Imaging Lens Alterable Refractive Power Depth of Field
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current digital imaging systems, such as microscopes, face a limitation in depth of field, which is disproportionately reduced with increased lateral resolution, hindering applications like microscope-assisted surgery where sufficient depth of field is crucial.
Innovation Solution
An imaging system with an optical component having alterable refractive power, maintaining rotation-symmetrical optical effects, allows for continuous adjustment of focal position, enabling increased depth of field without compromising image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the object-side numerical aperture is enlarged to improve lateral resolution, then the lateral resolution is improved, but the depth of field is strongly disproportionately reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the refractive power of the optical component alterable, allowing the system to dynamically adjust between different focal positions. This enables the depth of field to be extended across multiple z-positions while maintaining high lateral resolution at each position, resolving the contradiction between lateral resolution and depth of field.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the refractive power parameter of the optical component to achieve different focal positions. By altering this physical parameter, the system can extend the depth of field to multiple z-positions while maintaining diffraction-limited lateral resolution, thus resolving the contradiction between lateral resolution and depth of field.
2Length of stationary object
If a rotating optical element is used to increase depth of field, then the depth of field is increased, but the video frame rate is substantially limited due to discrete angular positions requirement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical rotating disc system with an optical component whose refractive power can be altered. This substitution eliminates the need for discrete angular positions and mechanical rotation, allowing continuous adjustment between focal positions and enabling video frame rates to be maintained while still extending depth of field.
3Length of stationary object
If a rotating optical element is accelerated and decelerated for discrete z-positions, then the depth of field is increased, but mechanical vibrations are produced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical rotating system that requires acceleration and deceleration with an optical component whose refractive power can be altered. This eliminates the harmful mechanical vibrations while still achieving extension of depth of field to multiple z-positions.
4Length of stationary object
If phase masks are used to increase depth of field, then the depth of field is increased, but the image contrast is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a different approach from phase masks by dynamically altering the refractive power of an optical component to extend depth of field to multiple z-positions. This method maintains excellent image quality and high contrast at each focal position, avoiding the contrast reduction problem associated with phase masks.
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 system achieves enhanced depth of field with excellent image quality, allowing for live imaging with varying depth of field, suitable for applications like microscope-assisted surgery, and reduces mechanical vibrations and image noise.
Implementation Method 1
the imaging lens system contains an optical component for a higher depth of field, of which the refractive power is alterable
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging system with an imaging lens system for imaging an object into an image plane is disclosed. The imaging lens system contains an optical component for a higher depth of field, of which the refractive power is alterable and the optical effect remains rotation-symmetrical.