Nine-Lens Imaging Lens with Aspheric Inflection Point

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional imaging lenses with a nine-lens configuration are difficult to downsize while maintaining satisfactory aberration correction, making them unsuitable for small-sized cameras like smartphones due to their long total track length and manufacturing complexity.

Innovation Solution

A nine-lens imaging lens configuration with specific refractive power arrangements and aspheric shapes, including a first lens with positive refractive power, a third lens with negative refractive power, and a ninth lens with a negative refractive power and an inflection point, optimized to minimize the total track length and correct aberrations such as chromatic aberration and field curvature.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a nine-lens configuration is used to correct aberrations, then aberration correction is improved, but total track length increases making it unsuitable for small-sized cameras

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaberration correctionVSAvoidtotal track length

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the refractive powers of individual lenses (specifically setting the first lens to have positive refractive power and the third lens to have negative refractive power with specific focal length relationships) and using aspheric surfaces on the ninth lens to achieve better aberration correction in a compact form factor, thereby reducing the total track length while maintaining correction quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the nine-lens system into functional groups with specific refractive power assignments (positive-positive-negative-negative arrangement for the first four lenses) to distribute the aberration correction function across different lens segments, allowing for more efficient space utilization and reduced overall length compared to conventional configurations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Length of stationary object

If the first lens has strong positive refractive power to downsize the lens, then total track length is reduced, but manufacturing error sensitivity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetotal track lengthVSAvoidmanufacturing error sensitivity

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of stationary objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by distributing the positive refractive power requirement across multiple lenses (first lens, second lens, and later positive-power lenses in the sequence) rather than concentrating it all in the first lens. This allows the first lens to have moderate refractive power, reducing its manufacturing error sensitivity while still achieving the overall downsizing goal through the cumulative effect of multiple lenses

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Manufacturing precision

If the third lens has strong negative refractive power to correct chromatic aberration in a downsized lens, then chromatic aberration correction is improved, but the lens becomes more complex and harder to manufacture

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechromatic aberration correctionVSAvoidlens configuration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by setting specific focal length relationships (|f3| < |f4| where f3 is the focal length of the third lens and f4 is the focal length of the fourth lens) and using aspheric surfaces to achieve effective chromatic aberration correction with moderate refractive powers, avoiding the need for extremely strong negative power that would increase complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 configuration allows for a compact imaging lens design with improved aberration correction, reduced manufacturing errors, and lower production costs, while maintaining high image quality and a wider angle of view.

Implementation Method 1

The ninth lens has an image plane-side surface formed as an aspheric shape having an inflection point

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAspheric surface:

Implementation Method 2

the arrangement of refractive power of the four lenses disposed on the object side is in the order of 'positive-positive-negative-negative’, so that it is suitably achievable to downsize the imaging lens, while satisfactorily correcting the aberrations including a chromatic aberration

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectChromatic aberration correction:

Implementation Method 3

an imaging lens for forming an image of an object on an imaging element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentUS12117670B2Imaging lens

Publication Date: 2024.10.15 TOKYO VISIONARY OPTICS CO LTD

AI summary

An imaging lens includes a first lens having positive refractive power; a second lens having positive refractive power; a third lens having negative refractive power; a fourth lens having negative refractive power; a fifth lens; a sixth lens; a seventh lens; an eighth lens; and a ninth lens having negative refractive power, arranged in this order from an object side to an image plane side. The ninth lens is formed in a shape so that a surface thereof on the image plane side has an aspherical shape having an inflection point.