Light Amount Adjusting Device Hexagonal Aperture Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing light amount adjusting devices for photographing apparatuses face challenges in maintaining optical performance due to irregular aperture shapes, leading to imbalanced light distribution, asymmetric diffraction, and chromatic aberration, which result in low image quality and increased device size and complexity.

Innovation Solution

A light amount adjusting device with a compact structure that maintains a hexagonal aperture shape similar to circular, utilizing a link system with rotating and linear movement wings to adjust the aperture size, minimizing components and volume while preventing optical errors like light splitting or spreading.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If traditional sliding wings with recesses are used to adjust aperture size, then the device structure is simple, but the aperture shape becomes irregular (rhombus-shaped) causing optical aberrations and imbalanced light distribution

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidaperture shape regularity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The aperture adjustment mechanism is divided into multiple independent wings (first and second linear movement wings, first and second rotation wings) that can move separately. Each wing has specific functional segments (linear movement portions and rotation portions) that work together to maintain a regular hexagonal aperture shape while adjusting size, resolving the conflict between structural simplicity and shape regularity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The wings are designed with dynamic movement capabilities - they can both translate linearly and rotate. This dynamic behavior allows the wings to adapt their positions and orientations during aperture adjustment, maintaining a consistent hexagonal shape throughout the adjustment range rather than deforming into irregular shapes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Manufacturing precision

If six wings are used to form a hexagonal aperture shape, then the aperture shape regularity is improved, but the number of components and device volume increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaperture shape regularityVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple functional features are merged into fewer components. Each wing combines both linear movement capability and rotation capability, and adjacent wings share common drive mechanisms through the link system. This merging reduces the total number of independent components compared to using six separate wings, while still achieving the desired hexagonal aperture shape.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The wings are designed as multi-functional elements that perform multiple roles: they define aperture boundaries, block light when needed, and transmit mechanical motion. The link mechanism serves universal purposes by coordinating both linear and rotational movements of multiple wings simultaneously, reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Use of energy by moving object

If the aperture is maximally reduced in size, then light amount control is improved, but the aperture becomes rhombus-shaped causing focusing failure and image blurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight amount controlVSAvoidaperture shape consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The wings maintain their geometric relationships through coordinated dynamic movement. Even when the aperture is minimized, the rotation portions of the wings ensure that the aperture boundaries remain straight and properly oriented, preventing deformation into rhombus shapes and maintaining consistent hexagonal geometry throughout the full adjustment range.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Manufacturing precision

If linear movement distance of wings is increased to achieve proper aperture shaping, then the aperture shape regularity is improved, but the device width and length increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaperture shape regularityVSAvoiddevice dimensions
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The wings transition from purely linear movement to two-dimensional motion by incorporating rotation. This dimensional change allows the wings to achieve proper positioning and orientation for maintaining regular aperture shapes without requiring excessive linear travel distance, thereby compacting the overall device dimensions while preserving shape regularity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3187931B1Light amount adjusting device
Publication Date: 2019.12.25 HANWHA VISION CO LTD
  • EP3187931B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3187931B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3187931B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A light amount adjusting device includes: a case including an aperture; a rotatable link; a driving unit rotating the link; first and second linear movement wings respectively connected to sides of a rotation center of the link, each of the first and second linear movement wings being linearly movable between a position at which the aperture is closed and a position at which the aperture is opened; a first rotation wing connected to the link and rotatable across linear movement directions of the first and second linear movement wings between a position at which the aperture is closed and a position at which the aperture is opened; and a second rotation wing connected to the link and rotatable across linear movement directions of the first and second linear movement wings between a position at which the aperture is closed and a position at which the aperture is opened.