Variable Aperture Mobile Camera via Movable Lens Element

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Solution Overview

Problem

Smartphone cameras have a constant aperture due to the impossibility of installing a motor for adjustable diaphragm blades, which hinders miniaturization and photo-taking capabilities.

Innovation Solution

A mobile device with a movable aperture sheet and driving mechanism, allowing for variable aperture settings without diaphragm blades or a motor, using deformable driving members to align or stagger light holes for controlling light intake.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a motor and diaphragm blades are installed to achieve variable aperture function, then aperture adjustability is improved, but device size and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaperture adjustabilityVSAvoiddevice weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the motor and diaphragm blade assembly from the system, replacing it with a fixed aperture structure. This extraction eliminates the heavy components while maintaining aperture functionality through an alternative mechanism using a movable lens element with different curvature surfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical diaphragm blade system with an optical system using a movable lens element. Instead of mechanically adjusting aperture size with blades, the system uses a lens with different curvature surfaces positioned at different distances from the sensor to achieve variable aperture effects optically.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a motor is installed to enable aperture adjustment, then aperture control capability is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaperture control capabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the motor component entirely from the system, replacing active mechanical control with a passive optical mechanism. The aperture control is achieved through the optical properties of the movable lens element rather than motor-driven diaphragm adjustment, eliminating power consumption for aperture control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The movable lens element system operates without external power input for aperture control. The lens element can be positioned at different distances from the sensor plane to achieve different aperture effects, utilizing optical principles rather than requiring powered mechanical actuation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If diaphragm blades are used to define aperture, then aperture adjustment is achieved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaperture adjustmentVSAvoidaperture structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the complex multi-blade diaphragm structure and replaces it with a simpler system consisting of a movable lens element and a fixed aperture structure. This extraction simplifies the overall aperture mechanism while maintaining the ability to achieve variable aperture effects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the controlling parameter from mechanical diaphragm blade position to movable lens element position. By varying the distance between the movable lens element and the sensor plane, the system achieves different aperture effects without requiring complex mechanical aperture adjustment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Adaptability or versatility

If an adjustable aperture structure is installed, then aperture variability is improved, but the camera lens protrudes outwardly increasing vulnerability to scratching

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaperture variabilityVSAvoidlens vulnerability to scratching

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the aperture control function from the lens element itself. The aperture control is achieved through the relative positioning of the movable lens element and the fixed aperture structure, allowing the lens to remain recessed while still achieving variable aperture effects through optical path modification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10241381B2Mobile device with variable aperture function

Publication Date: 2019.03.26 ACTUTEK CORP

AI summary

A mobile device with variable aperture function includes two driving members, which deformation and retraction can be controlled to cause movement of a light hole of a movable aperture sheet towards a camera lens, where the amount of light entering into the camera lens is determined by the light hole of the movable aperture sheet and when the light hole in the movable aperture sheet moves away from the camera lens, the amount of light entering into the camera lens is determined by the camera lens itself, thereby varying the amount of light entering into the camera lens and eliminating the fixed amount of light due to the fixed aperture of the prior art mobile device and permitting miniaturization of the present mobile device.