COMPACT IMAGING LENS SYSTEM

• US 20080062537A1
• Filed: 09/07/2007
• Published: 03/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Asia Optical International Limited (Asia Optical Company Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Asia Optical Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Liao, Chen-Cheng
• Granted Patent: US 7,599,129 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/720
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/0856 comprising a refractive element with a reflective surface, the reflection taking place inside the element, e.g. Mangin mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 9/12 having three components only

Abstract

A compact imaging lens system includes, in order from the object side to the image side, a first lens (1) of negative refractive power, a free-form surface prism (2) of positive refractive power and a second lens (3) of positive refractive power. The free-form surface prism has an incidence surface (S3), a reflection surface (S4) and an exit surface (S5). The first lens is disposed on the side of the incidence surface, and the second lens is disposed on the side of the exit surface. The free-form surface prism functions equivalent to a right-angle prism with aspheric surfaces.

Claims

1. A compact imaging lens system comprising, in order from the object side to the image side, a first lens of negative refractive power, a free-form surface prism of positive refractive power and a second lens of positive refractive power, the free-form surface prism having an incidence surface, a reflection surface and an exit surface, the first lens being disposed on the side of the incidence surface of the free-form surface prism, the second lens being disposed on the side of the exit surface of the free-form surface prism.

2. The compact imaging lens system as claimed in claim 1, satisfying the condition of 1.3<

|f1/f|<

2.3, wherein f represents the effective focal length of the compact imaging lens system, and f1 represents the effective focal length of the first lens.

3. The compact imaging lens system as claimed in claim 2, satisfying the condition of 2.5<

f2/f<

5.0, wherein f2 represents the effective focal length of the prism.

4. The compact imaging lens system as claimed in claim 3, satisfying the condition of 2.5<

f3/f<

4.0, wherein f3 represents the effective focal length of the second lens.

5. The compact imaging lens system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an aperture stop disposed between the prism and the second lens.

6. The compact imaging lens system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a glass cover disposed between the second lens and the image side.

7. The compact imaging lens system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first lens has at least one aspheric surface.

8. The compact imaging lens system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the prism functions equivalent to a right-angle prism with aspheric surfaces.

9. The compact imaging lens system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the reflection surface of the prism is inclinedly positioned on an optical axis of the compact imaging lens system, the incidence surface of the prism is positioned on the object side, and the exit surface of the prism is positioned on the image side.

10. The compact imaging lens system as claimed in claim 9, wherein both the incidence surface and the exit surface of the prism are aspheric surfaces.

11. The compact imaging lens system as claimed in claim 10, wherein both the incidence surface and the exit surface of the prism are convex surfaces, and the reflection surface of the prism is a planar surface or a convex surface.

12. The compact imaging lens system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the second lens is an aspheric lens.

13. The compact imaging lens system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first lens, the prism and the second lens are all made of plastics.

14. The compact imaging lens system as claimed in claim 1, wherein both the first lens and the prism are made of plastics, and the second lens is made of glass.

15. A compact imaging lens system comprising, in order from the object side to the image side, a first lens of negative refractive power, a free-form surface prism of positive refractive power and a second lens of positive refractive power, the first lens, the free-form surface prism and the second lens satisfying the following conditions:

1.3<

|f1/f|<

2.3;


2.5<

f2/f<

5.0;


2.5<

f3/f<

4.0,

where f represents the effective focal length of the compact imaging lens system, and f1, f2 and f3 represent the effective focal lengths of the first lens, the free-form surface prism and the second lens, respectively.

16. The compact imaging lens system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the free-form surface prism has an incidence surface, a reflection surface and an exit surface, the first lens is disposed on the side of the incidence surface, and the second lens is disposed on the side of the exit surface.

17. The compact imaging lens system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the free-form surface prism functions equivalent to a right-angle prism with aspheric surfaces.

18. The compact imaging lens system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the free-form surface prism has an incidence surface facing the first lens, a reflection surface inclinedly positioned on an optical axis of the compact imaging lens system, and an exit surface positioned toward the image side.

19. The compact imaging lens system as claimed in claim 15, wherein both the first lens and the free-form surface prism are made aspheric.

20. The compact imaging lens system as claimed in claim 15 further comprising an aperture stop disposed between the free-form surface prism and the second lens, and a glass cover disposed between the second lens and the image side.