Imaging Lens Peripheral Air Barriers for Stray Light Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The reflection of non-imaging light on the peripheral surfaces of optical elements, such as optical lens elements and optical reflective prisms, generates stray light, degrading image quality due to smooth surfaces and gate traces from the cutting process.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an imaging lens system with a peripheral portion featuring connection surfaces, a reduction surface, a gate trace, and air barriers recessed towards the optical axis, including point-like and line-like forms, to block stray light reflection paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the peripheral surfaces of optical elements are made smooth for manufacturing ease, then manufacturing precision is improved, but stray light reflection increases degrading image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating air barriers only in specific peripheral regions where gate traces are located, rather than modifying the entire optical element surface. This allows the majority of the surface to remain smooth for manufacturing ease, while locally introducing anti-reflective air barriers precisely where needed to block stray light from gate traces
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces air barriers as an intermediary substance between the gate trace surfaces and the incoming light. These air barriers act as a mediating layer that blocks the harmful reflection paths without requiring direct modification of the gate trace structure or the main optical surfaces
2Object-affected harmful factors
If air barriers are made wider to better block stray light, then image quality improves, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies precise parameter ranges for air barrier width (0.008 mm ≤ Wab ≤ 0.07 mm) to optimize the balance between stray light blocking effectiveness and manufacturing feasibility. This parameter control ensures that the air barriers are sufficiently wide to block stray light while remaining small enough to be manufactured with standard precision capabilities
3Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple air barriers are added to cover all gate traces, then stray light reduction improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the anti-reflective solution into multiple discrete air barriers distributed across the peripheral surfaces, with each air barrier targeting specific gate trace locations. This segmentation allows for precise, localized stray light control without requiring a continuous complex coating or structure across the entire optical element
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 effectively reduces stray light reflection, ensuring high image quality by blocking stray light paths and minimizing the impact of gate traces and uneven surfaces on the peripheral regions of optical elements.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of air barriers are disposed on the gate trace and extend from the gate trace on the reduction surface toward other areas of the reduction surface
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging lens system includes an optical element being a light-transmitting element including an optical effective portion and a peripheral portion. The optical effective portion includes an incident surface and an exit surface. An imaging light enters the optical element through the incident surface and exits the optical element through the exit surface. The peripheral portion is located farther away from an optical axis of the imaging lens system than the optical effective portion. The peripheral portion includes at least one connection surface connected to the incident surface and the exit surface, and a plurality of air barriers disposed on at least part of surfaces of the peripheral portion and recessed toward the optical axis from the at least part of the surfaces of the peripheral portion. Recessed shapes of the air barriers include at least one of a point-like form and a line-like form.