Abstract:
An optical apparatus according to the present invention has a plurality of lens units which can move in the direction of an optical axis, each of the lens units has a cam follower, a guide member which guides the each lens unit in the direction of the optical axis, and a cam member which has cams engaging with the cam followers and drives the lens units in the direction of the optical axis by rotating. The cam followers of the lens units are disposed substantially straight in the direction of the optical axis.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to an optical apparatus used for a projection type image display apparatus or an image-taking apparatus. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   A projection lens barrel used for a projection type image display apparatus is constituted so that zooming etc. may be performed by driving each moving lens unit in the direction of an optical axis by arranging a cam ring so as to surround the circumference of a lens barrel body, engaging a cam follower, which is provided in each moving lens unit, with a cam groove section formed in the cam ring, and rotating the cam ring. 
     FIG. 6  shows an example of a projection type image display apparatus in which such a projection lens barrel is mounted. 
   Inside an apparatus housing  140 , an optical box  150  where an illumination optical system, a color separation system, an image display device, a color synthesis system, etc. are incorporated, a projection lens barrel  120  which is mounted in a light emitting section of this optical box  150 , a power supply unit  130 , and an electric circuit board  160  which controls an image forming device, forming an original image, an illumination lamp, etc. are contained. 
   In addition, the structure of the projection lens barrel  120  is shown in FIG.  5 . Reference numeral  33  denotes a front fixed barrel and reference numeral  39  denotes a rear fixed barrel. These front and rear fixed barrel  33  and  39  constitute a lens barrel body integrated into a piece. A guide groove (not shown) for guiding a moving lens units, described later, in the direction of the optical axis is formed in the inner circumference of the front fixed barrel  33 . 
   Reference numeral  31  denotes a zoom operation member provided in the outer circumference of the front fixed barrel  33 . Reference numeral  32  denotes a cam ring rotatably arranged around the optical axis in the outer circumference of the front fixed barrel  33 , and is combined with the zoom operation member  31  with screws (not shown). 
   Inside the lens barrel body, a plurality of moving lens holding barrels  35 ,  36 ,  37 , and  38  which supports second to fifth lenses II to V for performing zooming and can move in the direction of the optical axis is contained. In three locations in the circumferential direction of these respective moving lens holding barrels  35  to  38 , cam followers  40   a  ( 40   b ,  40   c ),  41   a  ( 41   b ,  41   c ),  42   a  ( 42   b ,  42   c ), and  43   a  ( 43   b ,  43   c ) are mounted, and each cam follower engages with each of cam groove sections  32   a  to  32   d  for each moving lens unit which is formed in the cam ring  32 . 
   Reference numeral  34  denotes a first lens holding barrel holding a first lens I for focusing by moving in the direction of the optical axis, and a male helicoid section  34   a  is formed in its outer circumference. The first lens holding barrel  34  engages with a focus operation member  30  so as to rotate integrally with the focus operation member  30 . Since engaging with a female helicoid section  33   a  formed in the front inner circumference in the front fixed barrel  33 , the male helicoid section  34   a  can move this first lens holding barrel  34  in the direction of the optical axis by rotating the first lens holding barrel  34  by rotational operation of the focus operation member  30 , and can perform the focusing. 
   However, since the cam ring  32  is arranged so as to surround the outer circumference of the lens barrel body in the lens barrel having the above-described structure, the outer diameter of the lens barrel becomes large in the whole circumferential direction. 
   In addition, since it is necessary to mount the cam followers, engaged with the cam groove sections  32   a  to  32   d  of the cam ring  32 , in three locations in the circumferential direction of respective moving lens holding barrels  35  to  38 , assembly operation is complicated, and in addition, it also needs much labor to perform adjustment for removing each minute tilt of the lenses II to V, which derives from dispersion in dimensional accuracy as parts every three cam followers, to the optical axis. 
   Furthermore, in the above-described lens barrel, the cam ring  32  is formed as a metal part from a viewpoint of securing the positional accuracy of the moving lens holding barrels  35  to  38 . 
