Imaging Lens Assembly With Buffer Gaps for Tilt Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional optical systems face challenges in achieving high image quality and compactness due to complex structures and assembly issues such as lens element tilting and warpage, which increase the size of electronic devices and reduce manufacturing efficiency.

Innovation Solution

An imaging lens system with a lens barrel and imaging lens assembly that includes a spacer element and buffer structure, featuring a first and second gap with a step difference, and a mark structure to prevent tilting and warpage, using plastic or metal spacer elements for improved elasticity and rigidity, respectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If conventional optical systems use complex structures to achieve high image quality, then image quality is improved, but device size increases

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

Solution Approach 1:

The lens assembly is divided into multiple lens elements (first lens element, second lens element, third lens element) with specific focal length ratios (0.3 < f2/f1 < 1.5 and 0.5 < f3/f1 < 1.5), allowing each element to contribute to image quality while maintaining compact overall structure. The imaging lens system achieves high image quality through segmented optical elements rather than a single complex lens, resolving the contradiction between image quality and device size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If conventional optical systems add functionalities such as auto focus and optical image stabilization, then functionality is improved, but structure becomes more complex and size increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The imaging lens system is designed with universal applicability for multiple functionalities including auto focus and optical image stabilization without requiring additional complex structures. The lens elements are configured with specific focal length relationships that enable various optical functions to be achieved through the same basic lens assembly, reducing structural complexity while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Manufacturing precision

If conventional optical systems use tight assembly tolerances to prevent lens element tilting and warpage, then assembly precision is improved, but manufacturing efficiency decreases and defective rate increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly precisionVSAvoidmanufacturing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the design parameters of the lens elements, specifically setting the focal length ratios between lens elements within specific ranges (0.3 < f2/f1 < 1.5 and 0.5 < f3/f1 < 1.5). This parameter optimization makes the lens system less sensitive to assembly errors, allowing for relaxed tolerances while maintaining image quality, thereby improving manufacturing efficiency and reducing defective rates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Manufacturing precision

If conventional optical systems use larger lens elements to correct aberrations, then image quality is improved, but device size increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage qualityVSAvoidlens element size
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The imaging lens system employs a nested arrangement where multiple lens elements with different focal lengths are combined in sequence. The first, second, and third lens elements are nested along the optical axis with specific focal length relationships, allowing each element to correct different types of aberrations while maintaining a compact overall size. This nested configuration achieves high image quality without requiring individually large lens elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentEP4134720B1Imaging lens system, camera module and electronic device
Publication Date: 2025.09.17 LARGAN PRECISION
  • EP4134720B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4134720B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4134720B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An imaging lens system (1) includes a lens barrel element (10) and an imaging lens assembly (20) disposed on the lens barrel element (10) and including a first imaging lens element (21), a spacer element (23) and a second imaging lens element (25). The spacer element (23) has a second object-side contact surface (231) corresponding to a first image-side contact surface (211) of the first imaging lens element (21). The second imaging lens element (25) has a third object-side contact surface (251) corresponding to a second image-side contact surface (233) of the spacer element (23). The lens barrel element (10) and the spacer element (23) form a buffer structure (30) closer to an optical axis (OL) than the first image-side contact surface (211) and including a first gap (31) and a second gap (32) located closer to the optical axis (OL) than the first gap (31). The first gap (31) overlaps the third object-side contact surface (251) in a direction parallel to the optical axis (OL). A step difference is between the first and second gaps (31, 32).