Three-Lens Imaging Lens Curvature Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional imaging lenses with wide angles of view have a small ratio of maximum image height to focal length, leading to excessive distortion and limited image formation performance, particularly at short object-to-image distances.

Innovation Solution

An imaging lens configuration comprising three lenses, with a biconcave first lens, a negative refractive power second lens, and a positive refractive power third lens, where the absolute value of the image-side surface curvature radius of the third lens is less than the object-side surface curvature radius, and an aperture stop located between the second and third lenses, optimizing the lens configuration to enhance image formation performance across central and peripheral angles of view.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional imaging lenses are designed to achieve wide angles of view by utilizing distortion, then the angle of view is widened, but distortion increases and image formation performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveangle of viewVSAvoidimage formation performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the curvature radius parameters of the lens surfaces, specifically setting the curvature radius of the image-side surface of the third lens to be smaller than that of the object-side surface. This parameter modification allows the lens to achieve wide angle of view while controlling distortion and maintaining excellent image formation performance across the entire field of view.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs curved surfaces with specific curvature radii in the lens configuration. The third lens has a convex surface facing the image side with a curvature radius that is smaller in absolute value than its object-side surface curvature radius. This curved surface design enables effective control of light rays across the entire field of view, achieving wide angles without excessive distortion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Area of stationary object

If the ratio of maximum image height to focal length is increased to image a wide range at short object-to-image distance, then the imaging range is expanded, but distortion and optical aberrations increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimaging rangeVSAvoiddistortion

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the curvature radius parameters of the lens surfaces to achieve a desirable ratio of maximum image height to focal length. By setting the curvature radius of the image-side surface of the third lens to be smaller than that of the object-side surface, the lens achieves expanded imaging range at short object-to-image distances while controlling distortion and maintaining excellent image formation performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Volume of moving object

If a three-lens configuration is used to reduce size and achieve wide angle of view, then the lens size is reduced, but image formation performance in peripheral areas deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelens sizeVSAvoidimage formation performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the curvature radius parameters of each lens surface in the three-lens configuration. Specifically, the third lens has a convex surface facing the image side with a curvature radius that is smaller in absolute value than its object-side surface curvature radius. This parameter optimization ensures excellent image formation performance from central to peripheral areas of the wide field of view while maintaining a compact lens size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs specific curved surface designs in the three-lens configuration, with the third lens having a convex surface facing the image side with optimized curvature radius. This curved surface geometry enables effective control of light rays across the entire field of view, ensuring excellent image formation performance in peripheral areas while maintaining compact lens size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 ensures a desirable ratio of maximum image height to focal length, reducing distortion and improving image formation performance, enabling high-resolution imaging over a wide range at short object-to-image distances, thus addressing the limitations of existing wide-angle imaging lenses.

Implementation Method 1

a first lens having a biconcave shape, and an object-side surface of which is aspherical, a second lens having negative refractive power, and a third lens having positive refractive power with a convex surface facing an image side

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentUS9778460B2Imaging lens and imaging apparatus including the imaging lens

Publication Date: 2017.10.03 NANCHANG O FILM OPTICAL ELECTRONICS TECH CO LTD

AI summary

An imaging lens consists of three lenses of, in order from an object side, a first lens having a biconcave shape, and an object-side surface of which is aspherical, a second lens having negative refractive power and a third lens having positive refractive power with a convex surface facing an image side. The absolute value of a curvature radius of an image-side surface of the third lens is less than the absolute value of a curvature radius of an object-side surface of the third lens.