US 12,607,868 B2 · Catadioptric lens module

Abstract

An electronic device may include a display system and an optical system that are supported by a housing. The optical system may be a catadioptric optical system having first, second, and third lens elements. The first lens element may have a convex surface and a concave surface. The convex surface may have less curvature than the concave surface. An anti-reflective coating may be formed on the convex surface. A partially reflective mirror may be interposed between the first and second lens elements and a reflective polarizer may be interposed between the second and third lens elements. Alternatively, a partially reflective mirror may be interposed between the second and third lens elements and a reflective polarizer may be interposed between the first and second lens elements.

Claims18

Dependent claims

An electronic device, comprising:

a display panel configured to produce light;
and
a lens assembly that receives the light, wherein the lens assembly comprises:
a first lens element with a center, wherein the first lens element has a convex surface with a first radius of curvature at the center of the first lens element and a concave surface with a second radius of curvature at the center of the first lens element, wherein the convex surface is interposed between the display panel and the concave surface, and wherein the first radius of curvature is larger than the second radius of curvature;
a second lens element;
a third lens element, wherein the second lens element is interposed between the first and third lens elements;
a partially reflective mirror that is interposed between the first and second lens elements;
a quarter wave plate that is interposed between the second and third lens elements;
and
a reflective polarizer that is interposed between the second and third lens elements, wherein the reflective polarizer is interposed between the third lens element and the quarter wave plate.

7 more elements

An electronic device, comprising:

a display panel configured to produce light;
and
a lens assembly that receives the light, wherein the lens assembly comprises:
a first lens element, wherein the first lens element has a first convex surface and a first concave surface, wherein the first convex surface is interposed between the display panel and the first concave surface, and wherein the first convex surface has less curvature than the first concave surface;
a second lens element, wherein the second lens element has a second convex surface and a second concave surface, wherein the second convex surface is interposed between the display panel and the second concave surface, wherein the second convex surface has more curvature than the second concave surface, and wherein the first lens element is interposed between the second lens element and the display panel;
a third lens element, wherein the third lens element has a third convex surface and a third concave surface, wherein the third convex surface is interposed between the display panel and the third concave surface, and wherein the second lens element is interposed between the first and third lens elements;
a first anti-reflective coating on the first convex surface;
a second anti-reflective coating on the third concave surface;
a partially reflective mirror that is interposed between the first and second lens elements;
a quarter wave plate that is interposed between the second and third lens elements;
and
a reflective polarizer that is interposed between the second and third lens elements, wherein the reflective polarizer is interposed between the third lens element and the quarter wave plate.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Catadioptric lens module

Life of this patent

Catadioptric lens module

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18