Folded lens system with five refractive lenses
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsYuhong Yao, Yoshikazu Shinohara
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Compact folded lens systems are described that may be used in small form factor cameras. Lens systems are described that may include five lens elements with refractive power, with a light folding element such as a prism, located between a first lens element on the object side of the lens system and a second lens element, that redirects the light refracted from the first lens element from a first axis onto a second axis on which the other lens elements and a photosensor are arranged. The lens systems may include an aperture stop located behind the front vertex of the lens system, for example at the first lens element, and an optional infrared filter, for example located between the last lens element and a photosensor.
Claims20
A lens system, comprising:
- a plurality of elements arranged along a folded optical axis of the lens system, wherein the plurality of elements includes, in order along the folded optical axis from an object side to an image side:
- a first lens element on a first portion of the folded optical axis having a convex object-side surface in the paraxial region;
- a light folding element configured to redirect light from the first lens element to a second portion of the folded optical axis;
- a second lens element on the second portion of the folded optical axis;
- a third lens element on the second portion of the folded optical axis having a convex object-side surface in the paraxial region;
- a fourth lens element on the second portion of the folded optical axis;
- and
- a fifth lens element on the second portion of the folded optical axis.
A camera, comprising:
- a photosensor configured to capture light projected onto a surface of the photosensor;
- and
- a folded lens system configured to refract light from an object field located in front of the camera to form an image of a scene at an image plane at or near the surface of the photosensor, wherein the lens system comprises five refractive lens elements arranged along a folded optical axis of the camera from an object side to an image side and a light folding element located between a first and second lens element from the object side and configured to redirect light from a first axis onto a second axis;
- wherein the folded lens system provides a 35 mm equivalent focal length in the range of 50-85 mm and less than 6.5 mm of Z-height measured from a front vertex of the lens system to a rear vertex of the folding element.
A device, comprising:
- one or more processors;
- one or more cameras;
- and
- a memory comprising program instructions executable by at least one of the one or more processors to control operations of the one or more cameras;
- wherein at least one of the one or more cameras is a camera comprising:
- a photosensor configured to capture light projected onto a surface of the photosensor;
- and
- a folded lens system configured to refract light from an object field located in front of the camera to form an image of a scene at an image plane proximate to the surface of the photosensor, wherein the lens system comprises five refractive lens elements arranged along a folded optical axis of the lens system from an object side to an image side and a light folding element configured to redirect light from the first lens element on the object side to a second portion of the folded optical axis;
- wherein the lens system lens system provides a 35 mm equivalent focal length in the range of 50-85 mm and less than 6.5 mm of Z-height measured from a front vertex of the lens system to a rear vertex of the folding element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.