Eccentric Lens Cell Clip Ring Collimation Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manufacturing process of vision-assisting devices like monoculars requires iterative adjustments to secure and release components for collimation, which is inefficient and time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
The optical system includes a lens cell and sleeve with eccentrically offset axes, allowing for independent rotation and securement within a housing, facilitated by a clip mechanism to restrict rotation and achieve collimation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If iterative adjustment process is used for collimation, then optical alignment precision is improved, but manufacturing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lens cell is pre-mounted in the sleeve with eccentric offset, allowing the optical axis to be positioned at a predetermined location relative to the housing. This preliminary positioning eliminates the need for iterative adjustments during final assembly, as the eccentric design inherently provides the correct optical alignment geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The sleeve acts as an intermediary component between the lens cell and the housing. By incorporating eccentric offset in the sleeve design, it mediates the alignment between the lens cell optical axis and the housing, enabling precise collimation through a single positioning action rather than iterative adjustments.
2Manufacturing precision
If components are frequently secured and released for adjustment, then collimation precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment function is extracted from the final assembly process and incorporated into the preliminary mounting design. The eccentric offset in the lens cell-sleeve assembly provides built-in adjustment capability, eliminating the need for complex securing and releasing mechanisms during final collimation.
Solution Approach 2:
The eccentric offset creates an asymmetric relationship between the lens cell central axis and optical axis. This asymmetry is deliberately designed to provide the necessary adjustment range for collimation, allowing precise optical alignment through simple rotation rather than complex mechanical adjustments.
3Manufacturing precision
If lens cell and sleeve have eccentrically offset axes, then alignment precision is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The eccentric offset design merges the alignment function into the basic structure of the lens cell and sleeve components. By combining the mounting geometry with the optical axis positioning, the design achieves precise alignment without requiring separate adjustment mechanisms or complex assembly procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
An optical system includes a lens cell having a generally cylindrical lens cell body. The lens cell body has a lens cell central longitudinal axis and a lens cell optical axis eccentrically offset from the lens cell central longitudinal axis. A sleeve includes a generally cylindrical sleeve body having an outer surface with a first longitudinal axis and an inner surface with a second longitudinal axis eccentrically offset from the first longitudinal axis. The lens cell is inserted into the sleeve. A housing has a generally cylindrical body with the sleeve at least partially inserted into the housing. A clip is disposed about at least a portion of the circumference of the housing. The lens cell and the sleeve are rotated relative to each other and to the housing such that the lens cell optical axis is aligned in a desired location. After the lens cell optical axis is aligned in the desired location, the clip is releasably coupled to and inserted through the housing and into the sleeve to restrict rotation of the sleeve relative to the housing.