Optical Lens Assembly With Vibration Cleaning and Alignment Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Imaging units in vehicles face issues with foreign matter adherence on light-transmissive bodies, leading to deteriorated image quality due to the lack of effective alignment adjustment between the light-transmissive body and the lens, which existing solutions do not adequately address.

Innovation Solution

An optical device comprising a light-transmissive body, a housing, a vibrator, a first lens, a fixing portion, and a position adjustment mechanism that allows for alignment adjustment between the light-transmissive body and the lens, ensuring that foreign matters are removed and image quality is improved.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a vibrator is provided to remove foreign matters from the light-transmissive body, then the foreign matters can be removed, but alignment adjustment between the light-transmissive body and the lens cannot be performed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveforeign matter adherenceVSAvoidalignment adjustment

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The device is divided into functionally independent modules: the vibrator module for removing foreign matters and the alignment adjustment mechanism for positioning the light-transmissive body relative to the lens. This segmentation allows each module to perform its specific function without interfering with the other, resolving the contradiction between foreign matter removal and alignment adjustment capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The light-transmissive body is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as both the protective cover and the vibration transmission medium for foreign matter removal, while simultaneously being the component that requires alignment adjustment. This multi-functionality approach allows the same component to benefit from both vibration-based cleaning and precise positioning without requiring separate dedicated parts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Manufacturing precision

If alignment adjustment between the light-transmissive body and the lens is implemented, then image quality can be improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidadjustment mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The alignment adjustment mechanism replaces complex manual mechanical adjustment systems with a more simplified structure that uses the housing and fixing portion as integral components. The first lens is fixed to the housing with the position adjustment portion integrated into the fixing portion, eliminating the need for separate complex adjustment mechanisms while maintaining alignment precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The fixing portion and position adjustment portion are merged into a single integrated structure. The fixing portion that secures the first lens to the housing also incorporates the position adjustment portion, combining the functions of fixation and adjustment into one component. This merging reduces the number of separate parts and simplifies the overall device structure while maintaining alignment adjustment capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the fixing portion is connected to the housing at a vibration node, then vibration transmission is minimized, but alignment adjustment becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevibration isolationVSAvoidalignment adjustment

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The position adjustment portion acts as an intermediary mechanism between the fixing portion and the first lens. It provides a controlled interface that allows alignment adjustment to be performed while the fixing portion remains connected to the housing at the vibration node. This intermediary structure enables adjustment operations without requiring changes to the vibration isolation connection point.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 optical device effectively removes foreign matters from the light-transmissive body, enhancing the image quality captured by the imaging element through precise alignment adjustment, thereby improving the overall performance of the imaging unit.

Implementation Method 1

The vibrator vibrates the light-transmissive body held by the housing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Data Source

PatentUS20240353677A1Optical device and imaging unit including optical device

Publication Date: 2024.10.24 MURATA MFG CO LTD

AI summary

An optical device includes an outermost layer lens, a housing, a vibrator, an inner layer lens, a fixing portion, and a position adjustment portion. The vibrator vibrates the outermost layer lens held by the housing. The inner layer lens faces the outermost layer lens. The fixing portion fixes the inner layer lens to the housing. The position adjustment portion is provided in the fixing portion to adjust alignment of the inner layer lens with respect to the outermost layer lens. The fixing portion is connected to a portion of the housing that is a node of vibration by the vibrator.