Optical Assembly Conductive Coupling Member for LC Focus Cell
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Solution Overview
Problem
As mobile electronic devices become smaller, traditional mechanical focusing methods for camera lenses are inefficient due to limited space, and existing liquid crystal (LC) cell implementations face challenges in ensuring reliable electrical connectivity between conductive contacts and adhesives, leading to potential malfunctions and size constraints.
Innovation Solution
The optical assembly incorporates an electrically conductive member within adhesive-receiving recesses to couple pairs of conductive contacts, using an adhesive body to enhance connectivity, allowing for wider spaced and thinner contacts, and includes a liquid crystal focus cell with multiple layers and conductive members along the perimeter, ensuring stable and precise electrical connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If traditional mechanical focusing methods are used, then focusing functionality is achieved, but device size increases and space efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical focusing system with a liquid crystal variable focus lens that uses electrical control to change the refractive index of the liquid crystal material, thereby achieving focus adjustment without mechanical movement. This substitution eliminates complex mechanical components and significantly reduces the overall camera device size.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid crystal variable focus lens changes the refractive index parameter of the liquid crystal material through applied voltage to achieve focus adjustment. By dynamically modifying the optical parameter (refractive index) rather than physically moving lens elements, the system achieves focusing functionality in a compact form factor.
2Reliability
If electrically conductive adhesive is used directly to couple conductive contacts, then electrical connection is established, but connectivity reliability is insufficient for wider spaced and thinner contacts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an electrically conductive member as an intermediary component between the conductive contacts and the adhesive. This conductive member serves as a mediator that enhances electrical connectivity and provides a more reliable connection path, allowing for wider spacing and thinner contact dimensions while maintaining connection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical connection path is segmented into multiple components: conductive contacts, electrically conductive members, and adhesive. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, with the conductive members providing enhanced connectivity for wider spaced and thinner contacts while the adhesive provides mechanical bonding.
3Volume of moving object
If conductive contacts are made thinner and wider spaced to reduce size, then compactness is improved, but adhesive connectivity and electrical connection reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The electrically conductive member acts as an intermediary that bridges the gap between thinner, wider-spaced conductive contacts and the adhesive. This intermediary component ensures reliable electrical connectivity and mechanical attachment even when the contacts themselves are minimized in size for compactness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite approach combining multiple materials with different properties: conductive contacts for electrical connection, electrically conductive members for enhanced connectivity and mechanical support, and adhesive for bonding. This composite structure enables thinner and wider-spaced contacts while maintaining overall connection reliability.
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
This solution enables increased connectivity and precision in adhesive application, reducing the risk of malfunctions and size constraints, allowing for efficient variable focus in compact camera devices while maintaining compliance with technical specifications and improving production consistency.
Implementation Method 1
in a liquid crystal cell a small control voltage is applied to dynamically change the refractive index of the material the light passes through
Implementation Method 2
at least one electrically conductive member within the at least one adhesive-receiving recess coupling together each pair of the plurality of pairs of electrically conductive contacts
Data Source
AI summary
An optical assembly may include a substrate, a housing carried by the substrate and having at least one adhesive-receiving recess in an upper surface thereof, and a lens carried by the housing. The optical assembly may also include a liquid crystal focus cell adjacent the lens and including cell layers and pairs of electrically conductive contacts associated therewith. The optical assembly may also include at least one electrically conductive member within the at least one adhesive-receiving recess and coupling together each pair of the electrically conductive contacts, and an adhesive body in the at least one adhesive-receiving recess covering the at least one electrically conductive member.