Abstract: The 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 timer for counting the time period from the starting point, a memory for storing data of relationship between the time period and the aperture area, and means for storing an individual data of the relationship into the memory.The calculating unit calculates the time period based on a required aperture area by using the data of relationship stored in the memory for compensating individual differences among lens shutters.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electronically controlled camera in which a lens system moves along its optical axis. When the lens stops moving, a brake is applied. In order to prevent unnecessary braking which is applied after the lens stopped, the brake is applied wile the lens is moving, and the brake is released immediately when the lens has stopped its movement.

Abstract: A lens drive mechanism includes first and second members positioned adjacent to each other, where the second member supports a lens group and is movable relative to the first member along an optical axis of the lens group. A first guide shaft is provided which extends in a direction of the optical axis which is supported by the first member to be guided in the direction of the optical axis. One end of the first guide shaft is secured to the second member. A screw shaft extends in the direction of the optical axis and has a first thread, where one end of the screw shaft is secured to the second member and the screw shaft is positioned adjacent to the first guide shaft. A device for detecting whether the lens group is located at an extremity of a predetermined movable range of the lens group relative to the first member along the optical axis is also provided. The detecting device includes a connecting member secured to the other end of each of the screw shaft and the first guide shaft.

Abstract: An exposure controlling device includes, an aperture diaphragm that is driven by a motorized driving mechanism to open and close, an encoder for detecting an actuation of the motorized driving mechanism comprising a photocoupler and a rotating disk mounted in connection with the photocoupler. The rotating disk rotates corresponding to the actuation of the motorized driving mechanism by less than one full turn, and the rotating disk has a first angular range where the output signal from the photocoupler does not vary even when the rotating disk rotates and a second angular range where the output signal from the photocoupler varies in cycles in accordance with the rotation of the rotating disk. A controlling unit is provided to control the motorized driving mechanism to drive the aperture diaphragm in accordance with signals received from the photocoupler. The photocoupler faces to the first angular range when the aperture diaphragm is set at an p redetermined initial position.

Abstract: A zoom lens camera includes a whole unit moving device to move a front lens group and a rear lens group together as a whole in an optical axis direction, and a relative moving means to vary a distance between the front lens group and the rear lens group. The whole unit moving means is driven during a zooming operation, and at least the whole unit moving means or the relative moving means is driven during a focusing operation to focus on a subject to be photographed.

Abstract: A lens barrel has first, second and third barrels concentrically arranged in this order from an optical axis. The lens barrel includes at least one cam slot formed on the second barrel and extending oblique to a direction of the optical axis, at least one guide groove formed on an inner periphery of the third barrel, at least one follower formed on an outer periphery of the first barrel and engaging with the at least one guide groove through the at least one cam slot, and at least one member integrally formed on an outer periphery of the second barrel adjacent to an end of the at least one cam slot. The at least one member includes a surface formed thereon to contact the at least one follower when the at least one follower moves to the end of the at least one cam slot.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes a frontmost lens, a lens supporting annular member for supporting the frontmost lens to prevent the frontmost lens from moving rearward from a predetermined axial position relative to the lens supporting annular member, a lens fixing ring for fixing the frontmost lens to the lens supporting annular member, an annular abutting surface which abuts against a circumferential portion of a front surface of the frontmost lens and is formed on the lens fixing ring and a coating applied to the annular abutting surface. The coating is positioned between said annular abutting surface and said circumferential portion to provide a substantially watertight seal.

Abstract: A control method of a zoom lens camera comprising a lens system having a movable front lens group and a movable rear lens group, a first motor for moving the front lens group, a second motor for moving the rear lens group, a first pulse encoder which is adapted to control the angular position of the first motor and a second pulse encoder which is adapted to control the angular position of the second motor. In such a zoom lens camera. the difference in the image plane position between the wide-angle position and the telephoto position is measured to obtain the necessary number of drive pulses for the motors, so that the zoom adjustment and the fB adjustment can be carried out without need of a mechanical zoom adjustment or a mechanical fB adjustment.

Abstract: A lens barrel is disclosed that includes a rotational barrel driven to rotate about an optical axis of the lens barrel. The rotational barrel has a plurality of guide grooves formed on an inner periphery thereof. The lens barrel further includes a linear moving barrel guided along the optical axis without rotating about the optical axis, a unit secured inside the linear moving barrel, and a plurality of follower pins securing the unit to the linear moving barrel. The plurality of follower pins each project outwardly from an outer periphery of the linear moving barrel to engage with the plurality of guide grooves, respectively, so that the linear moving barrel is moved along the optical axis relative to the rotational barrel when the rotational barrel is driven to rotate.

