Movable Lens Assembly with Ball-in-Socket Tilt
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional camera lens assemblies are cumbersome and lack intuitive mechanisms for achieving selective focus and tilt adjustments, often requiring complex adjustments and housing focus mechanisms within interchangeable lenses.
Innovation Solution
A lens assembly featuring a ball-in-socket tilt mechanism and a focus assembly that allows for axial movement of the optic assembly relative to the lens body, enabling up to 17 degrees of tilt and precise focus control, with a tension adjustment system using compression springs and a bayonet-type mounting system for easy interchangeability of optical cups.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If focus mechanisms are integrated within interchangeable lenses, then focus control is precise, but the lens assembly becomes cumbersome and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the lens system into separate functional modules: interchangeable optical cups containing only optics, and a stationary lens body containing the focus mechanism. This segmentation allows precise focus control through the focus assembly while keeping individual optical cups simple and lightweight, resolving the contradiction between precision and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an adapter as an intermediary component that couples the optical assembly to the lens body. The adapter includes a focus assembly that mediates between the interchangeable optical cup and the camera, providing precise focus control without integrating complex mechanisms into each optical cup, thus reducing overall system complexity while maintaining precision.
2Adaptability or versatility
If tilt adjustments are added to enable selective focus imagery, then photographic versatility improves, but the adjustment system becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a ball-in-socket tilt mechanism where a spherical ball rotates within a socket to enable tilt adjustments. This spherical geometry provides intuitive multi-directional adjustment capability for selective focus imagery while maintaining a compact and simple mechanical structure, resolving the contradiction between versatility and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The tilt mechanism is designed to be manually adjustable by the user without requiring complex motorized systems or additional controls. The ball-in-socket design allows direct manual manipulation for intuitive tilt adjustments, providing photographic versatility through simple self-service operation rather than complex automated systems.
3Speed
If optical assemblies are made interchangeable for quick swapping, then operational speed improves, but secure attachment becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a universal bayonet-type mounting system with standardized coupling interfaces between optical cups, adapters, and lens bodies. This universal interface enables quick swapping of optical assemblies while ensuring secure attachment through consistent mechanical engagement, resolving the contradiction between speed and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The bayonet mounting system incorporates dynamic engagement features that provide both quick connection and secure locking. The coupling mechanism allows rapid insertion and removal while automatically locking into position during mounting, ensuring reliable attachment without requiring complex fastening procedures, thus achieving both speed and security.
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
Facilitates easy and precise selective focus imagery by allowing lenses to be tilted off-parallel with the image plane, providing a natural and intuitive adjustment system while maintaining secure attachment to the camera body, and enabling quick swapping of optical assemblies for diverse photographic techniques.
Implementation Method 1
A lens assembly featuring a ball-in-socket tilt mechanism and a focus assembly that allows for axial movement of the optic assembly relative to the lens body, enabling up to 17 degrees of tilt
Implementation Method 2
a tension adjustment system using compression springs
Implementation Method 3
a bayonet-type mounting system for easy interchangeability of optical cups
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A
AI summary
A lens assembly is provided for use with a camera having a camera body. The lens assembly in accordance with one embodiment comprises a lens body portion having camera mount configured to be connected to the camera body. A lens body is connected to the camera mount, and an adapter is connected to the lens body. An optic assembly is removably connected to the adapter and is axially moveable relative to the lens body. The optic assembly has a housing connectable to the adapter, and an optic is carried by the housing. The optic assembly is removable from the lens body portion while the lens body portion remains on the camera body. A focus assembly is coupled to the adapter and configured to axially adjust a position of the optic assembly relative to the lens body to control focus of the lens assembly when the optic assembly is installed in the lens body.