JP2005352312A - Lens frame cartridge, method for adjusting optical axis, lens barrel and optical appliance - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve high accuracy adjustment of an optical axis and to carry out an adhering step in a detached state from an optical axis adjusting device while preventing displacement of the optical axis after adjusted with high accuracy. <P>SOLUTION: A movable driving unit (a micrometer) to shift in the X direction or the Y direction is directly brought into contact with an objective optical element to be adjusted. An L5 chuck (a contact face pushing means) brings the above objective optical element (an L4/L5 joined element) into contact with an L4/L5 sliding reference surface of an objective lens frame (a second group lens frame), and the one-directional moving means (the micrometer and an energizing spring) in the respective X direction or Y direction are not retreated from the objective optical element until fixation of the element by adhesion is completed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a lens frame cartridge, an optical axis adjustment method, a lens barrel, and an optical apparatus for adjusting the optical axis of an optical element constituting an optical system.

In recent years, an aspherical lens is frequently used in an optical system used for a digital camera or the like because high resolution and compactness are required to a high degree. In such an optical system, there are optical elements that are partially highly sensitive. Therefore, it is necessary to adjust the amount of eccentricity of the optical axis with high accuracy so that the contrast and resolution are balanced.
In this adjustment of the optical axis, it is required that the amount of eccentricity of the optical axis be kept within several μm.

  As such an adjustment device, the one disclosed in Patent Document 1 is an adjustment for chucking an optical element for shift adjustment to a plane perpendicular to the optical axis by a “collect chuck” (holding means) and further moving it in the X and Y directions. The “XY fine movement stage”, which is a means, moves the “collect chuck (holding means)” in the “X direction” and “Y direction” via the “post”, “elevating stage”, and “horizontal part” on the way. It is configured to be movable.

Moreover, in the thing of the patent document 2 for which it applied previously by this applicant, the structure which hold | maintained rotatably the outer peripheral surface of the lens frame by the side of alignment by the inner peripheral surface of the lens frame by the side of alignment was provided. For the optical unit, the optical axis is adjusted by rotating the lens unit on the alignment side with respect to the lens unit on the alignment side.
JP 2003-66298 A JP 2003-161868 A

However, in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, since the backlash at the time of chucking in the optical element and the “collect chuck (holding means)” cannot be set to “0”, during adjustment in the “XY direction”, for example, After driving in the “X direction”, when returning by overshooting or the like, the backlash of the “X direction” causes the “operation lag: the return operation of the optical element with respect to the timing of the adjustment return operation ( There is a possibility that a phenomenon of “feeding between the optical element and the collect chuck” can occur.
Factors that arise are that the outer diameter to which the optical element is chucked varies within tolerances, the play between the “collect chuck (holding means)” and the “horizontal portion”, and the “horizontal portion” and “X” The backlash between the “−Y fine movement stage (adjusting means)” can be considered.

In addition, it is described that the optical element is fixed by adhesion after the optical axis is adjusted, with the optical axis adjusting device being held in a state where the “optical element” is held by the “collect chuck (holding means)”. ing.
That is, it is not considered to efficiently use the optical axis adjusting device by performing the bonding process in a state where it is detached from the optical axis adjusting device.
For this reason, it is considered that the optical axis adjusting device is occupied until the bonding is completed.

  In addition, the above-described Patent Document 2 requires a configuration for holding the lens unit in a rotatable manner, and has been considered to adjust the optical axis with a lens frame cartridge for a lens unit having a general configuration. is not.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and relates to optical axis adjustment using a lens frame cartridge that does not require an adjustment mechanism for a lens unit to be adjusted, and provides high-precision light. A lens frame cartridge, an optical axis adjustment method, which can be performed in a state where the bonding process after the optical axis adjustment is removed from the optical axis adjustment device while realizing the axis adjustment and preventing the optical axis deviation after the adjustment with high accuracy. It is an object to provide a lens barrel and an optical instrument.

  In order to achieve such an object, a lens frame cartridge as a first aspect of the present invention includes a lens frame that holds an optical element, and is used for optical axis adjustment by an optical axis adjustment device for an optical system including a plurality of optical elements. The lens frame cartridge used is a moving means for shifting the optical element to be adjusted in a plane direction perpendicular to the optical axis, and the optical element to be adjusted is abutted against the lens frame to be adjusted. A contact surface pressing means for urging and pressing against the contact surface is provided as a unit.

The moving means described above is preferably configured to include one-way moving means that enables shift movement in one direction in each of two directions orthogonal to each other on a plane perpendicular to the optical axis.
The one-way moving means described above is preferably configured to include a drive unit that drives forward and backward, and a moving linear direction urging unit that is disposed at a position facing the drive unit with the adjustment target interposed therebetween.

