Aspheric Lens Configuration for Compact Wide-Angle Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wide-angle imaging optical systems face challenges in achieving a compact design with minimal aberrations due to the use of high-power lenses in the paraxial region, which complicates manufacturing and increases system size and weight.
Innovation Solution
The proposed imaging optical system consists of four lenses, with a single aspheric lens having a radius of curvature infinity in the paraxial region and a third-order aberration region in the peripheral area, positioned non-adjacent to the aperture stop. This configuration includes a negative lens or an aspheric lens as the closest to the object, at least one positive lens closer to the image than the aperture stop, and satisfies specific relationships between focal lengths to achieve optimal performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If lenses with great power in the paraxial region are used to reduce aberrations, then aberration correction is improved, but manufacturing difficulty increases and system size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using aspheric surfaces only where needed (in the peripheral area for third-order aberration correction) while keeping the paraxial region simple with infinite radius of curvature. This localized application of complexity reduces overall manufacturing difficulty while maintaining aberration correction performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the radius of curvature parameter from finite values (conventional lenses) to infinity in the paraxial region, while introducing aspheric parameters (third-order aberration region) in the peripheral area. This parameter transformation simplifies the lens design and reduces manufacturing complexity.
2Reliability
If lenses with great power in the paraxial region are used to reduce aberrations, then aberration correction is improved, but system size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
By applying aspheric surfaces only locally in the peripheral area rather than across the entire lens surface, the patent reduces the overall complexity and weight of the optical system while maintaining effective aberration correction in the regions where it is most needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the essential aberration correction function from the paraxial region (by setting radius to infinity) and relocates it to the peripheral area through aspheric surfaces, thereby reducing the power requirements and weight of the overall system.
3Length of stationary object
If a compact wide-angle imaging optical system is designed, then system size is reduced, but achieving sufficiently small aberrations becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves compact size by changing the radius of curvature parameter to infinity in the paraxial region, which reduces the optical path length. Simultaneously, aberration performance is maintained through the introduction of aspheric parameters in the peripheral area, allowing compact design without sacrificing optical quality.
Solution Approach 2:
By concentrating aberration correction capabilities in the peripheral area through local aspheric surfaces, the patent enables compact overall system design while maintaining sufficient aberration correction performance for wide-angle imaging applications.
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 allows for a compact wide-angle imaging optical system with reduced aberrations, achieving a half-field of view (HFOV) between 40° and 80°, while maintaining a balanced design that addresses manufacturing complexities and size constraints.
Implementation Method 1
a single aspheric lens in which radius of curvature of each of both surfaces is infinity in the paraxial region and which has a power of the third-order aberration region in the peripheral area
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging optical system wherein the number of lenses is three or four, an aperture stop is located between the lens closest to the object and the lens closest to the image, a single aspheric lens in which radius of curvature of each surface is infinity in the paraxial region and which has a power of the third-order aberration region in the peripheral area is provided at a position not adjacent to the aperture stop, the lens closest to the object is a negative lens or the aspheric lens, at least one positive lens is located closer to the image than the aperture stop,0.18<(∑i=1i=n<semantics definitionURL="">❘<annotation encoding="Mathematica">"\[LeftBracketingBar]"</annotation></semantics>1fi<semantics definitionURL="">❘<annotation encoding="Mathematica">"\[RightBracketingBar]"</annotation></semantics>)·fn<0.9is satisfied, a bundle of rays reaching the maximum image height and a bundle of rays having the principal ray parallel to the optical axis do not intersect with each other within the first lens from the object side, and40°<HFOV<80°is satisfied.