Endoscope Lens System Using Single Material for Cost and Size
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current endoscopic camera lens systems face limitations in minimizing size and reducing production costs due to the need for multiple materials, which restricts the use of advanced technologies like wafer level optics and compromises optical performance.
Innovation Solution
A camera lens system comprising three lenses made from the same material, with specific refractive indices and Abbe numbers, arranged along a straight optical axis, allowing for cost-effective production and improved size optimization while maintaining excellent optical performance, especially in endoscopy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple different materials are used in the lens system to achieve sufficient optical performance, then color correction and optical quality are improved, but production costs increase and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies homogeneity by using the same material (polycarbonate) for all three lens elements. This single-material approach simplifies manufacturing processes, reduces production costs, and enables the use of advanced fabrication techniques like wafer level optics, while still achieving the required optical performance through careful design of the lens configuration and parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes polycarbonate as a composite material that can be molded with integrated optical properties. By selecting a material with specific refractive index (1.585) and Abbe number (31.4), the design achieves chromatic aberration correction and other optical requirements through material properties combined with lens geometry, eliminating the need for multiple different materials.
2Reliability
If multiple different materials are used in the lens system to achieve sufficient optical performance, then chromatic aberration correction is improved, but the variety of available technologies is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves chromatic aberration correction by optimizing parameters of a single material (polycarbonate) rather than combining multiple materials. The specific refractive index (1.585) and Abbe number (31.4) of the polycarbonate, combined with the focal length ratios and lens curvatures, provide the necessary chromatic correction. This parameter optimization approach enables the use of modern molding technologies and wafer level optics that would be difficult or impossible with multi-material assemblies.
3Reliability
If traditional multi-material lens systems are used, then optical performance is maintained, but the size of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of multiple material layers into a single polycarbonate material. By combining the optical functions of what would traditionally require multiple materials into one homogeneous material, the lens system achieves compact dimensions while maintaining optical performance. This merging enables the lenses to be molded in close proximity and reduces the overall system volume required for endoscopic applications.
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 better cost structure and size reduction while providing superior optical performance, including effective chromatic aberration correction and minimal ray aberrations across the field, making it suitable for miniature camera systems and endoscopic applications.
Implementation Method 1
A camera lens system comprises at least three lenses, wherein the first lens, when starting from the object side, is a negative lens, the following lenses moving toward the image side are positive lenses
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a camera lens system (10) for an endoscope (44), method for producing a camera lens system (10) and an endoscope (44). It is provided that a camera lens system (10) for an endoscope (44) comprises the following components: At least three lenses, wherein the first lens (14, 28, 36), when starting from the object side (12), is a negative lens, the following lenses moving toward the image side (20) are positive lenses, characterized in that the system (10) comprises the following features: 45 < V1d < 75; | V1d - V2d | < 10; | V1d -V3d| < 10; | V2d -V3d| < 10; 1,45 < n1d < 1,75; |n1d - n2d| < 0,1; |n1d - n3d | < 0,1; |n2d - n3d | < 0,1; a diagonal field of view from 80 to 100 degrees; 0,4 < f < 0,7; -3 < f1/f < -2; 1,1 < f2/f < 1,3; 2,5 < f3/f < 3,5, wherein V1d, V2d and V3d are the Abbe numbers of the first, second and third lenses respectively, n1d, n2d and n3d are the refractive indices of the first, second and third lenses respectively, f is the focal length of the objective of the system, f1, f2 and f3 are the focal lengths of the first, second and third lenses respectively.