Zoom Lens Design Reducing Mechanical Complexity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional zoom lenses with multi-group operation face challenges in reducing production costs while maintaining image quality, flexibility, and optical length, due to the complexity of mechanical members and limited optical design flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A zoom lens design comprising a first, second, third, and fourth lens group with specific refractive powers and configurations, including aspheric lenses, where the second and fourth lens groups move relative to the first and third groups for zooming and focusing, respectively, and an aperture stop remains fixed, reducing mechanical complexity and costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a multi-group operation method is adopted to achieve wide angle, high zoom magnification, and high image quality, then the imaging quality is improved, but the number of optical elements and mechanical members increases, leading to increased optical length and production cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates unnecessary mechanical members from the conventional multi-group zoom lens structure. By reconfiguring the lens groups and removing redundant components, the design achieves wide-angle and high-zoom capabilities with fewer mechanical parts, thereby reducing optical length and production cost while maintaining imaging quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the fourth lens group serve multiple functions: it moves for focusing operations and also contributes to the zooming mechanism. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components, simplifying the overall structure and reducing the number of mechanical members while maintaining high imaging quality across the zoom range.
2Ease of manufacture
If the number of mechanical members is reduced to lower production cost, then the production cost is reduced, but the flexibility in optical design is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic movement of the fourth lens group, which can move along the optical axis for both focusing and zooming operations. This dynamic configuration allows the lens to achieve variable focal lengths and focus distances with fewer mechanical members, maintaining optical design flexibility while reducing production cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes aspheric lenses with specific refractive indices and curvature parameters to achieve complex optical functions with simpler structures. By optimizing parameters such as the refractive index (1.5 to 2.1), curvature radii, and thickness ratios, the design achieves high imaging quality and flexible optical performance with reduced mechanical complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If more optical elements are used to achieve high zoom magnification and wide angle, then the zoom ratio and field of view are improved, but the optical length increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a nested arrangement where the fourth lens group is positioned within the space defined by other lens groups, and its movement path is optimized to nest within the overall lens structure. This allows high zoom magnification to be achieved without proportionally increasing the optical length, as the moving components are efficiently space-utilized within the compact lens barrel.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from traditional one-dimensional linear arrangement of lens groups to a more complex multi-dimensional configuration. The fourth lens group moves not only along the optical axis but also has optimized lateral positioning, utilizing three-dimensional space more efficiently to achieve high zoom ratios without linearly increasing the optical length.
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 design achieves a compact, cost-effective zoom lens with high magnification, wide angle, low distortion, and favorable imaging quality, maintaining a stable f-number and wide field of view while simplifying manufacturing and assembly processes.
Implementation Method 1
at least one of the seventh lens, the eighth lens and the ninth lens is an aspheric lens
Implementation Method 2
refractive powers of the seventh lens, the eighth lens and the ninth lens are respectively positive, negative and positive, and at least one of the seventh lens, the eighth lens and the ninth lens is an aspheric lens
Implementation Method 3
the second lens group is suitable to move relative to the first lens group and the third lens group for the zoom lens to zoom between a wide-end and a tele-end, and the fourth lens group is suitable to move relative to the first lens group and the third lens group for focusing
Implementation Method 4
The third lens group includes a sixth lens, and a refractive power of the sixth lens is positive
Implementation Method 5
a quality of an image being detected can also be decided by a quality of an optical lens
Data Source
AI summary
A zoom lens including a first lens group, a second lens group, and a third lens group is provided. The first lens group is disposed between an object side and an image side and has at least one aspheric surface. The second lens group has a positive refractive power and is disposed between the first lens group and the image side. The third lens group has a positive refractive power and is disposed between the second lens group and the image side. The third lens group has at least one aspheric surface. The third lens group is suitable to move relative to the second lens group for focusing.