Three-Lens Assembly Air-Gap Layout for Close-Up Image Quality
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Solution Overview
Problem
Miniaturized electronic devices, such as smartphones, face limitations in close-up photography performance due to the use of standard angle-of-view cameras with low-pixel image sensors and three-lens assemblies, which result in deteriorated image quality for zoomed or cropped images.
Innovation Solution
A lens assembly comprising three lenses arranged along an optical axis with specific surface configurations and air gaps that satisfy certain conditions, including a first lens with positive power, a second lens with negative power, and a third lens with negative power, designed to enhance close-up photography performance while maintaining image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a standard angle-of-view camera with a low-pixel image sensor and three-lens assembly is used in miniaturized electronic devices, then the device size is reduced, but the close-up photography performance and image quality deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the optical parameters of the lens assembly by optimizing the air gap distances between lenses (L12 and L23) to satisfy specific conditional expressions. This allows the same three-lens structure to achieve high magnification (×3 or more) while maintaining image quality, enabling close-up photography functionality in miniaturized devices without sacrificing image quality
Solution Approach 2:
The lens assembly is designed to serve multiple functions: it can operate as both a standard angle-of-view camera and a close-up camera with high magnification capability. By adjusting the air gap distances within specific ranges, the same hardware configuration achieves different photographic functions, eliminating the need for separate camera systems
2Manufacturing precision
If a high-pixel image sensor and three-lens assembly are used for close-up photography, then image quality improves, but the quality of zoomed or cropped images deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the air gap distances (L12 and L23) between lenses to satisfy specific conditional expressions, which enables the lens assembly to maintain high image quality across different magnification levels. This parameter optimization ensures that both full-resolution and zoomed/cropped images maintain quality when using high-pixel sensors
3Productivity
If the air gap distance between lenses is increased to achieve high magnification, then close-up photography capability improves, but the overall lens assembly size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent identifies optimal ranges for air gap distances (L12 and L23) that achieve high magnification (×3 or more) while keeping the lens assembly compact. By satisfying the conditional expressions with optimized parameter values, the system achieves high productivity in close-up photography without proportionally increasing the lens assembly volume
Solution Approach 2:
The lens assembly incorporates movable components that allow dynamic adjustment of the air gap distances between lenses. This enables the system to achieve high magnification when needed while maintaining a compact form factor when high magnification is not required, making the size increase conditional rather than constant
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 lens assembly provides high magnification and improved close-up photography capabilities, preventing image quality deterioration in zoomed or cropped images, and is suitable for miniaturized electronic devices.
Implementation Method 1
a first lens disposed on the object side may include an object side surface convex toward the object and an image sensor side surface convex toward the image sensor while having positive power
Implementation Method 2
a second lens disposed between the image sensor and the first lens may include an object side surface concave toward the image sensor while having negative power
Implementation Method 3
a third lens disposed between the image sensor and the second lens may have negative power
Data Source
AI summary
A lens assembly and/or an electronic device including the same are provided. The lens assembly and/or the electronic device include an image sensor and three lenses sequentially arranged along an optical axis from an object side to an image sensor side. In the three lenses, a first lens disposed on the object side may include an object side surface convex toward the object and an image sensor side surface convex toward the image sensor while having positive power, a second lens may include an object side surface concave toward the image sensor while having negative power, and a third lens may have negative power. The lens assembly may satisfy the condition,0.1≤L12/L23≤0.4,wherein “L12” may be a distance or air gap between the first lens and the second lens, and “L23” may be a distance or air gap between the second lens and the third lens.