Smartphone Microscopy Lens Assembly Integration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional external optical attachments for smartphones have limitations such as limited field of view, bulkiness, incompatibility with various digital devices, and lack of user-friendliness for focusing and microscopy. They also have fixed optical systems, making it difficult to focus on objects of varying sizes and are not affordable for qualitative and quantitative analysis.
Innovation Solution
The development of inbuilt optical microscopy devices for smartphones and other portable imaging systems, which include a compact optical lens assembly with multiple lens elements, a focusing unit, a light source, and an image capturing unit. This setup provides variable optical magnification, resolution, field of view, and depth of field without optical and spherical aberrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If external optical attachments are used for microscopy, then microscopy functionality is added to smartphones, but the field of view is limited and the device becomes bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the optical lens assembly directly into the smartphone's existing camera module, merging the microscopy function with the native camera system. This eliminates the need for external attachments and enables a wider field of view while maintaining compact form factor.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical lens assembly is designed to work with the smartphone's existing image sensor and processing capabilities, allowing the device to perform both standard photography and microscopy functions through a single integrated system.
2Adaptability or versatility
If external optical attachments are used for microscopy, then microscopy functionality is added, but the device becomes bulky and incompatible with various digital devices
Solution Approach 1:
The optical lens assembly is integrated into the smartphone's native camera system, eliminating the need for separate external attachments. This ensures universal compatibility across different smartphone models while maintaining microscopy functionality.
3Ease of manufacture
If fixed optical system is used in external attachments, then manufacturing is simplified, but focusing on objects of variable sizes becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a movable optical lens assembly that can be adjusted along the optical axis to change the focal plane. This dynamic adjustment mechanism enables focusing on objects at different distances and sizes while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
4Ease of manufacture
If conventional optical attachments with limited resolution are used, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but high-quality image capturing of micron size objects is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The optical lens assembly is designed with multiple discrete lens elements (at least three) with specific focal lengths and optical powers. This segmented approach allows each element to be optimized for specific optical functions, achieving high resolution for micron-sized objects while keeping individual components manufacturable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent specifies precise optical parameters for each lens element including focal length, optical power, and spacing. By carefully controlling these parameters, the system achieves high-resolution imaging of micron-sized objects while maintaining compatibility with standard smartphone image sensors.
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 inbuilt microscopy feature in smartphones and portable imaging systems enables flexible viewing of a wide range of objects with high-resolution imaging, wide field of view, and variable magnification, making them accessible for education, onsite diagnosis, and qualitative and quantitative analysis without the need for external attachments.
Implementation Method 1
an optical lens assembly comprising a plurality of lens elements... to image an object
Implementation Method 2
a light source arranged in periphery of the optical microscopy device to emit light
Implementation Method 3
an image capturing unit adjacent to the optical lens assembly to image an object
Data Source
AI summary
The present subject matter described an optical microscopy device (2) for a portable imaging system, such as a smartphone. The optical microscopy device (2) comprises an optical lens assembly with ten to sixteen lens elements. The optical lens assembly has an optical magnification in a range of about 1× to about 3×, an airy radius in a range of about 3.2 micron to about 15 micron, a depth of field in a range of about 28 micron to about 133 micron, a numerical aperture in a range of about 0.025 to about 0.176, a half field of view in a range of about 10 degrees to about 39 degrees, and a length in a range of about 6.8 millimeter (mm) to about 18 mm.