Miniature telephoto lens assembly

Abstract

An optical lens assembly includes five lens elements and provides a TTL/EFL<1.0. In an embodiment, the focal length of the first lens element f1

Description

FIELD

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to an optical lens system and lens assembly, and more particularly, to a miniature telephoto lens assembly included in such a system and used in a portable electronic product such as a cellphone.

BACKGROUND

Digital camera modules are currently being incorporated into a variety of host devices. Such host devices include cellular telephones, personal data assistants (PDAs), computers, and so forth. Consumer demand for digital camera modules in host devices continues to grow. Cameras in cellphone devices in particular require a compact imaging lens system for good quality imaging and with a small total track length (TTL). Conventional lens assemblies comprising four lens elements are no longer sufficient for good quality imaging in such devices. The latest lens assembly designs, e.g. as in U.S. Pat. No. 8,395,851, use five lens elements. However, the design in U.S. Pat. No. 8,395,851 suffers from at least the fact that the TTL/EFL (effective focal length) ratio is too large.

Therefore, a need exists in the art for a five lens element optical lens assembly that can provide a small TTL/EFL ratio and better image quality than existing lens assemblies.

SUMMARY

Embodiments disclosed herein refer to an optical lens assembly comprising, in order from an object side to an image side: a first lens element with positive refractive power having a convex object-side surface, a second lens element with negative refractive power having a thickness d₂ on an optical axis and separated from the first lens element by a first air gap, a third lens element with negative refractive power and separated from the second lens element by a second air gap, a fourth lens element having a positive refractive power and separated from the third lens element by a third air gap, and a fifth lens element having a negative refractive power, separated from the fourth lens element by a fourth air gap, the fifth lens element having a thickness d₅ on the optical axis.

An optical lens system incorporating the lens assembly may further include a stop positioned before the first lens element, a glass window disposed between the image-side surface of the fifth lens element and an image sensor with an image plane on which an image of the object is formed.

The effective focal length of the lens assembly is marked “EFL” and the total track length on an optical axis between the object-side surface of the first lens element and the electronic sensor is marked “TTL”. In all embodiments, TTL is smaller than the EFL, i.e. the TTL/EFL ratio is smaller than 1.0. In some embodiments, the TTL/EFL ratio is smaller than 0.9. In an embodiment, the TTL/EFL ratio is about 0.85. In all embodiments, the lens assembly has an F number F#<3.2. In an embodiment, the focal length of the first lens element f1 is smaller than TTL/2, the first, third and fifth lens elements have each an Abbe number (“Vd”) greater than 50, the second and fourth lens elements have each an Abbe number smaller than 30, the first air gap is smaller than d₂/2, the third air gap is greater than TTL/5 and the fourth air gap is smaller than 1.5d₅. In some embodiments, the surfaces of the lens elements may be aspheric.

In an optical lens assembly disclosed herein, the first lens element with positive refractive power allows the TTL of the lens system to be favorably reduced. The combined design of the first, second and third lens elements plus the relative short distances between them enable a long EFL and a short TTL. The same combination, together with the high dispersion (low Vd) for the second lens element and low dispersion (high Vd) for the first and third lens elements, also helps to reduce chromatic aberration. In particular, the ratio TTL/EFL<1.0 and minimal chromatic aberration are obtained by fulfilling the relationship 1.2×|f3|>|f2|>1.5×f1, where “f” indicates the lens element effective focal length and the numerals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 indicate the lens element number.

The conditions TTL/EFL<1.0 and F#<3.2 can lead to a large ratio L11/L1e (e.g. larger than 4) between the largest width (thickness) L11 and the smallest width (thickness) of the first lens element (facing the object) L1e. The largest width is along the optical axis and the smallest width is of a flat circumferential edge of the lens element. L11 and L1e are shown in each of elements 102, 202 and 302. A large L11/L1e ratio (e.g. >4) impacts negatively the manufacturability of the lens and its quality. Advantageously, the present inventors have succeeded in designing the first lens element to have a L11/L1e ratio smaller than 4, smaller than 3.5, smaller than 3.2, smaller than 3.1 (respectively 3.01 for element 102 and 3.08 for element 302) and even smaller than 3.0 (2.916 for element 202). The significant reduction in the L11/L1e ratio improves the manufacturability and increases the quality of lens assemblies disclosed herein.

