Abstract: A brush mounting structure for an encoder in a zoom lens barrel includes a code plate and a brush operatively arranged in a zoom lens barrel which constitute an encoder which detects the focal length in accordance with a relative sliding movement between the code plate and the brush; and a helicoid lens barrel member which is provided with a helicoid portion and which constitutes the zoom lens barrel. The brush is provided on the helicoid portion of the helicoid lens barrel. A focal length detection circuit in the zoom lens barrel is also disclosed.

Abstract: A lens barrier opening/closing mechanism includes of at least two rotating barrier members, each which rotates about a pivot, a drive ring which is driven to rotate about an optical axis, and at least two rotation force transmitting links, each which is supported on the drive ring and is provided with an engaging part which engages with a respective one of the two rotating barrier members.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes an outer barrel provided on an inner periphery with a first thread and at least one linear guide groove intersecting the first thread and extending in a direction of an optical axis of the lens barrel, a middle barrel provided on an outer periphery with a second thread meshing with the first thread, and an inner barrel positioned inside the middle barrel. The inner barrel is provided with at least one follower which engages with the at least one linear guide groove, so that the inner barrel is guided along the optical axis without rotating about the optical axis with respect to the outer barrel. The lens barrel is also provided with a recess formed at a front end of each of the at least one linear guide groove on the inner periphery of the outer barrel. The recess has a width dimension which enables rotational movement of the at least one follower into the at least one linear guide groove during initial meshing of the middle barrel with the outer barrel.

Abstract: A zoom camera has a lens barrier apparatus, a front lens group, a rear lens group, a rear lens group is lens barrel that houses said front lens group and said rear lens group, said rear lens group is supported such that a distance between the front lens group and the rear lens group is changeable, and the lens barrel is movable between a housed position, at which the lens barrel is retracted furtherest with respect to the camera body, and a photo-ready range, at which the lens barrel is extended from the housed position. A rear group moving device is mounted on the lens barrel, for moving the rear lens group relative to the front lens group. An entire movement device moves the lens barrel without changing a distance between the front lens group and the rear lens group, and a lens barrier apparatus, which is provided with barrier blades that are mounted on the front end of the lens barrel is provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is a linear guiding mechanism of a zoom lens barrel which includes: a first cylindrical member provided on an inner periphery thereof with at least one linear guide groove which extends parallel to an optical axis, a code sheet for detecting a focal length being fixed to an outer periphery of the first cylindrical member; and a second cylindrical member provided on an outer surface thereof with at least one guide projection which is fitted in the at least one linear guide groove, respectively, wherein at least part of the code sheet and at least part of the at least one linear guide groove are located at the same position in a circumferential direction of the code sheet, and wherein each of the at least one linear guide groove includes a raised portion which is radially raised from the base of the linear guide groove towards the optical axis.

Abstract: An exposure controlling device comprises, a controlling unit that controls, at the time of an exposure, the DC motor to rotate forward to open the shutter blades and then to rotate reversely to close the shutter blades, a calculating unit that calculates a time period for driving the DC motor in the forward direction between a predetermined starting point and a point where a required aperture area is obtained, a detecting unit that detects the starting point that is an intermediate point of the range of a shutter actuation, and a timer for counting the calculated time period.

Abstract: A zoom lens camera includes an image size varying frame to switch the image size between a standard image plane and a laterally elongated image plane, a linear movement barrel, an FPC board which connects a shutter unit and a controller, and a light-interception plate which is secured to a rear end of the linear movement barrel. The light-interception plate is provided with a rearwardly projecting planar portion which at least partly overlaps the image size varying frame as viewed in an optical axis direction, regardless of the position of the image size varying frame. Further the planar portion is provided with an FPC board receiving portion which supports the FPC board along the cylindrical surface of the linear movement barrel.

Abstract: A position detection system detects a position of a lens of a camera using a code plate provided with a plurality of electrodes arranged to form a plurality of patterns. The ends of the electrodes are respectively connected to a connecting point of a plurality of resistors connected in series, and a predetermined voltage is applied across the resistors. A conductive brush is provided such that, depending on the position of the lens, two of the electrodes are electrically connected by the brush, which short-circuits at least one of the plurality of resistors. Be detecting voltage at one of the connecting points of the resistors, which varies depending upon which resistor is short-circuited, the lens position is determined.

Abstract: A lens supporting mechanism for a lens shutter camera includes a front lens group, a lens supporting barrel, a movable barrel, a rear lens group, and a shutter mounting barrel which includes a shutter with an AE function. The front lens group is fixed to the lens supporting barrel. Both the lens supporting barrel and the shutter mounting barrel are fixed to the movable barrel. The rear lens group is attached to either the movable barrel or the shutter mounting barrel such that the rear lens group is movable along the optical axis relative to the moveable barrel. During operation of the zoom lens, the movable barrel advances and retreats along the optical axis.

Abstract: A zoom compact camera arranged such that, during a zooming procedure, the relative amount and speed of movement along the optical axis of a first movable barrel with respect to a second movable barrel are set to be substantially equal to the relative amount and speed of movement along the optical axis of the second movable barrel with respect to a third movable barrel. A linear guide barrel integrally moves with the third movable barrel, and is provided with a lead-in groove that runs parallel to the optical axis and the lead-in groove has a through-hole at the rear thereof.

