Folded Optical Path Lens for Compact Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge is to accommodate a long-focus image capturing lens within the limited internal space of portable electronic devices without compromising optical performance.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves an image capturing lens design that includes a light turning component with a first and second prism, which folds the optical path, reducing the lens length and allowing it to fit within the limited space of portable devices while maintaining good optical performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a long-focus lens is used to maintain good optical performance, then the focal length and optical performance are improved, but the total track length increases making it difficult to accommodate in portable devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a light turning component (prism) that folds the optical path from a linear arrangement to a folded geometric configuration. This transforms the one-dimensional length constraint into a two-dimensional spatial arrangement, allowing the optical axis to bend and reduce the overall track length while maintaining the required focal length for long-focus imaging capability.
2Volume of moving object
If the total track length is reduced to fit portable devices, then the device compactness is improved, but the focal length decreases compromising optical performance
Solution Approach 1:
By employing a folded optical path through the light turning component, the patent achieves compact device volume while preserving the effective focal length. The bending of the optical axis allows the light to traverse a longer effective path length within a shorter physical distance, maintaining optical performance despite reduced device space.
Solution Approach 2:
The light turning component acts as an intermediary element that mediates between the requirement for long focal length and the constraint of limited device space. This intermediate component enables the optical path to fold back on itself, allowing the lens system to achieve both compactness and the necessary focal length for quality imaging.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a light turning component is added to fold the optical path, then the lens length is reduced improving device adaptability, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light turning component serves as a relatively simple intermediary element that provides significant space-saving functionality. By using a single prism or similar component to fold the optical path, the patent achieves improved adaptability to device space constraints without introducing excessive structural complexity that would compromise manufacturing or assembly.
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 design effectively reduces the length of the image capturing lens, enabling it to be accommodated in portable electronic devices while maintaining excellent optical performance, including effective elimination of field curvature and distortion aberrations.
Implementation Method 1
The optical axis bends at the first reflective surface and the second reflective surface
Implementation Method 2
The first lens element, the second lens element, and the third lens element have refracting power
Data Source
AI summary
An image capturing lens, sequentially including a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, and a light turning component from an object side to an image side along an optical axis. The first lens element, the second lens element, and the third lens element have refracting power. The light turning component includes a first prism and a second prism along the optical axis. The first prism includes a first light incident surface, a first reflective surface, and a first light exit surface. The second prism includes a second light incident surface, a second reflective surface, and a second light exit surface. The first light exit surface and the second light incident surface are parallel to each other. The optical axis bends at the first reflective surface and the second reflective surface.