The relatively large distance between the third and the fourth lens elements plus the combined design of the fourth and fifth lens elements assist in bringing all fields' focal points to the image plane. Also, because the fourth and fifth lens elements have different dispersions and have respectively positive and negative power, they help in minimizing chromatic aberration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A shows a first embodiment of an optical lens system disclosed herein;

FIG. 1B shows the modulus of the optical transfer function (MTF) vs. focus shift of the entire optical lens assembly for various fields in the first embodiment;

FIG. 1C shows the distortion vs. field angle (+Y direction) in percent in the first embodiment;

FIG. 2A shows a second embodiment of an optical lens system disclosed herein;

FIG. 2B shows the MTF vs. focus shift of the entire optical lens assembly for various fields in the second embodiment;

FIG. 2C shows the distortion +Y in percent in the second embodiment;

FIG. 3A shows a third embodiment of an optical lens system disclosed herein;

FIG. 3B shows the MTF vs. focus shift of the entire optical lens system for various fields in the third embodiment;

FIG. 3C shows the distortion +Y in percent in the third embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, the shape (convex or concave) of a lens element surface is defined as viewed from the respective side (i.e. from an object side or from an image side). FIG. 1A shows a first embodiment of an optical lens system disclosed herein and marked 100. FIG. 1B shows the MTF vs. focus shift of the entire optical lens system for various fields in embodiment 100. FIG. 1C shows the distortion +Y in percent vs. field. Embodiment 100 comprises in order from an object side to an image side: an optional stop 101; a first plastic lens element 102 with positive refractive power having a convex object-side surface 102a and a convex or concave image-side surface 102b; a second plastic lens element 104 with negative refractive power and having a meniscus convex object-side surface 104a, with an image side surface marked 104b; a third plastic lens element 106 with negative refractive power having a concave object-side surface 106a with an inflection point and a concave image-side surface 106b; a fourth plastic lens element 108 with positive refractive power having a positive meniscus, with a concave object-side surface marked 108a and an image-side surface marked 108b; and a fifth plastic lens element 110 with negative refractive power having a negative meniscus, with a concave object-side surface marked 110a and an image-side surface marked 110b. The optical lens system further comprises an optional glass window 112 disposed between the image-side surface 110b of fifth lens element 110 and an image plane 114 for image formation of an object. Moreover, an image sensor (not shown) is disposed at image plane 114 for the image formation.

In embodiment 100, all lens element surfaces are aspheric. Detailed optical data is given in Table 1, and the aspheric surface data is given in Table 2, wherein the units of the radius of curvature (R), lens element thickness and/or distances between elements along the optical axis and diameter are expressed in mm “Nd” is the refraction index. The equation of the aspheric surface profiles is expressed by:

$z=\frac{{\mathrm{cr}}^2}{1+\sqrt{1-\left(1+k\right)c^2{r}^2}}+{\alpha }_1{r}^2+{\alpha }_2{r}^4+{\alpha }_3{r}^6+{\alpha }_4{r}^8+{\alpha }_5{r}^{10}+{\alpha }_6{r}^{12}+{\alpha }_7{r}^{14}$ where r is distance from (and perpendicular to) the optical axis, k is the conic coefficient, c=1/R where R is the radius of curvature, and α are coefficients given in Table 2. In the equation above as applied to embodiments of a lens assembly disclosed herein, coefficients α₁ and α₇ are zero. Note that the maximum value of r “max r”=Diameter/2. Also note that Table 1 (and in Tables 3 and 5 below), the distances between various elements (and/or surfaces) are marked “Lmn” (where m refers to the lens element number, n=1 refers to the element thickness and n=2 refers to the air gap to the next element) and are measured on the optical axis z, wherein the stop is at z=0. Each number is measured from the previous surface. Thus, the first distance −0.466 mm is measured from the stop to surface 102a, the distance L11 from surface 102a to surface 102b (i.e. the thickness of first lens element 102) is 0.894 mm, the gap L12 between surfaces 102b and 104a is 0.020 mm, the distance L21 between surfaces 104a and 104b (i.e. thickness d2 of second lens element 104 ) is 0.246 mm, etc. Also, L21=d₂ and L51=d₅. L11 for lens element 102 is indicated in FIG. 1A. Also indicated in FIG. 1A is a width L1e of a flat circumferential edge (or surface) of lens element 102. L11 and L1e are also indicated for each of first lens elements 202 and 302 in, respectively, embodiments 200 (FIG. 2A) and 300 (FIG. 3A).

