I 1111111111111111 11111 1111111111 1111111111 111111111111111 111111111111111111
`US00967831 0B2
`
`c12) United States Patent
`Iwasaki et al.
`
`(IO) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 9,678,310 B2
`Jun.13,2017
`
`(54)
`
`IMAGING LENS AND IMAGING
`APPARATUS EQUIPPED WITH THE
`IMAGING LENS
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`(71) Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation, Tokyo (JP)
`
`(72)
`
`Inventors: Tatsuro Iwasaki, Saitama (JP);
`Yasunobu Kishine, Saitama (JP)
`
`(73) Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation, Tokyo (JP)
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by O days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 14/857,756
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Sep. 17, 2015
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2016/0004047 Al
`
`Jan. 7, 2016
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(63) Continuation of application No. PCT/JP2013/
`007642, filed on Dec. 26, 2013.
`
`(30)
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Mar. 25, 2013
`
`(JP) ................................. 2013-061647
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`G02B 13/18
`G02B 9/64
`
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(Continued)
`
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`CPC ......... G02B 13/0045 (2013.01); G02B 51005
`(2013.01); G02B 9/34 (2013.01);
`(Continued)
`( 58) Field of Classification Search
`CPC .. G02B 13/0045; G02B 9/60; G02B 27/0025;
`G02B 13/18; G02B 5/005; G02B 13/002;
`G02B 13/004; G02B 9/34
`(Continued)
`
`4,488,788 A
`7,274,515 B2
`
`12/1984 Fujioka
`9/2007 Noda
`(Continued)
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`JP
`JP
`
`9/1983
`58-156916
`3/1989
`64-057221
`(Continued)
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`"International Preliminary Report on Patentability" of PCT /JP2013/
`007642, mailed on Sep. 8, 2014, with partial English translation
`thereof, p. 1-p. 6, in which seven of the listed references (JP2008-
`l 76185, JP64-057221, JPl0-020193, JP58-156916, U.S. Pat. No.
`4,488,788, JP03-265809 and JP2004-029474) were cited.
`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examiner - Evelyn A Lester
`Jianq Chyun IP Office
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm -
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`An imaging lens is constituted essentially by four or more
`lenses, including, in order from the object side to the image
`side: a first lens having a positive refractive power; a second
`lens having a negative refractive power; and a plurality of
`other lenses. The conditional formulae below are satisfied.
`
`0.8<TL/f<l .0
`
`1.0<ffl<3 .0
`
`2.03 mm<f<5.16 mm
`
`1.0 mm<fi<3.0 mm
`
`(1)
`
`(2)
`
`(3)
`
`(4)
`
`wherein f is the focal length of the entire lens system, fl
`is the focal length of the first lens, TL is the distance
`along the optical axis from the surface of the first lens
`toward the object side to the paraxial focal point
`(Continued)
`
`CG
`
`100
`(Sim)
`
`L5
`
`I
`R2
`
`R1o
`
`/
`R11
`
`/
`I
`R12 R13
`
`APPL-1009 / Page 1 of 22
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`