  The contact surface pressing means includes a contact surface urging member that urges the optical element to be adjusted against a contact surface on which the optical element is in contact with the adjustment target lens frame. It is configured to be pressed against the abutting surface by the urging member. When the force amount of the moving linear direction urging portion is “A” and the force amount of the abutting surface urging member is “B”, A> B. preferable.

It is preferable that the above-described optical element to be adjusted is configured to come into direct contact with the moving unit.
It is preferable that an opening for applying an adhesive is provided in the above-described contact surface pressing means. It is preferable that two or three openings for applying the adhesive are provided in the circumferential direction.

It is preferable that an opening portion for irradiating UV irradiation light is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the lens frame holding member that holds the adjustment target lens frame.
It is preferable that the opening for irradiating the UV irradiation light described above is disposed at a position corresponding to the opening for applying the adhesive in the contact surface pressing means in the radial direction.

  It is preferable that the abutment surface pressing unit is integrated with the fixing unit that fixes the lens frame for adjustment described above to the lens frame holding member that holds the lens frame for adjustment.

  The optical axis adjustment method according to the second aspect of the present invention is an optical in which at least two lens units each including an optical element and a lens frame that holds the optical element are configured on the optical axis. In the optical axis adjustment method in the optical system, the optical system is configured to have the same optical axis as the other lens units in a state where the lens unit to be adjusted is set in the lens frame cartridge as the first aspect of the present invention. Adjusting the optical axis of the optical element to be adjusted by shifting the optical element to be adjusted set in the lens unit to be adjusted by a moving means of the lens frame cartridge on a plane perpendicular to the optical axis. Features.

  A lens barrel according to a third aspect of the present invention is characterized by including an optical system whose optical axis is adjusted using the optical axis adjusting method according to the second aspect of the present invention.

  An optical apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that an image is formed by an optical system provided in a lens barrel according to the third aspect of the present invention.

As described above, according to the present invention, the optical axis adjustment with high accuracy is realized, and the bonding process after the optical axis adjustment is removed from the optical axis adjustment device while preventing the optical axis deviation after the adjustment with high accuracy. Can be done in the state.
For this reason, the apparatus which adjusts an optical axis can be operated efficiently.

Next, an embodiment to which a lens frame cartridge, an optical axis adjusting method, a lens barrel, and an optical apparatus according to the present invention are applied will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
In the present embodiment, a method for adjusting the optical axis for the optical element to be adjusted to bring the contrast and resolution into a balanced state while observing the projection resolution will be described together with the configuration.

FIG. 1 shows an optical element necessary for performing optical axis adjustment of “optical element to be adjusted: L4 / L5 junction” and “alignment master” that is the entire lens frame holding each optical element. A configuration in a state where a “frame cartridge” is set is shown.
This “alignment master” is an optical system constituting the entire lens barrel. The reason for the name “master” is to use the lens in the “alignment master” as a standard by replacing only the “lens unit to be adjusted” in the lens frame cartridge when performing alignment (optical axis adjustment) at all times. .

  In other words, when aligning, the lens in the “alignment master” is used as a standard for the “lens unit to be adjusted”, and the entire optical system of the lens barrel is configured. The optical element is adjusted by shifting the optical element to be adjusted with the (optical axis adjusting device), and the adjusted lens unit is replaced with the “lens unit to be adjusted” to be adjusted next. It becomes.

The lens unit described above is composed of an optical element and a lens frame that holds the optical element, and in an optical system (alignment master) to which the present embodiment is applied, there are at least two lens units on the optical axis. Arranged.
That is, the entire optical system as the alignment master is configured to include at least a lens unit to be adjusted and a lens unit that is a reference for adjustment.

FIG. 2 shows details of the optical element and the lens frame portion exemplified in FIG.
From the subject side,
“Lens unit: first lens unit” holding “optical element: L1” and “optical element: L2”
“Lens unit: second group lens” including “optical element: L3”, “adjustment target optical element: L4 / L5 junction”, and “adjustment target lens frame: second group lens frame” holding them unit"
“Lens Unit: Third Group Lens Unit” including “Optical Element: L6”, “Optical Element: L7 / L8”, and “Lens Frame: Third Group Lens Frame” that holds them.
"Lens unit: 4th group lens unit" holding "optical element: L9"
・ "Lens unit: Equivalent glass frame" holding "Optical element: Equivalent glass"
It consists of

  Among these, “optical element: L3” and “adjustable optical element: L4 / L5 junction” are set in “adjustable lens frame: second group lens frame”, and “L5 chuck (contact surface) The pressing means) abuts and urges the “adjustable optical element: L4 / L5 joint” to the “L4 / L5 sliding reference plane” of the “adjustable lens frame: second group lens frame”. The “L5 chuck” is provided with a “steel ball” and a “steel ball biasing spring (contacting surface biasing member)”, and performs the biasing described above.

