Lens Barrel Extender Retract Mechanism for Optical Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
In single lens reflex camera systems, existing configurations require detaching one of the front or rear relay-lens units to remove the extender optical system, which disrupts the optical performance of the image-pickup system.
Innovation Solution
A lens barrel design that includes a rotatable extender barrel with a housing and a retreat restraint mechanism, allowing the extender optical system to be inserted or retreated without detaching any optical units, using a first and second state of the retreat restraint to control the retreating amount and enable replacement without affecting optical image formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If the extender optical system is detached by removing one of the front or rear relay-lens units, then the extender optical system can be replaced, but the optical performance of the image-pickup system is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The lens barrel is divided into distinct functional segments: the main optical system, the extender optical system housed in a separate extender barrel, and the retreat restraint mechanism. This segmentation allows the extender optical system to be independently manipulated and replaced without affecting the integrity or optical performance of the main optical system's relay-lens units.
Solution Approach 2:
The retreat restraint mechanism acts as an intermediary device that mediates between the extender barrel and the main optical system. It controls the retreating amount of the extender barrel, ensuring that the extender optical system can be fully retracted to a position not associated with optical image formation before detachment, thereby preventing any disruption to the optical path and performance of the main system.
2Ease of repair
If the extender optical system is fully retracted for replacement, then replacement is possible, but the extender barrel may detach unintentionally during retraction
Solution Approach 1:
The retreat restraint mechanism dynamically changes its state based on the retraction process. It transitions from a restraining state (first state) that limits the retreating amount during normal operation to a released state (second state) that allows full retraction when replacement is intended. This dynamic behavior enables safe and controlled operation, preventing unintentional detachment while facilitating intentional replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The retreat restraint mechanism changes the parameter of retreating amount control. In the first state, it maintains a specific retreating amount parameter that prevents over-retraction and unintentional detachment. In the second state, this parameter is changed to allow the extender barrel to retreat to a position where the extender optical system is completely separated from the optical path, enabling safe replacement operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A lens barrel includes an image-pickup optical system that includes a main optical system and an extender optical system, an extender barrel configured to hold the extender optical system, a housing configured to house the extender barrel, a rotator configured to hold the extender barrel to rotatably support the extender barrel in the housing, to insert the extender optical system into the main optical system, and to retreats the extender optical system from the main optical system, and a retreat restraint. When the retreat restraint is in the first state, the extender optical system is retreated to a position which is not associated with formation of the optical image, but the extender optical system is undetachable from the rotator, and when the retreat restraint is in the second state, the extender optical system is detachable from the rotator.