Bent Zoom Optical System with Folded Axis for Compact Lens Mount
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing high-zoom-ratio optical systems are bulky and complex due to their long total length, making it difficult to create a slimmed-down, compact version that can be easily tucked away in a lens mount while maintaining high image quality and zoom ratio.
Innovation Solution
A bent type zoom optical system is designed with a first lens group of positive refracting power, a second lens group of negative refracting power, and a reflecting mirror that bends the optical axis at right angles, allowing the system to be compacted by moving the lens groups closer together and using a collapsible lens mount, with specific conditions on focal lengths and aperture stop placement to optimize size reduction and image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a high-zoom-ratio optical system with long optical length is used, then zoom ratio and image quality are improved, but the system size and complexity increase, making it difficult to slim down and tuck away in a lens mount
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a reflecting mirror to bend the optical axis at substantially right angles, transforming the linear optical path into a folded configuration. This allows the optical system to achieve high zoom ratio with long effective optical length while keeping the physical envelope compact and suitable for lens mount integration
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a lens barrel mechanism that narrows the spaces between lens groups to tuck away the optical system in the lens mount. The lens groups are arranged and moved in a nested fashion, with the first lens group having positive refracting power followed by the second lens group having negative refracting power, allowing compact storage while maintaining optical functionality
2Length of stationary object
If lens groups are moved back from the optical axis to curtail thickness, then the optical system thickness is reduced, but the outer diameter of the lens barrel increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of moving lens groups back from the optical axis (which increases outer diameter), the patent uses a reflecting mirror to bend the optical axis in the depth direction. This folds the optical path along the optical axis rather than expanding it radially, thus reducing thickness without increasing outer diameter
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a lens barrel mechanism that dynamically adjusts the spaces between lens groups during operation. The first lens group (positive power) and second lens group (negative power) are moved with varying spacing to achieve zooming while maintaining compact form factor
3Length of stationary object
If the total length of the optical system is shortened to slim it down, then the system becomes more compact, but the mechanism complexity and number of structural parts increase
Solution Approach 1:
The reflecting mirror bends the optical axis at substantially right angles, folding the optical path to achieve compact length without requiring complex multi-group movement mechanisms. This single reflective element provides efficient space utilization
Solution Approach 2:
The lens barrel mechanism serves multiple functions: it controls the spacing between the first and second lens groups for zooming, enables the narrowing of spaces to tuck away in the lens mount, and maintains the bent optical path configuration. This multi-functional design reduces the need for additional dedicated components
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 system achieves a slimmed-down, high-zoom-ratio optical system that can be easily tucked away in a lens mount while maintaining high image quality and zoom ratio, using a reflecting mirror to bend the optical axis and optimize lens group placement for size reduction.
Implementation Method 1
a reflecting mirror located on an image side with respect to the second lens group and adapted to bend an optical axis at substantially right angles upon taking operation
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a slimmed-down, small-format, high-zoom-ratio bent type zoom optical system that can be tucked away in a lens mount and an imaging system incorporating the same. The bent type zoom optical system or taking system comprises, in order from its object side, a first lens group G1 of positive refracting power, a second lens group G2 of negative refracting power and a reflecting mirror R located on an image side with respect to the second lens group G2 for bending an optical axis at substantially right angles upon zooming. Between the reflecting mirror R and an imaging plane I there are a plurality of lens groups G2 and G4 interposed. For zooming, while the spacing between the first G1 and the second lens group G2 varies, at least one lens group of the plurality of lens groups G2 and G4 lying on the imaging plane side of the reflecting mirror R moves. The reflecting mirror R remains fixed with respect to the imaging plane I during taking operation, and upon tucked away in a lens amount, the angle of the reflecting mirror R varies such that the normal to the reflecting surface is substantially parallel with the optical axis through the first G1 and the second lens group G2, and the first G1 and the second lens group G2 draw near to the reflecting mirror R with a narrowing spacing between them.