Flexure Collar Lens Focusing With Axial-Only Motion Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cam and follower focusing mechanisms in camera lenses lack precision and allow undesired movements, leading to loss of focus, especially in larger cameras with lower tolerance requirements.
Innovation Solution
A camera lens flexure collar that incorporates a flexure mechanism to allow precise axial movement while restricting movement in other directions, using a cam and follower system with a flexure collar that includes an interior wall, exterior wall, actuator arm, and flexures to achieve accurate focusing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a cam and follower focusing mechanism is used, then the camera lens can be moved in the axial direction, but the movement precision is insufficient and undesired movements occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexure collar made of flexible material that allows controlled axial movement of the camera lens while constraining movements in other directions. The flexure collar acts as a flexible constraint mechanism that permits precise linear motion along the optical axis while preventing rotational and lateral displacements, thereby resolving the contradiction between movement capability and movement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and properties of the collar from rigid to flexible, allowing it to deform elastically in the axial direction while maintaining structural integrity. This parameter change enables the collar to provide both the necessary movement freedom and the required precision constraints, improving focusing accuracy while maintaining reliability.
2Measurement precision
If a rigid collar is used to support the camera lens, then structural stability is maintained, but precise axial movement is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the rigid collar with a flexible collar that can deform elastically. This flexible structure maintains overall structural stability while allowing precise axial movement through controlled elastic deformation, enabling both focusing precision and structural stability to coexist.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a static rigid collar to a dynamic flexible collar that can adapt its stiffness characteristics. The flexible collar provides structural stability at rest while enabling controlled movement during focusing operation, resolving the contradiction between stability and movement precision through dynamic behavior.
3Ease of operation
If the cam and follower mechanism allows free movement, then ease of operation is improved, but rotational and lateral movements occur causing loss of focus
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible collar provides inherent mechanical guidance that naturally constrains movement to the axial direction through its geometric design and material properties. This eliminates the need for complex mechanical constraints while maintaining focusing accuracy, and the system remains easy to operate through the cam and follower mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible collar acts as an intermediary between the cam and follower mechanism and the camera lens, translating the rotational motion of the cam into precise axial movement of the lens while filtering out unwanted rotational and lateral movements. This intermediary function maintains both ease of operation and focusing accuracy.
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 flexure collar provides highly accurate focusing by ensuring movement is restricted to the axial direction, preventing rotational or other unwanted movements, thereby maintaining focus and improving image quality in larger cameras.
Implementation Method 1
manipulation of the actuator arm moves the cam and causes a force through the one or more inner protrusions of the interior wall, causing the interior wall to move in the axial direction within the stress limitations of the two flexures
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are apparatus and system aspects for a camera lens flexure collar. An aspect includes an interior wall with one or more inner protrusions, an exterior wall with one or more openings, a cam located between the interior wall and the exterior wall, an actuator arm coupled to the cam and extending through the one or more openings of the exterior wall, and two flexures. The aspect operates through manipulation of the actuator arm, where manipulation of the actuator arm moves the cam and causes a force through the one or more inner protrusions of the interior wall, causing the interior wall to move in the axial direction within the stress limitations of the two flexures. In this aspect, movement of the interior wall in the axial direction can focus one or more camera lenses.