# US 10,120,157 B2 · Lens unit

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- Number: US 10,120,157 B2
- Document ID: US10120157B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/541,218
- Filed: 2016-01-06
- Published: 2017-12-21
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2015-01-14
- Assignees: Konica Minolta, Inc.
- Applicants: Konica Minolta, Inc.
- Inventors: Hiroki Kitamura; Atsushi Matsuura; Keisuke Kuryo
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10120157B2

## CPC

- G02B 7/028: {with means for compensating for changes in temperature or for controlling the temperature; thermal stabilisation}
- G02B 7/02: for lenses {(supports for magnifying lenses G02B25/002)}
- G02B 7/023: {permitting adjustment}
- G03B 17/12: with means for supporting objectives, supplementary lenses, filters, masks, or turrets
- G03B 21/147: {Optical correction of image distortions, e.g. keystone}
- G03B 21/53: Means for automatic focusing, e.g. to compensate thermal effects
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D)

## Abstract

A lens unit includes a correction lens that corrects movement of a focus position of an optical system, a holding frame that holds the lens, a stationary tube that movably supports the frame along a direction of an optical axis, a movement guide portion that is provided between the tube and the frame in a radial direction of the tube and limits rotation of the frame in a direction intersecting with a plane orthogonal to the optical axis and guides movement of the frame in the direction of the optical axis, bimetals that are provided between the tube and the frame in the direction of the optical axis and change a distance between the frame and the tube along the direction of the optical axis, and a first biasing means that relatively biases the frame against the tube via the movement guide portion in the radial direction of the tube.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A lens unit including an optical system having a plurality of lenses, the lens unit comprising:
a correction lens forming a part of the plurality of lenses and having an optical axis, and configured to correct movement of a focus position of the optical system caused by a temperature change by being moved in a direction of the optical axis;
a holding frame holding the correction lens;
a stationary tube movably supporting the holding frame along the direction of the optical axis;
at least one movement guide portion provided between the stationary tube and the holding frame in a radial direction of the stationary tube, and configured to limit rotation of the holding frame in a direction intersecting with a plane orthogonal to the optical axis and to guide movement of the holding frame in the direction of the optical axis by being in contact with at least one of the stationary tube and the holding frame;
a plurality of heat deformed members provided between the stationary tube and the holding frame in the direction of the optical axis, arranged in a circumferential direction of the stationary tube, and configured to change a distance between the holding frame and the stationary tube along the direction of the optical axis by deformation associated with the temperature change; and
a first biasing means configured to relatively bias the holding frame against the stationary tube via the at least one movement guide portion in the radial direction of the stationary tube.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The lens unit according to claim 1, further comprising at least one second biasing means configured to bias the holding frame against the stationary tube via the plurality of heat deformed members in the direction of the optical axis.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The lens unit according to claim 2, wherein
the heat deformed member is plate-shaped having a lateral direction and a longitudinal direction and having a thickness in a direction sandwiched between the stationary tube and the holding frame, and
biasing forces of the first biasing means and the at least one second biasing means are determined so as to satisfy Formula (1):
[
Mathematical
⁢
⁢
Formula
⁢
⁢
1
]
⁢
mgf
⁡
(
d
)
<
F
y
<
Ebt
2
⁢
K
8
⁢
⁢
μ
⁢
⁢
l
⁢
Δ
⁢
⁢
T
a
Formula
⁢
⁢
(
1
)
where Fy is a force that acts on the stationary tube in the radial direction,
f(d) is a function of a tilt d relative to a plane perpendicular to the optical axis permitted to the holding frame,
mg is a weight of a moving portion including the holding frame and the correction lens,
ΔTa is the temperature change required for the holding frame to start moving,
E is an elastic modulus of the heat deformed member,
b is a width of the heat deformed member in the lateral direction,
t is the thickness of the heat deformed member,
l is a length of the heat deformed member in the longitudinal direction,
K is a curvature coefficient of the heat deformed member, and
μ is a friction coefficient during movement of the holding frame in the direction of the optical axis.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The lens unit according to claim 3, wherein
the at least one second biasing means includes an elastic member that expands and contracts along the direction of the optical axis, and
the biasing forces of the first biasing means and the at least one second biasing means are determined so as to satisfy Formula (2):
