Abstract: A camera module, which is mounted on an inside of a front windshield of a vehicle and to image an external environment of the vehicle, includes a lens unit and an imager to image the external environment by forming an optical image, which is from the external environment through the lens unit.

Abstract: A portable magnifier camera with an associated display housing, base and handle. The camera can be selectively positioned into a variety of configurations, including: a first closed configuration wherein the display and base are in facing relation; a second opened configuration wherein the display is angled with respect to the base; and a third hand-held configuration wherein a handle is pivoted outwardly to permit a user to hold the camera relative to a distant object. The angle of the camera adjusts automatically in each configuration to ensure that the camera's light of slight is perpendicular to the object plane. These configurations enable a user to effectively view objects of differing size and at varying distances.

Abstract: A lens barrel having an insertable/removable optical element includes an advancing/retracting member, an anti-shake frame supported by the advancing/retracting member, an insertable/removable frame holding the insertable/removable optical element and supported by the anti-shake frame, an anti-shake drive mechanism, and a removal drive mechanism which moves the insertable/removable frame between the insertion and the removed positions. The anti-shake drive mechanism includes first and second anti-shake drive actuators positioned on the opposite side of the insertion position from the removed position and are respectively positioned on opposite sides of a straight line connecting a center of the insertable/removable optical element at the insertion position and at the removed position. Directions of driving forces produced by the first and second anti-shake drive actuators are at right angles to each other.

Abstract: A position controller for an optical element of a photographing optical system, includes an advancing/retracting ring, an anti-shake moving member supported by the advancing/retracting ring, an insertable/removable moving member which holds the optical element, a rear support member fixed to the advancing/retracting ring; a removal drive member supported by the rear support member to be movable between an insertion allowance position in which the removal drive member is in noncontact with the insertable/removable moving member in the insertion position, to thereby allow the anti-shake moving member to move in a moving range thereof, and a forced removing position in which the removal drive member comes in contact with and presses the insertable/removable moving member to move the insertable/removable moving member from the insertion position to the removed position; and an insertion/removal controller.

Abstract: A position controller for an image stabilizing optical element in an optical system includes an advancing/retracting frame which holds part of the optical system, a main actuator, an anti shake movable frame supported by the advancing/retracting frame, an anti shake drive actuator, an insertable/removable frame which holds the image stabilizing optical element and is supported by the anti shake movable frame, a removal drive mechanism which engages with the insertable/removable frame and moves the insertable/removable frame from an insertion position to a removed position, and a controller. Upon an inputter inputting a lens accommodating drive signal to the controller, the controller switches the anti shake drive actuator to a non driving state before moving the insertable/removable frame to the removed position by moving the advancing/retracting frame toward the accommodated position.

Abstract: An optical device includes an advancing/retracting member, an anti-shake frame supported by the advancing/retracting member, an insertable/removable frame which holds an image-stabilizing insertable/removable optical element and is rotatably supported by the anti-shake frame, a through-hole formed through the anti-shake frame to allow the insertable/removable frame to move between the insertion and removed positions, the through-hole including a circular arc groove about a rotational center of the insertable/removable frame and an outer end of the through-hole formed as an open end, and a bridge portion formed on the anti-shake frame to connect opposed inner walls of the through-hole at the outer end. The bridge portion is offset from the anti-shake frame and overlaps the clearance through-hole, as viewed in the optical axis direction.

Abstract: A retractable lens camera includes: a lens barrel; three or more lens groups provided in the lens barrel; a retracting unit that retracts the lens barrel and the lens groups into a camera body; and a displacing unit that displaces at least two lens groups to an escaping space out of an optical axis.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes a standard optical element used in a standard photographing operation and an insertable optical element which is selectively inserted into and removed from a photographing optical path. The lens barrel includes an accommodating driving device which moves the standard optical element and the insertable optical element rearward in an optical axis direction from a ready-to-photograph state to a retracted state; an insertable-optical-element drive mechanism which moves the insertable optical element between an inserted position on the optical axis on which the standard optical element is positioned, and a removed position off the optical axis, in the ready-to-photograph state of the lens barrel; and a forced removing device which forces the insertable optical element to move from the inserted position to the removed position independently of the insertable-optical-element drive mechanism when the lens barrel moves from the ready-to-photograph state to the retracted state.

