Lens Apparatus with Pre-Positioned Covers for Over-180° Imaging
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing interchangeable lens systems struggle to capture images at an angle of view higher than 180 degrees without compromising appearance quality, dust-proof and drip-proof performance, and maintaining optical performance due to manufacturing errors and lens positioning issues.
Innovation Solution
A lens apparatus with a design that includes two optical systems arranged in parallel, each with reflective surfaces and prisms to bend light beams, and a front-surface exterior member with openings that allow light beams to pass without shielding, combined with a cover member and sealing members to maintain optical performance and prevent dust and moisture ingress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an exterior member is placed on the imaging plane side of the front lens to allow light beams of 180 degrees or higher to pass, then the angle of view can exceed 180 degrees, but gaps between the opening and lens become non-uniform when lens positions shift, deteriorating appearance quality and dust-proof/drip-proof performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by providing a lens holding structure that pre-establishes the correct positional relationship between the lens and exterior member before assembly. The lens is held at a predetermined position relative to the exterior member, ensuring uniform gaps are maintained even when the lens shifts during operation. This pre-positioning mechanism prevents the gap non-uniformity problem that would otherwise occur with conventional loose-fitting structures.
2Manufacturing precision
If the opening and lens are diameter-engaged to correct position offset, then appearance quality and dust-proof/drip-proof performance are maintained, but the optical performance and relative relationship between two optical systems are adversely affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by separating the functions of position correction and optical alignment into different components. The lens holding structure corrects positional offsets and maintains uniform gaps, while the optical systems maintain their independent optical paths and alignment. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function without interfering with the other, avoiding the optical performance degradation that would result from diameter engagement.
3Ease of manufacture
If a drip-proof structure is provided with non-uniform gaps, then the structure is simpler to manufacture, but dust-proof and drip-proof performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the intermediary principle by introducing a lens holding structure as a mediator between the lens and exterior member. This holding structure maintains uniform gaps and proper positioning, enabling the drip-proof structure to achieve both manufacturing simplicity and reliable dust-proof/drip-proof performance. The holding structure acts as an intermediary component that translates the simple exterior member design into a functionally reliable sealed system.
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 lens apparatus achieves stereoscopic imaging at an angle of view higher than 180 degrees while maintaining appearance quality, dust-proof and drip-proof performance, and ensuring consistent optical performance by preventing lens misalignment and shielding of light beams.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the right-eye optical system and the left-eye optical system includes a reflective surface
Implementation Method 2
prisms to bend light beams
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A lens apparatus (200) includes a lens (211R,211L) disposed closest to an object, a holder (212) holding the lens, a cover (213) having a first opening (213A) to expose the lens when viewed from an optical axis direction of the lens and being positioned with the holder in the optical axis direction, and an exterior member (204) having a second opening (204F) to engage with an outer diameter of the cover. A first gap in a diameter direction orthogonal to the optical axis direction formed between the holder and the cover is larger than a second gap in the diameter direction formed between the exterior member and the cover.