Optical Imaging Lens With Aspheric Elements For Auto Focusing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical lenses face challenges in achieving both high imaging quality and miniaturization, particularly in consumer electronic devices, where auto focusing mechanisms like VCMs increase lens length and complicate production.
Innovation Solution
The design of an optical imaging lens with specific refracting power distributions and aspheric surfaces among its elements, along with a variable gap, allows for reduced lens length while maintaining imaging quality, achieved by optimizing the arrangement of lens elements and their surfaces to minimize shifting distance during auto focusing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If VCM is used to adjust the location of the image plane for auto focusing, then the capability for auto focusing is achieved, but the lens length increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lens system is divided into multiple lens elements (first through fourth lens elements) with different refracting powers and surface configurations. By segmenting the optical system, the patent achieves auto focusing capability through coordinated movement of individual elements rather than requiring a VCM mechanism, thereby reducing overall lens length while maintaining focusing functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic adjustment of the variable gap between lens elements to achieve auto focusing. The gap can be changed to adjust the optical path and focus position, enabling the lens to adapt to different focusing requirements without increasing physical lens length, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and compactness.
2Volume of moving object
If the lens is scaled down for miniaturization, then the volume is reduced, but the imaging quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Different lens elements are designed with specific local characteristics: the first lens element has a convex portion on its object-side surface, the third lens element has at least one aspheric surface, and the fourth lens element has both surfaces aspheric. These localized quality variations in different parts of the lens system enable high imaging quality to be maintained even in a miniaturized configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes aspheric surfaces on the third and fourth lens elements, which represent a change in geometric parameters from traditional spherical surfaces. This parameter change allows for better control of light paths and aberrations in a compact lens design, maintaining imaging quality while reducing overall lens volume.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple lens elements with complex surfaces are used to improve imaging quality, then the imaging clarity is enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric surface designs, particularly with the convex portion on the object-side surface of the first lens element and aspheric surfaces on the third and fourth lens elements. This asymmetric design allows for optimized light control and improved imaging clarity while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure with only a variable gap mechanism for focusing adjustment.
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 approach effectively reduces lens length while enhancing imaging clarity for both distant and close objects, improving the overall performance and assembly yield of optical lenses in consumer electronics.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the first to fourth lens elements respectively has an object-side surface facing the object side and allowing image rays to pass through, and an image-side surface facing the image side and allowing the image rays to pass through. The first lens element has a positive refracting power... The second lens element has a refracting power.
Data Source
AI summary
An optical imaging lens includes first, second, third, and fourth lens elements arranged in order from an object side to an image side along an optical axis. Each lens element has an object-side surface and an image-side surface. The first lens element has positive refracting power. The object-side surface of the first lens element has a convex portion in a vicinity of the optical axis. The second lens element has refracting power. At least one of the object-side surface and the image-side surface of the third lens element is an aspheric surface. The object-side surface and the image-side surface of the fourth lens element are both aspheric surfaces.