Meta Lens Nanostructures for Chromatic and Geometric Aberration Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical systems require multiple lenses to correct both geometric and chromatic aberrations, leading to increased thickness and complexity, with aspherical lenses complicating the correction of chromatic aberrations.
Innovation Solution
A meta lens design utilizing metasurfaces with specific nanostructures and refractive-type lens surfaces to simultaneously correct chromatic and geometric aberrations, minimizing the impact on geometric aberrations while achieving desired refractive powers across different wavelength bands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a lens with negative refractive power is used to correct chromatic aberration, then chromatic aberration is corrected, but geometric aberration is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The lens is divided into multiple regions with different refractive powers: a first region with negative refractive power to correct chromatic aberration and a second region with positive refractive power to correct geometric aberration. This segmentation allows each region to address specific aberration types independently, resolving the contradiction between correcting chromatic aberration and avoiding geometric aberration.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the lens are assigned different optical properties (refractive powers). The first region has negative refractive power while the second region has positive refractive power. This local differentiation enables the lens to simultaneously correct both chromatic and geometric aberrations without generating harmful effects in either region.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If an aspherical lens is used to correct geometric aberration, then geometric aberration is corrected, but chromatic aberration is affected
Solution Approach 1:
The lens is segmented into a first region with negative refractive power for chromatic aberration correction and a second region with positive refractive power for geometric aberration correction. This segmentation prevents the aspherical shape from adversely affecting chromatic aberration while still correcting geometric aberration through the positive refractive power region.
Solution Approach 2:
The lens incorporates different refractive power distributions in different regions. The first region provides negative refractive power to maintain good chromatic aberration characteristics, while the second region provides positive refractive power to correct geometric aberration, thus achieving local optimization of optical performance.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the curvature of a refractive lens is decreased to adjust refractive power, then refractive power is adjusted, but lens thickness rapidly increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of changing the curvature radius (which would increase thickness), the patent adjusts the refractive index distribution within the lens. By varying the refractive power through material composition or density gradients rather than geometric curvature, the desired refractive power adjustment is achieved without increasing lens thickness.
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 meta lens effectively corrects chromatic aberrations with minimal geometric aberration, reducing the number of lenses needed and enabling a thinner, more efficient optical system.
Implementation Method 1
The first lens surface may be a first metasurface including a plurality of first nanostructures provided in a first shape distribution, and the second lens surface may be a second metasurface including a plurality of second nanostructures provided in a second shape distribution that is different from the first shape distribution
Implementation Method 2
the second lens surface may be a refractive-type lens surface of a refractive lens having a curved surface
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
A meta lens includes a first lens surface, and a second lens surface provided opposite to the first lens surface, wherein at least one of the first lens surface and the second lens surface is a metasurface including a plurality of nanostructures having a sub-wavelength dimension that is less than a central wavelength λ0 in an operation wavelength band of the meta lens, and wherein a deflection property of the first lens surface and a deflection property of the second lens surface based on positions of incident light are opposite to each other in at least some regions of each of the first lens surface and the second lens surface.