Infinity-Corrected Lens Architecture for Interchangeable Front Objectives
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical systems struggle with impractical size, insufficient depth of field, and degraded image quality, and are often incompatible with a variety of front objective lens systems, limiting their use in photographic and cinematographic applications.
Innovation Solution
An optical imaging system with a rear focusing system that forms an infinity corrected beam from a front lens system, allowing for interchangeable front objectives, miniaturization, and high-quality image generation, using a rear imaging system to control magnification and field coverage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional optical systems use relays or optical fixes behind the objective lens to improve image quality or increase depth of field, then image quality or depth of field is improved, but the system becomes relatively long and cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a beam expander as an intermediary component between the front objective lens system and the rear imaging system. The beam expander receives a diverging beam from the front objective and outputs a collimated (parallel) beam, which then enters the rear imaging system. This intermediary component enables the system to achieve infinity correction, allowing the rear imaging system to be positioned at a standardized distance from the beam expander output, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining image quality and reducing overall system length.
2Reliability
If conventional optical systems use additional optical systems to provide increased depth of field, then depth of field is increased, but the systems are relatively long and cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The infinity correction system with beam expander serves multiple functions: it standardizes the working distance for any front lens system, enables interchangeable front objectives, allows miniaturization of front objective lens systems, and provides a collimated beam that can be used with various rear imaging systems. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate optical fixes for each specific application, reducing overall system length while maintaining or improving depth of field.
3Volume of moving object
If front objective lens systems are miniaturized, then system size is reduced, but compatibility with different formats and high quality sensors is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The beam expander acts as a mediator that decouples the front objective lens system from the rear imaging system. By converting the diverging beam from the miniaturized front objective into a collimated beam, the beam expander allows the rear imaging system to be positioned at a standardized infinity distance, enabling compatibility with different sensor formats and high-quality sensors without requiring the front objective to be large or complex.
4Adaptability or versatility
If interchangeable front objectives are used, then versatility is improved, but maintaining high image quality across different objectives becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The beam expander transforms the beam parameter from diverging to collimated, creating a standardized interface that is independent of the specific front objective used. This parameter change ensures that regardless of which front objective is attached, the output beam characteristics entering the rear imaging system remain consistent, thereby maintaining image quality consistency across interchangeable objectives.
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
Enables the use of a wide variety of front objective lens systems interchangeably while maintaining high image quality, facilitating miniaturization and compatibility with different formats, and allowing integration with various optical instruments.
Implementation Method 1
a rear focusing system positioned behind the front objective lens system, wherein the rear focusing system has a focal length and is positioned within the optical housing so as to be able to focus the aerial image and transmit an infinity beam to a rear imaging system
Implementation Method 2
an optical housing able to hold one or more optical lens systems, the optical housing having a front end able to receive light from an object
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention generally relates to optical imaging systems able to form an infinity corrected beam from light received from a front lens system, thereby standardizing the working distance of any front lens system able to be integrated with the present invention. This allows a wide variety of front objectives to be used interchangeably with photographic and motion-picture cameras and other optical instruments, and also allows front objective lens systems to be miniaturized or otherwise modified.