Camera Optical Lens With Free-Form Surfaces for Aberration Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current camera optical lenses for handheld devices, such as smartphones and digital cameras, face challenges in achieving high optical performance for ultra-thin and wide-angle imaging due to insufficient refractive power distributions, lens spacings, and shape settings, which result in inadequate correction of aberrations, especially in night scene photography and background blurring.
Innovation Solution
A camera optical lens design incorporating free-form surfaces, with specific refractive power and curvature radius conditions for each lens element, to enhance aberration correction and achieve ultra-thin, wide-angle performance, including a configuration of seven lenses with at least one free-form surface to improve imaging quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If rotationally symmetric aspheric surfaces are used, then the lens structure is simple and manufacturing is easier, but off-axis aberrations cannot be corrected effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces free-form surfaces with asymmetric profiles to correct off-axis aberrations that cannot be addressed by rotationally symmetric aspheric surfaces. The asymmetric design allows independent optimization of meridional and sagittal planes, achieving superior aberration correction while maintaining manufacturability through modern free-form manufacturing techniques.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional rotationally symmetric aspheric surfaces to three-dimensional free-form surfaces with additional degrees of freedom. This dimensional enhancement enables correction of off-axis aberrations by introducing asymmetric curvature variations in both x and y directions, achieving better imaging performance.
2Device complexity
If conventional lens structures are used, then the design is simpler, but ultra-thin and wide-angle properties are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes multiple parameters including refractive indices, curvature radii, and thickness ratios of seven lens elements to achieve ultra-thin design. By carefully controlling parameters such as d1/TTL (first lens thickness to total optical length ratio) and focal length ratios, the design achieves compact form factor with TTL≤6.71mm while maintaining wide-angle performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the optical system into seven discrete lens elements with alternating positive and negative refractive powers. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each element's parameters, enabling precise control over aberrations and overall optical length, achieving ultra-thin profile with maintained imaging performance.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional lens structures are used, then the manufacturing process is simpler, but refractive power distributions are insufficient for wide-angle performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite lens structure with seven elements made of different materials having varying refractive indices and Abbe numbers. This material composition enables precise control over chromatic and spherical aberrations while achieving wide-angle performance, balancing manufacturing feasibility with optical performance requirements.
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 lens design achieves excellent optical performance, correcting aberrations effectively and ensuring high image quality, making it suitable for high-pixel camera assemblies in mobile phones and web cameras, while maintaining a compact, ultra-thin form factor.
Implementation Method 1
A free-form surface is a non-rotationally symmetric surface type, which can better balance aberrations and improve imaging quality
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a camera optical lens including, sequentially from an object side to an image side: a first lens having a negative refractive power; a second lens; a third lens having a positive refractive power; a fourth lens having a negative refractive power; a fifth lens; a sixth lens having a positive refractive power; and a seventh lens having a negative refractive power. At least one of the first to seventh lenses comprises a free-form surface. The camera optical lens can achieve high optical performance while satisfying design requirements for ultra-thin, wide-angle lenses.