Optical assembly for a wide field of view point action camera with low astigmatism
An optical assembly for a point action camera with a wide field of view includes multiple lens elements configured to provide a field of view in excess of 150 degrees. One or more lens elements has an aspheric surface. The optical assembly exhibits a low longitudinal astigmatism of approximately 0.3 mm or less.
1. An optical assembly for a point action camera having a wide field of view, comprising multiple lens elements, including an aspheric surface, configured to provide a field of view in excess of 150 degrees that comprises a longitudinal astigmatism of 0.3 mm or less, wherein said longitudinal astigmatism comprises multiple orders including fifth order astigmatism.
2. The optical assembly of claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal astigmatism comprises approximately 0.2 mm or less.
3. The optical assembly of claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal astigmatism comprises approximately 0.1 mm or less.
4. The optical assembly of claim 3 , comprising from object end to image end a first optical group and a second optical group, wherein the first optical group is configured to collect light at said wide field of view and said second optical group is configured to correct astigmatism error.
5. The optical assembly of claim 4 , comprising an aperture stop between said first and second optical groups.
6. The optical assembly of claim 4 , wherein said second optical group is further configured to correct distortion error.
7. The optical assembly of claim 6 , wherein said second optical group comprises multiple lens elements including an ultimate or penultimate lens element that is configured with an aspheric departure to correct said astigmatism error.
8. The optical assembly of claim 7 , wherein said ultimate lens element comprises said aspheric departure.
9. The optical assembly of claim 8 , wherein ultimate lens element comprises an object facing side and an image facing side, and wherein said object facing side comprises said aspheric departure.
10. A digital camera, comprising
an optical assembly as in claim 1 ; and
an image sensor disposed approximately at a focal plane of the optical assembly; and
a digital camera housing including electronics and a user interface, and containing said optical assembly and said image sensor in optically effective relative disposition.
11. The digital camera of claim 10 , wherein the longitudinal astigmatism comprises approximately 0.2 mm or less.
12. The digital camera of claim 10 , wherein the longitudinal astigmatism comprises approximately 0.1 mm or less.
13. An optical assembly for a point action camera having a wide field of view, comprising multiple lens elements, including an aspheric surface, configured to provide a field of view in excess of 150 degrees that comprises a longitudinal astigmatism of 0.3 mm or less,
wherein the optical assembly comprises from object end to image end a first optical group and a second optical group, wherein the first optical group is configured to collect light at said wide field of view and said second optical group is configured to correct astigmatism error, and
wherein said second optical group is further configured to correct distortion error, and
wherein said second optical group comprises multiple lens elements including an ultimate or penultimate lens element that is configured with an aspheric departure to correct said astigmatism error, and
wherein said optical assembly comprises seven lens elements.
14. A digital camera, comprising
an optical assembly as in claim 13 ; and
an image sensor disposed approximately at a focal plane of the optical assembly; and
a digital camera housing including electronics and a user interface, and containing said optical assembly and said image sensor in optically effective relative disposition.
15. An optical assembly for a point action camera having a wide field of view, comprising multiple lens elements, including an aspheric surface, configured to provide a field of view in excess of 150 degrees that comprises a longitudinal astigmatism of 0.3 mm or less,
wherein the optical assembly comprises from object end to image end a first optical group and a second optical group, wherein the first optical group is configured to collect light at said wide field of view and said second optical group is configured to correct astigmatism error, and
wherein said second optical group is further configured to correct distortion error, and
wherein said second optical group comprises multiple lens elements including an ultimate or penultimate lens element that is configured with an aspheric departure to correct said astigmatism error, and
wherein said second optical group comprises four lens elements.
16. A digital camera, comprising
an optical assembly as in claim 15 ; and
an image sensor disposed approximately at a focal plane of the optical assembly; and
a digital camera housing including electronics and a user interface, and containing said optical assembly and said image sensor in optically effective relative disposition.