[
Mathematical
⁢
⁢
Formula
⁢
⁢
2
]
⁢
F
z
⁢
⁢
min
<
F
z
<
bt
2
⁢
σ
a
6
⁢
⁢
l
Formula
⁢
⁢
(
2
)
where Fz is a force that acts on the plurality of heat deformed members in the direction of the optical axis,
Fzmin is a minimum force that acts on the plurality of heat deformed members in the direction of the optical axis and is required for all of the plurality of heat deformed members to come into contact with the holding frame within an operating temperature range, and
σa is an allowable stress of the heat deformed member.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The lens unit according to claim 4, wherein
when a temperature range of ΔT satisfies Formula (3):
[
Mathematical
⁢
⁢
Formula
⁢
⁢
3
]
⁢
0
≤
Δ
⁢
⁢
T
≤
8
⁢
⁢
μ
⁢
⁢
lF
y
Ebt
2
⁢
K
Formula
⁢
⁢
(
3
)
a movement distance D falls within a range in which Dmin and Dmax satisfy Formula (4):
[
Mathematical
⁢
⁢
Formula
⁢
⁢
4
]
⁢
D
min
=
0
,
⁢
D
max
=
Ebt
2
⁢
l
2
⁢
K
⁢
⁢
Δ
⁢
⁢
T
Ebt
3
+
4
⁢
⁢
l
3
⁢
k
Formula
⁢
⁢
(
4
)
when the temperature range of ΔT satisfies Formula (5):
[
Mathematical
⁢
⁢
Formula
⁢
⁢
5
]
⁢
8
⁢
μ
⁢
⁢
lF
y
Ebt
2
⁢
K
<
Δ
⁢
⁢
T
≤
(
Δ
⁢
⁢
T
max
-
8
⁢
μ
⁢
⁢
lF
y
Ebt
2
⁢
K
)
Formula
⁢
⁢
(
5
)
the movement distance D falls within a range in which the Dmin and the Dmax satisfy Formula (6):
[
Mathematical
⁢
⁢
Formula
⁢
⁢
6
]
⁢
D
min
=
Ebt
2
⁢
l
2
⁢
K
⁢
⁢
Δ
⁢
⁢
T
-
8
⁢
⁢
l
3
⁢
μ
⁢
⁢
F
y
Ebt
3
+
4
⁢
⁢
l
3
⁢
k
,
⁢
D
max
=
Ebt
2
⁢
l
2
⁢
K
⁢
⁢
Δ
⁢
⁢
T
Ebt
3
+
4
⁢
⁢
l
3
⁢
k
Formula
⁢
⁢
(
6
)
and when the temperature range of ΔT satisfies Formula (7):
[
Mathematical
⁢
⁢
Formula
⁢
⁢
7
]
⁢
(
Δ
⁢
⁢
T
max
-
8
⁢
⁢
μ
⁢
⁢
lF
y
Ebt
2
⁢
K
)
<
Δ
⁢
⁢
T
≤
Δ
⁢
⁢
T
max
Formula
⁢
⁢
(
7
)
the movement distance D falls within a range in which the Dmin and the Dmax satisfy Formula (8):
[
Mathematical
⁢
⁢
Formula
⁢
⁢
8
]
⁢
D
min
=
Ebt
2
⁢
l
2
⁢
K
⁢
⁢
Δ
⁢
⁢
T
Ebt
3
+
4
⁢
⁢
l
3
⁢
k
,
⁢
D
max
=
Ebt
2
⁢
l
2
⁢
K
Ebt
3
+
4
⁢
⁢
l
3
⁢
k
⁢
(
Δ
⁢
⁢
T
max
-
8
⁢
⁢
μ
⁢
⁢
lF
y
Ebt
2
⁢
K
)
Formula
⁢
⁢
(
8
)
where k is a spring constant of the elastic member, ΔT is an amount of temperature change from a reference temperature, D is the movement distance along the direction parallel to the direction of the optical axis from a reference position of the holding frame at the reference temperature to a position of the holding frame after the temperature change, Dmin is a minimum value of the movement distance D, Dmax is a maximum value of the movement distance D, and ΔTmax is a maximum of the amount of temperature change.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The lens unit according to claim 2, wherein
the at least one second biasing means comprises a plurality of second biasing means, and a position of the holding frame relative to the stationary tube in the direction of the optical axis is adjusted by the biasing force generated by each of the plurality of second biasing means.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The lens unit according to claim 1, wherein
the at least one movement guide portion comprises a plurality of movement guide portions so as to be arranged spaced from each other in a circumferential direction when viewed from the direction of the optical axis,
at least one of the movement guide portions of the other of the plurality of movement guide portions other than a first movement guide portion and a second movement guide portion is provided between a first intersection point and a second intersection point, the first intersection point and the second intersection point being on a side in the circumferential direction where the first movement guide portion and the second movement guide portion are not located,
where the first movement guide portion and the second movement guide portion are two of the movement guide portions adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction of the plurality of movement guide portions,
a first imaginary line is a line connecting the first movement guide portion to a center of the stationary tube and a second imaginary line is a line connecting the second movement guide portion to the center of the stationary tube when viewed from the direction of the optical axis,
the first intersection point is located opposite the first movement guide portion when viewed from the center and is an intersection point between the first imaginary line and an outer peripheral surface of the stationary tube, and
the second intersection point is located opposite the second movement guide portion when viewed from the center and is an intersection point between the second imaginary line and the outer peripheral surface of the stationary tube, and
the first biasing means is provided so as to bias against at least one of the movement guide portions of the other of the plurality of movement guide portions in the radial direction of the stationary tube.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The lens unit according to claim 7, wherein
the first biasing means is further provided so as to bias against at least one of the first movement guide portion and the second movement guide portion in the radial direction of the stationary tube.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The lens unit according to claim 1, wherein
the plurality of movement guide portions is provided separate from the stationary tube.

