Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US8564715B2/en
Timestamp: 2018-11-13 01:59:24
Document Index: 158969578

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 2006', 'Application No. 2006', 'Application No. 2006', 'Application No. 200780037571', 'Application No. 200780037571', 'Application No. 200780037641', 'Application No. 200780037641', 'Application No. 200780037641', 'Application No. 200780037641', 'Application No. 200780047588', 'Application No. 200780047588', 'Application No. 06814261', 'Application No. 06814261', 'Application No. 2009', 'Application No. 2009', 'Application No. 10', 'Application No. 10', 'Application No. 095132640']

US8564715B2 - System for stabilizing an optics assembly during translation - Google Patents
System for stabilizing an optics assembly during translation Download PDF
US8564715B2
US8564715B2 US13204564 US201113204564A US8564715B2 US 8564715 B2 US8564715 B2 US 8564715B2 US 13204564 US13204564 US 13204564 US 201113204564 A US201113204564 A US 201113204564A US 8564715 B2 US8564715 B2 US 8564715B2
US13204564
US20110292526A1 (en )
This Patent Application is a Divisional Application which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 121 of the co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/317,132, filed Dec. 18, 2008, entitled “BACKLASH PREVENTION SYSTEM AND METHOD” which is a Divisional Application that claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 121 of the U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/514,811, filed Sep. 1, 2006, entitled “AUTO-FOCUS AND ZOOM MODULE” now U.S. Pat. No. 7,531,773, issued on May 12, 2009, which in turn claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of the U.S. Provisional Pat. App. No. 60/715,533, filed Sep. 8, 2005, entitled “3× ZOOM MINI MODULE”, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
Referring now to FIG. 5B, the front optics group 400 includes the front guide sleeve 410, which couples with the primary guide pin 600. As illustrated, the front guide sleeve 410 is substantially elongated relative to the front barrel 430. Further, the front guide sleeve 410 is rigidly connected to the front barrel 430. This configuration prevents the front optics group 400 from rotating within the y=z plane or x-z plane relative to the primary guide pin 600, but permits rotation within the x-y plane, assuming the guide pin 600 lies along the z-axis. The rear optics group 500 includes the rear guide sleeve 510, which couples with the primary guide pin 600. As illustrated, the rear guide sleeve 510 is substantially elongated relative to the rear barrel 530. Further, the rear guide sleeve 510 is rigidly connected to the rear barrel 530. This configuration prevents the rear optics group 500 from rotating within the y-z plane or x-z plane relative to the primary guide pin 600, but permits rotation within the x-y plane, assuming the guide pin 600 lies along the z-axis.
In another example, FIG. 12D illustrates an interface in accordance with the present invention, in this case between the actuator 20′″ and the lead screw 60′″. The actuator 20′″ is coupled with a non-threaded region of the lead screw 60′″. A feature of the actuator 20′″ is urged against an actuator-registering feature 63″ of the lead screw 60′″, by the preload spring 10′″, which exerts forces against the housing portion 2 and the actuator 20′″. In this example, the actuator-registering feature 63′″ is disposed between the non-threaded region and the threaded region of the lead screw 60, and the non-threaded region has a relatively larger outer diameter than the threaded region. Also, the preload spring 10′″ and housing portion 2 are disposed between the non-threaded region and the threaded region.
Referring now to FIG. 6, the primary guide sleeves 410 and 510 of the front optics group 400 and rear optics group 500 (e.g. shown in FIG. 2), respectively, couple with the lead screws through the coupling nuts 230 and 330. Both primary guide sleeves 410 and 510 couple with the primary guide pin 600. The rear primary guide sleeve 510 includes a protruding feature 512 that interfaces with a slotted feature of the coupling nut 330. A perspective view of the interface between the protruding feature 512 and the slotted feature of the coupling nut 330 is illustrated in FIG. 5W The slotted feature is formed by the arms 335, and includes the reference surfaces 336. The references surfaces 336 protrude into the slotted feature of the coupling nut 330 to form a gap sized to accept the protruding feature 512. Preferably, the gap and protruding feature 512 are sized to fit together with substantially zero ‘play’ between the two parts.
Furthermore, the gradient and the spring force provide a natural centering of each coupling tooth between the two thread portions with which it interacts. So long as the spring applies force evenly to each coupling tooth, the tooth naturally rests in a defined position relative to the thread portions. This centering reduces the incidence of “backlash” that can occur between a nut and bolt with threads of matched pitch and angle. Backlash is the uttering of the nut relative to the bolt when there is room for the nut thread to move within the groove of the bolt thread.
Some embodiments employ a lower resolution target with a repeated pattern, but use additional processing of the sensor data to provide higher effective resolution. Examples include the detection of multiple thresholds during a-transition recorded within sensor data via analog circuitry and converting the output to digital. However, such embodiments require the inclusion of analog circuitry and additional calibration of an analog/digital converter during sensing. In some of these embodiments, calibration is accomplished automatically during power on.
