Lens mounting apparatus

• Main Authors: Taylor, Mark, Prather, Vance A, Johnson, Mark J, Moayer, Ali
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 23.09.2003

The present invention relates generally to cameras and, more particularly, to a system for mounting a camera lens. Embodiments of the present invention provide a lens mounting apparatus for mounting a lens to a substrate having a sensor in a sensor housing mounted on the substrate. The apparatus comprises a lens mount member including a lens mount body coupled with the lens housing. The lens mount body includes a locating element configured to register the lens mount body to the sensor housing mounted on the substrate. The lens mount member includes a flexible mounting element configured to be attached to the substrate and permit movement of the lens mount body toward and away from the sensor housing. A focus ring includes a slip ring portion coupled with the coupling surface of the lens housing. The slip ring portion includes a plurality of teeth disposed on a flexible slip ring support and engaged with the grooves of the coupling surface to turn the lens housing to adjust the position of the lens in an axial direction relative to the lens mount member, between a fully extended position where the lens is farthest from the lens mount member and a fully retracted position where the lens is closest to the lens mount member. The flexible slip ring support permits the teeth to slip out of and ratchet with the grooves of the coupling surface when the focus ring is rotated in a direction to move the lens toward the lens mount member after the lens has reached the fully retracted position. The focus ring is movable in the axial direction relative to the lens mount member with the teeth of the slip ring portion of the focus ring engaged with the grooves of the coupling surface of the lens housing.