Compact Four-Lens Optical Module for Thin Mobile Terminals
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing lens modules with high-resolution optical systems using multiple lenses face challenges in miniaturization due to increased length, making them difficult to mount in thin mobile communications terminals.
Innovation Solution
A lens module configuration with specific refractive powers and surface curvatures for four lenses, including a first lens with convex surfaces, a second lens with concave surfaces, a third lens with a meniscus shape, and a fourth lens with an inflection point, optimized to reduce the overall length and enhance miniaturization while maintaining high resolution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a high-resolution optical system is configured using multiple lenses, then optical resolution is improved, but the length of the optical system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies nesting by placing the third lens inside the fourth lens, with the third lens having a smaller outer diameter than the fourth lens. This allows the third lens to be positioned within the space occupied by the fourth lens, significantly reducing the overall length of the optical system while maintaining the four-lens high-resolution configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a one-dimensional linear arrangement of lenses to a multi-dimensional configuration where lenses are positioned at different radial positions. The third lens is nested within the fourth lens's radial space, utilizing the cross-sectional area dimension to reduce the axial length of the optical system
2Ease of operation
If the optical system length is decreased for miniaturization, then ease of mounting in thin terminals is improved, but optical resolution may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
By nesting the third lens within the fourth lens, the patent achieves compact miniaturization that facilitates mounting in thin terminals while preserving all four lenses necessary for high-resolution optics. The nested configuration reduces axial length without compromising the lens count required for resolution
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different local qualities to different regions of the optical system. The third lens is positioned closer to the image sensor with stronger positive power for local image plane control, while the fourth lens provides overall field curvature correction. This localized optimization maintains resolution while enabling compact mounting
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 configuration achieves a significantly shorter overall length, allowing for easier integration in thin mobile devices while maintaining high optical resolution and field of view, satisfying conditional expressions for focal lengths and curvature radii.
Implementation Method 1
a first lens (110) having a positive refractive power
Implementation Method 2
a second lens (120) having a negative refractive power
Implementation Method 3
a third lens (130) having a positive refractive power and a meniscus shape
Implementation Method 4
a fourth lens (140) having a negative refractive power, an inflection point being formed on an image-side surface
Data Source
AI summary
A lens module includes a first lens having a convex object-side surface and a convex image-side surface, a second lens having a concave object-side surface; a third lens having a meniscus shape; and a fourth lens having an inflection point formed on an image-side surface and a convex object-side surface. A distance from an image-side surface of the third lens to the object-side surface of the fourth lens may be less than 0.05. In an embodiment, r2, a radius of curvature of an image-side surface of the first lens, and, f, an overall focal length of an optical system including the first through fourth lenses may satisfy −0.94<r2/f<−0.79. In an alternative embodiment, FOV, a field of view of an optical system including the first through fourth lenses is greater than 80.