Meta Lens Assembly for Wide-Angle Imaging in Compact Devices
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lens assemblies for small-size electronic devices, such as portable wireless terminals, face challenges in achieving high performance and wide-angle imaging due to spatial restrictions and the need for multiple refractive lenses to handle short-wavelength light in the near-infrared band.
Innovation Solution
A meta lens assembly comprising a first, second, and third meta lens, each with specific refractive powers and nanostructures that modulate light phase, polarization, and amplitude, allowing for diffraction-limited focusing and aberration correction with a compact design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If multiple refractive lenses are used to handle short-wavelength light, then imaging performance is improved, but the lens assembly size increases due to accumulated lens thickness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional refractive lenses with meta lenses that use sub-wavelength nanostructures to control light propagation. These meta lenses achieve the same optical functions (focusing, aberration correction) through geometric phase control rather than refractive index variations, enabling ultra-thin designs while maintaining imaging performance for short-wavelength light
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of light control from refractive index (continuous variation) to geometric phase (discrete orientation control of nanostructures). This parameter change allows meta lenses to achieve high precision optical control with minimal thickness, resolving the contradiction between imaging performance and lens thickness
2Length of moving object
If a compact lens design is used, then device size is reduced, but aberration control and focusing precision deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the lens aperture into multiple zones with different meta lens configurations. Each zone contains meta lenses with specific orientations and parameters designed to correct particular aberrations. This segmentation allows complex aberration control functions to be distributed across multiple simple meta lens elements, achieving high precision correction in a compact form
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different meta lens configurations (varying orientations, sizes, and spacing) to different local regions of the lens aperture. Each region's meta lenses are specifically designed to address local optical requirements, enabling precise aberration control across the entire field of view while maintaining overall compactness
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 assembly achieves a wide-angle imaging system with an angle of view of 40 to 80 degrees, satisfying optical requirements such as F-number, field of view, and distortion, while being compact enough for small-size electronic devices.
Implementation Method 1
a meta lens assembly comprising a first, second, and third meta lens, each with specific refractive powers and nanostructures that modulate light phase, polarization, and amplitude, allowing for diffraction-limited focusing and aberration correction
Implementation Method 2
nanostructures that modulate light phase, polarization, and amplitude
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A meta lens assembly includes a first positive meta lens (110), a second negative meta lens (120) arranged on an image side of the first meta lens for enlarging the viewing angular range, and a third positive meta lens (130) arranged on an image side of the second meta lens, the first meta lens, the second meta lens, and the third meta lens being arranged from an object side of the meta lens assembly to an image side of the meta lens assembly facing an image sensor. The first and second metalens are formed as a doublet with distances between 10 and 100 microns. The overall focal length of the assembly is 1,7 mm or below. The third meta lens can be integrated with the doublet.