Optical element holding mechanism, optical device, control system, and moving device

Abstract

To provide a lens holding mechanism capable of pressing a lens in an optical axis direction while suppressing deformation such as twist or kinking of an elastic member.SOLUTION: Disclosed is a lens holding mechanism which holds a lens and includes: a lens barrel for housing the lens: a holding member which is fitted to the lens barrel and presses the lens in a direction along an optical axis; and an elastic member arranged between the lens and the holding member. An engaging part is formed in the holding member, and an engaged part which is engaged with the engaging part in a radial direction or a circumferential direction is formed in the lens.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to Optical element a holding mechanism, an optical device, a control system, and a moving device.

Background Art

[0002] Optical devices mounted on vehicles such as automobiles include, for example, sensors for performing driving support and autonomous driving functions, and cameras for imaging the surroundings of the automobile. Further, as an optical device having a sensing function, there is LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging).

[0003] These devices have a lens barrel that holds an optical element. When the optical element is held in the lens barrel, if the environmental temperature changes due to the difference in the amount of expansion and contraction caused by the difference in the linear expansion coefficients of the optical element and the lens barrel, a gap (play) may occur in the optical axis direction. The generated play may change the holding position and cause deterioration of optical performance and aging of components. In-vehicle cameras, LiDAR, etc. are required to guarantee excellent performance and functions in the entire temperature range under a temperature environment that varies over a wide range.

[0004] Furthermore, in-vehicle cameras often do not include an autofocus mechanism for cost reasons. On the other hand, there is a configuration in which an annular elastic member is sandwiched between a pressing ring and an optical element and pre-compressed by a necessary amount at the time of assembly at normal temperature to give an elastic force and eliminate play at high temperatures. As the driving support and autonomous driving functions of automobiles are required to be even more high-performance and high-functional in the future, it is considered that the optical system of in-vehicle cameras, which serve as the eyes of automobiles, will be further complicated and highly functional.

[0005] As the optical systems of in-vehicle cameras become more complex and sophisticated, the number of optical elements also increases, and it is thought that the play in retaining rings, lens barrels, and optical elements caused by temperature changes may become even greater. Also, for example, when optical devices are mounted externally on a car, elastic members may be used for drip-proofing and waterproofing purposes in rainy weather. Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which both a retaining ring and an elastic member are in contact with the optical element. Patent Document 2 discloses a configuration in which the optical element is held by a retaining ring via an elastic member. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6192560 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 05-127058 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] However, in the configurations described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, rotating and screwing in the retaining ring during assembly may cause the elastic member to deform, such as twisting or bending, due to friction between the elastic member and the retaining ring / optical element. If the elastic member is held in a deformed state, the force holding the optical element to the lens barrel by the retaining ring will not be applied evenly, which may cause the optical element to tilt, leading to a deterioration in assembly accuracy and, consequently, a deterioration in optical performance.

[0008] Furthermore, when the ambient temperature changes while the elastic member is deformed, and components such as the lens barrel and optical elements expand and contract according to the linear expansion coefficient of their respective materials, the amount of deformation and release from compression of the elastic member will differ partially in relation to the resulting play. As a result, the optical performance may further deteriorate when the ambient temperature changes.

[0009] Therefore, the present invention suppresses deformation such as twisting and torsion of elastic members, for example. Optical elementthat can hold it in the optical axis direction Optical element holding mechanism etc. is provided.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0010] To achieve the above object, as one aspect of the present invention, Optical element the holding mechanism Multiple optical elements a lens barrel for housing fitted with the lens barrel and Among the plurality of optical elements a holding member for pressing the first optical element in the direction along the optical axis, the First optical element and an elastic member disposed between the holding member, and has an engaging portion is formed on the holding member, the First optical element has an engaged portion formed thereon in the radial direction or the circumferential direction that engages with the engaging portion Contact This is characterized by 、 The first optical element, the holding member, and the elastic member are rotatable together as a single unit in the circumferential direction. .

