Zoom Lens Compact Design via Selective Group Dynamics
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a demand for a zoom lens that is compact in size while maintaining favorable optical performance by correcting various aberrations, and this demand is increasing over time.
Innovation Solution
The zoom lens consists of an object side positive group, an object side negative group, an intermediate group, and a final group, each including at least one lens group. All spacings between adjacent lens groups change during zooming, while the mutual spacings between lenses in each lens group remain constant. This configuration ensures that the object side positive group and the intermediate group remain stationary with respect to the image plane during focusing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the zoom lens uses a conventional structure with multiple moving lens groups during zooming and focusing, then the optical performance can be maintained, but the overall size of the lens becomes large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the spacing between adjacent lens groups variable during zooming operations. Specifically, the distance between the object side positive group and object side negative group changes to enable zooming from wide-angle to telephoto, while the spacing between other lens groups remains fixed. This selective dynamic approach allows compact sizing while maintaining optical performance across the zoom range.
2Volume of moving object
If the zoom lens reduces the number of moving components to decrease size, then the lens becomes more compact, but the ability to correct various aberrations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the lens into four distinct groups: object side positive group, object side negative group, intermediate group, and final group. This segmentation allows each group to have specific functions - the first two groups handle zooming while the latter two groups remain stationary during focusing to correct aberrations. The segmented structure enables compact design with reduced moving components while maintaining the ability to correct various optical aberrations through the coordinated design of each segment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different operational characteristics to different lens groups. The object side positive and negative groups are designed with variable spacing for zooming functionality, while the intermediate and final groups maintain fixed spacing during focusing operations. This localized differentiation of functional properties allows the lens to achieve compact size while preserving aberration correction capabilities in the stationary groups.
3Ease of manufacture
If the zoom lens uses fixed spacing between all lenses to simplify structure, then manufacturing becomes easier, but the zooming functionality is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by selectively applying variable spacing only where needed for zooming functionality - specifically between the object side positive group and object side negative group. All other lens groups maintain fixed spacing, which simplifies manufacturing and assembly. This selective dynamic approach achieves the optimal balance between manufacturing ease and zooming versatility.
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
This design achieves a compact zoom lens with improved optical performance by effectively correcting various aberrations throughout the zoom range, thus meeting the increasing demand for such lenses.
Implementation Method 1
a positive refractive power of the object side positive group, a negative refractive power of the object side negative group
Implementation Method 2
all lenses in the object side positive group and all lenses in the intermediate group remain stationary with respect to an image plane during focusing
Data Source
AI summary
A zoom lens consists of, in order from an object side to an image side: an object side positive group which has a positive refractive power; an object side negative group which has a negative refractive power; an intermediate group; and a final group. The object side positive group, the object side negative group, the intermediate group, and the final group each include at least one lens group. All spacings between adjacent lens groups change, and all mutual spacings between lenses in each lens group do not change during zooming. All lenses in the object side positive group and all lenses in the intermediate group remain stationary with respect to an image plane during focusing. The zoom lens satisfies predetermined conditional expressions.