Super-wide-angle optical system with aspherical lens design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional super-wide-angle optical systems face challenges in achieving a compact and cost-effective design with satisfactory optical performance and wide field angle, often requiring a large number of lenses which increases size and production costs, and using aspherical glass lenses complicates manufacturing.
Innovation Solution
A super-wide-angle optical system comprising a first negative meniscus lens and a second negative aspherical lens, with at least one positive lens having an aspherical surface, arranged to satisfy specific conditional expressions for optimal performance, including a balanced lens length and focal length, and using plastic lenses to reduce weight and cost while maintaining optical quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the number of lenses is decreased to reduce device complexity and cost, then the lens diameter and entire length become large, making downsizing and achieving sufficient definition difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies aspherical surfaces to specific lens elements (at least one of the four lens surfaces of the first and second lenses, and one positive lens) to achieve superior aberration correction with fewer lenses. The aspherical curvature allows for more efficient light control, enabling a compact six-lens design to achieve super-wide-angle performance (80 degrees or more) without requiring larger lens diameters or longer entire lengths that would result from using only spherical lenses.
2Manufacturing precision
If aspherical glass lenses are used to achieve super wide angle with fewer lenses, then optical performance is improved, but production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies particular aspherical surface parameters and curvature radii for the lens elements to optimize optical performance while considering manufacturing feasibility. By carefully controlling the aspherical parameters and material properties, the design achieves super-wide-angle performance with reduced production costs compared to conventional aspherical glass lens approaches.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite lens structures combining different materials (such as plastic and glass, or different plastic types) with specific refractive indices and Abbe numbers. This allows the system to achieve high optical performance through material composition rather than relying solely on complex aspherical glass lens manufacturing, thereby reducing production costs.
3Device complexity
If the number of lenses is decreased to reduce device complexity, then optical performance may be compromised, but the patent achieves super wide angle with only six lenses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies aspherical surfaces selectively to specific lens elements rather than all lenses, optimizing optical performance where it is most needed. The first negative meniscus lens and second negative lens have specific aspherical surface configurations that locally correct aberrations, while other lenses use simpler spherical surfaces. This localized application of complexity achieves superior optical performance with minimal device complexity.
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 solution enables a compact, cost-effective super-wide-angle optical system with improved optical performance, wide field angle, and reduced lens diameter, suitable for applications like monitor cameras and in-vehicle cameras, while maintaining performance across a wide temperature range.
Implementation Method 1
at least one of four lens surfaces of the first and second lenses is composed of an aspherical surface, at least one positive lens is provided on an image side with respect to the first and second lenses, and one of the positive lenses has an aspherical surface
Data Source
AI summary
A super-wide-angle optical system for forming an optical image of an object on an image pickup surface of an image sensing device that converts the optical image into an electrical signal is provided with, in order from the object side, a first negative lens, a second negative lens and a positive lens. The first negative lens has a meniscus shape convex to the object side. The second negative lens is positioned next to the first negative lens. The positive lens has an aspherical surface. At least one of four lens surfaces of the first and second lenses is an aspherical surface. A prescribed condition is fulfilled.