Two-speed focusing mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11480756-B2
Application number	US-202017120602-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 14, 2020
Priority date	Dec 14, 2020
Publication date	Oct 25, 2022
Grant date	Oct 25, 2022

Abstract

A two-speed focusing mechanism includes a base having an inner guide, a carrier disposed within the inner guide, a first drive, an outer guide and a second drive. A first and second bearing are disposed in a respective inner dimple of the carrier and a second bearing is disposed within a first dimple of the first drive. The first and second bearings are held within a respective inner slot and outer slot and a first guide and second guide, wherein a rotation of the second drive is translated into an axial movement of the carrier at different speeds.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A two-speed mechanism configured to translate a rotary motion into an axial displacement at two different speeds, the two-speed mechanism comprising:
a base having an inner guide, the inner guide being a tubular member having an inner slot;
a carrier disposed within the inner guide, an outer surface of the carrier having an inner dimple;
a first drive, the first drive being a tubular member concentric to the inner guide, an inner surface of the first drive having a first groove, the first groove being helical and having a first pitch, an outer surface of the first drive having a first dimple;
an outer guide, the outer guide being a tubular member concentric to the first drive, the outer guide having an outer slot;
a second drive, the second drive being a tubular member concentric to the outer guide, an inner surface of the second drive having a second groove, the second groove being helical having a second pitch that is less than the first pitch;
a first bearing disposed within the inner dimple, the inner slot and the first groove;
a second bearing disposed within the first dimple, the outer slot and the second groove; and
wherein a rotation of the second drive translates the carrier axially at different speeds.

2. The two-speed mechanism as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the first pitch is at least twice as great as the second pitch.

3. The two-speed mechanism as set forth in claim 1 , further including a first gasket bounding an outer surface of the inner guide.

4. The two-speed mechanism as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the carrier includes a lens.

5. The two-speed mechanism as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the inner guide includes a pair of inner slots.

6. The two-speed mechanism as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the outer slot is shorter than the inner slot.

7. The two-speed mechanism as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the second pitch is variable so as to be greater at a center than at an end of the first groove.

8. A focusing mechanism for a camera, the focusing mechanism comprising:
a base having an inner guide, the inner guide being a tubular member having an inner slot,
a lens cell disposed within the inner guide, an outer surface of the lens cell having an inner dimple;
a first drive, the first drive being a tubular member concentric to the inner guide, an inner surface of the first drive having a first groove, the first groove being helical and having a first pitch, an outer surface of the first drive having a first dimple;
an outer guide, the outer guide being a tubular member concentric to the first drive, the outer guide having an outer slot; and
a second drive, the second drive being a tubular member concentric to the outer guide, an inner surface of the second drive having a second groove, the second groove being helical having a second pitch that is less than the first pitch;
a first bearing disposed within the inner dimple, the inner slot and the first groove, wherein a rotation of the first drive translates an axial movement of the lens cell within the inner slot;
a second bearing disposed within the first dimple, the outer slot and the second groove; and
wherein a rotation of the second drive translates the lens cell axially within the inner guide and the outer guide at different speeds.

9. The focusing mechanism as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the second pitch is at least twice as great as the first pitch.

10. The focusing mechanism as set forth in claim 8 , further including a first gasket bounding an outer surface of the inner guide.

11. The focusing mechanism as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the lens cell includes a lens.

12. The focusing mechanism as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the inner guide includes a pair of inner slots.

13. The focusing mechanism as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the outer slot is shorter than the inner slot.

14. The two-speed mechanism as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the second pitch is variable so as to be greater at a center than at an end of the first groove.

Assignees

• Storz Karl Imaging Inc

Inventors

• Anhalt Thomas J

Classifications

• F16H2025/204

  Axial sliding means, i.e. for rotary support and axial guiding of nut or screw shaft · CPC title

• G03B13/34

  Power focusing · CPC title

• F16H25/20

  Screw mechanisms (with automatic reversal F16H25/12) · CPC title

• F16H2025/2059

  Common movement by two screws or two nuts, e.g. two connected screws with opposite thread direction · CPC title

• G02B7/04 Primary

  with mechanism for focusing or varying magnification · CPC title