Five-Lens Optical System with Aspheric Surfaces for Compact Cameras
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical systems in portable electronic devices face challenges in capturing high-quality images in low-light environments due to limited light intake and aberrations, particularly in compact designs with few lenses.
Innovation Solution
A compact optical image capturing system utilizing a five-piece optical lens configuration with refractive powers, aspheric surfaces, and inflection points to optimize light entry and correct aberrations, including the use of plastic or glass lenses with specific surface profiles and coatings for improved image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the number of lenses is reduced to 3-4 pieces for compact design, then device size is reduced, but light intake and image quality deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the refractive indices and Abbe numbers of the five lenses within specific ranges (1.5≤Nd1<1.7, 55<NA1≤65, etc.). This allows the system to achieve high light intake and image quality with a compact five-lens design, resolving the contradiction between device size and light intake by precisely controlling optical parameters rather than simply increasing lens count or size
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs aspheric surfaces for all five lenses, replacing traditional spherical surfaces. This curvature optimization enables better light gathering efficiency and aberration correction within a compact form factor, allowing the system to maintain high image quality and light intake while keeping the device size small through sophisticated surface geometry rather than additional lenses
2Volume of moving object
If the number of lenses is reduced to 3-4 pieces for compact design, then device size is reduced, but image quality and aberration correction deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies precise parameter ranges for each lens including refractive index (1.5≤Nd2<1.7), Abbe number (55<NA2≤65), focal length ratios (0.3<|f1/f2|≤1.0), and curvature radii. These controlled parameter changes enable effective aberration correction and high image quality achievement with only five lenses, resolving the contradiction by optimizing each parameter within defined boundaries rather than adding more lenses
Solution Approach 2:
All five lenses utilize aspheric surfaces with specifically designed curvature profiles. This advanced curvature geometry provides superior aberration correction capabilities compared to spherical surfaces, enabling the compact five-lens system to achieve high manufacturing precision and image quality that would otherwise require more lenses
3Illumination intensity
If aperture is increased for low-light photography, then light intake is improved, but aberrations and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the aperture ratio and entrance pupil diameter within specific ranges (F-number 1.8-2.4, 0.4<HEP/f≤0.7) to maximize light intake while controlling aberrations. By carefully selecting these parameters combined with the five-lens aspheric configuration, the system achieves high light intake without excessive complexity, as the parameter optimization inherently controls the required aperture size and associated aberrations
Solution Approach 2:
The aspheric surfaces of all five lenses are specifically designed to correct aberrations introduced by large aperture settings. The non-spherical geometry allows the system to maintain sharp focus and reduced distortion even with the optimized large aperture, avoiding the need for additional corrective elements that would increase system complexity
4Illumination intensity
If five-piece optical lens configuration with aspheric surfaces is used, then light intake and image quality are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent defines specific parameter ranges for each lens (refractive index, Abbe number, focal length, curvature radii) that balance optical performance with manufacturability. By constraining parameters within reasonable boundaries rather than using extreme values, the system achieves high light intake while maintaining ease of manufacture through conventional optical fabrication processes
Solution Approach 2:
While aspheric surfaces do increase manufacturing complexity compared to spherical surfaces, the patent's specific aspheric coefficient ranges and surface profile constraints enable production using standard aspheric molding or grinding techniques. The design balances the need for high light intake (requiring aspheric surfaces) with manufacturing feasibility by not specifying overly complex higher-order aspheric terms
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
Enhances light intake and image quality by adjusting incident angles and modifying optical paths, reducing aberrations and system size while maintaining compactness.
Implementation Method 1
an optical image capturing system includes a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, a fourth lens, a fifth lens, and an image plane in order along an optical axis from an object side to an image side
Data Source
AI summary
An optical image capturing system includes, along the optical axis in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, a fourth lens, and a fifth lens. At least one lens among the first to the fifth lenses has positive refractive force. The fifth lens can have negative refractive force, wherein both surfaces thereof are aspheric, and at least one surface thereof has an inflection point. The lenses in the optical image capturing system which have refractive power include the first to the fifth lenses. The optical image capturing system can increase aperture value and improve the imaging quality for use in compact cameras.