Folded Camera Lens Design for Large Aperture in Compact Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing folded camera designs face a challenge in maximizing the optical aperture while maintaining a compact camera height, which is crucial for integrating into devices like smartphones without increasing their thickness.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates an optical lens module with N≥3 lens elements, each with a first optical axis, a reflecting element inclined to provide a folded optical path, and specific clear height and aperture values for each lens surface, ensuring the first lens element has a greater height and aperture than subsequent elements, and the optical path is folded to maximize aperture within a given height.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the optical aperture of the lens is increased to improve light-gathering capability and optical properties, then the camera height increases, but this conflicts with the requirement to maintain a compact camera height for integration into devices like smartphones
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies optical path folding using a reflecting element (prism or mirror) to change the light propagation direction from perpendicular to the camera back surface to parallel to it. This folds the optical path into a compact configuration, allowing a larger effective aperture to fit within a reduced camera height dimension. The folded optical path enables the lens to gather more light while maintaining a compact form factor suitable for smartphone integration.
2Length of stationary object
If a folded optical path is introduced to reduce camera height, then the camera becomes more compact, but the optical path becomes more complex requiring additional reflecting elements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a reflecting element (prism or mirror) as an intermediary component to fold the optical path. This single adding element achieves the compactification of the camera height while managing the optical path complexity through a well-defined reflection geometry. The reflecting element serves as a mediator that transforms the light propagation direction without requiring complex multi-component systems.
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 allows for a larger optical aperture within a compact form factor, enhancing the camera's light-gathering capability and optical properties without increasing the device's thickness.
Implementation Method 1
an optical path folding element (referred to hereinafter as 'OPFE') e.g. a prism or a mirror (otherwise referred to herein collectively as 'reflecting element') is added in order to tilt the light propagation direction from perpendicular to the smart-phone back surface to parallel to the smart-phone back surface
Data Source
AI summary
Digital cameras, optical lens modules for such digital cameras and methods for assembling lens elements in such lens modules. In various embodiments, the digital cameras comprise an optical lens module including N≥3 lens elements Li, each lens element comprising a respective front surface S2i−1 and a respective rear surface S2i. In various embodiments the first lens element toward the object side, L1 and its respective front surfaces S1 have optical and/or mechanical properties, such as a clear aperture, a clear height and a mechanical height that are larger than respective properties of following lens elements and surfaces. This is done to achieve a camera with large aperture stop, given a lens and/or camera height.