`

`US 9,678,310 B2
`Page 2
`
`position at the image side in the case that the portion
`corresponding to back focus is an air converted length.
`
`17 Claims, 10 Drawing Sheets
`
`(51)
`
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`
`Int. Cl.
`G02B 13/00
`G02B 9/34
`G02B 9/60
`G02B 9162
`G02B 5100
`G02B 27100
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`CPC ................. G02B 9/60 (2013.01); G02B 9162
`(2013.01); G02B 13/004 (2013.01); G02B
`2710025 (2013.01); G02B 13/002 (2013.01);
`G02B 13/18 (2013.01)
`( 58) Field of Classification Search
`USPC ........ 359/714, 715, 739, 740, 763, 764, 773
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`9,261,671 B2 *
`2008/0180813 Al*
`
`2/2016 Noda
`7/2008 Taniyama
`
`2010/0103533 Al *
`
`4/2010 Taniyama
`
`G02B 13/0045
`G02B 13/006
`359/715
`G02B 13/004
`359/715
`
`2010/0309367 Al * 12/2010 Iba .
`
`2011/0115962 Al*
`
`5/2011 Chen.
`
`2011/0249348 Al * 10/2011 Kubota .
`
`2012/0044403 Al*
`
`2/2012 Tang.
`
`2012/0044583 Al*
`
`2/2012 Ise
`
`2012/0057071 Al
`2012/0086848 Al*
`
`3/2012 Yoneyama et al.
`4/2012 Tsai
`
`2012/0147249 Al*
`
`6/2012 Okano
`
`2014/0192423 Al*
`
`7/2014 Kondo
`
`G02B 9/34
`348/345
`G02B 9/34
`348/335
`G02B 13/0045
`359/764
`G02B 13/18
`348/340
`G02B 13/004
`359/715
`
`G02B 13/004
`348/340
`G02B 13/004
`348/340
`G02B 13/18
`359/714
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`KR
`
`03-265809
`10-020193
`2004-029474
`2008-176185
`2012-058407
`2013-106289
`2010-0062480
`
`11/1991
`1/1998
`1/2004
`7/2008
`3/2012
`5/2013
`6/2010
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`"Office Action of Japan Counterpart Application", issued on Dec. 1,
`2015, p. 1-p. 3, with a partial English translation thereof.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`APPL-1009 / Page 2 of 22
`APPLE INC. v. COREPHOTONICS LTD.
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun.13,2017
`
`Sheet 1 of 10
`
`US 9,678,310 B2
`
`I Ill
`
`CG
`i
`
`EXAMPLE 1
`
`l5
`
`l4
`
`St
`(R1)
`
`l3
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`L2
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`03
`;
`
`D5
`
`08 09 010
`
`/
`
`I
`
`R11
`
`/
`R12 R13
`
`APPL-1009 / Page 3 of 22
`APPLE INC. v. COREPHOTONICS LTD.
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun.13,2017
`
`Sheet 2 of 10
`
`US 9,678,310 B2
`
`I
`
`II
`
`EXAMPLE 2
`
`L5
`
`CG
`
`-100
`(Sim)
`
`St
`(R1)
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`
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`
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`R12 R13
`
`APPL-1009 / Page 4 of 22
`APPLE INC. v. COREPHOTONICS LTD.
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun.13,2017
`
`Sheet 3 of 10
`
`US 9,678,310 B2
`
`EXAMPLE 3
`
`CG
`
`100
`(Sim)
`
`l4
`
`L3
`
`R9
`
`(
`
`R10
`
`R11
`
`APPL-1009 / Page 5 of 22
`APPLE INC. v. COREPHOTONICS LTD.
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun.13,2017
`
`Sheet 4 of 10
`
`US 9,678,310 B2
`
`EXAMPLE4
`
`CG
`
`L6
`
`I
`R2
`
`I
`
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`R6 RS
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`R11
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`R14
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`R15
`
`APPL-1009 / Page 6 of 22
`APPLE INC. v. COREPHOTONICS LTD.
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun.13,2017
`
`Sheet 5 of 10
`
`US 9,678,310 B2
`
`I II
`
`St
`
`2m
`
`2m
`
`100(Sim)
`
`2
`
`APPL-1009 / Page 7 of 22
`APPLE INC. v. COREPHOTONICS LTD.
`
`

`

`I Ill
`
`PUPIL RADIUS : 0.7716mm
`.:,
`:1
`~ \
`':'
`
`-CLINE
`········· F LINE
`----d UNE
`
`EXAMPLE 1
`
`MAXIMUM IMAGE
`HEIGHT : 2.84mm
`
`MAXIMUM IMAGE
`HEIGHT : 2.84mm
`
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`......... f LII\IHU
`----dUNEm
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`APPL-1009 / Page 8 of 22
`APPLE INC. v. COREPHOTONICS LTD.
`
`

`

`I 1111
`
`EXAMPLE2
`
`PUPIL RADIUS : 0.8311mm
`
`MAKIMUM IMAGE
`HEIGHT : 2.96mm
`
`MAXIMUM IMAGE
`HEIGHT : 2.96mm
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`APPL-1009 / Page 9 of 22
`APPLE INC. v. COREPHOTONICS LTD.
`
`

`

`I Ill!
`
`PUPIL RADIUS : 0.5581mm
`
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`········· F Ul\lE
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`
`EXAMPLE3
`
`MAXIMUM IMAGE
`HEIGHT : 2.21mm
`
`MAXIMUM IMAGE
`HEIGHT : 2.21mm
`
`MAXIMUM IMAGE
`HEIGHT : 2.27mm
`
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`APPL-1009 / Page 10 of 22
`APPLE INC. v. COREPHOTONICS LTD.
`
`

