JP2007206650A - Lens driving apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lens driving apparatus having impact-resistance improved by supporting the lens driving apparatus at two positions of a lens barrel, in the lens driving apparatus attached to the outer circumferential part of the lens barrel. <P>SOLUTION: A focus ring 20 and an iris ring 22 are provided on the lens barrel 12, and a saddle member 26 is fixed to the lens barrel body (fixing part 24) between the rings. A motor 40 and various other components are attached to the saddle member 26 through a plate 34. An annular member 64 is fitted to the lens barrel body (fixing part 60) behind the iris ring 22. The annular member 64 is connected to the saddle member 26 through the plate 34, a pillar member 50 and a bed plate (rear cover member) 54. Thus, the lens driving apparatus 14 is supported by the saddle member 26 and the annular member 62 at two positions of the lens barrel 12. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a lens driving device, and more particularly to a lens driving device applied to a photographing lens such as a machine vision camera used for product inspection or the like.

  For example, in a machine vision camera, a focal length (angle of view) cannot be changed, but a small and lightweight fixed focus lens is often used. In the fixed focus lens, for example, an operation ring for adjusting the focus (focus ring) and an operation ring for adjusting the iris (iris ring) are rotatably provided on the outer periphery of the lens barrel. The focus adjustment and the iris adjustment can be performed by rotating the.

In addition, there are fixed-focus lenses that have a lens driving device attached to the outer periphery of a lens barrel and those that do not. The lens driving device is a device that supports a motor connected to an operation ring and drives the motor in accordance with, for example, an external control signal (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the fixed focus lens to which this lens driving device is attached, the operation ring is rotated by a motor in accordance with an operation by a controller that transmits a control signal to the lens driving device. In a fixed focus lens not equipped with a lens driving device, the operation ring is manually rotated.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-205578

  By the way, the lens driving device as described above is fixed to a fixing portion (lens barrel main body) of the lens barrel that avoids a movable part of the lens barrel such as an operation ring. For example, it is fixed to a fixed part between the focus ring and the iris ring. However, in a small fixed focus lens, the space of such a fixed part is narrow, and when trying to fix the lens driving device to the lens barrel only with the space, the impact resistance of the lens driving device is poor and against external force. There was a problem that it was fragile.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a lens driving device having excellent impact resistance in a lens driving device mounted on the outer periphery of a lens barrel.

  In order to achieve the above object, a lens driving device according to claim 1 is mounted on an outer peripheral portion of a lens barrel, and is mounted with a motor connected to an operation ring provided on the lens barrel. The lens barrel is fixed at a first position of the lens barrel body, and is fixed to the fixing member that supports the motor, and is attached to the fixing member, and the operation ring is light-transmitted at the first position. And a support member for supporting the fixing member with respect to the lens barrel main body in contact with a second position of the lens barrel main body in a positional relationship sandwiched with respect to the axial direction.

  According to the present invention, the lens driving device is supported by the lens barrel at two positions, that is, a position where the fixing member is fixed to the lens barrel and a position where the support member abuts via the operation ring. The problem that the lens drive device has good impact resistance and is easily broken by an external force is solved.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the lens driving device according to the first aspect, the support member includes an annular annular member fitted at the second position of the lens barrel body, and the annular member. And a connecting member for connecting the fixing members.

  The present invention shows an embodiment of the support member, and the support member does not need to be completely fixed to the lens barrel body, and an annular member connected to the fixing member is merely fitted to the lens barrel body. But you can.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the lens driving device according to the second aspect is characterized in that a cover member constituting an exterior body of the lens driving device is attached to the annular member. The cover member which comprises the exterior body of a lens drive device like this invention can be attached to an annular member.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the lens driving device according to the first, second, or third aspect, the fixing member substantially matches the curvature of the outer peripheral surface at the first position of the lens barrel body. A collar member that abuts the outer peripheral surface by an arc-shaped abutting surface; and a clamping member that fixes the collar member to the lens barrel body by clamping the lens barrel body with the collar member. It is a feature.

  The present invention shows an embodiment of the fixing member, in which a collar member that supports a motor or the like is fixed to the lens barrel body by a fastening member.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the lens driving device according to the first, second, third, or fourth aspect, the first position and the second position are common to a plurality of types of lens barrels. It is designed to be spaced.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to mount a lens driving device using a common component in a plurality of types of lens barrels, and to reduce manufacturing costs.

