Eight-Lens Imaging Assembly with Aspheric Critical Points

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional optical systems face challenges in achieving a balance among high image quality, low sensitivity, proper aperture size, miniaturization, and desirable field of view.

Innovation Solution

An imaging lens assembly comprising eight lens elements, each with specific refractive powers and surface curvatures, is designed to satisfy certain conditions regarding Abbe numbers, curvature ratios, and focal lengths, allowing for critical points on lens surfaces to enhance design flexibility and correct aberrations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If pixel size is scaled down to improve image sensor performance, then image quality improves, but optical system design becomes more difficult to balance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage qualityVSAvoidoptical system design complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The optical system is divided into multiple lens elements (first lens element, second lens element, third lens element, fourth lens element, fifth lens element, sixth lens element, seventh lens element, and eighth lens element) with different refractive powers and surface curvatures. Each lens element is designed to address specific aberrations, allowing the system to achieve high image quality while managing design complexity through modular optimization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent specifies precise parameters for each lens element including Abbe numbers (V1-V8), curvature radii (R1-R16), focal lengths (f1-f8), and refractive indices. By optimizing these parameters, the system achieves a balance between image quality and design complexity, with specific conditions such as 0.60 < (f1+f5)/f6 and 0.90 < (V1+V3+V5)/(V2+V4) to resolve the contradiction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Volume of moving object

If aperture size is reduced for miniaturization, then device size decreases, but image quality and field of view are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice sizeVSAvoidimage quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs aspheric surfaces with critical points on the lens elements to correct aberrations. The aspheric coefficients (k1-k6) are optimized to reduce optical errors, allowing the system to maintain high image quality and wide field of view while using a compact aperture size. The curvature radii and aspheric parameters are carefully designed to minimize device size without sacrificing performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Area of stationary object

If field of view is increased for wider coverage, then coverage area expands, but optical aberrations increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefield of viewVSAvoidoptical aberrations
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces multiple lens elements with specific refractive powers and surface curvatures as intermediaries to correct optical aberrations. The aspheric surfaces with critical points act as mediators that reduce aberrations while maintaining a wide field of view. The specific design conditions and parameter optimizations ensure that the system achieves wide coverage without excessive optical errors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 imaging lens assembly effectively balances image quality, sensitivity, and size, while maintaining a wide field of view, thereby addressing the limitations of conventional optical systems.

Implementation Method 1

Each of the eight lens elements has an object-side surface facing toward the object side and an image-side surface facing toward the image side... The first lens element has positive refractive power, the object-side surface of the first lens element is convex in a paraxial region thereof, and the image-side surface of the first lens element is concave in a paraxial region thereof

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentEP4296743B1Imaging lens assembly, image capturing unit and electronic device
Publication Date: 2025.05.28 LARGAN PRECISION
  • EP4296743B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4296743B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4296743B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An imaging lens assembly includes, in order from an object side to an image side along an optical path: a first lens element (E1) through an eighth lens element (E8). The first lens element (E1) with positive refractive power has an object-side surface being convex in a paraxial region thereof and an image-side surface being concave in a paraxial region thereof. The scond lens element (E2) has an object-side surface being convex in a paraxial region thereof. The fifth lens element (E5) has positive refractive power. The sixth lens element (E6) with negative refractive power has an image-side surface being concave in a paraxial region thereof. The seventh lens element (E7) with positive refractive power has an object-side surface being convex in a paraxial region thereof. The eighth lens element (E8) has negative refractive power. At least one lens surface of the imaging lens assembly has at least one critical point in an off-axis region thereof.