# US 2019/0170965 A1 · Folded camera lens designs > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0170965 A1 - Document ID: US20190170965A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/252,608 - Filed: 2019-01-19 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-02-23 - Assignees: Corephotonics Ltd. - Applicants: Corephotonics Ltd. - Inventors: Gal Shabtay; Ephraim Goldenberg; Michael Dror; Itay Yedid; Gil Bachar - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190170965A1 ## CPC - G02B 7/021: {for more than one lens} - G02B 7/08: adapted to co-operate with a remote control mechanism - G02B 13/004: {having four lenses} - G02B 13/0065: {having a beam-folding prism or mirror} - G02B 13/009: {having zoom function} - G02B 13/02: Telephoto objectives, i.e. systems of the type + - in which the distance from the front vertex to the image plane is less than the equivalent focal length - G02B 27/0149: {characterised by mechanical features (G02B27/0176 takes precedence)} - H04N 23/55: Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof - H04N 23/58: Means for changing the camera field of view without moving the camera body, e.g. nutating or panning of optics or image sensors - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract Digital cameras, optical lens modules for such digital cameras and methods for assembling lens elements in such lens modules. In various embodiments, the digital cameras comprise an optical lens module including N≥3 lens elements Li, each lens element comprising a respective front surface S2i-1 and a respective rear surface S2i. In various embodiments the first lens element toward the object side, L1 and its respective front surfaces S1 have optical and/or mechanical properties, such as a clear aperture, a clear height and a mechanical height that are larger than respective properties of following lens elements and surfaces. This is done to achieve a camera with large aperture stop, given a lens and/or camera height. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A digital camera, comprising: a) N lens elements having a symmetry along a first optical axis, wherein N is equal to or greater than 3; b) an image sensor; c) an optical path folding element (OPFE) operative to provide a folded optical path from a first optical path to a second optical path; and d) a barrel with a cavity in which the plurality of lens elements are held, wherein a height of cavity measured along the first optical path is variable along the first optical axis, wherein the cavity comprises a first portion in which the first lens element L1 is located and a second portion at which at least one of the other lens elements is located, and wherein the height of the first portion of the cavity H1 is greater than the height of the second portion of the cavity H2, so that H1>1.1×H2. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The digital camera of claim 1, wherein the N lens elements have an axial symmetry. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The digital camera of claim 1, wherein the digital camera has a total track length TTL and a focal back length BFL and wherein BFL≥0.3×TTL. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The digital camera of claim 1, wherein lens element L1 is made of glass. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The digital camera of claim 1, wherein lens element L1 is made of plastic. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The digital camera of claim 1, wherein lens element Li is made of plastic for any 2≤i≤N. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The digital camera of claim 1, wherein the plurality of lens elements form a front aperture lens module. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The digital camera of claim 1, wherein CA(S1)<7 mm. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The digital camera of claim 1, wherein CH(S1)<7 mm. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The digital camera of claim 1, wherein at least some of the lens elements have a width WL greater than their height HL. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The digital camera of claim 1, wherein a height of cavity, measured along an axis orthogonal to the first optical axis, is variable along the first optical axis. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The digital camera of claim 1, wherein lens element L1 has a portion that is not completely surrounded by the cavity and wherein walls of the cavity align a center of lens element L1 with the first optical axis. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The digital camera of claim 10, wherein lens element LN is located outside the barrel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The digital camera of claim 12, wherein lens element LN has a portion that is not completely surrounded by the cavity and wherein walls of the cavity align a center of lens element LN with the first optical axis. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The digital camera of claim 12, wherein at least one of an extremity of the walls and an extremity of lens element L1 is shaped so that the extremity of the walls acts a stop for at least a portion of lens element L1, thereby aligning a center of lens element L1 with the first optical axis. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The digital camera of claim 14, wherein a first portion of lens element L1 is located in the cavity between the extremity of the walls and a second portion of lens element L1 is located outside the barrel and wherein a thickness of the second portion of lens element L1 long the first optical axis is greater than a thickness of the first portion of lens element L1 along the first optical axis. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The digital camera of claim 14, wherein a cross-section of the extremity of the walls has a stepped shape. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The digital camera of claim 14, wherein a cross-section of the extremity of lens element L1 has a stepped shape. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The digital camera of claim 14, wherein a cross-section of the extremity of the walls has a sloping shape. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The digital camera of claim 14, wherein the extremity of the walls comprises a chamfer. ### Claim 21 (depends on 12) The digital camera of claim 12, further comprising a cover for covering and protecting lens element L1. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The digital camera of claim 21, wherein the cover has an extreme point beyond lens element L1. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The digital camera of claim 21, wherein the cover blocks light from entering a mechanical part of lens element L1.