  According to the lens driving device of the present invention, the problem of excellent impact resistance and being easily broken by an external force is solved.

  The best mode for carrying out a lens driving device according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a photographic lens equipped with a lens driving device according to the present invention. The photographic lens 10 in FIG. 1 is a fixed focus lens used for a machine vision camera or the like, for example. In the lens barrel 12 indicated by a broken line in FIG. As a system, optical members such as a lens (group) and a diaphragm are held.

  A lens driving device 14 is attached to the outer periphery of the lens barrel 12 as described later, and the entire lens driving device 14 is covered with a cover 16 that is an exterior body of the lens driving device 14.

  FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the lens driving device 14 mounted on the lens barrel 12 of the photographing lens 10 taken along the optical axis direction. FIG. 3 is a partial configuration of the lens driving device 14. It is the disassembled perspective view which decomposed | disassembled and showed components.

  As shown in these drawings, the lens barrel 12 has a substantially cylindrical outer shape, and a rear end portion is formed with a mount (C mount) 18 for mounting to the camera body. A focus ring 20 and an iris ring 22 are provided on the outer peripheral portion of the lens barrel 12 so as to be rotatable with respect to the lens barrel body (fixed portion) of the lens barrel.

  The focus ring 20 is connected to a focus lens of an optical system configured in the lens barrel 12, and when the focus ring 20 is rotated, the focus lens moves in the optical axis direction and focus adjustment is performed. The iris ring 22 is connected to a diaphragm of an optical system configured in the lens barrel 12, and when the iris ring 22 is rotated, the diaphragm is opened and closed to adjust the diaphragm.

  With respect to such a lens barrel 12, a collar member 26, which is a constituent member of the lens driving device 12, is fixed to a lens barrel body (fixed portion 24) between the focus ring 20 and the iris ring 22.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the collar member 26 has a contact surface 26 </ b> A that is in contact with the fixed portion 24 of the lens barrel 12 in an arc shape (semicircular shape), and the contact surface 26 </ b> A is a fixed portion. It is formed of a curved surface having a curvature that substantially matches the curvature in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface of 24. As a result, the entire contact surface 26 </ b> A of the eaves member 26 comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the fixed portion 24 without a substantial gap.

  Positioning holes are formed in the contact surface 26A of the flange member 26 and the outer peripheral surface of the fixing portion 24 (the hole of the fixing portion 24 is indicated by reference numeral 24A, and the hole of the flange member 26 is not shown). When the contact surface 26A is brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the fixed portion 24, the positioning pins 28 are fitted into both the holes so that the longitudinal direction (optical axis direction) and the circumferential direction of the flange member 26 are The position is positioned.

  Then, in the fixing portion 24 of the lens barrel 12, a thin plate-like fastening member 30 curved in an arc shape is contacted from the outer peripheral surface side opposite to the outer peripheral surface with which the contact surface 26A of the collar member 26 contacts, Both ends bent to the outside of the fastening member 30 are fastened to the end face of the flange member 26 by screws 32, 32. Thereby, the fixing portion 24 of the lens barrel 12 is fastened by the flange member 26 and the fastening member 30, and the flange member 26 is fixed to the fixing portion 24.

  A base plate 34 is attached to the front side of the flange member 26 with screws 36 and 36. Various components arranged inside the lens driving device 14 are attached to the base plate 34. As examples of the components, a focus motor 38 that rotates the focus ring 20 and an iris that rotates the iris ring 22 are provided. A motor 40 and the like are shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the base plate 34 is formed with support holes 42 and 44 that match the shapes of the tip portions of the motors 38 and 40. The focus motor 38 and the iris are provided in the support holes 42 and 44. The rotating shaft of the motor 40 is inserted from the front, and the tip portions of the motors 38 and 40 are fitted into the support holes 42 and 44, respectively. As a result, the focus motor 38 and the iris motor 40 are fixed to the main plate 34. A gear 46 is attached to the rotating shaft of the iris motor 40 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 from the rear side of the main plate 34. It is connected to a gear formed on the outer peripheral surface. Although not shown in the drawing, the rotation shaft of the focus motor 38 is also connected to a gear formed on the outer peripheral surface of the focus ring 20 in the same manner as the iris motor 40. Accordingly, the focus ring 20 is rotated by the rotation of the rotation shaft of the focus motor 38, and the iris ring 22 is rotated by the rotation of the rotation shaft of the iris motor 40.

