Lens holding device

• US 5,757,559 A
• Filed: 06/30/1995
• Issued: 05/26/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Nomura, Hiroshi, Sasaki, Takamitsu
• Primary Examiner(s): Ben, Loha
• Application Number:
  US08/496,960
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• Field of Search: 359/819, 359/820, 359/811
• US Class Current: 359/819
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/021 for more than one lens
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/022 lens and mount having complementary engagement means, e.g. screw/thread
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/026 using retaining rings or springs G02B7/027 takes precedence

Abstract

A glass lens and a plastic lens are secured such that the glass lens is retained in a predetermined position with reference to a lens barrel and against a reference surface provided in the lens barrel. The plastic lens is held by a resilient ring-shaped portion of the lens barrel against the glass lens, thus locating the plastic lens in a predetermined position with reference to both the lens barrel and the glass lens. The glass lens is retained against the reference surface by a retaining member positioned opposite the reference surface.

Claims

1. A lens holding device, comprising:

a lens frame, said lens frame having a unitary elastic portion and a reference surface formed on said lens frame;

a retaining member, provided on said lens frame;

a first lens, supported by said lens frame and held against said reference surface by said retaining member, in a predetermined position with reference to said lens frame; and

a second lens, supported by said lens frame and elastically held against said first lens, by said unitary elastic portion of said lens frame, in a predetermined position with reference to said lens frame and to said first lens.

2. The lens holding device according to claim 1,

wherein said second lens comprises a resin plastic lens and said elastic portion of said lens frame elastically holds said second lens against said first lens with a force of less than a predetermined limit of mechanical deformation, for obtaining acceptable optical performance.

3. The lens holding device according to claim 2,

wherein said first lens is a glass lens.

4. The lens holding deice according to claim 1,

wherein said elastic portion comprises a resilient ring-shaped member.

5. The lens holding device according to claim 1,

wherein said retaining member is unitarily formed with said lens frame, and said first lens is substantially rigidly held against said reference surface by plastically deforming said lens frame to form said retaining member.

6. The lens holding device according to claim 5,

wherein said lens frame is formed from resin, and said lens frame is plastically deformed under heat to form said retaining member.

7. The lens holding device according to claim 1,

wherein said lens frame has a stepped bore with first and second inner diameter portions, first and second lens mounting portions being defined in said lens frame, said first lens mounting portion comprising a portion of said stepped bore of larger diameter than said second lens mounting portion;

and

wherein said reference surface is positioned between said first and second lens mounting portions facing substantially towards said first lens mounting portion.

8. The lens holding device according to claim 7

wherein said first lens has a larger diameter than said second lens, and said first lens is supported in said first lens mounting portion while said second lens is supported in said second lens mounting portion.

9. The lens holding device according to claim 8,

wherein said elastic portion is formed in said lens frame on a side of said second lens mounting portion opposite said reference surface, and said retaining member is provided to said lens frame on a side of said first lens mounting portion opposite said reference surfaces.

10. The lens holding device according to claim 9,

wherein said elastic portion comprises a resilient ring-shaped member of a smaller diameter than said second lens mounting portion and said second lens.

11. The lens holding device according to claim 9,

wherein said retaining member comprises a substantially rigid ring-shaped member of a smaller diameter than said first lens mounting portion and said first lens.

12. The lens holding device according to claim 9,

wherein a stepped portion, having a diameter between that of said first and second lens mounting portions, is located between said first and second lens mounting portions, and said reference surface comprising an annular projection on said stepped portion extending towards said first lens.

13. A lens holding device, comprising:

a lens frame, said lens frame having a unitary elastic portion and a reference surface formed on said lens frame;

a glass lens, having a reference surface formed thereon;

a resin lens; and

a retaining member, provided to said lens frame,

wherein said glass lens is held against said reference surface of said lens frame by said retaining member, and said resin lens is elastically held against said reference surface of said glass lens by said elastic portion.

14. The lens holding device according to claim 13,

wherein said elastic portion comprises a ring-shaped resilient portion of said lens frame.

15. The lens holding device according to claim 14,

wherein said glass lens is of a larger diameter than said plastic lens.

16. The lens holding device according to claim 13,

wherein said retaining member substantially rigidly holds said first lens in abutting rotation to said reference surface.

17. The lens holding device according to claim 16,

wherein said retaining member is unitarily formed with said lens frame, and said first lens is rigidly held against said reference surface by plastically deforming said lens frame to form said retaining member.

18. The lens holding device according to claim 17,

wherein said lens frame is formed from resin, and said lens frame is plastically deformed under heat to form said retaining member.

19. A lens holding device, comprising:

a lens frame, having first and second lens mounting portions formed thereon;

a reference surface substantially facing said first lens mounting portion and formed between said first and second lens mounting portions; and

an elastic ring formed in said lens frame on a side of said second lens mounting portion and opposite said first lens mounting portion;

a first lens, provided in said first lens mounting portion and in abutting relation to said reference surface;

a second lens, provided in said second lens mounting portion and resiliently held in abutting relation to said first lens by said elastic ring; and

a retaining portion, provided on a side of said first lens mounting portion opposite said second lens mounting portion, and holding said first lens in abutting relation to said reference surface.

20. The lens holding device according to claim 19,

wherein said first lens is of a larger diameter than said second lens, and said first lens mounting portion is of larger internal diameter than said second lens mounting portion.

21. The lens holding device according to claim 20,

wherein said retaining portion substantially rigidly holds said first lens in abutting relation to said reference surface.

22. The lens holding device according to claim 21,

wherein said retaining portion is unitarily formed with said lens frame, and said first lens is held against said reference surface by plastically deforming said lens frame to form said retaining portion.

23. The lens holding device according to claim 22,

wherein said lens frame is formed from resin, and said lens frame is plastically deformed under heat to form said retaining portion.