Camera Lens Barrel Spacer Spring for Thermal Stress Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical systems in camera devices face challenges in maintaining lens stability and structural rigidity due to thermal expansion and contraction, leading to potential lens loosening or damage, with existing solutions either being costly or structurally inefficient.
Innovation Solution
An optical system assembly with a lens barrel featuring a spacer spring that distributes and compensates for thermal stress through longitudinal extension and elastic deformation, maintaining pre-tension and preventing lens loosening across varying temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If lenses are securely snap-fitted into lens slots to prevent loosening during shock and vibrations, then lens stability during operation is improved, but under thermal expansion and contraction the lens may loosen or break due to stress
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a spacer spring between the lens and the lens slot that acts as a cushioning element. This spring absorbs and distributes the thermal expansion and contraction forces before they reach the lens, preventing the lens from loosening or breaking while maintaining secure positioning during normal operation including shock and vibrations.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer spring changes its physical parameters (length, compression) in response to temperature variations. As temperature changes cause thermal expansion or contraction of the lens barrel, the spring adjusts its compression state to maintain constant pre-tension on the lens, thereby compensating for dimensional changes in the supporting structure.
2Reliability
If existing spacer structures are used to absorb compression forces from thermal expansion, then thermal stress compensation is improved, but the structure becomes complicated and less effective during force variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of thermal compensation from complex multi-component spacer structures and implements it through a single, simple spacer spring. This spring is positioned between the lens and the lens slot, providing thermal stress compensation without requiring multiple offset spacer spaces or complex geometries, thereby simplifying the overall structure while maintaining reliability.
3Reliability
If elastic members are used as spacers between lenses to prevent backlash during temperature change, then thermal expansion compensation is improved, but structural limitations increase cost and packaging size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a simple, inexpensive spacer spring that can be easily manufactured and integrated into the lens assembly. This spring provides effective backlash prevention and thermal compensation without imposing stringent structural limitations on the overall design, thereby reducing both cost and packaging requirements compared to more complex elastic member solutions.
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 solution effectively absorbs thermal expansion and contraction stresses, ensuring lens stability and preventing damage, while being cost-effective and structurally efficient, allowing the optical system to function reliably in variable temperature environments.
Implementation Method 1
a first opening and a second opening, at least two lens slots arranged at the inner side of the lens barrel to accommodate the at least two lenses, wherein at least one spacer spring configured within the lens barrel to allow distribution and/or compensation of stress and/or force caused due to a thermal compression and/or a thermal expansion of the lens barrel under variable temperature
Implementation Method 2
the material used to make the lens barrel and indeed the slots experience thermal expansion and thermal compression respectively
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to an optical system assembly for a camera device adapted to be used in a variable temperature environment, the optical system assembly comprising: at least two lenses, a lens barrel, having an inner side, configured to accommodate the at least two lenses, wherein the lens barrel comprises and/or consists of: a first opening and a second opening, at least two lens slots arranged at the inner side of the lens barrel to accommodate the at least two lenses, and at least one spacer spring configured within the lens barrel to allow distribution and/or compensation of stress and/or force caused due to a thermal compression and/or a thermal expansion of the lens barrel under variable temperature.