As illustrated in the foregoing examples, the module of some embodiments is set to a continuum of different optical positions by electromechanical controls. These different optical positions advantageously provide a variety of picture taking modes. Via repeatable positioning and software control, the various positions and/or picture-taking modes can be optimally pre-set to fixed focus configurations for the module. Hence, some of the embodiments described above provide a variety of fixed focal lengths in a small form factor. These embodiments advantageously allow more sophisticated implementations for small devices that typically have limited capacity for multi focal optical and/or camera mechanisms. For instance, some embodiments advantageously include a plurality of focal and zoom positions in otherwise simple and compact devices. Since the described embodiments require limited range of motion, and have minimal space requirements, these embodiments have a variety of applications in ultra compact portable devices, such as, for example, in mobile phones and other consumer electronics. Some particular medical device applications include [——————].
1. A system for stabilizing an optics assembly in a plane perpendicular to an axis of translation, comprising:
a. a first guide pin, parallel to the axis of translation;
b. a second guide pin, parallel to the axis of translation; and
c. a lens housing including:
i. a guide sleeve coupled to the first guide pin, wherein the guide sleeve is substantially elongated relative to the lens housing; and
ii. a guide slot coupled to the second guide pin; and
wherein the guide sleeve further comprises a first protruding feature that is configured to couple to a first drive coupling nut.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the guide sleeve is rigidly coupled to the lens housing.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the guide sleeve is slidably coupled to the first guide pin, along the axis of translation.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first protruding feature is rigidly coupled to the first guide sleeve.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first drive coupling nut comprises a slotted feature configured to receive the first protruding feature, and the first protruding feature is slidably coupled to the slotted feature.
6. The system of claim 5, wherein the first protruding feature is slidably coupled to the slotted feature in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of translation.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the slotted feature comprises two arms forming the slot, each arm having a reference surface protruding into the slot, wherein the distance between the reference surfaces is sized to accept the first protruding feature with a substantially zero tolerance between the first protruding feature and the slotted feature.
8. A compact optical module comprising:
a. a first guide pin defining an axis of translation;
b. a second guide pin substantially parallel to the first guide pin;
c. a first lens housing translatable along the first guide pin, including:
i. a first lens barrel having a first lens barrel face, facing toward a second lens housing;
ii. a first guide sleeve rigidly coupled to the first lens barrel and slidably coupled to the first guide pin;
iii. a first guide slot rigidly coupled to the first lens barrel and slidably coupled to the second guide pin;
iv. a first drive interface rigidly coupled to the first guide sleeve and configured to interface with a corresponding first drive interface surface on a first drive coupling nut, and wherein one of the first guide sleeve and the first drive interface protrudes beyond the first lens barrel face, along the axis of translation, toward the second lens housing;
d. the second lens housing translatable along the first guide pin, including:
i. a second lens barrel;
ii. a second guide sleeve rigidly coupled to the second lens barrel and slidably coupled to the first guide pin; and
iii. a second guide slot rigidly coupled to the second lens barrel and slidably coupled to the second guide pin;
wherein the second lens housing comprises a recessed portion configured to receive the portion of the first lens housing that protrudes beyond the first lens barrel face, along the axis of translation, toward the second barrel face.
9. The module of claim 8, further comprising a second drive interface rigidly coupled to the second guide sleeve and configured to interface with a corresponding second drive interface surface on a second drive coupling nut, and configured to extend along the axis of translation in a direction away from the first lens housing.
10. The module of claim 8 wherein the first guide sleeve is elongated, such that the length of the first guide sleeve in the axis of translation is longer than the first lens barrel in the axis of translation.
11. The module of claim 10, wherein second guide sleeve is elongated, such that the length of the second guide sleeve in the axis of translation is longer than the second lens barrel in the axis of translation.
US13204564 2005-09-08 2011-08-05 System for stabilizing an optics assembly during translation Active US8564715B2 (en)
US71553305 true 2005-09-08 2005-09-08
US11514811 US7531773B2 (en) 2005-09-08 2006-09-01 Auto-focus and zoom module having a lead screw with its rotation results in translation of an optics group
US12317132 US8018528B2 (en) 2005-09-08 2008-12-18 Backlash prevention system and method
US13204564 US8564715B2 (en) 2005-09-08 2011-08-05 System for stabilizing an optics assembly during translation
US12317132 Division US8018528B2 (en) 2005-09-08 2008-12-18 Backlash prevention system and method
US20110292526A1 true US20110292526A1 (en) 2011-12-01
US8564715B2 true US8564715B2 (en) 2013-10-22
US11514811 Active 2026-12-17 US7531773B2 (en) 2005-09-08 2006-09-01 Auto-focus and zoom module having a lead screw with its rotation results in translation of an optics group
US12317132 Active 2027-11-23 US8018528B2 (en) 2005-09-08 2008-12-18 Backlash prevention system and method
US13204564 Active US8564715B2 (en) 2005-09-08 2011-08-05 System for stabilizing an optics assembly during translation
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Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:WESTERWECK, LOTHAR;GRZIWA, WOLFRAM;MOORE, RUSSEL L.;REEL/FRAME:026711/0282