Compact Optical Assembly for Wide Field of View Cameras
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional point action cameras suffer from significant distortion and astigmatism errors, especially at wide field of view angles, and struggle with stray light suppression and high dynamic range imaging, while also requiring a compact design with low total track length to effective focal length ratio and minimal aberrations.
Innovation Solution
The optical assembly features a design with multiple lens elements, including at least one aspheric lens element, separated by an aperture stop, which provides a wide field of view with low distortion and astigmatism, suppresses stray light, and achieves high dynamic range and resolution through careful management of lens surfaces and ghost image placement, ensuring minimal impact on image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a wide field of view is implemented in conventional point action cameras, then the field of view angle increases, but distortion and astigmatism errors significantly worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system is divided into multiple lens groups (first lens group with positive power, second lens group with negative power, third lens group with positive power) that work together to correct aberrations. This segmentation allows each group to contribute specifically to correcting distortion and astigmatism while maintaining wide field of view capability
Solution Approach 2:
Aspheric surfaces are applied to specific lens elements (at least one lens element has an aspheric surface) to locally correct aberrations in critical areas of the optical path, enabling distortion and astigmatism control across the wide field of view
2Manufacturing precision
If image processing software is used to reduce distortion, then distortion correction is achieved, but the optical design complexity increases and processing time is required
Solution Approach 1:
Distortion and astigmatism correction is performed optically in advance through the lens design itself, rather than requiring post-capture software processing. The optical system is designed to minimize aberrations before the image is recorded, eliminating the need for complex software correction algorithms
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple lens elements are added to reduce aberrations, then distortion and astigmatism are reduced, but the total track length increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies precise parameter ranges for the lens groups, including the ratio of total track length to effective focal length (TTL/EFL) being between 8 and 15, and the ratio of the image sensor diagonal to the focal length being between 1.0 and 1.6. These parameter optimizations enable compact design while maintaining aberration correction performance
Solution Approach 2:
Aspheric surfaces are used on at least one lens element to provide superior aberration correction compared to spherical surfaces, enabling compact design with reduced total track length while maintaining high image quality across the wide field of view
4Volume of moving object
If the ratio of front element diameter to image diagonal is reduced for compactness, then camera size is reduced, but light gathering capability and image quality may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the ratio of the image sensor diagonal to the focal length to be between 1.0 and 1.6, and the ratio of total track length to effective focal length to be between 8 and 15. These parameter optimizations enable compact camera design while maintaining adequate light gathering capability and image quality
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 solution enables a compact camera to capture high-quality images with reduced distortion and astigmatism across a wide field of view, while effectively suppressing stray light and achieving high dynamic range and resolution, thereby improving image clarity and fidelity.
Implementation Method 1
The optical assembly includes at least one aspheric lens element
Implementation Method 2
separated by an aperture stop, which provides a wide field of view with low distortion and astigmatism, suppresses stray light
Data Source
AI summary
An optical assembly for a point action camera or other compact digital camera having a wide field of view, includes multiple lens elements, including at least one lens element that has an aspheric lens surface. The optical assembly is configured to provide a field of view in excess of 120 degrees. The optical assembly includes a ratio of a diameter of a first lens element at the object end of the optical assembly to an image diagonal is less than approximately 3.