Abstract: A retractable lens (1) and a swingable lens retracting device (2) thereof are provided. The retractable lens has first, second and third lens groups (L1, L2, L3) constituting a photographing optical system. The swingable lens retracting device consists of a second lens group moving frame (21) and a second lens group holding frame (22) rotatably received in the second lens group moving frame via a pivot shaft (221). A pair of torsion springs (224) is mounted on respective opposite ends of the pivot shaft. When the retractable lens is retracted back to a retracted state, the second lens group is biased by the swingable lens retracting device to an off-axis space radially outside a common optical axis of the photographing optical system with its optical axis being orthogonal to the common optical axis. The transition between a retracted position and a photographing position of the second lens group is accomplished by the resilient restoring force of the torsion springs.

Abstract: An imaging device includes an imaging optical system including an image pickup device; a rotatable optical element which is positioned in the imaging optical system, and is rotated on a rotation axis extending in an optical axis direction to produce a specific photographic effect; and a controller which operates so that image data is obtained intermittently via the image pickup device at a plurality of angular steps of the rotatable optical element when the rotatable optical element is rotated on the rotation axis.

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; an exposure control unit 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 a frame of the radially-retractable optical element to enter the exposure control unit recess when the linearly movable ring retracts from a ready-to-photograph position to a retracted position.

Abstract: In a digital camera, a solid state imaging device is used to catch subject light so that an image signal is created. The digital camera contributes to effectively implementing further thinness as compare with the conventional ones. A second lens group is revolved between a position on the optical axis and a saving position coming into a hollow portion beside the CCD solid state imaging device, so that the second lens group comes into the hollow portion at the time of the collapse.

Abstract: An imaging device includes a radially-retracting device for moving a radially-retractable optical element, serving as part of a photographing optical system, between a photographing position on a common optical axis and a radially-retracted position; a biasing device for biasing the radially-retractable optical element toward the photographing position; a positioning device which determines a movement limit of the radially-retractable optical element in the biasing direction of the biasing device; and a sub-positioning device for positioning the radially-retractable optical element at the photographing position in a direction intersecting the driving direction of the radially-retracting device in a plane orthogonal to the common optical axis when the radially-retractable optical element is held at the photographing position by the positioning device, and for releasing the positioning of the radially-retractable optical element at the photographing position in the intersecting direction when the radially-retra

Abstract: A clam shell style electronic product (10) includes a base housing portion (12), a flip housing portion (26) pivotably coupled to the base housing portion, a display (28) mounted in the flip housing portion, and a camera (16) in the base housing portion that can be selectively angled to a desired position relative to the display. The camera can be in a position substantially perpendicular to the base housing portion when the camera is locked in a stored position. In the stored position, a camera viewing angle (15) is substantially perpendicular or orthogonal to the base housing portion and not necessarily aligned with a display viewing angle (20) for the display. The camera can rotate to a position substantially perpendicular to a display viewing angle (30) when the flip housing portion is in an open position and the camera is in an unstored (or unlatched or released) position.

Abstract: A collapsible lens mount optical unit comprises a fixed lens mount, a lens mount movable along the optical axis with respect to the fixed lens mount, an infrared ray intercepting filter interposed between the fixed lens mount and the lens mount. The collapsible lens mount optical unit further comprises a move-aside mechanism. When the lens mount is retracted and made to approach the infrared ray intercepting filter, the move-aside mechanism moves aside the infrared intercepting filter out of the optical axis in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis. The lens can be accommodated in a position on the optical axis after the infrared intercepting filter is moved.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes a housing having a ring portion surrounding an optical axis; a first optical element and a second optical element which are positioned inside the ring portion and which are movable along the optical axis relative to the housing; a support frame which supports the second optical element, and has at least one arm portion which projects radially outwards to such an extent that an outer end of the arm portion is positioned radially outside the ring portion of the housing; and at least one guide shaft positioned radially outside the ring portion, and configured to guide the arm portion in the optical axis direction.

