Seven-Element Aspheric Optical System for Compact Image Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical systems in portable electronic devices are bulky and fail to meet the demands for high-end specifications with higher megapixels and better image quality due to inadequate aberration correction and unsuitable lens design, particularly in systems with five lens elements.
Innovation Solution
A miniaturized optical image capturing system with seven single and non-cemented lens elements, each with specific aspheric surfaces and refractive powers, including a stop positioned closer to the object side, effectively correcting aberrations and reducing the total track length.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a conventional optical system with four lens elements is used, then the structure is simple, but it cannot satisfy the requirements of high-end optical systems with higher megapixels and better image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system is divided into seven separate lens elements with specific refractive power distributions. Each lens element is designed with particular surface curvatures and aspheric coefficients to correct specific types of aberrations, allowing comprehensive image quality improvement while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple lens surfaces are designed as aspheric surfaces with specific curvature radii and aspheric coefficients. The first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh lens elements all incorporate aspheric surfaces to correct spherical aberration and other high-order aberrations, significantly improving image quality beyond what conventional spherical lenses can achieve
2Manufacturing precision
If an optical image lens assembly with many lens elements is used to improve image quality, then aberration correction is better, but the assembly becomes too bulky to be miniaturized
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses seven lens elements with specifically optimized refractive powers, curvature radii, and aspheric coefficients. By carefully controlling these parameters - particularly making the first three lens elements with positive refractive power and the fourth through seventh lens elements with negative refractive power - the system achieves excellent aberration correction while minimizing the total track length to enable miniaturization
Solution Approach 2:
The seven lens elements are arranged in a compact configuration where each element is positioned closely to its neighbors. The stop is located between the third and fourth lens elements, and the entire assembly is designed with optimized air gaps and thicknesses, allowing the system to achieve high aberration correction performance in a miniaturized form factor suitable for portable electronic devices
3Manufacturing precision
If an optical image lens assembly with five lens elements is used, then the structure is simplified, but it lacks good ability to correct high order aberrations and off-axis aberrations
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system is segmented into seven distinct lens elements with specific refractive power assignments. The first three lens elements have positive refractive power while the fourth through seventh have negative refractive power, creating a balanced system that effectively corrects both high-order and off-axis aberrations without excessive complexity
Solution Approach 2:
All seven lens elements incorporate aspheric surfaces with specifically designed curvature radii and aspheric coefficients. This extensive use of aspheric surfaces enables comprehensive correction of high-order spherical aberration, coma, and other off-axis aberrations, achieving superior image quality that cannot be obtained with conventional spherical lens designs
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 system achieves compact size and superior image quality with improved aberration correction, suitable for high-end camera functionalities in portable electronic products.
Implementation Method 1
The first lens element with positive refractive power, the second lens element with negative refractive power, the third lens element with positive refractive power, the fourth lens element with negative refractive power, the fifth lens element with positive refractive power, the sixth lens element with positive refractive power, and the seventh lens element with negative refractive power
Data Source
AI summary
An optical image capturing system includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, a fourth lens element, a fifth lens element, a sixth lens element and a seventh lens element. The first, the second and the third lens elements all have refractive power. The fourth lens element with refractive power has both surfaces being aspheric. The fifth lens element with refractive power has both surfaces being aspheric. The sixth lens element with refractive power has an image-side surface having at least one convex shape at a peripheral region thereof and both surfaces being aspheric. The seventh lens element with refractive power has an image-side surface having at least one convex shape at a peripheral region thereof, wherein both surfaces being aspheric, and at least one surface has at least one inflection point thereon.