Abstract: To design a universal shortfocus projection lens for different sizes of projectors, the characteristic optical parameters of which were integrated, and the different sizes of the prism inside the optical engines of different types of projectors were put into the multiconfiguration of the system as one part of the lens. The image height, resolution and back operating distance were set reasonably according to different parameters of the chips. Finally, a lens whose throwratio was 0.8:1 ~0.95:1 for every suited projector based on 1 digital micromirror device (DMD) or 3liquid crystal display (LCD) technology was designed, in which the chip was from 0.63 inch to 0.8 inch. The illumination and distortion problems difficult handled in shortfocus projection system were analyzed, and an effective solution was provided. Furthermore, the tolerance analysis was conducted.