Lens module and optical machine

Abstract

The application discloses a lens module and an optical machine, and relates to the technical field of optical machines, wherein the lens module comprises an inner lens barrel, an outer lens barrel and an elastic assembly, a lens group is mounted on the inner lens barrel, and a mounting hole extending in a radial direction is arranged on the side wall of the inner lens barrel; the outer lens barrel is sleeved on the outer periphery of the inner lens barrel, a gap is arranged between the inner lens barrel and the outer lens barrel, and the mounting hole is in communication with the gap; the elastic assembly comprises an elastic piece and an abutting piece, the elastic piece is connected to the bottom of the mounting hole, the central axis of the elastic piece is in the radial direction, the abutting piece is connected to one end of the elastic piece away from the bottom, the abutting piece extends out of the mounting hole to the gap, and the abutting piece abuts against the inner wall surface of the outer lens barrel. The lens module has the advantages that the resolution stability of the lens can be improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of optical engine technology, and in particular to a lens module and an optical engine. Background Technology

[0002] Imaging devices such as projection optical engines or cameras all include lens modules. A lens module consists of an inner lens barrel and an outer lens barrel that surrounds the inner lens barrel. During use, it is usually necessary to move the position of the inner lens barrel for focusing. This requires a gap between the inner and outer lens barrels. However, the existence of the gap will cause the position of the inner lens barrel to wobble, resulting in unstable resolution of the lens module.

[0003] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a new lens module and optical engine to solve the above-mentioned technical problems. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The main objective of this invention is to propose a lens module and optical engine, which aims to improve the technical problem of unstable resolution in existing lens modules.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, according to some embodiments of the present invention, a lens module is provided, comprising: An endoscope tube, on which a lens assembly is mounted, and the side circumference of the endoscope tube is provided with a mounting hole extending radially; An outer endoscope tube is fitted around the outer periphery of an inner endoscope tube, and a gap is provided between the inner endoscope tube and the outer endoscope tube. The mounting hole communicates with the gap. An elastic component includes an elastic element and an abutment. The elastic element is connected to the bottom of the mounting hole, and the central axis of the elastic element is along the radial direction. The abutment is connected to the end of the elastic element away from the bottom, and the abutment extends from the mounting hole into the gap and abuts against the inner wall surface of the outer lens barrel.

[0006] In some embodiments, the elastic element includes an elastic rubber column, one end of which is disposed at the bottom of the mounting hole, and the other end of which is connected to the abutment member. The elastic rubber column does not protrude from the mounting hole.

[0007] In some embodiments, the outer peripheral surface of the elastic rubber column is in contact with the inner wall surface of the mounting hole; or, the outer peripheral surface of the elastic rubber column is in clearance fit with the inner wall surface of the mounting hole.

[0008] In some embodiments, the abutment includes a steel ball that abuts against the inner wall surface of the outer lens barrel.

[0009] In some embodiments, the elastic element includes a spring, one end of which is connected to the bottom of the mounting hole, and the other end of which is connected to the abutment.

[0010] In some embodiments, the elastic element further includes an elastic rubber column, the spring is fitted onto the elastic rubber column, one end of the elastic rubber column is disposed at the bottom of the mounting hole, and the abutment member abuts against the other end of the elastic rubber column.

[0011] In some embodiments, the lens module further includes a pre-compression member disposed in the endoscope barrel, the pre-compression member including a drive motor and a pre-compression rod telescopically connected to the drive member, the pre-compression rod extending from the bottom of the mounting hole and abutting against the end of the elastic member facing the bottom.

[0012] In some embodiments, the lens module further includes an angle measuring chip and a controller. The controller is signal-connected to the angle measuring chip and the drive motor, respectively. The angle measuring chip is used to measure the tilt angle of the lens module and send the tilt angle to the controller. The controller sends a control signal to the drive motor according to the tilt angle value to adjust the preload of the elastic element.

