Five-Lens Imaging Lens for Low Thermal Drift Near-Infrared Vision
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional imaging lenses used in consumer electronic applications, such as in-vehicle and surveillance cameras, fail to provide reliable performance and clear vision in extreme temperature situations, particularly when used for infrared imaging.
Innovation Solution
The design of an imaging lens comprising a specific arrangement of lenses with refractive powers, including a first lens closest to the object side and a fifth lens closest to the image side, with an aperture stop between the second and fourth lenses, optimized for near-infrared light imaging, satisfying conditions such as 0.5<D1/LT<0.8 and 3.8<D1/EFL<4.2, to achieve wide viewing angles, large effective apertures, low thermal drift, and high-resolution imaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional imaging lenses are used in extreme temperature situations, then the lens structure remains simple, but the imaging performance deteriorates and vision becomes unclear
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging lens is divided into five separate lens elements with refractive powers arranged in sequence from object side to image side. This segmentation allows each lens element to be optimized for specific optical functions, enabling the system to maintain reliable imaging performance across extreme temperature ranges while managing structural complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The patent specifies precise parameter ranges including the ratio of lens diameter to total length (0.5<D1/LT<0.8) and lens diameter to effective focal length (3.8<D1/EFL<4.2). By optimizing these parameters, the lens achieves stable imaging performance in extreme temperatures while maintaining a balanced structure that avoids excessive complexity
2Volume of moving object
If the lens is designed for small volume, then the device size is reduced, but the viewing angle and imaging quality may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves a wide viewing angle (diagonal field of view of 150 degrees or more) within a compact lens volume by optimizing the spatial arrangement of the five lens elements and their respective distances. The specific configuration allows light rays from wide angles to converge properly on the image sensor while maintaining a small overall lens length, effectively utilizing optical path dimensions
3Adaptability or versatility
If the lens is designed for wide viewing angle, then the field of view is expanded, but the effective aperture and imaging resolution may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The five-lens configuration allows different elements to handle different optical functions: some lenses optimize for wide-angle light collection while others focus on maintaining resolution and controlling aberrations. This segmentation enables the lens to achieve both wide viewing angle (150 degrees diagonal) and high imaging quality simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
Each lens element is designed with specific local optical characteristics optimized for its position in the sequence. The aperture stop is strategically positioned between the second and fourth lenses to control light distribution, while each lens element contributes specific refractive properties to maintain imaging resolution across the entire wide field of view
4Temperature
If conventional lenses are used, then the manufacturing process is simple, but thermal drift is high and temperature range is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies precise parameter ranges for lens diameters, focal lengths, and spacing distances that are optimized for thermal stability. By controlling parameters such as the ratio D1/LT between 0.5 and 0.8, and D1/EFL between 3.8 and 4.2, the lens achieves low thermal drift while remaining manufacturable through standardized optical component production
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging lens employs a composite structure with five different lens elements that can be manufactured from various optical materials with different thermal expansion coefficients and refractive indices. This composite approach allows optimization of thermal performance while maintaining ease of manufacture through established optical material fabrication processes
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 enables the imaging lens to provide excellent performance in near-infrared imaging with wide viewing angles, large effective apertures, low thermal drift, and high-resolution imaging qualities across a wide temperature range, suitable for harsh environments.
Implementation Method 1
an imaging lens includes a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, a fourth lens and a fifth lens with refractive powers arranged in order from an object side to an image side
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging lens includes a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, a fourth lens and a fifth lens with refractive powers arranged in order from an object side to an image side of the imaging lens. The first lens is closest to the object side as compared with any other lens with a refractive power in the imaging lens, and the fifth lens is closest to the image side as compared with any other lens with a refractive power in the imaging lens. The imaging lens satisfies the conditions of 0.5<D1/LT<0.8 and 0.5<DL/LT<0.8, where D1 is a lens diameter of the first lens, DL is a lens diameter of the fifth lens, and LT is a distance measured along an optical axis between an object-side surface of the first lens and an image-side surface of the fifth lens.