Wide-angle optical system with inclined surfaces for compact endoscope design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wide-angle optical systems for endoscopes face challenges in achieving a wide field of view while maintaining a compact size and correcting aberrations, often resulting in large and complex designs due to the need for multiple optical systems and shared lenses.
Innovation Solution
The proposed wide-angle optical system incorporates a pair of front side lens units with negative refractive power, an optical member with inclined surfaces and a bottom surface, and a pair of rear side lens units with positive lenses, where light rays intersect and reflect after passing through the inclined surfaces before the bottom surface, allowing for a compact design with a wide field of view and effective aberration correction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple optical systems and shared lenses are used to achieve a wide field of view, then the field of view is widened, but the device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system is divided into functionally independent lens units (first through fourth lens units) with distinct refractive power configurations. Each lens unit performs specific optical functions, allowing the system to achieve a wide field of view through coordinated action of segmented components rather than a single complex optical path.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple lens units with different refractive powers are combined in a single integrated optical system. The first and second lens units have negative refractive power while the third and fourth have positive refractive power, and their combined arrangement achieves wide-angle coverage without requiring multiple separate optical systems.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple optical systems and shared lenses are used to achieve a wide field of view, then the field of view is widened, but the device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
Lens units are arranged in a nested configuration where the first, second, third, and fourth lens units are positioned sequentially along the optical axis in a compact manner. This nested arrangement allows multiple optical functions to be packed into a reduced overall system volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical system utilizes three-dimensional spatial arrangement of lens units with varying refractive powers to achieve wide field of view. By optimizing the spatial positioning and refractive power distribution across different dimensions, the system widens the field of view without proportionally increasing the overall device volume.
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 configuration enables a compact optical system with a wide field of view and improved aberration correction, making it suitable for endoscopic applications while reducing the overall size and complexity.
Implementation Method 1
intersection of the two light rays and reflection of the two light rays occur at the optical member
Implementation Method 2
each of the pair of first lens units has a negative refractive power, each of the pair of rear side lens units includes at least one positive lens
Data Source
AI summary
A wide-angle optical system includes a pair of front side lens units, an optical member, and a pair of rear side lens units. Each of the pair of front side lens units has a negative refractive power. The optical member has a pair of inclined surfaces and a bottom surface, and the pair of inclined surfaces is disposed such that a line of intersection is formed on an object side. Each of the pair of rear side lens units includes a positive lens, and in the pair of rear side lens units, two axes of rotational symmetry are parallel. With respect to two light rays, intersection and reflection occur at the optical member, and the intersection and the reflection occur after the two light rays are transmitted through the pair of inclined surfaces and before two light rays are transmitted through the bottom surface.