[0013] In some embodiments, the lens module further includes a sealant layer, which is respectively bonded to the inner lens barrel and the outer lens barrel on both sides along the thickness direction, and the sealant layer is provided with a through hole for the abutment to pass through.

[0014] In some embodiments, the number of mounting holes is multiple, and the multiple mounting holes are evenly spaced along the circumference of the endoscope tube.

[0015] In some embodiments, the lens module further includes a focusing ring and a locking member. The focusing ring includes a housing body, a guide hole and a drive portion disposed in the housing body. The housing body is movably fitted onto the outer lens barrel. The outer lens barrel is provided with an axially oriented waist-shaped hole. The waist-shaped hole and the guide hole are at least partially overlapped. The locking member passes through the overlapping portion and is installed in the inner lens barrel.

[0016] In some embodiments, the guide hole is spirally arranged along the circumference of the housing body, the locking member is a threaded member, and the outer peripheral wall of the nut of the threaded member abuts against the opposite side walls of the guide hole; and the outer peripheral wall of the nut also abuts against the opposite side walls of the waist-shaped hole along the circumference of the outer lens barrel, so that the focusing ring can drive the inner lens barrel to move in the axial direction by rotation.

[0017] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the present invention also proposes a projection optical engine, which includes an imaging chip and the lens module described above.

[0018] In the above solution, the lens module includes an inner lens barrel, an outer lens barrel, and an elastic component. A lens assembly is mounted on the inner lens barrel, and a radially extending mounting hole is provided on its side. The outer lens barrel is fitted around the outer periphery of the inner lens barrel, with a gap between them. The mounting hole communicates with the gap. The elastic component includes an elastic element and a retaining element. The elastic element is connected to the bottom of the mounting hole, and its central axis is radially oriented. The retaining element is connected to the end of the elastic element furthest from the bottom, extends from the mounting hole into the gap, and abuts against the inner wall of the outer lens barrel. This invention has the advantage of improving lens resolution stability. Attached Figure Description

[0019] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0020] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional structural diagram of the lens module according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is an exploded view of the lens module according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 for Figure 1 An enlarged structural diagram at point A; Figure 4 This is a partial structural diagram of the lens module according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of another part of the lens module structure according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of another part of the lens module structure according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of a lens module according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of a portion of the three-dimensional structure of the lens module according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 9 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of another part of the lens module according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 10 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the inner lens barrel and locking component of the lens module according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 11 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the focusing ring of the lens module according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 12 This is a partial structural diagram of the lens module according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 13 for Figure 1 Another enlarged structural diagram at point A.

[0021] Explanation of icon numbers: 100. Lens module; 1. Endoscope tube; 2. Outer endoscope tube; 3. Elastic component; 31. Elastic rubber column; 32. Spring; 33. Abutment; 4. Mounting hole; 5. Gap; 6. Locking component; 7. Focusing ring; 71. Housing body; 72. Guide hole; 73. Drive unit; 74. Scale line; 8. Waist-shaped hole; 9. Drive motor; 10. Preload rod; 11. Sealing layer.

[0022] The realization of the objective, functional features and advantages of the present invention will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0024] It should be noted that if the embodiments of the present invention involve directional indicators (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.), the directional indicators are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of the components in a specific posture. If the specific posture changes, the directional indicators will also change accordingly.

[0025] Furthermore, if the embodiments of this invention involve descriptions such as "first" or "second," these descriptions are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of those features. Additionally, the use of "and / or" or "and / or" throughout the text includes three parallel solutions. For example, "A and / or B" includes solution A, solution B, or a solution where both A and B are satisfied simultaneously. Furthermore, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but this must be based on the ability of those skilled in the art to implement them. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or impossible to implement, it should be considered that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed by this invention.