TABLE 1
		Radius R	Distances		Diameter
#	Comment	[mm]	[mm]	Nd/Vd	[mm]
1	Stop	Infinite	−0.466		2.4
2	L11	1.5800	0.894	1.5345/57.095	2.5
3	L12	−11.2003	0.020		2.4
4	L21	33.8670	0.246	1.63549/23.91	2.2
5	L22	3.2281	0.449		1.9
6	L31	−12.2843	0.290	1.5345/57.095	1.9
7	L32	7.7138	2.020		1.8
8	L41	−2.3755	0.597	1.63549/23.91	3.3
9	L42	−1.8801	0.068		3.6
10	L51	−1.8100	0.293	1.5345/57.095	3.9
11	L52	−5.2768	0.617		4.3
12	Window	Infinite	0.210	1.5168/64.17	3.0
13		Infinite	0.200		3.0

TABLE 2
	Conic
	coefficient
#	k	α2	α3	α4	α5	α6
2	−0.4668	7.9218E−03	2.3146E−02	−3.3436E−02	2.3650E−02	−9.2437E−03
3	−9.8525	2.0102E−02	2.0647E−04	7.4394E−03	−1.7529E−02	4.5206E−03
4	10.7569	−1.9248E−03	8.6003E−02	1.1676E−02	−4.0607E−02	1.3545E−02
5	1.4395	5.1029E−03	2.4578E−01	−1.7734E−01	2.9848E−01	−1.3320E−01
6	0.0000	2.1629E−01	4.0134E−02	1.3615E−02	2.5914E−03	−1.2292E−02
7	−9.8953	2.3297E−01	8.2917E−02	−1.2725E−01	1.5691E−01	−5.9624E−02
8	0.9938	−1.3522E−02	−7.0395E−03	1.4569E−02	−1.5336E−02	4.3707E−03
9	−6.8097	−1.0654E−01	1.2933E−02	2.9548E−04	−1.8317E−03	5.0111E−04
10	−7.3161	−1.8636E−01	8.3105E−02	−1.8632E−02	2.4012E−03	−1.2816E−04
11	0.0000	−1.1927E−01	7.0245E−02	−2.0735E−02	2.6418E−03	−1.1576E−04

Embodiment 100 provides a field of view (FOV) of 44 degrees, with EFL=6.90 mm, F#=2.80 and TTL of 5.904 mm. Thus and advantageously, the ratio TTL/EFL=0.855. Advantageously, the Abbe number of the first, third and fifth lens element is 57.095. Advantageously, the first air gap between lens elements 102 and 104 (the gap between surfaces 102b and 104a) has a thickness (0.020 mm) which is less than a tenth of thickness d₂ (0.246 mm). Advantageously, the Abbe number of the second and fourth lens elements is 23.91. Advantageously, the third air gap between lens elements 106 and 108 has a thickness (2.020 mm) greater than TTL/5 (5.904/5 mm). Advantageously, the fourth air gap between lens elements 108 and 110 has a thickness (0.068 mm) which is smaller than 1.5d₅ (0.4395 mm).

The focal length (in mm) of each lens element in embodiment 100 is as follows: f1=2.645, f2=−5.578, f3=−8.784, f4=9.550 and f5=−5.290. The condition 1.2×|f3|>|f2|<1.5×f1 is clearly satisfied, as 1.2×8.787>5.578>1.5×2.645. f1 also fulfills the condition f1<TTL/2, as 2.645<2.952.

Using the data from row #2 in Tables 1 and 2, L1e in lens element 102 equals 0.297 mm, yielding a center-to-edge thickness ratio L11/L1e of 3.01.

