Eleven-Element Imaging Lens Structure for Small-Pixel Image Quality
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical systems struggle to balance high image quality, low sensitivity, proper aperture size, miniaturization, and desirable field of view due to the scaling down of pixel size and increasing functionality requirements in electronic devices.
Innovation Solution
An imaging optical lens system with eleven lens elements, featuring air gaps between adjacent elements, aspheric surfaces, and specific surface configurations to correct aberrations and enhance illuminance, while using plastic or glass materials for flexibility and cost-effectiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the pixel size is scaled down to improve image sensor performance, then manufacturing cost and device integration are improved, but image quality deteriorates due to reduced light sensitivity
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system is divided into multiple lens elements (at least six elements) with specific surface configurations. By segmenting the optical system into multiple specialized elements, each can be optimized for specific functions such as light convergence and aberration correction, compensating for the reduced light sensitivity of smaller pixels while maintaining manufacturability through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
Different lens elements have different surface configurations tailored to their specific positions and functions in the optical path. For example, the first lens element has a convex object-side surface and concave image-side surface, while the second element has the opposite configuration. This local optimization of surface geometry allows each element to contribute specifically to correcting aberrations and improving light convergence for the scaled-down pixel architecture
2Manufacturing precision
If the aperture size is increased to improve light convergence, then image quality is improved, but device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The lens elements utilize aspheric surfaces with specific curvature profiles to optimize light convergence. The aspheric surfaces allow for more efficient focusing of light onto the image sensor compared to spherical surfaces, achieving the required light convergence for small pixels without requiring a proportionally larger aperture, thus maintaining compact device size
Solution Approach 2:
The patent specifies particular parameter ranges for the lens elements including focal lengths, curvature radii, and spacing between elements. By optimizing these parameters, the system achieves effective light convergence and aberration control with a compact overall structure, avoiding the need for a large aperture while maintaining image quality
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple lens elements are added to correct aberrations, then image quality is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The lens elements feature asymmetric surface configurations where the object-side and image-side surfaces have different curvature characteristics. This asymmetry allows each element to correct specific types of aberrations more effectively. The asymmetric design enables aberration correction with a moderate number of elements rather than requiring a symmetric multi-element design, thus controlling device complexity while achieving high 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 system achieves a balance of high image quality, miniaturization, and wide field of view while correcting various aberrations and ensuring sufficient light convergence, suitable for modern electronic devices.
Implementation Method 1
The imaging optical lens system includes eleven lens elements arranged along an optical path from object side to image side
Implementation Method 2
at least one of an object-side surface and an image-side surface of each of at least two lens elements located between the aperture stop and an image surface is concave in a paraxial region thereof and has at least one convex critical point in an off-axis region thereof
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging optical lens system includes eleven lens elements which are, in order from an object side to an image side along an optical path: a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, a fourth lens element, a fifth lens element, a sixth lens element, a seventh lens element, an eighth lens element, a ninth lens element, a tenth lens element and an eleventh lens element. There is an air gap in a paraxial region between each of all adjacent lens elements of the imaging optical lens system. At least one of an object-side surface and an image-side surface of each of at least two lens elements located between an aperture stop and an image surface of the imaging optical lens system is concave in a paraxial region thereof and has at least one convex critical point in an off-axis region thereof.