Seven-Lens Optical System for Low-Light Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical systems for portable electronic devices face challenges in capturing high-quality images in low-light environments due to limited light intake and aberrations, particularly in miniaturized designs with multiple lenses.
Innovation Solution
A compact optical image capturing system utilizing a seven-piece optical lens configuration with refractive powers, convex and concave surfaces, and an engaging component design to enhance light intake and imaging quality, capable of focusing both visible and infrared light, while maintaining a compact form factor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the optical system uses conventional five or six lens configuration, then the device complexity is reduced, but the light intake is limited and imaging quality deteriorates in low-light environments
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system is divided into seven separate lens elements (first through seventh lenses) with distinct functions. Each lens has specific refractive power and surface characteristics (convex/concave combinations) optimized for particular optical corrections. This segmentation allows each element to contribute to overall light gathering while correcting specific aberrations, resolving the contradiction between light intake and system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The seven lens elements are arranged in a nested configuration along the optical axis, with each subsequent lens positioned to build upon the optical function of previous elements. The lenses are integrated into a compact housing structure where they nest together efficiently, maximizing light intake capability while maintaining a compact form factor that doesn't excessively increase device complexity.
2Illumination intensity
If the optical system increases aperture size to capture more light, then the light intake improves, but the aberrations increase and imaging quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the optical system are designed with specialized characteristics: the first lens has negative refractive power with specific convex/concave surface combinations to correct peripheral aberrations; the second lens has positive refractive power optimized for central light paths; intermediate lenses (third through sixth) have tailored refractive powers and surface curvatures to correct specific field curvatures and astigmatism; the seventh lens provides final focal convergence. This local optimization ensures that each region of the aperture contributes to high-quality imaging across the entire field of view.
Solution Approach 2:
The lens surfaces utilize asymmetric convex and concave configurations rather than simple symmetric spherical surfaces. Each lens element has object-side and image-side surfaces with different curvature radii and profiles, allowing precise control of light paths to correct various aberrations while maintaining large aperture capability. This asymmetric design enables the system to achieve high imaging quality despite the increased aperture size.
3Manufacturing precision
If the optical system uses seven-piece lens configuration to improve light intake and imaging quality, then the imaging quality improves, but the device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system employs a focus adjustment mechanism that enables dynamic movement of lens elements along the optical axis. This dynamic capability allows the system to achieve focus for objects at varying distances without requiring a fixed, overly long optical path. The lenses can be positioned at different depths to optimize focusing, enabling high imaging quality in a more compact configuration than a static system would require.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical system utilizes the depth dimension along the optical axis to arrange seven lens elements in a compact stacked configuration. By optimizing the axial spacing and positioning of each lens, the system achieves high imaging quality through precise three-dimensional arrangement rather than requiring increased lateral dimensions. This dimensional optimization allows the seven-piece configuration to maintain a compact overall size suitable for portable devices.
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 effectively increases light intake and improves imaging quality, correcting aberrations and maintaining a compact size suitable for miniature electronic devices, enabling high-quality image capture in various lighting conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The image sensing device of the ordinary photographing camera is commonly selected from charge coupled device (CCD) or complementary metal-oxide semiconductor sensor (CMOS Sensor). Also, as advanced semiconductor manufacturing technology enables the minimization of the pixel size of the image sensing device, the development of the optical image capturing system towards the field of high pixels.
Data Source
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 has negative refractive force, wherein both surfaces thereof can be aspheric, and at least one surface thereof has an inflection point. 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.