[0026] In imaging devices such as projector optical engines and cameras, the lens module is one of the core components. To achieve focusing or zooming, the lens module typically needs to move the position of the inner lens barrel. In existing technology, a gap is necessary between the inner and outer lens barrels to ensure smooth movement. However, this gap directly causes the inner lens barrel to wobble when moving or stationary, severely affecting the stability of the lens module's resolution. Especially when the projector is tilted upwards or downwards, the weight of the inner lens barrel can cause it to slip uncontrollably along the gap, resulting in a drift in the already adjusted focus and a continuous deterioration in image resolution. Currently, the industry standard practice is to apply damping grease between the inner and outer lens barrels, attempting to solve the wobble and slippage problems by increasing frictional resistance.

[0027] However, through in-depth research and extensive testing, the applicant discovered that the damping effect of the damping oil is heavily dependent on the size of the fit clearance between the inner and outer lens barrels. If the clearance is too small, movement will be sluggish; if the clearance is too large, damping will be insufficient. This means that the damping oil solution cannot fundamentally and reliably solve the technical problems of lens slippage and unstable resolution.

[0028] Addressing this long-standing industry pain point, the applicant departs from traditional thinking, not attempting to achieve a theoretically "perfect" and zero-gap fit tolerance, but cleverly introducing the principle of elastic preload. Specifically, the applicant proposes a novel lens module that incorporates one or more mounting holes on the outer diameter of the inner lens barrel, with elastic elements and abutment components embedded within these holes. After the inner and outer lens barrels are assembled, the elastic element is compressed, generating an outward, continuous elastic force that pushes the abutment component firmly against the inner wall of the outer lens barrel. This structural innovation compensates for the previously unavoidable fit gap through a point contact with active force. Its core function is that, under the abutment of the steel ball, the other side of the outer diameter of the inner lens barrel is forced into close contact with the inner diameter of the outer lens barrel, generating a stable and controllable contact friction force. Compared to damping oil solutions that rely on uncertain gaps, this application provides a deterministic, durable, and efficient solution using the combination of elastic elements and abutment components.

[0029] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2 This invention proposes a lens module 100, including an inner lens barrel 1, an outer lens barrel 2, and an elastic component 3. A lens assembly is mounted on the inner lens barrel 1, and a radially extending mounting hole 4 is provided on the side of the inner lens barrel 1. The outer lens barrel 2 is fitted around the outer periphery of the inner lens barrel 1, and a gap 5 is provided between the inner lens barrel 1 and the outer lens barrel 2. The mounting hole 4 communicates with the gap 5. The elastic component 3 includes an elastic element and an abutment 33. The elastic element is connected to the bottom of the mounting hole 4, and the central axis of the elastic element is radial. The abutment 33 is connected to the end of the elastic element away from the bottom, and the abutment 33 extends from the mounting hole 4 to the gap 5 and abuts against the inner wall surface of the outer lens barrel 2.

