Lens Barrel Cam Frame Integrating Gear and Groove
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lens barrels face challenges in downsizing while maintaining effective cam mechanisms for optical unit movement and image stabilization, leading to increased size and complexity.
Innovation Solution
The lens barrel design incorporates a cam frame with a gear part and cam grooves, where the cam follower is smaller than the tooth space, allowing it to pass through and engage with the internal gear, enabling reduced size and improved design flexibility, and utilizes helicoid grooves and protrusions for enhanced assembly and impact resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If traditional cam mechanisms are used with separate introducing grooves, then the lens barrel achieves effective optical unit movement, but the device size increases and assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the introducing groove and cam groove into a single integrated structure. The cam groove extends from the end surface of the cam frame to the gear part, eliminating the need for separate introducing grooves. This integration reduces the number of components and simplifies the overall cam mechanism while maintaining the functionality of guiding the cam follower during assembly and operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam groove serves multiple functions: it acts as both the introducing groove for assembling the cam follower and the operational cam groove for guiding the cam follower during lens barrel extension and retraction. This multi-functional design reduces the number of separate features needed in the cam frame, contributing to downsizing while maintaining effective optical unit movement.
2Ease of manufacture
If multiple separate grooves are provided for cam follower introduction, then assembly is facilitated, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
By combining the introducing groove and cam groove into a single continuous cam groove, the patent eliminates the need for precise alignment between multiple separate grooves. The single integrated groove can be manufactured as one continuous feature, reducing the cumulative tolerance stack-up and lowering manufacturing precision requirements while still facilitating easy cam follower assembly.
3Reliability
If the cam follower is larger to ensure engagement, then reliability improves, but the device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating the engagement features in specific critical areas. The cam groove is designed with optimized geometry in the engagement region to ensure reliable interaction between the cam follower and cam frame, while the overall cam follower dimensions can be minimized. This allows reliable engagement without requiring a larger cam follower throughout its entire structure.
4Ease of operation
If traditional introducing grooves are used, then assembly ease is improved, but backlash increases
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated cam groove design allows for optimized geometry that maintains ease of assembly while controlling backlash. The continuous groove structure enables better definition of the cam follower path, reducing play and improving precision during operation. The groove can be designed with appropriate tolerances and surface finishes to minimize backlash while still facilitating easy cam follower installation.
Data Source
AI summary
A lens barrel includes a cam frame, a zoom motor unit driving the cam frame to rotate, and a fifth group unit engaging with the cam frame through a fifth cam follower. The cam frame is provided with an internal gear engaging with the zoom motor unit, and a fifth cam groove engaging with the fifth cam follower. The fifth cam groove is continuous with a tooth space formed between two adjacent teeth of the internal gear. The fifth cam follower is smaller than the tooth space to pass through the tooth space.