Imaging Device Intermediate Holder Welding Structure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional imaging devices face challenges in achieving high adjustment accuracy for the positional relationship between the lens and the image sensor, leading to potential instability in optical performance.

Innovation Solution

An imaging device with a welding structure that uses an intermediate holder to join the lens barrel and the light-receiving circuit, where the contact parts on both sides are softened and then hardened to form welded parts, maintaining the optical positioning and fixing the components securely.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If welding is used to join the lens holder and frame directly, then the fixing strength is improved, but the positioning accuracy deteriorates due to thermal deformation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefixing strengthVSAvoidpositioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The welding structure is divided into three segments: the lens holder, the intermediate holder, and the frame. The intermediate holder acts as a buffer zone that isolates the thermal deformation effects, allowing the lens holder and frame to be welded with high strength while maintaining positioning accuracy through the intermediate holder's compensation capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The intermediate holder serves as an intermediary component between the lens holder and the frame. It absorbs and compensates for thermal deformation during the welding process, preventing direct transmission of deformation to the optical positioning interface, thus maintaining positioning accuracy while enabling strong welding fixation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Strength

If melting is used to fix the cylindrical member and solid-state image sensor, then the fixing strength is improved, but the positioning accuracy deteriorates due to thermal deformation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefixing strengthVSAvoidpositioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The melting fixation process is segmented into two independent zones: one for the cylindrical member and another for the solid-state image sensor, with the intermediate holder serving as the buffer zone between them. This segmentation allows each zone to undergo thermal processing independently while the intermediate holder compensates for cumulative deformations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The intermediate holder acts as an intermediary that isolates the thermal effects of melting fixation. It compensates for thermal deformation in both the cylindrical member and solid-state image sensor, enabling strong fixation through melting while preserving the precision optical positioning between components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If direct welding is used between lens barrel and light-receiving circuit, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adjustment accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure complexityVSAvoidadjustment accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The welding structure is segmented into three parts: lens barrel, intermediate holder, and light-receiving circuit. This segmentation adds one component but enables independent adjustment and compensation, ultimately improving adjustment accuracy while maintaining reasonable structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The intermediate holder serves as an intermediary component that provides adjustment capability. It allows for precise positioning and compensation between the lens barrel and light-receiving circuit, improving adjustment accuracy while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

This approach enhances the adjustment accuracy and stability of the optical performance by maintaining the relative positional relationship between the lens and the image sensor, even under conditions like temperature changes or vibrations.

Implementation Method 1

a welding structure in which the lens barrel and the light receiving circuit are joined indirectly by welding

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWelding: Welding

Implementation Method 2

the contact portion of the lens barrel or the contact part on the lens barrel side has been softened, where the contact portion of the lens barrel and the contact part on the lens barrel side are fixed; and a welded part on the light-receiving circuit side that has been hardened after the contact portion of the light-receiving circuit or the contact part on the light-receiving circuit side has been softened

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMelting and Solidification: Melting

Data Source

PatentEP2458844B1Imaging Device
Publication Date: 2019.06.19 RICOH CO LTD
  • EP2458844B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2458844B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2458844B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

An imaging device (10, 102, 103) includes: a lens barrel (30) holding at least one optical element; a light-receiving circuit (50, 502) that at least has an image sensor (52, 522) and a drive substrate (51); and a welding structure in which the lens barrel and the optical element are joined by welding, in a state where a positional relationship between the image sensor and the optical element optically positioned is maintained, wherein the welding structure has an intermediate holder (54, 543) where a contact part (54d, 543d) on a lens barrel side that comes into contact with a contact portion (32a) of the lens barrel and a contact part (51a, 522a) on a light-receiving circuit side that comes into contact with a contact portion of the light-receiving circuit are provided; a welded part on the lens barrel side that is hardened after the contact portion of the lens barrel or the contact part on the lens barrel side is softened, where the contact portion of the lens barrel and the contact part on the lens barrel side are fixed; and a welded part on the light-receiving circuit side that is hardened after the contact portion of the light-receiving circuit or the contact part on the light-receiving circuit side is softened, where the contact portion of the light-receiving circuit and the contact part on the light-receiving circuit side are fixed.