Abstract: A flexible printed circuit board housing structure for a lens barrel of a camera as applied to a camera that includes a control unit, a film chamber, a stationary barrel, a movable barrel, and a flexible printed circuit board. The movable barrel is supported on the stationary barrel in a manner enabling movement in the optical axis direction. The movable barrel houses a shutter unit and the flexible printed circuit board is connected between the shutter unit and the control unit. The flexible printed circuit board housing structure includes an FPC housing space, an FPC relief hole, and a spring. The FPC housing space is formed between the stationary barrel and a substantially cylindrical outer face of the film chamber and is provided with the spring. The FPC relief hole is formed in the stationary barrel and passes through the stationary barrel to the FPC housing space. The spring applies an urging force to urge the flexible printed circuit board into the FPC housing space through the FPC relief hole.

Abstract: An encoder for detecting a forward/reverse movement of a rotatable object includes a rotating shaft that is supported on a base and rotates in accordance with the movement of the subject, two rotating disks fixed to the rotating shaft, and two photocouplers mounted on the base which are associated with the disks. Each of said rotating disks is formed with a predetermined light modulating pattern to vary the intensity of light along a circumferential direction. Each of the photocouplers emits a light toward the rotating disk and detects the light modulated by the pattern on the rotating disk. The angular relationship between the rotating disks is selected such that the output signals from the photocouplers due to the rotation of the rotating shaft have a predetermined phase difference.

Abstract: A zoom lens includes an outer barrel driven to rotate about an optical axis of the zoom lens which includes at least one first guide groove formed on an inner periphery of the zoom lens and extending in a direction of the optical axis, and an inner barrel positioned inside the outer barrel so that the outer barrel is rotatable relative to the inner barrel about the optical axis. The inner barrel includes at least one second guide groove formed on an inner periphery and extending in the direction of the optical axis. The at least one first guide groove is defined by at least one inward projection which projects inwardly from the inner periphery of the outer barrel. The at least one second guide groove is defined by an outward projection which projects outwardly from an outer periphery of the inner barrel.

Abstract: A lens guide mechanism has first and second members positioned adjacent to each other in which the second member supports a lens group. The second member is movable relative to the first member along an optical axis of the lens group. The lens guide mechanism also has a first guide shaft extending from the first member to the second member in a direction of the optical axis, one end of the first guide shaft being secured to the second member, a lens shutter provided on the first member, a first encoder provided on the first member for detecting a size of a diaphragm formed by the lens shutter which includes a first photosensor and a first rotating disk associated with the first photosensor, and a second encoder provided on the first member for detecting an axial position of the lens group which includes a second photosensor and a second rotating disk associated with the second photosensor.

Abstract: A lens supporting structure for supporting a lens group in a lens barrel is disclosed.

Abstract: A zoom compact camera is provided with a stationary barrel portion and includes a movable barrel that houses a zoom lens. A linear guide groove is formed parallel to the optical axis on the stationary barrel portion. A guide key is provided on the movable barrel. The guide key slidably fits into the linear guide groove to guide the movable barrel. A code plate is fixed to an inner surface in the linear guide groove and a contacting terminal is securely fixed to the guide key to be in sliding contact with the code plate.The focal length of the zoom lens is determined based on a signal indicating the relative position of the contacting terminal with respect to the code plate.

Abstract: A flexible printed circuit board is disclosed having a predetermined circuit pattern printed thereon. The flexible printed circuit board is bent at a predetermined location. The flexible printed circuit board includes a covered portion at which a part of the printed circuit pattern is covered by a covering layer, and an uncovered portion at which another part of the printed circuit pattern is not covered by the covering layer. The covered and uncovered portions are formed on the flexible printed circuit board. A border of the covering layer that is located adjacent to the uncovered portion on the flexible printed circuit board is positioned in the vicinity of the bent portion and is formed to be longer than a possible minimum length of the border.

Abstract: A method for producing a male helicoid molding die which is adapted to manufacture an inner barrel having a male helicoid, and for producing a female helicoid molding die which is adapted to manufacture an outer barrel having a female helicoid which can engage with said male helicoid of the inner barrel. The method includes the steps of firstly, setting an included angle of trapezoidal threads of the male helicoid to be identical to an included angle of trapezoidal grooves of the female helicoid in a section perpendicular to a direction of an extension of the threads and preparing a cutting tool having an angle identical to the set angle. Secondly, the male helicoid molding die is machined to form a helicoid portion thereof using the cutting tool. Next, an electric spark machining electrode is prepared having a helicoid portion whose shape is identical to a shape of the helicoid portion of the male helicoid molding die, by a mechanical cutting operation, using the cutting tool.

Abstract: A lens barrel is disclosed that includes: an outer barrel provided on an inner periphery thereof with a first thread and at least one linear guide groove intersecting the first thread and extending in a direction of an optical axis of the lens barrel; a middle barrel provided on an outer periphery thereof with a second thread meshing with the first thread; an inner barrel positioned inside the middle barrel, the inner barrel being provided with at least one follower which engages with the at least one linear guide groove, so that the inner barrel is guided along the optical axis without rotating about the optical axis with respect to the outer barrel; and a recess formed at a front end of each of the at least one linear guide groove on the inner periphery of the outer barrel, the recess having a width dimension to enable rotational movement of the at least one follower into the at least one linear guide groove during initial meshing of the middle barrel with the outer barrel.

Abstract: An exposure controlling device comprises, a controlling unit that controls a DC motor, a calculating unit that calculates a time period between a predetermined starting point and a point where a predetermined aperture area is obtained during the forward rotation of the DC motor, and a timer for counting the time period from the starting point. The controlling unit controls, at the time of an exposure, the DC motor to rotate reversely for a predetermined time period at a first step, to rotate forward to open shutter blades of a lens shutter at a second step and to rotate reversely to close the shutter blades at a third step.