Electro-Active Lens Focus and Zoom Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical focus and zoom systems require moving parts, making them bulky, prone to failure due to shock, vibration, and particulate contamination.
Innovation Solution
Dynamic focusing and zoom systems utilizing electro-active lenses with adjustable optical power, eliminating the need for moving parts by using immobile lenses and focal planes, controlled by a controller to achieve variable focusing and magnification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional optical focus and zoom systems use moving parts to achieve focus and zoom functionality, then focusing and zooming capabilities are provided, but the devices become bulky, heavy, and prone to failure due to shock, vibration, and particulate contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical focusing and zooming systems with electro-active lenses that use electrical fields to control optical properties. The electro-active lens changes its focal length and optical power in response to voltage changes, eliminating the need for mechanical moving parts while maintaining focus and zoom capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the optical parameters of the lens dynamically through electrical control. By applying different voltage levels to the electro-active lens, the focal length and optical power are adjusted continuously, enabling focus and zoom functions without mechanical movement. This parameter change approach allows the system to adapt to different imaging requirements while maintaining reliability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional optical focus and zoom systems use moving parts, then focusing and zooming are achieved, but the devices become thicker and heavier
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates mechanical components by using electro-active lenses that control optical properties through electrical fields. This substitution removes the need for heavy mechanical focusing and zooming mechanisms, significantly reducing the overall device weight while maintaining full functionality.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional optical focus and zoom systems use moving parts, then focus and zoom are provided, but the devices become more susceptible to particulate contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical moving parts with electro-active lenses that have no physical moving components. This eliminates openings and interfaces where particulate contamination could enter, making the optical system more resistant to contamination while maintaining optical adjustment capabilities through electrical control.
4Adaptability or versatility
If conventional optical focus and zoom systems use moving parts, then focusing and zooming are achieved, but the devices become more prone to failure from shock and vibration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates mechanical moving parts that are vulnerable to shock and vibration by using electro-active lenses. The electrical control mechanism has no physical moving components that could fail under mechanical stress, significantly improving the system's tolerance to shock and vibration while maintaining optical functionality.
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
Results in thinner, lighter, and more robust optical systems that are less prone to failure from shock, vibration, and contamination, with improved focus and zoom capabilities without mechanical parts.
Implementation Method 1
The electro-active lenses of the present invention can have an adjustable optical power to provide variable focusing capability
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the present invention provide dynamic focusing systems and dynamic zoom systems having no moving parts. The dynamic focusing systems can include an electro-active lens, a fixed focus lens in optical communication with the electro-active lens and a focal plane. The dynamic zoom systems can include a first electro-active lens, a second electro-active lens, a fixed focus lens, and a focal plane. The electro-active lenses of the present invention can have an adjustable optical power to provide variable focusing capability. The dynamic focusing systems and dynamic zoom systems can include a controller for altering the adjustable optical powers of the electro-active lenses. The dynamic focusing systems can focus on objects at various distances based on the controlled optical power of the included electro-active lenses. The dynamic zoom systems can provide magnification and de-magnification based on the controlled optical power of the included electro-active lenses.