### Claim 10 (depends on 2)

The lens unit according to claim 2, wherein:
the at least one movement guide portion comprises a plurality of movement guide portions so as to be arranged spaced from each other in a circumferential direction when viewed from the direction of the optical axis,
at least one of the movement guide portions of the other of the plurality of movement guide portions other than a first movement guide portion and a second movement guide portion is provided between a first intersection point and a second intersection point, the first intersection point and the second intersection point being on a side in the circumferential direction where the first movement guide portion and the second movement guide portion are not located,
where the first movement guide portion and the second movement guide portion are two of the movement guide portions adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction of the plurality of movement guide portions,
a first imaginary line is a line connecting the first movement guide portion to a center of the stationary tube and a second imaginary line is a line connecting the second movement guide portion to the center of the stationary tube when viewed from the direction of the optical axis,
the first intersection point is located opposite the first movement guide portion when viewed from the center and is an intersection point between the first imaginary line and an outer peripheral surface of the stationary tube, and
the second intersection point is located opposite the second movement guide portion when viewed from the center and is an intersection point between the second imaginary line and the outer peripheral surface of the stationary tube, and
the first biasing means is provided so as to bias against at least one of the movement guide portions of the other of the plurality of movement guide portions in the radial direction of the stationary tube.

### Claim 11 (depends on 2)

The lens unit according to claim 2, wherein
the plurality of movement guide portions is provided separate from the stationary tube.

### Claim 12 (depends on 3)

The lens unit according to claim 3, wherein
the at least one second biasing means comprises a plurality of second biasing means, and a position of the holding frame relative to the stationary tube in the direction of the optical axis is adjusted by the biasing force generated by each of the plurality of second biasing means.

