Optical Lens Position Determination Using Virtual Rotation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for determining the precise position and orientation of optical lenses relative to a lens holding element are inadequate, especially for complex shapes, leading to unacceptable deviations in optical effects.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method that uses surface data of the lens and holding element, along with force data, to virtually rotate the lens in iterative steps, establishing contact points to determine the stable position and orientation relative to the holding element.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a large number of point triplets are used to determine coordinate transformation, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and computational requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition determination precisionVSAvoidmethod complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential elements needed for position determination: the coordinate systems of the lens holder and lens surface, along with the transformation between them. Instead of using a large number of point triplets as in prior art, the invention focuses on the fundamental geometric relationship between these two coordinate systems, simplifying the approach while maintaining precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary definition of the coordinate systems and their transformation relationship before actual measurement or processing. By establishing the coordinate transformation in advance between the lens holder system and lens surface system, the method prepares the framework for precise position determination without requiring complex real-time calculations during processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If complex shaped lens surfaces are processed, then optical quality is improved, but positioning precision becomes more difficult to maintain

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoptical qualityVSAvoidpositioning precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the approach from trying to directly measure and control complex lens surface geometries to using coordinate transformation parameters. By defining the position and orientation of the lens surface through transformation parameters between coordinate systems, the method simplifies the control of complex shapes while maintaining precise positioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex mechanical positioning and measurement systems with a mathematical coordinate transformation approach. Instead of using complex mechanical fixtures to maintain positioning for complex lens shapes, the invention uses computational transformation between coordinate systems to achieve and verify precise positioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If the lens is physically moved to determine position, then measurement accuracy is improved, but productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition accuracyVSAvoidprocessing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a mathematical model (coordinate system representation) of the lens and its holder without requiring physical movement. By working with digital representations and coordinate transformations, the method determines position through calculation rather than physical manipulation, maintaining accuracy while improving efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces physical mechanical movement and measurement with computational methods. Instead of moving the lens physically to determine its position, the invention uses mathematical coordinate transformations to calculate position, eliminating the need for time-consuming physical repositioning and measurement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP4565389B1Determination of the position of an optical lens in relation to a support or holder
Publication Date: 2026.02.04 RODENSTOCK GMBH
  • EP4565389B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2B

AI summary

The present invention relates to the determination of the position of an optical lens, which is held by a lens holding element at a known lens surface of the optical lens, and to the processing and/or measurement and/or testing of a lens held in this manner. A computer-implemented method for determining a position of an optical lens (10) in relation to a lens holding element (16) while a first lens surface (12) of the optical lens (10) is pressed by means of a holding force onto an abutment region of the lens holding element (16) comprises: providing surface data of the first lens surface of the optical lens; providing surface data of the abutment region of the lens holding element; providing force action data of the holding force, which define at least a force-application point and a force direction of the holding force; providing a first contact point between the first lens surface and the abutment region of the lens holding element; virtually rotating the optical lens about a first axis of rotation, which extends through the first contact point and extends both perpendicularly to a force action axis, which extends through the force-application point and parallel to the force direction, and perpendicularly to the perpendicular of the first contact point on the force action axis, in the direction of a torque which is defined by the force action data for a rotation about the first axis of rotation until the first lens surface of the optical lens and the abutment region of the lens holding element form a second contact point; and virtually rotating the optical lens about a second axis of rotation, which extends through the first and the second contact point, in the direction of a torque which is defined by the force action data for a rotation about the second axis of rotation until the first lens surface of the optical lens and the abutment region of the lens holding element form a third contact point; and outputting the position of the optical lens resulting from the virtual rotations about the first and the second axis of rotation as the position to be determined.