Lens Module Spacer Design for Thermal Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lens modules in camera systems face performance issues due to temperature changes caused by differing thermal expansion coefficients of materials in the spacer and lens barrel, leading to optical misalignment and increased power consumption from increased spacer weight.
Innovation Solution
A lens module design with a spacer between lenses that has a light shielding hole and a coupling protrusion, where the spacer is coupled to the lenses without contacting the lens barrel, preventing thermal expansion interference and reducing weight by maintaining a gap between the spacer and lens barrel surfaces, and using a nonferrous metal spacer to minimize production costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the spacer is made from a different material than the lens barrel, then the spacer can perform light shielding and structural functions, but thermal expansion coefficients differ causing performance changes with temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer is divided into two distinct parts: a light shielding portion made of nonferrous metal and a coupling portion made of ferrous metal. This segmentation allows each part to be made from materials optimized for its specific function while managing thermal expansion characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the spacer have different material compositions tailored to their specific requirements. The light shielding portion uses nonferrous metal for optical properties, while the coupling portion uses ferrous metal for mechanical strength and alignment, creating local material optimization.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the spacer contacts the lens barrel, then the structure is more stable, but thermal expansion causes interference and performance changes
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer is extracted from direct contact with the lens barrel by providing a gap between them. This separation removes the thermal expansion interference pathway while the spacer maintains its structural function through coupling to the lenses only.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer acts as an intermediary element that couples lenses to each other without contacting the lens barrel. This intermediary positioning allows thermal expansion of the lens barrel without transmitting forces to the spacer-lens assembly.
3Strength
If the spacer weight is increased, then the structure is more robust, but power consumption increases due to heavier moving parts
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer uses a composite construction with nonferrous metal for light shielding and ferrous metal for coupling. This composite approach achieves necessary structural strength while minimizing weight compared to using solely ferrous metal throughout.
4Productivity
If lenses are coupled to the spacer, then the spacer can maintain lens intervals, but optical misalignment may occur between lens and spacer centers
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling protrusion and coupling groove are designed with asymmetric features including inclined surfaces that guide alignment. The groove has a bottom surface and inclined surfaces that receive the protrusion, creating self-aligning characteristics that prevent optical misalignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling groove and protrusion design incorporates preliminary alignment features that automatically center the lens on the spacer during assembly. The inclined surfaces and groove geometry pre-establish proper optical alignment before final coupling.
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 stabilizes lens performance across temperature changes, prevents optical misalignment, and reduces power consumption by minimizing the spacer's weight and eliminating contact between the spacer and lens barrel, thus requiring less driving force for auto-focusing.
Implementation Method 1
a light shielding hole configured to adjust an amount of light incident therethrough
Implementation Method 2
Thermal expansion coefficients of the spacer and the lens barrel may be different due to the spacer and lens barrel being made from a different material. Changes in temperature may cause the spacer and lens barrel to expand or contract at different rates and amounts
Data Source
AI summary
A lens module having lenses disposed in a lens barrel; and a spacer disposed between two of the lenses comprising a light shielding hole configured to adjust an amount of light incident therethrough, and the spacer is coupled to at least one of the two lenses.