Variable Focus Lens Aberration Control in Compact Camera Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional small form factor cameras face challenges in achieving high-resolution images with minimal optical aberrations and effective focal length adjustments due to limitations in compact lens systems and autofocus mechanisms, leading to issues like parasitic motion and image quality degradation.
Innovation Solution
A camera system incorporating a lens stack, image sensor, and actuators, including a voice coil motor actuator and a variable focus device with a flexible lens, allowing for precise movement and optical power adjustments to control optical aberrations and focal length, enabling improved image quality and aberration management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a compact lens system is used in small form factor cameras, then the device size is reduced, but optical aberrations increase and image quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a variable focus device with a flexible lens that can dynamically change its shape to adjust optical power. This dynamic capability allows the lens to compensate for optical aberrations by adapting its curvature in real-time, thereby maintaining image quality while preserving a compact form factor.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the optical parameters of the lens system by using a flexible lens whose shape can be modified. By changing the curvature and other geometric parameters of the flexible lens, the system can correct optical aberrations and adjust focal length without increasing the overall camera size.
2Device complexity
If a rigid lens structure is used for autofocus, then the mechanism is simple, but parasitic motion occurs causing image quality degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible lens instead of a rigid lens structure. This flexible lens can deform to accommodate focus adjustments while maintaining its optical properties. The flexibility allows the lens to move along the optical axis for autofocus without introducing parasitic tilts or rotations that would degrade image quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The variable focus device enables dynamic adjustment of the lens shape and position. This dynamic system allows precise control over the lens movement during autofocus, ensuring that only the intended motion occurs along the optical axis while preventing parasitic motions that would compromise image sharpness.
3Stability of the object's composition
If optical image stabilization moves the lens to compensate for rotation, then image stability improves, but focus accuracy is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a variable focus device that can dynamically adjust its optical power independently of the lens position. This allows the system to perform optical image stabilization by changing the lens shape rather than moving it, thereby maintaining focus accuracy while improving image stability during handheld use.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the optical parameters of the flexible lens to achieve both stabilization and focus control. By adjusting the curvature and shape parameters of the flexible lens, the system can compensate for hand shake without moving the lens along the optical axis, thus preserving focus accuracy while improving image stability.
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 system achieves high-resolution images with reduced optical aberrations and effective focal length adjustments, enhancing image quality and adaptability in small form factor cameras, suitable for mobile devices.
Implementation Method 1
The first actuator may be a voice coil motor (VCM) actuator that includes one or more magnets and one or more coils
Implementation Method 2
The second actuator may change the shape of the flexible lens at least partly in response to application of a voltage to the second actuator
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments disclosed herein include optical aberration control for a camera system. Such a camera system may implement optical aberration control, e.g., by combining one or more variable focus devices with one or more actuators (e.g., a voice coil motor actuator) for moving a lens stack of the camera system to provide autofocus (AF) and/or optical image stabilization (OIS) functionality. A variable focus device may have variable optical power to achieve AF, OIS, and/or introduce optical aberrations such as spherical aberration. In some implementations, the variable focus device may be driven to introduce optical aberrations, and the actuator for moving the lens stack may be driven to compensate for the optical power from the variable focus device.