Lens Apparatus Guide Member Segmentation for Tilt Suppression
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lens apparatuses face challenges in maintaining stable linear motion guidance due to high driving resistance, which complicates fine adjustments and leads to issues like tilt and eccentricity of the movable member relative to the optical axis.
Innovation Solution
A lens apparatus design incorporating a guide member, first and second support members, rotating elements, and a biasing member to reduce driving resistance and maintain accurate alignment, utilizing magnetic attraction and ball bearings to guide the movement of the movable member along the optical axis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a heavy lens is guided using two guide rods and six ball bearings, then the driving resistance is reduced, but the movable member shifts from the target position due to component size errors, assembly position errors, and assembly accuracy issues, causing tilt and eccentricity
Solution Approach 1:
The guide structure is divided into multiple guide members (first guide member and second guide member) that are spaced apart in the optical axis direction. This segmentation distributes the guidance function across multiple independent elements, reducing the cumulative effect of assembly errors on the movable member's position and orientation.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide members are arranged in different spatial positions (spaced in the optical axis direction) rather than being coplanar. This three-dimensional arrangement creates multiple constraint planes that work together to suppress tilt and eccentricity, adding spatial dimensionality to the guidance system to enhance stability.
2Power
If a large driving force is used to move the lens, then the linear motion can be maintained, but fine driving adjustments with high accuracy become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing member preliminarily applies a force to press the rotating elements against the guide members, establishing optimal contact and reducing friction before the driving force is applied. This preliminary action ensures that the lens can be moved with minimal driving force, enabling fine adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional sliding friction-based guidance with a rolling contact system using rotating elements (ball bearings or rollers). This substitution dramatically reduces the driving force required to move the lens, making fine driving adjustments with high accuracy possible.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the movable member is held by multiple guide members spaced in the optical axis direction, then tilt and eccentricity are suppressed, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each guide member serves multiple functions: it provides linear guidance, constrains radial movement, and contributes to suppressing tilt through its spatial arrangement. The rotating elements also serve dual purposes by reducing friction during movement and maintaining stable contact with the guide members. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized components.
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 solution enables precise and stable linear motion guidance of the optical element with reduced driving resistance, effectively suppressing tilt and eccentricity, thereby improving the accuracy and efficiency of the lens apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing magnetic attraction and ball bearings to guide the movement of the movable member along the optical axis
Implementation Method 2
utilizing magnetic attraction and ball bearings to guide the movement of the movable member along the optical axis
Data Source
AI summary
A lens apparatus includes an optical element, a fixed member, a movable member configured to hold the optical element and movable in an optical axis direction relative to the fixed member, a guide member configured to guide a movement of the movable member in an optical axis direction, a first support member and a second support member spaced from each other in the optical axis direction, a pair of rotating elements held by the first support member and the second support member, respectively, and a biasing member configured to bias the pair of rotating elements and the guide member into contact with each other. The first support member and the second support member are fixed to one of the movable member and the fixed member. The guide member is fixed to the other of the movable member and the fixed member.