Subminiature Four-Lens Optical System for Chromatic Aberration Correction

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge is to develop a subminiature imaging optical system that achieves high resolution and miniaturization while correcting chromatic aberration, particularly for camera modules in mobile devices, where traditional lens configurations face difficulties in compactness and optical performance due to increased refractive power and size constraints.

Innovation Solution

A subminiature imaging optical system is designed using four lenses with specific refractive powers and Abbe numbers, where the first and fourth lenses have positive refractive power and are formed of materials with high Abbe numbers, and the second and third lenses have negative refractive power and low Abbe numbers, along with aspherical surfaces, to correct chromatic aberration and optimize optical characteristics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the number of lenses is increased to achieve high resolution and correct chromatic aberration, then optical performance is improved, but the overall size and complexity of the lens system increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveresolutionVSAvoidlens configuration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by utilizing aspherical surfaces on the third and fourth lenses, which fundamentally alters the optical path and aberration correction capabilities. This allows four lenses to achieve the optical performance that would traditionally require more lenses, thereby improving resolution and chromatic aberration correction while controlling system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite material principles through the strategic selection of lens materials with specific Abbe numbers. The first and fourth lenses use materials with high Abbe numbers (ν1≥50, ν4≥50) while the second and third lenses use materials with low Abbe numbers (ν2≤40, ν3≤40), creating a composite optical system that effectively corrects chromatic aberration across the visible spectrum

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Length of moving object

If lenses are miniaturized to reduce overall system size, then compactness is improved, but manufacturing difficulty increases due to higher refractive power requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelens system lengthVSAvoidlens manufacturing difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies spheroidality principles by incorporating aspherical surfaces on the third and fourth lenses. These non-spherical surfaces enable more efficient light convergence and aberration correction within a compact form factor, reducing the need for excessively high refractive powers that would make manufacturing difficult while achieving miniaturization goals

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Ease of manufacture

If spherical lenses are used in a four-lens configuration, then manufacturing is easier, but the optical system increases in total length and becomes difficult to miniaturize

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelens manufacturing easeVSAvoidoptical system length

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality principles by selectively applying aspherical surfaces only to the third and fourth lenses rather than all lenses. This localized approach optimizes the optical path in the critical regions where aberration correction is most needed, enabling compact system length while maintaining manufacturing feasibility for the spherical first and second lenses

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

This configuration results in a compact, high-resolution optical system with improved aberrational characteristics, reduced chromatic aberration, and ease of manufacturing, enabling efficient miniaturization and superior optical performance for camera modules in mobile devices.

Implementation Method 1

each of the third and fourth lenses has at least one aspherical surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Implementation Method 2

capable of correcting chromatic aberration to significantly reduce color fringing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectChromatic aberration correction:

Implementation Method 3

first, second, third and fourth lenses sequentially positioned from an object side to an image side

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFocusing: Focusing

Data Source

PatentUS7755851B2Subminiature imaging optical system

Publication Date: 2010.07.13 SAMSUNG ELECTRO MECHANICS CO LTD

AI summary

There is provided a subminiature imaging optical system installed in a mobile telecommunication terminal or a PDA, or used in a surveillance camera or a digital camera. The subminiature imaging optical system including: first, second, third and fourth lenses sequentially positioned from an object side to an image side, the first lens having positive refractive power, the second lens having negative refractive power, the third lens having negative refractive power, and the fourth lens having positive refractive power, wherein each of the third and fourth lenses has at least one aspherical surface. The subminiature imaging optical system corrects chromatic aberration superbly to reduce color fringing significantly, thereby achieving high resolution and compactness as well.