Lens Module Variable Aperture for Brightness Uniformity
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Solution Overview
Problem
The miniaturization of smartphone lens modules leads to reduced aperture size, resulting in non-uniform image brightness due to varying light entry at non-circular apertures, affecting image quality.
Innovation Solution
A lens module with a variable light-shielding flat piece that controls light entry, featuring a non-circular aperture with a movable action element driven by a driving element to adjust the inner diameter, ensuring uniform brightness across the image.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the aperture is modified to be non-circular to increase light entry, then the total light amount increases, but the brightness uniformity across the image deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a light-shielding flat piece with a specific shape that selectively blocks light from certain directions. This creates local variation in light transmission, allowing the aperture to maintain a non-circular shape for increased light entry while the shielding piece compensates for directional imbalance to preserve brightness uniformity across the image sensor.
2Length of moving object
If the lens module is miniaturized to reduce smartphone thickness, then the device thickness decreases, but the aperture size is reduced leading to less light entry
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a movable light-shielding flat piece that can adjust its position along the optical axis. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the system to optimize light transmission at different focal lengths, compensating for the reduced aperture size caused by miniaturization and maintaining adequate light entry despite the thinner lens module profile.
3Length of moving object
If the non-circular aperture is flattened to reduce thickness, then the lens module thickness decreases, but the light entry at the short side is significantly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The light-shielding flat piece is designed with an asymmetric shape that specifically addresses the light entry imbalance caused by flattening the non-circular aperture. The shielding piece's geometry is optimized to block excess light from the long side while allowing adequate light from the short side, thereby maintaining brightness uniformity despite the flattened aperture configuration.
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 difference in light entry at different aperture sides, enhancing image brightness uniformity and achieving miniaturization while maintaining good optical performance.
Implementation Method 1
the reflective element includes a reflective surface
Data Source
AI summary
A lens module includes a plurality of lenses, an annular body and a reflective element. The reflective element, the lenses and the annular are sequentially arranged along an optical axis from an object side to an image side. The lenses include a first lens that is disposed closest to the object side, and a second lens that is disposed closest to the image side. The reflective element is disposed between the object side and the first lens. The annular body is disposed between the object side and the first lens, between the lenses, or between the second lens and the image side. The lens module satisfies 0.5 mm<EPA/PL<5.5 mm where EPA is an area of an entrance pupil of the lens module, and PL is a length of the reflective element.