[0030] It should be noted that the axial direction described in this application refers to the direction of the central axis of the endoscope tube 1 or the outer endoscope tube 2, such as... Figure 1 As indicated by the middle arrow X, radial direction refers to the radial direction of the endoscope tube 1, such as... Figure 1 As indicated by the middle arrow Y. Specifically, the endoscope tube 1 is a cylindrical structure for carrying the lens assembly, and its outer wall has a mounting hole 4. This mounting hole 4 is a stepped hole or a straight hole, and also a blind hole, used to accommodate the elastic component 3. The outer endoscope tube 2 is a fixed or movable structure sleeved outside the endoscope tube 1. The gap 5 between the two provides space for the axial movement of the endoscope tube 1 (e.g., focusing action). Both the endoscope tube 1 and the outer endoscope tube 2 are cylindrical, and their axial directions are consistent. The elastic component 3 is the core of this solution, in which the elastic element is pre-compressed and installed in the mounting hole 4, with one end abutting against the bottom of the mounting hole 4, and the other end connected to the abutment member 33. The central axis of the elastic element is radial, which also indicates that the direction of the elastic element's expansion and contraction is radial. Driven by the elastic force of the elastic element's own recovery deformation, the abutment 33 is pushed outward, causing part of its structure to pass through the mounting hole 4 and enter the gap 5 between the inner endoscope tube 1 and the outer endoscope tube 2, ultimately abutting tightly against the inner wall surface of the outer endoscope tube 2. In this way, a stable point of action is formed between the abutment 33 and the inner wall of the outer endoscope tube 2. The reaction force of this point of action will force the other side of the outer wall of the inner endoscope tube 1 to fit tightly against the inner wall of the outer endoscope tube 2, thereby eliminating the original fitting gap 5 and generating a preset, controllable frictional force between the contact surfaces. This design has the following four advantages: First, the elastic component 3 provides radial preload, which can press the inner endoscope tube 1 and the outer endoscope tube 2 together, or eliminate the gap 5 between the inner endoscope tube 1 and the outer endoscope tube 2, reducing the risk of relative wobbling between the inner endoscope tube 1 and the outer endoscope tube 2 during adjustment, especially reducing relative wobbling in the radial direction. At the second level, the radial preload creates contact friction between the outer wall of the inner endoscope tube 1 and the inner wall of the outer endoscope tube 2, which prevents the inner endoscope tube 1 from sliding axially. At the third level, this friction can be designed to be greater than the weight of the inner endoscope tube 1, thus preventing it from sliding down at any angle. At the fourth level, since the gap 5 is eliminated, the inner endoscope tube 1 will not experience radial wobble during focusing, ensuring the stability of lens resolution. Thus, by designing the elastic component 3 to provide radial force, axial anti-slip can be achieved, and the risk of relative radial wobble between the inner endoscope tube 1 and the outer endoscope tube 2 can be reduced, ensuring the stability of lens resolution.

[0031] Please see Figure 4 and Figure 5 In some embodiments, the elastic element includes an elastic rubber column 31, one end of which is disposed at the bottom of the mounting hole 4, and the other end of which is connected to an abutment member 33. The elastic rubber column 31 does not extend out of the mounting hole 4.

[0032] Specifically, the elastic rubber pillar 31 is a columnar body made of rubber, silicone, or other polymeric elastic materials. When compressed within the mounting hole 4, it provides stable and linear elastic force. Completely housing the elastic rubber pillar 31 within the mounting hole 4, i.e., its length being less than or equal to the depth of the mounting hole 4, ensures that it will not detach from the mounting hole 4 under pressure deformation, guaranteeing the stability and reliability of the structure. Simultaneously, the elastic rubber pillar 31 itself possesses certain damping characteristics, capable of absorbing minor vibrations, further enhancing the stability of the lens module 100.

[0033] Please see Figure 4 and Figure 5 In some embodiments, the outer peripheral surface of the elastic rubber column 31 contacts and engages with the inner wall surface of the mounting hole 4; or, the outer peripheral surface of the elastic rubber column 31 engages with the inner wall surface of the mounting hole 4 through a gap 5.

[0034] Specifically, a contact fit means that the outer diameter of the elastic rubber column 31 is basically the same as the inner diameter of the mounting hole 4, with an interference or transition fit between them. This fit reliably fixes the elastic rubber column 31 in the mounting hole 4, preventing radial bending or displacement and ensuring that the elastic force is always radially outward. A clearance fit means that the outer diameter of the elastic rubber column 31 is smaller than the inner diameter of the mounting hole 4, with a gap between them. This fit reduces assembly difficulty, and when the elastic rubber column 31 is compressed, its column can expand slightly to the side. This design can adjust the elastic force characteristics, or, in a multi-hole design, allow each elastic component 3 to work independently without interference. These two fit methods provide flexible options for lens designs with different precision and performance requirements.

[0035] Reference Figure 3 In some embodiments, the elastic element includes a spring 32, one end of which is connected to the bottom of the mounting hole 4, and the other end of which is connected to an abutment 33.