`

`I 1111
`
`PUPIL V'U1UUh"i
`
`EXAMPLE4
`
`MAXIMUM IMAGE
`HEIGHT : 2.72mm
`
`MAXIMUM IMAGE
`HEIGHT : 2.12mm
`
`MAXIMUM IMAGE
`HHGHJ : 2.12mm
`
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`APPL-1009 / Page 11 of 22
`APPLE INC. v. COREPHOTONICS LTD.
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun.13,2017
`
`Sheet 10 of 10
`
`US 9,678,310 B2
`
`501
`"\
`
`541
`
`APPL-1009 / Page 12 of 22
`APPLE INC. v. COREPHOTONICS LTD.
`
`

`

`US 9,678,310 B2
`
`1
`IMAGING LENS AND IMAGING
`APPARATUS EQUIPPED WITH THE
`IMAGING LENS
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`The present application is a Continuation of PCT Inter(cid:173)
`national Application No. PCT/JP2013/007642 filed on Dec.
`26, 2013, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) to
`Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-06164 7 filed on Mar.
`25, 2013. Each of the above applications is hereby expressly
`incorporated by reference, in its entirety, into the present
`application.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`2
`order to satisfy all of the above demands. In addition, it is
`necessary for the imaging lens disclosed in Korean Patent
`Publication No. 2010-0062480 above to widen the angle of
`view and to further shorten the total length thereof.
`The present disclosure has been developed in view of the
`foregoing points. The present disclosure provides an imag(cid:173)
`ing lens that can realize a shortening of the total length and
`high imaging performance which is compatible with an
`increased number of pixels, while maintaining an angle of
`10 view which is standard for portable terminals. The present
`disclosure also provides an imaging apparatus equipped with
`this imaging lens, which is capable of obtaining high reso(cid:173)
`lution photographed images.
`An imaging lens of the present disclosure consists of four
`15 or more lenses, including, in order from the object side to the
`image side:
`a first lens having a positive refractive power;
`a second lens having a negative refractive power; and
`a plurality of other lenses;
`in which the conditional formulae below are satisfied.
`
`0.8<TL/f<l .0
`
`1.0<jlfl<3.0
`
`2.03 mm<f<5.16 mm
`
`1.0 mm<fi<3.0 mm
`
`(1)
`
`(2)
`
`(3)
`
`(4)
`
`wherein f is the focal length of the entire lens system, fl
`is the focal length of the first lens, and TL is the distance
`along the optical axis from the surface of the first lens
`toward the object side to the paraxial focal point position at
`the image side, in which the portion corresponding to back
`focus is an air converted length.
`In the imaging lens of the present disclosure, it is pref(cid:173)
`erable for at least one of Conditional Formulae (1-1) through
`(5-2) below to be satisfied. Note that as a preferable aspect,
`one or arbitrary combinations of Conditional Formulae (1-1)
`through (5-2) may be satisfied.
`
`0.9<TL/f<l.0
`
`1.2<jlfl<2.5
`
`1.7<jlfl<2.0
`
`0.003<Da/f<0.050
`
`0.004<Da/f<0.040
`
`0.005<Da/f<0.030
`
`(1-1)
`
`(2-1)
`
`(2-2)
`
`(5)
`
`(5-1)
`
`(5-2)
`
`The present disclosure is related to a fixed focus imaging
`lens for forming optical images of subjects onto an imaging
`element such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) and a 20
`CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor). The
`present disclosure is also related to an imaging apparatus
`provided with the imaging lens that performs photography
`such as a digital still camera, a cellular telephone with a built
`in camera, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a smart 25
`phone, a tablet type terminal, and a portable gaming device.
`Accompanying the recent spread of personal computers in
`households, digital still cameras capable of inputting image
`data such as photographed scenes and portraits into personal
`computers are rapidly becoming available. In addition, many 30
`cellular telephones, smart phones, and tablet type terminals
`are being equipped with camera modules for inputting
`images. Imaging elements such as CCD's and CMOS's are
`employed in these devices having photography functions.
`Recently, miniaturization of these imaging elements is 35
`advancing, and there is demand for miniaturization of the
`entirety of the photography devices as well as imaging
`lenses to be mounted thereon. At the same time, the number
`of pixels in imaging elements is increasing, and there is
`demand for high resolution and high performance of imag- 40
`ing lenses accompanying this increase.
`Imaging lenses in the above technical field have been
`proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,274,515 and Korean Patent
`Publication No. 2010-0062480, for example. U.S. Pat. No.
`7,274,515 discloses an imaging lens having a four or five 45
`lens configuration as a two focal point optical system for
`cellular telephones. Korean Patent Publication No. 2010-
`0062480 discloses an imaging lens having a five lens
`configuration, which takes imaging elements having high
`resolution into consideration.
`
`SUMMARY
`
`Recently, miniaturization of imaging elements is also
`progressing, and there is demand for miniaturization of
`imaging apparatuses as a whole as well as imaging lenses to
`be mounted therein. Particularly, demand for shortening of
`the total lengths of lenses is increasing for imaging lenses
`which are employed in devices such as smart phones and
`tablet terminals, which are becoming progressively thinner.
`In addition, angles of view of photography are an important
`item in the above devices. Therefore, there is demand for
`high resolution and a shortening of the total lengths of
`lenses, while maintaining an angle of view which is standard
`for portable terminals.
`It is necessary for the imaging lens disclosed in U.S. Pat.
`No. 7,274,515 to further shorten the total length thereof, in
`
`65
`
`50
`
`wherein Da is the distance along the optical axis between
`the first lens and the second lens.
`It is preferable for the imaging lens of the present disclo(cid:173)
`sure to consist of six or fewer lenses.
`In the imaging lens of the present disclosure, it is pref-
`55 erable for the surface of the second lens toward the image
`side to be a concave surface.
`In the imaging lens of the present disclosure, it is pref(cid:173)
`erable for a second negative lens from the object side to have
`a concave surface toward the object side, among negative
`60 lenses within the entire lens system.
`In the imaging lens of the present disclosure, it is pref(cid:173)
`erable for the lens most toward the image side to be a
`negative lens having a concave surface toward the image
`side.
`In the imaging lens of the present disclosure, it is pref-
`erable for an aperture stop to be positioned at the object side
`of the surface of the second lens toward the object side.
`
`APPL-1009 / Page 13 of 22
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`

