Cemented Wafer-Level Optical System for Aberration Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical systems for image pickup apparatuses, such as medical endoscopes and mobile phones, face challenges in achieving both small size and high optical performance due to insufficient aberration correction and excessive lens count.
Innovation Solution
An optical system comprising a plurality of units, including a first unit with a negative refractive power lens, a second unit with a positive refractive power lens, and a third unit with a positive refractive power lens, where at least one lens is a cemented lens with different refractive powers and Abbe numbers, manufactured using a wafer level process to correct various aberrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a wafer level lens configuration is used to reduce size, then the optical system becomes compact, but aberration correction becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple lens elements into cemented lens units where lenses are optically bonded together. Specifically, the second lens unit and third lens unit are configured as cemented lenses with multiple elements cemented together, allowing aberration correction within a compact form factor by integrating multiple optical functions into unified structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite lens structures with different material properties, particularly using cemented lenses composed of elements with different Abbe numbers and refractive powers. This allows simultaneous correction of chromatic and spherical aberrations while maintaining compact dimensions, as the different materials compensate for each other's optical deficiencies.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple lenses are added to correct aberrations, then optical performance improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces overall system complexity by merging multiple lens elements into cemented lens units. The second and third lens units are configured as cemented lenses where multiple elements are optically bonded, effectively reducing the number of separate components while maintaining aberration correction capabilities through the integrated multi-element structures.
3Volume of moving object
If a compact optical system is designed, then size is reduced, but cost increases due to complex manufacturing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adopts a wafer level manufacturing process where multiple lens elements are formed and cemented together in an integrated fashion. This approach reduces manufacturing steps and alignment complexity compared to assembling separate lenses, thereby lowering production costs while achieving compact dimensions through the unified cemented lens structure.
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 small, low-cost optical system with high optical performance by effectively correcting aberrations, particularly lateral chromatic aberration, while maintaining a compact design suitable for wide-angle applications.
Implementation Method 1
At least one of the first lens, the second lens, and the third lens constitutes a cemented lens including a fourth lens. The fourth lens and the lens cemented with the fourth lens in the cemented lens have refractive powers different from each other and Abbe numbers different from each other.
Data Source
AI summary
An optical system includes first to third units. The first unit includes a first substrate and a first lens having negative refractive power. The first lens is disposed on the image side of the first substrate. The second unit includes a second substrate and a second lens having positive refractive power. The second lens is disposed on the object side or image side of the second substrate. The third unit includes a third substrate and a third lens having positive refractive power. The third lens is disposed on the object side or image side of the third substrate. At least one of the first to third lenses constitutes a cemented lens including a fourth lens. The fourth lens and the lens cemented with the fourth lens in the cemented lens have refractive powers different from each other and Abbe numbers different from each other.