Noncircular Lens Assembly with Blocking Member for Stray Light Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge is to reduce the size of camera modules in portable electronic devices while maintaining or improving their performance, as circular lenses do not efficiently image light onto rectangular image sensors, leading to potential image quality deterioration due to stray light introduction when attempting to minimize lens size.
Innovation Solution
A noncircular lens assembly with a blocking member is used, featuring an optical portion and a flange portion, where the blocking member has an arc shape and is positioned higher than the flange portion, preventing unnecessary light from entering the space between the lens and the lens barrel, thus maintaining performance while reducing size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the lens size is reduced to minimize the camera module size, then the camera module size is reduced, but stray light enters the space between the lens and lens barrel, deteriorating image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the harmful stray light from the optical path by introducing a blocking member that specifically targets and eliminates unwanted light rays entering through the gap between the lens and lens barrel, while preserving the reduced lens size design
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking member serves as an intermediary element positioned between the lens and lens barrel, acting as a mediator that selectively blocks stray light while allowing the compact lens structure to maintain its reduced size, thus resolving the contradiction between miniaturization and stray light prevention
2Ease of manufacture
If a circular lens is used, then the lens structure is simple and manufacturing is easier, but light cannot be efficiently imaged onto the rectangular image sensor, leading to performance deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by changing the lens shape from circular to non-circular (oval or rectangular with rounded corners), which better matches the rectangular image sensor geometry, improving light imaging efficiency and image quality while maintaining reasonable manufacturing feasibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies only the lateral shape of the lens while maintaining the rotational symmetry of the optical surfaces, applying local quality changes to the lens periphery to optimize sensor coverage without complicating the overall manufacturing process
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
This configuration allows for a reduction in lens size without compromising image quality by preventing stray light from entering the lens assembly, ensuring that the performance of the camera module is secured, enabling the miniaturization of portable electronic devices.
Implementation Method 1
a lens including an optical portion refracting light
Data Source
AI summary
A lens assembly includes a lens including an optical portion refracting light and a flange portion extending along a portion of a circumference of the optical portion, a blocking member disposed in front of the lens and having an opening to allow light to be incident on the lens, and a lens barrel accommodating the lens. The optical portion is noncircular and a portion of the blocking member facing the optical portion in an optical axis direction is located to be higher than a portion of the blocking member facing the flange portion in the optical axis direction.