Optical System Front Unit Aberration Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical systems for cameras face challenges in correcting off-axis aberrations at high wide-angle views, leading to increased lens diameter and manufacturing complexity, while maintaining compactness and high optical performance.
Innovation Solution
An optical system design featuring a front unit with positive refractive power and a negative lens unit, where the front unit includes a first subunit with negative refractive power, allowing lens units to move during focusing to widen the distance between units, satisfying specific inequalities to correct aberrations and maintain compactness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a lens with large diameter is provided to correct off-axis aberrations in wide-angle scheme, then off-axis aberrations are corrected, but the optical system size increases and the focus unit becomes heavier
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the first subunit movable during focusing operations. The subunit moves along the optical axis to adjust the distance between the front unit and negative lens unit, enabling dynamic correction of off-axis aberrations across different focus distances without requiring a permanently large lens diameter. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to maintain compact size while effectively correcting aberrations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by varying the refractive index parameter through the use of positive and negative lens elements with different optical properties. The first subunit contains a negative lens followed by a positive lens, creating a compound structure that changes the overall optical parameters. This allows correction of off-axis aberrations through parameter optimization rather than simply increasing lens diameter.
2Manufacturing precision
If an aspherical lens is disposed at high off-axis position to correct aberrations, then aberration correction is improved, but manufacturing sensitivity increases and production becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by distributing aberration correction across multiple lens elements rather than concentrating it in a single aspherical lens at a high off-axis position. The first subunit uses a combination of negative and positive lenses, each contributing to aberration correction in their respective local zones. This distributes the manufacturing complexity across standard spherical lenses rather than requiring a single difficult-to-manufacture aspherical element.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive and difficult-to-manufacture aspherical lenses with standard spherical lenses that can be produced more easily and cost-effectively. The compound lens structure in the first subunit achieves comparable or superior aberration correction using conventional manufacturing techniques, effectively substituting expensive specialized components with more accessible standard components.
3Manufacturing precision
If the front unit is made larger to correct off-axis aberrations in wide-angle scheme, then aberration correction is improved, but the focus unit weight increases requiring higher output actuators
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by implementing a movable first subunit that adjusts its position during focusing. This dynamic configuration allows the system to correct off-axis aberrations effectively without requiring a permanently large and heavy front unit. The subunit moves to optimize the optical path for different focus distances, maintaining aberration correction performance while minimizing the permanent mass of the focus unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses parameter changes through the compound lens structure in the first subunit, combining negative and positive lenses to achieve the desired optical correction with minimized mass. By optimizing the refractive indices, curvatures, and spacing of the lens elements, the system achieves effective aberration correction without increasing the overall weight of the focus unit.
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 design effectively suppresses aberrations, maintains a compact size, and simplifies manufacturing by avoiding the need for aspherical lenses at high off-axis positions, achieving high optical performance and ease of production.
Implementation Method 1
a front unit having a positive refractive power and including one or more lens units configured to move during focusing
Data Source
AI summary
An optical system includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a front unit having a positive refractive power and including one or more lens units configured to move during focusing, and a negative lens unit having a negative refractive power. The one or more lens units included in the front unit moves to the object side during focusing from infinity to a short distance so as to widen a distance between the front unit and the negative lens unit. The front unit includes a first subunit having a negative refractive power and including a lens disposed on the object side of a first positive lens that is one of positive lenses included in the optical system, which is the closest to an object. A predetermined condition is satisfied.