  In addition, the “micro pin” provided at the tip of the “micrometer” so as to be in contact with the “optical element to be adjusted: L4 / L5” and the “facing the adjustment target” at the position facing the micrometer. A “spring (moving linear direction urging portion)” and a “biasing pin” are provided, and “micrometer” is driven to shift-adjust “optical element to be adjusted: L4 / L5”.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the “micrometer” and the “biasing spring” opposite thereto are provided so as to be orthogonal to each other on a plane perpendicular to the optical axis, and in the “X direction” and “Y direction”. It is an arrangement that can be adjusted.

  The equivalent glass is a glass plate inserted to obtain an equivalent (equivalent) Bf (back focus) instead of an LPF (low pass filter) often used in a digital camera.

Next, the configuration of the “lens frame cartridge” will be described.
FIG. 3 is an overall view and a cross-sectional view of the lens frame cartridge, and FIG. 4 is a detailed view of an “adjustable optical element: L4 / L5 junction” portion.
As shown in FIG. 3, the “lens frame cartridge” holds the “adjustment target lens frame: second group lens frame” independently of the “alignment master” and “adjustment target optical element: L4”. / L5 bonding "is energized by the" L5 chuck ", and the" micrometer "and" micropin "that can be shifted in the" X direction "and" Y direction "are opposed to the micrometer across the adjustment target. An “urging spring” and an “urging pin” are integrally formed at a position where the urging force is applied.

Next, a setting procedure for adjusting “optical element to be adjusted: L4 / L5 junction” in the “lens frame cartridge” will be described with reference to FIGS. 3, 4, and 8.
<1> The “micro pin” at the tip of the “micrometer”, and the “biasing spring” and “biasing pin” opposite to the “micro pin” are retracted to the retract position in advance. The “micrometer” is retracted by rotating, and the “urging pin knob” is retracted by operating the “urging pin knob” in the retracting direction for the opposing “urging pin”.

<2> “Adjustable lens frame: second group lens frame” is set in “lens frame cartridge: base portion” constituting the “lens frame cartridge”. "Optical element: L3" is assembled in advance to "Adjustment target lens frame: Second group lens frame". (Fig. 8)
<3> Place “Adjustment target optical element: L4 / L5 junction” on “Adjustment target lens frame: Second lens group frame”.

<4> Hold “Adjustment target lens frame: Second group lens frame” with “Second group presser” and fix with “Second group clamp (3 locations)”. In this “second group presser”, “L5 chuck” is attached by “L5 chuck guide pin”, and “second ball spring” and “steel ball” are interposed, so that “second At the same time as attaching the “group presser”, the “optical element to be adjusted: L4 / L5 junction” is energized. (FIGS. 3, 4 and 8)
<5> The “micro pin” at the tip of the “micrometer” and the “biasing pin” at the tip of the “biasing spring” opposite to the “micro pin” are brought into contact with the L5 edge of the “adjustable optical element: L4 / L5 joint”. Let (Fig. 4)

<6> With the operation described above, the “lens frame cartridge” is set in a state where “adjustment target lens frame: second group lens frame” can be adjusted. Further, when taking out from the “lens frame cartridge”, the reverse procedure is performed.

  When adjusting “optical element to be adjusted: L4 / L5 junction”, this “lens frame cartridge” is set in “alignment master” as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. The optical axis of the “element: L4 / L5 junction” is adjusted.

  As described above, the present invention shifts the optical element to be adjusted at the portion of the adjustment target lens frame having a configuration capable of shifting the optical element to be adjusted with respect to a plane perpendicular to the optical axis direction. And a lens frame cartridge that adjusts the optical axis, and moves to shift the optical element to be adjusted in the “X direction” and “Y direction” perpendicular to the plane perpendicular to the optical axis. Provided with a drive unit (micrometer) and a moving linear direction biasing unit (biasing spring) at a position facing the adjustment target in each direction, and directly adjusting the optical element to be adjusted with its micrometer and biasing It is configured to shift by abutting against a spring.

  In addition, after adjusting the optical axis of the optical element to be adjusted, the one-way moving means (micrometer and biasing spring) in each of the “X direction” and “Y direction” until the optical element to be adjusted is completely bonded and fixed. Is performed without retracting from the optical element to be adjusted.

As features and advantages,
<1> Since the moving drive unit (micrometer) for shifting in the “X direction” and “Y direction” is in direct contact with the optical element to be adjusted, the drive unit and the adjustment target There is no backlash between the optical elements.
<2> It is possible to prevent the one-way moving means in the “X direction” and “Y direction” from being retracted from the optical element to be adjusted until the fixing by bonding is completed. It is possible to prevent the optical axis shift in the optical element to be adjusted, which occurs when moving further away, and the alignment accuracy can be easily maintained.

