Miniature optical zoom lens
AssigneeDynaoptics Pte Ltd. A Singapore Private Limited Company
InventorsKoon Lin Cheo, Chang Lun HOU
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Miniature zoom lens systems and methods of manufacturing thereof are described. An exemplary system includes a first prism positioned to receive incident light from an entrance to the miniature lens system, at least a first varifocal lens positioned to receive the light that exits the prism, at least one base lens positioned to receive the light after passing through the first varifocal lens, a detector positioned to receive the light after passing through the base lens, and a first actuator configured to move the first varifocal lens in at least a direction perpendicular to propagation axis of the light passing through the first varifocal lens. The miniature lens system has a small z-height and can be implemented in mobile devices such as mobile phones.
Claims20
A miniature zoom lens system, comprising:
- a first prism positioned on an optical axis to receive incident light from an entrance to the miniature lens system through a first face of the first prism and to bend the received light by approximately 90 degrees before allowing the light to exit from a second face of the first prism;
- a pair of varifocal lenses, each comprising at least two optical elements and each optical element having at least one optical surface defined by a polynomial, and wherein at least one of the pair of varifocal lenses is positioned to receive light that exits from the second face of the prism;
- each of the optical elements being formed integrally with a frame,
- at least one base lens positioned substantially along the optical axis to receive light after passing through the pair of varifocal lenses;
- and
- a first actuator configured to connect to the frames of the optical elements to move the pair of varifocal lenses in a direction substantially perpendicular to optical axis.
A miniature zoom lens system, comprising:
- a first varifocal lens positioned to receive incident light from an entrance to the miniature lens system, the first varifocal lens comprising at least two optical elements, each formed integrally with a frame;
- a first prism positioned to receive light from the first varifocal lens through a first face of the first prism and to bend the received light by approximately 90 degrees before allowing the light to exit from a second face of the first prism;
- a second varifocal lens positioned to receive the light that exits the second face of the prism, the second varifocal lens comprising at least two optical elements, each formed integrally with a frame;
- at least one base lens positioned to receive the light after passing through the second varifocal lens;
- a second prism positioned to receive the light that exits the at least one base lens through a first face of the second prism and to bend the light received by the second prism by approximately 90 degrees before allowing the light to exit from a second face of the second prism;
- and
- at least one actuator configured to connect to the frames of the optical elements to move the optical elements of one or both of the first varifocal and second varifocal lenses in at least a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of the system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.