Rough Non-Effective Area Optical Element with Micro Spacer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical elements suffer from stray-light issues due to smooth non-effective areas reflecting unnecessary light, and bonding adhesives often overflow, obstructing the optical path and degrading image quality in image capture devices.
Innovation Solution
The optical element features a substrate with both smooth effective and rough non-effective areas, where the non-effective areas have a surface roughness that scatters unnecessary light, and a micro-structured spacer is used between the adhesive and optical component to prevent adhesive overflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the non-effective area is made smooth like the effective area, then the manufacturing process is simple, but unnecessary light is reflected causing stray-light that degrades image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by giving different surface characteristics to different areas of the optical element. The effective area maintains a smooth surface for proper light transmission, while the non-effective area is given a rough surface texture to scatter stray light. This localized differentiation resolves the contradiction by making each area have the quality it needs for its specific function.
2Strength
If bonding adhesive is applied to join optical elements, then the optical elements are securely bonded, but the adhesive overflows and obstructs the optical path degrading image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the bonding process by introducing a spacer that divides the bonding interface into distinct regions. The spacer creates a controlled bonding zone that prevents adhesive from spreading into the optical path while maintaining sufficient bonding area for secure attachment. This segmentation resolves the contradiction between bonding strength and optical path clarity.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer acts as an intermediary element between the optical elements being bonded. It mediates the bonding process by providing a physical barrier that controls adhesive flow, allowing the adhesive to bond the elements securely without overflowing into the optical path. This intermediary structure resolves the contradiction by decoupling the bonding function from the optical transmission function.
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
This design effectively reduces stray-light by scattering unnecessary light and prevents adhesive overflow, thereby enhancing image quality by maintaining the optical path integrity.
Implementation Method 1
the non-effective area has a rough surface... the non-effective area reflects large angles or any unnecessary light to cause stray-light of images
Data Source
AI summary
An optical element and image capture lens structure. The optical element includes a substrate and an optical component with at least one effective area and non-effective area, formed on the substrate, wherein the non-effective area has a rough surface. The image capture lens structure includes a substrate, an optical component formed on the substrate, and a spacer with a micro structure, attached to the substrate by an adhesive, wherein the micro structure is located between the adhesive and the optical component to prevent the overflow of the adhesive.