Camera Lens Barrel Thermal Expansion Compensation Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cameras face issues with image clarity due to thermal expansion of components caused by heat generated internally or ambient temperature changes, leading to shifts in focus position and compromised photographic resolution.
Innovation Solution
A camera design featuring a base, an adjust seat with coaxially sleeved rings, and a lens barrel, where the rings undergo opposite thermal deformations to compensate for thermal expansion, maintaining the focal length and image quality by adjusting the distance between the lens and optical sensing member.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If the camera operates for extended periods or is exposed to ambient temperature changes, then heat is generated causing thermal expansion of internal components, but this leads to shifts in focus position and degradation of image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies thermal expansion principle by designing a compensation mechanism that utilizes differential thermal expansion of materials with different expansion coefficients. The compensation lens barrel is made of a material with a higher thermal expansion coefficient than the base, allowing it to expand more in response to heat, thereby compensating for the thermal contraction of other internal components and maintaining focus position stability during extended operation or ambient temperature changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the lens barrel by making it movable along the optical axis. The compensation lens barrel can change its position relative to the base in response to temperature variations, adjusting the optical path length dynamically to compensate for thermal effects on other components, thus maintaining focus position stability despite temperature-induced dimensional changes.
2Manufacturing precision
If thermal compensation mechanisms are added to maintain focus position, then image quality is preserved under temperature changes, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the camera into distinct functional modules: a base, a compensation lens barrel, and a lens assembly. The compensation lens barrel is designed as a separate movable component that can be independently adjusted, allowing thermal compensation to be implemented as a modular addition rather than requiring a complete redesign of the entire camera structure, thus limiting the increase in overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The compensation lens barrel acts as an intermediary element between the base and the lens assembly. It mediates the thermal effects by absorbing and compensating for dimensional changes through its own thermal expansion and positional adjustment, thereby protecting the focus position stability without requiring direct modification of all other components, thus containing the increase in device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The camera effectively retains the optimal focal length and image quality by compensating for thermal deformations, ensuring consistent image clarity despite temperature changes.
Implementation Method 1
the first ring of the adjust seat can have a first axial thermal deformation and the second ring can have a second axial thermal deformation with a direction opposite to the first axial thermal deformation. Hence, the first axial thermal deformation and the second axial thermal deformation can compensate the thermal deformation of the components inside the camera
Data Source
AI summary
A camera capable of automatically compensating focal length includes a base, an adjust seat, and a lens barrel. The adjust seat includes a first ring, a second ring, and a connecting member. The first ring and the second ring are coaxially sleeved with each other and a distance is kept between the first ring and the second ring. The first ring includes a first end and a second end that are axially opposite to each other. The first end is fixed on the base. The second ring includes a third end and a fourth end that are axially opposite to each other. The third end is connected to the second end of the first ring via the connecting member. The fourth end has a first coupling part. The lens barrel has a second coupling part correspondingly coupled to the first coupling part.