   However, this cam ring  32  which is a metal part receives noise generated in the power supply unit  130  shown in  FIG. 6  to become a factor of generating noise in the electric circuit board  160  near the cam ring  32 . This may become a cause of a trouble at the time of driving the apparatus by noise arising in the electric circuit board  160 . 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides an optical apparatus (and projection type optical apparatus), which can lessen the outer diameter of the optical apparatus, whose assembly operation is easy, and which hardly has tilts of lenses to an optical axis, and a projection type image display apparatus which use the projection type optical apparatus. 
   The optical apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a plurality of lens units which can move in the direction of an optical axis, each of the lens units has a cam follower, a guide member which guides the each lens unit in the direction of the optical axis, and a cam member which has cams engaging with the cam followers and drives the lens units in the direction of the optical axis by rotating. The cam followers of the lens units are disposed substantially straight in the direction of the optical axis. 
   Therefore, since points of action, which are engaging points of the cam member and the cam followers of the lens units, and guiding points, which are engaging points of the lens units and the guide member, can be close, it is easy to obtain the good positional accuracy of the lens units. 
   The optical apparatus according to the present invention comprises, at least three lens units which can move in the direction of an optical axis, each of the lens units has a cam follower and a sleeve, two guide shafts which guide the lens units in the direction of the optical axis, and a cam member which has cams engaging with the cam followers and drives the lens units in the direction of the optical axis by rotating. The cam member is a cylindrical cam and rotates about an axis substantially parallel to the optical axis. The sleeves engage with the two guide shafts alternately in the direction of the optical axis. The cam followers are arranged between the two guide shafts and disposed substantially straight in the direction of the optical axis. 
   In this manner, by arranging the cam member, which is a cylindrical cam, on a part of outer circumference of an apparatus, it becomes possible to lessen the outer diameter of a portion, other than a portion in which the cam member is arranged, in the optical apparatus in comparison with a case of arranging a cam ring over whole apparatus circumference like a conventional way. 
   Further specifically, it is good to arrange each of the guide shafts within a range of 45° with respect to the cam member (cylindrical cam) about the optical axis. And more preferably, it is good to arrange each of the guide shafts within a range of 30° with respect to the cam member (cylindrical cam) about the optical axis. 
   In addition, by properly (alternately) assigning each guide shaft, with which each sleeve of the lens units engages, between two guide shafts, it becomes possible to take the long engagement length of each sleeve to the guide shaft, and hence, it is possible to realize the optical apparatus where tilts of lens units to the optical axis hardly arise. 
   Furthermore, in the optical apparatus (lens barrel), only one cam follower engaging with the cam of the cam member may be mounted every one lens unit, and hence, not only it is easy to perform assembly operation, but also it is easy to remove a minute tilt resulting from dispersion in the part accuracy of the cam followers. 
   In addition, a projection type image display apparatus according to the present invention projects light, modulated by an image forming device which forms an original image, by the above-described optical apparatus on a projection surface. In this projection type image display apparatus, in the case that an electric circuit board is arranged substantially parallel to the optical axis of the optical apparatus, it is good to make a cam member of resin, or to arrange the optical apparatus (lens barrel) so that the cam member and the guide member (or guide shafts) are located in the opposite side of the electric circuit board with sandwiching the optical axis. 
   Although the cam member may be made of metal, it is possible by making it of resin to prevent the cam member from becoming a noise-generating factor in an electric circuit board with receiving noise from a power supply unit. In addition, by arranging two guide shafts, which are metal parts, in the opposite side of the electric circuit board with sandwiching the optical axis, it becomes possible to separate metal parts of the optical apparatus from the electric circuit board, and hence, it becomes possible to further securely prevent the metal parts of the optical apparatus from becoming a factor of generating noise in the electric circuit board. 
   A detailed configuration of the lens apparatus (or projection type optical apparatus), and projection type image display apparatus of the invention will be apparent from the embodiments, described below. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a sectional view of a lens barrel which is an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the lens barrel shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a front sectional view of the lens barrel shown in  FIG. 1  in view of the direction of an optical axis; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a projection type image display apparatus where the lens barrel shown in  FIG. 1  is mounted; 
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view of a conventional lens barrel; and 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a projection type image display apparatus where the conventional lens barrel is mounted. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 
     FIGS. 1 and 2  show the structure of a projection lens barrel (optical apparatus or projection type optical apparatus) which is an embodiment of the present invention. 
