereby lowering diffraction efficiency and increasing light intake through a light transmissive region, which enables a camera aperture to obtain more light, enhancing background light intake, shutter response speed, and overall quality in imaged background.