Patents Assigned to Leica Camera AG
  • Patent number: 6779899
    Abstract: An arrangement for rotatable adjustment of a cap on an eyepiece housing with a stationary pin pointing radially outward from the eyepiece housing and a groove which is assigned to the pin, arranged on the inner side of the cap and rises in the axial direction, is characterized in that, in a plane at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the eyepiece housing, three pins are arranged on the latter, the heads of which pins have at least approximately the same spacing from the longitudinal axis, and in that the sliding bottom of the groove assigned to each pin has a smaller spacing in relation thereto, so that the cap bears against the pins under prestress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Leica Camera AG
    Inventors: Philipp Syré, Alfred Hengst
  • Patent number: 6648765
    Abstract: A supporting device for a plurality of adapter chucks for the precision grinding or polishing of optical components comprises a spindle shaft having a central bore for supplying one of a gas and a vacuum, at least one arm adjustably supported by a head of the spindle shaft and having a seating for an adapter chuck, and a flexible vacuum/gas line provided between the seating and the spindle shaft. The arm is adjustable as to its angle of inclination relative to an axis of the spindle shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Leica Camera AG
    Inventors: Ulrich Ehmes, Bernd Schaub
  • Patent number: 6643462
    Abstract: A variable viewfinder, for wide-angle camera shots includes three lens units. The first and third lens units, in the light direction, have negative refractive power whereas the second unit has positive refractive power. The lens units are arranged displaceably relative to one another, for changing the viewfinder magnification, in a telescope housing that includes an adaptor for insertion into a flash shoe on the camera. The first and third lens units are fixed in the telescope housing and the second lens unit is arranged in a variator that can be displaced in the telescope housing. The variator includes at least one guide pin which, through a curved track arranged in the telescope housing, engages in a longitudinal groove that runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of the telescope housing. In addition, the variator is provided in a rotating ring pushed onto the telescope housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Leica Camera AG
    Inventors: Bernd Harand, Antje Brethauer
  • Patent number: 6621986
    Abstract: An optical lens arrangement for a rangefinder system in a photographic camera with a fixed viewfinder magnification SK and a fixed measuring base MB is configured to be coupled with a rangefinder eyepiece of the rangefinder system and is designed as an afocal telescope with a minimum 1.1 times and a maximum 1.7 times magnification SL. The magnification SL may be selected so that the product of the viewfinder magnification SK and the magnification SL is at least very nearly equal to 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Leica Camera AG
    Inventors: Peter Karbe, Holger Wiegand
  • Patent number: 6607310
    Abstract: A shutter for a photographic camera, having a first and a second pretensioned shutter curtain which are respectively retained in the tensioned state by a first and a second pivotably mounted retaining latch (7, 11) in interaction with a first and second curtain latch (3, 4), the first retaining latch (7) being coupled to a camera release for enabling release of the first curtain, and the second retaining latch (11) being coupled to a release device, which is controlled as a function of the release of the first curtain, for enabling release of the second curtain, wherein the first and second retaining latches (7, 11) are respectively assigned first and second movement-releasing active surfaces (9, 10; 13, 14) which are each coupled either to a mechanically controlled or an electronically controlled curtain-release enabling arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Leica Camera AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Kranz, Christoph Knapp
  • Publication number: 20030147639
    Abstract: An optical lens arrangement for a rangefinder system in a photographic camera with a fixed viewfinder magnification SK and a fixed measuring base MB is configured to be coupled with a rangefinder eyepiece of the rangefinder system and is designed as an afocal telescope with a minimum 1.1 times and a maximum 1.7 times magnification SL. The magnification SL may be selected so that the product of the viewfinder magnification SK and the magnification SL is at least very nearly equal to 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2002
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Applicant: LEICA CAMERA AG
    Inventors: Peter Karbe, Holger Wiegand
  • Publication number: 20030137761
    Abstract: A play-free rotary mounting for a drive roll held on stop surfaces in the axial direction on a cylindrical body, wherein V-shaped annular grooves with an opening angle V are provided at least in one of the end faces of the drive roll and the stop surface located opposite them on the body, V-shaped bearing shells with at approximately identical opening angles and approximately identical leg length are inserted into the annular grooves, the vertex diameters of the annular grooves differ from the vertex diameters of the bearing shells. Balls with a diameter matched to the opening width of the bearing shells are inserted into the bearing shells. At least one of the stop surfaces can be adjusted in the axial direction in order to clamp the drive roll in. Instead of different vertex diameters, different opening angles can also be provided for the annular grooves and opening angles for the bearing shells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2003
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Applicant: LEICA CAMERA AG.
