Relay Optical System for Rigid Endoscope Aberration Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current rigid endoscope optical systems face challenges in achieving high-resolution imaging with minimal chromatic aberration, particularly in systems with large numerical apertures, where aberrations such as spherical and chromatic aberrations can degrade image quality.
Innovation Solution
The proposed relay optical system includes an object-side lens, an image-side lens, and a cemented lens with positive refractive power, where the object-side lens has a convex surface directed towards the object, and the image-side lens has a convex surface directed towards the image. This configuration, along with a diffractive optical element, satisfies specific conditional expressions to optimize the numerical aperture and correct chromatic aberrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a large numerical aperture is used in the relay optical system, then the brightness and resolution of the image are improved, but spherical aberration and chromatic aberration increase, degrading image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The relay optical system is divided into multiple lens units (first relay lens unit, second relay lens unit, third relay lens unit) with specific configurations. Each unit contains multiple lenses with different refractive powers and dispersive properties, allowing independent optimization of aberration correction in each segment while maintaining overall high numerical aperture for bright imaging
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the optical system are assigned different functional characteristics. The object-side lens uses a convex surface configuration optimized for capturing high-angle rays, while the image-side lens uses a concave surface configuration optimized for focusing. Cemented lenses with specific glass combinations are placed at critical positions to correct chromatic aberrations locally without compromising the overall numerical aperture
2Measurement precision
If multiple relay optical systems are used to achieve high-resolution imaging, then the image quality is improved, but the system complexity and number of components increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple relay optical systems are merged into a single integrated relay optical system consisting of three relay lens units. This consolidation maintains the high-resolution imaging capability through careful design of each unit while reducing the overall system complexity by eliminating the need for separate relay systems. The cemented lenses within each unit further integrate multiple optical functions into single components
Solution Approach 2:
Each relay lens unit is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: the first relay lens unit provides both imaging and initial aberration correction, the second relay lens unit handles chromatic aberration correction through its cemented lens configuration, and the third relay lens unit provides final image formation and aberration control. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional dedicated correction elements
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 formation of high-resolution images with reduced chromatic aberration, enhancing the diagnostic accuracy of rigid endoscopes by maintaining a large numerical aperture while minimizing aberrations, thus improving image quality.
Implementation Method 1
a diffractive optical element, and satisfies specific conditional expressions to optimize the numerical aperture and correct chromatic aberrations
Implementation Method 2
a cemented lens having a positive refractive power, wherein the object-side lens has a positive refractive power and is disposed such that a convex surface is directed toward an object side
Data Source
AI summary
A relay optical system includes an object-side lens which is disposed nearest to an object, an image-side lens which is disposed nearest to an image, and a cemented lens having a positive refractive power. The object-side lens has a positive refractive power and is disposed such that a convex surface is directed toward an object side. The image-side lens has a positive refractive power and is disposed such that a convex surface is directed toward an image side. A plurality of the cemented lenses is disposed between the object-side lens and the image side lens and the following conditional expression (1) is satisfied:0.04<Gce/Drel<0.4 (1)where,Gce denotes the smallest of intervals of adjacent cemented lenses, andDrel denotes a distance from an object plane up to an image plane of the relay optical system.