Abstract: An optical element retracting mechanism includes a linearly movable ring, a swingable holder positioned inside and supporting the linearly movable ring; a holding device holding the swingable holder, and a retracting device which rotates the swingable holder about a pivot such that the retractable optical element retracts to a position which deviates from the optical axis. The holding device includes an adjusting shaft and includes an eccentric pin, wherein the eccentric pin is engaged with the swingable holder to set a limit for rotational movement of the swingable holder, and a spring which biases the swingable holder to rotate the swingable holder in an advancing direction to engage the swingable holder with the eccentric pin. A position of the retractable optical element is varied in the operational state, in a plane generally orthogonal to the optical axis, by a rotation of the adjusting shaft.

Abstract: A retracting mechanism includes a linearly movable ring; a swingable holder supported inside the linearly movable ring; a position-controller holding the swingable holder; a pair of support plates attached to opposite ends of the linearly movable ring; a support plate fixing device fixing the support plates to the linearly movable ring; a rotatable shaft having a pair of eccentric pins at opposite ends thereof, and having a common axis eccentric to the rotatable shaft; and a pair of elongated holes on the pair of support plates, facing each other and elongated parallel to each other, the eccentric pins being engaged in the elongated holes and being movable therein. The pair of support plates are movable relative to the linearly movable ring in directions orthogonal to the optical axis via rotation of the rotatable shaft when the support plate fixing device is in a released state.

Abstract: A retractable lens includes a linearly movable ring, a retractable holder, a holding device, a retracting device, and a flexible PWB configured to connect an electronic component supported inside the linearly movable ring, with an electronic circuit positioned outside the linearly movable ring. The retractable holder is separate from the flexible PWB when the retractable holder is held by the holding device in an operational position in which the retractable optical element is on the optical axis. The retractable holder presses the flexible PWB in a radial direction of the linearly movable ring from an inside to an outside of the linearly movable ring and supports the flexible PWB when the retractable holder is moved to a radially retracted position by the retracting device such that the retractable optical element retracts to the position that deviates from a photographing optical axis.

Abstract: A linear guide mechanism for guiding rings supporting components of a lens barrel along an optical axis includes an outer ring supporting a first imaging component; an inner ring positioned radially inwardly of the outer ring for supporting a second imaging component; a first guide ring configured to linearly guide the outer ring without rotation of the outer ring; a second guide ring configured to linearly guide the inner ring without rotation of the inner ring; and a linear guide ring having at least one guide portion located on an inner peripheral surface of the linear guide ring, the at least one guide portion engageable with the first and second guide rings, the outer ring and the inner ring being independently guidable via the respective first and second guide rings and are movable linearly along the optical axis without rotating.

Abstract: A cam mechanism for a lens barrel includes a cam ring including at a cam groove which is open at one end; a support ring supporting an imaging component, the support ring having a cam follower engageable with the cam groove and movable therein towards and away from the open end, wherein the support ring is movable along an axis relative to the cam ring without rotation; and a movement limiter configured to stop or limit disengagement of the cam follower from the open end of the cam groove.

Abstract: A method of moving at least one optical element of a plurality of optical elements of an image-forming lens system, wherein the plurality of optical elements are positioned along a common optical axis such that the lens system is in a ready-to-image position, the lens system having an object side and an image side. The method includes positioning the lens system such that no image may be taken, including moving the at least one optical element to a position away from the common optical axis and toward the image side, and moving at least one other optical element of the plurality of optical elements along the common optical axis toward the image side.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes a housing having a ring portion surrounding an optical axis; a first optical element and a second optical element which are positioned radially inside the ring portion and which are movable along the optical axis relative to the housing; a support frame which supports the second optical element, and has at least one radial arm portion which projects radially outwards to such an extent that an outer end of the radial arm portion is positioned radially outside the ring portion of the housing; and at least one guide shaft positioned radially outside the ring portion, and configured to guide the radial arm portion in the optical axis direction.