FIG. 2A shows a second embodiment of an optical lens system disclosed herein and marked 200. FIG. 2B shows the MTF vs. focus shift of the entire optical lens system for various fields in embodiment 200. FIG. 2C shows the distortion +Y in percent vs. field. Embodiment 200 comprises in order from an object side to an image side: an optional stop 201; a first plastic lens element 202 with positive refractive power having a convex object-side surface 202a and a convex or concave image-side surface 202b; a second glass lens element 204 with negative refractive power, having a meniscus convex object-side surface 204a, with an image side surface marked 204b; a third plastic lens element 206 with negative refractive power having a concave object-side surface 206a with an inflection point and a concave image-side surface 206b; a fourth plastic lens element 208 with positive refractive power having a positive meniscus, with a concave object-side surface marked 208a and an image-side surface marked 208b; and a fifth plastic lens element 210 with negative refractive power having a negative meniscus, with a concave object-side surface marked 110a and an image-side surface marked 210b. The optical lens system further comprises an optional glass window 212 disposed between the image-side surface 210b of fifth lens element 210 and an image plane 214 for image formation of an object.

In embodiment 200, all lens element surfaces are aspheric. Detailed optical data is given in Table 3, and the aspheric surface data is given in Table 4, wherein the markings and units are the same as in, respectively, Tables 1 and 2. The equation of the aspheric surface profiles is the same as for embodiment 100.

TABLE 3
		Radius R	Distances		Diameter
#	Comment	[mm]	[mm]	Nd/Vd	[mm]
1	Stop	Infinite	−0.592		2.5
2	L11	1.5457	0.898	1.53463/56.18	2.6
3	L12	−127.7249	0.129		2.6
4	L21	6.6065	0.251	1.91266/20.65	2.1
5	L22	2.8090	0.443		1.8
6	L31	9.6183	0.293	1.53463/56.18	1.8
7	L32	3.4694	1.766		1.7
8	L41	−2.6432	0.696	1.632445/23.35	3.2
9	L42	−1.8663	0.106		3.6
10	L51	−1.4933	0.330	1.53463/56.18	3.9
11	L52	−4.1588	0.649		4.3
12	Window	Infinite	0.210	1.5168/64.17	5.4
13		Infinite	0.130		5.5

TABLE 4
	Conic
	coefficient
#	k	α2	α3	α4	α5	α6
2	0.0000	−2.7367E−03	2.8779E−04	−4.3661E−03	3.0069E−03	−1.2282E−03
3	−10.0119	4.0790E−02	−1.8379E−02	2.2562E−02	−1.7706E−02	4.9640E−03
4	10.0220	4.6151E−02	5.8320E−02	−2.0919E−02	−1.2846E−02	8.8283E−03
5	7.2902	3.6028E−02	1.1436E−01	−1.9022E−02	4.7992E−03	−3.4079E−03
6	0.0000	1.6639E−01	5.6754E−02	−1.2238E−02	−1.8648E−02	1.9292E−02
7	8.1261	1.5353E−01	8.1427E−02	−1.5773E−01	1.5303E−01	−4.6064E−02
8	0.0000	−3.2628E−02	1.9535E−02	−1.6716E−02	−2.0132E−03	2.0112E−03
9	0.0000	1.5173E−02	−1.2252E−02	3.3611E−03	−2.5303E−03	8.4038E−04
10	−4.7688	−1.4736E−01	7.6335E−02	−2.5539E−02	5.5897E−03	−5.0290E−04
11	0.00E+00	−8.3741E−02	4.2660E−02	−8.4866E−03	1.2183E−04	7.2785E−05

Embodiment 200 provides a FOV of 43.48 degrees, with EFL=7 mm, F#=2.86 and TTL=5.90 mm. Thus and advantageously, the ratio TTL/EFL=0.843. Advantageously, the Abbe number of the first, third and fifth lens elements is 56.18. The first air gap between lens elements 202 and 204 has a thickness (0.129 mm) which is about half the thickness d₂ (0.251 mm). Advantageously, the Abbe number of the second lens element is 20.65 and of the fourth lens element is 23.35. Advantageously, the third air gap between lens elements 206 and 208 has a thickness (1.766 mm) greater than TTL/5 (5.904/5 mm). Advantageously, the fourth air gap between lens elements 208 and 210 has a thickness (0.106 mm) which is less than 1.5×d₅ (0.495 mm).

