360° Optical System with Intersecting Reflective Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical systems with multiple reflective surfaces struggle to achieve high-quality 360° imaging while maintaining a compact size, as they become large and difficult to process when integrated with large image sensors, and face challenges in correcting astigmatism and curvature of field.
Innovation Solution
The optical system incorporates a configuration with an incident part, a first reflective surface, a second reflective surface, and a third reflective surface, where the light path is designed to intersect the central axis multiple times, allowing for a compact and high-performance 360° imaging system by properly arranging reflective surfaces and setting their powers, and using free-form surfaces to correct aberrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional optical systems with multiple reflective surfaces are used to achieve 360° imaging, then omnidirectional image coverage is obtained, but the system size becomes large and processing becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system is divided into multiple functional components: a light-receiving unit with multiple light-receiving surfaces arranged at different positions and orientations, and a lens unit with multiple lens elements. Each light-receiving surface captures light from a specific direction, and the segmented arrangement enables 360° coverage while keeping each component compact. The image sensor is also divided into multiple regions corresponding to different light-receiving surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent arranges light-receiving surfaces in three-dimensional space around the image sensor, utilizing spatial dimensions to achieve omnidirectional light capture. By positioning surfaces at different orientations and locations in 3D space, the system captures light from all directions without requiring a large planar footprint, thus achieving compact omnidirectional imaging.
2Manufacturing precision
If the transparent medium is made large to support high-quality imaging with large image sensors, then image quality improves, but the system becomes difficult to process and manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system avoids using a single large transparent medium by segmenting the light-receiving function across multiple smaller surfaces and using discrete lens elements. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured with standard precision using conventional techniques, avoiding the need to process and assemble a single large optical medium which would be extremely difficult and costly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the optical design parameters by using multiple small-aperture lens elements instead of a single large lens or transparent medium. This parameter change allows the system to achieve high image quality through proper optical design of multiple smaller components, which are easier to manufacture with precise tolerances using standard industrial processes.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional optical systems are used, then omnidirectional imaging is achieved, but astigmatism and curvature of field aberrations cannot be properly corrected
Solution Approach 1:
The lens unit is segmented into multiple lens elements, each responsible for correcting aberrations from light entering through specific light-receiving surfaces. This segmentation allows targeted aberration correction for each optical path, enabling proper correction of astigmatism and curvature of field that would be difficult to achieve in a conventional unified optical system.
Solution Approach 2:
Each lens element in the lens unit is designed with specific optical properties tailored to correct aberrations for its corresponding light-receiving surface and optical path. This local optimization of optical quality allows each part of the system to be precisely tuned for its specific function, achieving superior aberration correction across all 360° directions.
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 enables the creation of a compact optical system capable of providing high-quality 360° omnidirectional images while minimizing size and processing complexity, effectively correcting astigmatism and other aberrations.
Implementation Method 1
light incident on the transparent medium from the first transmissive surface is reflected on the first reflective surface toward a side opposite to the image, is reflected on the second reflective surface toward the image side
Data Source
AI summary
An optical system includes an incident part, a first reflective surface, a second reflective surface, a third reflective surface, and an exit part. The incident part is rotationally symmetric around a central axis. Incident light from the incident part intersects the central axis and enters the first reflective surface. Reflected light from the first reflective surface intersects the central axis and enters the second reflective surface. Reflected light from the second reflective surface enters the third reflective surface.