Folded Periscope Optical Module for Thin High-Quality Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional periscope-type camera modules struggle to balance miniaturization and good imaging quality, as they increase the size of the image sensor, leading to an increase in the thickness of electronic devices.
Innovation Solution
An optical system with three or four lenses, each with specific refractive powers and surface shapes, combined with an optical transmission element that deflects the light path by 180°, allowing the image sensor to be perpendicular to the optical axis, thereby reducing the device's thickness while maintaining imaging quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If conventional periscope-type camera modules are used to compress thickness, then device thickness is reduced, but imaging quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the orientation of the image sensor from parallel to perpendicular relative to the optical axis, utilizing a different spatial dimension. This allows the optical path to be folded back 180 degrees through the optical transmission element, achieving thickness compression while maintaining proper imaging geometry and quality
Solution Approach 2:
The optical transmission element acts as an intermediary component that redirects the optical path by 180 degrees. This mediator enables the connection between the optical system and the perpendicular image sensor, resolving the contradiction between compact thickness and imaging quality
2Reliability
If image sensor size is increased to improve imaging quality, then imaging quality is enhanced, but device thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the image sensor orientation to perpendicular and folding the optical path 180 degrees, the patent allows for a larger effective imaging area without increasing the thickness dimension. The optical transmission element enables this spatial reconfiguration
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 solution achieves a balance between miniaturization and good imaging quality by reducing the thickness of the electronic device without increasing its size, while enhancing imaging performance in low-light environments.
Implementation Method 1
the optical transmission element is configured to direct at least part of light incident on the light incident area to exit from the light exiting area after undergoing at least two reflections
Implementation Method 2
The optical system includes three or four lenses with refractive power
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is an optical system (30) including three or four lenses having refractive power. Along an optical axis from an object side to an image side, the optical system (30) sequentially includes: a first lens (L1) having positive refractive power, both an object-side surface and an image-side surface of the first lens (L1) being convex in a paraxial region; a second lens (L2) having refractive power; and a third lens (L3) having refractive power, one of the second lens (L2) and the third lens (L3) having positive refractive power, and the other having negative refractive power. The optical system (30) satisfies the following condition expressions: 0.25≤ f1/f ≤0.85, 0.15≤ |f2/f| ≤0.45, and 0.15 ≤ |f3/f| ≤ 1.25, where f1 is a focal length of the first lens (L1), f2 is a focal length of the second lens (L2), and f3 is a focal length of the third lens (L3).