Lever-Based Lens Module for Zooming Without Spiral Grooves
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high manufacturing cost and complexity of conventional zoom lenses, particularly due to the difficulty in producing and inspecting spiral grooves in cam tubes, result in increased costs and defective products.
Innovation Solution
A lens module using a lever with a pivot part and an extended part, where the first and second lenses slide along a guide bar, allowing for adjustable sensor distances and focal length changes, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a spiral groove is used to connect the cam tube with the lens tube for zooming, then the lens can be adjusted to change focal length, but the manufacturing precision requirement becomes extremely high and manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the zooming mechanism into separate components: a cam tube with a simple circular groove and a lens tube with an inclined groove. These two grooves work together to achieve the spiral effect without requiring a complex spiral groove to be machined in one piece. This segmentation reduces manufacturing precision requirements while maintaining zoom functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines the functions of the cam tube and lens tube grooves to achieve the zooming effect. The circular groove in the cam tube and the inclined groove in the lens tube are merged in function to produce the equivalent effect of a spiral groove, but with simpler manufacturing requirements for each individual component.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a spiral groove is used in the cam tube for connecting with the lens tube, then zooming function is achieved, but the inspection cost increases due to difficulty in checking dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the spiral groove function into two separate simpler grooves (circular in cam tube, inclined in lens tube), each component becomes easier to inspect. The circular groove can be measured with standard roundness tools, and the inclined groove can be measured with angle measurement tools, rather than requiring complex spiral groove measurement equipment.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a spiral groove is used in the cam tube, then the lens position can be adjusted, but defective cam tubes result in defective semi-products increasing manufacturing cost
Solution Approach 1:
The segmentation of the zooming mechanism into multiple components with simpler grooves reduces the defect rate. If one component (cam tube or lens tube) has a manufacturing defect, the other component can potentially be replaced without scrapping the entire assembly, reducing waste and manufacturing costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the complex spiral groove from the cam tube and relocates part of the zooming function to the lens tube through the inclined groove. This extraction of complexity from a single critical component reduces the risk of defects causing complete assembly failure.
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 lever-based lens module simplifies assembly, reduces manufacturing costs, and minimizes defective products by enabling efficient adjustment of sensor distances and focal length, while maintaining image quality.
Implementation Method 1
The extended part is capable of rotating around the pivot part
Implementation Method 2
The lever includes a pivot part and an extended part. The pivot part is coupled with the frame. The extended part is capable of rotating around the pivot part
Implementation Method 3
The first lens coupled with the guide bar to slide along the guide bar
Implementation Method 4
The first lens coupled with the guide bar to slide along the guide bar
Implementation Method 5
Light is focused on a photosensitive surface of an image sensor by the lens to form an image on the photosensitive surface
Implementation Method 6
The lens may be composed of several to dozens of concave lenses and convex lenses. The concave lenses and the convex lenses produce a focal length
Data Source
AI summary
A lens module includes a frame, a guide bar, a lever, a first lens and a second lens. The frame is for carrying an image sensor with a photosensitive surface. The guide bar is disposed on one side of the frame and parallel to a normal of the photosensitive surface. The lever includes a pivot part coupled with the frame and an extended part capable of rotating around the pivot part. The first lens and the second lens coupled with the guide bar are leaned against the extended part. When the extended part rotates around the pivot part, the extended part drives the first lens and the second lens to slide along the guide bar, for changing a first distance between the first lens and the photosensitive surface and changing a second distance between the second lens and the photosensitive surface.