   In these figures, reference numeral  9  denotes a fixed barrel (lens barrel body), and first to fifth holding barrels  1 ,  3  to  5 ,  7 , holding first to fifth lenses I to V are contained inside it. 
   While the first lens holding barrel  1  holds the first lens I for focusing, it has a focal operation ring section, and a male helicoid section  1   a  is formed in the rear section of its circumference. This male helicoid section  1   a  engages with a female helicoid section  9   g  formed in the front section of inner circumference of the fixed barrel  9 . 
   Reference numeral  2  is a zoom ring rotatably arranged in the front section of outer circumference of the fixed barrel  9 , and a gear section  2   a  is formed in the rear section of its outer circumference. In addition, pass-through slot sections  2   b  shown in  FIG. 2 , which have predetermined length are formed in the circumferential direction are formed in three locations in the circumferential direction of this zoom ring  2 , and thrust regulating sections  9   d  formed in three locations of outer circumference of the fixed barrel  9  are inserted in these pass-through slot sections  2   b . When the zoom ring  2  is rotated, further rotation of the zoom ring  2  is prevented since an end face provided in the inner circumference of the zoom ring  2  contacts to a stopper  17  shown in FIG.  1 . 
   The second lens holding barrel  3  holds the second lens II, and constitutes a lens unit. A cam follower  14   a  is mounted in a location in the circumferential direction of this second lens holding barrel  3 , and a sleeve section  3   a  is formed in a location near to this cam follower  14   a  in one direction of the circumferential direction. Furthermore, a guide projection  3   b  is formed in an opposite location of the cam follower  14   a  with sandwiching a lens&#39;s optical axis L in the second lens holding barrel  3 . 
   The third lens holding barrel  4  holds the third lens III, and constitutes a lens unit. A cam follower  14   b  is mounted in a location in the circumferential direction of the third lens holding barrel  4 , and a sleeve section  4   a  is formed in a location near to the cam follower  14   b  in the other direction (the opposite side of the sleeve section  3   a  in the second lens holding barrel  3 ) of the circumferential direction. Furthermore, a guide projection  4   b  is formed in an opposite location of the cam follower  14   b  with sandwiching the lens&#39;s optical axis L in the third lens holding barrel  4 . 
   The fourth lens holding barrel  5  holds the fourth lens holding frame  6  (holding the fourth lens IV) described later, and constitutes a lens unit. A cam follower  14   c  is mounted in a location in the circumferential direction of this fourth lens holding barrel  5 , and a sleeve section  5   a  is formed in a location near to the cam follower  14   c  in one direction (the same side of the sleeve section  3   a ) of the circumferential direction. Furthermore, a guide projection  5   b  is formed in an opposite location of the cam follower  14   c  with sandwiching the lens&#39;s optical axis L in the fourth lens holding barrel  5 . 
   The fourth lens holding frame  6  is arranged in the inner circumference of the fourth lens holding barrel  5 , and is combined with the fourth lens holding barrel  5  in three locations through the cam follower  15 . Eccentric cam followers are used in two out of three cam followers  15  for optical axis adjustment of the fourth lens IV held by the fourth lens holding frame  6 . Since the fourth lens holding frame  6  can rotate to a surface orthogonal to the optical axis L of other lenses by rotating this eccentric cam follower  15 , an optical axis of the fourth lens IV can be aligned with the optical axis L of other lenses. 
   The fifth lens holding barrel  7  holds the fifth lenses V, and constitutes a lens unit. A cam follower  14   d  is mounted in a location in the circumferential direction of this fifth lens holding barrel  7 , and a sleeve section  7   a  is formed in a location near to the cam follower  14   d  in the other direction (the same side of the sleeve section  4   a  of the third lens holding barrel  4 ) of the circumferential direction. Furthermore, a guide projection  7   b  is formed in an opposite location of the cam follower  14   d  with sandwiching the lens&#39;s optical axis L in the fifth lens holding barrel  7 . 
