Optical Zooming System Counterweight Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing imaging devices with optical zooming systems face instability due to movement of lens elements, leading to shaky images or videos, as the center of gravity is altered, affecting the system's stability and performance.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an optical zooming system with movable lens elements and counterweights that maintain the center of gravity, ensuring stability by moving the counterweights in correspondence with the lens elements, thereby stabilizing the imaging device or system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If lens elements are moved to achieve optical zooming, then variable focal lengths and magnifications are enabled, but the center of gravity changes causing image instability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces counterweights that move in opposition to the lens elements during zooming operations. When lens elements shift position to change focal length, the counterweights shift in the opposite direction to compensate for the change in center of gravity, thereby maintaining overall system balance and preventing image instability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system proactively counteracts the destabilizing effect of lens movement by pre-positioning counterweights to move in advance or simultaneously with lens element displacement. This preliminary anti-action prevents the center of gravity from shifting, thereby preventing image instability before it occurs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If lens elements are moved for optical zooming, then magnification capability is improved, but system balance is altered affecting performance
Solution Approach 1:
Counterweights are employed to offset the mass displacement caused by moving lens elements during magnification changes. By positioning counterweights to move oppositely to the lens elements, the system maintains its original center of gravity and balance, ensuring reliable performance throughout the zoom range.
3Stability of the object's composition
If counterweights are added to maintain center of gravity, then image stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the counterweight mechanism with the existing zoom lens structure, combining the functions of lens element movement and counterweight displacement into a single coordinated system. This merging reduces the need for separate independent mechanisms, thereby limiting the increase in overall device complexity while achieving center of gravity stability.
Data Source
AI summary
An optical zooming system with a stationary center of gravity includes a lens element configured to move along an optical axis, a counterweight operably coupled to the lens element and configured to maintain a center of gravity of the optical zooming system during movement of the lens element, and a threaded rod extending along a direction parallel to the optical axis and coupled to the lens element and the counterweight. The threaded rod includes a first threaded portion and a second thread portion. Threads in the first threaded portion are different from threads in the second threaded portion. The lens element is arranged in the first threaded portion, and the counterweight is arranged in the second threaded portion.