Six-Element Optical Imaging Lens for Mobile Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge is to design an optical imaging lens for mobile devices that is compact in size while maintaining good optical characteristics, as traditional methods struggle to achieve this with six lens elements without compromising performance.
Innovation Solution
The optical imaging lens is designed with specific convex and concave surface shapes and refracting power distributions among six lens elements, controlled by various equations to optimize the length and optical performance, using plastic materials for some elements to reduce weight and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the number of lens elements is increased to six elements, then optical characteristics are improved, but the length of the optical imaging lens increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies nesting by placing the aperture stop within the structure of the first lens element, specifically between the object-side surface and the image-side surface of the first lens element. This integration allows the aperture stop to be accommodated within the existing lens element volume rather than adding separate space, thereby maintaining compact lens length while achieving the desired optical characteristics with six lens elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes aspherical surfaces on multiple lens elements (first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth lens elements) to correct optical aberrations in a different dimensional approach. By controlling the surface curvature in radial and axial directions independently, the aspherical design enables better optical performance without requiring additional lens elements or increased lens length, thus resolving the contradiction between optical quality and compact size.
2Length of moving object
If the length of the optical imaging lens is shortened, then device size is reduced, but optical characteristics deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs specific parameter ranges for lens element thicknesses (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6) and air gaps (G1, G2, G3, G4, G5) to optimize the compact design. By carefully controlling these dimensional parameters and their ratios, the patent achieves a shortened lens length while maintaining proper optical path length and focal properties, thus preventing optical characteristic deterioration despite the reduced overall length.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent specifies different refractive indices (n1, n2, n3, n4, n5, n6) and Abbe numbers (v1, v2, v3, v4, v5, v6) for the six lens elements, effectively using composite optical materials with different properties. This material diversity allows each lens element to contribute differently to the overall optical performance, enabling compact design with maintained optical quality through optimized material selection rather than simply scaling down a traditional design.
3Manufacturing precision
If six lens elements are used, then imaging quality is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the optical system into six distinct lens elements with specific functional assignments. By segmenting the optical power distribution across multiple elements rather than using a single complex element, the patent achieves high imaging quality through manageable individual components. Each lens element can be manufactured and tested separately, reducing overall manufacturing complexity despite the increased number of elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes aspherical surfaces on multiple lens elements to correct optical aberrations that cannot be achieved with simple spherical surfaces. While aspherical manufacturing is more complex than spherical, the patent applies this principle strategically to specific surfaces where it provides the greatest benefit for imaging quality, balancing manufacturing complexity with performance improvement through targeted rather than universal application.
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 design effectively shortens the length of the optical imaging lens while maintaining desirable optical characteristics, improving imaging quality and manufacturing yield, and meeting the demand for smaller-sized mobile devices.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth lens elements may have refracting power
Data Source
AI summary
Present embodiments provide for a mobile device and an optical imaging lens thereof. The optical imaging lens may comprise an aperture stop and six lens elements positioned sequentially from an object side to an image side. Through controlling the convex or concave shape of the surfaces of the lens elements and designing parameters satisfying several equations, the optical imaging lens may show desirable optical characteristics and the total length of the optical imaging lens may be shortened.