Retractable Lens Barrel Lock and State Detection Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing retractable lens apparatuses cannot reliably prevent movement from the imaging state to the retracted state during imaging, potentially leading to unintended changes in the lens position and loss of image capture capability when the lock mechanism is in an unlock state.
Innovation Solution
A lens apparatus with a holding barrel, an operating member for switching between lock and unlock states, a state detector, a lock detector, and an output unit to determine and communicate the imaging availability, ensuring the lens remains in the imaging state until intentionally retracted.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the lens apparatus uses a detector to detect whether it is in the imaging state, then the imaging state can be identified, but the apparatus cannot determine whether it is retained (locked) to the imaging state
Solution Approach 1:
The detection function is segmented into two independent detectors: a state detector for detecting the imaging/retracted state, and a lock detector for detecting the locked/unlocked state. This segmentation allows each detector to specialize in one aspect, improving overall detection reliability while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit acts as an intermediary that receives signals from both the state detector and lock detector, processes this information, and determines the final imaging availability. This intermediary processing ensures that both detection aspects are considered before making the final determination, resolving the contradiction between detection capability and state retention reliability.
2Ease of operation
If the lens apparatus allows movement between imaging and retracted states, then operational flexibility is improved, but accidental movement during imaging may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts its operational state based on the combination of state detector and lock detector signals. When locked, the system maintains imaging state; when unlocked, it allows state changes. This dynamic control provides both flexibility for intentional changes and stability for preventing accidental movements.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit continuously monitors both the state detector and lock detector signals, providing real-time feedback on imaging availability. This feedback mechanism ensures that the system responds appropriately to lock state changes while maintaining operational flexibility, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and imaging state stability.
3Device complexity
If the lens apparatus detects imaging state but not lock state, then device complexity is reduced, but imaging availability cannot be reliably determined
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit merges the detection results from both the state detector and lock detector to determine imaging availability. This combining of detection functions into a unified control decision process improves reliability without requiring separate complex systems, as the integration is performed through logical processing in the existing control unit.
Data Source
AI summary
A lens apparatus includes an holding barrel configured to hold a lens, movable relative to a fixed barrel in an optical axis direction, and configured to form a retracted state having an overall length of the lens apparatus smaller than when the lens apparatus is in an imaging state, an operating member configured to switch between a lock state that locks the holding barrel and an unlock state that unlocks the holding barrel, a state detector configured to detect a state of the holding barrel relative to the fixed barrel in the optical axis direction, a lock detector configured to detect whether the operating member is in the lock state or the unlock state, and an output unit configured to output detection results by the state detector and the lock detector, or information on whether imaging is available according to the detection results.