Four-Element Lens Assembly for Compact Aberration Correction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional optical systems face challenges in achieving a balance among high image quality, low sensitivity, proper aperture size, miniaturization, and desirable field of view, particularly due to difficulties in manufacturing and alignment of cemented lens elements.

Innovation Solution

A photographing system lens assembly with four non-cemented lens elements and an optional reflective element, featuring specific refractive powers, shapes, and arrangements to correct aberrations and reduce size, along with non-circular aperture stops and materials like plastic or glass to enhance flexibility and reduce costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If cemented lens elements are used to achieve high image quality, then aberration correction is improved, but manufacturing complexity and alignment difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaberration correctionVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the lens system into four separate non-cemented lens elements instead of using cemented compound lenses. Each lens element is independently manufactured and positioned, eliminating the complex cementing process while maintaining aberration correction capabilities through optimized individual element designs with specific refractive powers and aspheric surfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If conventional optical systems are designed to achieve high image quality, then image quality is improved, but the system size increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage qualityVSAvoidsystem size
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a compact folded optical path design where the optical components are arranged in a nested configuration. The four lens elements are positioned in sequence with optimized spacing, and the overall structure is integrated into a compact housing that minimizes the total system volume while maintaining the necessary optical path length for high image quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Manufacturing precision

If aperture size is increased to improve light gathering, then image quality is improved, but sensitivity increases which is undesirable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage qualityVSAvoidsensitivity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements non-circular aperture stops with optimized shapes that control the distribution of light rays locally across the optical path. The aperture stops are positioned at specific locations between lens elements and have non-uniform opening shapes that allow sufficient light gathering for image quality while limiting sensitivity to stray light and unwanted reflections through geometric control of ray paths.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 improved image quality, miniaturization, and balanced field of view while reducing manufacturing complexity and costs, with enhanced aberration correction and flexibility in space arrangement.

Implementation Method 1

a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element and a fourth lens element in this sequence from an object side to an image side along an optical path

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Implementation Method 2

The photographing system lens assembly can further include at least one reflective element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP4372443B1Photographing system lens assembly, image capturing unit and electronic device
Publication Date: 2026.04.15 LARGAN PRECISION
  • EP4372443B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4372443B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4372443B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A photographing system lens assembly includes, in order from an object side to an image side: a first lens element (E1), a second lens element (E2), a third lens element (E3) and a fourth lens element (E4). Each of the four lens elements (E1, E2, E3, and E4) has an object-side surface facing toward the object side and an image-side surface facing toward the image side. At least one surface of at least one lens element in the photographing system lens assembly has at least one inflection point (P). The first lens element (E1) has positive refractive power, the object-side surface of the first lens element (E1) is convex in a paraxial region thereof, and the image-side surface of the first lens element (E1) is convex in a paraxial region thereof. The object-side surface of the second lens element (E2) is concave in a paraxial region thereof. The image-side surface of the third lens element (E3) is concave in a paraxial region thereof.