Zoom Lens With Reflecting Element for Slim Depth
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current portable digital cameras face challenges in achieving a high zoom ratio while maintaining a slim depth dimension and preventing moisture and dust entry, with existing collapsible lens mounts being cumbersome and prone to moisture ingress.
Innovation Solution
A zoom lens design featuring a first lens group with a reflecting optical element for bending the optical path, combined with movable second and fourth lens groups, achieving a high zoom ratio of 3.4 with a compact and thin form factor, and incorporating a prism to prevent dust and moisture entry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If a collapsible lens mount is used to reduce depth dimension, then the camera body can be slimmed down, but operation becomes cumbersome and moisture/dust entry risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lens system transitions from a static fixed structure to a dynamic movable structure. The lens barrel can extend when needed for shooting and retract when not in use, allowing the camera to maintain a slim profile during carrying while providing full lens functionality during operation. This dynamic configuration resolves the contradiction between compact storage and operational functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The lens system is divided into separable components: the lens barrel that can be extended and retracted, and the camera body that remains compact. This segmentation allows the lens portion to be moved independently for shooting operations while the main body stays slim, resolving the contradiction between overall camera depth and operational accessibility.
2Reliability
If the lens group nearest to the object side is made movable to prevent moisture and dust entry, then protection improves, but operation time increases and depth dimension increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lens barrel is designed to be pre-positioned in an extended state ready for shooting. When the camera is deployed for use, the lens barrel is already in the correct position, eliminating the need for additional adjustment time. This preliminary preparation resolves the contradiction between quick deployment and moisture/dust protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The lens barrel transitions from a static protected position to a dynamic extended position for shooting. This dynamic mechanism allows the lens to be quickly deployed when needed while maintaining protection during storage, resolving the time loss contradiction.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a wide-angle zoom lens with high zoom ratio is designed, then taking range increases, but optical system thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system uses a bent optical path configuration where the light path folds back on itself using reflective surfaces. This allows the optical system to achieve a high zoom ratio of 3.4x while maintaining a compact thickness of only 6.7mm, as the light travels through a folded path rather than a straight linear path, effectively utilizing three-dimensional space efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
The lens groups are arranged in a nested configuration where multiple lens elements are positioned within a compact depth space. The first through fifth lens groups are sequentially arranged with optimized spacing, allowing the optical system to achieve high zoom functionality while minimizing overall thickness through efficient spatial nesting.
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 allows for instant camera readiness, high optical performance, and cost-effectiveness by maintaining a slim profile and preventing moisture and dust ingress, while correcting aberrations and maintaining image quality across a wide focal length range.
Implementation Method 1
the optical path (optical axis) of the optical system can be easily bent by means of a reflecting optical member such as a prism
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a zoom lens that enables an optical path to be easily bent by a reflecting optical element, has a wide-angle design and high optical performance as represented by a high zoom ratio of about 3.4, is extremely slimmed down in the depth direction, and costs less. The zoom lens comprises a positive first lens group G1, a negative second lens group G2, a positive third lens group G3, a positive fourth lens group G4 and a negative fifth lens group G5. Upon zooming from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end, the first lens group G1 remains substantially fixed with respect to an image plane I, and at least the second G2 and the fourth lens group G4 move. The first lens group G1 includes a reflecting optical element for bending the optical path involved, and a portion of the first lens group G1 on an object side with respect to the reflecting surface has negative refracting power. The zoom lens satisfies condition (1) with respect to the focal length of the fifth lens group G5.