Five-Lens Optical System for Compact Mobile Camera Resolution

Solution Overview

Problem

There is a challenge in developing camera modules for mobile communications terminals that balance high resolution and performance with the need for miniaturization and lightweight design, as traditional glass lenses are heavy and larger lens systems are cumbersome.

Innovation Solution

An optical system comprising five lenses with specific refractive powers and surface curvatures, including a first lens with negative refractive power, a second and third lens with positive and negative refractive powers respectively, a fourth lens with positive refractive power, and a fifth lens with positive refractive power and a concave image-side surface, optimized to achieve high resolution and a wide field of view while maintaining a compact form.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional glass lenses are used to achieve high resolution, then optical performance is improved, but weight and size increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveresolutionVSAvoidweight

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter from glass to plastic, which has different optical and physical properties. This material substitution allows the lens to maintain optical performance while significantly reducing weight and size, directly resolving the contradiction between resolution and weight

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs plastic as a composite material alternative to traditional glass. This material choice enables the lens to achieve both high resolution and lightweight properties simultaneously, as plastic can be engineered to have the necessary optical clarity while being inherently lighter than glass

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Measurement precision

If the number of camera lenses is increased to five or more to achieve high resolution, then optical performance is improved, but device complexity and size increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveresolutionVSAvoidnumber of lenses

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple lens functions into a five-lens system where each lens contributes to overall optical performance. By carefully designing the refractive powers and arrangements of the five lenses, the system achieves high resolution while maintaining a balanced, integrated structure that doesn't excessively increase complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent assigns specific local characteristics to each of the five lenses, such as varying refractive powers (positive or negative) and specific surface curvature configurations. This localized optimization of each lens element allows the entire system to achieve high resolution without requiring an excessive number of lenses, as each lens performs its specialized function efficiently

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Measurement precision

If the number of camera lenses is increased to achieve high resolution, then optical performance is improved, but the camera module becomes larger

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveresolutionVSAvoidsize

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter from glass to plastic, which has different optical and physical properties. This material substitution allows the lens to maintain optical performance while significantly reducing weight and size, directly resolving the contradiction between resolution and weight

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs plastic as a composite material alternative to traditional glass. This material choice enables the lens to achieve both high resolution and lightweight properties simultaneously, as plastic can be engineered to have the necessary optical clarity while being inherently lighter than glass

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 optical system enhances optical performance by improving aberration characteristics, achieving a wide field of view and producing brighter images while maintaining a compact and lightweight design, suitable for miniaturized mobile communications terminals.

Implementation Method 1

a first lens having a negative refractive power, a second lens, a third lens, a fourth lens, and a fifth lens having a positive refractive power in this order from an object side to an image side

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentUS10067317B2Optical system

Publication Date: 2018.09.04 SAMSUNG ELECTRO MECHANICS CO LTD

AI summary

An optical system includes a first lens including a negative refractive power, a second lens, a third lens, a fourth lens, and a fifth lens including a positive refractive power and an image-side surface being concave in a paraxial region. The first to fifth lenses are sequentially disposed from an object side to an image side.