Abstract: A retractable lens system includes a linearly movable ring; a radially-retractable optical element supported by the linearly movable ring; an exposure control unit supported by the linearly movable ring and adjacent to the radially-retractable optical element; a recess formed on the exposure control unit to face the radially-retractable optical element when the radially-retractable optical element is in the radially-retracted position; a retracting device which retracts the radially-retractable optical element to the radially-retracted position and brings at least a part of the radially-retractable optical element to enter the recess when the linearly movable ring retracts from a ready-to-photograph position to a retracted position.

Abstract: An assembly-stage focus adjustment mechanism of a zoom lens barrel including a plurality of lens groups which are moved while distances therebetween are changed to perform a zooming operation, the assembly-stage focus adjustment mechanism including two lens fixing frames to which two of the plurality of lens groups are fixed, respectively; two moving frames which linearly move in an optical axis direction during the zooming operation, the two moving frames being respectively screw-engaged with the two lens fixing frames; and a rotational-direction integrating device which makes the two lens fixing frames rotate as one integral body in a direction of rotation relative to the two moving frames when an assembly-stage focus adjustment operation is performed.

Abstract: A movable lens control device for controlling movements of movable lens groups including a first movable lens group and a second movable lens group, the movable lens control device including a lens driving device for moving the first and second movable lens groups in the optical axis direction; a position detector for detecting a position of the second movable lens group and determining whether the second movable lens group is in a predetermined normal moving range thereof; and a controller which controls operations of the lens driving device to stop the first movable lens group and to move the second movable lens group to a position within the normal moving range upon the position detector determining that the second movable lens group is positioned outside of the normal moving range during a movement of the first movable lens group from a predetermined initial position thereof.

Abstract: A retractable lens system including a radially-retractable optical element movable to a position outside of a common optical axis; a linearly movable frame which supports the radially-retractable optical element; a rotatable member for moving optical element support frames including the linearly movable frame which support the plurality of optical elements, respectively, between a ready-to-photograph position and a retracted position on the common optical axis; a retracting member which retracts the radially-retractable optical element; and an accommodating portion formed on the rotatable member. At least a portion of the radially-retractable optical element enters into the accommodating portion of the rotatable member when the radially-retractable optical element is moved to the radially-retracted position.

Abstract: A retractable lens system includes optical elements of a photographing optical system, and are positioned on a common optical axis when in a ready-to-photograph state. When the retractable lens system changes from the ready-to-photograph state to a retracted state, a removable optical element of the optical elements is moved to a removed position, and the removable optical element and an element of the remaining optical elements are moved rearward. The element of the remaining elements includes a linearly movable element which moves in the common optical axis direction without changing a distance between the linearly movable element and the removable optical element in the ready-to-photograph state. A part of the removable optical element and a part of the linearly movable element are positioned on a common plane perpendicular to the common optical axis when the retractable lens system changes from the ready-to-photograph state to the retracted state.

Abstract: A rib structure for a display device includes a light-transmissive rib structure containing therein a material absorbent of visible light so that a visible light absorption distance is 40 to 1200 ?m (the visible light absorption distance L (?m) means a distance such that visible light decreases to exp(?T/L) times less in connection to the travel distance T (?m), that is, visible light is absorbed by 1-exp(?T/L)).

Abstract: A lens barrel includes a lens frame for supporting a photographing lens group, the lens frame including a guide bore which extends in a direction parallel to the optical axis; a support barrel, wherein the lens frame can be inserted into and removed from a front opening of the support barrel; a rod receiving portion formed inside the support barrel; a bracket detachably attached to a front end of the support barrel; and a guide rod provided on the bracket for guiding the lens frame to move relative to the support barrel in the optical axis direction, the guide rod engaging with the rod receiving portion when the bracket is attached to the support barrel. The lens group frame can be taken out of the support barrel through the front opening when the bracket having the guide rods is removed from the support barrel.

Abstract: A partition is formed by the process including a step for providing a sheet-like partition material that covers a display area and outside thereof on the surface of the substrate, a step for providing a mask for patterning that covers the display area and the outside thereof, so that a pattern of the portion arranged outside of the display area of the mask is a grid-like pattern, a step for patterning the partition material covered partially with the mask by a sandblasting process, and a step for baking the partition material after the patterning.

Abstract: An eccentricity-prevention mechanism includes a pair of lens-supporting rings for supporting a pair of lens groups, respectively; and a pair of positioning recesses and a follower projection formed on one and the other of opposed surfaces of the pair of lens-supporting rings, such that the follower projection engages with one of the pair of positioning recess to define a relative position of the pair of lens-supporting rings with respect to the optical axis, at a mutually close position and at a mutually distant position. At least three pairs of the positioning recesses and at least three follower projections are provided at different positions in a circumferential direction, so that eccentricity between the pair of lens-supporting rings is eliminated when all of the follower projections are concurrently brought into engagement with corresponding positioning recesses.

Abstract: A camera includes a lens support frame which supports a photographing lens group; an outer lens barrel which is provided on the front end thereof with a photographing aperture through which the lens support frame is moved; a lens barrier mechanism which opens and closes the photographing aperture of the outer lens barrel; a lens drive mechanism which moves the lens support frame in the outer lens barrel between a forward movement extremity in which the front end of the lens support frame is located in front of the photographing opening in an optical axis direction, and a rearward movement extremity in which the front end of the lens support frame is located behind the photographing aperture; and a barrier detection device for detecting the opening state of the lens barrier mechanism, based on an amount of movement of the lens support frame in the optical axis direction via the lens drive mechanism.

