Modular Lens Main Body with Reversible Outer Housing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing camera lenses are bulky and cumbersome, especially when used in film cameras or drones, due to the need for external motor drives and complex mechanical structures for focusing and zooming, which limits their portability and versatility.
Innovation Solution
A modular lens system comprising a lens main body with an inner housing, adjustable functional elements, a controller, and a reversible outer housing that allows for easy exchange of different functional modules, enabling adjustable lens elements, diaphragms, and filters, with a secure and toolless mounting mechanism, and wireless communication for remote control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If external motor drives and complex mechanical structures are used for focusing and zooming, then lens functionality is improved, but device size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The lens system is divided into a lens main body containing all optical elements and a separate outer housing. The outer housing can be exchanged to change functionality (focusing, zooming, filtering) without replacing the entire lens assembly, allowing versatile functionality while maintaining a compact base structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The lens main body is designed with a universal interface that accepts different outer housings for various functions. A single lens main body can be combined with multiple outer housings to achieve different focusing ranges, zoom capabilities, and filtering options, providing multi-functionality without requiring separate complete lens assemblies for each function.
2Adaptability or versatility
If external motor drives and complex mechanical structures are used for focusing and zooming, then lens functionality is improved, but portability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the lens system into a lightweight lens main body and functional outer housings, the design reduces the weight that must be carried. Users only need to attach the outer housing when a specific function is required, making the lens more portable for applications like drone photography where weight reduction is critical.
Solution Approach 2:
The lens system transitions from a static, permanent assembly to a dynamic, reconfigurable system. Outer housings can be quickly attached and detached based on operational needs, allowing the lens to adapt its functionality dynamically while maintaining ease of transport when not in use.
3Ease of operation
If modular design with reversible outer housing is used, then portability is improved, but structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The securing device integrates multiple functions into a single mechanism: it mechanically attaches the outer housing to the lens main body, provides electrical contact through the signal interface, and ensures proper alignment. This merging of functions reduces the number of separate components needed despite the modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The signal interface acts as an intermediary between the outer housing and the lens main body, handling both mechanical securing and electrical communication. This intermediary component simplifies the overall structure by combining attachment and signaling functions in a single integrated interface.
4Ease of operation
If toolless mounting mechanism is used, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The securing device is designed to be self-aligning and self-securing through a toolless mechanism. The outer housing automatically finds its correct position and locks into place without requiring external tools or complex alignment procedures, making the mounting process as easy as snapping the housing onto the lens main body.
Data Source
AI summary
A lens main body includes an inner housing, a lens element mounted on the inner housing, an adjustable functional element mounted on the inner housing, and an electrical drive arranged on the inner housing to adjust the functional element, a controller arranged on the inner housing, a securing device configured to reversibly receive an outer housing extending around the inner housing in a tubular fashion, and a first signal interface to receive control signals for the controller, arranged on the inner housing, and configured to reversibly couple to a mating interface of the outer housing. An outer housing for the lens main body, and a lens formed from the lens main body and the outer housing have an altered functional scope vis-à-vis the lens main body. In addition, a lens assembly includes, besides the lens main body, two outer housings having a different functional scope.