Variable-Focus Imaging Lens Assembly for Wide-Wavelength Image Correction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spectral imaging systems struggle to maintain optimal focus and image correction across a wide wavelength range, leading to defocused images and reduced imaging quality in ultraviolet and near-infrared regions.
Innovation Solution
A calibration method and apparatus that adjusts the focus of a spectral imager lens assembly for each spectral band, compensating for chromatic aberration and other distortions, ensuring consistent focus and image registration across a wide wavelength range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a simple refractive lens is used for imaging, then the device complexity is reduced, but chromatic aberration causes focus to shift with wavelength
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a variable focus lens assembly that dynamically adjusts focus settings based on the spectral band being imaged. The controller receives identification of the current spectral band and automatically adjusts the lens focus to compensate for chromatic aberration, allowing a simple refractive lens to maintain focus consistency across different wavelengths without requiring complex apochromatic lens designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the focus parameter of the lens based on the wavelength range being imaged. By adjusting the focus setting according to the spectral band (e.g., ultraviolet, visible, near-infrared), the system compensates for the wavelength-dependent focus shift caused by chromatic aberration in simple refractive lenses.
2Manufacturing precision
If apochromatic lenses are used to maintain focus across wide wavelength range, then focus consistency is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using static apochromatic lenses with complex multi-element structures, the patent employs a simpler lens assembly combined with dynamic focus adjustment. The controller automatically modifies the focus setting based on the spectral band being captured, achieving apochromatic-level focus consistency across ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared ranges without the complexity of apochromatic lens construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adjusts the focus parameter dynamically according to the wavelength range. This parameter change approach allows a single lens assembly to perform the function that would otherwise require complex apochromatic lenses, reducing device complexity while maintaining focus consistency across the full spectral range.
3Manufacturing precision
If lens focus is adjusted for each spectral band, then image quality across wide wavelength range is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an automated dynamic focus control system where the controller receives spectral band identification and automatically adjusts the lens focus setting accordingly. This dynamic adjustment ensures optimal image quality for each spectral band (ultraviolet, visible, near-infrared) without requiring manual intervention, and the automation minimizes the perceived complexity for the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback through the controller that monitors which spectral band is being imaged and automatically adjusts the lens focus in response. This closed-loop control ensures that the appropriate focus setting is applied for each spectral band, maintaining high image quality across the wide wavelength range while automating the complexity of focus management.
4Device complexity
If images are captured across multiple spectral bands with fixed focus, then device complexity is reduced, but image registration accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses dynamic focus adjustment based on spectral band identification to ensure that each captured image is in optimal focus for its specific wavelength range. This prevents the focus-related misregistration that would occur with fixed-focus imaging, allowing images from different spectral bands to be accurately aligned and stacked into a spectral data cube without requiring complex post-processing correction.
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
Enables high-resolution, high-quality imaging by maintaining focus and correcting distortions, allowing images from different spectral bands to be accurately registered and stacked into a spectral data cube.
Implementation Method 1
The focus point of a simple refractive lens, for example, does not maintain constant, but shifts with wavelength due to chromatic aberration
Implementation Method 2
Spectral band filters refer to short pass, long pass or bandpass filters. They are any transmissive or reflective optical filter that reduces the spectral range of light after the filter
Data Source
AI summary
A variable focus imaging lens assembly has different, calibrated settings for each of multiple different wavelength ranges. Images are captured for each wavelength range using the different settings, corrected and stacked to form an image data cube. Using multiple wavelength ranges allows a scene or object to be imaged by multispectral imagers, hyperspectral imagers and imaging spectrometers using an overall wide wavelength range.