[0036] Specifically, spring 32 is a classic mechanical elastic element that stores and releases energy through its own compression deformation. Compared to the elastic rubber column 31, spring 32 can provide a near-linear elastic force over a wider range of strokes, and its elastic force can be precisely designed using parameters such as wire diameter, number of coils, and material. This allows designers to calculate the required elastic force of spring 32 very accurately based on the actual weight of the endoscope tube 1 and the required anti-slip friction, thereby achieving refined structural design.

[0037] Reference Figure 6 In some embodiments, the elastic element further includes an elastic rubber column 31, a spring 32 is fitted onto the elastic rubber column 31, one end of the elastic rubber column 31 is disposed at the bottom of the mounting hole 4, and the abutment 33 abuts against the other end of the elastic rubber column 31.

[0038] Specifically, this is a composite elastic component solution that combines a spring 32 and an elastic rubber column 31. The elastic rubber column 31 is nestled in the center of the spring 32, and the two work together. The spring 32 is primarily responsible for providing the main, large-stroke elastic force, while the central elastic rubber column 31 acts as a guide and auxiliary support, preventing the spring 32 from bending and becoming unstable during compression. Both the spring 32 and the elastic rubber column 31 can undergo expansion and contraction deformation during compression, providing greater abutment force for the abutment member 33. At the same time, the presence of the elastic rubber column 31 can absorb the minor vibrations that may be generated by the spring 32 during compression-reset, playing a buffering and noise-dampening role, making the movement of the entire elastic component 3 smoother and quieter.

[0039] In some embodiments, the abutment 33 includes a steel ball that abuts against the inner wall surface of the outer lens barrel 2.

[0040] Specifically, steel balls, as a standard rolling element, possess high hardness, high surface finish, and an extremely low coefficient of friction. (Refer to...) Figure 5 The top of the elastic rubber column 31 can be set into an arc shape adapted to the steel ball. When it abuts against the inner wall of the outer lens barrel 2, it can withstand huge contact stress without deforming itself, thus allowing the steel ball and the elastic rubber column 31 to roll together. Moreover, in a specific embodiment, when the inner lens barrel 1 moves axially for focusing, the steel ball and the inner wall of the outer lens barrel 2 can be set to roll friction. The resistance of this rolling friction is much less than that of sliding friction, so that the focusing action can still remain smooth and sensitive, avoiding the problem of focusing jamming caused by the addition of a pre-tightening structure. At the same time, the spherical characteristics of the steel ball make its contact with the plane or cylindrical surface point contact, which reduces the dependence on the precision of the contact surface and reduces wear. In other embodiments, the abutment member 33 may include a ball bearing, which is rotatably mounted on the elastic rubber column 31. The outer peripheral surface of the ball bearing also abuts against the inner wall of the outer lens barrel 2 and can roll relative to it, which can also reduce the frictional resistance during focusing.

[0041] In some embodiments, there are multiple mounting holes 4, which are evenly spaced along the circumference of the endoscope tube 1.

[0042] Specifically, to ensure that the endoscope tube 1 is subjected to a uniform and stable radial force throughout its circumference, and to prevent the endoscope tube 1 from shifting to one side due to a single point of force, thus causing a new optical axis misalignment problem, multiple mounting holes 4 can be provided on the side of the endoscope tube 1. Each mounting hole 4 houses a set of elastic components 3. The multiple elastic components 3 work together, like a multi-jaw chuck, to apply a uniform outward pushing force to the endoscope tube 1 from all sides, maintaining a stable and centered fit with the outer endoscope tube 2 in the radial direction. This uniformly distributed design greatly improves the smoothness of the endoscope tube 1's movement and the clarity of the final image.

[0043] Reference Figure 2 , Figure 7 and Figure 8 In some embodiments, the lens module 100 further includes a focusing ring 7 and a locking member 6. The focusing ring 7 includes a housing body 71, a guide hole 72 and a drive part 73 disposed on the housing body 71. The housing body 71 is movably fitted onto the outer lens barrel 2. The outer lens barrel 2 is provided with an axially arranged waist-shaped hole 8. The waist-shaped hole 8 and the guide hole 72 are at least partially overlapped. The locking member 6 is installed on the inner lens barrel 1 through the overlapping part.