   In addition, the second lens II and fourth lens IV are lenses for variable power, and the third lens III and fifth lenses V are correction lenses for correcting the movement of a focal plane at the time of zooming. 
   Reference numeral  11  denotes a mount plate, and on this mount plate  11 , a rear end of the fixed barrel  9 , and a front end section of the sixth lens holding barrel  8  holding the sixth lens VI are screwed. 
   Reference numeral  8  denotes a sixth lens holding barrel holding the sixth lens VI, and is fixed to a rear face of the mount plate  11  with a screw  8   a.    
   Reference numeral  10  denotes a cylindrical cam (cam member) and is a molded part with resin. A shaft section of a gear shaft  12  in which a gear section  12   a  is provided in its front end is inserted in the inner circumference of the cylindrical cam  10 . The gear shaft  12  and cylindrical cam  10  are assembled so that rotation in one piece can be performed in key coupling. 
   Then, a front section and a rear section of the gear shaft  12  are supported by bearing sections  9   a  and  9   b , formed in front and rear sections which are parts of outer circumference of the fixed barrel  9  in the circumferential direction so that it can be rotated about an axis substantially parallel to the optical axis L. In addition, the gear shaft  12  is prevented from disjoining (moving in the direction of the optical axis L) from the bearing sections  9   a  and  9   b  by a stop ring  16 . 
   A gear section  12   a  of the gear shaft  12  mounted on the fixed barrel  9  in this manner engages with a gear section  2   a  formed in the zoom ring  2 . Therefore, by rotating (manually operating) the zoom ring  2 , the rotation is transferred from the gear section  2   a  to the gear section  12   a , the gear shaft  12  rotates, and the cylindrical cam  10  rotates. In addition, it is also good to make such structure that the cylindrical cam  10  is rotated by an electric rotation mechanism rotating the gear section  12   a  with a motor (not shown). 
   Four cam groove sections  10   a  to  10   d  are formed in the outer circumference of the cylindrical cam  10 . The cam followers  14   a  to  14   d  of above-described respective lens holing barrels  3 ,  4 ,  5 , and  7  which penetrate the groove  9   e  formed in the fixed barrel  9  engage with these cam grooves sections  10   a  to  10   d  respectively. As is evident also from  FIGS. 1 and 2 , respective cam followers  14   a  to  14   d  are engaged with cam groove sections  10   a  to  10   d  of the cylindrical cam  10  in the state of being arranged in a substantially straight line in the direction of the optical axis L. 
   Furthermore, it is also good to make such structure that the cam groove sections  10   a  to  10   d  formed in the outer periphery of the cylindrical cam  10  are made to be convex cam threads, and the cam followers  14   a  to  14   d  of respective lens holding barrels  3 ,  4 ,  5 , and  7  are engaged with these convex cam threads. 
   In addition, the sleeve sections  3   a  and  5   a  of the second lens holding barrel  3  and fourth lens holding barrel  5  engage with a guide shaft  13   a , and the sleeve sections  4   a  and  7   a  of the third lens holding barrel  4  and fifth lens holding barrel  7  engage with a guide shaft  13   b . These guide shafts  13   a  and  13   b  are supported in both sides of them by supporting hole sections  9   f  and  11   a  formed in a rear section of the inner circumference of the fixed barrel  9 , and a front section of the mount plate  11 , and extend in substantially parallel to the optical axis. 
   Here,  FIG. 3  schematically shows the cross-sectional structure when viewing the above-described lens barrel from the front in the direction of the optical axis. In addition, only the members required for explanation are shown in FIG.  3 . 
   As shown in this figure, in view of the direction of the optical axis, two guide shafts  13   a  and  13   b  adjoin nearly to the cylindrical cam  10 , namely, are arranged with adjoining nearly in an angle range θ smaller than 30° in the circumferential direction of the lens&#39;s optical axis L, respectively. 
