Tunable Optical Lens Assembly for Wearable Autofocus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Miniaturized cameras in wearable devices face challenges in providing features like autofocus and optical zoom due to size constraints, high power consumption, and mechanical reliability issues, particularly with the use of moving parts which increase size and susceptibility to damage.
Innovation Solution
An optical lens assembly with a tunable optical lens and an aperture stop, utilizing a voltage-controlled thin film piezo actuator to adjust the optical profile, enabling wide field of view, autofocus, and optical zoom without increasing the lens assembly's length or adding moving parts, and incorporating a soft transparent polymer layer reshaped by piezoelectric actuators for focus adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional mechanical moving parts are used for autofocus and optical zoom, then these features can be achieved, but the camera size increases and reliability decreases due to susceptibility to damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical moving parts with a tunable optical lens that uses electric field or liquid crystal technology to adjust focal length and focus. This eliminates mechanical components while maintaining autofocus and optical zoom functionality, thereby improving reliability by removing susceptibility to mechanical damage and wear.
Solution Approach 2:
The tunable optical lens changes its optical parameters (focal length, refractive index) through electrical control or liquid crystal reconfiguration, allowing autofocus and optical zoom without physical movement of lens elements. This parameter-based adjustment resolves the contradiction by achieving versatility through non-mechanical means.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional mechanical moving parts are used for autofocus and optical zoom, then these features can be achieved, but the camera footprint increases
Solution Approach 1:
By replacing mechanical moving parts with a tunable optical lens controlled by electric fields or liquid crystals, the patent eliminates the need for space-consuming mechanical structures. This substitution enables autofocus and optical zoom while maintaining a compact camera footprint suitable for wearable devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The tunable optical lens provides multiple functions (autofocus, optical zoom) through a single integrated component rather than requiring separate mechanical mechanisms for each function. This multi-functionality reduces the overall camera footprint while maintaining versatility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional mechanical moving parts are used for autofocus and optical zoom, then these features can be achieved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces power-intensive mechanical motors and actuators with low-power electric field or liquid crystal control mechanisms. This substitution maintains autofocus and optical zoom functionality while significantly reducing power consumption, which is critical for battery-operated wearable devices.
4Length of stationary object
If the lens assembly length is kept compact, then wearable device size is reduced, but achieving wide field of view and focus adjustment becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The tunable optical lens dynamically changes its focal length and optical parameters through electrical control or liquid crystal reconfiguration, enabling wide field of view and focus adjustment within a compact lens assembly. This parameter-based adjustment eliminates the need for long mechanical adjustment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a dynamic tunable optical lens that can rapidly adjust its optical properties without mechanical movement. This dynamic capability allows the compact lens assembly to achieve wide field of view and focus adjustment by changing optical parameters rather than physical dimensions.
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 solution provides low power consumption, fast response time, a large focus range, and increased reliability by avoiding mechanically movable parts, while maintaining a compact size and immunity to electromagnetic interference.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing a voltage-controlled thin film piezo actuator to adjust the optical profile
Implementation Method 2
a soft transparent polymer layer reshaped by piezoelectric actuators for focus adjustments
Data Source
AI summary
A tunable lens includes a soft transparent polymer layer whose shape (optical profile) is dynamically modified by actuation of one or more piezoelectric actuators or shaping/reshaping of a transparent piezoelectric layer with a plurality of actuation zones on it. Through control of the actuation voltage a particular shape corresponding to a desired focal distance is obtained. Thus, spherical or aspherical reshaping of the tunable lens may be accomplished through the transparent piezoelectric layer.