Variable aperture

Abstract

A variable aperture includes a fixed base, a rotating base, an elastic body, a connecting member, and multiple blades. The rotating base is disposed inside the fixed base. Each blade is rotatably connected to the fixed base and slidably connected to the rotating base. A first end of the elastic body is fixed to the side of the fixed base, a second end of the elastic body is connected to the first end of the connecting member, and a second end of the connecting member is connected to the rotating base. When the length of the elastic body changes, the elastic body undergoes a length extension or contraction, and the rotating base rotates relative to the fixed base according to the length extension or contraction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an optical element, and more particularly to a variable aperture. Background Technology

[0002] Traditional apertures are mostly driven by voice coil motors, which are not advantageous in terms of size and weight, and are easily affected by external magnetic fields. The internal drive current can also cause overheating, which in turn affects optical quality. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This invention provides a variable aperture that does not use a voice coil motor and can precisely control the aperture size.

[0004] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a variable aperture is provided, including a fixed base, a rotating base, an elastic body, a connecting member, and a plurality of blades. The rotating base is disposed inside the fixed base. Each blade is rotatably connected to the fixed base and slidably connected to the rotating base. A first end of the elastic body is fixed to the side of the fixed base, a second end of the elastic body is connected to the first end of the connecting member, and a second end of the connecting member is connected to the rotating base. When the length of the elastic body changes, the elastic body generates a length extension / retraction amount, and the rotating base rotates relative to the fixed base according to the length extension / retraction amount.

[0005] Based on the above, the variable aperture provided in this embodiment of the invention utilizes multiple blades to define the aperture size, and uses an elastomer to drive the rotating base to rotate, thereby driving the blades to rotate, achieving the purpose of precisely adjusting the aperture. Compared with traditional apertures, the variable aperture provided in this embodiment of the invention avoids problems such as coil heating and degradation of optical quality.

[0006] To make the above features and advantages of the present invention more apparent and understandable, specific embodiments are described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0007] Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 as well as Figure 4 Partial structural schematic diagrams of a variable aperture according to some embodiments of the present invention are shown respectively;

[0008] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of an elastomer and a connecting member according to some embodiments of the present invention is shown; Figure 6 A schematic diagram of an elastomer according to some embodiments of the present invention is shown.

[0009] Explanation of icon numbers:

[0010] 1: Variable aperture

[0011] 100: Elastomer

[0012] 101: Metal Structure

[0013] 102: Shape Memory Alloy Wire

[0014] 103, 104, 105, 106, 110, 120, 201, 202: End

[0015] 107: Rhombus structure

[0016] 200: Connecting component

[0017] 300: Fixed base

[0018] 300H: Side hole of the mounting base

[0019] 301, 401: Columns

[0020] 400: Rotating seat

[0021] 500: Blade

[0022] 500H: Light transmission hole

[0023] 501, 502: Through holes Detailed Implementation

[0024] Reference Figures 1 to 6 Each of these figures illustrates a partial structural schematic of a variable aperture according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0025] The variable aperture 1 provided in this embodiment of the invention includes an elastic body 100, a connecting member 200, a fixed base 300, a rotating base 400, and a plurality of blades 500. These blades 500 define a light-transmitting aperture 500H, and both the fixed base 300 and the rotating base 400 are hollow annular structures. The light-transmitting aperture 500H connects the interior spaces of the fixed base 300 and the rotating base 400. Therefore, the aperture can be made variable by changing the size of the light-transmitting aperture 500H.

