Four-Lens Camera Optics With Inflection Surfaces for Compact Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical systems struggle to balance high image quality, low sensitivity, proper aperture size, miniaturization, and desirable field of view due to the rapid advancements in semiconductor technology and increasing functionality requirements.
Innovation Solution
A photographing optical lens system comprising four lens elements with specific refractive powers and surface shapes, including inflection points and reflective elements, optimized by various conditions to achieve balanced performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional optical system design is used, then manufacturing and assembly are simpler, but image quality deteriorates due to pixel size scaling and increased functionality requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system is divided into four distinct lens elements, each with specific refractive powers and surface shapes. This segmentation allows each element to be optimized for specific functions (positive refractive power for convergence, negative for divergence, inflection points for aberration correction), achieving high image quality while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the lens surfaces are designed with different properties - the paraxial regions have specific convex/concave shapes for basic focusing, while inflection points are strategically placed to correct aberrations in specific zones. This local differentiation optimizes image quality across the entire field of view without requiring uniform complexity throughout the system
2Manufacturing precision
If lens elements are added to improve image quality and correct aberrations, then image quality improves, but the system size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lens elements are designed with aspheric surfaces including inflection points, allowing dynamic light path control that achieves aberration correction and compact sizing simultaneously. The variable curvature enables the system to maintain high image quality with reduced element count and smaller overall volume compared to traditional spherical lens designs
3Volume of moving object
If aperture size is reduced for miniaturization, then system size decreases, but light gathering ability and image quality deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The lens elements employ aspheric surfaces with inflection points instead of simple spherical shapes. This curvature variation optimizes light gathering efficiency across the aperture, allowing the system to maintain high illumination intensity and image quality even with a compact form factor, effectively decoupling size reduction from light gathering degradation
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 improved image quality, reduced size, and enhanced flexibility for astigmatism corrections while maintaining a proper field of view and aperture size.
Implementation Method 1
The four lens elements are, in order from an object side to an image side along an optical path, a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element and a fourth lens element. Each of the four lens elements has an object-side surface facing toward the object side and an image-side surface facing toward the image side.
Data Source
AI summary
A photographing optical lens system includes four lens elements which are, in order from an object side to an image side along an optical path: 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 an object-side surface being convex in a convex region thereof. The second lens element with positive refractive power has an object-side surface being convex in a convex region thereof. The third lens element with negative refractive power has an image-side surface being concave in a paraxial region thereof. The fourth lens element has an image-side surface being convex in a paraxial region thereof. At least one surface of at least one lens element in the photographing optical lens system has at least one inflection point.