Lens Barrel Rack-Spring Guidance for Compact Optical Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lens barrels are oversized due to guide shafts and racks extending in the optical axis direction, leading to interference and increased size.
Innovation Solution
An optical apparatus with a first and second holding member, a driving unit, a transfer member, a biasing member, and a guide shaft member that allows the transfer member to change position relative to the second holding member against the biasing force, reducing interference and overall size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If guide shafts extend in the optical axis direction to guide lens units, then the lens units can be properly guided and driven, but the overall size of the lens barrel increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide shaft member is oriented perpendicular to the optical axis direction, changing the guidance dimension from longitudinal (optical axis direction) to transverse (radial direction). This allows the lens units to be guided effectively without extending the overall length of the lens barrel in the optical axis direction.
2Stability of the object's composition
If racks extend in the optical axis direction to maintain meshing state, then the meshing state can be maintained under external force, but the overall size of the lens barrel increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rack is oriented perpendicular to the optical axis direction, changing the extension direction from longitudinal to transverse. This maintains the meshing state stability under external force while avoiding the increase of overall size in the optical axis direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing member applies a preliminary biasing force to the rack in the perpendicular direction, ensuring the rack maintains contact with the driving unit and preserves the meshing state before external forces are applied, thereby maintaining stability without requiring extended rack structure.
3Ease of operation
If lens units are moved manually or by external driving unit, then manual control is possible, but interference occurs when moving into the movement range of electrically driven lens units
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows dynamic adjustment of lens unit positions with the electrically driven lens unit capable of moving to avoid interference zones. The biasing member provides dynamic compensation to maintain proper spacing and prevent interference between manually moved and electrically driven lens units.
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing member acts as an intermediary element between the lens units and the driving mechanism, providing a biasing force that maintains proper spacing and prevents direct interference between lens units while allowing manual or electrical driving operations.
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 configuration minimizes interference and reduces the overall size of the lens barrel by eliminating unnecessary clearance between lens units, enabling compact design without compromising optical performance.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing member configured to bias the transfer member so that the transfer member is brought into contact with the second holding member at a predetermined position
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a lens barrel including: a fifth lens unit barrel; a fourth lens unit barrel; a linear ultrasonic motor configured to electrically drive the fourth lens unit barrel in an optical axis direction; a rack configured to transfer a driving force of the linear ultrasonic motor to the fourth lens unit barrel; a rack spring configured to bias the rack so that the rack is brought into contact with the fourth lens unit barrel; and a rack guide shaft. The rack guide shaft is fixed to the fourth lens unit barrel. The fourth lens unit barrel and the rack move together in the optical axis direction. When the fifth lens unit barrel is brought into contact with the fourth lens unit barrel, a relative position of the fourth lens unit barrel and the rack in the optical axis direction changes against a biasing force of the rack spring.