[0026] like Figure 1 as well as Figure 2As shown, the rotating seat 400 is disposed inside the fixed seat 300 and can rotate relative to the central axis. When the rotating seat 400 rotates, the fixed seat 300 can remain stationary. The fixed seat 300 includes a plurality of pillars 301, and the rotating seat 400 also includes a plurality of pillars 401. Each blade 500 includes a first through hole 501 and a second through hole 502. Each pillar 301 passes through the first through hole 501 of the corresponding blade 500. That is, each blade 500 is rotatably connected to the fixed seat 300 through each pillar 301. Each pillar 401 passes through the second through hole 502 of the corresponding blade 500, wherein the size of each second through hole 502 allows the corresponding pillar 401 to move within its hole. That is, each blade 500 is slidably connected to the rotating seat 400 through each pillar 401. Further, when the rotating seat 400 rotates and the fixed seat 300 remains stationary, each blade 500 can rotate about the pillar 301 as a fulcrum. The light-transmitting hole 500H formed by the blades 500 can change size as the blades 500 rotate.

[0027] Simultaneously refer to Figure 1 , Figure 3 , Figure 4 as well as Figure 5 It should be noted that the elastic body 100 is disposed on the periphery of the fixed seat 300 away from the rotating seat 400, and the elastic body 100 is connected to the rotating seat 400 via the connecting member 200. Specifically, the elastic body 100 includes a first end 110 and a second end 120, and the connecting member 200 includes a first end 201 and a second end 202. The first end 110 of the elastic body 100 is fixed to the outer surface of the fixed seat 300, the second end 120 of the elastic body 100 is slidably connected to the first end 201 of the connecting member 200, and the second end 202 of the connecting member 200 is rotatably connected to the rotating seat 400, wherein the connecting member 200 passes through the side hole 300H of the fixed seat to connect the elastic body 100 and the rotating seat 400.

[0028] Since the first end 110 of the elastic body 100 is fixed to the outer surface of the fixed base 300, when the length of the elastic body 100 changes (the elastic body 100 undergoes length expansion or contraction), the elastic body 100 can apply force to the connecting member 200 through its second end 120. Furthermore, since the second end 120 of the elastic body 100 is slidably connected to the first end 201 of the connecting member 200, and the second end 202 of the connecting member 200 is rotatably connected to the rotating base 400, when the connecting member 200 is subjected to a force from the elastic body 100, this force can cause the rotating base 400 to rotate relative to the fixed base 300, thereby causing each blade 500 to rotate, thus changing the size of the light-transmitting aperture 500H and achieving the purpose of adjusting the aperture. For example, in some embodiments, when the length of the elastic body 100 increases, the light-transmitting aperture 500H formed by the blades 500 becomes smaller.

[0029] Please refer to Figure 1 , Figures 3 to 6 The elastomer 100 includes a metal structure 101 and a plurality of shape memory alloy wires 102. The metal structure 101 may be made of, for example, copper, but is not limited thereto. The metal structure 101 includes a plurality of rhomboid structures 107, and each rhomboid structure 107 includes opposing first ends 103 and second ends 104, and opposing third ends 105 and fourth ends 106. The surface of each shape memory alloy wire 102 has an insulating layer and its length can be changed by applying an electric current and heating it. The first ends 103 and the second ends 104 are respectively connected by the shape memory alloy wires 102. When the length of the shape memory alloy wires 102 changes, the distance between the first ends 103 and the second ends 104 changes. Accordingly, the rhomboid structures 107 can deform, the third ends 105 and the fourth ends 106 move, thereby changing the overall length of the elastomer 100, causing the rotating seat 400 to rotate relative to the fixed seat 300, thereby adjusting the aperture. Based on the above, by controlling the length of each shape memory alloy wire 102, the aperture size of the variable aperture 1 can be precisely controlled.

[0030] like Figure 1 , Figure 4 as well as Figure 5 As shown, the fixing base 300 may, for example, have an octagonal profile, and the metal structure 101 of the elastomer 100 may include four rhombus structures 107, wherein the four rhombus structures 107 are respectively located on the four sides of the octagon. However, the invention is not limited thereto. In some embodiments, the fixing base 300 may have an N-sided profile, and the metal structure 101 may include n rhombus structures 107, where N and n are both positive integers greater than 1. In some embodiments, N is an even number, but this is not a limitation. In some embodiments, n is less than or equal to N / 2, but this is not a limitation.

