Imaging apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9743006-B2
Application number	US-201414501690-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 30, 2014
Priority date	Dec 24, 2013
Publication date	Aug 22, 2017
Grant date	Aug 22, 2017

Abstract

An imaging apparatus includes: a zoom lens unit that forms image light on an imaging unit; a zoom ring that is provided around the zoom lens to be manually rotated; a rotation detection unit including: a slit member that includes a plurality of blades that are spaced apart from one another in a rotation direction and is rotated by being connected to the zoom ring, and a sensor that detects rotation of the slit member and outputs a detection signal; and a lens control unit that adjusts a zoom ratio by driving the zoom lens unit based on the detection signal of the sensor, wherein a rotation ratio of the slit member to the zoom ring is greater than 1.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An imaging apparatus comprising:
a main body comprising a front surface;
a zoom lens unit that forms image light on an imaging unit, the zoom lens unit being supported by the main body such that an incident window of the zoom lens unit on which light is incident is exposed through the front surface of the main body;
a zoom ring of the main body that is provided on the front surface of the main body around the zoom lens unit, is separate from the zoom lens unit, and is to be manually rotated;
a holder provided on the front surface and comprising a rib that rotatably supports the zoom ring;
a lens guide that has a ring shape and includes a hollow portion through which the zoom lens unit passes;
a rotation detection unit comprising:
a slit member that comprises a plurality of blades that are spaced apart from one another in a rotation direction and is connected to the zoom ring, wherein the slit member is rotated by rotation of the zoom ring, and
a sensor that detects rotation of the slit member and outputs a detection signal;

a lens control processor that adjusts a zoom ratio by driving the zoom lens unit based on the detection signal of the sensor; and
a rotation member that is disposed between the slit member and the zoom ring, and comprises a first connection unit that is connected to the zoom ring and a second connection unit that is connected to the slit member,
wherein the first connection unit contacts an inner circumferential surface of the zoom ring,
wherein a rotation ratio of the slit member to the zoom ring is greater than 1,
wherein the lens guide is disposed inside the zoom ring in a radial direction of the zoom ring, and is coupled to the holder to support the zoom ring so that the zoom ring does not separate from the holder along an optical axis.

2. The imaging apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first connection unit comprises a friction portion that contacts the inner circumferential surface of the zoom ring by friction contact and rotates,
wherein a diameter of the inner circumferential surface is greater than a diameter of the friction portion.

3. The imaging apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a ring gear that is disposed on the inner circumferential surface of the zoom ring,
wherein the first connection unit comprises a gear that engages with the ring gear, and
wherein a number of teeth of the gear is less than a number of teeth of the ring gear.

4. The imaging apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a rotation connection unit which comprises a gear connection structure that connects the second connection unit and the slit member.

5. The imaging apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a first sensor and a second sensor,
wherein the first and second sensors are disposed such that respective detection signals of the first and second sensors have a phase difference therebetween.

6. The imaging apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a photo-interrupter sensor comprising a light-emitting unit and a light-receiving unit that are disposed to face each other with the plurality of blades therebetween.

7. The imaging apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a rotational axis of the zoom ring is the same as an optical axis of the zoom lens unit.

8. An imaging apparatus comprising:
a zoom lens unit that forms image light on an imaging unit;
a main body that supports the zoom lens unit such that an incident window of the zoom lens unit on which light is incident is exposed through a front surface of the main body;
a zoom ring of the main body that is provided on the front surface of the main body, is separate from the zoom lens unit, and is to be manually rotated;
a holder provided on the front surface and comprising a rib that rotatable supports the zoom ring;
a lens guide that has a ring shape and includes a hollow portion through which the zoom lens unit passes;
a rotation detection unit that amplifies a rotation angle of the zoom ring, detects the amplified rotation angle, outputs a detection signal, and comprises a slit member; and
a control processor that controls a zoom ratio by driving the zoom lens unit based on the detection signal of the rotation detection unit;
a rotation member that connects the zoom ring and the slit member of the rotation detection unit, and comprises a first connection unit that is connected to the zoom ring and a second connection unit that is connected to the slit member,
wherein the first connection unit contacts an inner circumferential surface of the zoom ring,
wherein the lens guide is disposed inside the zoom ring in a radial direction of the zoom ring, and is coupled to the holder to support the zoom ring so that the zoom ring does not separate from the holder along an optical axis.

9. The imaging apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the rotation detection unit comprises:
a sensor that comprises a photo-interrupter sensor that detects rotation of the slit member and outputs the detection signal;
wherein the slit member is connected to the zoom ring and is rotated by rotation of the zoom ring, wherein a rotation ratio of the slit member to the zoom ring is greater than 1.

10. The imaging apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the sensor comprises a first sensor and a second sensor that are disposed such that respective detection signals of the first and second sensors have a phase difference therebetween.

11. The imaging apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the rotation member is rotated by rotation of the zoom ring, wherein the rotation member is connected to the zoom ring via a friction-contact structure.

12. The imaging apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the rotation member comprises a rubber ring that contacts an inner circumferential surface of the zoom ring.

13. The imaging apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising a rotation connection unit which comprises a gear connection structure that connects the rotation member and the slit member.

14. The imaging apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a member providing rotation resistance with respect to rotation of the zoom ring.

15. The imaging apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the member comprises an O-ring that is disposed between the holder and the zoom ring and is elastically pressed between the holder and the zoom ring.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kim Myung-Gyu
• Kim Shi-Hyun

Classifications

• H04N23/69 Primary

  Control of means for changing angle of the field of view, e.g. optical zoom objectives or electronic zooming · CPC title

• G02B7/102

  controlled by a microcomputer (cameras with interchangeable lenses G03B17/14) · CPC title

• H04N5/23296 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic

• G02B15/14

  by axial movement of one or more lenses or groups of lenses relative to the image plane for continuously varying the equivalent focal length of the objective · CPC title

• G03B3/02 Primary

  moving lens along baseboard · CPC title