Abstract: A lens drive mechanism is disclosed that includes: a shutter block which supports a lens shutter including a plurality of shutter blades; a lens group guided along an optical axis thereof relative to the shutter block; a first motor secured to the shutter block for opening or closing the lens shutter; a second motor secured to the shutter block for moving the lens group along the optical axis; a first encoder for detecting a size of a diaphragm formed by the lens shutter; a second encoder for detecting an axial position of the lens group; a shutter driving gear train which connects the lens shutter with the first motor; a first encoder gear train which connects the first encoder with the first motor, the shutter driving gear train and the first encoder gear train being supported on the shutter block and arranged along a circumferential direction of the shutter block with a driving pinion of the first motor being positioned between the shutter driving gear train and the first encoder gear train; a lens driving

Abstract: A lens drive mechanism includes first and second members positioned adjacent to each other where the second member supports a lens group and is movable relative to the first member along an optical axis of the lens group, and a first guide shaft extending in a direction of the optical axis which is supported by the first member to be guided in the direction of the optical axis, where one end of the first guide shaft is secured to the second member. The lens drive mechanism also includes a gear rotatably supported on the first member, which does not move in the direction of the optical axis relative to the first member and has a hole at an axial center on an inner periphery of which is formed a first thread.

Abstract: A shutter arrangement for a camera which includes a lens shutter, a lens group movable along an optical axis relative to the lens shutter, a first motor for opening or closing the lens shutter, a second motor for moving the lens group along the optical axis, and a first encoder for detecting a size of a diaphragm formed by the lens shutter. The first encoder comprises a first photosensor and a first rotating disk associated with the first photosensor. Also included is a second encoder for detecting an axial position of the lens group which comprises a second photosensor and a second rotating disk associated with the second photosensor. The first and second encoders are positioned to overlap as viewed in a direction of the optical axis.

Abstract: Disclosed is a camera provided with a strobe system. The strobe system includes a capacitor to be charged. Charging voltage of the capacitor can be detected through an output terminal. The output terminal can be electrically connected and disconnected to and from the capacitor by a switching element. The circuit has an input terminal which receives a control signal. In response to the control signal, charging operation is enabled, and at the same time, the switching element is controlled to connect the output terminal to the capacitor. While, if the charging voltage has reached an upper limit, the charging operation is disabled and the output terminal is disconnected from the capacitor for a predetermined period of time by changing the status of the control signal.

Abstract: A shutter arrangement for a camera which includes a plurality of shutter blades each having a rotational center and an opening formed proximate to the rotational center, a supporting member which supports each of the plurality of shutter blades to be rotatable about the rotational center and a ring member driven to rotate about an optical axis of a photographic lens. The ring member includes a plurality of pins each engaging with a corresponding one of the openings. A light intercepting sheet is also provided which includes a plurality of holes in which the plurality of pins are respectively inserted, so that the ring member and the light intercepting sheet rotate together as a whole about the optical axis when the ring member is driven to rotate.

Abstract: A camera having an apparatus for adjusting a back focus by varying a distance between a rearmost point of lens groups of a photographing optical system and focal plane. The apparatus includes a stationary barrel that supports the lens groups and is fixed to the camera body, and a restricting mechanism that is provided between the camera body and the stationary barrel. The restricting mechanism restricts rotational movement of the stationary barrel with respect to the camera body, while allowing movement of the stationary barrel in an optical axis direction with respect to the camera body.

Abstract: A lens barrier mechanism of a photographing lens which opens and closes a lens opening of a lens unit, includes a plurality of blades at least partially superimposed upon one another in an optical axis direction of the lens unit. At least one of the plurality of blades is a leading blade to which a driving force is applied, and the other is a trailing blade or trailing blades driven by the leading blade. Each of the plurality of blades has an open and closed position with respect to the lens opening.

Abstract: An apparatus for setting the rotational torque of a screw mechanism including a frictional member which is positioned between a lens frame and a lens frame holder. The frictional member can be made of natural fiber, sponge, rubber, or styrene foam.

Abstract: A lens holder having a cylindrical lens frame which holds at least one pair of lenses, wherein said lens frame is provided with a lens abutting surface which comes into contact with a first lens to restrict an axial position thereof. The first lens is provided with a positioning reference surface against which the second lens abuts to determine the axial position thereof. A molding die assembly which is used to mold the lens frame is also disclosed.

Abstract: A light intercepting apparatus of a lens barrel has a pair of lens frames which support a pair of lens groups, with the lens groups being movable with respect to one another in an optical axis direction. The apparatus further includes a light intercepting portion which isolates an optical path between the lens groups from external light. The light intercepting portion includes a pair of annular light intercepting members which are supported by the pair of lens frames in a manner such that the pair of annular light intercepting members are movable with respect to each other in the optical axis direction. The pair of annular light intercepting members include a pair of engaging portions which define a latch portion of the light intercepting apparatus and which prevent motion of the annular light intercepting members beyond a maximum extended position of the pair of annular light intercepting members.

Abstract: A driving apparatus of a camera includes a stationary barrel fixed to a camera body, a cam ring threadedly engaged with the stationary barrel on an inside of the stationary barrel, and a circumferential gear formed on an outer peripheral surface of the cam ring. Also provided is a gear train for transmitting driving force to the circumferential gear to rotate the cam ring, and a final gear, which is a component of the gear train and is supported on the stationary barrel to engage with the circumferential gear. A transmitting gear, which is a component of the gear train, is engaged with the final gear, wherein the shaft of the transmitting gear is supported by the camera body and by the stationary barrel.