Underwater Goggle Lenses With Variable Thickness for Distortion Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing underwater vision systems, such as swimming and diving goggles, suffer from significant visual distortions due to the difference in refractive indices between air and water, particularly causing image dilation and horizontal expansion, which affects clarity and peripheral vision.
Innovation Solution
The goggles feature lenses with varying thickness and curvature, including a cylindrical front vision part with 2.0 mm to 4.0 mm thickness variation and a lateral spherical vision part with 2.5 mm to 5.0 mm thickness variation, combined with cylindrical and spherical curvatures on horizontal and vertical axes to minimize distortions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If flat lenses are used, then manufacturing is simple and vision is clear, but peripheral vision is limited and visual field is narrow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curved lens surfaces with specific radii of curvature to expand the visual field. The lens incorporates a front curved surface and a rear curved surface, creating a panoramic viewing angle of approximately 180 degrees while maintaining optical clarity through controlled curvature profiles.
2Area of stationary object
If curved lenses with constant thickness are used, then peripheral vision is improved, but horizontal distortion and image dilation occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements variable thickness distribution across the lens, with the thickest portion located centrally and progressively thinner edges toward the periphery. This local variation in thickness compensates for the distortion caused by curvature, maintaining image fidelity across different visual fields while preserving the expanded peripheral vision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the thickness parameter of the lens from constant to variable, creating a gradient profile that optimizes optical performance. The controlled thickness variation across the lens surface corrects horizontal distortion and prevents image dilation, allowing the curved lens to provide both expanded field of view and accurate image representation.
3Manufacturing precision
If variable thickness lenses are used, then visual distortion is reduced, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the lens into distinct functional zones: a central thick zone for primary vision and clarity, and peripheral thinner zones for expanded field of view. This segmentation allows each region to be optimized for its specific function while simplifying the overall manufacturing process through modular design approaches.
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 provides virtually undistorted panoramic vision of approximately 170°, reducing horizontal distortions and enhancing clarity and focus while maintaining a wide field of view, with minimal hydrodynamic drag and improved stability.
Implementation Method 1
a non-planar lens, which in air would not cause visible or noticeable distortions, constitutes a dioptric surface underwater by separating water from air... a curvature or prismatic configuration of the lens greatly affects refraction problems
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to swimming or diving goggles intended for a user, characterised by the following combination of features: - the front cylindrical vision portion (3a, 3b), over a horizontal cross section of the lens (1a, 1b), exhibits a thickness variation of between 2.0 mm and 4.0 mm; and - the side spherical vision portion (4a, 4b), over a horizontal cross section of the lens (1a, 1b), exhibits a thickness variation of between 2.5 mm and 5 mm; and - the lenses (1a, 1b) exhibit cylindrical curvature over a vertical cross section of the lens (1a, 1b) in the front cylindrical vision portion (3a, 3b); and - the lenses (1a, 1b) exhibit spherical curvature over a vertical cross section of the lens (1a, 1b) in the side spherical vision portion (4a, 4b).