`US 9,678,310 B2
`
`3
`In the imaging lens of the present disclosure, it is pref(cid:173)
`erable for the surface toward the image side of the lens most
`toward the image side to be an aspherical surface having an
`inflection point, which is concave in the vicinity of the
`optical axis.
`Among the lenses that constitute the imaging lens of the
`present disclosure, the plurality of lenses other than the first
`lens and the second lens may consist of three lenses includ(cid:173)
`ing, in order from the object side to the image side, a third
`lens having a positive refractive power, a fourth lens having
`a negative refractive power, and a fifth lens having a
`negative refractive power.
`Among the lenses that constitute the imaging lens of the
`present disclosure, the plurality of lenses other than the first
`lens and the second lens may consist of two lenses including,
`in order from the object side to the image side, a third lens 15
`having a positive refractive power and a fourth lens having
`a negative refractive power.
`Among the lenses that constitute the imaging lens of the
`present disclosure, the plurality of lenses other than the first
`lens and the second lens may consist of four lenses includ(cid:173)
`ing, in order from the object side to the image side, a third
`lens having a negative refractive power, a fourth lens having
`a positive refractive power, a fifth lens having a positive
`refractive power, and a sixth lens having a negative refrac(cid:173)
`tive power.
`In the imaging lens of the present disclosure and the
`preferred configurations thereof, the term "consist(s) of'
`means that the imaging lens of the present disclosure may
`also include lenses that practically have no power, optical
`elements other than lenses such as a stop and a cover glass,
`and mechanical components such as lens flanges, a lens
`barrel, a camera shake correcting mechanism, etc., in addi(cid:173)
`tion to the lenses listed as constituent elements.
`In addition, in the present disclosure, compound aspheri-
`cal lenses (a lens constituted by a spherical lens and a film
`having an aspherical shape formed integrally on the spheri(cid:173)
`cal lens) are not considered to be cemented lenses, but are
`treated as single lenses.
`Note that the shapes of the surfaces and the signs of the
`refractive powers of the lenses of the imaging lens of the
`present disclosure and the preferred configurations thereof 40
`are those in the vicinity of the optical axis (paraxial region)
`for lenses that include aspherical surfaces, unless otherwise
`noted.
`An imaging apparatus of the present disclosure is
`equipped with the imaging lens of the present disclosure.
`In the imaging lens of the present disclosure, a positive
`lens and a negative lens are provided as the first and second
`lenses in order from the object side, the imaging lens is
`constituted by four or more lenses, and configured to satisfy
`predetermined conditional formulae. Therefore, an imaging
`lens that can has a shortened the total length and high 50
`imaging performance which is compatible with an increased
`number of pixels, while maintaining an angle of view which
`is standard for portable terminals can be realized.
`The imaging apparatus of the present disclosure is
`equipped with the imaging lens of the present disclosure. 55
`Therefore, photography is enabled with an angle of view
`which is standard for portable terminals, the size of the
`apparatus can be shortened in the direction of the optical axis
`of the imaging lens, and high resolution photographed
`images can be obtained.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a sectional diagram that illustrates a first
`example of the configuration of an imaging lens according
`to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and corresponds