    Inventors: Alfred Hengst, Rolf Speier
  • Patent number: 6580877
    Abstract: A cylindrical covering cap for an eyepiece tube, the eyepiece tube having a conical soft eyecup, includes, in a cylindrical interior of the covering cap: two mutually opposite segment regions having a segment region inside radius that is greater than an inner aperture radius of the covering cap; and at least two mutually opposite segment surfaces, which may be circumferentially spaced so that the locations of the segment surfaces are approximately symmetric about a segment region axis that passes through a center of each of the segment regions. A shortest distance from each segment surface to a cylinder axis may be smaller than the inner aperture radius of the covering cap, and the inner aperture radius of the covering cap may be configured to adapt to a larger outside radius of the conical eyecup. The segment surfaces may be substantially flat or have a substantially cylindrical curvature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Leica Camera AG
    Inventor: Michael Philipp
  • Publication number: 20030095801
    Abstract: A cylindrical covering cap for an eyepiece tube, the eyepiece tube having a conical soft eyecup, includes, in a cylindrical interior of the covering cap: two mutually opposite segment regions having a segment region inside radius that is greater than an inner aperture radius of the covering cap; and at least two mutually opposite segment surfaces, which may be circumferentially spaced so that the locations of the segment surfaces are approximately symmetric about a segment region axis that passes through a center of each of the segment regions. A shortest distance from each segment surface to a cylinder axis may be smaller than the inner aperture radius of the covering cap, and the inner aperture radius of the covering cap may be configured to adapt to a larger outside radius of the conical eyecup. The segment surfaces may be substantially flat or have a substantially cylindrical curvature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2002
    Publication date: May 22, 2003
    Applicant: LEICA CAMERA AG.
    Inventor: Michael Philipp
  • Publication number: 20030035217
    Abstract: An arrangement for rotatable adjustment of a cap on an eyepiece housing with a stationary pin pointing radially outward from the eyepiece housing and a groove which is assigned to the pin, arranged on the inner side of the cap and rises in the axial direction, is characterized in that, in a plane at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the eyepiece housing, three pins are arranged on the latter, the heads of which pins have at least approximately the same spacing from the longitudinal axis, and in that the sliding bottom of the groove assigned to each pin has a smaller spacing in relation thereto, so that the cap bears against the pins under prestress.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2002
    Publication date: February 20, 2003
    Applicant: LEICA CAMERA AG
    Inventors: Philipp Syre, Alfred Hengst
  • Publication number: 20020131777
    Abstract: A variable viewfinder, for wide-angle camera shots includes three lens units. The first and third lens units, in the light direction, have negative refractive power whereas the second unit has positive refractive power. The lens units are arranged displaceably relative to one another, for changing the viewfinder magnification, in a telescope housing that includes an adaptor for insertion into a flash shoe on the camera. The first and third lens units are fixed in the telescope housing and the second lens unit is arranged in a variator that can be displaced in the telescope housing. The variator includes at least one guide pin which, through a curved track arranged in the telescope housing, engages in a longitudinal groove that runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of the telescope housing. In addition, the variator is provided in a rotating ring pushed onto the telescope housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2002
    Publication date: September 19, 2002
    Applicant: LEICA CAMERA AG.
    Inventors: Bernd Harand, Antje Brethauer
  • Patent number: 6439256
    Abstract: A switchable flap valve having at least one valve plate (2, 2a, 2b) disposed for pivoting about a longitudinal axis in a housing part (1) for opening or closing a valve opening (11) provided in the housing part (1) in which a strip element (4, 4a, 4b) is formed on the upper side of the valve plate (2, 2a, 2b) aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the valve plate. The surface of the strip element (4, 4a) is inclined toward an adjacent housing wall (20) or toward a second strip (4b) and forms a hollow channel with the housing wall (20) or with the strip (4b). The free longitudinal edge (18) of the strip (4, 4a, 4b) is held in a latch mechanism (7, 8) to maintain the valve plate (2, 2a, 2b) in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignees: Leica Camera AG, Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Lothar Koelsch, Hans-Gerhard Kogler, Gerhard Kranz, Christoph Metz, Frank Schroeter, Hans-Joachim Faulstroh
  • Publication number: 20020052177
    Abstract: A supporting device for a plurality of adapter chucks for the precision grinding or polishing of optical components comprises a spindle shaft having a central bore for supplying one of a gas and a vacuum, at least one arm adjustably supported by a head of the spindle shaft and having a seating for an adapter chuck, and a flexible vacuum/gas line provided between the seating and the spindle shaft. The arm is adjustable as to its angle of inclination relative to an axis of the spindle shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Publication date: May 2, 2002
    Applicant: LEICA CAMERA AG.
