Lens system having resilient members to axially position optics

• US 6,600,612 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2001
• Issued: 07/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Okorocha, Livyn O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps, Georgia
• Assistant Examiner(s): O NEILL, GARY W
• Application Number:
  US09/855,974
• Publication Number:
  US 20020171947A1
• Time in Patent Office: 805 Days
• Field of Search: 359/819, 359/827, 359/828, 359/830, 359/694, 359/811, 359/820, 348/745, 348/746, 348/781, 348/785, 348/749
• US Class Current: 359/819
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/026 using retaining rings or springs G02B7/027 takes precedence

Abstract

An optical lens cell, especially useful in projection televisions, includes a tubular optic support structure having an interior with a longitudinal central axis and a first optic support surface extending around the longitudinal central axis. The first optic support surface receives a first optic having an outer circumferential edge and a first mounting surface portion adjacent the circumferential edge. The mounting surface portion of the first optic extends transverse to the longitudinal central axis. A plurality of raised surface members are provided on the optic support surface. At least one resilient member extends transverse to the longitudinal central axis and is configured to contact the mounting surface portion of the first optic when the first optic is positioned adjacent the optic support surface. The resilient member applies a biasing force against the mounting surface portion of the first optic along the longitudinal central axis to force the first optic against the raised surface members of the first optic support surface.

Claims

1. An optical lens cell comprising:

a tubular optic support structure having an interior with a longitudinal central axis and a first optic support surface extending around the longitudinal central axis for receiving a first optic having a first outer circumferential edge and a first mounting surface portion adjacent said first circumferential edge and extending transverse to the longitudinal central axis,

a plurality of raised surface members positioned on said first optic support surface and raised from said first optic support surface in a direction extending along the longitudinal central axis, and

at least a first resilient member extending transverse to said longitudinal central axis and configured to contact said first mounting surface portion of the first optic when said first optic is positioned adjacent said first optic support surface, said first resilient member further configured to apply a biasing force against said first mounting surface portion along the longitudinal central axis to force said first optic against said raised surface members of said first optic support surface.

2. The optical lens cell of claim 1, wherein said first optic support surface, said raised surface members and said first resilient member are 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 optic support surface extending around the longitudinal central axis for receiving a second optic having a second outer circumferential edge and a second mounting surface portion adjacent said second circumferential edge and extending transverse to the longitudinal central axis,

a plurality of raised surface members on said second optic support surface, and

at least a second resilient member extending transverse to said longitudinal central axis and configured to contact said second mounting surface portion of the second optic when said second optic is positioned adjacent said second optic support surface, said second resilient member further configured to apply a biasing force along the longitudinal central axis to force said second optic against said raised surface members of said second optic support surface.

4. The optical lens cell of claim 1, wherein said first resilient member further comprises a first flexible tab member angled toward said first optic support surface and configured to be resiliently biased in an axial 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 optic 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 axial 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 optic 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 axial 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 and having an interior with a longitudinal central axis and a first optic support surface extending around the longitudinal central axis,

a first optic received by said interior of said tubular optic support structure and having a first outer circumferential edge and a first mounting surface portion adjacent said first circumferential edge, said first mounting surface extending transverse to the longitudinal central axis,

a plurality of raised surface members positioned on said first optic support surface and raised from said first optic support surface in a direction extending along the longitudinal central axis, and

at least a first resilient member extending transverse to said longitudinal central axis and contacting said first mounting surface portion of the first optic, said first resilient member applying a biasing force against said first mounting surface portion along the longitudinal central axis to force said first optic against said raised surface members of said first optic support surface.

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 optic support surface, said raised surface members and said first resilient member are 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 optic support surface extending around the longitudinal central axis for receiving a second optic having a second outer circumferential edge and a second mounting surface portion adjacent said second circumferential edge and extending transverse to the longitudinal central axis,

a plurality of raised surface members on said second optic support surface, and

at least a second resilient member extending transverse to said longitudinal central axis and configured to contact said second mounting surface portion of the second optic when said second optic is positioned adjacent said second optic support surface, said second resilient member further configured to apply a biasing force along the longitudinal central axis to force said second optic against said raised surface members of said second optic support surface.

14. The projection television lens system of claim 9, wherein said first resilient member further comprises a first flexible tab member angled toward said first optic support surface and configured to be resiliently biased in an axial 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 optic 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 axial 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 optic 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 axial 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 and having an interior with a longitudinal central axis and a first optic support surface extending around the longitudinal central axis, and said optic support structure being movable relative to said focus mount along said longitudinal central axis to provide focus adjustment,

a first optic received by said interior of said tubular optic support structure and having a first outer circumferential edge and a first mounting surface portion adjacent said first circumferential edge, said first mounting surface extending transverse to the longitudinal central axis,

a plurality of raised surface members on said first optic support surface, and

at least four flexible tab members extending transverse to said longitudinal central axis and contacting said first mounting surface portion of the first optic, said flexible tab members being positioned at equidistant spacings relative to each other and together applying a biasing force against said first mounting surface portion along the longitudinal central axis to force said first optic against said raised surface members of said first optic support surface.