`to a lens of Example 1.
`
`4
`FIG. 2 is a sectional diagram that illustrates a second
`example of the configuration of an imaging lens according
`to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and corresponds
`to a lens of Example 2.
`FIG. 3 is a sectional diagram that illustrates a third
`example of the configuration of an imaging lens according
`to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and corresponds
`to a lens of Example 3.
`FIG. 4 is a sectional diagram that illustrates a fourth
`10 example of the configuration of an imaging lens according
`to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and corresponds
`to a lens of Example 4.
`FIG. 5 is a diagram that illustrates the paths of light rays
`that pass through the imaging lens of FIG. 1.
`FIG. 6 is a collection of diagrams that illustrate aberra(cid:173)
`tions of the imaging lens of Example 1, wherein A illustrates
`spherical aberration, B illustrates astigmatism, C illustrates
`distortion, and D illustrates lateral chromatic aberration.
`FIG. 7 is a collection of diagrams that illustrate aberra-
`20 tions of the imaging lens of Example 2, wherein A illustrates
`spherical aberration, B illustrates astigmatism, C illustrates
`distortion, and D illustrates lateral chromatic aberration.
`FIG. 8 is a collection of diagrams that illustrate aberra(cid:173)
`tions of the imaging lens of Example 3, wherein A illustrates
`25 spherical aberration, B illustrates astigmatism, C illustrates
`distortion, and D illustrates lateral chromatic aberration.
`FIG. 9 is a collection of diagrams that illustrate aberra(cid:173)
`tions of the imaging lens of Example 4, wherein A illustrates
`spherical aberration, B illustrates astigmatism, C illustrates
`30 distortion, and D illustrates lateral chromatic aberration.
`FIG.10 is a diagram that illustrates a cellular telephone as
`an imaging apparatus equipped with the imaging lens of the
`present disclosure.
`FIG. 11 is a diagram that illustrates a smart phone as an
`35 imaging apparatus equipped with the imaging lens of the
`present disclosure.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`
`Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will
`be described in detail with reference to the attached draw(cid:173)
`ings.
`FIG. 1 illustrates a first example of the configuration of an
`45 imaging lens according to an embodiment of the present
`disclosure. This example corresponds to the lens configu(cid:173)
`ration of Numerical Example 1 (Table 1 and Table 2), to be
`described later. Similarly, FIG. 2 through FIG. 4 are sec-
`tional diagrams
`that
`illustrate second through fourth
`examples of lens configurations that correspond to Numeri(cid:173)
`cal Examples 2 through 4 (Table 3 through Table 8). In
`FIGS. 1 through 4, the symbol Ri represents the radii of
`curvature of ith surfaces (i=l, 2, 3 ... ; to be described in
`detail later). The symbol Di represents the distances between
`an ith surface and an i+l st surface along an optical axis Zl.
`Note that the basic configurations of the examples are the
`same, and therefore a description will be given of the
`imaging lens of FIG. 1 as a base, and the examples of FIGS.
`2 through 4 will also be described as necessary. In addition,
`60 FIG. 5 is a diagram that illustrates the paths oflight rays that
`pass through the imaging lens L of FIG. 1. FIG. 5 illustrates
`the paths of axial light beams 2 and maximum angle of view
`light beams 3 from an object at a distance of infinity.
`The imaging lens L of the embodiment of the present
`65 disclosure is favorably employed in various imaging devices
`that employ imaging elements such as a CCD and a CMOS.
`The imaging lens L of the embodiment of the present
`
`APPL-1009 / Page 14 of 22
`APPLE INC. v. COREPHOTONICS LTD.
`
`