[0031] Reference Figure 6The length expansion / contraction ΔL of the elastomer 100 can be defined by the length expansion / contraction ΔM of each rhombus structure 107. Specifically, when each shape memory alloy wire 102 is energized and thus changes length, the length expansion / contraction ΔM of each rhombus structure 107 satisfies the condition ΔM = 2 * d * Sr * tanθ, where d is the distance between the first end 103 and the second end 104 of each rhombus structure 107, Sr is the expansion / contraction rate of each shape memory alloy wire 102, and θ is half the interior angle of each rhombus structure 107 at the first end 103 and the second end 104. When each rhombus structure 107 generates a length expansion / contraction ΔM, the length expansion / contraction of the elastomer 100 with n rhombus structures 107 is ΔL, and ΔL = n * ΔM, where both the length expansion / contraction ΔM of each rhombus structure 107 and the length expansion / contraction ΔL of the elastomer 100 are expansion / contraction along a direction perpendicular to the line connecting the first end 103 and the second end 104.

[0032] Based on the above, the variable aperture provided in this embodiment of the invention utilizes multiple blades to define the aperture size, and uses an elastic body to drive the rotating base to rotate, thereby driving the blades to rotate and achieving the purpose of adjusting the aperture. Compared with traditional apertures, the variable aperture provided in this embodiment of the invention avoids problems such as coil heating and degradation of optical quality.

Claims

1. A variable aperture, characterized in that, It includes a fixed base, a rotating base, an elastic body, connecting components, and multiple blades; The rotating seat is disposed inside the fixed seat; Each of the blades is rotatably connected to the fixed base and slidably connected to the rotating base; The first end of the elastic body is fixed to the side of the fixed seat, the second end of the elastic body is connected to the first end of the connecting member, and the second end of the connecting member is connected to the rotating seat; when the length of the elastic body changes, the elastic body generates a length extension, and the rotating seat rotates relative to the fixed seat according to the length extension. The elastomer includes a metal structure and a plurality of shape memory alloy wires disposed on the metal structure, each of the shape memory alloy wires being used to change the length of the elastomer; and The metal structure surrounds the fixing base. The metal structure includes n rhomboid structures, where n is a positive integer greater than 1. The n rhomboid structures include multiple opposing first ends and multiple second ends, which are respectively connected by the multiple shape memory alloy wires.

2. The variable aperture according to claim 1, characterized in that, The mounting base has an N-sided profile, where N is a positive integer greater than 1.

3. The variable aperture according to claim 2, characterized in that, N is an even number.

4. The variable aperture according to claim 2, characterized in that, n is less than or equal to N / 2.

5. The variable aperture according to claim 2, characterized in that, Each of the rhombic structures is adapted to generate a length expansion ΔM, where ΔM = 2 * d * Sr * tano, and d is the distance between the first end and the second end of each rhombic structure, Sr is the expansion rate of the plurality of shape memory alloy wires, and θ is half of the interior angle of each rhombic structure at the first end and the second end. When each rhombic structure generates the length expansion ΔM, the length expansion of the elastomer is ΔL, and ΔL = n * ΔM.

6. The variable aperture according to claim 2, characterized in that, By stretching and contracting the plurality of shape memory alloy wires, the length of the elastomer changes, the distance between the plurality of first ends and the plurality of second ends of the n rhombus structures changes, and the plurality of third ends and the plurality of fourth ends of the n rhombus structures move.

7. The variable aperture according to claim 1, characterized in that, The elastomer and the connecting member are connected through the side hole of the fixing seat.

8. The variable aperture according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second end of the connecting member is rotatably connected to the rotating seat.

9. The variable aperture according to claim 1, characterized in that, As the length of the elastomer increases, the light-transmitting hole formed by the plurality of blades becomes smaller, wherein the light-transmitting hole communicates with the space within the rotating seat.

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