Six-Lens Imaging System with Aspherical Elements for Compact Wide-Angle Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a demand for imaging lenses that can provide a wider angle of view and a shorter total length while maintaining high imaging performance, particularly for thin devices like smartphones and tablets, which also require high resolution and compatibility with high-resolution imaging elements.

Innovation Solution

An imaging lens configuration consisting of six lenses, including a first lens with negative refractive power and a concave surface towards the object side, a second lens with positive refractive power, a third lens with negative refractive power, a fourth lens with negative refractive power and a meniscus shape, a fifth lens, and a sixth lens with a concave surface towards the image side and an aspherical shape having at least one inflection point, optimized to satisfy specific conditional formulae for refractive powers and curvatures to achieve a wide angle of view and short total length.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a six lens configuration is used to achieve high resolution and wide angle of view, then imaging performance is improved, but total length of the lens increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimaging performanceVSAvoidtotal length

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the refractive powers, curvatures, and spacing of the six lens elements to satisfy specific conditional formulas. This allows the lens to achieve high imaging performance with a compact total length by carefully controlling optical parameters rather than simply reducing the number of elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes aspherical surfaces on specific lens elements (particularly the fourth and sixth lenses) to correct aberrations and improve imaging performance without increasing the overall lens length. The aspherical curvatures allow for more efficient light path control in a compact configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Measurement precision

If the number of lenses is increased to six elements for high performance, then imaging quality is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimaging qualityVSAvoidlens configuration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The six-lens system is segmented into functional groups with specific roles: the first three lenses primarily handle focusing and initial aberration correction, while the fourth and sixth lenses with aspherical surfaces address higher-order aberrations. This segmentation allows complex performance requirements to be divided among specialized sub-systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite lens design by combining spherical and aspherical surface types across different lens elements. This composite approach allows each element to contribute specific optical functions, achieving high imaging quality while managing overall system complexity through deliberate surface type distribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Adaptability or versatility

If lens elements are optimized for wide angle of view, then angle of view is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveangle of viewVSAvoidsurface curvature precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces aspherical surfaces on the fourth and sixth lenses to achieve wide angle of view while managing manufacturing complexity. The aspherical curvatures are designed to provide the necessary optical correction for wide angles without requiring excessively tight tolerances on all surface parameters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of making all lens surfaces highly complex, the patent applies aspherical surfaces only to specific elements (fourth and sixth lenses) where they provide the greatest benefit for wide-angle performance. This localized application of complex geometry reduces overall manufacturing precision requirements compared to making all surfaces equally complex.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 configuration enables a lens system that achieves a wide angle of view and short total length while maintaining high imaging performance from central to peripheral angles of view, capable of producing high-resolution images.