<3> As described above in <2>, means for preventing optical axis misalignment in the optical element to be adjusted that occurs when the drive unit moves away from the optical element to be adjusted (contact surface pressing means; L5 chuck), By providing the “lens frame cartridge” integrally with a means for adjusting the optical axis by shifting the optical element to be adjusted,
・ “Lens frame cartridge” constitutes the whole optical system with other lens units ・ “Lens frame cartridge” stands alone (state that does not constitute the whole optical system with other lens units)
Even so, the steps from adjustment to fixing can be performed in a state where the one-way moving means in each of the “X direction” and the “Y direction” is in contact with the optical element to be adjusted.
That is, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which the means of the effect aimed at <2> described above can be selected in the work process.

As described above, according to this embodiment described above, the “adjustment target optical element: L4 / L5 junction” on the “adjustment target lens frame: second group lens frame” on which the optical axis is to be adjusted is optically connected. By separating from the "alignment master" that makes up the entire system and holding it with the "lens frame cartridge", the "optical" that was conventionally performed on the alignment device (optical axis adjustment device) The optical axis adjustment process of “element: L4 / L5 junction” and the adhesion process after optical axis adjustment are separated in a form that prevents optical axis misalignment of “adjusted optical element: L4 / L5 junction” after alignment. Can be a journey. That is, the adhesion step after the optical axis adjustment can be performed after the optical axis adjustment step while being removed from the aligning device while preventing optical axis deviation.
For this reason, it is possible to eliminate the occupation of the aligning device in the bonding step, and the aligning device can be operated efficiently.
Since this aligning device requires considerable cost as equipment, it is possible to hold down the capital investment of the aligning process at the time of mass production by operating this aligning device efficiently.

In other words, according to this embodiment, in the optical axis adjustment of the optical system, among the plurality of optical elements constituting the optical system, the optical element to be adjusted is shifted with respect to a plane perpendicular to the optical axis direction. For the adjustment target lens frame with a possible configuration, when adjusting the optical axis by shifting the optical element to be adjusted, while ensuring the adjustment accuracy at the time of adjustment, by preventing adjustment deviation after adjustment, High-precision optical axis adjustment can be realized.
In addition, by adopting a configuration in which the adhesion after the optical axis adjustment of the optical element to be adjusted is a separate process, it is possible to improve the process so that the apparatus for adjusting the optical axis can be operated efficiently.

Next, in the lens frame cartridge according to the present embodiment, details of a moving unit that allows the optical element to be adjusted to be shifted in the orthogonal “X direction” and “Y direction” on a plane perpendicular to the optical axis. This will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 3 is an overall view and a cross-sectional view of the lens frame cartridge, and FIG. 4 is a detailed view of an “adjustable optical element: L4 / L5 junction” portion.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the “lens frame cartridge” independently holds the “adjustment target lens frame: second group lens frame” and the “adjustment target optical element: L4 / L5 joint” as “L5 chuck”. ”And the“ micrometer ”that can be shifted in the“ X direction ”and“ Y direction ”, the“ micro pin ”at the tip of the“ micrometer ”, and the position facing the micrometer across the object to be adjusted. The “spring spring” and “biasing pin” are integrally formed.

  As described above, the “optical element to be adjusted: L4 / L5 junction” can be adjusted in the “X direction” and the “Y direction” orthogonal to each other on a plane perpendicular to the optical axis. In the operation of keeping the contrast and resolution of the projected image in a well-balanced state, the “adjustable optical element: L4 / L5 junction” can be accurately moved in the direction to be adjusted.

  In addition, for example, when the adjustment direction is three directions, the optical axis of the lens to be adjusted moves in an angular direction shifted from the direction to be moved, so that workability is deteriorated. According to the above, as described above, adjustment can be performed with good workability of the optical axis adjustment, so that the number of man-hours required for the optical axis adjustment work can be reduced.

Next, the moving means for allowing movement in the “X direction” and the “Y direction” in the lens frame cartridge as the present embodiment will be further described.
In this embodiment, “Optical element to be adjusted: L4 / L5 junction” is biased by “L5 chuck”, and “micrometer” and “micropin” that can be shifted in the “X direction” and “Y direction”. The “urging spring” and the “urging pin” are integrally formed at a position facing the micrometer across the adjustment target.

