Lens Assembly Microstructures for Stray Light Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lens devices suffer from stray light reflection at surfaces such as the pressure ring, ring spacer, and adapter element, which degrades image quality on the image sensor.
Innovation Solution
The lens device incorporates an annular body with microstructures featuring protrusions on its inner circumferential wall, designed to reflect stray light away from the image sensor, and an adapter element with zigzag shaped structures on its inner walls to further redirect stray light, thereby preventing it from affecting image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional smooth surfaces are used in the lens device, then the device structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but stray light is reflected to form ghost images and flare that degrade image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by creating microstructures (protrusions or recesses) only at specific locations where stray light reflection occurs, such as the inner circumferential wall of the annular body and inner walls of the adapter element. These localized microstructures modify the surface properties only where needed to prevent stray light, while keeping other surfaces smooth and easy to manufacture. This resolves the contradiction by adding anti-stray light functionality only where harmful reflection occurs, without complicating the entire device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the harmful effect of light reflection into a beneficial effect by using the reflected light to illuminate the microstructures. The protrusions or recesses are designed to reflect stray light toward the lens, where it can be properly focused onto the image sensor. This transforms the harmful stray light reflection into a useful light path, improving image quality while maintaining simple manufacturing processes.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If microstructures are added to the annular body and adapter element, then stray light is effectively blocked, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies segmentation by dividing the anti-stray light function into separate, modular microstructures on different components (annular body and adapter element). Each component has its own microstructures that independently handle stray light from their respective surfaces. This modular approach allows each component to be manufactured and tested separately, reducing overall device complexity while effectively blocking stray light through distributed microstructures.
Solution Approach 2:
The microstructures are implemented with simple geometric patterns (regularly arranged protrusions or recesses) that can be easily manufactured using conventional processes. The local modification of surface geometry provides sophisticated stray light control without requiring complex overall device architecture. This resolves the contradiction by achieving high stray light blockage effectiveness through simple, localized geometric features rather than complex system-level designs.
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 microstructures effectively block stray light, reducing ghost images and flare, thereby enhancing image quality by ensuring that stray light is directed away from the image sensor.
Implementation Method 1
The microstructure includes a plurality of protrusions protruding from the first surface... Each of the protrusions includes a first end surface disposed at the first end and perpendicular to the axis, and a second end surface disposed at the second end and perpendicular to the axis. The first end surface and the second end surface have different geometric shapes.
Data Source
AI summary
A lens device includes at least one lens, an annular body and a carrier. The annular body includes a main body and a microstructure. The carrier defines an accommodating space to contain the at least one lens and the annular body. The main body is configured to surround an axis and includes a first surface. The microstructure includes a plurality of protrusions protruding from the first surface. Each of the protrusions includes a first end, a second end disposed opposite to the first end in a direction parallel to the axis, a first end surface disposed at the first end and perpendicular to the axis, and a second end surface disposed at the second end and perpendicular to the axis. The first end surface and the second end surface have different geometric shapes.