  In addition to the motors 38 and 40, the ground plate 34 includes a power transmission mechanism (gear train) for transmitting the power of the motors 38 and 40 to the focus ring 20 and the iris ring 22 and, if necessary, the focus ring 20. A potentiometer or the like for detecting the rotational position of the zoom ring 22 is attached.

  Further, the base plate 34 is formed with a fitting hole 52 for supporting the column member 50 protruding rearward. As will be described later, the column member 50 connects a cover member (base plate 54) constituting the rear surface side of the cover 16 of the lens driving device 14 and the base plate 34, and has a diameter smaller than that of the main body 50A of the column member 50. The front end portion 50B thus fitted is fitted into the fitting hole 52 of the base plate 34 from the rear side, and the column member 50 is supported by the base plate 34.

  On the other hand, in the lens barrel 12, an annular member 62 having an opening substantially equal to the outer diameter of the fixed portion 60 is fitted to the lens barrel body (fixed portion 60) on the rear side of the iris ring 22. A square base plate (rear cover member) 54 that forms the rear surface side of the cover 16 that covers the entire lens driving device 14 is attached to the annular member 62 with screws 64.

  The outer peripheral side end of the base plate 54 is bent forward, and a cover member 66 that covers the side surface and the front surface side of the lens driving device 14 is fixed to the portion by screws 68, and further, the front side of the cover member 66 is A cover member 70 that covers the gap between the lens barrel 12 and the lens barrel 12 is fixed by screws 72. A cover 16 that covers the entire lens driving device 14 is formed by the base plate 54 and the cover members 66 and 70.

  Further, the base plate 54 is formed with a bent portion 74 which is cut forward and bent, and a circuit board 76 on which a circuit for controlling the motors 38 and 40 is mounted. Is supported.

  By the way, the column member 50 fixed to the base plate 34 has its rear end portion fixed to the base plate 54 with screws 80. Thereby, the gutter member 26, the base plate 34, the column member 50, the base plate 54, and the annular member 62 are integrally connected. Accordingly, the lens driving device 14 is supported by the lens barrel 12 at two locations by the flange member 26 and the annular member 62, and the lens driving device 14 has excellent impact resistance and is easily broken by an external force. Problems such as vibration noise are not generated at times.

  The lens driving device 14 can also be mounted on, for example, a lens barrel of another type of fixed focus lens having a focal length different from that of the lens barrel 12 illustrated in FIGS. 4 is a side cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2 when the lens driving device 14 is mounted on the lens barrel 100 of a fixed focus lens having a shorter focal length than the lens barrel 12 of FIGS. 5 is a side cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2 when the lens driving device 14 is mounted on a lens barrel 110 of a fixed focus lens having a focal length longer than that of the lens barrel 12 of FIGS. . 4 and 5, the same reference numerals are given to components having the same or similar functions as in FIGS. 1 to 3, and description thereof is omitted. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the lens member 50 of the lens driving device 14 has a lens barrel body (fixed) between the focus ring 20 and the iris ring 22 as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3. Part 24). The annular member 62 is also fitted to the lens barrel body (fixed portion 60) on the rear side of the iris ring 22 in the same manner as in the embodiment of FIGS. As a result, the lens driving device 14 is supported by the lens barrel 100 of FIG. 4 and the lens barrel 110 of FIG. 5 at two locations.

  The lens barrel 12 of FIGS. 1 to 3, the lens barrel 100 of FIG. 4, and the lens barrel 110 of FIG. 5 show, for example, the form of a lens barrel manufactured by the same manufacturer. Although the length of the lens barrel body (fixed portion) on the rear end side is different, the outer diameters of the lens barrels are substantially the same, and the positions and widths of the focus ring 20 and the iris ring 22 are not greatly different. Shows the case.

