Seven-Element Image Lens Assembly for Compact High-Quality Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional compact optical lens systems, particularly those with five-element or six-element structures, fail to meet the increasing demands for high image quality and miniaturization in portable electronic devices, as they struggle with aberration, distortion, and maintaining a compact size while enhancing field of view and image resolution.
Innovation Solution
An image lens assembly system comprising seven lens elements with specific refractive powers and surface configurations, including negative and positive refractive powers, aspheric surfaces, and materials like plastic and glass, optimized to reduce back focal length, correct aberrations, and enhance image quality, while maintaining a compact size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a conventional five-element lens structure is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the image quality and aberration correction are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The lens system is divided into seven distinct lens elements with specific refractive powers and surface configurations. Each element is optimized to perform specific optical functions, with the first lens element having negative refractive power and subsequent elements having positive refractive power, allowing for comprehensive aberration correction across multiple optical planes
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the lens elements have different surface configurations - aspheric surfaces are applied to specific elements (first, fourth, sixth, and seventh lens elements) while others maintain spherical surfaces. This localized application of complex surface geometries optimizes aberration correction where most needed while controlling manufacturing complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If the field of view is increased, then the adaptability is improved, but the total track length increases and compact size is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The first lens element is configured with negative refractive power and a convex object-side surface, which is unconventional for the front element. This inverted configuration allows the system to achieve a wider field of view while actually reducing the total track length, as the negative power element bends light rays to converge more quickly toward the image plane
Solution Approach 2:
The seven lens elements are arranged in a compact sequence with optimized spacing between elements. The aspheric surfaces of certain elements allow for tighter packing while maintaining optical performance, effectively nesting the optical components within a minimized total track length envelope
3Manufacturing precision
If more lens elements are added to correct aberrations, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies precise parameter ranges for each lens element including refractive power ratios (e.g., second lens element focal length between 0.5f and 2.0f, third lens element between 0.3f and 1.5f), surface curvatures, and thicknesses. These controlled parameter variations allow seven elements to work together efficiently for comprehensive aberration correction without requiring even more elements
Solution Approach 2:
The lens system combines different material properties - plastic elements (first, fourth, sixth, seventh) and glass elements (second, third, fifth) - each selected for specific refractive indices and Abbe numbers. This composite approach allows each material to be optimized for its specific optical function, achieving superior aberration correction across the spectrum with a manageable seven-element configuration
4Volume of stationary object
If the back focal length is reduced for compactness, then the volume is reduced, but the image quality and distortion control deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Aspheric surfaces are applied to the first, fourth, sixth, and seventh lens elements, replacing traditional spherical surfaces. These aspheric configurations allow for precise control of light ray paths, enabling the system to achieve a reduced back focal length (sixth element between 0.1f and 0.5f, seventh element between 0.05f and 0.3f) while maintaining excellent image quality and minimizing distortion through the mathematically optimized surface curvatures
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 effectively corrects aberrations, enhances image quality, and maintains a compact size, enabling a wider field of view and improved image resolution, suitable for high-end mobile devices and 3D image capturing applications.
Implementation Method 1
The first lens element with negative refractive power has a convex object-side surface. The second lens element has positive refractive power. The third lens element has refractive power. The fourth lens element has refractive power. The fifth lens element has refractive power.
Implementation Method 2
at least one of an object-side surface and an image-side surface of the sixth lens element is aspheric. at least one of an object-side surface and the image-side surface thereof is aspheric.
Data Source
AI summary
An image lens assembly 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 lens element with negative refractive power has a convex object-side surface. The second lens element has positive refractive power. The third lens element has refractive power. The fourth lens element has refractive power. The fifth lens element has refractive power. The sixth lens element with refractive power is made of plastic material, wherein at least one surface of the sixth lens element is aspheric. The seventh lens element with refractive power made of plastic material has a concave image-side surface changing from concave in a paraxial region to convex in a peripheral region, and at least one surface thereof is aspheric.