Seven-Lens Optical Imaging Assembly Balancing Wide Field and Compact Size
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical lens assemblies struggle to balance image quality, sensitivity, aperture size, volume, and field of view effectively.
Innovation Solution
An optical imaging system assembly with seven lens elements, each with specific refractive powers and surface shapes, including inflection points and critical points, is designed to optimize these parameters through precise geometric and material configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional optical lens assemblies are used, then manufacturing and design are simpler, but image quality, sensitivity, aperture size, volume, and field of view cannot be balanced effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The optical lens assembly is divided into seven distinct lens elements (E1-E7), each with specific refractive powers and surface shapes. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each element to achieve overall system performance that balances image quality, aperture size, and field of view while managing complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
Each lens element is assigned specific local properties: E1 has positive refractive power with convex object-side and concave image-side surfaces; E2 has negative refractive power; E3 has positive refractive power with convex object-side surface; E4 has negative refractive power with concave object-side and convex image-side surfaces; E5 has positive refractive power with concave object-side and convex image-side surfaces; E6 has negative refractive power with convex object-side and concave image-side surfaces; E7 has negative refractive power. This local quality differentiation enables precise control over light paths to achieve balanced optical performance
2Area of moving object
If the field of view is widened, then the optical coverage is improved, but the volume and complexity of the lens assembly increase
Solution Approach 1:
The lens assembly employs dynamic surface designs with inflection points and critical points on multiple lens elements. These dynamic geometric features allow the system to achieve a wide field of view (HFOV ≥ 42.6°) while maintaining compact volume through optimized light bending paths rather than simply increasing physical dimensions
Solution Approach 2:
The seven lens elements are arranged in a nested configuration along the optical axis with specific spacing relationships. The elements are positioned to nest within the overall housing volume, with the image-side surface of E7 forming part of the image surface, maximizing space utilization and achieving wide field of view without proportionally increasing assembly volume
3Use of energy by moving object
If the aperture size is increased to improve sensitivity, then more light is captured, but the lens assembly volume and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves high light sensitivity with an f-number of Fno ≥ 1.75 by optimizing refractive parameters of all seven lens elements. The specific refractive powers and surface curvatures are tuned to maximize light transmission and minimize losses, achieving high sensitivity without requiring proportionally larger aperture dimensions that would increase volume and complexity
4Volume of stationary object
If the lens assembly volume is reduced for compactness, then the device size is minimized, but image quality and optical performance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves compact volume by optimizing the axial arrangement and spacing of the seven lens elements along the optical axis. The total axial length TL is constrained by specific ratio relationships (TL/f ≥ 1.20, TL/EPD ≥ 1.80) that enable compact one-dimensional packaging while maintaining two-dimensional image quality through precise control of light paths through all seven elements
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 assembly achieves a wide field of view, compact size, and improved image quality by balancing refractive powers and surface shapes, reducing aberrations and volume while maintaining sensitivity and aperture size.
Implementation Method 1
The first lens element has positive refractive power. The object-side surface of the first lens element is convex in a paraxial region thereof, the image-side surface of the first lens element is concave in a paraxial region thereof. The second lens element has negative refractive power.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An optical imaging system assembly includes seven lens elements, which are, in order from an object side to an image side along an optical path, a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, a fourth lens element, a fifth lens element, a sixth lens element and a seventh lens element. The second lens element has negative refractive power. An object-side surface of the third lens element is convex in a paraxial region thereof. An image-side surface of the fifth lens element is convex in a paraxial region thereof. The sixth lens element has negative refractive power, an object-side surface of the sixth lens element is convex in a paraxial region thereof, an image-side surface of the sixth lens element is concave in a paraxial region thereof. The seventh lens element has negative refractive power.