Alignment device and lens alignment system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12153275-B2
Application number	US-201917298300-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 2, 2019
Priority date	Dec 3, 2018
Publication date	Nov 26, 2024
Grant date	Nov 26, 2024

Abstract

An alignment device includes a base table, a plurality of electric actuators attached to the base table, an alignment table supported by the plurality of electric actuators. Each of the plurality of electric actuators includes a linear motion device that drives the alignment table in a direction approaching or separating from the base table.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An electric alignment device comprising:
a base table;
a plurality of electric actuators attached to the base table; and
an alignment table supported by the plurality of electric actuators,
wherein each of the plurality of electric actuators comprises a linear motion device that drives the alignment table in a direction approaching or separating vertically from the base table, and
wherein the linear motion device comprises:
a nut fixed to one of the base table and the alignment table; and
a screw shaft that drives the nut in an axial direction approaching or separating from the other of the base table and the alignment table.

2. The electric alignment device according to claim 1 , wherein a tilt angle-adjustment portion tilting the alignment table with respect to the base table is formed between the screw shaft and the nut.

3. The electric alignment device according to claim 1 , comprising an urging member urging the alignment table in a direction separated with respect to the base table.

4. The electric alignment device according to claim 1 , comprising a positioning pin positioning the nut and one of the base table and the alignment table in a plane direction intersecting an axial direction.

5. A lens alignment system comprising:
the electric alignment device according to claim 1 that adjusts the tilt angle of a lens that projects light and at least one of the focus of the lens; and
an electric lens shift device that supports the electric alignment device and moves the electric alignment device at least in a two-axis orthogonal direction orthogonal to the optical axis direction of the light.

6. An alignment device comprising:
a base table;
a plurality of linear motion devices attached to the base table; and
an alignment table supported by the plurality of linear motion devices,
wherein each of the plurality of linear motion devices comprises
a nut fixed to one of the base table or the alignment table, and
a screw shaft that moves the nut in a direction approaching or separating from the other of the base table or the alignment table, and

when an outer diameter of the screw shaft is M, a distance between the screw shafts is L, an inclination of the alignment table with respect to the base table is θ, a length of the nut with respect to the screw shaft in the thrust direction is N, and a clearance amount in a radial direction between the nut and the screw shaft is Tr, the relationship Tr>(M+L)(1−cos θ)+N sin θ is satisfied.

7. The alignment device according to claim 6 , wherein when a hooking height in the radial direction of the nut with respect to the screw axis is H 1 and a thread angle is Φ, the relationship Trg=(M+L)(1−cos θ)+N sin θ+H 1 sin θ/tan Φ is satisfied.

8. The alignment device according to claim 6 , wherein L is the longest distance among the mutual distances when the number of screw shafts is three or more.

9. The alignment device according to claim 6 , wherein the linear motion device is an electric actuator comprising a motor rotating the screw shaft.

10. The alignment device according to claim 6 , comprising an urging member urging the alignment table in a direction approaching or separating from the base table.

11. A lens alignment system, comprising:
the alignment device described in claim 6 that adjusts at least one of the tilt angle of the lens that projects the light and the focus of the lens, and
a lens shift device that supports the alignment device and moves the alignment device at least in a two-axis orthogonal direction orthogonal to the optical axis direction of the light.

Assignees

• Thk Co Ltd

Inventors

• Fukushima Hajime
• Hirota Jun
• Iguchi Junichi
• Shimamura Marie

Classifications

• G03B21/142

  Adjusting of projection optics · CPC title

• G02B7/022

  lens and mount having complementary engagement means, e.g. screw/thread · CPC title

• G02B7/026

  using retaining rings or springs (G02B7/027 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G02B7/08

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

• H04N5/74

  Projection arrangements for image reproduction, e.g. using eidophor · CPC title