Ultrathin Digital Camera Using Prism and Micro Lens Arrays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lens designs face limitations in miniaturization, hindering the development of compact and ultrathin cameras, while existing imaging systems inspired by insect eyes lack efficient methods to achieve wide fields of view and high resolution.
Innovation Solution
An ultrathin digital camera design featuring a prism array with transmission channels and a micro lens array, where the prism array refracts light and the micro lens array focuses it, allowing for partial region imaging of the entire field of view, similar to an insect's eye, along with a manufacturing method involving photoresist patterning and polydimethylsiloxane coating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If conventional lens designs are used, then imaging quality can be maintained, but miniaturization is limited and device thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging system is segmented into multiple independent micro-lenses arranged in an array, each micro-lens handling a specific angular range of incident light. This segmentation allows the system to achieve wide-field imaging without requiring a single large, thick lens, thereby reducing overall device thickness while maintaining imaging capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from conventional single-lens three-dimensional imaging to a micro-lens array system that utilizes angular dimension segmentation. By distributing imaging functions across multiple micro-lenses with different incident angle ranges, the system achieves wide-field coverage in a planar configuration, reducing the need for thick optical paths.
2Adaptability or versatility
If insect-eye inspired imaging systems are used, then wide field of view is achieved, but manufacturing precision and alignment difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The micro-lens array is integrated directly with the image sensor substrate, allowing the system to self-align during the manufacturing process. The micro-lenses are formed or mounted in precise registration with the pixel array, eliminating the need for complex post-manufacturing alignment procedures and reducing manufacturing precision requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the micro-lens array and image sensor into a single integrated structure, where the micro-lenses are positioned in direct contact or close proximity to the sensor surface. This integration simplifies the manufacturing process by reducing the number of separate components and eliminating alignment steps between discrete elements.
3Length of moving object
If micro-lens array with close spacing is used, then device thickness is reduced, but optical aberration and signal distortion increase
Solution Approach 1:
Each micro-lens in the array is designed with optimized local optical properties, including specific curvature radii and aperture sizes tailored to its position and function. This local optimization ensures that each micro-lens minimizes optical aberrations for its specific angular range, maintaining high optical quality even in a thin configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent systematically varies key parameters such as micro-lens curvature radius, aperture diameter, and spacing across the array to optimize optical performance. By adjusting these parameters, the system achieves a balance between reduced thickness and minimized optical aberration, ensuring high-quality imaging in a compact form factor.
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 camera achieves a wide field of view, minimizes optical aberration, and enables high-resolution imaging with reduced signal distortion, while being compact and cost-effective to manufacture, suitable for various applications.
Implementation Method 1
a prism array 100 having a prism structure formed on a first substrate 110 to refract light incident thereto
Implementation Method 2
a micro lens array 200 coupled to a lower side the prism array 100 in a state in which it is spaced apart from the prism array 100 by a predetermined distance and collecting light passing through the prism array 100 and vertically incident thereto
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are an ultrathin digital camera inspired by an eye of an insect, that includes a prism array including a plurality of transmission channels refracting incident light and a micro lens array including micro lenses focusing the light and is implemented so that the respective transmission channels receive visual information on partial regions of an entire field of view (FOV) like a visual organ of the eye of the insect, and a method of manufacturing the same.