Lens Cell Preloading for Vibration Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing imaging devices, particularly those mounted on mobile platforms like helicopters, face challenges in stabilizing lens cells due to vibrations, which can lead to radial play and reduced image quality.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a pre-loading system using a lens cell with a housing, bearings, and springs, where the springs transmit forces onto the bearings to stabilize the lens cell within a cam tube, minimizing radial play and shock during zooming or focusing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a stabilized gimbal is used to reduce vibration, then image stability is improved, but the vibration and motion are not sufficiently reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The spring applies a pre-loading force to the lens cell assembly before operation, creating initial contact pressure between the lens cell and the cam tube. This preliminary action ensures that the lens cell remains firmly positioned and resistant to vibrational forces throughout operation, eliminating the insufficiency of conventional gimbals.
Solution Approach 2:
The lens cell assembly is separated into distinct components: the lens cell housing, the bearing, and the spring mechanism. This segmentation allows the spring to independently apply pre-loading force while the bearing provides rotational support, creating a specialized stabilization system that addresses the specific problem of vibration-induced instability.
2Device complexity
If conventional mounting is used, then device complexity is low, but radial play occurs reducing image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The spring applies a pre-loading force that pushes the lens cell assembly against the cam tube, eliminating radial play before operation begins. This preliminary positioning action ensures precise alignment and contact between components, maintaining high image quality without requiring complex active control systems.
3Ease of manufacture
If the lens cell is not pre-loaded, then ease of manufacture is high, but shock and radial play increase during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The spring is installed to apply a pre-loading force that pushes the lens cell assembly against the cam tube, eliminating radial play and reducing shock during operation. This preliminary positioning is achieved through simple mechanical assembly, maintaining ease of manufacture while effectively addressing harmful vibrations and shocks.
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 solution effectively reduces radial play and enhances image stability and clarity by centering the lens cell within the cam tube, even in vibrating environments, thereby improving the overall image quality.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of springs may be provided. Each of the plurality of springs may include a first end and a second end such that the first end is configured to contact one of the bearing areas and the second end is configured to contact a back surface of one of the bearings
Implementation Method 2
transmitting, with a plurality of springs, a plurality of forces onto a plurality of bearings
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments of the present disclosure may include an imaging system with an optical device. The optical device may include a cam tube and a lens cell. The lens cell may be pre-loaded and centered within the cam tube by a plurality of springs and a plurality of bearings. The bearings may form a bearing surface to allow the lens cell to translate within the cam tube. The bearing may include a connector that stabilizes the bearing. The connector may allow for smoother translation of the lens cell within the cam tube.