Optical Imaging Lens Volume Reduction via Surface Shape Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Designing optical imaging lenses for portable electronic devices that are slim, compact, and provide good imaging quality with a larger field of view and reduced f-number is challenging due to the need to balance materials properties, lens element thickness, and air gap arrangements.
Innovation Solution
The optical imaging lens is composed of five lens elements with specific surface shapes and refracting powers, arranged to satisfy certain inequalities related to thickness, air gaps, and refractive indices, allowing for a smaller volume while maintaining a large field of view and improved imaging quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the lens elements are shrunk to achieve smaller volume, then the device becomes more compact, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the thickness parameters of individual lens elements (T1-T5) and air gaps (G12-G45) to achieve a compact volume while maintaining manufacturability. Specific parameter ranges are defined, such as T1 between 50-200 μm and G12 between 50-150 μm, to balance miniaturization with manufacturing feasibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical system is segmented into five distinct lens elements with specific refractive indices and aberration characteristics. Each element is designed with controlled thickness and separation distances, allowing independent optimization of each segment's contribution to the overall compactness while managing manufacturing complexity through modular design.
2Area of stationary object
If the field of view is increased, then the imaging coverage is improved, but the lens diameter and volume increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs curved surfaces with specific radii of curvature (R1-R10) for each lens element to achieve wide field of view without increasing volume. The aspherical coefficients (K1-K10) are optimized to control aberrations while maintaining compact dimensions, allowing the lens to capture wider angles without requiring proportionally larger diameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite optical design combining five lens elements with different refractive indices (n1-n5) and aberration characteristics. This composite approach allows the system to achieve wide field of view through the combined optical power and field curvature control of multiple elements, rather than relying on a single large-element design.
3Illumination intensity
If the f-number is reduced, then the light gathering capability is improved, but the lens thickness and volume increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent addresses the f-number constraint by optimizing the optical path length and ray angles in the angular dimension rather than simply increasing lens diameter. The aspherical surface coefficients and curved geometries are designed to control ray propagation paths, achieving lower f-number through angular optimization while maintaining compact axial and radial dimensions.
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 results in a slim and compact optical imaging lens with enhanced imaging quality and a larger field of view, effectively addressing the challenges of traditional lens design by optimizing surface shapes and refracting powers.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the first, second, third, fourth and fifth lens element may also have an object-side surface facing toward the object side and allowing imaging rays to pass through and an image-side surface facing toward the image side and allowing the imaging rays to pass through
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides an optical imaging lens. The optical imaging lens comprises five lens elements positioned in an order from an object side to an image side. Through controlling the convex or concave shape of the surfaces of the lens elements and satisfying inequalities, the optical imaging lens may be provided with smaller volume and great field of view.