Abstract: In a driving mechanism of an optical device that communicates the motive power generated at a drive source to an object to be driven by employing a plurality of gears, the plurality of gears are each constituted by using, at least, one of; polyester, polyamide and polyacetals. The plurality of gears include a gear having a low bending elastic modulus set to 10 kgf/mm2 or higher and 100 kgf/mm2 or lower and a gear having a high bending elastic modulus set to 50 kgf/mm2 or higher and 1000 kgf/mm2 or lower that meshes with the gear having the low bending elastic modulus, and thus, it becomes possible to reduce the noise generated at the gear meshing portion without compromising the durability of the gears.

Abstract: A lens moving device comprises a lens frame to which a lens is attached and a drive mechanism which moves the lens frame along the optical axis of the lens. An arm-receiving opening is formed in a connecting member provided on the lens frame. The drive mechanism has a motor, and an output shaft of the motor is connected to a feed screw, on which a nut is fitted. A moving member is integrally formed on the nut, and first and second arms are provided on the moving member. The first and second arms are inserted into the arm-receiving opening. The first and second arms are arranged in order along the line, in which the lens is moved. A spring force of the first arm is greater than that of the second arm.

Abstract: A camera, lens positioning mechanism and method use a lens holding member to hold a lens therein for receiving optical information that may be captured on film or digitally. The lens holding member interfaces with a ring-shaped barrel member, geared ring or the like, that when turned in one direction by a motor forces the lens holding member out, or back, depending on a slope of a cam placed on the barrel member, slot in the barrel member or the like. When driven in the single direction, the cam member on the ring barrel member, forces the lens holding member in a predetermined direction. A biasing member connected to the ring provides an opposing force that when used during a focusing operation pulls the lens holding member and cam member back to a home position without the need of a driving force from the motor. A clutch mechanism engages and disengages the driving force of the motor on the geared ring depending on whether a focusing operation, lens storage operation, or zooming operation is performed.

Abstract: A camera with a device that opens and closes a light lock door of a film cartridge loaded in the camera includes a drive source that moves a photographing lens barrel, and an opening/closing mechanism that uses the drive source to open and close the light lock door. A moving mechanism moves the photographing lens barrel. A switching mechanism is coupled to the drive source, and transmits a driving force from the drive source to a selected one of the moving mechanism and the opening/closing mechanism. When an inhibiting device inhibits movement of the photographing lens barrel and the movement mechanism of the photographing lens barrel, the switching mechanism transmits the driving force to the opening/closing mechanism for the light lock door.

Abstract: A zoom lens barrel is intended to ensure precision in dimensions for a cam groove and contribute to realization of a compact and lightweight design and reduction in cost of manufacturing. The zoom lens barrel has a cam cylinder that is a cam member having a first cam groove and second cam groove, and a lens frame having a first cam pin to be engaged with the first cam groove, and a second cam pin to be engaged with the second cam groove. When the first cam pin formed on the lens frame moves along the first cam groove, the lens frame moves over a power varying zone that is a first zone in the direction of an optical axis. When the second cam pin formed on the lens frame moves along the second cam groove, the lens frame moves over a collapsing zone that is a second zone in the direction of the optical axis.

Abstract: A focus adjustment mechanism upon assembly of an AF compact camera includes a shutter having a focusing lens frame which is screw-engaged therein, and a ring-shaped connecting member with an arm to be engaged with an AF driving lever of the shutter and to be fixed to the lens frame. The lens frame is provided with a cylindrical engagement surface to which the ring-shaped connecting member is engaged from the front end thereof and a plurality of engaging portions to be engaged with an adjuster for rotation of the lens frame. The adjuster comprises a plurality of corresponding engaging portions to rotate the lens frame.

Abstract: An optical apparatus according to the present invention includes a moving lens frame guided movably in an optical axis direction by guide shafts, a drive source for driving the lens frame along the optical axis direction, a lead screw attached to the drive source, a nut member which is fitted on the lead screw and whose rotation is controlled by a rotation control section, the nut member moving only in the optical axis direction by rotation of the lead screw, and an urging spring for pressing part of the lens frame on the nut member such that the lens frame follows movement of the nut member. The lead screw has a top end portion and a bottom end portion each of which is a non-screw portion having a diameter smaller than that of a root of a screw portion of the lead screw, and a spring is fitted near the bottom end portion of the lead screw to urge the nut member, which is fitted in the bottom end portion, in such a manner that the nut member is pushed in a direction of the top end portion of the screw.

Abstract: A focusing and defocusing mechanism incorporated in a digital camera lens for simplifying the lens structure. The mechanism includes an outer lens barrel, a cam barrel having a slot of multiple slopes for adapting to the outer lens barrel, a guide pin affixed onto the outer wall of the outer lens barrel for rotating into the slot of the multiple slopes, and controlling elements affixed to the guide pin for controlling the distance and movement of the guide pin on the slot of multiple slopes.