In this way, the “optical element to be adjusted: L4 / L5 junction” is movable in the “X direction” and “Y direction” on the plane perpendicular to the optical axis, and the adjustment target is The "Lens spring (moving linear direction urging part)" is integrally provided in the "Lens frame cartridge" at the opposite position so that it is driven in the "X direction" and "Y direction" after adjusting the optical axis. In the state where the “micro pin” provided at the tip of the “micrometer” and the “biasing pin” provided at the tip of the “biasing spring” as the “biasing means” are in contact with the L5 edge portion. It can be brought to the bonding process as a separate process from the center process.
for that reason,
-The optical axis shift of “optical element to be adjusted: L4 / L5 junction” after the optical axis adjustment does not occur.
・ When adjusting the optical axis, there is no “operation lag” when operating in the “X direction” and “Y direction”.
The effect that can be obtained.

  For example, as in the conventional example, at the time of optical axis adjustment, “adjusted optical element: L4 / L5 junction” is chucked and held by another member, and the held one is further moved in the “X direction” and “Y direction”. If the chucking is held by the means, the “operational lag” at the time of “X direction” and “Y direction” operation is generated due to “backlash” between the chucking members, and the workability at the time of adjusting the optical axis is deteriorated. End up.

  The present embodiment is configured as described above, so that the position adjusted with high accuracy can be maintained even after the optical axis adjustment, and the workability of the optical axis adjustment can be improved. This makes it possible to reduce costs in terms of both yield and workability.

Next, the amount of force (biasing force) of each urging means in the lens frame cartridge as the present embodiment will be described.
In the lens frame cartridge according to the present embodiment, a moving linear direction urging unit disposed at a position facing an adjustment target across a drive unit (micrometer) that is advanced and retracted in the “X direction” and “Y direction”. The force amount of the (biasing spring) is “A”, and the force amount of the contact surface biasing member (steel ball biasing spring) that biases the optical element to be adjusted against the contact surface of the lens frame to be adjusted is “B”. ", The power is configured so that"A> B ".

  In other words, referring to FIG. 2, the force of the biasing means of the “biasing spring” that biases the “biasing pin” that is in contact with the edge portion of the “optical element to be adjusted: L4 / L5 joint”. When the force of the “steel ball biasing spring” provided on “A” and “L5 chuck” is “B”, “Optical element to be adjusted: L4 / L5 joint” is on a plane perpendicular to the optical axis. In order to stably slide the power, it is necessary to set the force with “A”> “B”.

In particular,
・ The mass of “Optical element to be adjusted: L4 / L5 junction” is about 1 g.
・ About 10g of "L5 chuck"
・ Set the amount of urging force at 30 g: (mass of “optical element: L4 / L5” + “L5 chuck”) × 3 (experience value)
When set in, the amount of force of the “biasing spring” provided on the “biasing pin” is
・ About 50g ("X direction", "Y direction" each one place)
It is known that the workability at the time of adjustment is good.

  In addition, for example, “L5” glass material that is in contact with the sliding surface by “Optical element to be adjusted: L4 / L5 joint”, finishing of the flat surface (finishing condition when centering), presence / absence of sanitization The frictional state of the contact surface changes depending on the amount of force “A” of the “steel ball biasing spring” provided on the “L5 chuck” and the “biasing spring” provided on the “biasing pin” accordingly. The spring is selected so that the force “B” is appropriate. Also in this case, the spring is selected so that the relationship of “A”> “B” is satisfied.

With the configuration as described above, according to the present embodiment, the “biasing spring” that biases the “biasing pin” that is in contact with the edge of the “adjustable optical element: L4 / L5 joint”. When the force of the urging means “A” is “A” and the force of the “steel ball urging spring” provided in the “L5 chuck” is “B”, “Adjustable optical element: L4 / L5 joint” In order to stably slide on a plane perpendicular to the optical axis, by setting the force with “A”> “B”, stable optical axis adjustment work can be performed and workability can be improved. it can.
For this reason, work efficiency can be raised and the cost concerning an optical axis adjustment process can be reduced.

Further, the lens frame cartridge according to the present embodiment is configured such that the optical element to be adjusted is in direct contact with moving means for shifting the optical element to be adjusted with respect to a plane perpendicular to the optical axis.
That is, referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the “micro pin” and the “biasing spring” provided in the “micrometer” are provided at the edge portion of the “optical element to be adjusted: L4 / L5 junction”. The “biasing pins” are configured to contact each other.

With the configuration described above, according to the present embodiment, the “optical element to be adjusted: L4 / L5 junction” can be moved in the “X direction” and “Y direction” on a plane perpendicular to the optical axis. After the optical axis has been adjusted, the “lens frame cartridge” is integrally provided with a “biasing spring (moving linear direction biasing portion)” at a position opposite to the drive unit (micrometer) and the object to be adjusted. , “Micro pin” provided at the tip of “micrometer” driven in “X direction”, “Y direction”, and “biasing pin” provided at the tip of “biasing spring” as “biasing means” Can be brought into the bonding step as a step different from the alignment step.
Therefore, it is possible to prevent an optical axis shift from occurring in the “optical element to be adjusted: L4 / L5 junction” after the optical axis adjustment. Therefore, even if a separate bonding step is provided after the optical axis adjustment, the position adjusted with high accuracy can be maintained up to the bonding step.

