Lens system having compliant optic mounting structure

• US 6,441,976 B1
• Filed: 05/15/2001
• Issued: 08/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: Corning Precision Lens, Inc. (3M Company)
• Inventors: Okorocha, Livyn O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ben, Loha
• Assistant Examiner(s): SEYRAFI, SAEED HMT
• Application Number:
  US09/855,963
• Time in Patent Office: 469 Days
• Field of Search: 359/811, 359/819, 359/820, 359/823, 313/35, 313/36, 313/44, 348/745, 348/749
• US Class Current: 359/820
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/16 for use in conjunction with image converters or intensifiers , or for use with projectors, e.g. objectives for projection TV
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/028 with means for compensating for changes in temperature or for controlling the temperature; thermal stabilisation

Abstract

A projection television lens cell and system including a tubular optic support structure having an interior with a longitudinal central axis. A first annular support surface extends around the longitudinal central axis for receiving a first optic having an outer circumferential edge. The first annular support surface includes at least a first resilient member configured to contact the outer circumferential edge of the first optic and to be moved in a radially outward direction by the first optic relative to the longitudinal central axis. The resilient member assists in preventing substantial movement of remaining portions of the tubular optic support structure, for example, during assembly and any heat induced thermal expansion of the optic in use.

Claims

1. An optical lens cell comprising:

a tubular optic support structure having an interior with a longitudinal central axis and a first annular support surface extending around the longitudinal central axis for receiving a first optic having an outer circumferential edge,

said first annular support surface including at least a first resilient member configured to contact the outer circumferential edge of the first optic and to be moved in a radially outward direction by said first optic relative to the longitudinal central axis to assist in preventing substantial movement of remaining portions of said tubular optic support structure.

2. The optical lens cell of claim 1, wherein said first annular support surface is positioned within a groove in the interior of said optic support structure.

3. The optical lens cell of claim 1, wherein:

said interior of said optic support structure further includes a second annular support surface extending around the longitudinal central axis for receiving a second optic having an outer circumferential edge,

said second annular support surface including at least a second resilient member configured to contact the outer circumferential edge of the second optic and to move in a radially outward direction relative to the longitudinal central axis without substantially moving remaining portions of said tubular optic support structure.

4. The optical lens cell of claim 1, wherein said first resilient member further comprises a first flexible tab member having at least a portion extending inwardly from remaining portions of said first annular support surface and configured to be resiliently biased in the radially outward direction to provide an interference fit when the first optic is contained in said interior of said optic support structure.

5. The optical lens cell of claim 4, wherein said first flexible tab member is a cantilevered member.

6. The optical lens cell of claim 4, wherein said first annular support surface further comprises:

a second flexible tab member positioned diametrically across from said first flexible tab member and configured to be resiliently biased in the radially outward direction when the first optic is contained in said interior of said optic support structure.

7. The optical lens cell of claim 6, wherein said first annular support surface further comprises:

third and fourth flexible tab members positioned in diametrically opposed relation to each other and configured to be resiliently biased in the radially outward direction when the first optic is contained in said interior of said optic support structure.

8. The optical lens cell of claim 7, wherein said first and third flexible tab members and said second and fourth flexible tab members are positioned equidistant from each other.

9. A projection television lens system comprising:

a light source,

a focus mount coupled with said light source,

a tubular optic support structure coupled to said focus mount, said optic support structure having an interior with a longitudinal central axis and a first annular support surface extending around the longitudinal central axis and receiving a first optic having an outer circumferential edge, and said optic support structure being movable relative to said focus mount along said longitudinal central axis to provide focus adjustment,

said first annular support surface including at least a first resilient member configured to contact the outer circumferential edge of said first optic and to move in a radially outward direction relative to the longitudinal central axis to assist in preventing substantial movement of remaining portions of said tubular optic support structure.

10. The projection television lens system of claim 9, wherein said light source is a CRT.

11. The projection television lens system of claim 9, wherein said optic support structure and said focus mount are rotatably secured to one another to provide said focus adjustment.

12. The projection television lens system of claim 9, wherein said first annular support surface is positioned within a groove in the interior of said optic support structure.

13. The projection television lens system of claim 9, wherein:

said interior of said optic support structure further includes a second annular support surface extending around the longitudinal central axis and receiving a second optic having an outer circumferential edge,

said second annular support surface including at least a second resilient member contacting the outer circumferential edge of said second optic and configured to be moved in a radially outward direction by said second optic relative to the longitudinal central axis without substantially moving remaining portions of said tubular optic support structure.

14. The projection television lens system of claim 9, wherein said first resilient member further comprises a first flexible tab member having at least a portion extending inwardly from remaining portions of said first annular support surface and configured to be resiliently biased in the radially outward direction to provide an interference fit when the first optic is contained in said interior of said optic support structure.

15. The projection television lens system of claim 14, wherein said first flexible tab member is a cantilevered member.

16. The projection television lens system of claim 14, wherein said first annular support surface further comprises:

a second flexible tab member positioned diametrically across from said first flexible tab member and configured to be resiliently biased in the radially outward direction when the first optic is contained in said interior of said optic support structure.

17. The projection television lens system of claim 16, wherein said first annular support surface further comprises:

third and fourth flexible tab members positioned in diametrically opposed relation to each other and configured to be resiliently biased in the radially outward direction when the first optic is contained in said interior of said optic support structure.

18. The projection television lens system of claim 17, wherein said first and third flexible tab members and said second and fourth flexible tab members are positioned equidistant from each other.

19. A projection television lens system comprising:

a light source,

a focus mount coupled with said light source,

a generally cylindrical optic support structure coupled to said focus mount, said optic support structure having an interior with a longitudinal central axis and a first annular support surface extending around the longitudinal central axis and receiving a first optic having an outer circumferential edge, and said optic support structure being movable relative to said focus mount along said longitudinal central axis to provide focus adjustment,

said first annular support surface including at least four flexible tab members positioned generally at equidistant spacings from one another and contacting the outer circumferential edge of said first optic, said flexible tab members further configured to be moved in a radially outward direction by said first optic relative to the longitudinal central axis to assist in preventing substantial movement of remaining portions of said tubular optic support structure during assembly and use of said lens system.

20. A projection television lens assembly comprising:

a molded plastic tube having an interior surface,

a plurality of optics mounted in said tube with a circumferential edge of at least a first one of said optics positioned adjacent said interior surface, and

a plurality of spaced apart resilient members integral with the interior surface of said tube and bearing against the circumferential edge of said first optic, with remaining portions of said circumferential edge being spaced apart from the interior surface of said tube.

21. The projection television lens assembly of claim 20, wherein said resilient members are cantilevered tabs.

22. The projection television lens assembly of claim 21, wherein said cantilevered tabs are spaced equally around said first optic.