Interpupillary distance adjustment mechanism for optical device

• US 7,315,415 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2006
• Issued: 01/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Asia Optical Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Asia Optical Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Shih-Yu, Pai, Hsiang-Yi, Lai
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Thong Q
• Application Number:
  US11/369,707
• Publication Number:
  US 20060221442A1
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 359480-482, 359813-814, 359404-420, 359819-824
• US Class Current: 359/412
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/18 for binocular arrangements focusing binocular pairs G02B7/06; adjusting pupillary distance of binocular pairs G02B7/12
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/12 Adjusting pupillary distance of binocular pairs

Abstract

An interpupillary distance adjustment mechanism for an optical device includes a slide rail (1) mounted on a middle support of the optical device, two slide blocks (2) mounted on respective lens barrels of the optical device, and a blocking member (4, 4′). The two slide blocks are slidably movable relative to the slide rail toward or away from each other to change the distance between the two lens barrels of the optical device. The blocking member is manually operable to provide an acting force between the slide block and the slide rail, and thus changing the friction force therebetween during sliding movement of the slide block. In this way, undesired sliding movement of the slide block relative to the slide rail can be prevented.

Claims

1. An interpupillary distance adjustment mechanism adapted to use with an optical device that comprises two lens barrels spaced from each other by a distance and a middle support arranged between the lens barrels, the interpupillary distance adjustment mechanism comprising:

a slide rail adapted to mount on the middle support of the optical device;

two slide blocks adapted to mount on the lens barrels of the optical device, respectively, the two slide blocks being slidably coupled to the slide rail to selectively move toward and away from each other to change the distance between the two lens barrels of the optical device; and

a blocking member manually operable to apply an acting force between the slide rail and each slide block to change resistance against the movement of the slide block with respect to the slide rail.

2. The interpupillary distance adjustment mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the blocking member is a friction block touching the slide rail, the friction block being adapted for receiving a pressing force exerted by the user.

3. The interpupillary distance adjustment mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the blocking member comprises a magnet disposed above the slide rail to induce a magnetic force on an area of the slide rail.

4. The interpupillary distance adjustment mechanism as claimed in claim 3, wherein the blocking member further comprises an interrupter disposed between the magnet and the slide rail and movable relative to the magnet to adjust the area of the slide rail on which the magnetic force of the magnet acts.

5. The interpupillary distance adjustment mechanism as claimed in claim 4, wherein the interrupter is made of materials capable of shielding magnetic force lines.

6. The interpupillary distance adjustment mechanism as claimed in claim 5, wherein the interrupter is made of non-magnetic materials.

7. The interpupillary distance adjustment mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slide rail comprises a middle mounting portion and two track portions at opposite ends of the middle mounting portion.

8. The interpupillary distance adjustment mechanism as claimed in claim 7, wherein the middle mounting portion of the slide rail defines a plurality of mounting holes for extension of screws therethrough, so as to mount the slide rail on the middle support of the optical device.

9. The interpupillary distance adjustment mechanism as claimed in claim 7, wherein each track portion of the slide rail receives a pair of cylindrical guide posts in the bottom thereof and defines a guide slot in each side thereof.

10. The interpupillary distance adjustment mechanism as claimed in claim 9, wherein each slide block is substantially U-shaped, and comprises a recess and a pair of side portions on opposite sides of the recess.

11. The interpupillary distance adjustment mechanism as claimed in claim 10, wherein each slide block defines a pair of receiving slots below the recess for receiving corresponding guide posts therein.

12. The interpupillary distance adjustment mechanism as claimed in claim 11, wherein the inner side of one side portion of each slide block is recessed to receive an adjustment block therein.

13. The interpupillary distance adjustment mechanism as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a plurality of torque setting screws screwed through said one side portion of each slide block to contact with a corresponding adjustment block.

14. The interpupillary distance adjustment mechanism as claimed in claim 13, wherein each of the inner sides of the adjustment block and the other side portion of each slide block defines an engaging slot therein, the engaging slot respectively receiving a pair of slide bars in upper and lower ends thereof.

15. The interpupillary distance adjustment mechanism as claimed in claim 14, further comprising a positioning member positioned between the engaging slot of the slide block and the corresponding guide slot of the guide rail, and a plurality of rolling balls received in the positioning member.

16. The interpupillary distance adjustment mechanism as claimed in claim 15, wherein each rolling ball has one side thereof engaged between a corresponding pair of slide bars in the engaging slot and has the other side thereof received in a corresponding guide slot of the slide rail.

17. An optical device employing the interpupillary distance adjustment mechanism as claimed in claim 1.

18. An interpupillary distance adjustment mechanism adapted to use with an optical device comprising first and second lens barrels spaced from each other by a distance, the interpupillary distance adjustment mechanism comprising:

a slide rail adapted to mount on the first lens barrel of the optical device;

a slide block adapted to mount on the second lens barrel of the optical device, the slide block being slidable along the slide rail to change the distance between the lens barrels of the optical device; and

a blocking member manually operable to apply an acting force between the slide rail and the slide block to change resistance against the movement of the slide block with respect to the slide rail.

19. The interpupillary distance adjustment mechanism as claimed in claim 18, wherein the blocking member is a friction block touching the slide rail, the friction block being adapted to receive a pressing force exerted by a user.

20. The interpupillary distance adjustment mechanism as claimed in claim 18, wherein the blocking member comprises a magnet disposed above the slide rail to induce a magnetic force on an area of the slide rail.

21. The interpupillary distance adjustment mechanism as claimed in claim 20, wherein the blocking member further comprises an interrupter disposed between the magnet and the slide rail and movable relative to the magnet to adjust the area of the slide rail on which the magnetic force of the magnet acts.

22. The interpupillary distance adjustment mechanism as claimed in claim 21, wherein the interrupter is made of materials capable of shielding magnetic force lines.

23. An optical device employing the interpupillary distance adjustment mechanism as claimed in claim 18.

24. An interpupillary distance adjustment mechanism adapted to use with an optical device comprising first and second lens barrels spaced from each other by a distance, the interpupillary distance adjustment mechanism comprising:

a slide rail mounted on the optical device;

a slide block being slidable along the slide rail to change the distance between the lens barrels of the optical device; and

a blocking member manually operable to apply an acting force between the slide rail and the slide block to change resistance against the movement of the slide block with respect to the slide rail.

25. An optical device employing the interpupillary distance adjustment mechanism as claimed in claim 24.