In the lens frame cartridge according to the present embodiment, a contact surface biasing member (steel ball biasing spring) is provided to bias the optical element to be adjusted against the contact surface of the lens frame to be adjusted. The surface pressing means (L5 chuck) has an opening for applying an adhesive.
That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the “L5 chuck” for biasing “the optical element to be adjusted: L4 / L5” in the optical axis direction is in a state of being biased and held as shown in FIGS. A space for adhering “adjustment target optical element: L4 / L5” and “adjustment target lens frame: second group frame” is provided.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the “L5 chuck” for urging “the optical element to be adjusted: L4 / L5 bonding” is provided with the space (opening) for applying the adhesive, thereby the “lens frame”. With the cartridge set, an adhesive can be applied to the “adjustment target lens frame: second group lens frame” and “adjustment target optical element: L4 / L5 junction”.
In this way, by allowing the adhesive application to be performed with the lens to be joined set, it is possible to prevent the adhesive from flowing in when adjusting the optical axis of the “L4 / L5 sliding reference plane” shown in FIG. Therefore, inadvertent “tilting” of the optical element can be prevented, and an adhesive can be reliably applied to both the “optical element” and the “lens frame”.

Further, in the lens frame cartridge as the present embodiment, the above-described adhesive application spaces (openings) are provided in two or three places in the circumferential direction.
That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the “L5 chuck” that biases “the optical element to be adjusted: L4 / L5” in the optical axis direction is in a state of being biased and held as shown in FIGS. Thus, three spaces for adhering “adjustment target optical element: L4 / L5” and “adjustment target lens frame: second group frame” are provided on the circumference. Although there are two places visible in FIGS. 5 and 7, the same space is provided on the other side.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, by providing two to three locations where the adhesive is applied in the circumferential direction, shrinkage during adhesive curing can be made substantially uniform.
In addition, the optical element can be held and fixed stably after the adhesive curing.

In the lens frame cartridge according to the present embodiment, an open portion for irradiating UV irradiation light is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the lens frame holding member that holds the adjustment target lens frame.
That is, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, UV irradiation is performed at a position corresponding to the bonding space provided in the “L5 chuck” in the “lens frame cartridge: base portion (lens frame holding member)”. An opening for UV irradiation has been established as an opening for

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the “UV irradiation opening” is provided as an open portion for irradiating the UV irradiation light to the outer periphery of the “lens frame cartridge: base portion” of the lens frame cartridge. In the lens frame cartridge, the portion to which the UV adhesive is applied with “adjustment target lens frame: second group lens frame” and “adjustment target optical element: L4 / L5 joint” set by UV irradiation. Can be fixed.

  In this lens frame cartridge, “adjustment target lens frame: second group lens frame” and “adjustment target optical element: L4 / L5 junction” are brought into contact with each other during “X direction” and “Y direction” adjustments. The “micro pin” and “biasing pin” hold the “L5 edge portion” and are also urged in the optical axis direction by the “L5 chuck” and are held in a very stable state. In this state, by configuring so that the “optical element to be adjusted: L4 / L5 junction” after the optical axis adjustment can be fixed, even in the bonding step in a state where it is removed from the alignment device after the optical axis adjustment step, Adherence can be ensured by adhesion at the adjustment position when adjusting the optical axis.

Further, in the lens frame cartridge according to the present embodiment, the above-described opening portions for irradiating the UV irradiation light are provided in two or three places in the circumferential direction.
That is, referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 7, “UV irradiation opening” is provided in the “L5 chuck” as an opening for UV irradiation on the outer periphery of the lens frame cartridge. Is provided at a position corresponding to. In the case of this embodiment, the example provided in three places in the circumferential direction is given.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, “opening portion for UV irradiation” is used as an open portion for irradiating UV irradiation light at two to three positions in the circumferential direction corresponding to the location where the adhesive is applied. By providing, it is possible to make the shrinkage at the time of adhesive curing substantially equal. In addition, the optical element can be held and fixed stably after the adhesive curing.

Further, in the lens frame cartridge as the present embodiment, the optical element to be adjusted is used as the adjustment target lens frame as a fixing unit that fixes the lens frame to be adjusted to the lens frame holding member that holds the lens frame to be adjusted. The contact surface pressing means (L5 chuck) for urging the contact surface is integrally formed.
Here, the “fixing means for fixing the lens frame to be adjusted: the second group lens frame” to the lens frame holding member is the “second group pressing portion” shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 8, the “second group presser portion” includes “adjustment target optical element: L4 / L5 junction” and “adjustment target lens frame: second group lens frame” contact surface. In other words, the “L5 chuck” that urges against the sliding reference surface is configured integrally with the “second group presser portion” by the “guide pin”.

