Light Deflection Prism for Smartphone Camera Field of View
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional camera attachments for smartphones that provide wide-angle views are bulky, unwieldy, and visually obtrusive due to the need for large optical components to deflect light by 90 degrees, resulting in poor image quality and limited application due to their size and visibility.
Innovation Solution
A miniature light deflection prism system that deflects incoming light by angles of approximately 50° to 75°, allowing for a wide field of view while maintaining a low profile and minimizing surface reflections, enabling true sideways viewing without the need for large reflective surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional 90° light deflection optics are used, then wide-angle viewing capability is achieved, but device size and visibility increase making it bulky and obtrusive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the light deflection angle parameter from the conventional 90° to a range of 50°-75°. This parameter modification allows the optical system to achieve wide-angle viewing capability while significantly reducing the size of required optical components, particularly the reflective surface area, thereby solving the contradiction between viewing capability and device size
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the optical system into a compact prism structure that integrates the light deflection function into a minimal footprint. By using a triangular prism geometry with specific angle relationships, the system achieves the required light bending in a segmented, space-efficient manner rather than requiring large continuous optical surfaces
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional 90° light deflection optics are used, then wide-angle viewing capability is achieved, but the device becomes visually obtrusive and detectable
Solution Approach 1:
By modifying the light deflection angle to 50°-75° instead of 90°, the patent reduces the physical dimensions of the prism and its protrusion from the device surface. This parameter change makes the attachment much less visually obtrusive and harder to detect, while still providing the required wide-angle viewing capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the local optical properties at each surface of the prism. By carefully designing the angles and orientations of individual surfaces (first surface for light entry, second surface for reflection, third surface for light exit), the system achieves efficient light deflection with minimal surface area, reducing visual detectability while maintaining optical performance
3Ease of manufacture
If large reflective surfaces are used, then light deflection is achieved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the light deflection angle parameter to 50°-75°, which directly reduces the required reflective surface area of the prism. Smaller surface areas are simpler and less costly to manufacture with high precision, eliminating the manufacturing difficulties associated with large optical surfaces while maintaining effective light deflection
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite structure where a transparent or translucent prism material (such as optical-grade plastic or glass) combines multiple functions: light entry, internal reflection, and light exit. This composite approach eliminates the need for separate large reflective coatings or mirrors, simplifying manufacturing and reducing costs
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 provides a compact, stealthy, and high-quality wide-angle viewing capability for smartphones, enhancing applications such as covert photography and vehicle blind spot elimination, while being nearly undetectable and non-intrusive, thus overcoming the limitations of existing bulky solutions.
Implementation Method 1
a third surface for internal reflection of a central ray, entering the prism under a normal incidence angle through the second surface, towards the first surface under a normal angle of incidence
Data Source
AI summary
Light deflection prism for altering a field of view of a camera of a device comprising a surface with a camera aperture region defining an actual light entrance angular cone projecting from the surface. A method comprises disposing a first surface of a light deflection prism on the surface so as to overlap the angular cone; internally reflecting a central ray, entering the prism under a normal incidence angle through a second surface, at a third surface of the prism towards the first surface under a normal angle of incidence such that the central ray enters the prism at an angle of less than 90° relative to a normal of the device surface and such that a ray at one boundary of an effective light entrance angular cone defined as a result of the light reflection at the third surface is substantially parallel to the device surface.