Retractable Lens Lifting Assembly for Compact Zoom and Drop Buffering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional retractable lenses in electronic devices are structurally complex, heavy, large in size, and lack effective buffering, leading to poor drop resistance and susceptibility to damage.
Innovation Solution
A retractable lens design featuring a base, first and second drive assemblies, a lifting assembly with an annular rotor, guide member, pin member, and elastic member, which converts rotational motion into upward/downward motion, reducing size and weight while providing buffering through the elastic member to absorb impacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a rotary retractable manner is adopted for the retractable lens, then zoom function is achieved, but the structure becomes complex and the weight and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The lens system is divided into a fixed lens assembly and a movable lens assembly that can independently move along the optical axis. This segmentation allows the movable assembly to achieve zoom functionality through linear motion rather than complex rotary mechanisms, thereby simplifying the overall structure while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the conventional rotary mechanical retractable mechanism with a linear motion system driven by electromagnetic actuators (voice coil motors). This substitution eliminates complex gears, linkages, and rotary joints, significantly reducing structural complexity and component quantity while achieving the same zoom functionality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a rotary retractable manner is adopted for the retractable lens, then zoom function is achieved, but the weight and size of the electronic device increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces heavy rotary mechanical components with lightweight electromagnetic actuators (voice coil motors) that drive linear motion. This substitution dramatically reduces the weight of the movable lens assembly while maintaining the zoom function, thereby reducing the overall device weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates unnecessary mechanical transmission components (gears, linkages, rotary joints) from the zoom mechanism, retaining only the essential linear motion system and electromagnetic actuators. This extraction of superfluous components directly reduces the overall weight of the lens system.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional retractable lens design is used, then zoom function is achieved, but drop resistance is poor due to lack of buffering design
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates elastic buffering elements (elastic rings or springs) between the movable lens assembly and the housing, positioned to absorb impact forces before they reach critical components. This beforehand cushioning design ensures that during drops, the elastic elements compress to dissipate impact energy, protecting the lens and electronic components from damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the mechanical parameters of the lens assembly by introducing compliant elements with specific elastic properties. These parameter changes allow the system to dynamically adjust its stiffness and damping characteristics, providing optimal protection during impact while maintaining smooth operation during normal zooming.
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 design achieves a more compact and lightweight retractable lens with improved drop resistance by converting rotational motion into linear motion and utilizing an elastic member for impact absorption, ensuring reliability and reducing the risk of component breakage.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member connected to the pin member and the rigid ring
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention provides a retractable lens, including a base, a first drive assembly, a lifting assembly, a protective lens element assembly, a second drive assembly, and a lens module. The lifting assembly includes an annular rotor, a rigid ring fastened on a side of the annular rotor, a guide member whose two ends are respectively fastened to the annular rotor and the rigid ring and that extends in a first direction, a pin member that is sleeved on an outer side of the guide member and that is slidably assembled on the guide member, an elastic member connected to the pin member and the rigid ring, and a lifting member movablely connected to the pin member. According to the present invention, a rotational motion of the annular rotor driven by the first drive assembly is converted into an upward/downward motion in the first direction through cooperation between the pin member and the lifting member, so that the retractable lens can have a more compact structure. This effectively reduces a weight and a size of the retractable lens, improves lightness and thinness of the retractable lens, and ensures reliability of the retractable lens.