Meta-lens Camera with Spacer for Wearable Miniaturization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wearable electronic devices, such as glasses-type HMDs, face challenges in miniaturizing cameras to reduce weight and improve design aesthetics while maintaining effective eye tracking and augmented reality functionality.
Innovation Solution
A camera with a meta-lens and spacer configuration is used, featuring a stacked lens assembly and image sensor assembly, allowing for a compact design that simplifies the camera structure and manufacturing process, enabling flexible mounting positions and improved aesthetics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If conventional camera structures are used in wearable devices, then functional requirements for eye tracking and augmented reality can be met, but the device weight and size increase, deteriorating wearing sensation and design aesthetics
Solution Approach 1:
The camera system is segmented into distinct functional modules: a meta-lens assembly for light collection and focusing, an image sensor assembly for image capture, and a spacer maintaining precise optical spacing. This segmentation allows each module to be optimized independently for miniaturization while maintaining overall functionality for eye tracking and augmented reality applications
Solution Approach 2:
The meta-lens assembly and image sensor assembly are nested in a compact stacked configuration with the spacer integrated between them. This nested arrangement minimizes the overall camera volume by efficiently utilizing three-dimensional space, enabling the camera to meet miniaturization requirements while preserving eye tracking and augmented reality capabilities through maintained optical path integrity
2Weight of moving object
If conventional camera structures are used in wearable devices, then functional requirements can be met, but the device weight increases, deteriorating wearing sensation
Solution Approach 1:
The camera is divided into separable assemblies (meta-lens assembly, spacer, image sensor assembly) that can be independently optimized and combined. This segmentation reduces overall weight while maintaining mounting flexibility, as the compact modular structure can be adapted to various mounting positions on wearable devices for different application scenarios
Solution Approach 2:
The miniaturized camera design with standardized modular components achieves multi-functionality, serving both eye tracking and augmented reality applications. The compact weight and standardized interface enable universal mounting flexibility across different wearable device configurations and positions
3Device complexity
If conventional camera structures are used, then functional performance is maintained, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The camera structure is segmented into pre-assembled modules with standardized interfaces. The spacer is designed as a separate component that maintains precise optical spacing between the meta-lens and image sensor assemblies, eliminating complex alignment requirements during final assembly and reducing manufacturing difficulty while ensuring optical precision
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer acts as an intermediary component between the meta-lens assembly and image sensor assembly, providing mechanical support and maintaining precise optical spacing. This intermediary element simplifies the overall structure by integrating alignment functions into a dedicated component, reducing manufacturing complexity while ensuring the required optical alignment precision for functional performance
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 miniaturized camera design enhances the wearing sensation of wearable devices by reducing size and volume, allowing for more versatile placement and improved aesthetics while maintaining functionality for eye tracking and augmented reality applications.
Implementation Method 1
an image sensor assembly attached to one side of the lens assembly and configured to receive light passing through the lens assembly and convert the light into an optical signal
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device according to various embodiments disclosed herein may include a lens assembly having a structure in which at least one meta-lens and a spacer member are stacked, and an image sensor assembly attached to one side of the lens assembly to receive light passing through the lens assembly and convert the light into an optical signal. The spacer member may be fixed to one side of the lens assembly between the image sensor assembly and the lens assembly such that a cavity is defined by an inner side surface of the spacer member, a bottom surface of the lens assembly, and a top surface of the image sensor assembly.