Variable Power Optical System Aberration Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing variable power optical systems for portable devices are limited by poor tele-centric characteristics, large distortion, and insufficient aberration correction, making them unsuitable for high-pixel imaging and wide-angle photography, while also being bulky and costly.
Innovation Solution
A compact variable power optical system comprising a first negative lens group, a second positive lens group, and a third lens group with aspherical surfaces, where the third lens group has a negative optical power and is divided into a front and rear group, allowing for improved aberration correction and tele-centric characteristics, enabling high power ratios and wide-angle capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a variable power optical system uses a simple lens configuration (1-3 plastic lenses) to reduce size and cost, then the device becomes compact and affordable, but the system cannot achieve high power ratios (exceeding 2.5 times) nor correct aberrations sufficiently for high-pixel imaging
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system is divided into three distinct lens groups with specific functions: the first group (negative power) for tele-centric characteristics, the second group (positive power) for aberration correction, and the third group (negative power with aspherical surface) for distortion and spherical aberration correction. This segmentation allows each group to optimize its function while working together to achieve high power ratios and excellent aberration correction.
Solution Approach 2:
The third lens group employs an aspherical surface instead of a traditional spherical or flat surface. This aspherical curvature enables superior correction of spherical aberration and distortion while maintaining compact dimensions. The aspherical shape allows the lens to focus light more precisely, achieving high imaging quality without requiring a larger aperture or complex additional correction elements.
2Manufacturing precision
If the optical system uses more lens components to improve aberration correction and power ratio, then imaging quality improves, but the overall size and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple correction functions are merged into the third lens group, which combines negative optical power with an aspherical surface. This single lens group simultaneously corrects spherical aberration, distortion, and provides tele-centric characteristics, eliminating the need for separate correction lenses. The merging of functions achieves high imaging quality with only three lens groups rather than five or more.
Solution Approach 2:
The system optimizes specific parameters including the optical power distribution (negative-positive-negative configuration), the aspherical coefficient of the third lens group, and the spacing between lens groups. By carefully adjusting these parameters, the system achieves excellent aberration correction and high power ratio capability while maintaining a compact overall size with only three lens groups.
3Area of moving object
If the optical system is designed for wide-angle photography with large angle of view, then the coverage area increases, but distortion becomes excessive (e.g., -40% at wide angle end)
Solution Approach 1:
The aspherical surface of the third lens group is specifically designed to counteract distortion while maintaining wide-angle capability. The aspherical curvature works in conjunction with the negative power of the lens group to reduce spherical aberration and distortion, enabling the system to achieve wide angle of view with distortion controlled to acceptable levels rather than excessive -40% distortion.
Solution Approach 2:
Each lens group is designed with specific local characteristics: the first group provides tele-centric characteristics, the second group corrects chromatic and magnification aberrations, and the third group with its aspherical surface specifically addresses distortion and spherical aberration. This localized optimization of quality in each region allows the overall system to achieve wide-angle photography with controlled distortion.
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 a balance of compactness, high power ratio, and improved tele-centric characteristics, effectively correcting aberrations such as spherical aberration, chromatic aberration, astigmatism, and distortion, making it suitable for high-pixel imaging and wide-angle photography in portable devices.
Implementation Method 1
a third lens group having aspherical surfaces, wherein the third lens group has a negative optical power and is divided into a front group and a rear group
Data Source
AI summary
A variable power optical system (1) comprises a first lens group (11) having a negative optical power, a second lens group (12) having a positive optical power, and a third lens group (13). The first to third lens groups are arranged in order from the object side to the image side. The first lens group (11) is composed of one negative lens (111) and is fixed in variable power. The third lens group (13) includes at least one aspherical surface. When the third lens group is divided into a front group and a rear group with the largest air space in the third group, the front group has a negative optical power, and the rear group has a positive optical power.