Retractable Lens Barrel Locking Mechanism Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lens barrels with retractable mechanisms and shifting mechanisms for reducing optical axis length tend to increase in size when both mechanisms are mounted, compromising portability and design efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A lens barrel design incorporating a moving unit, base member, cylindrical member with a sliding surface, and engagement portion that allows the first optical member to transition between imaging and retracted positions, while being locked in the retracted state to prevent size increase, utilizing a cam mechanism for smooth operation and torque control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If both a lock mechanism and a lens shifting mechanism are mounted on a manually retractable barrel, then the lens barrel can achieve retracted state locking and lens shifting functions, but the lens barrel size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the lock mechanism and lens shifting mechanism into a single integrated structure. The moving unit serves dual purposes: it acts as both the shifting mechanism that moves the lens unit orthogonally to the optical axis and the locking mechanism that engages with the engagement portion to restrict movement in the retracted state. This merging of functions into one component avoids the need for separate mechanisms, thereby preventing size increase while achieving both locking reliability and lens shifting capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The moving unit is designed as a multi-functional component that performs multiple tasks: it shifts the lens unit during operation, provides the locking engagement in the retracted state, and guides the movement through the sliding surface on the cylindrical member. This universal design allows a single component to fulfill the roles of what would traditionally require separate mechanisms, thus maintaining compact lens barrel dimensions while achieving reliable locking and effective lens shifting
2Length of moving object
If a retractable mechanism is used to reduce the overall length in the optical axis direction, then the lens barrel length decreases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the retractable mechanism with the lens shifting mechanism by using the same moving unit for both functions. The moving unit simultaneously achieves the retraction of the lens unit along the optical axis and the orthogonal shifting for lens positioning. This consolidation reduces device complexity compared to having separate mechanisms for retraction and shifting, while still achieving the goal of reduced overall length in the optical axis direction
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 design effectively reduces the overall length of the lens barrel in the optical axis direction, enhancing portability and maintaining structural integrity without increasing size, while enabling seamless transitions between imaging and retracted states.
Implementation Method 1
a sliding surface on which the moving unit slides
Data Source
AI summary
A retractable lens barrel includes a moving unit configured to move a first optical member in an optical system between an imaging position located on an optical axis and a shifted position shifted from the optical axis, a base member movably supporting the moving unit, a cylindrical member, and an operating member configured, when operated, to cause relative movement between the cylindrical member and the base member. The cylindrical member includes a sliding surface on which the moving unit slides and an engagement portion. The moving unit slides on the sliding surface and moves the first optical member from the imaging position to the retracted position as the lens barrel transitions from the imaging state to the retracted state. In a case where the lens barrel is in the retracted state, the moving unit is engaged with the engagement portion and restricted from moving.