Liquid Crystal Lens Light Adjustment Structure for Low-Light Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
The imaging effect of liquid crystal lenses is poor in dark environments due to inefficient light utilization, where light reflected by the object is lost through reflection and refraction, and increasing the aperture of the circular hole affects the volume and response time of the lens, limiting its application and image quality.
Innovation Solution
A liquid crystal lens with a light adjustment structure that reflects and converges incident light multiple times within the liquid crystal layer, ensuring full utilization of light by directing it to the central region for image formation, thereby enhancing image quality in low-light conditions without increasing the lens's volume or response time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the aperture of the circular hole is increased to transmit more light in dark environments, then the light transmission to sensor chip is improved, but the volume of liquid crystal lens and response time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested structure where the light-reflecting layer is integrated within the liquid crystal lens assembly. The reflecting layer is positioned between the liquid crystal layer and the second substrate, creating a compact nested configuration that allows edge light to be reflected and converged without increasing the overall lens volume, thereby resolving the contradiction between light transmission and volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the thickness dimension of the liquid crystal layer to implement light reflection and convergence. By positioning the light-reflecting layer within the thickness direction of the liquid crystal layer and using the liquid crystal molecules' deflection capability, the system converges edge light to the central region without increasing the aperture area, thus improving light transmission without increasing lens volume.
2Illumination intensity
If the aperture of the circular hole is increased to transmit more light, then the light transmission to sensor chip is improved, but the response time of liquid crystal increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light-reflecting layer is nested within the existing liquid crystal lens structure, allowing edge light to be reflected and converged through the liquid crystal layer's existing thickness. This nested configuration enables improved light transmission without increasing the aperture, thereby avoiding the increase in response time that would result from a larger aperture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains continuous useful action by using the liquid crystal layer to both control the aperture and converge the reflected edge light. The liquid crystal molecules' deflection under electric field continuously guides light from edge regions to the central region, ensuring that light transmission is improved without requiring a larger aperture that would increase response time.
3Measurement precision
If light-shielding tape is applied to block stray light, then image quality is improved, but light energy reaching sensor chip is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful stray light that would otherwise be blocked by light-shielding tape into beneficial light by using the light-reflecting layer to redirect edge light toward the central region. The liquid crystal layer's electric field control converges this reflected light onto the sensor chip, transforming what would be wasted light into useful imaging light, thereby improving image quality without reducing light energy.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding edge light through light-shielding tape, the patent recovers this light by reflecting it off the light-reflecting layer and converging it through the liquid crystal layer to the central region. This recovery process ensures that light energy that would have been lost is instead utilized for image formation, maintaining both image quality and light energy.
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 solution improves light utilization and image quality in dark environments by reflecting and converging edge light into the central region of the liquid crystal lens, ensuring that the image sensor receives light closer to the actual reflected light intensity, thus enhancing shooting quality.
Implementation Method 1
the liquid crystal layer is configured to transmit a first portion of incident light transmitted through the first substrate, and converge the first portion of incident light to a predetermined region of the second substrate
Implementation Method 2
a light adjustment structure arranged between the first substrate and the second substrate, and configured to enable a second portion of incident light transmitted through the first substrate to be transmitted through the liquid crystal layer and converged to the predetermined region of the second substrate
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid crystal lens and an imaging device including the liquid crystal lens are provided. The liquid crystal lens includes: a first substrate and a second substrate arranged opposite to each other; a liquid crystal layer located between the first substrate and the second substrate; the liquid crystal layer is configured to transmit a first portion of incident light transmitted through the first substrate, and converge the first portion of incident light to a predetermined region of the second substrate; and a light adjustment structure arranged between the first substrate and the second substrate, and configured to enable a second portion of incident light transmitted through the first substrate to be transmitted through the liquid crystal layer and converged to the predetermined region.