  Further, “Adjustment target lens frame: second group lens frame” shown in FIG. 8 is held by “Second group presser portion” after being placed on “Lens frame cartridge: base portion” and “Adjustment target lens frame: L5 part of the optical element: L4 / L5 junction can be simultaneously urged against the sliding reference plane by the “L5 chuck”.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the “adjustment target lens frame: the second group lens frame” is pressed by the “second group presser”, thereby “adjustment target optical element”. : L4 / L5 junction ", even when shifted to the plane direction perpendicular to the optical axis for adjusting the optical axis, without any tilt or the like caused by the movement. Lens frame: Second lens group frame ”can be held.
In addition, since the “L5 chuck” urges the L5 lens at the same time as the “second group presser portion” is attached, the setting can be facilitated. Accordingly, the optical axis adjustment accuracy can be maintained and the workability can be improved, so that the cost of optical axis adjustment can be reduced.

Further, as an optical axis adjustment method using the lens frame cartridge according to the present embodiment, the lens unit to be adjusted is configured with the same optical axis as the other lens unit in a state where the lens unit to be adjusted is set, and the lens to be adjusted The optical element to be adjusted set in the unit is shifted on a plane perpendicular to the optical axis to adjust the optical axis of the optical element to be adjusted.
In this method, the “lens frame cartridge” is configured with the same optical axis as the other lens units, and will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10 below.

  In the “3/4 group cell” shown in FIG. 9, “lens unit: third unit” in which “optical element: L6” and “optical element: L7 / L8 junction” are assembled as shown in FIGS. A “lens unit: equivalent glass frame” in which “lens unit: fourth group lens unit” assembled with “group lens unit” and “optical element: L9” and “optical element: equivalent glass” are provided. Yes.

For this “3/4 group cell”, as shown in FIG. 9, “adjustment target lens frame: second group lens frame”, “optical element: L3”, “adjustment target optical element: L4 / L5 junction” Attach the “lens frame cartridge” already attached, and then attach the “lens frame: first group lens unit” to complete the configuration of the “alignment master” as shown in FIG.
In this state, the amount of decentration of the optical axis of the “optical element to be adjusted: L4 / L5 junction” is adjusted with high accuracy by means such as projection resolving power evaluation, so that the contrast and the resolving power are balanced.

As with the “lens frame cartridge”, the “3/4 group cell” has an “UV irradiation light opening” as an opening for irradiating the outer periphery with UV irradiation light. In this state, UV irradiation can be applied to the adhesive-applied portions of “adjustment target lens frame: second group lens frame” and “adjustment target optical element: L4 / L5 junction”.
Further, when the “lens frame cartridge” is removed from the configuration of the “alignment master”, the reverse procedure is performed.

As described above, according to this embodiment described above, the “adjustment target optical element: L4 / L5 junction” on the “adjustment target lens frame: second group lens frame” on which the optical axis is to be adjusted is optically connected. By separating from the “alignment master” constituting the entire system and being held by the “lens frame cartridge”, the following effects can be obtained.
<1> The optical axis adjustment process of “optical element: L4 / L5 junction” to be performed on the alignment device and the bonding process after optical axis adjustment are performed after the alignment “optical element to be adjusted: L4 / L5. It is possible to make a separate process in a form that prevents the optical axis deviation of “joining”. Therefore, since the aligning device does not occupy the aligning device, the aligning device can be operated efficiently.
Since this aligning device requires a considerable amount of equipment, it is possible to hold down the capital investment of the aligning process during mass production by operating this aligning device efficiently.

<2> Since UV bonding and UV irradiation are possible on the aligning device, when the lens frame cartridge is attached to the aligning device immediately after the optical axis adjustment, the UV irradiation is performed and the bonding process is performed. Unit inspection can be done on the spot. Therefore, the inspection process related to this process can be omitted in the subsequent processes.
Thus, it is possible to increase the degree of freedom of process setting in the production zone, and it is possible to select a process with low cost.

A lens barrel including an optical element having an optical axis adjusted as described above using the lens frame cartridge according to the present embodiment will be described.
After the optical axis adjustment of “Adjustment target optical element: L4 / L5 junction” in “Adjustment target lens frame: Second group lens frame” is completed, this “Adjustment target lens frame: Second group lens frame” The lens barrel is configured by combining with other lens units as products.

