Curved Imaging Lens for Ultrawide-Angle Smartphone Cameras
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Solution Overview
Problem
In smartphones, it is challenging to increase the size of the image sensor for ultrawide-angle cameras while maintaining high image quality due to restrictions on total optical length, limiting the ability to achieve a maximum angle of view of 90 degrees or larger.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an imaging lens with a lens group that forms an optical image on a curved imaging surface, where specific ratios and relationships between imaging heights, total optical length, and focal lengths are optimized to achieve a maximum angle of view of 90 degrees or larger, including expressions such as 0.27≤(Yw/Y)²≤0.70, 0.3≤TL/2Y≤0.695, and 0.35≤f/f₁≤0.73, ensuring high-quality imaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the image sensor size is increased to improve image quality, then the image quality is improved, but the total optical length increases making the smartphone too large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a curved imaging surface instead of a traditional flat sensor plane. This curvature allows the optical system to achieve a maximum angle of view of 90 degrees or larger while maintaining a compact total optical length. The curved surface better matches the natural convergence of light rays from wide angles, enabling high-quality imaging without requiring a larger sensor size that would increase the overall optical length.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes specific optical parameters including the focal length ratio (0.35 ≤ f/f₁ ≤ 0.73), total optical length to imaging height ratio (0.30 ≤ TL/2Y ≤ 0.695), and the relationship between different imaging heights (0.27 ≤ (Yw/Y)² ≤ 0.70). These parameter changes enable the system to achieve ultrawide-angle imaging with high quality while keeping the total optical length compact for smartphone integration.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the maximum angle of view is increased to 90 degrees or larger for ultrawide-angle imaging, then the field of view is improved, but the total optical length increases
Solution Approach 1:
The curved imaging surface is specifically designed to accommodate ultrawide-angle imaging requirements. By curving the sensor surface to match the angular distribution of incoming light rays, the system achieves a maximum angle of view of 90 degrees or larger without the optical length increasing proportionally. This geometric adaptation allows the compact optical path to capture ultra-wide fields of view effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional flat sensor plane to a three-dimensional curved surface. This dimensional change allows the imaging surface to better intercept light rays from extreme angles while maintaining a compact optical path length. The curvature adds a spatial dimension that enables ultrawide-angle coverage without linearly increasing the total optical length.
3Manufacturing precision
If the image sensor size is increased, then the imaging quality is improved, but the smartphone becomes less slim
Solution Approach 1:
The curved imaging surface enables high-quality imaging with a compact sensor arrangement that does not increase smartphone thickness. By optimizing the spatial distribution of pixels on a curved surface rather than a flat plane, the system achieves excellent imaging quality while maintaining a slim profile suitable for modern smartphone design constraints.
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 solution enables the realization of high-quality imaging with a maximum angle of view of 90 degrees or larger in a compact form factor, addressing the limitations of traditional designs by optimizing the imaging lens's optical parameters.
Implementation Method 1
a lens group of one or more lenses which forms an optical image of an object on an imaging surface having a curved shape
Data Source
AI summary
Imaging of, with height reduction, a high-quality image with a maximum angle of view of 90 degrees or larger is realized. A lens group forms an optical image of an object on a curved imaging surface. The maximum angle of view is 90 degrees or larger. When a first imaging height half angle of view is 40 degrees and is denoted by Yw, a second imaging height that is a half of the maximum angle of view is denoted by Y, a total optical length is denoted by TL, a focal length of the entire imaging lens is denoted by f, and a focal length of the lens closest to the object is denoted by f1, the following are satisfied: 0.27≤(Yw/Y)2≤0.7, 0.3≤TL/2Y≤0.695, −0.35≤f/f1≤0.73. The present technology can be applied to an ultrawide-angle camera or the like.