Four-Lens Optical Assembly Balancing Wide-Angle Imaging and Manufacturability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing small lens modules for portable electronic devices face challenges in achieving a large aperture and wide viewing angle due to manufacturing sensitivity issues, leading to difficulties in stable mass production and compromised peripheral image quality.
Innovation Solution
An optical lens assembly comprising four lenses with specific refractive powers and configurations, including a first lens with positive power, a second lens with negative power, a third lens with positive power, and a fourth lens with negative power, adhering to specific conditions to ensure miniaturization, high resolution, and improved image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If manufacturers use small lens modules to achieve large aperture and wide viewing angle, then the device size is reduced, but manufacturing sensitivity increases and mass production becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the refractive powers, curvatures, and spacing of each lens element. Specifically, it defines precise relationships between focal lengths (f1, f2, f3, f4), curvature radii (R1-R12), and axial distances (d1-d5) to achieve a compact form factor while maintaining manufacturability. The conditional expressions (1)-(10) establish parameter ranges that balance miniaturization with manufacturing tolerance requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite lens designs combining multiple materials with different optical properties. It specifies that lenses are made from materials with different Abbe numbers (vd1, vd2, vd3, vd4) to correct chromatic aberrations. The use of aspheric surfaces combined with specific material dispersion properties creates a composite optical system that achieves high performance while being manufacturable.
2Manufacturing precision
If manufacturers improve manufacturing sensitivity, then mass production becomes stable, but peripheral image quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using aspheric surfaces on specific lens elements (object-side surface of first lens, image-side surface of second lens, object-side surface of third lens) to correct peripheral aberrations. These localized aspheric corrections address field curvature and distortion specifically in the peripheral regions without affecting central image quality, thereby maintaining high overall image reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary approach by using the fourth lens with negative refractive power as a field flattening element. This lens acts as a mediator between the preceding positive power lenses and the image plane, correcting field curvature and ensuring uniform focus across the entire image field, including peripheral regions.
3Volume of moving object
If lens assembly is miniaturized, then device integration is improved, but chromatic aberration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of chromatic aberration into a benefit by strategically using materials with different dispersion properties. It specifies that lenses are made from materials with different Abbe numbers (vd1, vd2, vd3, vd4) and arranges them in a specific sequence with alternating positive and negative refractive powers. This configuration transforms the dispersion differences into effective chromatic aberration correction through the negative power lenses compensating for the positive power lenses' chromatic errors.
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 proposed lens assembly achieves a miniaturized design with a large viewing angle while maintaining high image quality by optimizing lens configurations and reducing chromatic aberrations, ensuring stable mass production and improved peripheral image clarity.
Implementation Method 1
a first lens with positive refractive power
Implementation Method 2
a second lens with refractive power
Implementation Method 3
a third lens with positive refractive power
Implementation Method 4
a fourth lens with negative refractive power
Data Source
AI summary
An optical lens assembly includes, in order from an object side to an image side: a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, and a fourth lens; wherein a distance from the object-side surface of the first lens to the image plane along the optical axis is TL, a half of a maximum field of view of the optical lens assembly is HFOV, a maximum optical effective radius of the image-side surface of the fourth lens is CA8, a maximum image height of the optical lens assembly is IMH, and the following condition is satisfied: 32.46<TL*HFOV/(CA8*IMH)<54.39.