  In such a case, in the lens barrel of a plurality of types of fixed focus lenses, conditions for enabling the collar member 26 and the annular member 62 to be mounted at the same interval at two positions of the lens barrel body (fixed portion); That is, there is a high possibility that the width and size of each of the flange member 26 and the annular member 62, the interval (length) between these members, the length of the column member 50, and the like exist. Then, when each component of the lens driving device 14 is designed and manufactured so as to satisfy the condition, the lens driving device 14 manufactured by sharing all or some of the components in a plurality of types of fixed focus lenses is mounted. This reduces the need to manufacture different components for each type of fixed focus lens. Therefore, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  In the lens driving device 14 shown in FIGS. 2, 4, and 5, even if each component (motor, power transmission mechanism mechanism, etc.) attached to the base plate 34 differs depending on the type of the lens barrel. The base plate 34 and only the parts attached to the base plate 34 need only be changed according to the type of the lens barrel, and other components such as the collar member 26 and the annular member 62 of the lens driving device 14 can be used in common. Therefore, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  As described above, in the embodiment, the case where the lens barrel to which the lens driving device 14 according to the present invention is attached is a fixed focus lens, but the present invention is a lens drive to be attached to a lens barrel other than the fixed focus lens. It can also be applied to devices.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the case where the gutter member 26 and the ground plane 34 were comprised by another member was shown, these may be comprised by the integral member. Moreover, although the case where the eaves member 26 and the annular member 62 are connected via the base plate 34, the column member 50, and the base plate 54 is shown in the above embodiment, the eaves member 26 and the fitting member 62 are connected. If so, the structure for connecting the flange member 26 and the fitting member 62 may be any way.

  In the above embodiment, the structure for fixing the collar member 26 to the lens barrel 12 is not limited to that shown in the above embodiment, and any structure may be used. For example, the collar member 26 may be directly fixed to the lens barrel 12 with a screw. Further, the annular member 62 that supports the lens driving device 14 by contacting the lens barrel 12 at a position of the lens barrel main body different from the collar member 26 may be fixed to the lens barrel 12 or may be annular. Even if it does not exist, it should just be in contact with the lens barrel 12.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a photographic lens equipped with a lens driving device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of a portion of the lens driving device mounted on the lens barrel of the photographing lens of FIG. 1 cut along the optical axis direction. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of some components of the lens driving device. FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of a portion of the lens driving device mounted on a lens barrel of a type different from the lens barrel of FIG. 1 cut along the optical axis direction. FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view taken along the optical axis direction of a portion of a lens driving device mounted on a lens barrel of a type different from the lens barrel of FIGS. 1 and 4.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Shooting lens 12, 100, 110 ... Lens barrel, 14 ... Lens drive device, 16 ... Cover, 20 ... Focus ring, 22 ... Iris ring, 24 ... Fixed part, 26 ... Gutter member, 34 ... Base plate, 38 ... Focus motor, 40 ... Iris motor, 50 ... Column member, 54 ... Base plate, 62 ... Ring member, 66, 70 ... Cover member, 76 ... Circuit board

Claims (5)

In a lens driving device equipped with a motor mounted on the outer periphery of the lens barrel and connected to an operation ring provided on the lens barrel,
A fixing member fixed to the first position of the lens barrel body of the lens barrel and supporting the motor;
The fixing member is attached to the fixing member and abuts against a second position of the lens barrel body in a positional relationship of sandwiching the operation ring with respect to the optical axis direction between the first position and the fixing member. A support member for supporting the main body;
A lens driving device comprising:   The support member includes an annular member that is fitted at the second position of the lens barrel body, and a connecting member that connects the annular member and the fixing member. Item 2. The lens driving device according to Item 1.   The lens driving device according to claim 2, wherein a cover member constituting an exterior body of the lens driving device is attached to the annular member.   The fixing member includes a flange member that contacts the outer peripheral surface by an arc-shaped contact surface that substantially matches the curvature of the outer peripheral surface at the first position of the lens barrel body, and the lens barrel main body as the flange member. The lens driving device according to claim 1, further comprising: a fastening member that fixes the flange member to the lens barrel main body by fastening with a lens.   5. The lens driving device according to claim 1, wherein the first position and the second position are designed to have a common interval in a plurality of types of lens barrels. .

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