17. An optical assembly for a point action camera having a wide field of view, comprising multiple lens elements, including an aspheric surface, configured to provide a field of view in excess of 150 degrees that comprises a longitudinal astigmatism of 0.3 mm or less,
wherein the optical assembly comprises from object end to image end a first optical group and a second optical group, wherein the first optical group is configured to collect light at said wide field of view and said second optical group is configured to correct astigmatism error, and
wherein said second optical group is further configured to correct distortion error, and
wherein said second optical group comprises multiple lens elements including an ultimate or penultimate lens element that is configured with an aspheric departure to correct said astigmatism error, and
wherein said second optical group comprises from object side to image side, a first singlet, a doublet and a second singlet.
18. The optical assembly of claim 17 , wherein said first singlet comprises a biconvex or plano-convex or quasi-plano-convex lens.
19. The optical assembly of claim 18 , wherein said second singlet comprises a biconvex, or convexo-plano or convexo-quasi-plano lens.
20. The optical assembly of claim 19 , wherein said first optical group comprises two or more convexo-concave or meniscus lenses.
21. The optical assembly of claim 20 , wherein said first optical group further comprises a biconvex lens.
22. The optical assembly of claim 17 , wherein said doublet comprises, from object side to image side, a biconcave lens and a biconvex lens.
23. A digital camera, comprising
an optical assembly as in claim 17 ; and
an image sensor disposed approximately at a focal plane of the optical assembly; and
a digital camera housing including electronics and a user interface, and containing said optical assembly and said image sensor in optically effective relative disposition.
24. The digital camera of claim 23 , wherein said first singlet comprises a biconvex or plano-convex or quasi-plano-convex lens.
25. The digital camera of claim 23 , wherein said doublet comprises, from object side to image side, a biconcave lens and a biconvex lens.
26. An optical assembly for a point action camera having a wide field of view, comprising multiple lens elements, including an aspheric surface, configured to provide a field of view in excess of 150 degrees that comprises a longitudinal astigmatism of 0.3 mm or less,
wherein the optical assembly comprises from object end to image end a first optical group and a second optical group, wherein the first optical group is configured to collect light at said wide field of view and said second optical group is configured to correct astigmatism error, and
wherein said second optical group is further configured to correct distortion error, and
wherein said second optical group comprises multiple lens elements including an ultimate or penultimate lens element that is configured with an aspheric departure to correct said astigmatism error, and
further comprising a third optical group disposed between the first and second optical groups.
27. The optical assembly of claim 26 , wherein the third optical group comprises a biconvex lens.
28. A digital camera, comprising
an optical assembly as in claim 26 ; and
an image sensor disposed approximately at a focal plane of the optical assembly; and
a digital camera housing including electronics and a user interface, and containing said optical assembly and said image sensor in optically effective relative disposition.
29. The digital camera of claim 28 , wherein the third optical group comprises a biconvex lens.
30. An optical assembly for a point action camera having a wide field of view, comprising multiple lens elements, including an aspheric surface, configured to provide a field of view in excess of 150 degrees that comprises a longitudinal astigmatism of 0.3 mm or less, and
wherein the lateral chromatic aberration is less than approximately three pixels.
31. The optical assembly of claim 30 , wherein the lateral chromatic aberration is less than approximately two pixels.
32. A digital camera, comprising
an optical assembly as in claim 30 ; and
an image sensor disposed approximately at a focal plane of the optical assembly; and
a digital camera housing including electronics and a user interface, and containing said optical assembly and said image sensor in optically effective relative disposition.
33. The digital camera of claim 32 , wherein the lateral chromatic aberration is less than approximately two pixels.
34. The digital camera of claim 32 , wherein said longitudinal astigmatism comprises multiple orders including fifth order astigmatism.
35. The digital camera of claim 32 , wherein the optical assembly comprises from object end to image end a first optical group and a second optical group, wherein the first optical group is configured to collect light at said wide field of view and said second optical group is configured to correct astigmatism error, and
wherein said second optical group is further configured to correct distortion error, and
wherein said optical assembly comprises seven lens elements.
36. The digital camera of claim 32 , wherein the optical assembly comprises from object end to image end a first optical group and a second optical group, wherein the first optical group is configured to collect light at said wide field of view and said second optical group is configured to correct astigmatism error, and
wherein said second optical group is further configured to correct distortion error, and
wherein said second optical group comprises four lens elements.
