Lens Barrel Miniaturization via Nested Rotating Members
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lens barrels face challenges in miniaturization along the optical axis while maintaining focal length, as arranging the cam cylinder and driver along the optical axis results in a shorter cam groove, limiting the lens unit's movement and focal length.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a holding cylinder, a cam cylinder that rotates and moves along the optical axis, and a driving unit with multiple rotating members, where at least one rotating member is positioned inside the cam cylinder and closer to the object side, allowing the cam cylinder to move without extending its length, thus maintaining focal length and miniaturizing the lens barrel in the optical axis direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the cam cylinder and driver are arranged along the optical axis to miniaturize the lens barrel in the radial direction, then the lens barrel becomes smaller in radial size, but the cam cylinder becomes shorter in the optical axis direction, resulting in a shorter cam groove and reduced lens unit moving distance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by positioning the driving unit (rotating members) inside the cam cylinder's inner diameter rather than along the optical axis. This transforms the arrangement from a one-dimensional (optical axis) layout to a two-dimensional (radial + axial) layout, allowing the cam cylinder to maintain sufficient optical axis length for the cam groove while reducing the radial size of the lens barrel.
2Manufacturing precision
If the cam groove is made longer to maintain focal length, then the focal length is maintained, but the cam cylinder becomes longer in the optical direction, making the lens barrel larger in the optical axis direction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies nesting by placing the driving unit (rotating members) inside the cam cylinder's inner diameter. This nested arrangement allows the cam groove to extend sufficiently along the optical axis to maintain focal length without increasing the overall optical axis length of the lens barrel, as the driving mechanism occupies the radial space rather than extending the axial length.
Data Source
AI summary
A lens barrel includes a holding cylinder configured to hold an optical system, a cam cylinder, and a driving unit. At least part of each of the plurality of rotating members except the first rotating member is located inside an inner diameter of the cam cylinder and on an object side of an end of the cam cylinder on an image pickup surface side. The second rotating member is located closest to the object among the plurality of rotating members except the first rotating member, and on a rotating direction side of the cam cylinder where the cam cylinder moves to the object side relative to the first rotating member.