    Inventors: Ulrich Ehmes, Bernd Schaub
  • Publication number: 20020025166
    Abstract: A shutter for a photographic camera, having a first and a second pretensioned shutter curtain which are respectively retained in the tensioned state by a first and a second pivotably mounted retaining latch (7, 11) in interaction with a first and second curtain latch (3, 4), the first retaining latch (7) being coupled to a camera release for enabling release of the first curtain, and the second retaining latch (11) being coupled to a release device, which is controlled as a function of the release of the first curtain, for enabling release of the second curtain, wherein the first and second retaining latches (7, 11) are respectively assigned first and second movement-releasing active surfaces (9, 10; 13, 14) which are each coupled either to a mechanically controlled or an electronically controlled curtain-release enabling arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2001
    Publication date: February 28, 2002
    Applicant: Leica Camera AG.
    Inventors: Gerhard Kranz, Christoph Knapp
  • Patent number: 6318204
    Abstract: Screw mechanism having a spindle (1) which is secured in the axial direction and has a spindle axis (1′), and a spindle nut (5) which is connected to a slide (7) which can be driven and is guided in the axial direction, a joint being provided between the spindle nut (5) and the slide (7) in order to compensate for relative transverse movements and tilting between the spindle nut (5) and slide (7), said joint being formed symmetrically to the spindle axis (1′) and having two joint axes which are perpendicular to each other, intersect on the spindle axis (1′) and are assigned at one end to the transverse movement of a bearing plate (6), which is connected to the spindle nut (5), and at the other end to the transverse movement of a bearing plate (8), which is connected to the slide (7), and said joint containing an intermediate plate (9) via which the bearing plates (6, 8) are connected pivotably to each other in order to compensate for any tilting of their joint axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Leica Camera AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Kranz, Rolf Crema, Peter Schmidt
  • Patent number: 6310735
    Abstract: A releasable and stress-free securing assembly for an optical element (2, 3) positioned in a centered manner in a mount (1) is provided. The optical element (2, 3) is provided, in the border region which is to be retained, with a beveled surface (6) inclined in the direction of the mount (1). The mount (1) has a groove (4) which is open axially in front of the optical element (2, 3). A ring element (5) which is elastically deformable in the axial direction is pressed in between the beveled surface (6) and groove (4). The angle of inclination of the beveled surface (6) is between 40° and 50°. The boundary (11′) of the groove (4) in the region of the optical element (2, 3) is level with a bevel edge (8), which is oriented toward the mount (1), and the boundary (11) of the groove (4) in front of the optical element (2, 3) is undercut at an angle of from 10° to 15°. The depth of the groove (4) is greater than the radius of the ring element (5) by from 0.15 to 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Leica Camera AG
    Inventors: Stefan Uwe Best, Rainer Schnabel
  • Patent number: 6292314
    Abstract: A prism system for image inversion in a visual observation beam path, which uses a roof prism and a reflecting prism. The roof prism has a roof edge inclined with respect to a bottom face, and a gable face which is placed at an angle with respect to the bottom face and which acts as a beam splitter. The reflecting prism has a beam-pass face parallel to the bottom face of the roof prism. The bottom face of the roof prism and the beam-pass face of the reflecting prism have areas separated geometrically from one another for the passage of observation beams and for the passage of a further beam path which reflects a measured-value display into an exit-side observation beam path and/or reflects a rangefinder measuring beam path into an entry-side observation beam path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Leica Camera AG
    Inventor: Andreas Perger
  • Patent number: 6201650
    Abstract: A cylindrical mount for adjustable optical components (2) comprises a sleeve (4) which is fixed relative to the mount and has a slot-like rectilinear guide (5), an inner variator (1) which can be displaced axially, a rotatable cam carrier (6), and at least one ball (13) as transition element between the variator (1), rectilinear guide (5) and cam carrier (6), the ball (13) being retained on the variator (1) in a radially resilient manner in a locally fixable securing means (9, 12). It is possible to adjust the local position of the securing means (9, 12) on the variator (1) in the axial and/or radial directions. The securing means provided is preferably a leaf spring (9) with a hole (12) or an indent as the ball rest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Leica Camera AG
    Inventors: Richard Jonas, Horst Guth
  • Patent number: D470160
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Leica Camera AG
    Inventor: Manfred Meinzer
  • Patent number: D482709
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Leica Camera AG
    Inventor: Manfred Meinzer