Lens Device Dual Operation Ring Aperture Light Transmission

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lens devices for cameras struggle to balance light adjustment and depth of field control, leading to issues like small aperture blurring and increased costs when using both aperture stop devices and variable light transmission filters simultaneously.

Innovation Solution

A lens device with a mechanism that integrates both aperture stop and variable light transmission filter adjustments through a dual operation ring system, allowing for synchronized rotation and transfer of rotations between the rings to maintain consistent light transmission while adjusting aperture size, enabling manual control of depth of field and exposure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If an aperture stop device is used to adjust the amount of incident light, then exposure control is improved, but small aperture blurring occurs due to diffraction phenomenon

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveamount of incident lightVSAvoidresolving power

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines an aperture stop device and a variable light transmission filter into a single integrated system. The aperture stop device controls the aperture area while the variable light transmission filter (such as an ND filter) controls the density of dimming material. By merging these two devices, the system can adjust the amount of incident light through either or both mechanisms without requiring the aperture to be excessively small, thereby avoiding diffraction-induced blurring while maintaining exposure control capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Illumination intensity

If a variable light transmission filter is used to adjust the amount of transmitted light, then small aperture blurring is avoided, but depth of field adjustment capability is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveamount of transmitted lightVSAvoiddepth of field adjustment

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates both an aperture stop device and a variable light transmission filter into a single light amount adjustment device. The aperture stop device maintains the capability to adjust aperture area for depth of field control, while the variable light transmission filter provides additional light transmission control through density adjustment. This merged structure allows the system to achieve both exposure control and depth of field adjustment simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If both aperture stop device and variable light transmission filter are mounted separately, then appropriate exposure and depth of field control are achieved, but manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexposure and depth of field controlVSAvoidmanufacturing costs

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the aperture stop device and variable light transmission filter into a single integrated light amount adjustment device with a unified structure. This integration allows both functions to be achieved while reducing the number of separate components, simplifying the overall structure, and lowering manufacturing costs compared to mounting two separate devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Measurement precision

If multiple operation tools are provided for adjusting aperture and light transmission, then precise control is achieved, but ease of operation decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol precisionVSAvoidoperation convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs a single operation ring that can perform multiple functions: adjusting the aperture stop device, adjusting the variable light transmission filter, or both simultaneously. This multi-functional operation ring allows photographers to control both aperture area and light transmission density through one unified interface, maintaining precise control while significantly improving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2762940B1Lens device, and imaging device fitted with said lens device

Publication Date: 2020.09.23 FUJIFILM CORP

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AI summary

A lens device for an imaging device having a imaging-lens and an aperture stop device that adjusts an aperture-area, the lens device including: a lens barrel that houses the imaging-lens and the aperture stop device; a first operation ring that is provided on an outer circumferential portion of the lens barrel at a desired position and is provided to be rotatable in a circumferential direction of the outer circumferential portion about an axis line of the lens barrel as a rotation axis in order to adjust the aperture-area of the aperture stop device; a second operation ring that is provided in parallel with the first operation ring and provided to be rotatable in the circumferential direction of the outer circumferential portion about the axis line of the lens barrel as the rotation axis in order to adjust a transmittance of a variable light transmission filter; and a mechanism section.