Folded Lens Module with Perpendicular Optical Axes for Wide Aperture
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Solution Overview
Problem
The limited height of terminal devices restricts the effective aperture diameter of camera lenses, making it difficult to achieve a wide-aperture effect and resulting in poor user experience due to the need for smaller apertures.
Innovation Solution
A lens module design with a first refractive element and a second refractive element, where the first optical axis is parallel to the height direction and the second optical axis is perpendicular, allowing a larger effective aperture diameter for the first refractive element, enabling a wider aperture effect and incorporating a motor for focusing and image stabilization without moving other elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the camera height is reduced to fit terminal devices, then the overall thickness is reduced, but the effective aperture diameter of the refractive element becomes smaller
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a folding structure that changes the optical path from a linear arrangement to a folded geometry. The first refractive element is positioned with its optical axis perpendicular to the camera's height direction, while the second refractive element has its optical axis parallel to the height direction. This dimensional transformation allows the aperture diameter to be defined in a direction not constrained by the camera's overall height, thereby achieving a larger effective aperture diameter despite the reduced camera height.
2Length of moving object
If a folded structure is used to reduce camera height, then the terminal device thickness is reduced, but it becomes difficult to achieve a wide-aperture effect
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the lens system into multiple refractive elements with distinct functional roles. The first refractive element handles light refraction with its optical axis perpendicular to the height direction, while the second refractive element performs additional refraction with its optical axis parallel to the height direction. This segmentation allows each element to be optimized independently, with the first element capable of providing a wide aperture effect while the second element compensates for the folded structure's constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
By configuring the first refractive element's optical axis perpendicular to the camera height direction, the patent creates an aperture dimension that is not constrained by the camera's overall height. This dimensional reorientation enables the system to achieve a wide-aperture effect despite the folded structure and reduced camera height.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the effective aperture diameter is increased to achieve wide-aperture effect, then user experience is improved, but the camera height becomes larger
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the first refractive element such that its optical axis is perpendicular to the camera height direction, creating an aperture dimension that extends laterally rather than vertically. This allows the effective aperture diameter to be increased without increasing the camera height, as the aperture spans a different dimensional space.
Solution Approach 2:
The two-refractive-element structure allows the aperture function to be distributed across elements with different orientations. The first element provides the wide-aperture capability with its perpendicular optical axis, while the second element with its parallel optical axis helps manage the folded geometry, enabling the system to achieve wide aperture without proportionally increasing height.
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 design achieves a larger aperture, enhancing user experience by facilitating a wide-aperture effect and allowing for focusing and image stabilization functions, improving the practicality and flexibility of the lens module.
Implementation Method 1
The first refractive element is configured to refract a light beam from outside of the lens module
Implementation Method 2
The reflecting element is configured to reflect the light beam refracted by the first refractive element
Implementation Method 3
The second refractive element is configured to refract the light beam reflected by the reflecting element
Data Source
AI summary
A lens system and a camera, where the lens system includes a first refractive element, a second refractive element, a reflecting element, and a photosensitive element, where the first refractive element and the reflecting element are disposed along a direction of a first optical axis, the second refractive element and the reflecting element are disposed along a direction of a second optical axis, the first optical axis is perpendicular to the second optical axis, the second refractive element and the photosensitive element are disposed in parallel, an effective aperture diameter of the first refractive element is greater than an effective aperture diameter of the second refractive element in a height direction of the lens system, and the first optical axis is parallel to the height direction of the lens system.