Folded Optical Imaging Layout for Thin High-Resolution Cameras
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Optical imaging systems with multiple lenses are too long to be easily mounted in thin electronic devices like mobile phones, limiting their integration.
Innovation Solution
An optical imaging system is designed with a prism and a reflecting member to refract and reflect light between lenses, reducing the overall length and allowing for perpendicular alignment of certain lenses, and incorporating a filter with a refractive index less than 1.66, enabling compact design without compromising resolution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple lenses are used to improve resolution, then imaging resolution is improved, but the overall length of the optical system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a prism to change the optical path direction by 90 degrees, transitioning the system from a linear one-dimensional arrangement to a two-dimensional compact configuration. This allows multiple lenses to be arranged in a folded optical path, maintaining the required number of lenses for high resolution while significantly reducing the overall length of the optical system in the direction of light propagation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs aspherical lens surfaces to correct optical aberrations that arise from the compact folded design. The aspherical surfaces allow for better control of light paths in the reduced space, maintaining imaging resolution despite the shortened optical path length and folded configuration.
2Ease of manufacture
If the optical system is shortened for thin device integration, then ease of mounting is improved, but imaging resolution deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By folding the optical path using a prism, the system achieves a compact form factor suitable for thin devices while preserving the optical path length required for high-resolution imaging. The vertical arrangement of lenses in the folded configuration maintains optical performance while enabling easy mounting in space-constrained applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes specific parameters including the refractive index of the prism (less than 2.0) and the spacing between optical elements to achieve the desired compactness. These parameter changes allow the system to be shortened for easy mounting while maintaining the optical path length and quality necessary for high-resolution imaging.
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 system achieves high resolution imaging while being compact enough to fit within thin electronic devices by minimizing the distance between the first lens and prism, and using a bent optical axis, thus facilitating easy integration.
Implementation Method 1
a prism disposed adjacent to the first lens and the second lens, and configured to refract light from the first lens to the second lens
Implementation Method 2
a reflecting member disposed adjacent to the fifth lens and an imaging plane, and configured to reflect light from the fifth lens to the imaging plane
Data Source
AI summary
An optical imaging system includes lenses. A prism is disposed adjacent to a first lens of the lenses and a second lens of the lenses, and is configured to refract light from the first lens to the second lens. A reflecting member is disposed adjacent to a fifth lens of the lenses and an imaging plane, and is configured to reflect light from the fifth lens to the imaging plane.