Effect of the Invention

[0011] According to the present invention, for example, while suppressing deformation such as torsion or kink of the elastic member, Optical element it is possible to hold it in the optical axis direction Optical element a holding mechanism etc. is provided.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012] [Figure 1] It is a schematic cross-sectional view of an imaging device according to Example 1. [Figure 2] It is an example of an exploded perspective view showing the optical element, elastic member, and holding member of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] It is a cross-sectional view showing an example in which the shapes of the optical element and the holding member of FIG. 1 are changed. [Figure 4] It is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a lens module according to Example 2. [Figure 5]It is an exploded perspective view showing an example of an optical element, an elastic member, and a holding member according to Example 2. [Figure 6] It is a configuration diagram of an in-vehicle system according to Example 3. [Figure 7] It is a schematic diagram of a vehicle as a moving device including the in-vehicle system according to Example 3. [Figure 8] It is a flowchart showing an operation example of the in-vehicle system according to Example 3.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described using examples and figures. In each figure, the same members or elements are given the same reference numerals, and duplicate explanations are omitted or simplified.

[0014] <Example 1> FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an optical device 1 according to Example 1. FIG. 2 is an example of an exploded perspective view of a first optical element 5, a holding member 7, and an elastic member 8 according to Example 1. Hereinafter, the optical device 1 of Example 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0015] The optical device 1 of Example 1 includes a lens module 2, a housing 3, an electrical device (not shown), and a control unit (not shown). Further, although not shown, it has a perforated mirror, a fixed mirror, a movable mirror, a condenser lens, a light receiving element, a light source forming unit (light projecting unit), etc. Here, for example, when the optical device 1 is an in-vehicle camera, the lens module 2 functions as an imaging optical system, and a signal is input to an electrical device (not shown) including an image sensor, whereby environmental information around the automobile is acquired. The obtained information is used, for example, in a driving support or an automatic driving system.

[0016] The lens module 2 has a lens barrel 4, a first optical element 5, other optical systems 6, a holding member 7, and an elastic member 8. The holding member 7 holds the first optical element 5 and other optical systems 6 in which a spacer (not shown) is disposed inside the lens barrel 4. The lens module 2 is held by the housing 3.

[0017] The housing 3 houses a perforated mirror, a fixed mirror, a movable mirror, a light-gathering lens, a light-receiving element, a light-emitting unit (light-projecting unit), etc. (not shown). The perforated mirror (light-guide unit) is a mirror fixedly held in the housing 3 and has holes (openings). The perforated mirror can transmit illumination light (e.g., laser light) through the holes and reflect it with its reflective surface. The perforated mirror guides illumination light from the light-emitting unit to the fixed mirror and guides reflected light from the fixed mirror to the light-gathering lens. The fixed mirror is a mirror fixedly held in the housing 3. The fixed mirror guides illumination light from the perforated mirror to the movable mirror and guides reflected light from the movable mirror to the perforated mirror.

[0018] The movable mirror (deflection unit, scanning unit) is fixedly held in the housing 3 and is a mirror that scans an object using illumination light from the light source forming unit. The movable mirror may be configured as a two-axis driven mirror, and for example, a MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical System) mirror can be used. The movable mirror illuminates the target area with illumination light from the fixed mirror via optical elements (first optical element 5 and other optical systems 6), and also guides reflected light from the object in the target area to the fixed mirror via optical elements.

[0019] The condensing lens is an optical element (condensing optical system) that is fixedly held in the housing 3, focuses the illumination light from the perforated mirror, and guides the focused illumination light to the photodetector. The photodetector is an element that converts the illumination light from the light source formation unit into photoelectric form and outputs a signal. PDs (Photo Diodes), APDs (Avalanche Photo Diodes), and SPADs (Single Photon Avalanche Diodes) are used as photodetectors. The perforated mirror, fixed mirror, movable mirror, condensing lens, and photodetector are all incorporated into the housing 3 and housed within the housing 3.

[0020] The light source forming unit (light projection unit) comprises a light source (semiconductor laser), a focusing lens, and a fixed aperture. The light source is a light source that emits illumination light. The focusing lens is an optical element that adjusts the shape (beam shape) of the illumination light from the light source in the target illumination area. The fixed aperture is configured to block unwanted light contained in the illumination light emitted from the light source via the focusing lens, and the light is projected from the aperture.

