Six-Element Aspheric Lens Assembly for Compact Smartphone Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional compact optical lens systems, such as those with four-element or five-element lens structures, cannot meet the increasing demands for high resolution and image quality in modern portable electronic products like smartphones and PDAs.
Innovation Solution
A photographing lens assembly comprising six single and non-cemented lens elements with specific refractive powers and surface shapes, including aspheric surfaces with inflection points, is designed to optimize image quality and compactness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional four-element or five-element lens structures are used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the image quality and resolution cannot meet high-end requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the optical system into six separate lens elements instead of using conventional four or five elements. Each lens element is designed with specific refractive power and surface curvature to address particular aberrations. The segmentation allows independent optimization of each element's function, enabling correction of multiple types of aberrations simultaneously while maintaining compact form factor.
Solution Approach 2:
Different lens elements are assigned specific local functions: the first element with positive refractive power for overall focusing, the second with negative power for aberration correction, and subsequent elements with tailored surface curvatures (convex or concave) to correct specific peripheral aberrations. Each element's surface is optimized with specific curvature radii and aspheric coefficients to address local optical quality issues in different regions of the lens system.
2Length of stationary object
If the back focal length is reduced for compactness, then the device size is minimized, but peripheral aberrations increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs aspheric surfaces on multiple lens elements, particularly on the fifth and sixth elements which have strong negative refractive power. The aspheric coefficients are specifically optimized to correct peripheral aberrations that typically worsen with reduced back focal length. The curved surfaces allow light rays from off-axis points to be properly focused, maintaining image quality at the periphery even in the compact design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses specific parameter relationships to balance compactness and aberration correction. The focal lengths of individual elements (f1, f2, f3, f4, f5, f6) are constrained by mathematical relationships, as are the curvature radii (R1, R2, ..., R12) and axial distances (d1, d2, ..., d11). These parameter optimizations enable the system to achieve short back focal length while correcting peripheral aberrations through precise control of optical path geometry.
3Manufacturing precision
If more lens elements are added to improve image quality, then the resolving power increases, but the device complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
Each lens element is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously. For example, the first lens element with positive refractive power provides both overall focusing and contributes to aberration correction. The fifth and sixth elements with negative power not only correct chromatic aberrations but also reduce the back focal length. This multi-functionality allows six elements to achieve the optical performance of more elements without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent arranges the six lens elements in a compact sequence where each element is positioned close to the others, minimizing the overall optical path length. The elements are nested within a compact housing structure, with axial distances between elements optimized to be as small as possible while maintaining optical performance. This nesting approach allows high resolving power to be achieved in a compact form factor 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 six-element lens assembly effectively corrects peripheral aberrations, reduces the back focal length, and maintains a compact size, thereby improving image quality and resolving power for high-end portable electronic devices.
Implementation Method 1
The first lens element with positive refractive power has a convex object-side surface. The second lens element has refractive power. The third lens element has refractive power. The fourth lens element has refractive power. The fifth lens element with negative refractive power has a convex object-side surface and a concave image-side surface
Data Source
AI summary
A photographing lens assembly 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 and a sixth lens element. The first lens element with positive refractive power has a convex object-side surface. The second lens element, the third lens element and the fourth lens element have refractive power. The fifth lens element with negative refractive power has a convex object-side surface and a concave image-side surface, wherein the surfaces thereof are aspheric, and at least one of the surfaces thereof has at least one inflection point thereon. The sixth lens element with negative refractive power has a convex object-side surface and a concave image-side surface, wherein the surfaces thereof are aspheric, and at least one of the surfaces thereof has at least one inflection point.