US 9,039,208 B2Granted

Manually adjustable ruggedized focus mechanism

AssigneeCognex Corporation

InventorsGeorge Costigan, Steven Goodspeed, Robert Tremblay, John Keating, Brian Phillips, James Hoffmaster

Life of this patent

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Abstract

The invention provides, in some aspects, devices for image acquisition that use seals between concentrically disposed portions of an enclosure and an optics assembly in order to protect image acquisition components from the surrounding environment while providing adequate friction for both adjusting and locking focus. Such devices can include an image capture medium that is disposed within an enclosure and an optics assembly that is also disposed within that enclosure. The optics assembly, which includes at least a lens, can have a cylindrical outer diameter along at least a portion of its length that is received within the enclosure along a length that has a corresponding cylindrical inner diameter. A first seal is disposed between, and in contact with, the optics assembly and the enclosure. That seal permits rotation of the optics assembly for purposes of focusing the lens, while preventing contamination from the environment from entering into the enclosure.

Claims15

Dependent claims

An image acquisition device for use in an environment, comprising

A. an enclosure,
B. an image capture medium disposed within the enclosure,
C. a lens sub-assembly that is disposed within the enclosure, the lens sub-assembly including a lens that focuses light on the image capture medium,
D. a window sub-assembly that is moveably coupled to the enclosure, the window sub assembly including a window that admits the light into the enclosure for capture by the image capture medium while protecting the lens or at least one component within the enclosure from the environment,
E. a seal that is disposed between, and in contact with, the window sub-assembly and the lens sub-assembly, such that rotation of the window sub-assembly translates to the lens sub-assembly, the seal preventing at least selected contamination from the environment from entering into the enclosure or vice versa while providing at least temporary fixation of the lens focus by means of a friction fit at the seal, wherein the window subassembly is arranged such that movement of the window subassembly effects focusing of the light by the lens on the image capture medium.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/269,966Filed 10 Oct 2011 · continuation
Priority: 29 Dec 2006
Published: US 2012/0120490 A117 May 2012
Granted: 26 May 2015
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

G03B 17/08
Bodies: waterproof bodies or housings
G02B 7/04
For lenses: with mechanism for focusing or varying magnification
G03B 2217/002
Details of cameras or camera bodies; Accessories therefor: details of arrangement of components in or on camera body
Y10S 359/90
Optical: systems and elements: methods

Family

Application11/618,132Parent of this continuation · filed 29 Dec 2006
US 8,033,670 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 11 Oct 2011
US 2012/0120490 A1Pre-grant publication · published 17 May 2012
US 2008/0158678 A1Published application
US 9,039,208 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Timeline

Citations

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