Five-Element Optical Lens Assembly for Miniaturization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge is to design an optical lens assembly that maintains good optical performance and image quality while reducing the length of the lens system, which is essential for miniaturization in portable electronic devices without compromising imaging quality or increasing production complexities.
Innovation Solution
The optical lens assembly consists of a sequence of lens elements with specific concave and convex surface designs and refracting powers, including a first lens element with a concave portion near the periphery, a second lens element with negative refracting power, a third lens element with positive refracting power, a fourth lens element with positive refracting power, and a fifth lens element with negative refracting power, arranged to satisfy the ratio of total thickness to air gaps, ensuring effective aberration correction and image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the length of the optical lens assembly is reduced to achieve miniaturization, then the volume of the device is reduced, but the image quality and optical performance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The optical lens assembly is divided into five distinct lens elements (first through fifth lens elements), each with specific refracting powers and surface configurations. This segmentation allows each element to contribute differently to aberration correction, enabling compact design while maintaining image quality through distributed optical functions across multiple specialized components.
Solution Approach 2:
Each lens element features non-uniform surface configurations with specific convex and concave portions at different locations (periphery vs. optical axis). For example, the first lens element has a concave portion at its periphery, while the second lens element has a convex portion at its periphery and a concave portion near the optical axis. These localized surface variations enable precise control of light paths to correct aberrations in specific regions of the image field.
2Length of moving object
If the lens elements are scaled down to reduce system length, then miniaturization is achieved, but manufacturing precision and assembling yield become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes specific parameter ranges and relationships to guide manufacturing. Key parameters include the ratio of total lens thickness to air gaps (ALT/AAG ≥ 3.1), individual lens element thickness ratios, and air gap proportions. These quantified parameters provide clear manufacturing targets and tolerance specifications, enabling consistent production quality even at reduced scales.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs comprehensive aberration correction and optical optimization during the design phase, establishing predetermined surface configurations and dimensional relationships. By pre-calculating and fixing critical parameters (such as the ALT/AAG ratio and individual element geometries), the design accommodates manufacturing variations and simplifies the assembly process, improving yielding without requiring post-assembly adjustments.
3Reliability
If more lens elements are added to improve image quality, then optical performance is enhanced, but device complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and addresses specific aberration types through targeted lens element designs. Each of the five lens elements is configured to correct particular aberrations (spherical, coma, astigmatism, field curvature, distortion) through its specific refracting power and surface configuration. This focused approach corrects multiple aberration types efficiently without requiring additional elements beyond the five-element configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
Each lens element serves multiple functions simultaneously. For example, the second lens element with negative refracting power both converges light and corrects spherical aberration, while the fourth lens element with positive refracting power contributes to both image formation and astigmatism correction. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated elements for each correction task.
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 design achieves good optical performance and image quality with a reduced system length, correcting aberrations and enhancing image clarity, while also simplifying the manufacturing process and maintaining a suitable yield.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the first lens element to the fifth lens element includes an object-side surface that faces the object side and allows imaging rays to pass through as well as an image-side surface that faces the image side and allows the imaging rays to pass through
Data Source
AI summary
An optical lens assembly includes first, second, third, fourth and fifth lens elements arranged in sequence from an object side to an image side along an optical axis. Only the first lens element to the fifth lens element have refracting power, wherein the optical lens assembly satisfies: 3.1≤ALT/AAG, wherein ALT is a sum of thicknesses of the first lens element, the second lens element, the third lens element, the fourth lens element, and the fifth lens element on the optical axis, and AAG is a sum of four air gaps from the first lens element to the fifth lens element on the optical axis.