Magnetically coupled lens actuator
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for adjusting the position of a lens, comprising:
- a sealed chamber surrounding said lens, said chamber including a window to permit light to enter said chamber and said lens;
an actuator held inside said chamber, said actuator being movable with respect to said chamber, said actuator being arranged to cause motion of said lens when said actuator is moved, said actuator having a plurality of projections that extend radially toward an inner surface of said chamber to provide a spacing between said actuator and said inner surface that is less at said projections than in a region of said actuator disposed between said projections; and
an element held outside said chamber and ferromagnetically coupled to at least some of said projections of said actuator through a surface of said chamber, said element being movable relative to said chamber to cause movement of said actuator to thereby adjust the position of said lens.
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Abstract
A lens surrounded by a protective chamber is focused by utilizing a magnetic field to adjust the position of the lens within the chamber. By using a magnetic field to adjust the lens position, it is not necessary to pass a mechanical device through the surface of the chamber, thereby allowing the chamber to be completely sealed to prevent contaminants from contacting the lens.
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Citations
64 Claims
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1. An apparatus for adjusting the position of a lens, comprising:
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a sealed chamber surrounding said lens, said chamber including a window to permit light to enter said chamber and said lens; an actuator held inside said chamber, said actuator being movable with respect to said chamber, said actuator being arranged to cause motion of said lens when said actuator is moved, said actuator having a plurality of projections that extend radially toward an inner surface of said chamber to provide a spacing between said actuator and said inner surface that is less at said projections than in a region of said actuator disposed between said projections; and an element held outside said chamber and ferromagnetically coupled to at least some of said projections of said actuator through a surface of said chamber, said element being movable relative to said chamber to cause movement of said actuator to thereby adjust the position of said lens. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 62, 63, 64)
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5. An apparatus for adjusting the position of a lens, comprising:
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a sealed chamber surrounding said lens, said chamber including a window to permit light to enter said chamber and said lens; an actuator held inside said chamber, said actuator being movable with respect to said chamber, said actuator being arranged to cause motion of said lens when said actuator is moved; an element comprising a magnet held outside said chamber and ferromagnetically coupled to said actuator through a surface of said chamber, said element being movable relative to said chamber to cause movement of said actuator to thereby adjust the position of said lens; said actuator comprising projections which define part of a closed flux path between said actuator and said element, said projections being in sliding contact with an inner surface of said chamber; and two ferromagnetic washers, respectively positioned adjacent the poles of said magnet and respectively aligned with said projections. - View Dependent Claims (6, 15)
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21. An apparatus for adjusting the position of a lens along an optical axis on which the lens lies, comprising:
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a cylindrical chamber surrounding said lens, said chamber being sealed in a manner that prevents motion from being transmitted mechanically through the wall of said chamber, said chamber including a window to permit light to enter said chamber and pass through said lens; a ferromagnetic actuator held inside said chamber and supporting said lens, said actuator being movable with respect to said chamber to thereby cause motion of said lens, said actuator having a plurality of projections that extend radially toward an inner surface of said chamber to provide a spacing between said actuator and said inner surface that is less at said projections than in a region of said actuator disposed between said projections; and a ring-shaped magnet surrounding said chamber and ferromagnetically coupled to at least some of said projections of said actuator via a surface of said chamber, said magnet being movable relative to said chamber to cause movement of said ferromagnetic actuator to thereby adjust the focus of said light passing through said lens. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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22. An endoscope coupler for coupling an endoscope to a viewing device, said coupler comprising:
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a lens; a sealed chamber surrounding said lens, said chamber including a window to permit light to enter said chamber and said lens; an actuator held inside said chamber, said actuator being movable with respect to said chamber, said actuator being arranged to cause motion of said lens when said actuator is moved, said actuator having a plurality of projections that extend radially toward an inner surface of said chamber to provide a spacing between said actuator and said inner surface that is less at said projections than in a region of said actuator disposed between said projections; and an element held outside said chamber and ferromagnetically coupled to at least some of said projections of said actuator through a surface of said chamber, said element being movable relative to said chamber to cause movement of said actuator to thereby adjust the position of said lens. - View Dependent Claims (23, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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26. An endoscope coupler for coupling an endoscope to a viewing device, said coupler comprising:
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a lens; a sealed chamber surrounding said lens, said chamber including a window to permit light to enter said chamber and said lens; an actuator held inside said chamber, said actuator being movable with respect to said chamber, said actuator being arranged to cause motion of said lens when said actuator is moved; an element comprising a magnet held outside said chamber and ferromagnetically coupled to said actuator through a surface of said chamber, said element being movable relative to said chamber to cause movement of said actuator to thereby adjust the position of said lens; said actuator comprising projections which define part of a closed flux path between said actuator and said element, said projections being in sliding contact with an inner surface of said chamber; and two ferromagnetic washers, respectively positioned adjacent to the poles of said magnet and respectively aligned with said projections. - View Dependent Claims (27, 35)
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41. A method for moving a focusing lens having a chamber surrounding said lens, said chamber including a window to permit light to enter said chamber and said lens, said method comprising
providing an actuator positioned inside said chamber and arranged to cause motion of said lens when said actuator is moved, said actuator having a plurality of projections that extend radially toward an inner surface of said chamber to provide a spacing between said actuator and said inner surface that is less at said projections than in a region of said actuator disposed between said projection, and moving an element that is ferromagnetically coupled to at least some of said projections of said actuator and positioned outside said chamber to cause said actuator to move thereby adjusting the position of said lens to adjust the focus of the light.
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45. A method for focusing a lens having a chamber surrounding said lens, said chamber including a window to permit light to enter said chamber and said lens, said method comprising
providing an actuator positioned outside said chamber and arranged to cause motion of said lens when said actuator is moved, said actuator comprising projections that are in sliding contact with an inner surface of said chamber, and moving an element that is ferromagnetically coupled to said actuator through a closed flux path that includes said projections and positioned outside said chamber to cause said actuator to move thereby adjusting the position of said lens to adjust the focus of the light, said element comprising a magnet and wherein a ferromagnetic washer is positioned adjacent to each of the poles of said magnet, such that said washers are aligned with said projections.
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61. A method for focusing light transmitted from an endoscope to a viewing apparatus such as a camera, the light passing through a lens having a chamber surrounding said lens, said chamber including a window to permit light to enter said chamber and said lens, said method comprising
providing an actuator positioned inside said chamber and arranged to cause motion of said lens when said actuator is moved, said actuator having a plurality of projections that extend radially toward an inner surface of said chamber to provide a spacing between said actuator and said inner surface that is less at said projections than in a region of said actuator disposed between said projections, and moving an element that is ferromagnetically coupled to at least some of said projections of said actuator and positioned outside said chamber to cause said actuator to move thereby adjusting the position of said lens to adjust the focus of the light.
Specification