Lens Assembly Protrusion Recess Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Non-axisymmetric lenses, such as D-cut lenses, experience performance degradation due to misalignment in the circumferential direction with other optical elements, leading to reduced optical system resolution.
Innovation Solution
A lens assembly design featuring a protrusion on one lens and a recess on an adjacent lens, spaced apart in the optical axis direction, with a spacer allowing the protrusion to pass through, which limits rotation and maintains alignment, preventing performance degradation by ensuring precise positioning and minimizing relative movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If non-axisymmetric lenses (e.g., D-cut lenses) are used to increase resolution or apply high magnification, then optical performance is improved, but misalignment in the circumferential direction with other optical elements occurs, leading to performance degradation
Solution Approach 1:
A dedicated alignment structure consisting of a protrusion on the first lens and a recess on the second lens acts as an intermediary mechanism between the lenses. This alignment structure specifically addresses the circumferential misalignment problem by providing mechanical guidance that ensures precise positioning of non-axisymmetric lenses relative to each other, thereby maintaining optical performance while enabling the use of high-resolution non-axisymmetric lens designs
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment structure utilizes asymmetric features (protrusion and recess) that are specifically designed to match the non-axisymmetric nature of D-cut lenses. The protrusion and recess are positioned and shaped to accommodate the asymmetric geometry of the lenses, ensuring that the lenses cannot rotate or shift circumferentially relative to each other, thus solving the alignment precision problem inherent to non-axisymmetric lens designs
2Ease of manufacture
If free-form lenses or D-cut lenses are assembled without circumferential alignment, then assembly process is simplified, but resolution of the optical system is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment structure enables self-alignment during assembly, where the protrusion on one lens automatically engages with the recess on the adjacent lens. This self-service mechanism guides the lenses into their correct circumferential positions without requiring complex external alignment tools or procedures, thus maintaining assembly simplicity while ensuring optical resolution is not degraded
Solution Approach 2:
The protrusion-recess alignment structure serves as an intermediary that bridges the gap between simple assembly processes and precise optical alignment. By incorporating this mechanical guidance feature into the lens design itself, the system achieves both ease of manufacture (through self-aligning assembly) and maintained optical resolution (through precise circumferential positioning)
Data Source
AI summary
A lens assembly includes: a first lens including a protrusion; and a second lens disposed adjacent to the first lens and including a recess configured to accommodate at least a portion of the protrusion. The protrusion is spaced apart from the recess in an optical axis direction.