Nanostructured Flash Lens for Uniform Light Focusing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional flash lenses for compact devices like mobile phones are bulky and heavy, negatively impacting system performance and user experience due to their size and weight, and they fail to effectively distribute light uniformly for enhanced image quality.
Innovation Solution
An optical device incorporating a micro-LED array and a structured lens with nanostructures made of silicon nitride, which focuses and distributes light efficiently, reducing size and weight while enhancing image clarity and realism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If conventional flash lenses are used to focus light effectively, then illumination intensity is improved, but device weight and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the lens by introducing nanostructures with specific geometries (cylindrical, conical, or pyramidal shapes with diameters between 50-500 nm) and controlled heights, transforming the lens from a conventional bulk structure to a nanoscale structured surface that achieves focusing with minimal material
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from conventional 2D lens surfaces to 3D nanostructures with vertical height components, creating metasurface lens profiles that manipulate light through multiple dimensions including depth, enabling effective focusing in a dramatically thinned form factor
2Illumination intensity
If conventional flash lenses are used to focus light, then illumination intensity is improved, but device volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dramatically reduces lens volume by changing the structural parameters from millimeter-scale conventional lenses to nanometer-scale structured surfaces, achieving the same optical function with volumes reduced by several orders of magnitude through nanostructure implementation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes vertical dimension through nanostructure height to achieve focusing functionality that traditionally required large horizontal lens volumes, effectively trading horizontal space for vertical structure to minimize overall device footprint
3Illumination intensity
If conventional flash lenses are used, then light focusing is achieved, but light distribution uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different nanostructure types, heights, and densities at different locations across the lens surface, creating spatially varying optical properties that simultaneously achieve focusing and uniform light distribution by tailoring local nanostructure characteristics to specific positional requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the lens surface into multiple zones with different nanostructure configurations, where each segment contributes to both focusing and diffusion functions, allowing independent optimization of light concentration and uniformity distribution across the optical path
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 optical device achieves improved light scattering and uniformity, minimizing reflection and flare, thus enhancing image quality and user experience, making it suitable for portable devices.
Implementation Method 1
The structured lens has a plurality of nanostructures configured to focus the beam
Implementation Method 2
some flash lenses incorporate diffusion functions and allow light to spread evenly to minimize strong shadows and bright spots
Data Source
AI summary
An optical device including a light source, a substrate, and a structured lens is provided. The light source is configured to emit a beam. The substrate is located on a light path of the beam. The structured lens is located on the light path of the beam and disposed at a light incident surface of the substrate. Here, the structured lens has a plurality of nanostructures configured to focus the beam.