Optical device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10133022-B2
Application number	US-201615353408-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 16, 2016
Priority date	May 23, 2014
Publication date	Nov 20, 2018
Grant date	Nov 20, 2018

Abstract

An optical device includes a fixed tube that has a straight groove extending in a first direction parallel to an optical axis of the optical device, a cam ring that has a cam groove extending in a second direction intersecting to the first direction, a cam follower that is engaged with the straight groove and the cam groove, a lens unit that moves in conjunction with the cam follower in the first direction, and an auxiliary cam follower that is engaged with the straight groove and that is not engaged with the cam groove. When the fixed tube and the cam ring relatively rotate, the lens unit moves in the first direction. Further, the lens unit is fixed to the cam follower and the auxiliary cam follower.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An optical device comprising:
a fixed tube that has a straight groove extending in a first direction parallel to an optical axis of the optical device;
a cam ring that has a cam groove extending in a second direction intersecting to the first direction;
a cam follower that is engaged with the straight groove and the cam groove;
a lens unit that moves in conjunction with the cam follower in the first direction; and
an auxiliary cam follower that is engaged with the straight groove and that is not engaged with the cam groove,
wherein when the fixed tube and the cam ring relatively rotate, the lens unit moves in the first direction, and
the lens unit is fixed to the cam follower and the auxiliary cam follower.

2. The optical device according to claim 1 ,
wherein a center line of the fixed tube is the optical axis, and
the cam ring is in a tubular shape, and the cam ring is provided over an outer circumference surface of the fixed tube.

3. The optical device according to claim 2 ,
wherein a center line of the cam ring is the optical axis, and the cam ring rotates around the center line, and
when the cam ring rotates, the lens unit moves along the optical axis.

4. The optical device according to claim 1 ,
wherein an intersecting angle between the straight groove and the cam groove is 45 degrees or smaller.

5. The optical device according to claim 4 ,
wherein a center line of the fixed tube is the optical axis, and
the cam ring is in a tubular shape, and the cam ring is provided over an outer circumference surface of the fixed tube.

6. The optical device according to claim 5 ,
wherein a center line of the cam ring is the optical axis, and the cam ring rotates around the center line, and
when the cam ring rotates, the lens unit moves along the optical axis.

7. An optical device comprising:
a cam ring that has a straight groove extending in a first direction parallel to an optical axis of the optical device;
a fixed tube that has a cam groove extending in a second direction intersecting to the first direction;
a cam follower that is engaged with the straight groove and the cam groove;
a lens unit that moves in conjunction with the cam follower in the first direction; and
an auxiliary cam follower that is engaged with the straight groove and that is not engaged with the cam groove,
wherein when the fixed tube and the cam ring relatively rotate, the lens unit moves in the first direction, and
the lens unit is fixed to the cam follower and the auxiliary cam follower.

8. The optical device according to claim 7 ,
wherein a center line of the fixed tube is the optical axis, and
the cam ring is in a tubular shape, and the cam ring is provided over an outer circumference surface of the fixed tube.

9. The optical device according to claim 8 ,
wherein a center line of the cam ring is the optical axis, and the cam ring rotates around the center line, and
when the cam ring rotates, the lens unit moves along the optical axis.

10. The optical device according to claim 7 ,
wherein an intersecting angle between the straight groove and the cam groove is 45 degrees or smaller.

11. The optical device according to claim 10 ,
wherein a center line of the fixed tube is the optical axis, and
the cam ring is in a tubular shape, and the cam ring is provided over an outer circumference surface of the fixed tube.

12. The optical device according to claim 11 ,
wherein a center line of the cam ring is the optical axis, and the cam ring rotates around the center line, and
when the cam ring rotates, the lens unit moves along the optical axis.

Assignees

• Nittoh Inc

Inventors

• Kageyama Takuya

Classifications

• G02B7/105

  with movable lens means specially adapted for focusing at close distances · CPC title

• G02B7/10 Primary

  by relative axial movement of several lenses, e.g. of varifocal objective lens · CPC title

• G02B7/08 Primary

  adapted to co-operate with a remote control mechanism · CPC title