Endoscope Lens Drive Stabilization via Segmented Frame
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscope systems with optical zooming or focusing functions often experience drive malfunction due to deformation of the rear group lens frame, which restricts the movement of the movable lens frame, leading to impaired lens drive unit performance.
Innovation Solution
An endoscope imaging device design featuring a lens accommodating portion, a housing, and a coupling portion with restricting portions to stabilize the lens drive unit, allowing smooth movement of the movable lens along the optical axis while preventing deformation-induced malfunctions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the rear group lens frame is sandwiched between the fixing member and the notch portion, then the lens frame is fixed in position, but the lens frame deforms and restricts the movement of the movable lens frame
Solution Approach 1:
The lens frame is divided into a rear group lens frame and a front group lens frame that are coupled together. This segmentation allows the rear group to be fixed while the front group moves independently, preventing deformation transmission and ensuring reliable lens drive operation.
Solution Approach 2:
A coupling portion is introduced as an intermediary element between the rear group lens frame and the front group lens frame. This coupling portion transmits necessary forces while allowing independent movement, preventing deformation from restricting the movable lens frame's operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the movable lens frame is coupled to the moving object unit, then the zooming and focusing functions are achieved, but the deformation of the lens frame causes drive malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The lens frame is segmented into fixed and movable portions, with the movable front group lens frame coupled to the moving object unit. This segmentation isolates the drive mechanism from deformation in the fixed rear group, ensuring reliable operation while maintaining optical functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of making the entire lens frame movable, the invention inverts the approach by making only the necessary front group lens frame movable while keeping the rear group fixed. This reduces the impact of deformation on the drive mechanism's reliability.
3Strength
If the lens frame is made rigid to maintain shape, then the structural integrity is improved, but the movement of the movable lens frame is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The lens frame is divided into a rigid rear group lens frame that maintains structural integrity and a movable front group lens frame that enables smooth movement. This segmentation allows different portions to have different mechanical properties, achieving both strength and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the lens frame are given different mechanical qualities: the rear group is made rigid for structural integrity, while the front group is designed for smooth movement. This local differentiation of mechanical properties resolves the contradiction between strength and ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are an endoscope imaging device and an endoscope in which drive malfunction of a lens drive unit is suppressed.An endoscope imaging device includes, on a distal end side, a plurality of lenses that include a first movable lens which is movable along an optical axis direction, and a sensor that captures a subject image formed by the plurality of lenses. The endoscope imaging device includes a lens accommodating portion that accommodates the first movable lens, a housing that is disposed alongside the lens accommodating portion as viewed from the optical axis direction, a coupling portion that couples the lens accommodating portion and the housing to each other in a state in which the lens accommodating portion and the housing communicate with each other, a lens drive unit that is accommodated in the housing, a receiving portion that is provided at an end part of the housing or an end part of the lens accommodating portion in an extension direction of the coupling portion, a pressing member that is provided at the end part of the lens accommodating portion or the end part of the housing facing the receiving portion in the extension direction and presses the lens accommodating portion or the housing, a first restricting portion that restricts a position of the lens accommodating portion in a cross direction crossing the extension direction, and a second restricting portion that restricts a position of the housing in the cross direction.