As described above, the “adjustment target lens frame: second group lens frame” in which the optical axis adjustment is performed using the lens frame cartridge and the optical axis adjustment method according to the present embodiment includes the “adjustment target”. It is not necessary to provide a member for holding the optical element: L4 / L5 junction or a member for shifting in the “X direction” and “Y direction” on a plane perpendicular to the optical axis.
Therefore, according to the lens frame cartridge and the lens barrel including the optical element whose optical axis is adjusted using the optical axis adjustment method according to the present embodiment, the “adjustment target lens frame: second group lens frame” can be downsized. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the size of the lens barrel while maintaining high optical performance.

In addition, the above-described lens barrel is attached to the camera body to constitute a camera, and the optical apparatus is a lens barrel including an optical element whose optical axis is adjusted using the lens frame cartridge and the optical axis adjusting method according to this embodiment. According to the configuration, the lens barrel reduced in size as described above can be downsized while maintaining high performance of the optical apparatus.
As such an optical device, for example, it can be applied to all photographing lenses such as a digital camera, a silver salt camera, a mobile photographing lens, and a video camera.

Each of the above-described embodiments is a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
For example, in each of the above-described embodiments, the optical element to be adjusted is described as a “junction lens”. It is applicable to.

  Further, the entire optical system as the alignment master has been described as including at least the lens unit to be adjusted and the lens unit serving as a reference for adjustment on the optical axis. One or more arbitrary numbers may be used.

It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the alignment master of the state in which the "lens frame cartridge" as an embodiment of the present invention was set. FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view showing details in the vicinity of the alignment master lens chamber exemplified in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a plan view and a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which an optical element to be adjusted is set in a lens frame cartridge. FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view showing details in the vicinity of an optical element to be adjusted in the lens frame cartridge illustrated in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 is a right 45 ° perspective view of the lens frame cartridge illustrated in FIG. 3. FIG. It is a left 45-degree perspective view. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the set structure of "adjustment object lens frame: 2nd group lens frame." It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of the alignment master. It is a perspective view which shows the back side of the 3rd * 4th group cell illustrated in FIG.

Claims (13)

A lens frame cartridge comprising a lens frame for holding an optical element and used for optical axis adjustment by an optical axis adjustment device for an optical system composed of a plurality of optical elements,
Moving means for shifting the optical element to be adjusted in a plane direction perpendicular to the optical axis, and urging the optical element to be adjusted against a contact surface on which the optical element comes into contact with the lens frame to be adjusted A lens frame cartridge comprising an abutment surface pressing means for pressing and holding together.   2. The moving means according to claim 1, wherein the moving means is provided with one-way moving means for shifting in one direction in each of two directions orthogonal to each other on a plane perpendicular to the optical axis. Lens frame cartridge.   The one-way moving means includes a driving unit that drives forward and backward, and a moving linear direction urging unit that is disposed at a position facing the driving unit across an adjustment target. The lens frame cartridge according to claim 2. The contact surface pressing means includes a contact surface urging member that urges the optical element to be adjusted against a contact surface on which the optical element is in contact with the lens frame to be adjusted. The biasing member is configured to be pressed against the contact surface,
4. The lens frame cartridge according to claim 3, wherein A> B, where A is a force amount of the moving linear direction biasing portion and A is a force amount of the contact surface biasing member.   5. The lens frame cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the optical element to be adjusted is configured to directly contact the moving unit. 6.   The lens frame cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein an opening for applying an adhesive is formed in the contact surface pressing means.   The lens frame cartridge according to claim 6, wherein two or three openings for applying the adhesive are provided in a circumferential direction.   The opening part for irradiating UV irradiation light was established in the outer peripheral part of the lens frame holding member which hold | maintains the said adjustment object lens frame, The any one of Claim 1 to 7 characterized by the above-mentioned. Lens frame cartridge.   9. The opening portion for irradiating the UV irradiation light is disposed at a position corresponding to an opening portion for applying adhesive in the contact surface pressing means in a radial direction. Lens frame cartridge.   The contact surface pressing unit is configured to be integrated with a fixing unit that fixes the lens frame to be adjusted to a lens frame holding member that holds the lens frame to be adjusted. Item 10. The lens frame cartridge according to any one of Items 1 to 9. In the optical axis adjustment method in the optical system in which the lens unit configured by the optical element and the lens frame holding the optical element is configured by at least two on the optical axis,
In a state where the lens unit to be adjusted is set in the lens frame cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 10, an optical system is configured to have the same optical axis as the other lens units, and the adjustment target Adjusting the optical axis of the optical element to be adjusted by shifting the optical element to be adjusted set in the lens unit by the moving means of the lens frame cartridge on a plane perpendicular to the optical axis. Characteristic optical axis adjustment method.   A lens barrel comprising an optical system whose optical axis is adjusted using the optical axis adjusting method according to claim 11.   An optical apparatus configured to form an image by an optical system provided in the lens barrel according to claim 12.

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