Patents by Inventor Tamotsu Koiwai

Tamotsu Koiwai has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9684147
    Abstract: A changeable lens barrel includes a fixed barrel formed in an annular shape a straight-advancing barrel housed in the fixed barrel during non-photographing and extended to an outside of the fixed barrel during photographing, and a first annular member that turns according to manual operation. When the changeable lens barrel is in a photographable state, a part of an outer circumference of the first annular member is exposed to an outside and a front end face of the annular member forward in an optical axis direction is located further forward than a front end face of the fixed barrel, and, when the changeable lens barrel is in an un-photographable state, a rear end face backward in the optical axis direction is within the fixed barrel and the rear end face is present further backward in the optical axis direction than when the changeable lens barrel is in the photographable state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Tamotsu Koiwai, Shigeo Hayashi, Naohiro Kageyama, Mitsuru Toyama
  • Publication number: 20150331221
    Abstract: A changeable lens barrel includes a fixed barrel formed in an annular shape a straight-advancing barrel housed in the fixed barrel during non-photographing and extended to an outside of the fixed barrel during photographing, and a first annular member that turns according to manual operation. When the changeable lens barrel is in a photographable state, a part of an outer circumference of the first annular member is exposed to an outside and a front end face of the annular member forward in an optical axis direction is located further forward than a front end face of the fixed barrel, and, when the changeable lens barrel is in an un-photographable state, a rear end face backward in the optical axis direction is within the fixed barrel and the rear end face is present further backward in the optical axis direction than when the changeable lens barrel is in the photographable state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventors: Tamotsu Koiwai, Shigeo Hayashi, Naohiro Kageyama, Mitsuru Toyama
  • Patent number: 8660419
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes a fixed portion with an optical system including a focusing lens. An operation member is placed so as to be movable to first and second positions along an optical axis of the fixed portion, and turnable around the optical axis at the first and second positions. A turning member turns along with the operation member when moved to the second position, and does not operate with the operation member when moved from the second position to the first position. Positioning means position the operation member at the first or second position through a plurality of balls. When the operation member is at the first position it is urged to the first position by the plurality of balls. When the operation member is at the second position, it is urged to the second position by the plurality of balls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Olympus Imaging Corp.
    Inventors: Mitsuru Toyama, Tamotsu Koiwai, Takeshi Ito
  • Publication number: 20140009847
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes a fixed portion with an optical system including a focusing lens. An operation member is placed so as to be movable to first and second positions along an optical axis of the fixed portion, and turnable around the optical axis at the first and second positions. A turning member turns along with the operation member when moved to the second position, and does not operate with the operation member when moved from the second position to the first position. Positioning means position the operation member at the first or second position through a plurality of balls. When the operation member is at the first position it is urged to the first position by the plurality of balls. When the operation member is at the second position, it is urged to the second position by the plurality of balls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP.
    Inventors: Mitsuru Toyama, Tamotsu Koiwai, Takeshi Ito
  • Patent number: 8565591
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes an operation member adapted to be movable to a first position and a second position and turnable at each of the positions, a turning member adapted to turnably engage with the operation member at the second position, and disengage from the operation member at the first position, a first detection unit adapted to detect a turning position of the turning member configured to turn in engagement with the operation member, a second detection unit adapted to detect a turning amount and a rotational direction of the operation member when the operation member is disengaged from the turning member, and a moving unit adapted to move the focusing lens along the optical axis based on an output from the first detection unit or the second detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Olympus Imaging Corp.
    Inventors: Mitsuru Toyama, Tamotsu Koiwai, Takeshi Ito
  • Patent number: 8559807
    Abstract: A lens barrel of the present invention includes: a first barrel; a second barrel capable of relative rotation around an optical axis with respect to the first barrel; a focusing lens; a drive portion that drives the focusing lens; a rotational operation member that can move in the optical axis direction to a first position, and a second position; and an engagement portion that, when the rotational operation member is at the second position, causes the second barrel and the rotational operation member to engage with each other and rotates the second barrel accompanying rotation of the rotational operation member, and when the rotational operation member is at the first position, disengages the second barrel and the rotational operation member from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Olympus Imaging Corp.
    Inventors: Mitsuru Toyama, Takeshi Ito, Tamotsu Koiwai
  • Patent number: 8553136
    Abstract: A camera system of this invention includes: a fixed member; a focusing lens; a drive portion that drives the focusing lens; a rotational member to be engaged; an operation ring that can be positioned at a first position and a second position in the optical axis direction; an engagement portion that, when the operation ring is at the second position, causes the rotational member to be engaged and the operation ring to engage with each other; and a control portion that, when the operation ring is at the first position and the operation ring is rotated, drives the focusing lens in accordance with the rotation, and when the operation ring is at the second position, drives the focusing lens in accordance with a relative movement position between the rotational member to be engaged and the fixed member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Olympus Imaging Corp.
