Lens Barrel Drive Unit Nesting for Compact Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lens barrels with cam mechanisms for zoom and focus operations result in larger or heavier focus lens units, making them less compact and less suitable for compact digital camera designs, especially when using a motor actuator that protrudes significantly, hindering further size reduction.
Innovation Solution
A lens barrel design featuring a first and second lens unit with a drive unit that allows the focus lens unit to be moved by a motor actuator, where the drive unit is fixed to the first lens unit in a manner that forms a substantially circular profile, minimizing protrusion and enabling a more compact design by integrating the drive unit's components efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a motor actuator is used to drive the focus lens unit, then the focus lens unit can be made smaller and lighter, but the motor protrudes significantly from the lens barrel, increasing the overall size
Solution Approach 1:
The drive unit is nested within the first lens unit, with the motor actuator positioned inside the cylindrical housing that supports the first lens element. This nesting arrangement allows the motor to drive the focus lens unit without protruding from the lens barrel, resolving the contradiction between compact focus lens unit design and overall lens barrel size.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive unit is configured with a substantially circular profile when viewed from the optical axis direction, transforming the spatial arrangement from a protruding linear configuration to a compact radial configuration. This dimensional reorganization allows the motor actuator to be contained within the cylindrical housing without increasing the lens barrel's external dimensions.
2Ease of operation
If a cam mechanism is used to drive the focus lens unit, then the focus lens unit can be moved in the optical axis direction, but the structure becomes more complex and the focus lens unit becomes larger or heavier
Solution Approach 1:
The cam mechanism is extracted from the focus lens unit structure and replaced with a separate drive unit that uses a motor actuator. This extraction simplifies the focus lens unit by removing the complex cam mechanism while maintaining the ability to drive the focus lens unit in the optical axis direction through the simplified motor-driven system.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical cam mechanism is replaced with an electromagnetic motor actuator system. This substitution eliminates the need for complex mechanical cam components and their associated moving parts, thereby reducing the structural complexity and weight of the focus lens unit while achieving the same driving function.
3Length of stationary object
If the drive unit is positioned to minimize protrusion, then the lens barrel becomes more compact, but the drive mechanism efficiency may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The drive unit is configured with a substantially circular profile at the specific location where it interfaces with the first lens unit, while the internal motor structure can be optimally arranged for efficiency. This localized geometric constraint allows the motor to be positioned efficiently within the cylindrical housing without compromising drive mechanism performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive unit is designed with flexible internal component arrangement that allows the motor actuator to be positioned optimally for driving efficiency while maintaining the external circular profile. The dynamic configuration of internal components enables both compact external dimensions and efficient mechanical power transmission.
Data Source
AI summary
The lens barrel includes a first lens unit, a second lens unit, and a drive unit. The first lens unit includes a first lens element and a first lens support frame supporting the first lens element. The second lens unit includes a second lens element and a second lens support frame supporting the second lens element. The second lens unit is supported by the first lens unit to be movable in the optical axis direction of the first lens element with respect to the first lens unit. The drive unit is arranged to be used to drive the second lens unit with respect to the first lens unit, and is fixed to the first lens unit. When viewed in the optical axis direction, the drive unit is fixed to the first lens unit so that a first profile line formed by the first lens unit and the drive unit is substantially circular.