Abstract: A retracting mechanism for a lens barrel, the mechanism includes a non-rotatable member having an engagement surface; a frame movable along an axis towards and away from the non-rotatable member without rotation and having a holder for holding an imaging element, the holder pivotally mounted to the frame for movement between an aligned position where the lens barrel component is aligned with the axis and a displaced position where the component is displaced relative to the aligned position; and a spring assembly configured to resiliently hold the holder at the aligned position and having an engagement surface configured to contact the engagement surface of the non-rotatable member during movement of the frame towards the non-rotatable member, overcome the resilient holding of the holder at the aligned position, and move the holder from the aligned position to the displaced position.

Abstract: A retractable lens system includes a plurality of optical elements. All of the plurality of optical elements are positioned on a common optical axis when the retractable lens is in use. A removable element of the plurality of optical elements is moved to a removed position outside of the common optical axis, and the removable element and at least one element of the remaining elements of the plurality of optical elements are moved rearward, respectively, when the retractable lens system is in a retracted position.

Abstract: A retractable barrel includes a rear holder which holds a rear optical element on an axis, the rear holder having a recess; an annular member movable towards and away from the rear holder without rotation; a retractable holder, accommodated within the annular member, which holds a retractable optical element, and being movable between a position where the retractable optical element is aligned with the axis, and a position where the retractable optical element is displaced from the axis; a position controller which controls the annular member and retractable holder to move between an operational position to a retracted position wherein the retractable holder is at the displaced position. A movement path of the retractable holder includes an oblique path extending obliquely to the axis. The recess prevents the rear holder from interfering with the retractable holder.

Abstract: The camera apparatus comprises a camera-body portion 1; a display pane 2 attached to the camera-body 1 as an outwardly fixing type with freely rotary operation; and a lens block 5 provided at the upper portion of the camera-body 1 and having a pop-up portion rotatable between a stored position within the camera-body 1 and a pop-up position by making a support-axis 14 as a support, wherein the lens block 5 is housed within the camera-body 1 when the camera is not in a taking-picture condition such that the lens surface protected by the outer body and lens block 5 is made up be a pop-up condition with an angle of a predetermined elevation-angle relative to the camera-body 1 when the camera is in a taking-picture condition.

Abstract: A camera apparatus comprises a camera-body portion 1; a display panel 2 attached to the camera-body 1 as an outwardly fixing type with freely rotary operation; and a lens block 5 provided at the upper portion of the camera-body 1 and having a pop-up portion rotatable between a stored position within the camera-body 1 and a pop-up position by making a support-axis 14 as a support, wherein the lens block 5 is housed within the camera-body 1 when the camera is not in a taking-picture condition such that the lens surface is protected by the outer body and lens block 5 is made to be a pop-up condition with an angle of a predetermined elevation-angle relative to the camera-body 1 when the camera is in a taking-picture condition.

Abstract: A film advancement assembly for a self-developing and folding camera. The camera comprising a main frame assembly and a lens assembly. The lens assembly being pivotally mounted on the main frame assembly and movable between a closed position in which the lens assembly is disposed at least in part within the main frame assembly and an open position in which the lens assembly upstands from the main frame assembly. A gear train is mounted on the main frame member and is operative to drive a pair of spread rolls, and operative to drive a film pick to advance a film unit. A motor is mounted on the main frame assembly and is operative to power the gear train, the motor being disposed proximate a bottom surface of the main frame assembly.

Abstract: A multi-stage focus box camera is disclosed which comprises a tubular body open at both ends formed of a dimensionally stable, light weight material. A lens board and lens extender assembly slides over one end of the camera body and is adapted for slidingly carrying a lens mount for a lens. A film board fits over the opposite end of the camera body and is adapted to receive a film holder which closes the back side of the body and which defines a film support for sheet film. In addition the film board may include a viewing device, such as a ground glass plate in place of the film board, by which an image may be focused. Both the lens board and lens extender assembly and the film board are slidable on the camera body and are movable between retracted and extended positions to provide different focus stages for the camera. In addition the lens board and lens extender assembly and the film board can be moved on the camera body to position the lens body to adjust the depth of field by slanting these components.