Six-Lens Optical Assembly for LiDAR Miniaturization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical lens assemblies for LiDAR systems fail to simultaneously achieve a large field of view, miniaturization, and small wavefront aberration, which are essential for accurate distance measurement in self-driving applications.
Innovation Solution
The optical lens assembly consists of a specific arrangement of meniscus lenses with varying refractive powers and surface orientations, including a first meniscus lens with positive refractive power, a second meniscus lens with positive refractive power and convex surface facing the object side, a third meniscus lens with negative refractive power and convex surface facing the object side, a fourth lens with positive refractive power and convex surface facing the image side, and a fifth lens with negative refractive power and concave surface facing the object side, all arranged along an optical axis to satisfy conditions such as 1.81 < f456/f123 < 2.12 and specific refractive index relationships.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If conventional optical lens assembly structures are used, then the system can maintain a compact design, but the field of view remains limited and wavefront aberration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The optical lens assembly is divided into six distinct lens elements (first through sixth lenses) with alternating positive and negative refractive powers. Each lens element is specifically designed with particular surface curvatures and refractive indices to collectively achieve a wide field of view while maintaining a compact overall structure. The segmentation allows each element to contribute optimally to both size reduction and field of view expansion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs precise control of optical parameters including refractive indices (Nd1 through Nd6), focal lengths (f1 through f6), and surface curvatures (R1 through R12) to achieve the desired performance. Specific parameter relationships are established, such as the ratio of effective focal lengths f456/f123 being within 1.81456 to 2.12, and the third lens having a specific focal length ratio f3/f1 within 0.6 to 0.9, enabling both compact size and wide field of view.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional optical lens assembly structures are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but wavefront aberration and optical performance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Each lens element is designed with specific local optical properties tailored to its position in the assembly. The first lens has positive refractive power with specific curvature radii R1 and R2, the second lens has positive refractive power with curvatures R3 and R4, the third lens has negative refractive power with curvatures R5 and R6, and so on. This local optimization of each element's quality contributes to overall low wavefront aberration while maintaining manufacturability through standardized lens design procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent specifies different refractive indices for each lens element (Nd1 through Nd6) to optimize optical performance. By using materials with varying refractive properties in a composite arrangement, the system achieves low wavefront aberration across the field of view. The specific refractive index relationships, such as Nd3 being within 1.65 to 1.9 and Nd5 being within 1.55 to 1.75, enable precise control of light propagation and aberration correction.
3Length of moving object
If the lens assembly is miniaturized, then the total length decreases, but the field of view and optical performance worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The six lens elements are arranged in a nested sequence along the optical axis, with each element positioned to optimize the overall optical path. The compact nesting of positive and negative power elements allows the assembly to achieve a short total length while maintaining the optical performance required for wide field of view and low wavefront aberration. The sequential arrangement enables each lens to contribute to the overall function within a minimized spatial envelope.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes aspheric surfaces on multiple lens elements to achieve compact design with maintained optical performance. The aspheric profiles allow for better control of light rays across the field of view, enabling the lens assembly to be miniaturized without sacrificing field of view or increasing aberration. The curved surfaces are precisely designed with specific radius of curvature values to optimize the balance between size and performance.
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 configuration effectively shortens the total lens length, increases the field of view, reduces wavefront aberration, and maintains good optical performance, enabling accurate distance measurement and contour depiction for self-driving applications.
Implementation Method 1
The first lens is a meniscus lens with positive refractive power, The second lens is with positive refractive power, The third lens is with negative refractive power, The fourth lens is with positive refractive power and includes a convex surface facing the image side, The fifth lens is with negative refractive power and includes a concave surface facing the object side, The sixth lens is with positive refractive power and includes a convex surface facing the image side
Data Source
AI summary
An optical lens assembly includes a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, a fourth lens, a fifth lens, and a sixth lens, all of which are arranged in order from an object side to an image side along an optical axis. The first lens is a meniscus lens with positive refractive power. The second lens is with positive refractive power. The third lens is with negative refractive power. The fourth lens is with positive refractive power and includes a convex surface facing the image side. The fifth lens is with negative refractive power and includes a concave surface facing the object side. The sixth lens is with positive refractive power and includes a convex surface facing the image side.