    Inventors: Mitsuru Toyama, Takeshi Ito, Tamotsu Koiwai
  • Publication number: 20120328276
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes an operation member adapted to be movable to a first position and a second position and turnable at each of the positions, a turning member adapted to turnably engage with the operation member at the second position, and disengage from the operation member at the first position, a first detection unit adapted to detect a turning position of the turning member configured to turn in engagement with the operation member, a second detection unit adapted to detect a turning amount and a rotational direction of the operation member when the operation member is disengaged from the turning member, and a moving unit adapted to move the focusing lens along the optical axis based on an output from the first detection unit or the second detection unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP.
    Inventors: Mitsuru Toyama, Tamotsu Koiwai, Takeshi Ito
  • Patent number: 6795252
    Abstract: For a camera lens barrel with helicoid threads, at the portion where the helicoid female thread of a fixed frame is threaded with the helicoid male thread of a rotary frame, six separation preventing pins are implanted in the portion of the helicoid male thread around the same circumference at the equal intervals. These separation presenting pins are implanted between convex thread portions of the helicoid male thread, respectively. Protruding portions of the separation preventing pins fit in and slidingly contact concave thread portions of the helicoid female thread that is threaded with the helicoid male thread in which the separation preventing pins are disposed. A contacting edge fits in and comes into sliding contact with the concave thread portion of the helicoid female thread by narrowing the circumferential surface thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Tamotsu Koiwai, Ai Midorikawa
  • Patent number: 6785059
    Abstract: A lens barrel having lens holding frames for holding a plurality of lenses is composed of a first lens, a second lens, one of the lens holding frames holding the first and second lenses, having a first opening disposed at one end in correspondence with the first lens, and having a second opening disposed at another end in correspondence with the second lens, first abutment portions prescribing the position of the first lens in an optical axis direction on the first opening side and disposed at a plurality of positions around the inner periphery of the lens holding frame, a second abutment portion prescribing the position of the second lens in the optical axis direction on the second opening side, first engagement portions disposed at a plurality of positions around the inner periphery of the lens holding frame on a side nearer to the first opening than the first and second abutment portions and engaged with the first lens, and a second engagement portion disposed around the inner periphery of the lens holding
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Tamotsu Koiwai
  • Patent number: 6671108
    Abstract: There is disclosed an optical apparatus in which a lens holding frame is assembled on a frame member so that the lens holding frame can move along a plane substantially vertical to the optical axis of first and second lenses, a pair of gaps is formed between the outer periphery of the lens holding frame and the inner periphery of the frame member via the optical axis in the X- and Y-axis directions, adjustment members are selectively inserted in the gaps, and the position of the lens holding frame to the frame member in the plane substantially vertical to the optical axis is set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tamotsu Koiwai, Ai Midorikawa
  • Publication number: 20030147156
    Abstract: A lens barrel having lens holding frames for holding a plurality of lenses is composed of a first lens, a second lens, a lens holding frame holding the first and second lenses, having a first opening disposed at one end in correspondence to the first lens, and having a second opening disposed at the other end in correspondence to the second lens, first abutment portions prescribing the position of the first lens in an optical axis direction on the first opening side and disposed at a plurality of positions around the inner periphery of the lens holding frame, a second abutment portion prescribing the position of the second lens in the optical axis direction on the second opening side, first engagement portions disposed at a plurality of positions around the inner periphery of the lens holding frame on a side nearer to the first opening than the first and second abutment portions and engaged with the first lens, and a second engagement portion disposed around the inner periphery of the lens holding frame on a
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Applicant: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tamotsu Koiwai
  • Patent number: 6570719
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes a zoom frame for holding a first-group frame and a second-group frame. Three follower pins are implanted in the second-group frame, and each of the follower pins includes a flange portion and a thrust abutment portion. The flange portions are interposed between the outer periphery of the second-group frame and the inner periphery of the zoom frame, so that decentering of the optical axis of the second-group frame is adjusted by the difference of the thicknesses of the flange portions. The thrust abutment portions abut on the rear end surface of insertion grooves of the zoom frame, so that inclination of the optical axis of the second-group frame is adjusted by the difference of the outside diameters of the thrust abutment portions. The position and the inclination of the optical axis of lenses can be easily adjusted by selecting and mounting the follower pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tamotsu Koiwai, Ai Midorikawa
  • Patent number: 6538826