37. The digital camera of claim 32 , wherein the optical assembly comprises from object end to image end a first optical group and a second optical group, wherein the first optical group is configured to collect light at said wide field of view and said second optical group is configured to correct astigmatism error, and
wherein said second optical group is further configured to correct distortion error, and
wherein said second optical group comprises from object side to image side, a first singlet, a doublet and a second singlet.
38. The digital camera of claim 32 , wherein the optical assembly comprises from object end to image end a first optical group and a second optical group, wherein the first optical group is configured to collect light at said wide field of view and said second optical group is configured to correct astigmatism error, and
wherein said second optical group is further configured to correct distortion error, and
further comprising a third optical group disposed between the first and second optical groups.
39. The digital camera of claim 38 , wherein the third optical group comprises a biconvex lens.
40. The optical assembly of claim 30 , wherein said longitudinal astigmatism comprises multiple orders including fifth order astigmatism.
41. The optical assembly of claim 30 , wherein the optical assembly comprises from object end to image end a first optical group and a second optical group, wherein the first optical group is configured to collect light at said wide field of view and said second optical group is configured to correct astigmatism error, and
wherein said second optical group is further configured to correct distortion error, and
wherein said optical assembly comprises seven lens elements.
42. The optical assembly of claim 30 , wherein the optical assembly comprises from object end to image end a first optical group and a second optical group, wherein the first optical group is configured to collect light at said wide field of view and said second optical group is configured to correct astigmatism error, and
wherein said second optical group is further configured to correct distortion error, and
wherein said second optical group comprises four lens elements.
43. The optical assembly of claim 30 , wherein the optical assembly comprises from object end to image end a first optical group and a second optical group, wherein the first optical group is configured to collect light at said wide field of view and said second optical group is configured to correct astigmatism error, and
wherein said second optical group is further configured to correct distortion error, and
wherein said second optical group comprises from object side to image side, a first singlet, a doublet and a second singlet.
44. The optical assembly of claim 30 , wherein the optical assembly comprises from object end to image end a first optical group and a second optical group, wherein the first optical group is configured to collect light at said wide field of view and said second optical group is configured to correct astigmatism error, and
wherein said second optical group is further configured to correct distortion error, and
further comprising a third optical group disposed between the first and second optical groups.
45. The optical assembly of claim 44 , wherein the third optical group comprises a biconvex lens.
46. An optical assembly for a point action camera having a wide field of view, comprising multiple lens elements, including an aspheric surface, configured to provide a field of view in excess of 150 degrees that comprises a longitudinal astigmatism of 0.3 mm or less, and, wherein the lateral chromatic aberration is less than approximately five microns.
47. The optical assembly of claim 46 , wherein the lateral chromatic aberration is less than approximately three microns.
48. A digital camera, comprising
an optical assembly as in claim 46 ; and
an image sensor disposed approximately at a focal plane of the optical assembly; and
a digital camera housing including electronics and a user interface, and containing said optical assembly and said image sensor in optically effective relative disposition.
49. The digital camera of claim 48 , wherein the lateral chromatic aberration is less than approximately three microns.
50. The digital camera of claim 48 , wherein said longitudinal astigmatism comprises multiple orders including fifth order astigmatism.
51. The digital camera of claim 48 , wherein the optical assembly comprises from object end to image end a first optical group and a second optical group, wherein the first optical group is configured to collect light at said wide field of view and said second optical group is configured to correct astigmatism error, and
wherein said second optical group is further configured to correct distortion error, and
wherein said optical assembly comprises seven lens elements.
52. The digital camera of claim 48 , wherein the optical assembly comprises from object end to image end a first optical group and a second optical group, wherein the first optical group is configured to collect light at said wide field of view and said second optical group is configured to correct astigmatism error, and
wherein said second optical group is further configured to correct distortion error, and
wherein said second optical group comprises four lens elements.
53. The digital camera of claim 48 , wherein the optical assembly comprises from object end to image end a first optical group and a second optical group, wherein the first optical group is configured to collect light at said wide field of view and said second optical group is configured to correct astigmatism error, and
wherein said second optical group is further configured to correct distortion error, and
wherein said second optical group comprises from object side to image side, a first singlet, a doublet and a second singlet.
