Rotating Optical Turret With Integrated Multi-Region Element

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing turret-type optical element devices require time-consuming and labor-intensive operations for replacing filters or lenses one by one, as each type needs to be prepared and attached individually to the turret.

Innovation Solution

A turret-type optical element device with an integrally formed optical element part having multiple optical characteristic regions, allowing easy replacement by rotating a turret that includes a turret body and an element pressing part, with the optical element part detachably attached to the turret, enabling simultaneous replacement of multiple optical characteristics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple filters or lenses are prepared and attached individually to the turret, then each optical element can be selected and replaced, but the replacement operation becomes time-consuming and labor-intensive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoptical element selection capabilityVSAvoidreplacement operation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple optical elements (filters or lenses) into a single integrated optical element part. Instead of preparing and attaching multiple separate filters/lenses to the turret, the invention creates one optical element part that contains multiple optical elements arranged in different regions, allowing simultaneous attachment to the turret and reducing replacement operations to a single action.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The optical element part is divided into multiple optical characteristic regions, each corresponding to a different optical element (filter or lens). Each region can be independently positioned and selected by rotating the turret to different angular positions, allowing individual optical elements to be accessed while maintaining a unified attachment structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple optical elements are prepared and attached separately, then optical characteristic selection is possible, but the device complexity and attachment steps increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoptical characteristic varietyVSAvoidattachment structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple optical elements are merged into a single optical element part with multiple optical characteristic regions. This unified structure attaches to the turret as one component rather than multiple separate components, simplifying the attachment structure while maintaining the ability to provide multiple different optical characteristics through rotation to different angular positions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If filters or lenses are frequently replaced individually, then adaptability to different imaging conditions is achieved, but the replacement process becomes cumbersome

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimaging condition adaptabilityVSAvoidreplacement operation ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges multiple replaceable optical elements into a single optical element part that can be attached once to the turret. The turret's rotational mechanism then allows easy selection between different optical characteristics without requiring repeated attachment and detachment operations, making frequent changes simple and convenient.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The turret is designed to rotate to different angular positions, dynamically selecting which optical characteristic region of the optical element part is positioned in the optical path. This dynamic rotation mechanism provides easy and quick switching between different optical elements without mechanical attachment/detachment operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4303651B1Turret-type optical element device, optical element part used in turret-type optical element device, turret used in turret-type optical element device, and camera provided with turret-type optical element device and lensless camera
Publication Date: 2026.01.28 ZNONZ CO LTD
  • EP4303651B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4303651B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4303651B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5A

AI summary

To provide a turret-type optical element device used by being attached to a lensless camera including no optical elements on an optical path. The turret-type optical element device includes an optical element part (50) including two or more optical characteristic regions (50a) to (50d) different in characteristics from each other, out of the optical characteristics possessed by an optical element, the optical element part (50) being detachably attached to a turret (12). The turret-type optical element device includes the turret 12 provided rotatably with respect to a substrate (11) having an optical path opening (11b). The turret (12) includes the optical element part (50) including two or more optical characteristic regions (50a) to (50d) different in characteristics from each other, out of the optical characteristics possessed by the optical element. The turret (12) is configured to allow the optical characteristic regions (50a) to (50d) to face the optical path opening (11b) when being rotated. The optical element part 50 itself is an integrally formed product, and constitutes an imaging system that includes no optical elements, other than the optical element part (50) on the turret (12), on the optical path.