    Abstract: In a lens barrel, a cam groove has a pair of wall surfaces. One of the wall surfaces, which is located on the side thereof where a rotary frame is extended by a cam follower coming into sliding contact with the wall surface, is formed at a small inclining angle. The other of the wall surfaces is formed at a large inclining angle. The cam follower has a shaft mounting portion implanted in a fixed frame and has an edge formed around the circumference surface of the shaft mounting portion at the end thereof. The surface of the cam follower, which is engaged and comes into sliding contact with the cam groove, is composed of a base end side taper surface and an extreme end side taper surface. The base end side taper surface is formed on the shaft mounting portion side, has a small inclining angle, and comes into sliding contact with one of the wall surfaces. The extreme end side taper surface has a large inclining angle and comes into sliding contact with the other of the wall surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tamotsu Koiwai, Ai Midorikawa
  • Publication number: 20030002173
    Abstract: In a lens barrel, a cam groove has a pair of wall surfaces. One of the wall surfaces, which is located on the side thereof where a rotary frame is extended by a cam follower coming into sliding contact with the wall surface, is formed at a small inclining angle. The other of the wall surfaces is formed at a large inclining angle. The cam follower has a shaft mounting portion implanted in a fixed frame and has an edge formed around the circumferential surface of the shaft mounting portion at the end thereof. The surface of the cam follower, which is engaged and comes into sliding contact with the cam groove, is composed of a base end side taper surface and an extreme end side taper surface. The base end side taper surface is formed on the shaft mounting portion side, has a small inclining angle, and comes into sliding contact with one of the wall surfaces. The extreme end side taper surface has a large inclining angle and comes into sliding contact with the other of the wall surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Applicant: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tamotsu Koiwai, Ai Midorikawa
  • Patent number: 6487025
    Abstract: In a lens barrel, a group-2 lens frame, which is movable forwardly and backwardly, is fit into an inner peripheral portion of an M-cam frame which is rotatably supported. A cam groove, into which a cam follower fits, is provided at the M-cam frame. A shaft hole, into which a shaft portion of the cam follower is press-fit and fixed, is provided at the group-2 lens frame. Two edge portions are formed at the shaft portion. Two conical slide faces are provided at a portion which slides at the cam groove of the cam follower. The two edge portions are provided at end portions of the slide faces. When the cam follower attempts to tilt, the edge portions of the shaft portion bite-into a cam face, and prevent a fit-together state of the shaft portion from coming out of place. Further, when an external force acts on the cam follower, the edge portions of the conical slide faces bite into the cam groove such that a fit-together state of the cam follower is prevented from coming out of place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tamotsu Koiwai, Tatsuo Takanashi
  • Publication number: 20020171948
    Abstract: For a camera lens barrel with helicoid threads, at the portion where the helicoid female thread of a fixed frame is threaded with the helicoid male thread of a rotary frame, six separation preventing pins are implanted in the portion of the helicoid male thread around the same circumference at the equal intervals. These separation presenting pins are implanted between convex thread portions of the helicoid male thread, respectively. Protruding portions of the separation preventing pins fit in and slidingly contact concave thread portions of the helicoid female thread that is threaded with the helicoid male thread in which the separation preventing pins are disposed. a contacting edge fits in and comes into sliding contact with the concave thread portion of the helicoid female thread by narrowing the circumferential surface thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2002
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Applicant: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tamotsu Koiwai, Ai Midorikawa
  • Publication number: 20020167741
    Abstract: There is disclosed an optical apparatus in which a lens holding frame is assembled on a frame member so that the lens holding frame can move along a plane substantially vertical to the optical axis of first and second lenses, a pair of gaps is formed between the outer periphery of the lens holding frame and the inner periphery of the frame member via the optical axis in the X- and Y-axis directions, adjustment members are selectively inserted in the gaps, and the position of the lens holding frame to the frame member in the plane substantially vertical to the optical axis is set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2002
    Publication date: November 14, 2002
    Applicant: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tamotsu Koiwai, Ai Midorikawa
  • Publication number: 20020141078
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes a zoom frame for holding a first-group frame and a second-group frame that is held so as to advance and retract in the inner peripheral portion of a second zoom frame. Three follower pins are implanted in the second-group frame, and each of the follower pins includes a flange portion and a thrust abutment portion. The flange portions of the three follower pins are interposed between the outer periphery of the second-group frame and the inner periphery of the zoom frame. The decentering of the optical axis of the second-group frame is adjusted by the difference of the thicknesses of the flange portions. Further, since the thrust abutment portions of the three follower pins abut on the rear end surface of the insertion grooves of the zoom frame, the inclination of the optical axis of the second-group frame is adjusted by the difference of the outside diameters of the thrust abutment portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2002
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Applicant: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tamotsu Koiwai, Ai Midorikawa
  • Patent number: RE40685
    Abstract: In a lens barrel, a flare diaphragm is disposed on an optical path of lenses or in the vicinity thereof such that the flare diaphragm can advance into and retreat from the optical path for cutting deleterious light corresponding to the lenses moving in the direction of the optical axis. This lens barrel can reliably cut deleterious light flux in a simple structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Tamotsu Koiwai, Tatsuya Suzuki