[0044] Specifically, to achieve precise focusing, the lens module 100 also includes a drive assembly. The housing 71 of the focusing ring 7 can rotate relative to the outer lens barrel 2, and its guide hole 72 guides the movement trajectory of the locking member 6. The oblong hole 8 on the outer lens barrel 2 is an axially extending elongated hole that restricts the circumferential movement of the locking member 6. The locking member 6 passes through the guide hole 72 and the oblong hole 8 in sequence and is finally fixed to the inner lens barrel 1. The drive unit 73 can be an arc-shaped rack. When the external motor drives the focusing ring 7 to rotate through the drive unit 73, the guide hole 72 rotates accordingly, and its inner wall pushes the locking member 6. Since the locking member 6 is also constrained by the oblong hole 8 and can only move axially, the rotational movement of the guide hole 72 is converted into the axial linear movement of the locking member 6 and the inner lens barrel 1 fixed thereto, thereby achieving precise focusing.

[0045] Reference Figures 9 to 11 In some embodiments, the guide hole 72 is arranged in a spiral section along the circumference of the shell body 71, the locking member 6 is a threaded member, and the outer peripheral wall of the nut of the threaded member abuts against the opposite side walls of the guide hole 72; and the outer peripheral wall of the nut also abuts against the opposite side walls of the waist-shaped hole 8 along the circumference of the outer lens barrel 2, so that the focusing ring 7 can drive the inner lens barrel 1 to move in the axial direction by rotation.

[0046] Specifically, the guide hole 72 is designed as a spiral groove or an inclined groove. Of course, the guide hole 72 is only a part of the spiral groove, and the locking element 6 uses a screw with a nut. The nut, as an intermediate part of the transmission, has its outer wall in contact with both the spiral guide hole 72 of the focusing ring 7 and the axial oblong hole 8 of the outer lens barrel 2. When the focusing ring 7 rotates, the side wall of the spiral guide hole 72 applies a tangential force to the nut. Since the oblong hole 8 restricts the circumferential rotation of the nut, this tangential force is ultimately decomposed into a force that drives the nut to move axially along the oblong hole 8. The nut drives the screw, and the screw drives the inner lens barrel 1, thereby efficiently and accurately converting the rotational motion of the focusing ring 7 into the axial translation of the inner lens barrel 1. This structure is simple and reliable, and is a typical application of a cam mechanism, enabling a stepless and smooth focusing process. In addition, a scale line 74 can be set on the housing body 71, with the scale line 74 located on opposite sides of the guide hole 72, for observing whether the position of the locking element 6 is aligned.

[0047] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 12 In some embodiments, the lens module 100 further includes a pre-compression member disposed in the inner lens barrel 1. The pre-compression member includes a drive motor 9 and a pre-compression rod 10 telescopically connected to the drive motor 9. The pre-compression rod 10 extends from the bottom of the mounting hole 4 and abuts against the bottom end of the elastic member.

[0048] Specifically, the drive motor 9 can be fixedly installed inside the endoscope barrel 1, specifically below the mounting hole 4. Driven by the drive motor 9, the pre-pressure rod 10 can extend and retract axially (i.e., radially) along the mounting hole 4. The pre-pressure rod 10 passes through the bottom of the mounting hole 4 from inside the endoscope barrel 1 and abuts against the elastic element. Here, the free end of the pre-pressure rod 10 directly or indirectly abuts against the end of the elastic element near the bottom of the mounting hole 4. The elastic element can be an elastic rubber column 31 or a spring 32. By controlling the drive motor 9, the initial compression of the pre-pressure rod 10 against the elastic element can be precisely adjusted, thereby changing the pre-pressure applied by the elastic element to the abutment 33. This design allows the lens module 100 to actively adjust the contact pressure between the abutment 33 and the inner wall of the outer endoscope barrel 2 according to different working conditions (such as lens orientation and load changes) during factory calibration or actual use, further optimizing the support stiffness and anti-shake capability of the endoscope barrel 1, while avoiding increased focusing resistance or component wear due to excessive constant pre-pressure. As for the control of the drive motor 9, it can be done in an electronic form, such as the controller described below.

