Lens Apparatus Balancer Reduces Driving Load
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lens apparatuses experience increased driving load when used in non-horizontal attitudes due to gravitational forces acting on the focus lens unit and sub-lens, which complicates focus lens unit movement and aberration control.
Innovation Solution
A lens apparatus with a balancer and a power transmission system that reduces the load applied to the power transmission device by using a cam barrel and balancer to convert gravitational forces into assisting driving forces, allowing the lens unit to move more efficiently against gravitational forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the lens apparatus is used in a non-horizontal attitude, then the focus lens unit can be driven against gravitational force, but the driving load on the helicoid screw increases considerably
Solution Approach 1:
A balancer portion is provided that includes a weight configured to generate a gravitational force opposing the weight of the lens unit. This counterweight system reduces the net driving load on the helicoid screw when the lens apparatus is used in non-horizontal attitudes, allowing the focus lens unit to be driven more easily against gravitational forces without considerably increasing the driving load.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a vertical dimension to the force balance by adding a balancer portion that operates in the gravitational field. The weight in the balancer portion creates an opposing gravitational force in the vertical direction, effectively canceling out the effect of gravity on the lens unit when the apparatus is tilted, thus reducing the driving load across different orientations.
2Manufacturing precision
If the sub-lens is driven in a direction against gravitational force simultaneously with the focus lens unit, then aberration fluctuation is suppressed, but the driving load on the helicoid screw increases considerably
Solution Approach 1:
The balancer portion with its weight provides a counterbalancing gravitational force that offsets the weight of both the lens unit and the sub-lens. This allows the sub-lens to be driven simultaneously with the focus lens unit in non-horizontal attitudes without considerably increasing the driving load on the helicoid screw, while still maintaining aberration control.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines the focus lens unit and sub-lens into an integrated system where both are driven together in non-horizontal attitudes. The balancer portion is integrated into this system to provide unified gravitational compensation, allowing simultaneous movement of both lens components without excessive driving load.
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 solution effectively reduces the driving load on the helicoid screw, enabling smoother focus operation and reduced power consumption, regardless of the lens apparatus's orientation, thus improving focus driving speed and ease of use.
Implementation Method 1
a force applied to the balancer causes the second power transmission device to reduce a load applied to the first power transmission device in a case where the lens unit is moved in a direction against a gravitational force applied thereto
Data Source
AI summary
A lens apparatus includes a lens unit including a first lens, a fixing frame which holds the lens unit with the lens unit being movable in a direction of an optical axis of the lens unit, and a first power transmission device configured to transmit power to the lens unit. The lens unit includes a balancer and a second power transmission device. The balancer and the second power transmission device are configured such that a force applied to the balancer causes the second power transmission device to reduce a load applied to the first power transmission device in a case where the lens unit is moved in a direction against a gravitational force applied thereto.