Polygonal Lens for Compact Night Vision Camera
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cameras with infrared LED arrays have a large form factor due to the need for a circular lens to prevent cropping of IR light cones, limiting their compactness and field of view for widescreen night vision images.
Innovation Solution
A camera with an annular LED array and a generally polygonal lens, such as a square lens, that covers the LEDs, allowing uncropped light cones to be projected, reducing the lens's size and maintaining a widescreen format without cropping the IR energy, thus minimizing the camera's physical size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a circular lens is used to cover the LED array, then the light cones are not cropped, but the camera form factor becomes larger than desired
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by replacing the conventional circular lens with a polygonal lens (such as square, rectangular, or other multi-sided shapes). This asymmetric geometric form allows the lens to cover the LED array effectively while reducing the overall lens diameter and camera form factor, resolving the contradiction between maintaining full field of view illumination and minimizing camera size.
2Reliability
If the lens extends beyond the LED array, then lateral light cones are not cropped, but the lens size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The polygonal lens design with straight edges and vertices provides asymmetric coverage that efficiently encompasses the LED array and lateral light cones. The geometric configuration ensures adequate light cone coverage while minimizing the total lens area compared to conventional circular designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the lens from a circular shape to a polygonal shape with specific edge lengths and vertex configurations. This parameter change optimizes the lens area while maintaining sufficient coverage of the LED array and light cones, reducing the overall lens area.
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 solution enables a compact camera design that maintains a widescreen format night vision capability by ensuring uncropped IR light cones illuminate the field of view, enhancing the camera's usability and aesthetics.
Implementation Method 1
an annular LED array comprising a plurality of LEDs disposed about an image sensor
Implementation Method 2
a generally polygonal lens covering the annular LED array
Data Source
AI summary
A camera and/or a method of manufacturing said camera configured for receiving a widescreen format image from an LED array camera having a reduced form factor. The camera has a generally circular LED array located around an image sensor and a generally polygonal lens covering the generally circular LED array. The outer edge of the generally polygonal lens has a length equal to or less than the outer diameter of the generally circular LED array.