[0049] In some embodiments, based on the pre-compression component scheme described above, the lens module 100 further includes an angle measurement chip and a controller. The controller is signal-connected to both the angle measurement chip and the drive motor 9. The angle measurement chip measures the tilt angle of the lens module 100 and sends the tilt angle to the controller. The controller sends a control signal to the drive motor 9 based on the tilt angle value to adjust the pre-compression of the elastic component. Specifically, the angle measurement chip can be a MEMS accelerometer or a gyroscope, which is mounted on the inner lens barrel 1 or the outer lens barrel 2 to sense the tilt angle of the lens module 100 relative to the direction of gravity in real time. When the lens module 100 is in a horizontal position, the risk of the inner lens barrel 1 slipping axially is low. The controller can control the drive motor 9 to reduce the extension of the pre-pressure rod 10, thereby reducing the pre-pressure of the elastic element and reducing the frictional resistance during focusing. When the lens module 100 is tilted upward or downward at a certain angle (e.g., more than 15°), the weight of the inner lens barrel 1 will generate a significant axial slip component. At this time, the controller, according to a preset algorithm or lookup table, drives the motor 9 to increase the extension of the pre-pressure rod 10, increasing the pre-pressure of the elastic element, so that the static friction between the abutment 33 and the inner wall of the outer lens barrel 2 is sufficient to overcome the slip gravity component of the inner lens barrel 1. Thus, intelligent closed-loop control that dynamically adjusts the pre-pressure according to the lens posture is realized. While ensuring smooth focusing, the focus drift problem at any tilt angle is completely solved, significantly improving the scene adaptability of projection optical engines and other equipment.

[0050] Reference Figure 13 In some embodiments, the lens module 100 further includes a sealant layer 11. The sealant layer 11 is bonded to the inner lens barrel 1 and the outer lens barrel 2 on both sides along its thickness direction, and the sealant layer 11 has through holes for the abutment member 33 to pass through. Specifically, the sealant layer 11 can be coated or pre-formed into a thin layer using a flexible and elastic sealing material (such as silicone, polyurethane, etc.), and arranged in the gap 5 between the inner lens barrel 1 and the outer lens barrel 2, with its two sides bonded or pressed against the outer wall surface of the inner lens barrel 1 and the inner wall surface of the outer lens barrel 2, respectively. To avoid interfering with the normal operation of the elastic component 3, through holes are formed on the sealant layer 11 at positions corresponding to each mounting hole 4, through which the abutment member 33 (e.g., a steel ball) passes and remains in contact with the inner wall of the outer lens barrel 2. The main functions of the sealing layer 11 include: preventing external dust, moisture or impurities from entering the lens interior through the gap 5 between the inner lens barrel 1 and the outer lens barrel 2, thus contaminating the lens group or elastic component 3; at the same time, the elasticity of the sealing layer 11 itself can absorb the minor vibrations and assembly tolerances between the inner lens barrel 1 and the outer lens barrel 2 to a certain extent, playing an auxiliary role in shock absorption and noise reduction, further improving the reliability and service life of the lens module 100 in harsh environments.

[0051] According to some embodiments of this application, this application also provides a projection optical engine, which includes an imaging chip and a lens module 100 as described in any of the above embodiments. Specifically, the projection optical engine includes an imaging chip (such as a DMD or LCOS chip) for generating images and a lens module 100 for magnifying and projecting the images onto a screen. By employing the lens module 100 described in any of the above embodiments, this projection optical engine can not only obtain a clear and stable projected image, but also completely solve the problems of decreased lens resolution and focus drift caused by changes in device angle or long-term use. This enables devices equipped with this projection optical engine to provide a lasting, reliable, and high-quality visual experience, whether used for home theaters or business presentations.

