Voice Coil Lens Stabilizer for Linear Acceleration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Commercially available image-stabilized lenses are susceptible to performance degradation and damage in harsh dynamic environments due to their low bandwidth and sensitivity to linear accelerations, which affect image quality and the ability to resolve fine details and detect low-contrast targets.

Innovation Solution

An image-stabilized lens design that translates a single lightweight lens element across the optical axis using a closed-loop servo system, combined with inertial sensors and position sensors, allowing for higher bandwidth operation and reduced sensitivity to linear disturbances, thereby enhancing performance in dynamic environments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a stabilizing element is mounted on a translation stage with linear actuators to compensate for angular body motion, then angular jitter is reduced, but the system becomes susceptible to performance degradation under linear acceleration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage stabilityVSAvoidsensitivity to linear acceleration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional mechanical translation stage with linear actuators with a voice coil motor system that uses electromagnetic forces to move the stabilizing element. This substitution eliminates the mechanical contacts and friction inherent in translation stages, thereby reducing sensitivity to linear acceleration while maintaining angular jitter compensation capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the mounting configuration of the stabilizing element from a translation stage to a voice coil motor system, fundamentally altering the mechanical parameters and operating characteristics. This parameter change enables the system to maintain image stability while being less susceptible to linear acceleration effects

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the stabilizing element and armature move in the same direction, then angular compensation is achieved, but linear acceleration causes image displacement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveangular compensationVSAvoidimage position accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional approach by using the voice coil motor to directly drive the stabilizing element without the armature moving in the same direction. This inversion of the motion mechanism eliminates the coupling between linear acceleration and image displacement, allowing angular compensation while maintaining image position accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If commercial lenses are designed for handheld use with standard stabilization mechanisms, then low frequency angular jitter is corrected, but the system cannot operate in harsh dynamic environments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelow frequency stabilizationVSAvoidenvironmental tolerance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical translation stage system with a voice coil motor system that has no mechanical contacts or friction interfaces. This substitution enables the system to operate in harsh dynamic environments while maintaining low frequency angular jitter correction capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent fundamentally changes the operational parameters of the stabilization system by using electromagnetic actuation instead of mechanical actuation, enabling the system to tolerate harsh dynamic environments while maintaining stabilization performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 solution enables the lens to maintain image stability across a wider range of frequencies and environments, improving the ability to resolve fine details and detect low-contrast targets, while reducing the risk of damage from harsh vibrations.

Implementation Method 1

The armature is coupled to the stabilizing element by a lever system such that they move in opposite directions. A voice coil motor (VCM) is coupled to the armature

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic force: Lorentz Force

Implementation Method 2

A key feature of the proposed image-stabilised lens is that it is not susceptible to performance degradation or damage when subjected to linear acceleration

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInertial sensing: Accelerometer

Data Source

PatentEP2491712B1Imaging device with a stabilizing module

Publication Date: 2020.03.11 LEONARDO UK LTD

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AI summary

An imaging device (1) is described having an electro-mechanical image stabilization system capable of removing the effect on a generated image of vibration and angular movement of the device. The system includes a mechanical coupling (9) interposed between the optics (5) and the drive (electronics 8) of the device (1). The coupling (9) ensures that movement generated by vibration is translated into linear movement of the optics (5) and the drive electronics (8) relative to each other.