   In addition, in this embodiment, although θ is made to be in a range smaller than 30° to some extent, it is possible to obtain an effect equivalent to the above if they are arranges in an angular range equal to or less than 30°, and furthermore, it is possible to obtain an effect mostly equivalent to the above even if they are arranged in an angular range of about 45°. 
   The sleeve sections  3   a  and  5   a  of the second lens holding barrel  3  and fourth lens holding barrel  5  extend backward from cylindrical body sections of the second lens holding barrel  3  and fourth lens holding barrel  5 , respectively. The sleeve sections  4   a  and  7   a  of the third lens holding barrel  4  and fifth lens holding barrel  7  extend forward from cylindrical body sections of the third lens holding barrel  4  and fifth lens holding barrel  7 , respectively. 
   Thus, it is possible to secure the sufficient engagement length of these sleeve sections  3   a ,  4   a ,  5   a , and  7   a  to the guide shafts  13   a  and  13   b  by alternately assigning by turns the sleeve sections  3   a ,  4   a ,  5   a , and  7   a , which engage with two guide shafts  13   a  and  13   b , between the two guide shafts  13   a  and  13   b . For this reason, since it is possible to prevent tilts of the second lens holding barrel  3  to fifth lens holding barrel  6  to the lens&#39;s optical axis L, it is possible to obtain the stable optical performance of the lens barrel. Moreover, between the guide shafts  13   a  and  13   b , the cam followers  14   a  to  14   d  of respective lens holding barrels  3 ,  4 ,  5 , and  7  are arranged in a substantially straight line in the direction of the optical axis L, and respective cam followers  14   a  to  14   d  are engaged with the cam groove sections  10   a  to  10   d  of the cylindrical cam  10 . Owing to this, since a point of action, which is an engaging point of the cylindrical cam  10  and cam follower of each lens holding barrel (lens unit), and a guiding point, which is an engaging point of each lens holding barrel (lens unit) and guide shaft, are close, it is possible to stably perform movement in the direction of the optical axis with keeping positional accuracy of each lens holding barrel (lens unit). 
   In addition, the guide projections  3   b  to  7   b  provided in the second lens holding barrel  3  to fifth lens holding barrel  6  engage with the guide groove section  9   c  formed in the fixed barrel  9 . Owing to this, it is possible to prevent each lens holding barrel from rotating about the guide shaft with which each sleeve section engaged. 
   Furthermore, among respective components described above, the guide shafts  13   a  and  13   b  are metal parts, and all the other ones are resin-molded parts. 
   Here, the assembly procedure of the above-described lens barrel  20  will be described by using  FIGS. 1 and 2 . First, respective lenses are incorporated into the first lens holding barrel  1 , second lens holding barrel  3 , third lens holding barrel  4 , fourth holding frame  6 , fifth lens holding barrel  7 , and sixth lens holding barrel  8 . Then, the fourth holding frame  6  and fourth lens holding barrel  5  are combined with the cam follower  15 . Thereby, each lens unit is completed. 
   Next, the cam followers  14   a  to  14   d  are mounted in the second lens holding barrel  3  to fifth lens holding barrel  7 . Then, with incorporating guide shafts  13   a  and  13   b  in the fixed barrel  9  and engaging the sleeve sections  3   a  to  7   a  of the second lens holding barrel  3  to the fifth lens holding barrel  7  with these guide shafts  13   a  and  13   b , the guide projections  3   b  to  7   b  are engaged with the guide groove section  9   c  of the fixed barrel  9 . 
   Then, after alignment of the mount plate  11  to the fixed barrel  9  with aligning the mount plate  11  with the guide shafts  13   a  and  13   b , they are combined in the fixed barrel  9  with screws (not shown). 
   Next, the groove section  2   b  of the zoom ring  2  is fixed to the fixed barrel  9  with aligning the groove section  2   b  with a thrust regulating section  9   d , the first lens holding barrel  1  is combined with the fixed barrel  9  in helicoid coupling, and the stopper screw  18  for focusing is screwed. 
