Free-Form Lens Deflects Light Path to Reduce Camera Module Black Border
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional camera modules in mobile devices face challenges in achieving full-screen display due to the limited space for front cameras, resulting in a larger black border and compromised imaging quality, as the camera module cannot overlap with the display screen without blocking light.
Innovation Solution
An optical camera lens design featuring a free-form lens that deflects incident light to offset the imaging plane, allowing for a more compact camera module configuration and improved imaging quality by reducing aberrations, which enables a higher screen-to-body ratio in terminal devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the camera module is arranged staggered with the display screen to avoid blocking light, then the light passing path is ensured, but the black border around the screen increases and the screen-to-body ratio decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a free-form lens that deflects light in a specific direction, changing the light path from a straight linear path to a bent path. This allows the light to reach the camera sensor while the camera module can be positioned closer to the screen edge, effectively utilizing spatial dimensions to resolve the conflict between light transmission and screen area.
2Area of stationary object
If the camera module is placed closer to the screen edge to reduce the black border, then the screen-to-body ratio increases, but the light path may be blocked by the housing or other structures
Solution Approach 1:
The free-form lens has an asymmetric structure with different curvature radii in different regions (first region with smaller curvature radius, second region with larger curvature radius). This asymmetric design allows the lens to deflect light preferentially toward one direction (away from the housing), enabling the camera module to be positioned closer to the screen edge without blocking the light path.
3Device complexity
If conventional lenses are used in the camera module, then the structure is simpler, but the imaging quality and aberration correction are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a free-form lens with variable curvature radii that change continuously across different regions of the lens. By changing the curvature parameter asymmetrically (smaller radius in the first region, larger radius in the second region), the lens achieves superior aberration correction and imaging quality compared to conventional symmetric lenses, while the single-element design keeps the overall structure relatively simple.
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 effectively reduces the black border around the screen, enhances imaging quality, and increases the screen-to-body ratio by deflecting the light path away from the device housing, making the camera module more compact and suitable for devices with arc-shaped borders.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one free-form lens is adapted to deflect incident light toward the second side, so that an imaging plane of an optical system composed of the plurality of lens sheets is offset toward the second side
Data Source
AI summary
A terminal device having a camera module having an optical camera lens is provided. The optical camera lens includes: a lens barrel having an axis and a lens barrel side face surrounding the axis, wherein the lens barrel side face includes a first side and a second side opposite to the first side and a lens sheet set mounted in the lens barrel and including a plurality of lenses, wherein the plurality of lenses include at least one free-form lens, and the at least one free-form lens is adapted to deflect incident light toward the second side, so that an imaging plane of an optical system composed of the plurality of lens sheets is deflected toward the second side.