Eight-Lens Optical System for Confocal Visible and Infrared Imaging
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical image capturing systems in portable electronic devices are inadequate for meeting advanced photography requirements, such as low light mode or night mode, due to insufficient light admission and image quality, especially with the need for IR cut filters that occupy space and increase costs in miniaturized surveillance cameras.
Innovation Solution
An optical image capturing system utilizing a combination of eight lenses with refractive powers and convex/concave surfaces to increase light admission and improve image quality, achieving a near 'confocal' effect without IR cut filters by minimizing the difference in focal lengths for visible and infrared light, thereby enhancing image fidelity and reducing the need for IR cut filters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If conventional optical systems use six or seven lenses structure, then the device complexity is reduced, but the light admission and image quality are insufficient for advanced photography requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple lens elements with different refractive powers and surface curvatures into an integrated eight-lens system. This merging approach allows the system to achieve superior light admission and image quality for both visible and infrared wavelengths while maintaining a unified optical structure that functions as a cohesive unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical system is designed to simultaneously handle both visible light and infrared light wavelengths. By incorporating lenses with specific refractive properties and surface geometries, the system achieves multi-functionality, serving as a universal imaging solution that eliminates the need for separate IR cut filters for different wavelength ranges.
2Illumination intensity
If IR cut filters are added to improve image fidelity for visible and infrared light, then the image quality is improved, but the device occupies more space and increases cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the wavelength-selective filtering function from separate IR cut filter components and integrates it directly into the lens elements themselves. By incorporating special coatings or material properties within the lens structure, the system achieves wavelength discrimination without requiring additional discrete filter components, thereby reducing overall device volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical system merges the functions of visible light imaging, infrared light imaging, and wavelength filtering into a single integrated lens assembly. This combination eliminates the need for separate IR cut filters, reducing both the physical space required and the overall system complexity while maintaining high image fidelity across different wavelengths.
3Manufacturing precision
If the focal lengths for visible and infrared light are made different, then the optical design is simpler, but the image formation quality deteriorates without confocal effect
Solution Approach 1:
The patent carefully adjusts and optimizes the refractive indices, surface curvatures, and thickness parameters of each lens element to achieve near-confocal imaging for both visible and infrared wavelengths. By precisely controlling these optical parameters, the system minimizes focal length differences between wavelength ranges, thereby improving image formation quality without requiring overly complex optical designs.
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 effectively increases light admission and improves image quality for both visible and infrared light, enabling better low-light performance and reducing the complexity and cost associated with IR cut filters, while maintaining a compact design suitable for miniaturized surveillance cameras.
Implementation Method 1
an optical image capturing system, and an optical image capturing lens which use combination of refractive powers, convex surfaces and concave surfaces of eight lenses
Data Source
AI summary
The invention discloses an eight-piece optical lens for capturing image and an eight-piece optical module for capturing image. In the order from an object side to an image side, the optical lens along the optical axis comprises a first lens with refractive power; a second lens with refractive power; a third lens with refractive power; a fourth lens with refractive power; a fifth lens with refractive power; a sixth lens with refractive power; a seventh lens with refractive power; and an eighth lens with refractive power; and at least one of the image side and object side of each of the eight lens can be aspheric. The optical lens can increase aperture value and improve the imagining quality for use in compact cameras.