[0021] The lens barrel 4 has a male threaded portion 4a and a support portion 4b, and houses the first optical element 5 and the other optical system 6. The lens barrel 4 of Embodiment 1 is made of metal or resin material. The male threaded portion 4a is a threaded portion formed along the outer circumference of a part of the cylindrical or conical outer surface of the lens barrel 4. The support portion 4b is a surface perpendicular to the optical axis (a surface perpendicular to the optical axis) facing one side surface in the optical axis direction of the other optical system 6, and supports the first optical element 5 and the other optical system 6. Note that the support portion 4b is not limited to a surface perpendicular to the optical axis, but may also be an inclined surface.

[0022] The first optical element (lens) 5 has a projection receiving portion (engaged portion) 5a. In Embodiment 1, the projection receiving portion 5a is configured to have a planar surface (planar portion) on the outer diameter portion (outer circumference side in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis) of the first optical element 5. In Embodiment 1, one projection receiving portion 5a is provided on the first optical element 5, but if multiple projections 7a described later are formed, multiple projection receiving portions 5a may be formed accordingly. The first optical element 5 is configured as a convex lens. However, it is not limited to this, and may be configured as a concave lens, aspherical lens, or other shapes. The first optical element 5 is made of a transparent material such as glass or resin.

[0023] The retaining member 7 has a projection (engaging portion) 7a and a female screw portion 7b. The projection 7a is formed to protrude for a predetermined length in the optical axis direction and is configured to have a planar surface (flat portion) at a position where it abuts (engages) with the flat portion of the projection receiving portion 5a when assembling the lens module 2. The length of the projection 7a in the optical axis direction is set so that it does not protrude from the end of the first optical element 5 on the other optical system 6 side when the lens module 2 is assembled. Therefore, the length of the projection 7a protruding in the optical axis direction can be arbitrary, as long as it does not protrude from the end of the first optical element 5 on the other optical system 6 side and can abut the projection receiving portion 5a for an appropriate length.

[0024] In Embodiment 1, one projection 7a is provided on the holding member 7, but it is not limited to this, and two or more may be formed. In that case, the projection receiving portion 5a is formed on the first optical element 5 according to the number and position of the projections 7a. In Figures 1 and 2, the projection receiving portion 5a is shown to be in contact (engaged) with the projection 7a in the radial direction, but there may be a slight gap between the projection receiving portion 5a and the projection 7a in the radial direction. That is, it is sufficient for the projection 7a and the projection receiving portion 5a to engage in the radial or circumferential direction.

[0025] The female threaded portion 7b is a threaded portion formed along the inner circumference of a part of the cylindrical or conical inner surface of the retaining member 7. When the male threaded portion 4a and the female threaded portion 7b shown in Figure 1 are screwed together, the retaining member 7 is fitted and fixed to the lens barrel 4.

[0026] Furthermore, the retaining member 7 is provided with an annular groove for arranging the elastic member 8. As shown in Figure 2, the groove of the retaining member 7 is formed so that it is on the inner circumference side in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis than the surface of the projection 7a described above. In addition, the groove of the retaining member 7 is configured such that the cross-sectional diameter of the elastic member 8 in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis (radial direction) is approximately the same as the radial dimension.

[0027] The groove of the retaining member 7 holds the elastic member 8 in place by clamping it, for example, when assembling the optical device 1 or lens module 2, so that the elastic member 8 does not shift (move) or come loose. The groove may be a recess (including concave shape and shapes equivalent to concave shape) or a semicircular shape, and any shape is acceptable as long as the position of the elastic member 8 does not shift when it is placed. The groove may also be provided on the first optical element 5 side, in which case the retaining member 7 may not have a groove. The retaining member 7 in Embodiment 1 is made of metal or resin material.

[0028] The elastic member 8 is made of a rubber material such as silicone rubber and is integrally formed in an annular shape (ring shape). Because the elastic member 8 is formed in an integral annular shape, it makes contact with the entire circumference when it comes into contact with the peripheral part of the first optical element 5. While it is preferable that the elastic member 8 is integrally formed in an annular shape as described above, for example, the elastic member 8 may be configured in an annular shape that a part of the first optical element 5 comes into contact with, or it may be composed of three elastic members that come into contact with the first optical element 5 at predetermined intervals such as 120 degrees apart. When the lens module 2 is assembled, the elastic member 8 is held between the first optical element 5 and the holding member 7.

