Optical Axis Compensator for Smartphone Vision Aid Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manually guided vision aids, such as ophthalmoscopes and otoscopes, pose physical dexterity challenges due to the need for precise alignment with small openings like the human eye pupil, which are subject to involuntary micro-movements, making them difficult to handle effectively.
Innovation Solution
An optical axis compensator is implemented in a smartphone camera, allowing for an offset optical axis dislocation from the camera image sensor, enabling the smartphone to be manually guided alongside these aids without requiring alignment with the vision aid lens, thus providing greater ease of handling and use for visual examinations and photography.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the smartphone camera optical axis is aligned with the vision aid lens, then image capture precision is improved, but handling ease deteriorates due to the need for precise alignment during manual guidance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an optical axis compensator that operates in a lateral dimension relative to the smartphone camera. This compensator includes a first optical element that receives light from the vision aid lens and a second optical element that directs light to the camera image sensor, creating an offset optical path that decouples the alignment requirements between the vision aid lens and camera sensor.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical axis compensator acts as an intermediary device between the vision aid lens and the smartphone camera image sensor. It includes intermediate optical elements (such as mirrors or prisms) that relay the optical path, allowing the camera to be positioned independently from the vision aid lens while maintaining proper optical alignment.
2Ease of operation
If the smartphone is manually guided alongside the vision aid, then ease of handling is improved, but alignment precision deteriorates due to involuntary micro-movements of the pupil
Solution Approach 1:
The optical axis compensator creates an offset optical path that operates in a dimension independent from the manual guidance path. This allows the smartphone to be manually guided alongside the vision aid without requiring the camera optical axis to remain aligned with the vision aid lens, compensating for involuntary micro-movements of the pupil.
3Ease of operation
If the optical axis is offset from the image sensor, then handling ease is improved, but image capture quality may deteriorate due to optical misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The optical axis compensator serves as an intermediary optical system that bridges the offset between the vision aid lens and the camera image sensor. It includes precisely engineered optical elements (mirrors, prisms, or lens combinations) that maintain proper optical alignment and image quality despite the physical offset.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical axis compensator changes the optical parameters (such as optical path length, angle, and focal plane positioning) to accommodate the offset configuration. By adjusting these optical parameters, the system maintains proper focus and image quality while allowing the camera to be positioned independently from the vision aid lens.
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 configuration allows for balanced handling of the smartphone and vision aid, reducing disorientation and facilitating the capture of images, especially at non-native focal lengths, thereby enhancing the convenience and precision of clinical and instrument-based visual examinations.
Implementation Method 1
An optical axis compensator is implemented in a smartphone camera, allowing for an offset optical axis dislocation from the camera image sensor
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatuses provide an optical axis compensator configured to provide a smartphone camera with an offset optical axis dislocated from the camera image sensor. A smartphone whose camera has an offset optical axis can be mounted to a manually guided vision aid, such that, while the manually guided vision aid provides a viewing lens to adapt the smartphone camera for photography at non-native focal lengths, the image sensor of the smartphone camera need not be aligned with the viewing lens, providing greater degrees of freedom in mounting the smartphone to the manually guided vision aid, and greater ease in handling the manually guided vision aid with the smartphone mounted thereto, and in using the smartphone for photography while mounted to the manually guided vision aid.