Abstract: A detecting mechanism has a sensor for detecting different levels of transmissivity to provide an output signal representative of the transmissivity level detected. The detecting mechanism is provided with circuitry for changing its sensitivity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cam mechanism for a lens barrel wherein the mechanism is provided with a cam ring and a movable annular member. The cam ring is typically provided with a plural number of cam grooves formed in a predetermined cam profile in the same shape, in the same positions, and in the circumferential direction, but in respective positions differentiated in the optical axis direction. The movable annular member is set in engagement with the cam ring and has a plural number of cam pins installed thereon. The cam pins are fitted into the cam grooves of the cam ring so as to permit the movable annular member to, move freely in the optical axial direction, without being liable to any slanting thereof, in its rotation centering around the optical axis.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for adjusting the spacing between first and second lens groups spaced apart from each other along the optical axis of a lens barrel of an optical device. The lens barrel is movable between a collapsed position inside the body of the optical device, a wide angle position and a telephoto angle position. The drive mechanism includes a member having a cam groove, and a guide member fit into the cam groove and connected to the second lens group for adjusting the spacing between the first and second lens groups.

Abstract: A lens device having a base unit, a lens unit and an intermediate member. The base unit includes a drive ring which is rotatable around an optical axis of the lens device and has a coupling portion which protrudes into the housing space. The lens unit is inserted into a housing space of the base unit. Moreover, the lens unit is rotatable around the optical axis of the lens device and rotatably coupled to the base unit so that the rotation of the lens unit around the optical axis of the lens device causes the lens unit to move along the optical axis. The intermediate member is connected to the lens unit and has a groove. The coupling portion of the drive ring is engaged in the groove so that the rotation of the drive ring causes the coupling portion to interact with the groove to move the intermediate member. The movement of the intermediate member causes the lens unit to rotate around, and thereby move along, the optical axis in accordance with the rotation of the drive ring.

Abstract: A camera includes a plurality of camera operation mechanisms, a sun gear which rotates by means of a motor, a planetary gear which revolves around the sun gear, a plurality of output gears each capable of meshing with the planetary gear by means of a revolution of the planetary gear. The plurality of output gears transmit power to the plurality of camera operation mechanisms, respectively. A holding member switchable from a first state in which the planetary gear is allowed to revolve freely to a second state in which the planetary gear is held at a revolution position where the planetary gear is in mesh with one of the plurality of output gears. The holding member includes a moving member rotatable in interlocked relation to the revolution of the planetary gear. The holding member switches from the first state to the second state by means of a movement of the moving member in a direction different from a direction of rotation of the moving member.

Abstract: A driving mechanism for a photographic lens in a variable-focus photographic camera adapted to move back and forth, a first driving lens barrel movably received within a stationary lens barrel, and a second driving lens barrel movably received within the first driving lens barrel with driving forces separately transmitted from a common electric motor serving as a drive source and thereby to provide a so-called three-stage extension lens barrel which advantageously eliminates the necessity for incorporation of driving ring members into the stationary lens barrel and/or the first driving lens barrel as well as the necessity for constructing the stationary lens barrel and/or the first driving lens barrel in multiple structure. Such an arrangement also positively contributes to realization of a thin and compact camera.

Abstract: An initial focusing mechanism for a variable-focus photographic camera having a three-stage extension lens barrel, in which a first driving lens barrel is linearly moved back and forth along linear guiding means relative to a stationary lens barrel in the direction of the optical axis and an initial position of the first driving lens barrel relative to the stationary lens barrel is adjusted by attaching or detaching a focusing member to or from the linear guiding means. The operation of initial focusing is thereby simplified. A support block is formed on a portion of the first driving lens barrel and a nut member formed with a female screw is loosely inserted into a nut holder formed in a portion of the support block followed by threading a driving screw extending in parallel to the optical axis with the female screw.

Abstract: A magnetically actuated optical focusing device is provided. The focusing device comprises a housing with an optical component being displaceably and rotatably arranged therein. The optical component is ferromagnetically coupled, via an internal magnet arranged thereon, to an external magnet arranged outside of the housing, the external magnet being fixed to a focusing ring which is rotatably mounted on the housing. When the focusing ring is rotated, the ferromagnetic attraction between the magnets is sufficient to drive the internal magnet through a helical channel defined on the internal surface of the housing, thus causing the optical component to be longitudinally displaced within the housing. The helical channel exerts sufficient restraining force on the inner magnet so that the inner magnet remains in a particular position along the channel even if the ferromagnetic coupling between the magnets is broken down.

Abstract: A radiation thermometer assembly comprises a housing to a front end of which is movably mounted an objective lens housing. An eye piece is mounted to the radiation thermometer housing and is arranged to receive light passing through the objective lens. A control system causes relative movement between the objective lens housing and the radiation thermometer housing, the control system being connected to a manual control member for operating the control system. The control member is mounted to the radiation thermometer housing at a position spaced from the objective lens housing.

Abstract: A lens driving device for a zoom and a multifocus lens housing of a camera, the lens driving device comprising a holding member for holding imaging lenses and having a first helicoid formed relative to the optical axis of the lenses; a rotary member having a second helicoid which is arranged to engage to the first helicoid, the rotary member being arranged to be engaged to the holding member via the two helicoids and rotatably supported relative to the optical axis to a camera housing; a guide member which is provided for either of the holding member or the camera housing and which has two guide surfaces extending in the direction of the optical axis; and supporting members provided for the residual one of the holding member and the camera housing and having at least one pair of rotary members to which the guide surfaces of the guide member are brought into contact, whereby the contact of the guide member and the supporting members prevents the rotation of the holding member and allows the holding member to r

Abstract: A photographing apparatus includes two moving members and an intermediate member contacting both of the two moving members. The intermediate member is selectively linked and non-linked to the two moving members to change an operation resistance to the movement of the moving members.