[0029] The control unit (not shown) includes a CPU and memory, and consists of at least one computer, connected to each component of the optical device 1 via a circuit. The control unit comprehensively controls the operation of each component of the entire optical device 1 according to a computer program stored in memory. This controls the operation of the flowchart in Figure 8, which will be described later. For example, the control unit is preferably integrated with other parts of the optical device 1 (e.g., inside the housing 3), but it may also be configured separately from other parts of the optical device 1.

[0030] Furthermore, a control unit (not shown) controls the light source, movable mirror, light-receiving element, etc. Specifically, it drives the light source and movable mirror with predetermined drive voltage and drive frequency, and measures the received waveform at a specific frequency when light is received by the light-receiving element. The control unit then measures the difference between the light-receiving time obtained by the light-receiving element and the light-emitting time of the light source, or the difference between the phase of the received signal obtained by the light-receiving element and the phase of the output signal of the light source, and determines the distance to the object by multiplying the difference by the speed of light.

[0031] Next, the procedure (steps) for holding the first optical element 5 and the other optical system 6 in the lens barrel 4 will be described. First, the elastic member 8 is inserted into the groove of the holding member 7 so that it is sandwiched between the grooves, and the holding member 7 holds the elastic member 8. Next, the other optical system 6 is inserted into the lens barrel 4. Next, the first optical element 5 is inserted so that the flat surface of the projection receiving portion 5a of the first optical element 5 comes into contact with the flat surface of the projection 7a of the holding member 7.

[0032] Subsequently, by screwing the female threaded portion 7b of the retaining member 7 onto the male threaded portion 4a of the lens barrel 4, the flat portion of the projection 7a and the flat portion of the projection receiving portion 5a come into contact (engage) in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis (radial direction), thereby fixing the retaining member 7 and the lens barrel 4 together. As a result, when the lens barrel rotates in the rotational direction (circumferential direction) of the optical axis center, the first optical element 5, the retaining member 7, and the elastic member 8 rotate together as a single unit.

[0033] With the above configuration, the elastic member 8 can be held in a state that suppresses twisting and kinking deformation of the elastic member 8 that may occur due to friction between the first optical element 5 and the holding member 7 in contact with the elastic member 8. As a result, the peripheral part of the first optical element 5 can be held (pressed) with uniform force by the holding member 7 via the elastic member 8.

[0034] In Example 1, for example, the lens barrel 4, the retaining member 7, and the spacer (not shown) are made of an aluminum alloy with a coefficient of thermal expansion of 26 × 10⁻⁶ / °C. In addition, the first optical element 5 and the other optical system 6 are made of glass material with a coefficient of thermal expansion of 7 × 10⁻⁶ / °C.

[0035] Here, as an example, let's assume that there is one 5mm thick spacer in the other optical system 6, and that the distance from the receiving portion of the R1 surface of the first optical element 5 to the support portion 4b of the lens barrel 4 in the optical axis direction is 25mm. The receiving portion of the R1 surface of the first optical element 5 is the part of the first optical element 5 that is in contact with the elastic member 8.

[0036] At this time, a 1°C change in temperature causes a thermal expansion difference of approximately 0.29 μm between the receiving portion of the R1 surface of the first optical element 5 and the support portion 4b of the lens barrel 4. In other words, a gap of approximately 0.29 μm occurs between the lens barrel 4 and the first optical element 5. For example, if the optical device 1 is placed in an external environment such as outdoors, and the ambient temperature or the temperature inside the device rises by 60°C compared to when the optical device 1 was assembled, a gap of approximately 17.4 μm occurs in the optical axis direction. Also, in an environment where the ambient temperature drops by 60°C compared to when it was assembled, as described above, a lens (optical element) deformation of approximately 17.4 μm occurs in the optical axis direction.

