Lens mount

• US 9,307,128 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2013
• Issued: 04/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alex Ning
• Original Assignee: Alex Ning
• Inventors: Ning, Alex
• Primary Examiner(s): Misleh, Justin P
• Application Number:
  US14/017,497
• Publication Number:
  US 20140002676A1
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/003 Alignment of optical elements G02B7/001, G02B7/002 take precedence; for mirrors G02B7/1822
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/14 adapted to interchange lenses G02B7/027 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 1/00 Film strip handling
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/14 interchangeably
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/57 Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/663 for controlling interchangeable camera parts based on electronic image sensor signals

Abstract

A lens mount design is presented. The mount can be used on a variety of imaging systems but is targeted at small camera systems such as might be used on mobile phones, cameras, sports cameras, computers and computer peripherals where interchangeable lenses are currently not common place. Embodiments include different attachment mechanisms, environmental barriers, electrical connections, a serial number marking system on the replaceable lens body and methods for using the lens mount and system.

Claims

1. A lens mount for attachment to a substrate having an image sensor said image sensor having an image plane, said lens mount comprising:

a) a cylindrical lens body having a central axis,

b) lens elements forming a lens, said lens having an optical axis and a focal plane and mounted inside the lens body said optical axis coincident with the central axis of the lens body,

c) a lens body flange attached to the lens body, said lens body flange having at least one lens body flange reference surface, said lens body flange reference surface is in a predetermined position relative to the focal plane and the optical axis,

d) a lens holder having an inner cavity said inner cavity sized to receive the lens body,

e) a lens holder flange,

f) a lens holder flange reference surface on the lens holder flange, said lens holder reference surface is in a predetermined position relative to the image plane of the said sensor when the lens holder is attached to the substrate,

g) wherein the lens body is removably attached to the lens holder by insertion of the lens body into the inner cavity of the lens holder such that the lens body flange reference surface and the lens holder flange reference surface mate, and,

h) when the lens body flange reference surface mates with the lens holder flange reference surface the focal plane of the lens and the image plane of the sensor are aligned, and,

i) a second reference surface on the lens body and a second reference surface on the lens holder and when the lens body is removably attached to the lens holder by insertion of the lens body into the inner cavity of the lens holder the second reference surfaces also mate and when mated the focal plane of the lens is aligned with the image plane of the sensor in the x, y, z directions and rotations about x, y and z axes where x, y and z describe a Cartesian coordinate system with x along the optical axis, and,

j) a groove located in the second reference surface on the lens body flange,

k) a retainer catch located on the lens holder said retainer catch held within the groove by a spring force to prevent removal of the lens body from the lens holder,

l) a lever actuator located on the lens holder that is hinged such that when the actuator is actuated the catch is pulled away from the groove thereby releasing the lens body from the lens holder for removal.

2. The lens mount of claim 1 wherein the lens body is held in place in the lens holder by a friction fit between the lens body and the lens holder.

3. The lens mount of claim 1 further including a magnet and wherein the lens body is held in place in the lens holder by magnetic attractive forces between the lens body and the lens holder.

4. A lens mount for attachment to a substrate having an image sensor said image sensor having an image plane, said lens mount comprising:

a) a cylindrical lens body having a central axis,

b) lens elements forming a lens, said lens having an optical axis and a focal plane and mounted inside the lens body said optical axis coincident with the central axis of the lens body,

c) a lens body flange attached to the lens body, said lens body flange having at least one lens body flange reference surface, said lens body flange reference surface is in a predetermined position relative to the focal plane and the optical axis,

d) a lens holder having an inner cavity said inner cavity sized to receive the lens body,

e) a lens holder flange,

f) a lens holder flange reference surface on the lens holder flange, said lens holder reference surface is in a predetermined position relative to the image plane of the said sensor when the lens holder is attached to the substrate,

g) wherein the lens body is removably attached to the lens holder by insertion of the lens body into the inner cavity of the lens holder such that the lens body flange reference surface and the lens holder flange reference surface mate, and,

h) when the lens body flange reference surface mates with the lens holder flange reference surface the focal plane of the lens and the image plane of the sensor are aligned, and,’

i) a groove circumscribing an outer surface on the lens body flange,

j) a retainer catch located on the lens holder said retainer catch removably held within the groove by a spring force to prevent removal of the lens body from the lens holder,

h) a lever actuator located on the lens holder that is hinged such that when the actuator is activated the catch is pulled away from the groove thereby releasing the lens body from the lens holder for removal.

5. The lens mount of claim 4 wherein the lens body is held in place in the lens holder by a friction fit between the lens body and the lens holder.

6. The lens mount of claim 4 further including a magnet and wherein the lens body is held in place in the lens holder by magnetic attractive forces between the lens body and the lens holder.