Five-Lens Imaging System for Compact Profile and Low F-Number

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional imaging lenses face difficulties in achieving a balance between low profile and low F-number while effectively correcting aberrations, particularly in the peripheral area, leading to suboptimal optical performance.

Innovation Solution

The imaging lens configuration includes a specific arrangement of lenses with varying refractive powers and surface curvatures, along with conditional expressions that optimize the positions and curvatures of each lens to correct spherical aberration, chromatic aberration, coma aberration, astigmatism, and distortion, allowing for a reduced profile and low F-number.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If a low profile and low F-number are realized in conventional imaging lenses, then the lens becomes more compact with shorter total track length, but aberration correction in the peripheral area deteriorates significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetotal track lengthVSAvoidaberration correction

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The imaging lens is divided into five distinct lens units with specific refractive power configurations (positive, negative, negative, positive, negative). Each lens unit contributes differently to aberration correction, allowing the system to maintain compact dimensions while correcting peripheral aberrations through the combined effect of segmented optical elements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different lens surfaces are designed with specific curvature characteristics (convex or concave in paraxial region) to address local aberration problems. The fifth lens specifically has a convex image-side surface to control light ray incident angles on the image sensor, while other lenses have specific surface curvatures optimized for their respective aberration correction roles

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Length of moving object

If the first lens strengthens its refractive power to reduce profile, then the lens becomes more compact, but spherical aberration and distortion correction becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprofile heightVSAvoidspherical aberration and distortion correction

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The strong refractive power of the first lens is balanced by subsequent lens units with opposite or complementary refractive powers. The second and third lenses with negative refractive power, followed by the fourth lens with positive refractive power, work in sequence to correct the spherical aberration and distortion introduced by the first lens's strong focusing capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The spherical aberration and distortion generated by the first lens's strong refractive power are not simply corrected as errors but are utilized as part of the overall aberration balance. The subsequent lenses are designed to complement the first lens's optical characteristics, converting the potential harm of strong refractive power into a beneficial compact profile while maintaining correction through systematic design

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Area of stationary object

If the fifth lens has a convex image-side surface to control light ray incident angle, then the lens diameter can be reduced, but the overall lens diameter reduction may be limited by other factors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelens diameterVSAvoidaberration correction balance

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The fifth lens's image-side surface is specifically designed with convex curvature to control light ray incident angles on the image sensor. This local surface characteristic allows the fifth lens to have a smaller diameter while maintaining proper light control, contributing to overall lens diameter reduction without compromising aberration correction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The diameter reduction is achieved through the cumulative effect of all five lens units, each optimized for their specific function. The fifth lens's convex image-side surface works in conjunction with the preceding lenses to progressively control light paths, allowing each lens to be compact while maintaining system-level optical performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 results in an imaging lens with high resolution and excellent aberration correction, achieving a well-balanced low profile and low F-number performance.

Implementation Method 1

a first lens with positive refractive power having a convex object-side surface in a paraxial region

Methodology Applied