Lens Surface Roughness Reduces Ring Zone Blurriness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lenses struggle to eliminate ring zone blurriness without reducing image resolution or increasing processing complexity, as conventional methods either compromise resolution or require extensive processing steps.
Innovation Solution
A lens with random unevenness on its optical surface, featuring an arithmetic mean roughness of 20 nm to 50 nm and average protrusion widths between 1/200 and 1/50 of the optical effective diameter, which reduces blurriness without affecting image resolution, achieved through specific surface roughening techniques.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the surface of the lens is smoothed as much as possible to reduce ring zone blurriness, then the blurriness is reduced, but the number of processing steps increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of smoothing the lens surface to reduce blurriness, this patent applies the opposite approach by intentionally roughening the surface within specific parameters (Ra: 20-50 nm, protrusion width ratio: 1/200 to 1/50). This inversion transforms the conventional smoothing process into a controlled roughening process that eliminates ring zone blurriness while maintaining manufacturing efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the surface roughness parameters from the conventional approach of minimizing roughness to specific controlled values (arithmetic mean roughness Ra: 20-50 nm, average protrusion width ratio: 1/200 to 1/50 of optical effective diameter). This parameter transformation allows the lens to eliminate ring zone blurriness without requiring excessive processing steps.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If optical elements with minute unevenness are used to achieve soft focus effect, then ring zone blurriness is reduced, but image resolution is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent precisely controls surface roughness parameters (Ra: 20-50 nm, protrusion width ratio: 1/200 to 1/50) to find the optimal balance point. These specific parameter ranges are sufficient to eliminate ring zone blurriness while remaining below the threshold that would degrade image resolution, unlike conventional soft focus elements that use larger unevenness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies minute protrusions only on the optical surface with specific characteristics (controlled height and width distribution), creating local micro-structures that affect only the ring zone blurriness while leaving the overall optical quality intact. This localized modification ensures that image resolution is preserved while eliminating the harmful blurriness effect.
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 solution effectively eliminates ring zone blurriness while maintaining high-definition image resolution and reducing processing complexity, as demonstrated by visual sensory evaluations and resolution measurements.
Implementation Method 1
a diameter φ of a minute light refraction portion (protrusion portion) provided on the optical surface
Data Source
AI summary
A lens 1 has unevenness within an optical effective diameter D of an optical surface 2, an arithmetic mean roughness Ra within the optical effective diameter D of the optical surface 2 is 20 nm or more and 50 nm or less, and an average value of widths W of protrusion portions 3 of the unevenness on an average line C2 of a roughness curve C1 of the optical surface 2 is 1/200 or more and 1/50 or less of the optical effective diameter D of the optical surface 2. The lens 1 is suitably used as a lens that composes a zoom lens or an imaging lens.