[0037] In Example 1, the play in the optical axis direction described above is absorbed by the elastic deformation of the elastic member 8, which is located in the groove of the holding member 7 and contacts the first optical element 5, pressing the first optical element 5 in the optical axis direction. That is, in an environment where the ambient temperature rises or falls by 60°C from the time of assembly of the optical device 1, etc., as described above, the length of the optical element changes by approximately 11.4 μm in the optical axis direction, but the amount of deformation of the optical element in this case can be absorbed by the elastic member 8.

[0038] Furthermore, by having the first optical element 5, the holding member 7, and the elastic member 8 work together to hold the elastic member 8 so that it can rotate around the optical axis, twisting and torsional deformation of the elastic member 8 that may occur due to friction can be suppressed. In Embodiment 1, as described above, the surface of the projection receiving portion 5a that contacts the planar surface of the projection 7a is also made planar, so that each of them has a simple processing shape. However, the shapes of the projection receiving portion 5a and the projection 7a are not limited to these, and may be shapes such as those illustrated in Figure 3.

[0039] Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the holding member 27, the elastic member 28, and the first optical element 25. The differences between the parts shown in Figure 3 and those shown in Figures 1 and 2 are the shapes of the protrusions and projection receiving parts. Therefore, explanations of parts that overlap with those described above will be omitted.

[0040] As shown in Figure 3, the projection (engaging portion) 27a of the holding member 27 is formed with a rectangular cross-section in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis. Furthermore, the projection 27a is formed to protrude for a predetermined length in the direction of the optical axis. In addition, the projection receiving portion 25a of the first optical element 25 is formed on the first optical element 25 in a shape corresponding to the projection 27a. For example, in the example in Figure 3, the projection receiving portion 25a is formed with a concave cross-section in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis.

[0041] In Figure 3, the radial cross-sectional shape of the projection 27a is shown as rectangular, but it may be a shape other than rectangular, such as triangular or trapezoidal. In that case, the projection receiving portion 25a shall have a shape corresponding to the shape of the projection 27a. In Figure 3, the projection receiving portion 25a is shown to be in contact (engaged) with the projection 27a in the radial direction, but the depth of the groove in the projection receiving portion 25a may be deeper than the thickness of the projection 27a. In other words, the projection 27a and the projection receiving portion 25a may engage in either the radial or circumferential direction.

[0042] As described above, in the optical device 1 of Embodiment 1, the first optical element 5 (25), the holding member 7 (27), and the elastic member 8 (28) rotate together, thereby holding the elastic member 8 while suppressing twisting and kinking deformation of the elastic member 8. This makes it possible to provide an optical device 1 that can hold the first optical element 5 with equal force applied by the holding member 7 via the elastic member 8.

[0043] Furthermore, while the optical device 1 in Example 1 is intended for use in an in-vehicle camera used for driver assistance or autonomous driving, it is not limited to this and may also be applied to the optical device of an in-vehicle camera.

[0044] <Example 2> In Example 1, an example was described in which a projection receiving portion 5a, having a shape corresponding to the shape of the projection 7a, is provided on the outer diameter of the optical element (first optical element 5). In Example 2, a lens module (lens holding mechanism) in which a projection receiving portion is provided in addition to the outer diameter of the optical element (first optical element 5) will be described. Matters not mentioned in Example 2 will follow those of Example 1.

[0045] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the lens module 22 according to Embodiment 2. Figure 5 is an example of an exploded perspective view of the first optical element 35, holding member 37, and elastic member 38 according to Embodiment 2.

[0046] In Example 2, the first optical element 35 is constructed as a resin-molded lens. Furthermore, the retaining member 37 is constructed from a resin-molded component. By constructing the first optical element 35 and the retaining member 37 from resin-molded components, the manufacturing cost or component cost of the first optical element 35 and the retaining member 37 can be reduced, and it becomes possible to process them into shapes with a high degree of freedom during processing.

[0047] The lens barrel 34 has a female threaded portion 34a and a support portion 34b. The lens barrel 4 of Embodiment 2 is made of metal or resin material. The female threaded portion 34a is a threaded portion formed along the inner circumference on a part of the cylindrical or conical inner surface of the lens barrel 34. The support portion 34b is a surface perpendicular to the optical axis (a surface perpendicular to the optical axis) facing one side surface in the optical axis direction of the other optical system 36, and supports the first optical element 35 and the other optical system 36. Note that the support portion 34b is not limited to a surface perpendicular to the optical axis and may be an inclined surface.

