Relay Lens Group Negative Power for Zoom Distortion Correction

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing zoom lens systems face challenges in achieving a wide-angle and compact design while maintaining satisfactory optical performance over varying projection distances, and they often require complex and costly configurations to correct distortion and aberrations.

Innovation Solution

The optical system includes a magnification optical system with multiple lens elements on the magnification side and a relay optical system with multiple lens elements on the reduction side, featuring a first lens group with negative power, which simplifies the manufacturing process and reduces distortion aberration correction load.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a complex lens configuration is used to correct distortion and aberrations, then optical performance is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoptical performanceVSAvoidlens configuration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The optical system is divided into distinct functional segments: a magnification-side optical system and a relay-side optical system. The relay optical system further includes multiple lens groups (first through fourth lens groups) with specific optical powers. This segmentation allows each segment to be optimized independently for its specific function while maintaining overall system performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the optical system are assigned different optical properties. Specifically, the first lens group on the relay side is given negative optical power to correct distortion, while other lens groups have positive optical power for image formation. Each lens group is positioned at specific locations relative to the intermediate image plane to optimize local correction functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If more lens elements are added to correct aberrations, then optical performance is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoptical performanceVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The optical system is divided into distinct functional segments: a magnification-side optical system and a relay-side optical system. The relay optical system further includes multiple lens groups (first through fourth lens groups) with specific optical powers. This segmentation allows each segment to be optimized independently for its specific function while maintaining overall system performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent specifies particular optical power parameters for each lens group to achieve cost-effective aberration correction. The first lens group has negative optical power (fs1 < 0) while the second, third, and fourth lens groups have positive optical power (fs2 > 0, fs3 > 0, fs4 > 0). These parameter assignments are optimized to provide necessary correction with a reasonable number of elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If a wide-angle design is implemented, then field of view is improved, but distortion aberration increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefield of viewVSAvoiddistortion aberration
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Different regions of the optical system are assigned different optical properties. Specifically, the first lens group on the relay side is given negative optical power to correct distortion, while other lens groups have positive optical power for image formation. Each lens group is positioned at specific locations relative to the intermediate image plane to optimize local correction functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent specifies particular optical power parameters for each lens group to achieve cost-effective aberration correction. The first lens group has negative optical power (fs1 < 0) while the second, third, and fourth lens groups have positive optical power (fs2 > 0, fs3 > 0, fs4 > 0). These parameter assignments are optimized to provide necessary correction with a reasonable number of elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 enables the realization of a wide-angle and compact zoom lens at a lower cost, with improved optical performance and reduced complexity in the lens design.

Implementation Method 1

a first lens group composed of β (β is one or more and less than B) pieces of lens elements positioned first from the magnification side in the relay optical system has a negative power

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentEP3916461B1Optical system, image projection device, and imaging device
Publication Date: 2025.04.02 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD
  • EP3916461B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3916461B1 patent drawingFigure 2(a)~2(c)
  • EP3916461B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(c)

AI summary

The present disclosure is directed to an optical system internally having an intermediate imaging position MI that is conjugated to a magnification conjugate point on a magnification side and a reduction conjugate point on a reduction side, respectively, the optical system including: a magnification optical system Op having A (A is an integer of three or more) pieces of lens elements, positioned on the magnification side with respect to the intermediate imaging position MI; and a relay optical system Ol having B (B is an integer of two or more) pieces of lens elements, positioned on the reduction side with respect to the intermediate imaging position MI. A first lens group G1 composed of β pieces (β is one or more and less than B) of lens elements positioned first from the magnification side in the relay optical system Ol has a negative power.