Polymeric Optical Lens Uniform Retardance Axis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Optical lenses with low retardance are desired to avoid performance issues in optical systems, but achieving a high retardance with uniform principal axis orientation has been challenging, especially in molded polymeric lenses made from traditional resins that result in low retardance.
Innovation Solution
A polymeric optical lens with a high optical retardance (greater than 10 nm) and a substantially uniform orientation of its principal axis, allowing the use of less expensive resins like polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyester, or amorphous polyolefin, and styrene methyl methacrylate, while maintaining system performance by aligning the retardance axis with reflective polarizers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional resins are used to manufacture optical lenses, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but optical retardance becomes too low for high-performance optical systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the molecular structure parameters of the resin by introducing optically active groups (such as chiral moieties) into the polymer chain. This modifies the optical properties of the material, specifically increasing the optical retardance while maintaining compatibility with conventional manufacturing processes and cost-effective materials like polycarbonate, polystyrene, and polyester.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite polymeric material by combining traditional resin matrices with optically active additives or modified polymer structures. This composite approach allows the lens to retain the manufacturing advantages and cost benefits of traditional resins while acquiring the enhanced optical retardance properties needed for high-performance applications.
2Reliability
If high optical retardance is achieved, then performance in optical systems improves, but uniformity of principal axis orientation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent ensures that the optically active groups are uniformly distributed throughout the lens material, creating consistent local optical properties across the entire lens. This uniform distribution of chiral moieties or optically active segments ensures that the principal axis orientation remains consistent across different regions of the lens, achieving both high retardance and uniformity.
3Reliability
If uniform principal axis orientation is achieved across large areas, then optical performance improves, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs self-organizing properties of the optically active groups during the lens manufacturing process. The chiral moieties or optically active segments automatically align and orient themselves in a consistent direction during polymerization or material formation, eliminating the need for complex post-manufacturing alignment procedures or specialized equipment. This self-service approach achieves uniform principal axis orientation through the material's inherent properties.
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 the use of a wide variety of less expensive resins in optical lenses with high retardance, ensuring system performance without adverse effects, even when the retardance is large, by maintaining uniform principal axis orientation across significant areas of the lens.
Implementation Method 1
A polymeric optical lens having an optical retardance. A same principal axis of the optical retardance has an orientation within about 5 degrees of a same first direction for each location in at least 60% of a continuous first area of the polymeric optical lens
Data Source
AI summary
A polymeric optical lens has an optical retardance. A same principal axis of the optical retardance can have an orientation within about 5 degrees of a same first direction for each location in at least 60% of a continuous first region of the polymeric optical lens. The first region includes at least 60% of a largest optically active region of the polymeric optical lens. The optical retardance is greater than 10 nm in at least a portion of the largest optically active region.