[0052] The above are merely exemplary embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Any equivalent structural transformations made using the contents of the present invention specification and drawings under the technical concept of the present invention, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A lens module, characterized in that, include: An endoscope tube, on which a lens assembly is mounted, and the side circumference of the endoscope tube is provided with a mounting hole extending radially; An outer endoscope tube is fitted around the outer periphery of an inner endoscope tube, and a gap is provided between the inner endoscope tube and the outer endoscope tube. The mounting hole communicates with the gap. An elastic component includes an elastic element and an abutment. The elastic element is connected to the bottom of the mounting hole, and the central axis of the elastic element is along the radial direction. The abutment is connected to the end of the elastic element away from the bottom, and the abutment extends from the mounting hole into the gap and abuts against the inner wall surface of the outer lens barrel.

2. The lens module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The elastic element includes an elastic rubber column, one end of which is disposed at the bottom of the mounting hole, and the other end of which is connected to the abutment. The elastic rubber column does not protrude from the mounting hole.

3. The lens module according to claim 2, characterized in that, The outer peripheral surface of the elastic rubber column is in contact with the inner wall surface of the mounting hole; or, the outer peripheral surface of the elastic rubber column is in clearance fit with the inner wall surface of the mounting hole.

4. The lens module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The elastic element includes a spring, one end of which is connected to the bottom of the mounting hole, and the other end of which is connected to the abutment.

5. The lens module according to claim 4, characterized in that, The elastic element also includes an elastic rubber column, the spring is fitted onto the elastic rubber column, one end of the elastic rubber column is located at the bottom of the mounting hole, and the abutting member abuts against the other end of the elastic rubber column.

6. The lens module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The abutting component includes a steel ball, which abuts against the inner wall surface of the outer lens barrel.

7. The lens module according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The lens module also includes a pre-compression member disposed in the inner lens barrel. The pre-compression member includes a drive motor and a pre-compression rod telescopically connected to the drive member. The pre-compression rod extends from the bottom of the mounting hole and abuts against the end of the elastic member facing the bottom.

8. The lens module according to claim 7, characterized in that, The lens module also includes an angle measuring chip and a controller. The controller is connected to the angle measuring chip and the drive motor respectively. The angle measuring chip is used to measure the tilt angle of the lens module and send the tilt angle to the controller. The controller sends a control signal to the drive motor according to the tilt angle value to adjust the preload of the elastic element.

9. The lens module according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The lens module also includes a sealant layer, which is attached to the inner lens barrel and the outer lens barrel on both sides along the thickness direction, and the sealant layer is provided with a through hole for the abutment to pass through.

10. The lens module according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The number of mounting holes is multiple, and the multiple mounting holes are evenly spaced along the circumference of the endoscope tube.

11. The lens module according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The lens module further includes a focusing ring and a locking member. The focusing ring includes a housing body, a guide hole and a driving part disposed in the housing body. The housing body is movably fitted onto the outer lens barrel. The outer lens barrel is provided with an axially extending waist-shaped hole. The waist-shaped hole and the guide hole are at least partially overlapped. The locking member is installed in the inner lens barrel through the overlapping part of the waist-shaped hole and the guide hole.

12. The lens module according to claim 11, characterized in that, The guide hole is arranged in a spiral section along the circumference of the shell body, and the locking member is a threaded member. The outer peripheral wall of the nut of the threaded member abuts against the opposite side walls of the guide hole; and the outer peripheral wall of the nut also abuts against the opposite side walls of the waist-shaped hole along the circumference of the outer lens barrel, so that the focusing ring can drive the inner lens barrel to move in the axial direction by rotation.

13. A projection optical engine, characterized in that, The projection optical engine includes an imaging chip and a lens module as described in any one of claims 1 to 2.

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