Optical Structure Ridges Thermal Expansion Self-Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Optical structures, such as lenses, experience variations in their optical characteristics due to temperature changes, leading to inconsistent image capturing and reproduction quality in devices like cameras and projectors, and existing methods require active adjustments and additional actuators to compensate for these variations.
Innovation Solution
The use of ridges connected to an optical structure via a curable adhesive, where the ridges can deform with temperature changes to move the optical structure relative to a reference plane, counteracting thermally induced changes in optical characteristics without the need for additional actuators, allowing for self-regulation and miniaturization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If active adjustment mechanisms (actuators) are used to compensate for thermally induced optical characteristic variations, then image quality stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the self-service principle by designing ridges that automatically deform in response to temperature changes, causing the optical structure to self-adjust its position without external actuators. The ridge material's thermal expansion properties enable the system to compensate for optical characteristic variations autonomously, eliminating the need for complex active adjustment mechanisms while maintaining image quality stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent directly applies thermal expansion by utilizing ridges made of materials with specific thermal expansion coefficients. These ridges deform predictably with temperature changes, and this deformation is harnessed to adjust the optical structure's position or orientation. By carefully selecting ridge materials and geometries, the system converts thermal expansion into a beneficial self-adjustment mechanism that compensates for thermally induced optical variations.
2Reliability
If additional actuators are introduced for optical adjustment, then focal length compensation is improved, but construction size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for additional actuators by implementing self-adjusting ridges that respond automatically to temperature changes. These ridges are integrated directly into the optical structure assembly, using the thermal environment itself as the actuation source. This approach provides focal length compensation while maintaining a compact construction, as no separate actuator components are required.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses thermal expansion of ridge materials to achieve focal length compensation without additional actuators. The ridges are designed with specific dimensions and material properties so that their thermal deformation directly adjusts the optical structure's positioning. This approach provides the necessary compensation functionality while keeping the overall construction size small, as the ridges themselves serve as both structural support and adjustment mechanism.
3Manufacturing precision
If conventional adjustment methods are used, then manufacturing precision is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the adjustment function with the structural ridges themselves, eliminating the need for separate adjustment mechanisms. The ridges are designed to perform both mechanical support and thermal compensation functions simultaneously. This integration simplifies the manufacturing process by reducing the number of components and assembly steps, while the precise ridge geometry ensures accurate optical positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent achieves manufacturing precision through careful selection and optimization of ridge parameters such as material composition, cross-sectional geometry, and dimensions. By adjusting these parameters, the design ensures that thermal expansion produces the desired optical adjustment while maintaining ease of manufacture. The ridges can be fabricated using standard manufacturing techniques, and their parameters are optimized to provide both precision and manufacturability.
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 effectively stabilizes the optical characteristics of the optical structure, maintaining image quality across temperature variations without the need for active adjustments, enabling smaller construction sizes and lower production costs, and allowing for variable focusing during operation.
Implementation Method 1
the ridges are implemented to effect, by heating the ridges, deformation of the ridges and a movement of the optical structure with regard to a reference plane; and wherein the movement of the optical structure with regard to the reference plane counteracts a thermally induced change of an optical characteristic of the optical structure
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus having an optical structure and ridges is described, wherein adhesive is arranged between the ridges and the optical structure, wherein the adhesive is effective to effect, after its annealing, a predetermined orientation of the optical structure in relation to a reference plane.