Three-Lens Imaging System with Negative Refractive Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional compact imaging lens systems face challenges in achieving high image quality while maintaining a compact form factor, as two-lens structures struggle with aberration correction and three-lens systems with all positive refractive elements are difficult to correct for chromatic and astigmatism aberrations.
Innovation Solution
An imaging lens system comprising three lens elements with specific refractive powers and surface profiles, including a first positive refractive power lens, a second negative refractive power lens with aspheric surfaces, and a third negative refractive power lens with inflection points, optimized for spatial arrangement and production simplicity to correct aberrations and maintain compactness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a two-lens structure is used to reduce manufacturing costs, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but aberration correction ability is limited and image quality is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The lens system is divided into three distinct lens elements with different refractive powers and surface characteristics. The first lens has positive refractive power while the second and third lenses have negative refractive power, creating a segmented optical structure that balances manufacturing simplicity with improved aberration correction capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite lens structure combining lenses with different refractive indices and optical properties. The specific combination of positive and negative refractive power lenses creates a composite optical system that corrects various aberrations while maintaining compact dimensions.
2Manufacturing precision
If too many lens elements are used to improve image quality, then aberration correction is enhanced, but total track length increases and compactness is lost
Solution Approach 1:
Each lens element is designed with specific local optical characteristics tailored to its position and function in the system. The first lens provides positive refractive power for focusing, while the second and third lenses provide negative refractive power for aberration correction, with each having optimized surface curvatures and thicknesses.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes specific parameters including the refractive powers of the lens elements, their axial spacing, surface curvatures, and thicknesses to achieve the desired balance between image quality and compactness. The inflection points on the lens surfaces are carefully positioned to control optical paths.
3Length of moving object
If three positive refractive lens elements are used to maintain compactness, then total track length is reduced, but chromatic and astigmatism aberrations cannot be corrected
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using three positive refractive lens elements as in conventional compact designs, the patent inverts the refractive power distribution by using one positive and two negative refractive power lens elements. This inversion enables effective correction of chromatic and astigmatism aberrations while maintaining compact total track length.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite optical system with lenses of different refractive powers, combining the focusing capability of positive refractive power lenses with the aberration correction capability of negative refractive power lenses in a compact arrangement.
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 system achieves improved image quality, reduced total optical track length, and enhanced off-axis aberration correction, ensuring high image quality and compactness suitable for portable electronic devices.
Implementation Method 1
a first lens element with positive refractive power
Implementation Method 2
a plastic second lens element with negative refractive power having a concave object-side surface and a convex image-side surface, both surfaces thereof being aspheric
Implementation Method 3
a plastic third lens element with negative refractive power having a convex object-side surface and a concave image-side surface, both surfaces thereof being aspheric, and at least one inflection point is formed on at least one of the object-side and image-side surfaces thereof
Data Source
AI summary
This invention provides an imaging lens system in order from an object side to an image side comprising: a first lens element with positive refractive power; a plastic second lens element with negative refractive power having a concave object-side surface and a convex image-side surface, both surfaces thereof being aspheric; and a plastic third lens element with negative refractive power having a convex object-side surface and a concave image-side surface, both surfaces thereof being aspheric, and at least one inflection point is formed on at least one of the object-side and image-side surfaces thereof. Additionally, the central thickness of the second lens element is controlled favorably for the efficient spatial arrangement of the lens assembly and the simpler individual lens production while maintaining suitable thickness of the second lens element, thereby assuring image quality and improving yield rate of the product.