Lens Barrel with Nested Rotation Restricting Ribs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lens barrels face challenges in achieving both improved impact resistance and size reduction while maintaining effective mechanical engagement and stability.

Innovation Solution

The lens barrel design incorporates a guide frame with rotation restricting ribs and guide parts that restrict relative rotation, allowing movement along the optical axis, and includes a configuration where first and second group frames engage with cam pins and grooves to ensure stability and reduce size, enhancing impact resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If a thin and less strong rib construction is used, then size reduction is achieved, but impact resistance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelens barrel sizeVSAvoidimpact resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The lens barrel is divided into multiple functional frames (guide frame, first group frame, second group frame) with distributed rotation restricting ribs. This segmentation allows each component to contribute to impact resistance independently, achieving high strength with thinner individual ribs and reduced overall size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple frames are nested within each other (guide frame containing first group frame containing second group frame), with rotation restricting ribs at different levels. This nested structure provides cumulative rotational restriction and impact resistance while minimizing the overall radial dimension of the lens barrel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Volume of moving object

If rotation restricting ribs are made thin, then size reduction is achieved, but mechanical engagement stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelens barrel sizeVSAvoidmechanical engagement stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The rotation restricting ribs have varying thicknesses at different locations - thicker at engagement surfaces for stable mechanical contact, and thinner in non-critical sections for size reduction. This local quality variation maintains engagement stability while achieving overall size reduction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The lens barrel components utilize composite construction with strategically placed reinforcement elements within the thin rib structure, providing enhanced mechanical engagement stability in critical areas while maintaining thin profiles elsewhere for size reduction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentUS10146027B2Lens barrel

Publication Date: 2018.12.04 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD

AI summary

In a lens barrel and an imaging apparatus, improvement in impact resistance and size reduction can be enhanced. The lens barrel includes the following elements; a guide frame including a rotation restricting rib; a first group frame; and a second group frame. The first group frame includes a first guide part engaged outside the rotation restricting rib. The relative rotation of the first frame is restricted by the rotation restricting rib and the first group frame is capable of moving along the optical axis direction. The second group frame includes a second guide part engaged inside the rotation restricting rib. The relative rotation of the second frame is restricted by the rotation restricting rib and the second group frame is capable of moving along the optical axis direction. A cam pin is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the first group frame and engages a cam cylinder disposed on the outer periphery of the first group frame.