### Claim 13 (depends on 3)

The lens unit according to claim 3, wherein:
the at least one movement guide portion comprises a plurality of movement guide portions so as to be arranged spaced from each other in a circumferential direction when viewed from the direction of the optical axis,
at least one of the movement guide portions of the other of the plurality of movement guide portions other than a first movement guide portion and a second movement guide portion is provided between a first intersection point and a second intersection point, the first intersection point and the second intersection point being on a side in the circumferential direction where the first movement guide portion and the second movement guide portion are not located,
where the first movement guide portion and the second movement guide portion are two of the movement guide portions adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction of the plurality of movement guide portions,
a first imaginary line is a line connecting the first movement guide portion to a center of the stationary tube and a second imaginary line is a line connecting the second movement guide portion to the center of the stationary tube when viewed from the direction of the optical axis,
the first intersection point is located opposite the first movement guide portion when viewed from the center and is an intersection point between the first imaginary line and an outer peripheral surface of the stationary tube, and
the second intersection point is located opposite the second movement guide portion when viewed from the center and is an intersection point between the second imaginary line and the outer peripheral surface of the stationary tube, and
the first biasing means is provided so as to bias against at least one of the movement guide portions of the other of the plurality of movement guide portions in the radial direction of the stationary tube.

### Claim 14 (depends on 3)

The lens unit according to claim 3, wherein
the plurality of movement guide portions is provided separate from the stationary tube.

### Claim 15 (depends on 4)

The lens unit according to claim 4, wherein
the at least one second biasing means comprises a plurality of second biasing means, and a position of the holding frame relative to the stationary tube in the direction of the optical axis is adjusted by the biasing force generated by each of the plurality of second biasing means.

### Claim 16 (depends on 4)

The lens unit according to claim 4, wherein:
the at least one movement guide portion comprises a plurality of movement guide portions so as to be arranged spaced from each other in a circumferential direction when viewed from the direction of the optical axis,
at least one of the movement guide portions of the other of the plurality of movement guide portions other than a first movement guide portion and a second movement guide portion is provided between a first intersection point and a second intersection point, the first intersection point and the second intersection point being on a side in the circumferential direction where the first movement guide portion and the second movement guide portion are not located,
where the first movement guide portion and the second movement guide portion are two of the movement guide portions adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction of the plurality of movement guide portions,
a first imaginary line is a line connecting the first movement guide portion to a center of the stationary tube and a second imaginary line is a line connecting the second movement guide portion to the center of the stationary tube when viewed from the direction of the optical axis,
the first intersection point is located opposite the first movement guide portion when viewed from the center and is an intersection point between the first imaginary line and an outer peripheral surface of the stationary tube, and
the second intersection point is located opposite the second movement guide portion when viewed from the center and is an intersection point between the second imaginary line and the outer peripheral surface of the stationary tube, and
the first biasing means is provided so as to bias against at least one of the movement guide portions of the other of the plurality of movement guide portions in the radial direction of the stationary tube.

### Claim 17 (depends on 4)

The lens unit according to claim 4, wherein
the plurality of movement guide portions is provided separate from the stationary tube.

### Claim 18 (depends on 5)

The lens unit according to claim 5, wherein
the at least one second biasing means comprises a plurality of second biasing means, and a position of the holding frame relative to the stationary tube in the direction of the optical axis is adjusted by the biasing force generated by each of the plurality of second biasing means.

### Claim 19 (depends on 5)

The lens unit according to claim 5, wherein:
the at least one movement guide portion comprises a plurality of movement guide portions so as to be arranged spaced from each other in a circumferential direction when viewed from the direction of the optical axis,
at least one of the movement guide portions of the other of the plurality of movement guide portions other than a first movement guide portion and a second movement guide portion is provided between a first intersection point and a second intersection point, the first intersection point and the second intersection point being on a side in the circumferential direction where the first movement guide portion and the second movement guide portion are not located,
where the first movement guide portion and the second movement guide portion are two of the movement guide portions adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction of the plurality of movement guide portions,
a first imaginary line is a line connecting the first movement guide portion to a center of the stationary tube and a second imaginary line is a line connecting the second movement guide portion to the center of the stationary tube when viewed from the direction of the optical axis,
the first intersection point is located opposite the first movement guide portion when viewed from the center and is an intersection point between the first imaginary line and an outer peripheral surface of the stationary tube, and
the second intersection point is located opposite the second movement guide portion when viewed from the center and is an intersection point between the second imaginary line and the outer peripheral surface of the stationary tube, and
the first biasing means is provided so as to bias against at least one of the movement guide portions of the other of the plurality of movement guide portions in the radial direction of the stationary tube.

### Claim 20 (depends on 5)

The lens unit according to claim 5, wherein
the plurality of movement guide portions is provided separate from the stationary tube.