Translucent Perovskite Ceramic for Miniaturized Optical Lenses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical components made of glass or plastic face limitations in miniaturization and thinning due to low refractive indices and birefringence issues, while single crystals with high refractive indices suffer from application limitations due to birefringence and humidity sensitivity.
Innovation Solution
A translucent ceramic with a perovskite structure, represented by the formula (La1-x(Sr1-a-bBaaCab)x)((Al1-cGac)1-y(Ta1-dNbd)y)vOw, is developed, offering a high refractive index and large Abbe number, enabling efficient light transmittance and correction of chromatic aberration, manufactured through a co-firing process in a high oxygen atmosphere.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If glass or plastic is used for optical components, then ease of manufacture and light transmittance are improved, but refractive index is limited to less than 1.9, restricting miniaturization
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the material parameter (refractive index) by transitioning from conventional glass/plastic to translucent ceramic with refractive index of 1.95 or more, enabling miniaturization while maintaining manufacturability through established ceramic forming techniques
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite material structure with specific grain size distribution (0.1-10 μm) and controlled porosity to achieve both high refractive index and good light transmittance, resolving the contradiction between material performance and manufacturability
2Length of moving object
If single crystals such as LiNbO3 are used, then refractive index is improved to 2.3, but birefringence occurs, limiting application to optical wave guides
Solution Approach 1:
The invention achieves optical isotropy (no birefringence) through homogeneous polycrystalline structure with random grain orientation, allowing the material to be used for lenses and other optical components requiring isotropic properties, unlike anisotropic single crystals
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the structural parameter from single crystal to polycrystal with controlled grain size (0.1-10 μm), achieving both high refractive index (1.95 or more) and elimination of birefringence, expanding application range
3Length of moving object
If translucent ceramic with small Abbe number is used, then refractive index is improved, but applications as optical components are limited due to chromatic aberration
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes compositional parameters (La content x, Sr/Ba/Ca ratios, Ta/Nb ratios) to achieve both high refractive index (1.95 or more) and large Abbe number (30 or more), enabling effective chromatic aberration control in optical components
4Ease of manufacture
If plastic is used for optical components, then ease of manufacture is improved, but resistance against humidity deteriorates and birefringence occurs in some cases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses ceramic composite material with specific composition (La-Sr-Ba-Ca-Al-Ga-Ta-Nb-O system) that provides both high humidity resistance and optical transparency, overcoming the humidity sensitivity of plastics while maintaining ease of manufacture through ceramic processing
Solution Approach 2:
The invention achieves homogeneous polycrystalline structure that eliminates birefringence while maintaining optical transparency, resolving the contradiction between material ease of manufacture and optical performance
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 translucent ceramic allows for the miniaturization of optical components, corrects chromatic and spherical aberrations, and provides high linear transmittance, making it suitable for a wide wavelength range, particularly in optical imaging units like cameras and video cameras.
Implementation Method 1
the translucent ceramic having a high refractive index and a large Abbe number, the translucent ceramic allows for the miniaturization of optical components, corrects chromatic and spherical aberrations, and provides high linear transmittance
Data Source
AI summary
A translucent ceramic includes a perovskite-type compound as a main component having a composition represented by the general formula (La1-x(Sr1-a-bBaaCab)x)((Al1-cGac)1-y(Ta1-dNbd)y)vOw (wherein 0<x≦1, 0<y≦0.6, 0.4≦y/x≦0.6, 0≦a≦1, 0≦b≦1, 0≦c≦1, 0≦d≦1, 0.9≦v≦1.1 and w is a positive number for keeping an electrical neutrality). The translucent ceramic has a high refractive index and a large Abbe number. Therefore, the translucent ceramic has an advantage in correction of aberration and is preferably used for lenses, which are disposed so as to hold a diaphragm therebetween, in a Gauss lens optical system such as an optical system for a single-lens reflex camera.