[0048] The first optical element 35 has a projection receiving portion (engaged portion) 35a. The projection receiving portion 35a is provided between the outside of the effective diameter of the first optical element 35 and the inside of the outer diameter. The projection receiving portion 35a is configured to correspond to the shape of the projection portion 37a, and in Embodiment 2, the cross-section perpendicular to the optical axis is formed to be circular. The projection receiving portion 35a is configured as a hole of a size into which the projection portion 37a can be inserted when assembling the lens module 22. In the example shown in Figure 5, the first optical element 35 is provided with three projection portions 37a, but it is not limited to this, and it is sufficient to have at least one or more. The projection receiving portion 35a is formed according to the number and position of the projection portions 37a. It is preferable that the number of projection receiving portions 35a be the same as the number of projection portions 37a, but it is also possible to form more projection receiving portions 35a than the number of projection portions 37a.

[0049] The retaining member 37 has a projection (engaging portion) 37a and a male screw portion 37b. The projection 37a has a circular cross-section in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis and is formed to protrude for a predetermined length in the direction of the optical axis. That is, the projection 37a of Embodiment 2 is configured in a cylindrical shape as shown in Figure 5.

[0050] The length of the projection 37a in the optical axis direction is set to a length that does not protrude from the end of the first optical element 35 on the other optical system 36 side when the lens module 22 is assembled. Therefore, the length of the projection 7a in the optical axis direction can be arbitrary as long as it does not protrude from the end of the first optical element 35 on the other optical system 36 side. The projection receiving portion 35a does not have to be a through hole, and it is sufficient that it is formed to be longer than the protruding length of the projection 37a in the optical axis direction.

[0051] The male threaded portion 37b is a threaded portion formed along the outer circumference of a part of the cylindrical or conical outer surface of the retaining member 37. When the female threaded portion 34a and the male threaded portion 37b shown in Figure 4 are screwed together, the retaining member 37 is fitted into and fixed to the lens barrel 34.

[0052] The elastic member 38 is made of a rubber material such as silicone rubber and is integrally formed in an annular (ring) shape. In Example 2, the elastic member 38 is located outside the projection 37a in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis and is held by the holding member 7 by positioning the elastic member 38 so that its inner surface is in contact with the outer surface of the projection 37a.

[0053] Next, the procedure (steps) for holding the first optical element 35 and the other optical system 36 in the lens barrel 34 will be described. First, the elastic member 38 is inserted so that its inner surface contacts the outer surface of the projection 37a of the holding member 37. Next, the other optical system 36 is inserted into the lens barrel 34. Next, the first optical element 35 is inserted. Next, the projection 37a of the holding member 37, which holds the elastic member 38, is inserted into the projection receiving portion 35a of the first optical element 35. Next, the male threaded portion 37b of the holding member 37 is screwed into the female threaded portion 34a of the lens barrel 34, so that the projection 37a and the projection receiving portion 35a are in contact (engaged), and the holding member 37 and the lens barrel 34 are fixed together. As a result, when rotated in the rotational direction (circumferential direction) of the optical axis center, the first optical element 35, the holding member 37, and the elastic member 38 rotate together as a unit.

[0054] With the above configuration, the elastic member 38 can be held in a state where twisting and torsional deformation of the elastic member 38 is suppressed. As a result, similar to Embodiment 1, it is possible to provide an optical device 1 that can hold (press) the first optical element 35 with uniform force by the holding member 37 via the elastic member 38.

[0055] In Figure 5, the projection receiving portion 35a is a round hole and engages with the projection 37a in the radial direction, but the projection receiving portion 35a may be an elongated hole extending in the radial direction. In other words, the projection 37a and the projection receiving portion 35a can engage in the radial or circumferential direction. Furthermore, although the optical device 1 in Examples 1 and 2 is intended to be applied to in-vehicle cameras used for driver assistance and autonomous driving, it is not limited to these and may be applied to other devices other than in-vehicle cameras.

