Compact Lens Assembly Using Aspheric Elements for Optical Quality
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current lens technologies face challenges in achieving a balance between thinness, lower manufacturing cost, higher resolution, larger aperture, wider view angle, and lighter weight while maintaining better optical quality, which are essential for modern applications.
Innovation Solution
A lens assembly design that includes a combination of spherical and aspheric lenses between the aperture and image plane, with specific refractive power and distance constraints, optimizing the arrangement to achieve a larger aperture, higher resolution, lighter weight, and wider view angle while reducing manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the number of lenses is increased to improve optical quality, then resolution and image quality improve, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The lens assembly is divided into multiple lens elements (6-11 lenses with refractive power) with different functions. Some lenses are dedicated to specific tasks such as correcting spherical aberration, correcting coma, or providing overall focusing power. This functional segmentation allows each lens to be optimized for its specific purpose, achieving high optical quality without requiring an excessive total number of lenses.
Solution Approach 2:
Different lens elements have different refractive powers, Abbe numbers, and optical characteristics tailored to their specific positions and functions in the optical path. For example, lenses closer to the object side may have different properties than those closer to the image plane. This local optimization of lens properties enables high overall optical performance with a controlled number of elements.
2Length of moving object
If the distance from lens to image plane is reduced to achieve thinner design, then device thickness decreases, but optical quality and aperture may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs aspheric lens surfaces in addition to spherical surfaces. The aspheric surfaces provide greater flexibility in controlling light paths and correcting optical aberrations within a compact form factor. This allows the maintenance of high optical quality and large aperture even when the overall distance from lens to image plane is reduced to 30mm or less.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes multiple lens parameters simultaneously including refractive power, Abbe number, curvature radii, and thickness of each lens element. By carefully adjusting these parameters within specific ranges, the design achieves high optical quality and large aperture while maintaining a compact total length. The conditional expressions define optimal parameter ranges that balance thickness and optical performance.
3Length of moving object
If lens materials with higher refractive power are used to reduce lens thickness, then device thickness decreases, but manufacturing precision and optical quality may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a combination of lens materials with different refractive powers and Abbe numbers. Rather than relying on a single high-refractive-power material, the design employs multiple materials (e.g., materials with refractive powers ranging from approximately 1.47 to 1.85) to achieve the desired optical performance. This composite approach allows for better correction of chromatic aberrations and other optical defects while maintaining manageable lens thicknesses.
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 design provides an image lens with improved optical quality, reduced manufacturing costs, and enhanced performance metrics such as larger aperture, higher resolution, and wider view angle, while maintaining a lightweight and compact form.
Implementation Method 1
a first lens group and a second lens group are arranged from the object side to the image reduction side... the first lens group includes two lenses with a negative refractive power... the second lens group includes at least one combined lens and an aspheric lens
Data Source
AI summary
A lens including 6˜11 lenses with a refractive power is provided. A spherical lens and an aspheric lens are disposed between the aperture and the image plane of the lens assembly. At least two lenses are disposed between the aperture and the object side of the lens assembly. EFL is the effective focal length of the lens. LT is the length on the optical axis of the lens from the lens surface farthest from the image plane of the lens assembly to the lens surface closest to the image plane of the lens assembly. The lens assembly satisfies the following conditions: 3 mm<EFL<5 mm, 0.1<EFULT<0.25.