Seven-Lens Optical System with Alternating Refractive Powers

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional optical systems in portable electronic devices face challenges in capturing high-quality images in low-light environments while maintaining a compact size.

Innovation Solution

The optical image capturing system employs a combination of refractive powers and aspheric surfaces in seven-piece optical lenses to increase light intake and improve imaging quality, suitable for minimized electronic products.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If the aperture is increased to capture more light in dark environments, then the light intake is improved, but the device size increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight intakeVSAvoiddevice size

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The optical system is divided into seven separate lens elements with alternating positive and negative refractive powers, allowing complex optical functions to be distributed across multiple components. This segmentation enables achieving large aperture effect with compact individual lens sizes, resolving the contradiction between light intake and device size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite lens结构设计 combining convex and concave surfaces, aspheric surfaces, and materials with different refractive indices and Abbe numbers. This composite approach allows the system to maintain large aperture for light intake while keeping the overall device size compact through optimized material and structural composition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Manufacturing precision

If the number of lenses is increased to improve imaging quality, then the optical performance is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimaging qualityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The optical system is divided into seven separate lens elements with alternating positive and negative refractive powers, allowing complex optical functions to be distributed across multiple components. This segmentation enables achieving large aperture effect with compact individual lens sizes, resolving the contradiction between light intake and device size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent specifies precise parameter ranges for each lens element including focal length ratios (0.1<|f1/f7|<10), curvature radii, thickness ratios (0.05<TP1/TP7<2), and material properties (1.4<Nd1<2.0, 20<NA1<80). These parameter optimizations enable high imaging quality with controlled system complexity through mathematical constraints on lens design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Quantity of substance

If the aperture is increased to improve light intake, then the quantity of light is improved, but the optical system size increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequantity of lightVSAvoidoptical system size

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs aspheric surfaces on multiple lens elements (first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh lenses) to replace traditional spherical surfaces. This curvature optimization allows light rays to be focused more efficiently, increasing light intake capability while reducing the overall optical system size by eliminating the need for larger spherical lens elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite lens结构设计 combining convex and concave surfaces, aspheric surfaces, and materials with different refractive indices and Abbe numbers. This composite approach allows the system to maintain large aperture for light intake while keeping the overall device size compact through optimized material and structural composition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 enhances light intake and imaging quality, enabling effective image formation while maintaining a compact form factor suitable for portable devices.

Implementation Method 1

an optical image capturing system includes a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, a fourth lens, a fifth lens, a sixth lens, and a seventh lens along an optical axis from an object side to an image side... wherein the first lens has refractive power, the second lens has refractive power, the third lens has refractive power, the fourth lens has refractive power, the fifth lens has refractive power, the sixth lens has refractive power, and the seventh lens has refractive power

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentUS12270973B2Optical image capturing system including seven lenses of −+−++−+, −+++−++ or −−++−++ refractive powers

Publication Date: 2025.04.08 ABILITY OPTO ELECTRONICS TECH

AI summary

An optical image capturing system includes, along the optical axis in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, a fourth lens, a fifth lens, a sixth lens, and a seventh lens. At least one lens among the first to the sixth lenses has positive refractive force. The seventh lens can have negative refractive force. The lenses in the optical image capturing system which have refractive power include the first to the seventh lenses. The optical image capturing system can increase aperture value and improve the imaging quality for use in compact cameras.