Panoramic Lens Assembly Using Prisms for Fixed-Position Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lens assemblies are not capable of easily capturing panoramic images, requiring users to manually sweep the scene and take multiple photos to create a panoramic image, and cannot be used in a fixed position.
Innovation Solution
A panoramic lens assembly with a specific configuration of lens groups and prisms, including negative and positive refractive power lenses, aspheric lenses, and stops, arranged to allow a 360-degree field of view from a fixed position, enabling a single shot to capture a panoramic image.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional lens assembly is used, then the structure is simple, but it cannot capture panoramic images from a fixed position and requires manual sweeping and multiple photos
Solution Approach 1:
The lens assembly is divided into multiple lens groups (first lens group with negative refractive power, second lens group with positive refractive power) and prisms that can be independently configured. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for specific functions while collectively achieving the panoramic imaging capability from a fixed position.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a prism component that redirects light paths in additional dimensions beyond the traditional linear optical axis. By arranging prisms at specific angles and orientations, the system achieves 360-degree panoramic coverage without requiring the camera to physically sweep or move, transforming the imaging approach from temporal sequencing to spatial dimensionality.
2Length of stationary object
If the lens assembly thickness is reduced, then the device becomes more compact, but optical performance may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs aspheric surfaces in the lens design, where lens surfaces are shaped according to aspheric equations rather than simple spheres or planes. This allows the lenses to achieve superior optical performance with reduced thickness, as the aspheric curvature enables better light focusing and aberration correction within a more compact form factor.
Solution Approach 2:
The lens assembly utilizes composite optical designs combining different lens materials with varying refractive indices and aberration characteristics. By strategically selecting and combining lens materials, the system achieves excellent optical performance while maintaining a thin overall structure, as the composite design allows for optimized light paths and aberration correction within limited space.
3Area of stationary object
If multiple lens groups and prisms are added to achieve panoramic imaging, then the field of view is expanded, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lens groups and prisms are designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously. For example, the aspheric lenses not only focus light but also correct various optical aberrations and contribute to the panoramic field of view. The prisms both redirect light for panoramic coverage and help control optical paths. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes specific parameters such as the refractive indices, curvatures, and thicknesses of the lens groups and prisms to achieve the desired panoramic field of view with minimal complexity. By carefully selecting and adjusting these parameters, the system achieves expanded field of view while keeping the number and complexity of components to a minimum.
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 solution allows for a thinner lens assembly with excellent optical performance, enabling users to capture panoramic images from a fixed position with improved ease and efficiency, correcting aberrations and maintaining high image quality.
Implementation Method 1
The first lens group is with negative refractive power and includes a first lens with negative refractive power and a second lens with negative refractive power... The second lens group is with positive refractive power and includes a third lens, a fourth lens, a fifth lens, a sixth lens and a seventh lens
Implementation Method 2
The first prism includes a first incident surface, a first reflective surface and a first exit surface, wherein the first incident surface faces an image side surface of the second lens
Implementation Method 3
The seventh lens is an aspheric lens and a sign of the refractive power of the third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh lens is positive, positive, negative, positive and positive
Data Source
AI summary
A panoramic lens assembly includes a first lens assembly which includes a first lens group, a first prism and a second lens group, all of which are arranged in order from a first object side to a first image side along a first optical axis. The first lens group is with negative refractive power and includes a first and a second lens. The first prism includes a first incident surface, a first reflective surface and a first exit surface. The second lens group is with positive refractive power and includes a third, a fourth, a fifth, a sixth and a seventh lens. The first lens assembly satisfies: 0.2≤TTL1/θ1m≤0.4, wherein TTL1 is an interval in mm from an object surface of the first lens to a first image plane along the first optical axis and θ1m is a half maximum field of view in degree for the first lens assembly.