Projector Lens Cap Finger Placement Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing projector lens covers have complex configurations, making them difficult to attach and detach, which complicates the protection and maintenance of the projection lens.
Innovation Solution
A lens cap with a simple configuration, featuring a unitary molded design made of synthetic resin that can bend when pressure is applied, allowing for easy attachment and detachment by engaging and disengaging a tab with the enclosure's edge, reducing the number of parts and manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the lens cover is formed of separate members (lens cover body and sliding member), then the lens cover can be attached to and detached from the exterior enclosure, but the configuration becomes complicated and difficult to attach and detach
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the lens cover body and sliding member into a single integrated lens cap structure. The lens cap includes a body portion with a tab formed integrally therefrom, eliminating the need for separate components. This integration simplifies the overall configuration while maintaining the attachment and detachment functionality through the tab engaging with the locking portion of the exterior enclosure.
2Productivity
If the lens cover has a complicated configuration with multiple parts, then the lens cover can be attached to and detached from the exterior enclosure, but the number of parts increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate parts (lens cover body and sliding member with extending portion) into a single unitary lens cap that can be manufactured as one piece. This reduces the number of parts from two or more components to a single integrated structure, thereby improving productivity and simplifying manufacturing processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The lens cap includes a tab portion that can be considered a segmented feature formed integrally with the body portion. This tab is designed to engage with the locking portion of the exterior enclosure, providing the attachment function while being manufactured as part of the single integrated lens cap structure.
3Ease of manufacture
If the lens cap is made of a single piece of synthetic resin, then the number of parts is reduced and manufacturing cost is lowered, but the lens cap must be designed to bend when pressure is applied for easy detachment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the elastic deformation property of synthetic resin by designing the lens cap with a tab that can bend when pressure is applied. This allows the single-piece lens cap to be easily attached and detached from the exterior enclosure without requiring multiple rigid components. The material's flexibility enables simple manufacturing while providing functional versatility.
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 lens cap can be readily attached and detached, improving productivity and lowering manufacturing costs while maintaining effective protection of the projection lens, and preventing positional misalignment and exterior appearance degradation.
Implementation Method 1
The lens cap can, for example, be a unitary molded lens cap made of polypropylene or any other synthetic resin and having a property that causes the lens cap to bend when constant pressure is applied thereto.
Data Source
AI summary
A projector includes a projection optical apparatus including a projection lens that projects an image and a lens barrel that accommodates the projection lens, an exterior enclosure that accommodates the projection optical apparatus, and a lens cap that protects the projection lens. The lens cap has a body portion that covers at least part of the projection lens exposed through an opening formed in one of the exterior enclosure and a tab that is formed integrally with the body portion and engages with an inner circumferential edge of the opening to lock the lens cap in the opening, and the body portion has finger placement portions (first finger placement portion and second finger placement portion) on which fingers are placed in a direction roughly parallel to a direction in which the tab having engaged with the inner circumferential edge of the opening moves away from the inner circumferential edge.