Lens Focus Control via Thermal Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional camera lenses experience focus variations due to temperature changes, and existing athermal lens designs are complex and expensive, failing to account for other operating parameters like air pressure and humidity, especially in vented lenses used in aerial photography.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that detects changes in focal distance and adjusts the lens temperature using a thermal device controlled by computing devices to reduce variations, monitoring optical-related parameters such as pressure, humidity, and object distance to maintain a constant focal distance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If athermal lens designs are used to maintain focus over temperature ranges, then focus stability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefocus stabilityVSAvoidlens design complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state/parameter of the lens by controlling its temperature to maintain focal distance. Instead of using complex athermal lens designs with multiple materials, the invention actively controls the lens temperature to compensate for thermal expansion and maintain focus stability, thereby resolving the contradiction between focus stability and design complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/structural solution of athermal lens designs with a thermal control system. Instead of relying on complex mechanical arrangements of different materials to achieve athermal performance, the invention uses active temperature control to achieve the same focus stability, simplifying the overall system design

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If athermal lens designs are used to maintain focus over temperature ranges, then focus stability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefocus stabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses active temperature control as a parameter change approach to maintain focus stability, avoiding the need for expensive athermal lens materials and complex manufacturing processes. This resolves the contradiction by providing a more cost-effective solution that achieves the same reliability through environmental control rather than complex manufacturing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If conventional lens designs are used, then device complexity is reduced, but focus stability deteriorates with temperature changes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelens design complexityVSAvoidfocus stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the passive structural approach of conventional lenses with an active thermal control system. By controlling the lens temperature, the invention maintains focus stability without requiring complex athermal lens designs, thereby achieving both simplicity and reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Adaptability or versatility

If vented lenses are used for aerial photography, then adaptability to aerial environments is improved, but focus stability deteriorates due to pressure and humidity changes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to aerial environmentVSAvoidfocus stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the passive structural design of vented lenses with an active thermal control system. By controlling the lens temperature, the invention compensates for the effects of pressure and humidity changes in aerial environments, maintaining focus stability while preserving the adaptability benefits of vented lens designs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention implements a feedback control system that monitors temperature and adjusts lens heating/cooling accordingly. This feedback mechanism allows the lens to maintain focus stability despite environmental variations in pressure and humidity, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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

Effectively controls the focus of camera lenses by adjusting temperature to offset variations caused by environmental changes, particularly beneficial for aerial photography lenses exposed to wide-ranging conditions.

Implementation Method 1

the focal length of the lens changes as the temperature of the lens changes

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Data Source

PatentUS9383540B1System and method for controlling the focus of a lens

Publication Date: 2016.07.05 GOOGLE LLC

AI summary

In one aspect, a system for controlling the focus of a lens is disclosed. The system may generally include a sensor configured to detect changes in a focal distance of the lens and a thermal device configured to adjust a lens temperature of the lens. In addition, the system may include one or more computing devices communicatively coupled to the sensor and the thermal device. The computing device(s) may be configured to control the thermal device such that the lens temperature is adjusted in a manner that reduces variations in the focal distance.