The focal length (in mm) of each lens element in embodiment 200 is as follows: f1=2.851, f2=−5.468, f3=−10.279, f4=7.368 and f5=−4.536. The condition 1.2×|f3|>|f2|<1.5×f1 is clearly satisfied, as 1.2×10.279>5.468>1.5×2.851. f1 also fulfills the condition f1<TTL/2, as 2.851<2.950.

Using the data from row #2 in Tables 3 and 4, L1e in lens element 202 equals 0.308 mm, yielding a center-to-edge thickness ratio L11/L1e of 2.916.

FIG. 3A shows a third embodiment of an optical lens system disclosed herein and marked 300. FIG. 3B shows the MTF vs. focus shift of the entire optical lens system for various fields in embodiment 300. FIG. 3C shows the distortion +Y in percent vs. field. Embodiment 300 comprises in order from an object side to an image side: an optional stop 301; a first glass lens element 302 with positive refractive power having a convex object-side surface 302a and a convex or concave image-side surface 302b; a second plastic lens element 204 with negative refractive power, having a meniscus convex object-side surface 304a, with an image side surface marked 304b; a third plastic lens element 306 with negative refractive power having a concave object-side surface 306a with an inflection point and a concave image-side surface 306b; a fourth plastic lens element 308 with positive refractive power having a positive meniscus, with a concave object-side surface marked 308a and an image-side surface marked 308b; and a fifth plastic lens element 310 with negative refractive power having a negative meniscus, with a concave object-side surface marked 310a and an image-side surface marked 310b. The optical lens system further comprises an optional glass window 312 disposed between the image-side surface 310b of fifth lens element 310 and an image plane 314 for image formation of an object.

In embodiment 300, all lens element surfaces are aspheric. Detailed optical data is given in Table 5, and the aspheric surface data is given in Table 6, wherein the markings and units are the same as in, respectively, Tables 1 and 2. The equation of the aspheric surface profiles is the same as for embodiments 100 and 200.

TABLE 5
		Radius R	Distances		Diameter
#	Comment	[mm]	[mm]	Nd/Vd	[mm]
1	Stop	Infinite	−0.38		2.4
2	L11	1.5127	0.919	1.5148/63.1	2.5
3	L12	−13.3831	0.029		2.3
4	L21	8.4411	0.254	1.63549/23.91	2.1
5	L22	2.6181	0.426		1.8
6	L31	−17.9618	0.265	1.5345/57.09	1.8
7	L32	4.5841	1.998		1.7
8	L41	−2.8827	0.514	1.63549/23.91	3.4
9	L42	−1.9771	0.121		3.7
10	L51	−1.8665	0.431	1.5345/57.09	4.0
11	L52	−6.3670	0.538		4.4
12	Window	Infinite	0.210	1.5168/64.17	3.0
13		Infinite	0.200		3.0

TABLE 6
	Conic
	coefficient
#	k	α2	α3	α4	α5	α6
2	−0.534	1.3253E−02	2.3699E−02	−2.8501E−02	1.7853E−02	−4.0314E−03
3	−13.473	3.0077E−02	4.7972E−03	1.4475E−02	−1.8490E−02	4.3565E−03
4	−10.132	7.0372E−04	1.1328E−01	1.2346E−03	−4.2655E−02	8.8625E−03
5	5.180	−1.9210E−03	2.3799E−01	−8.8055E−02	2.1447E−01	−1.2702E−01
6	0.000	2.6780E−01	1.8129E−02	−1.7323E−02	3.7372E−02	−2.1356E−02
7	10.037	2.7660E−01	−1.0291E−02	−6.0955E−02	7.5235E−02	−1.6521E−02
8	1.703	2.6462E−02	−1.2633E−02	−4.7724E−04	−3.2762E−03	1.6551E−03
9	−1.456	5.7704E−03	−1.8826E−02	5.1593E−03	−2.9999E−03	8.0685E−04
10	−6.511	−2.1699E−01	1.3692E−01	−4.2629E−02	6.8371E−03	−4.1415E−04
11	0.000	−1.5120E−01	8.6614E−02	−2.3324E−02	2.7361E−03	−1.1236E−04

