Variable Lateral Magnification Eyepiece for Zoom Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional optical systems with variable zoom optics face challenges such as time delays, focus issues during zooming, high manufacturing costs, and mechanical failures, making it difficult to track small objects at long ranges due to narrow fields of view.
Innovation Solution
An optical imaging system with an eyepiece that provides simultaneous varying degrees of magnification over the field of view without moving parts, using a curvature enhancer and variable focus lenses or mirrors to create a curved focal plane, allowing for variable lateral magnification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional variable zoom optics are used to achieve high magnification, then zoom capability is improved, but field of view becomes narrow and time delay occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating different magnification zones within the same field of view. The variable lateral magnification eyepiece provides high magnification in the central region while maintaining lower magnification at the edges, allowing simultaneous detailed viewing of targets and broad situational awareness without narrowing the overall field of view or introducing time delays
2Measurement precision
If traditional variable zoom optics are used to achieve variable magnification, then zoom capability is improved, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical variable zoom systems with an optical design using a variable lateral magnification eyepiece. This substitution eliminates complex mechanical moving parts, high-precision machining requirements, and associated manufacturing costs while achieving the same variable magnification effect through optical geometry rather than mechanical adjustment
3Measurement precision
If traditional variable zoom optics are used to achieve variable magnification, then zoom capability is improved, but reliability decreases due to moving parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates mechanical moving parts by using a variable lateral magnification eyepiece with fixed optical elements. This substitution of mechanical systems with optical designs removes common failure points such as motors, gears, and adjustment mechanisms, thereby significantly improving system reliability while maintaining variable magnification capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the field of view into different magnification zones using the variable lateral magnification eyepiece. This allows different regions of the image to have different magnification levels, providing both detailed central viewing and broad peripheral awareness simultaneously without requiring mechanical zoom adjustments
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 enables improved situational awareness and easier tracking of small objects by maintaining a wide field of view while achieving high zoom in selected regions, reducing the risk of losing targets as they move, and simplifying manufacturing and maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
a curvature enhancer positioned on the focal plane and configured to curve the focal plane to form a curved focal plane
Implementation Method 2
at least one variable focus lens or mirror configured to reimage the intermediate image formed at the curved focal plane onto the image plane
Data Source
AI summary
Optical imaging systems and methods providing having variable lateral zoom. In one example, an optical imaging system with variable lateral zoom includes primary optics configured to receive and direct incident electromagnetic radiation from a viewed scene onto a focal plane to form a substantially planar intermediate image at the focal plane, the intermediate image having substantially uniform lateral magnification, an eyepiece optically coupled to the primary optics and configured to reimage the intermediate image onto an image plane to produce an output image having variable lateral magnification, and a photo-sensitive detector positioned at the image plane.