Lens Barrel Drive Mechanism for Manual Electric Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image pickup apparatuses with lens barrels face challenges in miniaturization and thinning due to complex gear mechanisms and backlash issues, leading to operational inefficiencies and reduced operability between manual and electric zoom drives.
Innovation Solution
A lens barrel design with a drive barrel that engages with an elastic member, allowing rotary operation and switching between manual and electric lens drives through a simple mechanism, minimizing time lag and improving operability by transferring rotation via a gear train and motor, while reducing the number of parts and space requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a gear train and switching mechanism are used to transfer rotation from the operation ring to the lens barrel, then lens drive functionality is achieved, but the number of parts increases and miniaturization is prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the operation ring and drive barrel into a single integrated structure where the operation ring is formed on the outer periphery of the drive barrel. This eliminates the need for separate gear trains and switching mechanisms, reducing the number of parts while maintaining both manual and electric lens drive functionalities.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive barrel serves multiple functions: it acts as both the operation ring for manual zoom/focus control and the driving element for electric motor transmission. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate components, enabling miniaturization while preserving full lens drive capability.
2Ease of operation
If a gear train is used to transfer rotation from the operation ring to the lens barrel, then lens drive is achieved, but backlash and time lag occur between rotary operation and lens drive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the gear train from the transmission path by directly forming the operation ring on the drive barrel. This eliminates the intermediate gear transmission that causes backlash and time lag, creating a direct connection between the operation ring's rotary motion and the lens barrel's drive motion.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a large gear mechanism is installed to receive two inputs to the lens barrel, then manual and electric drive are enabled, but space requirements increase and miniaturization is prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the manual operation ring and electric motor drive into a single integrated drive barrel structure. The operation ring is formed on the outer periphery of the drive barrel, allowing both manual rotation and electric motor transmission to share the same component, thereby reducing space requirements while maintaining dual drive capability.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a clutch gear is installed in the gear train to switch between manual and electric drive, then drive switching is achieved, but the configuration becomes complicated and friction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the clutch gear from the system by directly forming the operation ring on the drive barrel. This eliminates the need for complex switching mechanisms, as the integrated structure naturally allows seamless transition between manual and electric drive modes without additional components.
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 enables miniaturization and thinning of the image pickup apparatus, prevents time lag between rotary operations and lens drives, and enhances the operability of manual and electric zoom operations by simplifying the mechanism and reducing friction, resulting in a more efficient and user-friendly interface.
Implementation Method 1
a switching mechanism configured to switch lens drive between electric lens drive that drives the lens holding member in the optical axis direction by transferring rotation of the motor to the drive barrel and manual lens drive that drives the lens holding member in the optical axis direction by transferring rotation of the operation member to the drive barrel via an elastic member that rotates together with the operation member
Data Source
AI summary
A lens barrel that is capable of miniaturizing and thinning an image pickup apparatus by enabling to switch manual lens drive and electric lens drive with a simple mechanism. A lens barrel is mounted on an image pickup apparatus that supports an operation member rotatably. A drive barrel engages with a lens holding member to drive it in an optical axis direction. A motor transfers rotation to the drive barrel through a transfer mechanism. A switching mechanism switches between electric lens drive that drives the lens holding member by transferring rotation of the motor to the drive barrel and manual lens drive that drives the lens holding member by transferring rotation of the operation member to the drive barrel via an elastic member that rotates together with the operation member according to a user's operation. The drive barrel engages with the elastic member while shifting to a photographing area.