Polycarbonate Resin Lens Aberration Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current optical resins for lenses face limitations due to high refractive index and Abbe number imbalances, leading to issues like aberration, size differences, and impaired performance in varying environments, particularly when combining different materials like cycloolefin polymer and polycarbonate.

Innovation Solution

A polycarbonate resin is developed using decahydro-1,4:5,8-dimethanonaphthalene diol (D-NDM) with a specific isomer mixture, which has a high Abbe number, controlled hygroscopic expansion coefficient, and suitable glass transition temperature, enabling the production of lenses with improved optical properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If a high refractive index is used to reduce lens size and weight, then the lens system becomes more compact, but chromatic aberration increases and requires correction with additional lenses

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelens system sizeVSAvoidchromatic aberration
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a composite lens system combining a negative lens made of cycloolefin polymer (high Abbe number 55-60) and a positive lens made of polycarbonate resin (low Abbe number 25-30). This composite structure corrects chromatic aberration by using materials with different dispersion characteristics, allowing the use of high refractive index materials without excessive chromatic aberration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes the Abbe number parameters of the lens materials within specific ranges (cycloolefin polymer: 55-60, polycarbonate resin: 25-30) to achieve chromatic aberration correction. By carefully selecting and controlling these material parameters, the lens system achieves both compact size and aberration correction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-generated harmful factors

If cycloolefin polymer and polycarbonate resin are combined to correct chromatic aberration, then optical performance improves, but size differences due to different hygroscopic expansion coefficients impair lens performance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechromatic aberrationVSAvoidlens performance stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent specifies precise Abbe number ranges for the materials (cycloolefin polymer: 55-60, polycarbonate resin: 25-30) to optimize both chromatic aberration correction and dimensional stability. By controlling material parameters within defined ranges, the invention achieves a balance between optical correction and environmental stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional polycarbonate resin is used, then manufacturing is simple, but high birefringence and limited heat resistance restrict application areas

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemolding processabilityVSAvoidapplication areas
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the polycarbonate resin parameters by combining it with cycloolefin polymer in a lens system, achieving improved heat resistance and reduced birefringence effects. The specific composition ratio and material selection optimize both manufacturability and application versatility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite lens system using cycloolefin polymer and polycarbonate resin together, where the cycloolefin polymer component provides improved heat resistance and lower birefringence, while the polycarbonate provides ease of molding. This composite approach expands application areas while maintaining manufacturing simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

4Ease of manufacture

If polystyrene is used for lens manufacturing, then production is easy and cost-effective, but low heat resistance and high birefringence limit its use

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction easeVSAvoidheat resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces polystyrene with a composite system of cycloolefin polymer and polycarbonate resin, where the cycloolefin polymer provides superior heat resistance while maintaining good manufacturing properties. This composite material achieves both ease of production and improved thermal performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP3415546B1Polycarbonate resin and optical lens
Publication Date: 2021.08.18 MITSUBISHI GAS CHEM CO INC
  • EP3415546B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3415546B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3415546B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present invention relates to a polycarbonate resin comprising a structural unit represented by general formula (1) below: wherein R represents H, CH3 or C2H5, which comprises a mixture of: an isomer to which a -CH2O- group in general formula (1) is bound at 6-position (isomer of 2,6-position); and an isomer to which the -CH2O- group in general formula (1) is bound at 7-position (isomer of 2,7-position).