Elliptical Aperture Stop for Compact Telephoto Lens Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional imaging optical lens assemblies for electronic devices face challenges in achieving high-end specifications while maintaining compactness, particularly in telephoto configurations, due to limitations in size, aperture, and image quality, which are not adequately addressed by existing designs.

Innovation Solution

The proposed imaging optical lens assembly incorporates an elliptical aperture stop with a specific major and minor axis ratio, combined with a configuration of five or more lens elements, including at least three made of plastic, to optimize compactness and image quality by balancing refractive indices, Abbe numbers, and aspheric surfaces, allowing for reduced size and improved telephoto functionality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If conventional photographing modules use large aperture or wider field of view configurations, then image quality and light gathering capability are improved, but the total track length and device size increase excessively

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveapertureVSAvoidtotal track length
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a nested lens structure where the third lens element is positioned within the fourth lens element, and the fourth lens element is positioned within the fifth lens element. This nesting arrangement allows multiple lens elements to occupy overlapping spatial regions, effectively reducing the total track length while maintaining the optical path required for large aperture and wide field of view configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a conventional linear arrangement of lens elements to a multi-dimensional nested configuration. By utilizing radial and axial dimensions simultaneously, the lens elements are arranged in a compact three-dimensional structure rather than a simple linear sequence, thereby reducing the overall optical path length while preserving optical performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If telephoto lens assemblies increase zoom ratio, then telephoto capability is improved, but the total track length becomes excessive and compactness is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvezoom ratioVSAvoidtotal track length
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The nested arrangement of lens elements (third lens within fourth, fourth within fifth) enables the telephoto lens assembly to achieve high zoom ratios without proportionally increasing the total track length. The nesting allows for compact folding of the optical path, maintaining telephoto functionality in a reduced spatial envelope.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs movable lens elements with adjustable positions along the optical axis, enabling dynamic focus and zoom adjustments. This dynamic configuration allows the lens assembly to achieve variable zoom ratios while maintaining a compact form factor, as the nested structure can be compressed or expanded within a limited range.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Length of moving object

If lens elements are cut (D-cut) to reduce size in one direction, then compactness is improved, but manufacturing complexity and potential image quality issues arise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelens element sizeVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes asymmetric cutting of lens elements, where the third, fourth, and fifth lens elements are cut at different positions and angles to optimize the nested arrangement. This asymmetric configuration allows each lens element to be precisely shaped for its specific position in the nested structure, reducing overall size while maintaining optical performance and simplifying manufacturing by eliminating unnecessary material.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

4Manufacturing precision

If more lens elements are added to improve image quality and correct aberrations, then image quality is improved, but device complexity and size increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage qualityVSAvoidnumber of lens elements
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The nested configuration of five lens elements allows for sophisticated aberration correction and high image quality while maintaining a compact structure. The nesting enables the multiple lens elements to work together in a coordinated manner, with each element contributing to correcting specific aberrations (spherical, coma, astigmatism, field curvature, distortion) without requiring a linear increase in overall system size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

Each lens element in the nested structure is optimized with specific properties (refractive index, Abbe number, surface curvature) tailored to its position and function. The third, fourth, and fifth lens elements have progressively higher refractive indices and lower Abbe numbers, creating a gradient that optimizes aberration correction at different stages of the optical path, thereby achieving high image quality through localized optimization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local 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

This configuration enables a compact imaging optical lens assembly with enhanced image quality and telephoto capabilities, effectively addressing the limitations of conventional designs by providing a balanced ratio of major and minor axes, reduced total track length, and improved correction of astigmatism and chromatic aberration.

Implementation Method 1

a plurality of lens elements... one of the lens elements closest to an object side is a first lens element... a focal length of the imaging optical lens assembly is f

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Implementation Method 2

The aperture stop has a fixed elliptical shape, and the aperture stop has a major axis and a minor axis... a major axis diameter of the aperture stop is ESDX, a minor axis diameter of the aperture stop is ESDY

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGeometric optics: Geometry

Data Source

PatentUS11442256B2Imaging optical lens assembly, imaging apparatus and electronic device
Publication Date: 2022.09.13 LARGAN PRECISION
  • US11442256B2 patent drawing
  • US11442256B2 patent drawing
  • US11442256B2 patent drawing

AI summary

An imaging optical lens assembly includes an aperture stop and a plurality of lens elements. The aperture stop has a fixed elliptical shape, and the aperture stop has a major axis and a minor axis.