Embodiment 300 provides a FOV of 44 degrees, EFL=6.84 mm, F#=2.80 and TTL=5.904 mm. Thus and advantageously, the ratio TTL/EFL=0.863. Advantageously, the Abbe number of the first lens element is 63.1, and of the third and fifth lens elements is 57.09. The first air gap between lens elements 302 and 304 has a thickness (0.029 mm) which is about 1/10^th the thickness d₂ (0.254 mm). Advantageously, the Abbe number of the second and fourth lens elements is 23.91. Advantageously, the third air gap between lens elements 306 and 308 has a thickness (1.998 mm) greater than TTL/5 (5.904/5 mm). Advantageously, the fourth air gap between lens elements 208 and 210 has a thickness (0.121 mm) which is less than 1.5d₅ (0.6465 mm).

The focal length (in mm) of each lens element in embodiment 300 is as follows: f1=2.687, f2=−6.016, f3=−6.777, f4=8.026 and f5=−5.090. The condition 1.2×|f3|>|f2|<1.5×f1 is clearly satisfied, as 1.2×6.777>6.016>1.5×2.687. f1 also fulfills the condition f1<TTL/2, as 2.687<2.952.

Using the data from row #2 in Tables 5 and 6, L1e in lens element 302 equals 0.298 mm, yielding a center-to-edge thickness ratio L11/L1e of 3.08.

While this disclosure has been described in terms of certain embodiments and generally associated methods, alterations and permutations of the embodiments and methods will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The disclosure is to be understood as not limited by the specific embodiments described herein, but only by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A lens system, comprising: a lens assembly comprising a plurality of refractive lens elements arranged along an optical axis with a first lens element on an object side, wherein at least one surface of at least one of the plurality of refractive lens elements is aspheric, and wherein the lens assembly has an effective focal length EFL;a window positioned between the plurality of lens elements and an image plane, wherein the lens system has a total track length TTL of 6.5 mm or less, a ratio TTL/EFL smaller than 1.0, a F number smaller than 2.9, and a ratio L11/L1e between a largest optical axis thickness L11 and a circumferential edge thickness L1e of the first lens element smaller than 3.08; anda stop positioned before the first lens element, wherein the plurality of lens elements includes, in order from an object side to an image sidee, a first group comprising the first lens element, a second lens element with negative refractive power and a third lens element, and a second group comprising a first element of the second group and a second lens element of the second group, wherein the first and second groups are separated by a gap that is larger than twice any other gap between lens elements, wherein the first lens element has positive refractive power and wherein the first element of the second group and the second lens element of the second group have opposite refractive powers.

2. The lens system of claim 1, wherein the ratio L11/L1e smaller than 3.2.

3. The lens system of claim 1, wherein the ratio L11/L1e smaller than 3.1.

4. The lens system of claim 1, wherein the ratio L11/L1e smaller than 3.0.

5. The lens system of claim 1, wherein the TTL of 6.0 mm or less.

6. A lens system, comprising: a lens assembly comprising a plurality of refractive lens elements arranged along an optical axis with a first lens element on an object side, wherein at least one surface of at least one of the plurality of refractive lens elements is aspheric, and wherein the lens assembly has an effective focal length EFL;a window positioned between the plurality of lens elements and an image plane, wherein the lens system has a total track length TTL of 6.5 mm or less, a ratio TTL/EFL smaller than 1.0, a F number smaller than 2.9, and a ratio L11/L1e between a largest optical axis thickness L11 and a circumferential edge thickness L1e of the first lens element smaller than 3.08; anda stop positioned before the first lens element,wherein the plurality of lens elements includes, in order from an object sside to an image side, a first group comprising the first lens element, a second lens element with a focal length f2 and a third lens element with a focal length f3, and a second group comprising a first element of the second group and a second lens element of the second group, wherein the first element has a focal length f1 and a positive refractive power, wherein the second lens element has a negative refractive power, wherein 1.2×|f3|>f2|>1.5×f1 and wherein the first element of the second group and the second lens element of the second group have opposite refractive powers.

