Lens Mounting Assembly Alignment Projections
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing complexity and part count in auto-focus cameras make it difficult to maintain optical alignment within narrow tolerance limits, leading to misalignment and tilt issues between lenses and the image sensor.
Innovation Solution
A lens mounting assembly with a mating connection between the lens barrel and mounting, featuring alignment projections on one or both lens assemblies to directly optically align with the image sensor, allowing precise focus adjustment and minimizing misalignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple lens assemblies and coupling mechanisms are added to achieve auto-focus functionality, then the camera's functionality is improved, but the risk of misalignment and tilt increases
Solution Approach 1:
A dedicated alignment mechanism with alignment projections and corresponding alignment features is introduced as an intermediary between the lens barrel assembly and the lens mount. This intermediary structure directly addresses the misalignment problem by providing positive mechanical alignment references that ensure the lens optical axis coincides with the image sensor plane, thereby resolving the contradiction between added functionality and maintained precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment projections and alignment features are pre-configured on the lens barrel and lens mount respectively, establishing correct optical alignment before the lens assembly is fully installed. This preliminary alignment action ensures that subsequent assembly steps do not compromise optical precision, effectively preventing misalignment and tilt issues before they can occur.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional threaded coupling between lens barrel and mount is used, then assembly is simple, but misalignment and tilt are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment function is merged with the existing threaded coupling structure by integrating alignment projections and alignment features directly into the lens barrel and lens mount components. This combination allows the assembly mechanism to simultaneously provide both mechanical connection and optical alignment, eliminating the need for separate alignment procedures while maintaining assembly simplicity.
3Manufacturing precision
If alignment features are added to lens assemblies, then optical alignment precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than complicating the entire lens assembly structure, the alignment projections and alignment features are localized to specific critical interfaces: the lens barrel's connection to the lens mount and the lens mount's connection to the image sensor. This localized approach provides necessary alignment precision only where optically critical, without adding unnecessary complexity to other parts of the lens assembly.
Data Source
AI summary
A lens mounting assembly includes a lens barrel with a first lens assembly. A lens mount includes an image sensor, and the lens barrel matingly connects with the lens mount in a manner which allows the first lens assembly to be moved along an optical axis to adjust a focus on the image sensor. A second lens assembly is provided for adjusting the focus on the image sensor during use of the lens. An alignment projection is provided on at least one of the first or second lens assemblies, the alignment projection being adapted to mate with a portion of the other of the first or second lens assemblies in order to directly optically align the first and second lens assemblies with the image sensor.