Lens Barrel Roller Offset Suppression via Limiting Member
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lens barrels with movable rollers suffer from offset issues orthogonal to the optical axis, leading to adverse effects on optical performance and image shake due to impact-induced displacement and small contact areas, which result in dents and unintended movement.
Innovation Solution
A lens barrel design featuring a first and second tube with rollers that rotate and move orthogonally, where one tube includes a limiting member to control the movement of the rollers, ensuring proper alignment and distributing force effectively to prevent offset during impacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If rollers are used to enable relative movement between tubes, then the lens can move smoothly in the optical axis direction, but impact causes roller offset orthogonal to the optical axis, resulting in image shake
Solution Approach 1:
The roller mechanism is divided into multiple independent rollers (first roller and second roller) positioned at different locations. Each roller independently supports the moving tube, distributing the impact force across multiple contact points rather than concentrating it on a single roller, thereby preventing offset and maintaining lens position stability during impact events.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different functional characteristics to different rollers. The first roller and second roller are positioned at specific locations with different roles - one primarily for movement support and the other for impact absorption and position stabilization. This local differentiation allows each roller to optimize its function, with the second roller specifically designed to counteract impact-induced offset.
2Device complexity
If rollers with small contact area are used, then the movement mechanism is compact, but dents form on the contact surface during impact, causing unintended roller movement
Solution Approach 1:
The contact interface is segmented into multiple discrete contact points between the roller and tube surface. By distributing the impact force across multiple such points rather than concentrating it at a single location, the patent prevents dent formation while maintaining a compact structure. The multiple contact points collectively provide the surface area needed for impact distribution without requiring a single large contact zone.
3Strength
If multiple rollers are provided at different positions, then impact forces are distributed, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly distributing rollers throughout the entire structure, the patent places rollers at specific critical locations where impact forces are most likely to occur. The first and second rollers are positioned at strategic points to handle the primary impact loads, providing effective force distribution with minimal rollers. This localized approach achieves impact distribution strength without the complexity of having rollers at every possible position.
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 suppresses lens offset and minimizes image shake by distributing impact forces and maintaining contact surface integrity, thereby enhancing optical performance and reducing the likelihood of scratches on the barrel.
Implementation Method 1
rollers each of which rotates about an axis orthogonal to the optical axis and is urged by spring
Implementation Method 2
the roller is pressed against a fixed barrel at the outer periphery side of the moving group
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a lens barrel which causes at least one lens to be movable in an optical axis direction. The lens barrel includes a first tube; a second tube that holds the lens and is movable relatively to the first tube in the optical axis direction; and either one of the first and the second tube includes a first and a second roller which contact with the other tube in a plane orthogonal to the optical axis direction, and the first roller and the second roller are rotable in accordance with the relative movement of the second tube and movable in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis direction at the time of the movement of the second tube. One tube includes a limiting member for limiting the movement of the second roller in the direction orthogonal to the optical axis direction and in a direction to the other tube.