Movable Lens Assembly for High Imaging Quality in Ultra-Thin Camera Modules

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Solution Overview

Problem

Camera modules face a bottleneck in miniaturization and ultra-thinness due to the increase in size when when aperture and are not conducive to high imaging quality, as increasing the aperture, leading to an increase in size and complexity, which is not conducive to high imaging requirements, and the existing camera lenses are not conducive to high imaging quality and ultra-thin designs.

Innovation Solution

A camera lens component with a movable first lens element unit and a second lens element unit, which includes a movable first lens element unit and a second lens element unit, sequentially arranged from an object side to an image side, where the first lens element unit and the second lens element unit are sequentially arranged, and the second lens element, and the second lens element unit, sequentially arranged from an object side to an image side along an optical axis, with a first lens element unit and a second lens element unit, each including a lens element with focal power, allowing for a wide aperture and large target surface design in a working state and a compact non-working state.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the aperture and target surface are increased to improve imaging quality, then the imaging quality is improved, but the size and thickness of the camera module increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimaging qualityVSAvoidcamera module thickness
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a movable lens element unit that can shift along the optical axis between a working position and a retracted position. When in the working position, the lens element provides a long total track length for high-quality imaging with wide aperture and large target surface. When retracted, it minimizes the camera module thickness for ultra-thin device design, thus resolving the contradiction between imaging quality and module thickness through dynamic reconfiguration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Manufacturing precision

If the total track length is increased to achieve wide aperture and large target surface, then the imaging quality is improved, but the camera module cannot achieve ultra-thin design

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimaging qualityVSAvoidcamera module thickness
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The lens element unit is designed to be movable along the optical axis, enabling the total track length to be dynamically adjusted. In the working state, the lens element is positioned to achieve a long total track length for high-quality imaging. In the retracted state, it minimizes the total track length to enable ultra-thin camera module design, thus resolving the contradiction between imaging quality requirements and ultra-thin design goals.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Manufacturing precision

If a fixed long total track length is used for high-quality imaging, then imaging quality is improved, but the device cannot be miniaturized

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimaging qualityVSAvoidcamera module volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a movable lens element unit that can change its position along the optical axis. When positioned for high-quality imaging, it achieves a long total track length. When retracted, it minimizes the total track length and overall camera module volume, enabling device miniaturization while maintaining the capability for high-quality imaging when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 camera lens component achieves high-quality imaging with a wide aperture and large target surface in a working state, while minimizing thickness and size in a non-working state, facilitating miniaturization and thinning of the camera module.

Implementation Method 1

Light is projected to the image sensor after being imaged through the camera lens component

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentEP4660680A1Lens assembly, camera module, and electronic device
Publication Date: 2025.12.10 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4660680A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4660680A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4660680A1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Embodiments of this application provide a camera lens component, a camera module, and an electronic device. The camera lens component includes two lens element units, and a first lens element unit close to an object side is movably disposed, to implement switching between a working state and a non-working state of the camera lens component. When the camera lens component is in the working state, the camera lens component can implement high-quality imaging with a wide aperture and a large target surface. When the camera lens component is switched to the non-working state, a spacing between the two lens element units may be compressed to reduce a length and a total track length of the camera lens component. This implements thinning of the camera lens component and the camera module. In other words, the camera lens component can ensure high imaging quality in the working state and can also ensure miniaturization in the non-working state. In addition, there is a large spacing between the two lens element units, so that the camera lens component and the camera module can be thinned more significantly in the non-working state, to obtain an ultra-thin camera module. This better meets a thinning requirement of the electronic device.