[0056] <Example 3> Figure 6 is a configuration diagram of the optical device 1 and the in-vehicle system (driving assistance device) 1000 equipped therewith according to each of the above embodiments. The in-vehicle system 1000 is a control system that is held by a movable mobile body (mobile device) such as an automobile (vehicle) and assists the driving (operation) of the vehicle 500 based on distance information of objects such as obstacles and pedestrians around the vehicle acquired by the optical device 1. Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the vehicle 500 as a mobile device including the in-vehicle system 1000. In Figure 7, the case in which the distance measurement range (detection range) of the optical device 1 is set to the front of the vehicle 500 is shown, but the distance measurement range may also be set to the rear or side of the vehicle 500.

[0057] As shown in Figure 6, the in-vehicle system 1000 comprises an optical device 1, a vehicle information acquisition device 200, a control device (control unit, ECU: electronic control unit) 300, and a warning device (warning unit) 400. In the in-vehicle system 1000, the control unit (not shown) provided in the optical device 1 has the functions of a distance acquisition unit (acquisition unit) and a collision determination unit (determination unit). However, if necessary, the in-vehicle system 1000 may provide a distance acquisition unit and a collision determination unit that are separate from the control unit, and each may be provided outside the optical device 1 (for example, inside the vehicle 500). Alternatively, the control device 300 may be used as the control unit.

[0058] Figure 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the in-vehicle system 1000 according to Example 3. The operation of the in-vehicle system 1000 will be described below in accordance with this flowchart.

[0059] First, in step S1, the light source forming unit (not shown) of the optical device 1 illuminates objects around the vehicle 500, and the reflected light from the objects is received. The control unit receives the reflected light and, based on the signal output by the light-receiving element (light-receiving unit) (not shown), acquires distance information of the objects. At this time, the distance acquisition unit functions as a distance information acquisition means that acquires distance information of an object based on the signal from the light-receiving element. Here, the distance information can be any information relating to the distance from the moving device (vehicle 500) to the object, and does not have to be the distance itself. In step S2, the vehicle information acquisition device 200 acquires vehicle information including the vehicle speed, yaw rate, steering angle, etc. of the vehicle 500. Then, in step S3, the control unit uses the distance information acquired in step S1 and the vehicle information acquired in step S2 to determine whether the distance to the object falls within a preset distance range.

[0060] This allows the system to determine whether or not an object exists within a set distance around the vehicle 500 and to determine the possibility of a collision between the vehicle 500 and the object. Steps S1 and S2 may be performed in the reverse order of the above, or they may be processed in parallel. The control unit determines "possibility of collision" if an object exists within the set distance (step S4), and determines "no possibility of collision" if an object does not exist within the set distance (step S5).

[0061] Next, if the control unit determines that there is a possibility of collision, it notifies (transmits) the determination result to the control device 300 and the warning device 400. At this time, the control device 300 controls the vehicle 500 based on the determination result from the control unit (step S6), and the warning device 400 issues a warning to the user (driver, passengers) of the vehicle 500 based on the determination result from the control unit (step S7). At this time, the warning device 400 functions as a warning means that issues a warning according to the distance information of the object. Note that notification of the determination result only needs to be made to at least one of the control device 300 and the warning device 400.

[0062] The control device 300 functions as a control means that can control the driving and movement of the vehicle 500 by outputting control signals to the vehicle's drive unit (engine, motor, etc.). For example, the control device 300 can perform controls such as applying the brakes, releasing the accelerator, turning the steering wheel, and generating control signals to apply braking force to each wheel to suppress the output of the engine or motor. The warning device 400 also provides warnings to the user, such as emitting a warning sound, displaying warning information on a screen such as a car navigation system, or vibrating the seat belt or steering wheel.

[0063] As described above, the in-vehicle system 1000 according to Embodiment 3 enables object detection and distance measurement through the above processing, making it possible to avoid collisions between the vehicle 500 and the object. In particular, by applying the optical device 1 according to each of the embodiments described above to the in-vehicle system 1000, high distance measurement accuracy can be achieved, making it possible to detect objects and determine collisions with high accuracy.

