Non-Circular Lens Assembly for Compact Rectangular-Sensor Cameras
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Solution Overview
Problem
The miniaturization of camera modules in portable electronic devices leads to a deterioration in performance due to the non-uniform light capture on rectangular image sensors by circular lenses, and simply removing portions of the lens to reduce size further degrades optical performance.
Innovation Solution
An optical imaging system with non-circular lenses, including a first and second lens with non-circular shapes and flange portions, arranged perpendicular to the device's thickness direction, along with a reflection member to change light travel direction, maintaining lens performance while reducing size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the lens is simply removed to reduce size, then the camera module size is reduced, but optical performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by changing the lens shape from a conventional circular form to a non-circular shape that matches the rectangular image sensor geometry. Specifically, the lens has a first side surface and a second side surface with different curvature radii, creating an asymmetric profile that optimizes light distribution across the rectangular sensor while maintaining a compact form factor.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by designing the lens with different optical properties in different regions. The first side surface has a different curvature radius than the second side surface, creating localized optical zones that specifically optimize light capture for the rectangular sensor geometry, thereby improving performance rather than simply reducing size.
2Ease of manufacture
If a circular lens is used with a rectangular image sensor, then the lens manufacturing is simple, but light capture efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a symmetric circular lens to an asymmetric lens with different curvature radii on different sides. This asymmetric design better matches the rectangular sensor geometry, improving light capture efficiency while remaining manufacturable through standard injection molding processes for non-circular lens shapes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the lens by specifying different curvature radii for the first and second side surfaces. This parameter modification optimizes the light distribution pattern to match the rectangular sensor's active area, reducing light loss while maintaining manufacturing feasibility.
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 system achieves reduced size and improved performance by optimizing lens arrangement and shape, enabling functions like Auto Focusing, Optical Zoom, and Image Stabilization without increasing device thickness.
Implementation Method 1
a first lens L1, a second lens L2, a third lens L3, a fourth lens L4, and a fifth lens L5, sequentially disposed from an object
Implementation Method 2
a reflection member disposed in front of the first to fifth lenses and configured to change a traveling direction of light from a thickness direction of the portable electronic device to an optical axis direction
Data Source
AI summary
An optical imaging system includes a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, a fourth lens, and a fifth lens, sequentially disposed from an object side, wherein the first to fifth lenses are spaced apart from each other by predetermined distances along an optical axis in a paraxial region, the first lens and the second lens each have a non-circular shape when viewed in an optical axis direction, and the optical imaging system satisfies 0.62398<ZS1/ZS2<1.36318, where ZS1 is a ratio of an area of an object-side surface of the first lens to a distance from the object-side surface of the first lens to an imaging plane of an image sensor, and ZS2 is a ratio of an area of an object-side surface of the second lens to a distance from the object-side surface of the second lens to the imaging plane of the image sensor.