Under-screen Camera Lens Protrusion Reduces Screen Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current camera modules for mobile devices face challenges in achieving a high screen-to-body ratio while maintaining imaging quality, as the large camera module size required for high pixels and large apertures necessitates a significant screen opening, which compromises the display effect and user experience.
Innovation Solution
An under-screen camera assembly featuring an optical lens with a protruding portion and a structured area, where the first lens element has a protruding portion with a central axis and a side surface connecting the optical and structured areas, and a second lens component with a barrel and elements that form an imageable optical system, allowing for active alignment and bonding to reduce the screen opening size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the camera module size is increased to maintain high pixels and large aperture, then imaging quality is improved, but screen opening size increases compromising display effect
Solution Approach 1:
The first lens element is designed with a protruding portion that extends along the optical axis direction, utilizing the third dimension (depth) to increase the effective imaging area without expanding the lateral footprint. This allows the camera module to maintain high pixel and large aperture performance while reducing the screen opening size required.
Solution Approach 2:
The lens system is divided into multiple components: a first lens element with a protruding portion and a second lens component with multiple lens elements. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, with the protruding portion capturing light from angles that would otherwise require a larger screen opening.
2Area of stationary object
If the screen opening size is reduced to improve display effect, then screen-to-body ratio is improved, but imaging quality deteriorates due to limited light collection
Solution Approach 1:
By extending the first lens element along the optical axis to form a protruding portion, the design captures light from a wider angular range without requiring a larger screen opening. This dimensional extension compensates for the reduced aperture area, maintaining imaging quality despite the smaller screen opening.
Solution Approach 2:
The first lens element has different structural characteristics in different regions: the protruding portion with a specific curvature radius ratio (0.05-0.15 times the outer diameter) is optimized for light collection at specific angles, while the main body maintains standard lens properties. This local optimization enables effective light gathering within the constrained screen opening.
3Area of stationary object
If a retractable camera module is used to achieve full screen, then screen-to-body ratio is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to damage risk during extension and retraction
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of retracting the camera module into the device body, the design extends the lens element protrudingly from the screen surface. This inverted approach eliminates the need for extension and retraction mechanisms, making the camera module permanently accessible while maintaining a full-screen appearance and improving reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
An optical lens (1000), comprising a first lens element (110) and a second lens component (200). The first lens element (110) has a first surface (112) located on an object side and a second surface (117) located on an image side, wherein a central region of the first surface (112) protrudes toward the object side to form a protruding portion (111), a top surface (113) of the protruding portion (111) forms an optical area (113a), the first surface (112) further has a first structured area (115) surrounding the protruding portion (111), and a side surface (114) connects the optical area (113a) and the first structured area (115). The second lens component (200) comprises a second lens barrel (220) and at least one second lens element (210) mounted inside the second lens barrel (220), and the at least one second lens element (210) and the first lens element (110) together constitute an imageable optical system. The second surface (117) of the first lens element (110) is bonded to a top surface of the second lens barrel (220). Also disclosed are a corresponding camera module, an under-screen camera assembly, an optical lens (1000) and a method for manufacturing the camera module. This optical lens (1000) is helpful to reduce the aperture of the opening of the screen (3000), ensuring a larger field of view and image quality.