[0064] In Example 3, the in-vehicle system 1000 was applied to driver assistance (collision damage mitigation), but it is not limited to this, and the in-vehicle system 1000 may also be applied to cruise control (including with full-speed following function) or autonomous driving. Furthermore, the in-vehicle system 1000 is not limited to automobiles and other vehicles, but can be applied to mobile objects such as ships, aircraft, and industrial robots. Moreover, it is not limited to mobile objects, but can be applied to various devices that utilize object recognition, such as intelligent transportation systems (ITS) and surveillance systems.

[0065] Furthermore, the in-vehicle system 1000 and the vehicle 500 may be equipped with a notification device (notification unit) to notify the manufacturer of the in-vehicle system or the dealer of the mobile device in the event that the vehicle 500 collides with an obstacle. For example, the notification device may be one that sends information regarding the collision between the vehicle 500 and the obstacle (collision information) to a pre-set external notification destination via email or the like.

[0066] By adopting a configuration in which collision information is automatically notified by the notification device, it is possible to promptly take action such as inspection and repair after a collision occurs. The recipients of the collision information may be insurance companies, medical institutions, the police, or any other entity set by the user. In addition to collision information, the notification device may also be configured to notify recipients of malfunction information for each part or information on the wear and tear of consumables. The detection of whether or not a collision has occurred may be performed using distance information acquired based on the output from the light-receiving element described above, or it may be performed by other detection units (sensors).

[0067] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above using examples, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of its essence. Furthermore, the above embodiments may be implemented in combination.

[0068] Furthermore, some or all of the control in each of the above-described embodiments may be performed by supplying a computer program that realizes the functions of each of the above-described embodiments to the optical device 1, etc., via a network or various storage media. The computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) in the optical device 1, etc., may then read and execute the program. In that case, the program and the storage medium storing the program constitute the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0069] 1 Optical device 2 Lens Modules 3 cabinets 4 Telescope tubes 4a Male threaded section 4b Support part 5. First optical element 5a Projection receiving part 6 Other Optical Systems 7 Retaining member 7a Protrusion 7b Female thread section 8 Elastic members

Claims

1. A lens barrel housing multiple optical elements, A retaining member that fits with the lens barrel and holds the first optical element among the plurality of optical elements in a direction along the optical axis, The system comprises an elastic member disposed between the first optical element and the holding member, The retaining member has an engaging portion formed therein. The first optical element has an engaged portion that contacts the engaging portion in the radial or circumferential direction, An optical element holding mechanism characterized in that the first optical element, the holding member, and the elastic member are rotatable together as a single unit in the circumferential direction.

2. The engaging portion and the engaged portion have flat surfaces. The optical element holding mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the flat portion of the engaging portion and the flat portion of the engaged portion engage with each other in the radial or circumferential direction.

3. The optical element holding mechanism according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the engaging portion has a projection that protrudes in a direction along the optical axis.

4. The optical element holding mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the elastic member is held by the holding member by being fitted into a recess formed in the holding member.

5. The optical element holding mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the elastic member is held radially outward from the engaging portion of the holding member.

6. The optical element holding mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the elastic member is held radially inward from the engaging portion of the holding member.

7. The optical element holding mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that at least one of the first optical element or the holding member is made of a resin material.

8. The optical element holding mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the lens barrel and the holding member are screwed together.

9. The optical element holding mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the elastic member is in contact with both the holding member and the first optical element in a direction along the optical axis.

10. A scanning unit that scans an object using illumination light from a light source, The optical element holding mechanism is as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, and comprises An optical device characterized by guiding the reflected light from the object illuminated by the scanning unit to a light-receiving element via the plurality of optical elements.

11. The optical device comprises the optical device described in claim 10, A control system characterized by having a distance acquisition unit that acquires distance information of an object based on a signal from the light-receiving element.

12. The control system according to claim 11, further comprising a control device that controls the drive of a mobile device, which is a movable body, based on the distance information.

13. The control system according to claim 11 or 12, further comprising a warning device that issues a warning in accordance with the distance information of the object.

14. The optical device comprises the optical device described in claim 10, A moving device characterized by having distance information acquisition means that acquires distance information of an object based on a signal from the light receiving element.

15. The mobile device according to claim 14, further comprising control means for controlling the drive of the mobile device based on the distance information.

16. The moving device according to claim 14 or 15, further comprising warning means for issuing a warning according to the distance information of the object.

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