54. The digital camera of claim 48 , wherein the optical assembly comprises from object end to image end a first optical group and a second optical group, wherein the first optical group is configured to collect light at said wide field of view and said second optical group is configured to correct astigmatism error, and
wherein said second optical group is further configured to correct distortion error, and
further comprising a third optical group disposed between the first and second optical groups.
55. The digital camera of claim 54 , wherein the third optical group comprises a biconvex lens.
56. The optical assembly of claim 46 , wherein said longitudinal astigmatism comprises multiple orders including fifth order astigmatism.
57. The optical assembly of claim 46 , wherein the optical assembly comprises from object end to image end a first optical group and a second optical group, wherein the first optical group is configured to collect light at said wide field of view and said second optical group is configured to correct astigmatism error, and
wherein said second optical group is further configured to correct distortion error, and
wherein said optical assembly comprises seven lens elements.
58. The optical assembly of claim 46 , wherein the optical assembly comprises from object end to image end a first optical group and a second optical group, wherein the first optical group is configured to collect light at said wide field of view and said second optical group is configured to correct astigmatism error, and
wherein said second optical group is further configured to correct distortion error, and
wherein said second optical group comprises four lens elements.
59. The optical assembly of claim 46 , wherein the optical assembly comprises from object end to image end a first optical group and a second optical group, wherein the first optical group is configured to collect light at said wide field of view and said second optical group is configured to correct astigmatism error, and
wherein said second optical group is further configured to correct distortion error, and
wherein said second optical group comprises from object side to image side, a first singlet, a doublet and a second singlet.
60. The optical assembly of claim 46 , wherein the optical assembly comprises from object end to image end a first optical group and a second optical group, wherein the first optical group is configured to collect light at said wide field of view and said second optical group is configured to correct astigmatism error, and
wherein said second optical group is further configured to correct distortion error, and
further comprising a third optical group disposed between the first and second optical groups.
61. The optical assembly of claim 60 , wherein the third optical group comprises a biconvex lens.
62. An optical assembly for a point action camera having a wide field of view, comprising multiple lens elements, including an aspheric surface, configured to provide a field of view in excess of 150 degrees that comprises a longitudinal astigmatism of 0.3 mm or less, and, comprising a single aspheric lens element, which is the only aspheric lens element within the optical assembly.
63. The optical assembly of claim 62 , wherein lens elements other than the single aspheric lens element comprise spherical or planar lens surfaces, or both, each without significant aspheric departures.
64. The optical assembly of claim 62 , comprising a single aspheric lens surface, which is the only aspheric lens surface within the optical assembly.
65. The optical assembly of claim 64 , wherein lens surfaces other than the single aspheric lens surface comprise spherical or planar lens surfaces, or both, each without significant aspheric departures.
66. A digital camera, comprising
an optical assembly as in claim 62 ; and
an image sensor disposed approximately at a focal plane of the optical assembly; and
a digital camera housing including electronics and a user interface, and containing said optical assembly and said image sensor in optically effective relative disposition.
67. The digital camera of claim 66 , wherein lens elements other than the single aspheric lens element comprise spherical or planar lens surfaces, or both, each without significant aspheric departures.
68. The digital camera of claim 66 , comprising a single aspheric lens surface, which is the only aspheric lens surface within the optical assembly.
69. The digital camera of claim 68 , wherein lens surfaces other than the single aspheric lens surface comprise spherical or planar lens surfaces, or both, each without significant aspheric departures.
70. An optical assembly for a point action camera having a wide field of view, comprising multiple lens elements, including an aspheric surface, configured to provide a field of view in excess of 150 degrees that comprises a longitudinal astigmatism of 0.3 mm or less, and comprising only one aspheric lens element.
71. The optical assembly of claim 70 , comprising only one aspheric lens surface.
72. A digital camera, comprising
an optical assembly as in claim 70 ; and
an image sensor disposed approximately at a focal plane of the optical assembly; and
a digital camera housing including electronics and a user interface, and containing said optical assembly and said image sensor in optically effective relative disposition.
73. The digital camera of claim 72 , comprising only one aspheric lens surface.