`

`US 9,678,310 B2
`
`15
`
`5
`disclosure is particularly favorable for use in comparatively
`miniature portable terminal devices, such as a digital still
`camera, a cellular telephone with a built in camera, a smart
`phone, a tablet type terminal, and a PDA.
`FIG.10 schematically illustrates a cellular telephone as an 5
`imaging apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the
`present disclosure. The imaging apparatus 1 of the embodi(cid:173)
`ment of the present disclosure is equipped with the imaging
`lens L according to the embodiment of the present disclosure
`and an imaging element 100 (refer to FIG. 1) such as a CCD 10
`that outputs image signals corresponding to optical images
`formed by the imaging lens L. The imaging element 100 is
`provided such that the imaging surface thereof matches the
`position of an image formation plane Sim.
`FIG. 11 schematically illustrates a smart phone as an
`imaging apparatus 501 according to an embodiment of the
`present disclosure. The imaging apparatus 501 of the
`embodiment of the present disclosure is equipped with a
`camera section 541 having the imaging lens L according to 20
`the embodiment of the present disclosure and an imaging
`element 100 (refer to FIG. 1) such as a CCD that outputs
`image signals corresponding to optical images formed by the
`imaging lens L. The imaging element 100 is provided such
`that the imaging surface thereof matches the position of the 25
`image formation plane Sim.
`The imaging lens L is constituted essentially by four or
`more lenses, which are, in order from the object side to the
`image side, a first lens Ll having a positive refractive power,
`a second lens L2 having a negative refractive power, and a 30
`plurality of other lenses. It is more advantageous from the
`viewpoint of improving performance to have a greater
`number of lenses. However, if increases in cost and spatial
`restrictions related to the shortening of the total length of the 35
`lens system are taken into consideration, it is preferable for
`the number of lenses that essentially constitute the entire
`lens system to be six or fewer.
`For example, the imaging lens L may be constituted
`essentially by five lenses, which are, in order from the object 40
`side to the image side, a first lens Ll having a positive
`refractive power, a second lens L2 having a negative refrac(cid:173)
`tive power, a third lens L3 having a positive refractive
`power, a fourth lens L4 having a negative refractive power,
`and a fifth lens LS having a negative refractive power, as 45
`illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. Adopting such a five lens
`configuration is advantageous from the viewpoint of realiz(cid:173)
`ing both high performance and a shortening of the total
`length of the lens system.
`Alternatively, the imaging lens L may be constituted 50
`essentially by four lenses, which are, in order from the object
`side to the image side, a first lens Ll having a positive
`refractive power, a second lens L2 having a negative refrac(cid:173)
`tive power, a third lens L3 having a positive refractive
`power, and a fourth lens L4 having a negative refractive 55
`power, as illustrated in FIG. 3. Adopting such a four lens
`configuration is more advantageous from the viewpoint of
`realizing a shortening of the total length of the lens system
`and a decrease in cost.
`As a further alternative, the imaging lens L may be 60
`constituted essentially by six lenses, which are, in order
`from the object side to the image side, a first lens Ll having
`a positive refractive power, a second lens L2 having a
`negative refractive power, a third lens L3 having a negative
`refractive power, a fourth lens L4 having a positive refrac- 65
`tive power, a fifth lens LS having a positive refractive power,
`and a sixth lens L6 having a negative refractive power, as
`
`6
`illustrated in FIG. 4. Adopting such a six lens configuration
`is more advantageous from the viewpoint of realizing high
`performance.
`Various optical members CG may be provided between
`the lens provided most toward the image side and the
`imaging element 100, depending on the configuration of the
`camera to which the lens is applied. A planar optical member
`such as a cover glass for protecting the imaging surface and
`an infrared cutoff filter may be provided, for example. In this
`case, a planar cover glass having a coating having a filtering
`effect such as an infrared cutoff filter coating or an ND filter
`coating, or a material that exhibits similar effects, may be
`utilized as the optical member CG.
`Alternatively, the optical member CG may be omitted,
`and a coating may be administered on the lens to obtain the
`same effect as that of the optical member CG. In this case,
`the number of parts can be reduced, and the total length of
`the lens system can be shortened.
`In the case that an aperture stop St is provided in the
`imaging lens L, it is preferable for the aperture stop St to be
`positioned at the object side of the surface of the second lens
`L2 toward the object side. By positioning the aperture stop
`St at the object side of the surface of the second lens L2
`toward the object side in this manner, increases in the
`incident angles of light rays that pass through the optical
`system and enter the image formation plane Sim (that is, the
`imaging element 100) can be suppressed, particularly at
`peripheral portions of an imaging region. It is more prefer(cid:173)
`able for the aperture stop St to be positioned at the object
`side of the surface of the first lens Ll toward the object side,
`in order to cause this advantageous effect to become more
`prominent.
`Note that the aperture stops St illustrated in the FIG. 1
`through FIG. 5 do not necessarily represent the sizes or
`shapes thereof, but indicate the positions thereof on the
`optical axis Zl. In addition, the expression "positioned at the
`object side of the surface of the second lens toward the
`object side" means that the position of the aperture stop St
`in the direction of the optical axis is at the same position as
`the intersection of marginal axial rays of light 2m (refer to
`FIG. 5) and the surface of the second lens L2 toward the
`object side, or more toward the object side than this position.
`Similarly, the expression "positioned at the object side of the
`surface of the first lens Ll toward the object side" means that
`the position of the aperture stop in the direction of the optical
`axis is at the same position as the intersection of marginal
`axial rays of light 2m and the surface of the first lens L1
`toward the object side, or more toward the object side than
`this position.
`In the examples of the configurations illustrated in FIG. 1
`through FIG. 4, the aperture stop St is positioned at the
`image side of the apex of the surface of the first lens Ll
`toward the object side. However, the present disclosure is
`not limited to such a configuration, and the aperture stop St
`may be positioned at the object side of the apex of the
`surface of the first lens Ll toward the object side. A case in
`which the aperture stop St is positioned at the object side of
`the apex of the surface of the first lens Ll toward the object
`side is somewhat disadvantageous from the viewpoint of
`securing peripheral light intensity compared to a case in
`which the aperture stop St is positioned at the image side of
`the apex of the surface of the first lens Ll. However,
`increases in the incident angles of light rays that pass
`through the optical system and enter the image formation
`plane (imaging element) can be further suppressed at the
`peripheral portions of the imaging region.
`
`APPL-1009 / Page 15 of 22
`APPLE INC. v. COREPHOTONICS LTD.
`
`

