Six-Element Imaging Optical Assembly for Compact Wide-Field Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical lens assemblies struggle to balance image quality, sensitivity, aperture size, and volume or field of view, making it difficult to meet the diverse requirements of modern electronic devices with enhanced image sensors.
Innovation Solution
An imaging optical system lens assembly comprising six lens elements, each with specific refractive powers and surface shapes, including concave and convex regions, and optimized thickness and distance relationships, along with an aperture stop, to enhance field of view, image quality, and compact size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional optical lens assemblies are used, then manufacturing and design are simpler, but it is hard to balance among image quality, sensitivity, aperture size, volume or field of view
Solution Approach 1:
The lens assembly is divided into six distinct lens elements with specific refractive power configurations (first: negative, second: positive, third: positive, fourth: negative, fifth: positive, sixth: negative). Each lens element has optimized surface shapes (concave/convex in paraxial regions) and thickness parameters, allowing independent optimization of optical properties to achieve balanced performance across multiple parameters simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the lens elements have different surface characteristics. The object-side and image-side surfaces of each lens element are designed with specific curvature properties (concave or convex in paraxial regions) to locally optimize light refraction. This local optimization enables the system to achieve high image quality while maintaining compact size and wide field of view.
2Manufacturing precision
If lens elements with optimized thickness and spacing are used, then image quality and field of view improve, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies precise parameter ranges for lens element thicknesses (CT3, CT4, CT5) and axial distances (T12, T23, T34, T45, T56) as ratios to the focal length f. By defining these parameters within specific ranges rather than fixed values, the design accommodates manufacturing tolerances while maintaining optimal optical performance. The aspheric surface coefficients (A4-A20) are also defined within ranges to allow for practical manufacturing variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The lens elements utilize aspheric surfaces with specifically designed curvature profiles. The object-side and image-side surfaces of each lens element have defined curvature characteristics (concave or convex in paraxial regions) that optimize light refraction. This curvature design enables high image quality while the aspheric profiles help reduce aberrations, compensating for manufacturing variations.
3Volume of moving object
If compact lens assembly is designed, then volume is reduced, but field of view and image quality may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The lens assembly employs a dynamic configuration where the axial distances between lens elements (T12, T23, T34, T45, T56) are optimized as ratios to the focal length. This allows the compact structure to dynamically adjust light paths through precise spacing, achieving wide field of view (60-80 degrees) despite reduced overall volume. The alternating refractive power configuration enables compact folding of optical paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the radial dimension through aspheric surface designs with specific curvature profiles. By optimizing the radial curvature characteristics of each lens element's surfaces (concave or convex in paraxial regions), the system achieves wide field of view coverage without increasing axial length. This dimensional optimization allows compact volume while maintaining large angular coverage.
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 lens assembly achieves improved image quality, sensitivity, and field of view while maintaining a compact size, reducing manufacturing difficulties, and minimizing aberrations through precise design parameters and material choices like glass or plastic with additives.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the six lens elements has an object-side surface towards the object side and an image-side surface towards the image side. The first lens element has negative refractive power, the object-side surface of the first lens element is concave in a paraxial region thereof, the image-side surface of the first lens element is convex in a paraxial region thereof.
Data Source
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AI summary
An imaging optical system lens assembly includes six lens elements, which is, in order from an object side to an image side along an optical path, 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 has negative refractive power, the object-side surface of the first lens element is concave in a paraxial region thereof, the image-side surface of the first lens element is convex in a paraxial region thereof. The second lens element has positive refractive power, the object-side surface of the second lens element is convex in a paraxial region thereof, the image-side surface of the second lens element is concave in a paraxial region thereof. The fifth lens element has positive refractive power.