   Furthermore, with engaging respective cam groove sections  10   a  to  10   d  of the cylindrical cam  10  with the cam followers  14   a  to  14   d  of respective lens holding barrels  3  to  7 , the gear shaft  12  is passed through the bearing sections  9   a  and  9   b  of the fixed barrel  9 , and the cylindrical cam  10  from the front. At this time, the gear shaft  12  and cylindrical cam  10  are combined in key coupling. Then, the stop ring  16  is mounted in the rear end of the gear shaft  12 . 
   Next, a WIDE end position of zoom is adjusted, the stopper  17  is fixed with a screw  17   a , then, with performing the balancing of zoom, flange back adjustment is performed by the optical axis adjustment of the sixth lens holding barrel  8  (sixth lens VI), and the assembly and adjustment of the projector lens barrel  20  is completed. 
   In the lens barrel  20  constituted as described above, since the cylindrical cam  10  is arranged in a part of outer circumference of the fixed barrel  9 , it is possible to lessen the outer diameter of a portion, other than a portion in which the cylindrical cam  10  is arranged, in a lens barrel  20  in comparison with a case of arranging a cam ring over the whole circumference of a lens barrel like a conventional way. 
   In addition, since the guide shafts  13   a  and  13   b  are arranged nearly in contact with the cylindrical cam  10  in the circumferential direction of the lens barrel  20 , points of action which are engaging points of cam groove sections  10   a  to  10   d  of the cylindrical cam  10  and cam followers  14   a  to  14   d  of respective lens holding barrels, and guide points which are engaging points of the sleeve sections  3   a  to  7   a  of respective lens holding barrels and guide shafts  13   a  and  13   b  become close. Furthermore, since the sleeve sections  3   a  to  7   a  of respective lens holding barrels alternately engage with two guide shafts  13   a  and  13   b , it is possible to lengthen the engaging length of each sleeve section to the guide shaft. Hence, since it is easy to obtain the good positional accuracy of each lens holding barrel, it is possible for the lens barrel  20  to be a lens barrel in which tilts of lens units to the optical axis L hardly arise. 
   Furthermore, since one of the cam followers  14   a  to  14   d  which engage with the cylindrical cam  10  is mounted in each of the lens holding barrels  3  to  7  in this embodiment, not only assembly operation is easy, but also it is possible to easily remove a minute tilt even if the minute tilt of respective lens holding barrels  3  to  7  resulting from dispersion in the part accuracy of respective cam followers arises. 
   The projection lens barrel  20  constituted as described above is incorporated in a projection type image display apparatus shown in FIG.  4 . In addition,  FIG. 4  shows a state where a top cover in an apparatus housing of the projection type image display apparatus is removed. 
   Inside an apparatus housing  40  of this projection type image display apparatus, an optical box  50  where an illumination optical system, a color separation system, an image forming device, a color synthesis system, etc. which are not shown are incorporated, the above-described projection lens barrel  20  which is mounted in a light emitting section of this optical box  50 , a power supply unit  30  used as a power supply for this apparatus, and an electric circuit board  60  which controls the image forming device, illumination lamp, etc. are contained. 
   The electric circuit board  60  is arranged above the optical box  50  and projection lens barrel  20  closely. 
   Here, when mounting the mount plate  11  of the projection lens barrel  20  on the light emitting section of the optical box  50 , the projection lens barrel  20  is mounted in such a direction that the cylindrical cam  10  and guide shafts  13   a  and  13   b  are located downward, that is, in the opposite side of the electric circuit board  60  with sandwiching a lens&#39;s optical axis. 
   Thereby, the guide shafts  13   a  and  13   b  which are metal parts can be arranged with being apart from the electric circuit board  60 . 
   Therefore, in addition to the cylindrical cam  10  formed with resin, it is possible to certainly avoid that a metal part of the lens barrel  20  becomes a noise-generating factor in the electric circuit board  60  by receiving noise from the power supply unit  30 . 
   In addition, although a lens barrel mounted in a projection type image display apparatus is described in this embodiment, the lens barrel of the present invention can be also mounted in other optical instruments such as an image-taking apparatus. 
   While preferred embodiments have been described, it is to be understood that modification and variation of the present invention may be made without departing from the sprit or scope of the following claims.