`

`US 9,678,310 B2
`
`5
`
`8
`angle of view is 70 degrees or greater as in the example
`illustrated in FIG. 5, the imaging lens L may be favorably
`applied to cellular telephone terminals and the like, which
`are often used for close distance photography. It is preferable
`for the imaging lens L to be configured such that the full
`angle of view is 70 degrees or greater for this reason.
`Next, the operation and effects of conditional formulae
`related to the imaging lens L configured as described above
`will be described in greater detail. First, the imaging lens L
`10 is configured such that Conditional Formulae (1) through (4)
`below are satisfied.
`
`7
`In the imaging lens L, the first lens Ll has a pos1t1ve
`refractive power in the vicinity of the optical axis. Thereby,
`the total length of the lens system can be favorably short(cid:173)
`ened. In addition, it is preferable for the first lens Ll to have
`a convex surface toward the object side in the vicinity of the
`optical axis. In this case, the surface most toward the object
`side in the lens system will be of a convex shape. As a result,
`the position of the rearward principal point can be moved
`toward the object side, and the total length of the lens system
`can be favorably shortened.
`The second lens L2 has a negative refractive power in the
`vicinity of the optical axis. It is preferable for the second lens
`L2 to have a concave surface toward the image side in the
`vicinity of the optical axis. In this case, the total length of the
`lens system can be favorably shortened, and spherical aber- 15
`ration can be favorably corrected.
`It is preferable for the imaging lens L to have two or more
`negative lenses. In this case, the negative refractive power
`required in the entire lens system can be distributed, which
`is advantageous from the viewpoint of favorably correcting 20
`aberrations.
`In the case that the imaging lens L has two or more
`negative lenses, it is preferable for the surface toward the
`object side of the second negative lens from the object side
`among the negative lenses of the entire lens system to be a 25
`concave surface in the vicinity of the optical axis. In this
`case, the total length of the lens system can be favorably
`shortened, and the generation of differences in spherical
`aberration dependin