Plastic Barrel Wedge Structures for Stray Light Attenuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional plastic barrels used in compact imaging lens modules have high reflectivity, leading to ineffective stray light attenuation, which limits their ability to meet the high image quality requirements of high-end optical systems with camera functionalities.
Innovation Solution
A plastic barrel design featuring an object-end portion, image-end portion, and tube portion with regularly arranged wedge structures on the inner annular surfaces and inclined surfaces, which effectively attenuate stray light by reducing reflectivity and enhancing image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a conventional plastic barrel is formed by injection molding with a smooth and bright surface, then the manufacturing process is simple and the surface is easy to produce, but the stray light reflected from the surface cannot be effectively attenuated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different surface properties to different regions of the plastic barrel. The inner annular surfaces and inclined surfaces are provided with wedge structures to attenuate stray light, while the outer surfaces maintain smooth finishes for manufacturing ease. This localized differentiation allows the barrel to simultaneously achieve effective stray light suppression and manufacturing simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The plastic barrel surface is segmented into multiple functional zones: inner annular surfaces with wedge structures for stray light attenuation, and outer surfaces with smooth finishes for ease of manufacture. This segmentation allows each zone to be optimized for its specific function while being produced through a single injection molding process.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the plastic barrel is atomized with surface treatment to reduce reflectivity, then stray light attenuation is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases and the effect is still limited
Solution Approach 1:
The wedge structures are integrated into the plastic barrel mold during the injection molding process, so the stray light attenuating surfaces are formed in advance as part of the barrel structure itself. This preliminary action eliminates the need for subsequent atomization or coating treatments, reducing manufacturing complexity while achieving effective stray light suppression.
Solution Approach 2:
The plastic barrel structure itself, through its integrated wedge structures, provides the stray light attenuation function. The barrel design inherently creates the necessary surface geometry to attenuate stray light without requiring external surface treatments or additional processing steps.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the plastic barrel is atomized with surface treatment, then reflectivity is reduced, but the image quality requirements of high-end optical systems are not satisfied
Solution Approach 1:
The patent provides wedge structures on specific inner annular surfaces and inclined surfaces where stray light attenuation is most critical, while maintaining smooth finishes on outer surfaces. This localized approach ensures that the surface properties are precisely controlled where needed to meet high-end optical system requirements without unnecessarily complicating the entire barrel structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the barrel surfaces by introducing wedge structures with specific angles and dimensions on the inner annular surfaces and inclined surfaces. These parameter changes create the necessary optical properties for stray light attenuation while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through injection molding.
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
The wedge structure design significantly reduces stray light reflection, improving image quality and meeting the requirements of high-end optical systems, particularly in portable electronic devices with camera functionalities.
Implementation Method 1
A surface property of the plastic barrel relates to an effect of suppressing the stray light... the stray light reflected from the aforementioned surface of the conventional plastic barrel cannot be effectively attenuated
Data Source
AI summary
A plastic barrel includes an object-end portion, an image-end portion, a tube portion and a plurality of wedge structures. The object-end portion includes an outer object-end surface, an object-end hole and an inner annular object-end surface. The image-end portion includes an outer image-end surface, an image-end opening and an inner annular image-end surface. The tube portion connects the object-end portion and the image-end portion, and includes a plurality of inclined surfaces. The wedge structures are disposed on at least one surface of the inner annular object-end surface, the inner annular image-end surface and the inclined surfaces, wherein the wedge structures are regularly arranged around the central axis, and each of the wedge structures includes an acute end and a tapered section. The tapered section connects the surface, which the wedge structure is disposed on, and the acute end.