Lens Apparatus Biasing Member Positioning for Compactness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lens apparatuses face challenges in minimizing driving load and maintaining compactness due to the placement of elastic members, which restricts the length of the biasing members and occupies space, making it difficult to integrate additional components.
Innovation Solution
A lens apparatus design featuring a biasing member positioned at the same phase as the cam followers, closer to the optical axis, overlapping them, which allows for a longer spring length and reduced spring constant, thereby minimizing the driving load and maintaining compactness by effectively utilizing space for other components like the image stabilizing driver and focus driver.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the elastic member is placed between lens holding frames to suppress inclination, then the inclination is suppressed, but the space around the lens holding frame is occupied making it difficult to dispose other members
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing member is positioned at the same phase as the cam follower in the radial direction but overlaps it in the optical axis direction, utilizing the third dimension (optical axis direction) to resolve the spatial conflict. This allows the biasing member to apply force without occupying the same radial space as the cam follower, enabling both inclination suppression and space efficiency.
2Length of moving object
If the length of the elastic member is restricted between two lens holding frames, then the structure is compact, but the spring constant must be increased resulting in increased driving load
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the positional parameters of the biasing member (placing it at the same phase as the cam follower and overlapping it in the optical axis direction), the patent achieves both a longer effective spring length (reducing spring constant and driving load) and maintains compact overall structure. The parameter change in positioning allows the spring to extend further along the optical axis without increasing radial dimensions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If another member is disposed outside the elastic members to accommodate additional components, then the component can be installed, but the lens apparatus becomes large
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing member is nested within the same radial space as the cam follower, with the biasing member positioned closer to the optical axis. This nesting arrangement allows additional components to be disposed in the space between the biasing member and the cam follower, or in the optical axis direction, without increasing the overall radial dimensions of the lens apparatus.
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
This design achieves a low-load and compact lens apparatus that can hold lens holders with high accuracy, reducing fluctuations in biasing force and maintaining optical performance by directly applying biasing force through the shortest path, thus suppressing deformations and tilts.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing member provided between the first lens holder and the second lens holder
Implementation Method 2
a first lens holder held by a first cam follower and movable in an optical axis direction
Data Source
AI summary
A lens apparatus includes a first lens holder held by a first cam follower and movable in an optical axis direction, a second lens holder held by a second cam follower and movable in the optical axis direction, and a biasing member provided between the first lens holder and the second lens holder. The biasing member is disposed at the same phase as that of at least one of the first cam follower and the second cam follower and closer to an optical axis than the at least one when viewed from the optical axis direction, and overlaps the at least one in the optical axis direction.