Seven-Lens Optical System for Compact Camera Module Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional camera modules with multiple lenses face challenges in achieving excellent optical properties and compact size due to increased thickness and size, which affects image quality and resolution, and the overall thickness of the camera module.
Innovation Solution
An optical system comprising first to seventh lenses with specific refractive powers and surface shapes, where the first lens has positive refractive power, the seventh lens has negative refractive power, and the third and seventh lenses have optimized effective diameters and distances, ensuring improved optical performance and a slim structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a plurality of lenses is included to improve image quality and resolution, then optical performance is improved, but the overall length and height of the camera module increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies nesting by placing the optical lens assembly within the housing structure, and further nesting the image sensor within the housing. The optical lens is positioned to extend from the first surface toward the second surface of the housing, with the image sensor disposed at a position that allows compact integration. This nested arrangement enables multiple components to occupy overlapping or adjacent spatial volumes, reducing the overall length and height of the camera module while maintaining the required optical path length for high-resolution imaging.
2Manufacturing precision
If the size of the image sensor is increased to realize high-resolution, then image quality is improved, but the TTL of the optical system increases, thereby increasing the thickness of the camera
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dimensional optimization by precisely controlling the spatial arrangement of optical components along the optical axis. The optical lens is positioned to extend from the first surface toward the second surface of the housing, with specific distance constraints between the optical lens and image sensor. By optimizing the distribution of optical path length across different dimensions and utilizing the available space within the housing thickness, the system achieves high-resolution imaging capability with a reduced overall thickness, transforming the trade-off from a direct proportional relationship to a more efficient spatial utilization.
3Manufacturing precision
If a plurality of lenses is included to improve optical properties, then image quality is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging by integrating the optical lens assembly with the housing structure, where the housing serves multiple functions including structural support, optical element mounting, and sensor positioning. The optical lens is disposed within the housing in a configuration that combines the optical function with the mechanical support function, reducing the need for separate complex mounting mechanisms. This consolidation of functions maintains excellent optical properties while reducing overall device complexity.
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 optical system achieves improved resolution, distortion, and aberration characteristics, maintaining good optical performance at both the center and periphery of the field of view while reducing the total track length, resulting in a compact camera module.
Implementation Method 1
first to seventh lenses disposed along an optical axis from an object side to a sensor side, the first lens has positive (+) refractive power on the optical axis, the seventh lens has negative refractive power on the optical axis
Data Source
AI summary
The optical system disclosed in the embodiment of the invention includes first to seventh lenses disposed along an optical axis from an object side to a sensor side, the first lens has positive (+) refractive power on the optical axis, and the seventh lens has negative refractive power on the optical axis, an object-side surface of the first lens has a convex shape on the optical axis, and the sensor-side surface of the third lens has a minimum effective diameter among the first to seventh lenses. The sensor-side surface of the seventh lens has a maximum effective diameter among the first to seventh lenses, and may satisfy the following equations: 0.4<TTL/ImgH<3 and 1<CA_Max/CA_Min<5 (TTL (Total track length) is a distance on the optical axis from an apex of the object-side surface of the first lens to the upper surface of an image sensor, ImgH is ½ of the maximum diagonal length of the image sensor, CA_Max is the largest effective diameter among the effective diameters of the object-side and sensor-side surfaces of the first to seventh lenses, and CA_Min is the smallest effective diameter among the effective diameters of the object-side and sensor-side surfaces of the first to seventh lenses).