Five-Lens Optical System with Aspheric Inflection Points
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical systems for portable electronic devices face challenges in capturing high-quality images in low-light environments due to limited light intake and aberration issues, particularly in compact designs with multiple lenses.
Innovation Solution
The optical image capturing system employs a combination of five-piece optical lenses with refractive powers, convex and concave surfaces, and inflection points to optimize light entry and correct aberrations, featuring a lens positioning component with specific geometric and refractive parameters to enhance imaging quality and reduce system size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the aperture is increased to capture more light in low-light environments, then the light intake is improved, but the system size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system is divided into five separate lens elements rather than using a single lens or fewer elements. Each lens element contributes to the overall light gathering capability while maintaining a compact individual size, allowing the system to achieve high light intake without requiring a large single aperture
Solution Approach 2:
The five lens elements are arranged in a nested configuration along the optical axis, with each subsequent lens element positioned within the optical path of the previous ones. This nested arrangement allows multiple light-gathering elements to be packed into a compact overall structure, achieving high light intake without proportionally increasing system volume
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple lenses are used to improve imaging quality, then the imaging quality is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple lens elements with different optical functions are merged into a single integrated optical system. The five lens elements work together as one unified imaging system, combining light gathering, focusing, and aberration correction functions in a single compact assembly rather than separate components
Solution Approach 2:
Each lens element is designed with specific parameter optimizations including varying refractive indices, different curvature radii, and controlled thickness ratios. These parameter variations allow each element to contribute differently to image quality while maintaining manufacturability through systematic design rules
3Illumination intensity
If the lens elements are optimized for light intake with large aperture, then the light intake is improved, but aberration issues worsen
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the optical system are designed with specialized qualities to address specific issues. The first lens element focuses on light gathering with its large aperture, while subsequent elements are optimized for aberration correction. Each lens element has locally optimized surface curvatures and thicknesses to correct specific types of aberrations in different parts of the optical path
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of large aperture-induced aberrations into a benefit by using the additional lens elements to systematically correct these aberrations. The very elements that enable high light intake through large effective aperture also provide the means to correct the aberrations they introduce, turning a disadvantage into an advantage through careful design
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 significantly increases light intake and improves imaging quality, effectively addressing low-light challenges and aberration issues while maintaining a compact form factor, as demonstrated by improved modulation transfer function values and reduced distortion.
Implementation Method 1
combination of refractive powers, convex and concave surfaces of five-piece optical lenses to increase the quantity of incoming light
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.