Partial Reflector Camera Optics for Compact High-Magnification Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile devices with compact cameras face limitations in high-magnification photography due to their inability to accommodate long lens assemblies, leading to significant image aberrations such as out-of-focus and spherical aberrations, which traditional methods struggle to correct effectively.
Innovation Solution
The use of partial reflectors within the camera system, combined with optimized optical element configurations and image processing algorithms, allows for multiple light interactions to reduce aberrations, enabling high-magnification imaging in a compact form factor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If long lens assemblies are used to achieve high-magnification photography, then magnification capability is improved, but device size and thickness increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements nesting by placing multiple optical elements (lenses, partial reflectors) within a compact folded optical path. The light reflects multiple times between partial reflectors, effectively nesting the optical path within a smaller physical volume, achieving long focal length in a short device thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a linear optical path to a multi-dimensional folded path using partial reflectors. Light travels through the optical system multiple times in different directions, effectively extending the optical path length without increasing the physical length of the device, thus achieving high magnification in a compact form factor.
2Volume of moving object
If compact camera systems are used in mobile devices, then device portability is improved, but image aberrations increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces partial reflectors as intermediary elements between the object lens and image sensor. These partial reflectors mediate the light path, enabling multiple reflections that effectively increase the optical path length and allow for aberration correction through additional optical elements without increasing the overall camera size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuous useful action by making light pass through the optical system multiple times via partial reflections. Each pass through the optical elements contributes to image formation and allows for continuous aberration correction, maximizing the utility of the compact optical path while maintaining high image quality.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple light passes through optical elements are implemented, then aberration reduction is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by using partial reflectors that simultaneously serve multiple purposes: they fold the optical path to save space, enable multiple light passes for aberration correction, and maintain a compact device form factor. This single element performs multiple functions that would otherwise require separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple optical functions into a unified compact system. The partial reflectors combine path folding, light redirection, and aberration correction functions into a single integrated optical architecture, reducing the number of separate components needed while achieving superior aberration correction through multiple light passes.
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 approach significantly reduces image aberrations, allowing for high-quality high-magnification photography in mobile devices by leveraging multiple light passes through longer focal length lenses and curved reflectors, enhancing focusing and zooming capabilities while maintaining a small form factor.
Implementation Method 1
the use of partial reflections between partially-reflective surfaces inside the camera or imaging system, to increase the path light length
Implementation Method 2
cameras or imaging devices that include the use of partial reflectors... light that forms an in-focus image on the sensor completes at least one round-trip partial reflection between the partial reflectors
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein are systems and methods for reducing image aberrations in high magnification photography with partial reflectors. In particular, by an imaging device or camera that is built into or is included in a cell phone, smart phone, tablet, laptop or any other mobile device. The systems and methods include a light passing through a lens, a portion of said light then undergoes a number of partial reflections in-between two partial reflectors, and a portion of said light then reaches an imaging sensor. The partial reflections enable a longer light path to reach the imaging sensor, thus enabling a longer focal length to be used, which enables higher magnification. Described are methods and embodiments to select the physical parameters of optical elements in systems with partial reflectors, in order to create images with reduced image aberrations.