Abstract: There are disclosed a lens barrel variable in a barrel length between a storage state relatively short in a barrel length and an image taking state relatively long in a barrel length, a camera having such a lens barrel. When the lens barrel is in the storage state, an opening of a lens shutter is opened to enter lens groups into the opening.

Abstract: A zoom lens barrel assembly includes a first lens group including first and second sub-lens groups; a second lens group; a sub-lens group switching mechanism for moving the first or second sub-lens group away from the other in a short focal length photographing range, and toward the other in a long focal length photographing range; and a zoom cam mechanism having front and rear lens group cam grooves. The rear lens group cam groove includes first and second portions corresponding to the short and long focal length photographing ranges, respectively, the first and the second portions connected to each other via a discontinuous portion. The front lens group cam groove includes a non-linear portion which corresponds to the short focal length photographing range and provides a non-linear path, and a linear portion which corresponds to the long focal length photographing range and provides a linear path.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes front and rear sub-lens groups; front and rear sub-lens group frames for supporting the front and rear sub-lens groups, respectively; a lens frame shift mechanism for causing the front sub-lens group frame and the rear sub-lens group frame to move relative to each other to obtain the mutually close position and the mutually distant position; a first lens group positioning surface provided on the front sub-lens group frame for positioning the front sub-lens group by contacting with a portion of a rear surface of the front sub-lens group; and a second lens group positioning surface provided on the rear sub-lens group frame for positioning the front sub-lens group by contacting with a portion of a front surface of the rear sub-lens group.

Abstract: A light intercepting member driving mechanism includes light intercepting members which are each rotatable about a rotational axis parallel with an optical axis to open and close a photographing aperture; a drive ring which engages with the light intercepting member to open and close the light intercepting member in accordance with the angular displacement of the drive ring in forward and reverse directions about a rotational axis coincident with the optical axis; a motor which rotates the drive ring in the forward and reverse directions; a position indication portion provided on the drive ring to indicate the angular position of the drive ring; and a stationary detector which detects a passing of the position indication portion when the drive ring is rotated. The opening state of the light intercepting members is detected by the stationary detector and the position indication portion.

Abstract: A reduction gear mechanism includes at least first and second axes which extend parallel to each other; one of the first and second axes rotatably supports at least two gears arranged one after the other in the axial direction thereof, and the other of the first and second axes rotatably supports at least one gear, and the gears provided on the first and second axes being engaged with each other in such a manner that the gear supported on one of the first and second axes successively and alternatively engages with the gear supported on the other of the first and second axes.

Abstract: A lens drive mechanism includes first and second sub-lens group frames for supporting first and second sub-lens groups; a support frame for supporting the first and second sub-lens group frames; a first linear guide mechanism which linearly guides the first sub-lens group frame and prevents rotation thereof; a second linear guide mechanism which linearly guides the second sub-lens group frame, while limiting rotation thereof, at two extremities of rotation thereof; a lens frame shift mechanism for causing the first and second sub-lens group frames to move to the mutually close or distant position; and a linear displacement mechanism which integrally moves the first and second sub-lens group frames in the optical axis direction, in the mutually close or distant position. A linear guide clearance of the first linear guide mechanism is larger than a linear guide clearance of the second linear guide mechanism.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes a cam ring which is rotated about an optical axis to move a lens group in the optical axis direction via a cam groove formed on the cam ring, and a rotational ring which transfers a rotational motion to the cam ring. The rotational ring includes a rotation-transmission arm extending in the optical axis direction. The cam ring includes an engaging recess formed on an outer peripheral surface of the cam ring, and in which the rotation-transmission arm is slidably inserted to be movable in the optical axis direction, and an outer flange formed on an outer peripheral surface of the cam ring to form a slot penetrating therethrough in the optical axis direction between the outer flange and a bottom radial surface of the engaging recess so that the rotation-transmission arm is slidably fitted in the engaging recess through the slot.

Abstract: A lens shutter mechanism includes a support frame having a photographing aperture; at least three shutter sectors which open and close the photographing aperture via rotating axes which extend parallel to the optical axis; and at least three diaphragm sectors which vary an aperture diameter formed by the diaphragm sectors to restrict the diameter of the photographing aperture, independently from the shutter sectors, via rotating axes which extend parallel to the optical axis. The support frame is provided with rotational center portions spaced from each other at equi-angular intervals about the optical axis, the number of the rotational center portions being same as each of the number of the shutter sectors and the number of the diaphragm sectors. Each of the rotational center portions rotatably and coaxially supports a one of the shutter sectors and one of the diaphragm sectors.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes cam ring which is rotated about an optical axis to move a lens group in the optical axis direction, and a rotational ring which transfers a rotational motion to the cam ring. The rotational ring includes a rotation-transmission arm extending in the optical axis direction. The cam ring includes a bottomed engaging recess which is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the cam ring. The rotation-transmission arm is slidably inserted to be movable in the optical axis direction. The rotation-transmission arm and the engaging recess include a guide groove which extends parallel to the optical axis and a guide projection which is engaged in the guide groove, respectively or vice versa, the rotational ring transferring rotational motion thereof to the cam ring via engagement of the guide groove with the guide projection.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes a ring member having a cam groove formed on an inner peripheral surface thereof; a lens support ring positioned in the ring member and supported thereby to be rotatable with respect to the ring member, the lens support ring having a first cam follower which is engaged in the cam groove of the ring member; a biasing ring coupled to the lens support ring to be movable in an optical axis direction and to be non-rotatable with respect to the lens support ring, the biasing ring having a second cam follower which is engaged in the cam groove of the ring member; and a biasing device for biasing the lens support ring and the biasing ring in opposite directions to press the first and second cam followers against opposite guide surfaces of the cam groove.