7. A lens system, comprising: a lens assembly comprising a plurality of refractive lens elements arranged along an optical axis with a first lens element on an object side, wherein at least one surface of at least one of the plurality of refractive lens elements is aspheric, and wherein the lens assembly has an effective focal length EFL;a window positioned between the plurality of lens elements and an image plane, wherein the lens system has a total track length TTL of 6.5 mm or less, a ratio TTL/EFL smaller than 1.0, a F number smaller than 2.9, and a ratio L11/L1e between a largest optical axis thickness L11 and a circumferential edge thickness L1e of the first lens element smaller than 3.08; anda stop positioned before the first lens element,wherein the plurality of lens elements comprises, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens element with a focal length f1 and positive refractive power, a second lens element with a focal length f2 and negative refractive power and a third lens element with a focal length f3, the focal length f1, the focal length f2 and the focal length f3 fulfilling a condition 1.2×|f3|>|f2|>1.5×f1, wherein a center thickness along the optical axis of each one of the plurality of lens elements is at least 0.2 mm, wherein the F number is smaller than 2.9 and wherein the plurality of lens elements further comprises a fourth lens element, the third and fourth lens elements being separated by an air gap greater than TTL/5.

8. A lens system, comprising: a lens assembly comprising a plurality of refractive lens elements arranged along an optical axis with a first lens element on an object side, wherein at least one surface of at least one of the plurality of refractive lens elements is aspheric, and wherein the lens assembly has an effective focal length EFL;a window positioned between the plurality of lens elements and an image plane, wherein the lens system has a total track length TTL of 6.5 mm or less, a ratio TTL/EFL smaller than 1.0, a F number smaller than 2.9, and a ratio L11/L1e between a largest optical axis thickness L11 and a circumferential edge thickness L1e of the first lens element smaller than 3.08; anda stop positioned before the first lens element,wherein the plurality of refractive lens elements comprises, in order from an object plane to an image plane along the optical axis, a first lens element having positive optical power, a pair of second and third lens elements having together a negative optical power, and a combination of fourth and fifth lens elements, the fourth lens element separated from the third lens element by an air gap greater than TTL/5, and wherein a center thickness along the optical axis of each one of the plurality of lens elements is at least 0.2 mm.

9. The lens system of claim 1, wherein f1<TTL/2.

10. The lens system of claim 1, wherein 1.2×|f3|>|f2|>1.5×f1.

11. The lens system of claim 1, wherein a combined power of the second and third lens elements is negative.

12. The lens system of claim 1, wherein the third lens element has negative refractive power.

13. The lens system of claim 1, wherein the first element of the second group and the second lens element of the second group are separated by a gap smaller than 1.5×d5, where d5 is a thickness of the fifth lens element along the optical axis.

14. The lens system of claim 1, wherein the first element of the second group and the second lens element of the second group are separated by a gap smaller than TTL/20.

15. The lens system of claim 1, wherein the first element of the second group and the second lens element of the second group are made of different lens materials having different Abbe numbers, such that one lens element has Abbe number that is smaller than 30 and the other lens element has an Abbe number that is larger than 50.

16. A lens system, comprising: a lens assembly comprising a plurality of refractive lens elements arranged along an optical axis with a first lens element on an object side, wherein at least one surface of at least one of the plurality of lens elements is aspheric, and wherein the lens assembly has an effective focal length EFL; anda window positioned between the plurality of lens elements and an image plane,wherein the lens system has a total track length TTL of 6.5 mm or less, a ratio TTL/EFL smaller than 1.0, a F number smaller than 3.2, and a ratio L11/L1e between a largest optical axis thickness L11 and a circumferential edge thickness L1e of the first lens element smaller than 3.08,wherein the plurality of lens elements includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first group comprising the first lens element, a second lens element with negative refractive power and a third lens element, and a second group comprising a first element of the second group and a second lens element of the second group,wherein the first and second groups are separated by a gap that is larger than twice any other gap between lens elements,wherein the first lens element has positive refractive power and wherein the first element of the second group and the second lens element of the second group have opposite refractive powers, andwherein the first element of the second group and the second lens element of the second group are made of different lens materials having different Abbe numbers, such that one lens element has Abbe number that is smaller than 30 and the other lens element has an Abbe number that is larger than 50.