Four-Element Lens Assembly with Aspheric Surfaces for Compact Wide-Angle Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional compact optical systems for portable electronic products, such as smartphones and tablets, face challenges in achieving high image quality and a wide viewing angle while maintaining a compact size, as they typically rely on three- or four-element lens structures that are not optimized for these requirements.
Innovation Solution
A four-element image capturing lens assembly with specific refractive powers and surface shapes, including aspheric surfaces, is designed to provide improved image quality, a larger field of view, and a compact size by optimizing the curvature radii and axial distances between lens elements, along with the use of an IR-cut filter and image sensor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a conventional three-element lens structure is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the image quality and resolution cannot satisfy high-end requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The lens assembly is divided into four distinct lens elements with specific refractive powers and surface shapes. Each element is optimized for specific functions: the first element (positive power) for light gathering, the second element (negative power) for aberration correction, the third element (positive power) for focus control, and the fourth element (negative power with aspheric surfaces) for distortion correction. This segmentation allows each element to contribute to overall image quality without requiring excessive complexity in individual components.
2Manufacturing precision
If a conventional four-element lens structure is used, then the image quality is enhanced, but the surface shape and axial distance are not favorable for obtaining a wide viewing angle and compact size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes specific parameters including the curvature radii of lens surfaces (R1 through R8), axial distances between elements (T12, T23, T34), and refractive powers (f1, f2, f3, f4). These parameter changes enable the lens assembly to achieve a compact form factor with a total length suitable for portable devices while maintaining a wide field of view (FOV greater than 60 degrees). The aspheric surfaces of the fourth element further optimize light path control to achieve wide viewing angles without increasing size.
3Manufacturing precision
If a conventional four-element lens structure is used, then the image quality is enhanced, but the axial distance configuration is not favorable for keeping a compact size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs aspheric surfaces on the fourth lens element (both object-side surface with curvature radius R7 and image-side surface with curvature radius R8) to control light paths more efficiently. The aspheric shapes allow for shorter axial distances between elements while maintaining image quality. Specifically, the axial distances T12, T23, and T34 are optimized to minimize the total length of the lens assembly while correcting aberrations effectively, enabling compact integration in portable devices.
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 enhanced image quality, a wider field of view, and maintains a compact size, suitable for portable electronic devices, with improved aberration correction and manufacturing efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The first lens element with positive refractive power has a convex object-side surface in a paraxial region thereof and a convex image-side surface in a paraxial region thereof
Implementation Method 2
The second lens element with negative refractive power has a concave object-side surface in a paraxial region thereof and a convex image-side surface in a paraxial region thereof
Implementation Method 3
The third lens element with positive refractive power has a concave object-side surface in a paraxial region thereof and a convex image-side surface in a paraxial region thereof
Implementation Method 4
The fourth lens element with refractive power has a concave image-side surface in a paraxial region thereof, wherein an object-side surface and the image-side surface of the fourth lens element are aspheric
Data Source
AI summary
An image capturing lens assembly includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element and a fourth lens element. The first lens element with positive refractive power has a convex object-side surface in a paraxial region thereof and a convex image-side surface in a paraxial region thereof. The second lens element with negative refractive power has a concave object-side surface in a paraxial region thereof and a convex image-side surface in a paraxial region thereof. The third lens element with positive refractive power has a concave object-side surface in a paraxial region thereof and a convex image-side surface in a paraxial region thereof. The fourth lens element with refractive power has a concave image-side surface in a paraxial region thereof. The image capturing lens assembly has a total of four lens elements with refractive power.