Zoom Lens Movable Reflecting Elements Focal Length Versatility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current zoom lenses with multi-segment optical structures have limited available focal lengths, restricting their versatility and image capture capabilities, particularly due to the need for beam splitting which results in low luminous flux and large lens sizes.
Innovation Solution
A zoom lens design incorporating n lens groups, n reflecting elements, and n imaging planes, where reflecting elements can be moved or rotated to switch between segmented and combined imaging modes, increasing the number of available focal lengths and improving image quality by alleviating low luminous flux issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If beam splitting is used to achieve multiple focal lengths, then the number of available focal lengths increases, but luminous flux decreases and lens size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple optical paths into a single optical path by using reflecting elements to redirect light from different lens groups onto a common imaging plane. This combining approach maintains high luminous flux while enabling multiple focal lengths through sequential optical path switching, resolving the contradiction between versatility and illumination intensity.
Solution Approach 2:
The reflecting elements serve multiple functions: they act as beam directors, optical path switchers, and focal length selectors. By making these components multi-functional, the system achieves multiple focal lengths without requiring separate beam splitting paths, thereby maintaining high luminous flux while providing adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If beam splitting is used to achieve multiple focal lengths, then the number of available focal lengths increases, but lens size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple optical paths onto a single imaging plane using reflecting elements, eliminating the need for multiple separate imaging planes and reducing the overall lens assembly size. This merging approach maintains compact dimensions while providing multiple focal lengths.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses reflecting elements to redirect light paths in three-dimensional space, allowing multiple optical paths to converge on a single imaging plane. This spatial manipulation enables multiple focal lengths without increasing the two-dimensional footprint of the lens assembly.
3Device complexity
If fixed focal length lenses are used, then lens structure is simple, but shooting range is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces movable reflecting elements that can be positioned at different locations to dynamically change the optical path and focal length. This dynamic configuration allows a single lens assembly to provide multiple focal lengths and shooting ranges while maintaining relatively simple lens group structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The lens assembly achieves multi-functionality by combining fixed lens groups with movable reflecting elements. This universal design allows the same optical system to serve multiple purposes (different focal lengths and shooting ranges) without requiring multiple dedicated lens assemblies.
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 significantly increases the number of available focal lengths, allowing for a wider range of shooting scenes while reducing lens size and improving image quality by enabling independent and combined imaging modes.
Implementation Method 1
A first reflecting element of the n reflecting elements is configured to receive first incident light of an object side, and reflect the first incident light to a first lens group of the n lens groups
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a zoom lens, a zoom method and a terminal. The zoom lens includes n lens groups, n reflecting elements and n imaging planes, where n is an integer greater than or equal to 2. The n lens groups and an n-th imaging plane are arranged sequentially along an optical axis. A first reflecting element is configured to receive and reflect first incident light to a first lens group. An i-th imaging plane is arranged between an i-th lens group and an (i+1)-th lens group, where i is an integer greater than or equal to 1 and less than n. A j-th reflecting element is disposed between a (j−1)-th lens group and a j-th lens group, and is configured to be moved and/or rotated to enable the zoom lens to zoom, where j is an integer greater than 1 and less than or equal to n.