Lens Alignment Using Controlled Thermal Expansion Materials
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional optical systems face challenges in maintaining constant focal lengths across a wide temperature range due to varying coefficients of thermal expansion in lens retaining members and focal length spacers, leading to complex and costly designs prone to failure.
Innovation Solution
The use of thermally neutral or controlled metallic materials for lens retaining members and focal length spacers, which are fabricated to have specific thermal expansion coefficients, ensuring that the overall optical system maintains constant focal lengths regardless of temperature changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional materials with varying thermal expansion coefficients are used for lens retaining members and focal length spacers, then the optical system can be manufactured with standard materials, but the focal length varies with temperature changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by selecting materials with specific thermal expansion coefficients (CTE values) to compensate for temperature-induced focal length variations. The lens retaining members and focal length spacers are made from materials whose thermal expansion characteristics are carefully controlled to maintain constant focal length across a wide temperature range, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by combining different materials with complementary thermal expansion coefficients in the optical system. Specifically, materials with positive CTE are paired with materials having negative CTE such that their combined thermal effects cancel each other out, maintaining stable focal length while using standard manufacturable materials.
2Reliability
If multiple materials with different thermal expansion coefficients are used to compensate for thermal effects, then focal length stability can be achieved, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses parameter changes by specifying precise thermal expansion coefficient ranges for the materials used in lens retaining members and focal length spacers. By controlling the CTE parameter within specific ranges (e.g., 0 to +15×10^-6/K or -150 to +500×10^-6/K), the system achieves focal length stability while maintaining ease of manufacture through standardized material selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different thermal expansion characteristics to different components based on their specific functional requirements. The lens retaining members and focal length spacers are made from materials with tailored CTE values that are locally optimized for their role in maintaining focal length stability, rather than using uniform materials throughout the entire system.
3Reliability
If conventional lens alignment systems are used, then the optical system can be assembled with standard components, but the system mass and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by selecting materials with optimized thermal expansion coefficients that enable focal length stability across wide temperature ranges. This allows for lighter, more reliable optical components that maintain performance without requiring complex thermal compensation mechanisms, thereby reducing overall system mass while improving reliability.
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
This approach results in a simpler, more reliable, and cost-effective optical system with stable focal lengths across a wide temperature range, reducing the complexity and mass of the optical system while increasing its reliability.
Implementation Method 1
deforming a metallic material substantially comprising a first phase by applying tension in a first direction; transforming, in response to the deforming, at least some of the first phase into a second phase
Implementation Method 2
the metallic material, subsequent to the deforming, exhibits a negative first thermal expansion characteristic having a negative coefficient of thermal expansion within a predetermined range
Implementation Method 3
the metallic material, subsequent to the deforming, exhibits a second thermal expansion characteristic in a second direction
Data Source
AI summary
A lens alignment system and method is disclosed. The disclosed system/method integrates one or more lens retaining members/tubes (LRM/LRT) and focal length spacers (FLS) each comprising a metallic material product (MMP) specifically manufactured to have a thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) in a predetermined range via selection of the individual MMP materials and an associated MMP manufacturing process providing for controlled TEC. This controlled LRM/LRT TEC enables a plurality of optical lenses (POL) fixed along a common optical axis (COA) by the LRM/LRT to maintain precise interspatial alignment characteristics that ensure consistent and/or controlled series focal length (SFL) within the POL to generate a thermally neutral optical system (TNOS). Integration of the POL using this LRM/LRT/FLS lens alignment system reduces the overall TNOS implementation cost, reduces the overall TNOS mass, reduces TNOS parts component count, and increases the reliability of the overall optical system.