Catadioptric Camera Module with Folded Optical Path
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge is to design a camera module for electronic devices that achieves high zoom capabilities without increasing the thickness of the device, thereby enhancing user experience by maintaining a slim form factor while improving imaging capabilities.
Innovation Solution
The camera module incorporates a coaxial arrangement of a first lens, a second lens, and a photosensitive chip, with reflective films and adjusting lenses strategically placed to optimize light path and dispersion, ensuring effective light utilization and image quality without increasing module thickness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the focal length is increased to achieve 10x or greater zooming, then the shooting distance is increased, but the size of the camera module is increased, resulting in increased thickness of the electronic device
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a reflective film to fold the optical path, changing the light propagation from a straight line to a reflected path. This allows the optical system to achieve a longer effective focal length while maintaining a compact physical footprint, directly resolving the contradiction between shooting distance and device thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent embeds the reflective film within the lens structure, integrating the light reflection function into the existing optical components. This nested arrangement allows the optical path to be folded within the limited space of the camera module, achieving long focal length without increasing overall module size.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the size of the camera module is increased to achieve longer focal length, then the zoom capability is improved, but the thickness of the electronic device is increased, resulting in poor user experience
Solution Approach 1:
By introducing the reflective film at a specific angle within the lens assembly, the optical path is folded back on itself, effectively multiplying the optical distance within a compact physical envelope. This enables high zoom capability while maintaining a thin camera module profile.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the reflective film with the lens structure, integrating multiple optical functions (refraction by lenses and reflection by the film) into a unified compact system. This merged design achieves advanced zoom capability without requiring a larger camera module.
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 increased zoom capabilities while maintaining a slim device thickness, enhancing user experience by providing a better grip feeling and improved imaging effects, including clear long-distance picture taking without compromising the device's slim design.
Implementation Method 1
A first reflective film is disposed on a side of the first lens away from the second lens. A second reflective film is disposed on a side of the first lens close to the second lens.
Implementation Method 2
At least two adjusting lenses are disposed in the light-transmitting hole.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a camera module and an electronic device. The camera module includes a first lens, a second lens, and a photosensitive chip that are coaxially disposed in a first direction sequentially, where a first reflective film is disposed on a side of the first lens away from the second lens; a second reflective film is disposed on a side of the first lens close to the second lens; the second lens is entirely provided with a third reflective film on a side close to the photosensitive chip; a light-transmitting hole is provided on a middle part of the side of the second lens close to the photosensitive chip; and at least two adjusting lenses are disposed in the light-transmitting hole.