Modular Camera Lens Assembly with Collimated Ray Path
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing camera systems have large field-of-views that limit the versatility of accessory lenses, making them large, heavy, and expensive to use.
Innovation Solution
A modular camera lens assembly with a removable and fixed portion, allowing for interchangeable lens stacks to adjust field-of-view, aperture, optical distortion, depth-of-field, and focal distance, using a combination of spherical and aspherical elements and a neutral density filter, with a glass element for dust and water sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If existing cameras with large FOV are used, then the camera can capture wide scenes, but accessory lenses become very large, heavy, and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The lens system is divided into two separate segments: a fixed internal lens assembly and a removable accessory lens. The removable portion contains the field-of-view altering optics, while the fixed portion contains the image sensor and supporting optics. This segmentation allows the heavy or complex optics to be distributed, with only the necessary FOV-altering elements being removable and interchangeable.
Solution Approach 2:
A collimating lens assembly is introduced as an intermediary between the removable lens and the fixed lens assembly. This intermediary creates a near-collimated ray path that connects the two separate optical systems, enabling them to work together as a unified system while maintaining the ability to swap removable lenses independently.
2Adaptability or versatility
If accessory lenses with narrow FOV are used, then the field-of-view is reduced, but the lenses become very large, heavy, and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system is segmented into a compact fixed portion containing the image sensor and a removable portion containing the FOV-altering lens. This segmentation allows narrow-FOV lenses to be small and lightweight since they only need to handle the specific FOV adjustment function, not the entire imaging system.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixed lens assembly acts as an intermediary that receives near-collimated light from the removable lens and focuses it onto the image sensor. This intermediary enables the removable lens to be compact while still achieving the desired narrow FOV, as the collimation process reduces the optical path length requirements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If modular lens assembly is used, then lens versatility is improved, but mounting precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The collimating lens assembly serves as a tolerant intermediary that receives light from the removable lens and conditions it before passing to the fixed lens assembly. This intermediary design creates a near-collimated ray path that is less sensitive to angular misalignment, thereby reducing the mounting precision requirements for the removable lens attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical design changes the ray path parameters by creating a near-collimated beam in the intermediate space between the removable and fixed lens assemblies. This parameter change (from diverging to near-parallel rays) reduces the sensitivity to mounting errors and alignment tolerances.
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
Enables versatile camera configurations with reduced size and cost, allowing for easy switching between different optical settings without compromising image quality, and minimizing sensitivity to mounting errors.
Implementation Method 1
The first lens stack may be configured to produce a near-collimated ray path or a collimated ray path
Implementation Method 2
The second lens stack may be configured to receive the near-collimated ray path or the collimated ray path from the removable portion
Implementation Method 3
The optical device may be an aperture stop or a filter
Data Source
AI summary
Modular lens assemblies and mounting systems are disclosed. A modular lens assembly includes a removable portion and a fixed portion. The removable portion includes a first lens stack configured to produce a near-collimated ray path or a collimated ray path. The fixed portion includes a second lens stack configured to receive the near-collimated ray path or the collimated ray path from the removable portion. The modular lens assembly may be implemented in an image capture device. An image sensor of the image capture device is positioned at an end of the modular lens assembly. The image sensor is configured to capture images based on light incident on the image sensor through the first lens stack and the second lens stack such that the light incident on an outer lens of the first lens stack is refracted through the second lens stack to the image sensor.