Having Focal Plane Shutter Patents (Class 396/357)
  • Patent number: 10969665
    Abstract: A driving apparatus includes a driving source supplied with a power and configured to generate a driving force, a first cam member configured to rotate in a first rotational direction in accordance with the driving force from the driving source, a driving member configured to drive a driven member as the first cam member rotates, and a second cam member configured to contact the driving member after an electrification to the driving source is stopped so as to rotate the first cam member in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shoma Mizutani
  • Patent number: 10868947
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to mobile devices and systems having an operative component integrated into a first housing and a complementary component within an opening of a second housing moveably coupled to the first housing such that, in a particular configuration of the device or system, the operative component is aligned with the complementary component to enhance performance of the operative component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Nishanth Ramaprakash, Prasanna Krishnaswamy, Sreenidhi A. Koti, Arvind S
  • Patent number: 10801884
    Abstract: The use of a blade driving device including a first plate wherein a first opening portion is formed; a blade formed so as to enable opening/closing of the first opening portion; a driving mechanism driving the blade; and a cover, wherein a second opening portion is formed so as to essentially overlap the first opening portion, and formed so as to cover the base plate and the driving mechanism portion. Because the base plate and driving mechanism portion are covered by the cover, when compared to the conventional structure, this enables the transmission, without variability, of heat in relation to the driving mechanism portion and the base plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: NIDEC COPAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naofumi Horio, Hiroshi Miyazaki, Shigemi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10649310
    Abstract: A blade driving device including, a base plate including an opening through which light passes, a blade configured to runs on a surface of the base plate to open and close the opening, a drive mechanism including a drive spring and actuates the blade; and a charge mechanism configured to perform a charge operation on the drive mechanism against the drive spring. The charge mechanism includes a slide member configured to linearly reciprocate in a direction parallel to the base plate along a motor between the motor and the drive mechanism, the motor generating a driving force for the charge mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Denshi Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hisatoshi Ito, Yuki Saito, Naoki Kawakubo, Kentaro Kato, Takahiro Arai
  • Patent number: 9288340
    Abstract: A dual camera for continuous transmission of radio wave image data to outside picture processing devices and continuous capture of images on frames of camera film rolls, the dual camera including a camera body, a cable for transmitting radio wave image data to outside picture processing devices, a camera antenna for receiving electrical signals, a camera lens mounted on the camera body for capturing images on frames of camera film rolls, a plurality of housing compartments for receiving camera film rolls, a plurality of detachable housing compartment doors operable for simultaneous removal of at least one camera film roll in a non-filming position when images are captured on all frames of the at least one camera film roll, without exposing remaining camera film roll in filming position is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: FIRST PRINCIPLES, INC.
    Inventor: Keith A. Raniere
  • Patent number: 9288341
    Abstract: A method for continuous wireless transmission of image data through radio waves to an outside picture processing device and continuous capture of images on frames of camera film rolls, said method comprising the steps of providing a camera body, providing an image radio wave converter, providing a radio wave transmission attachment mounted on said camera body for transmitting image data though radio waves to outside picture processing device, providing a camera lens mounted on said camera body for capturing images on frames of camera film rolls, providing a plurality of housing compartments for receiving camera film rolls, and providing a plurality of detachable housing compartment doors operable for simultaneous removal of at least one camera film roll in a non-filming position when images are captured on all frames of the at least one camera film roll, without exposing remaining camera film roll in filming position is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: FIRST PRINCIPLES, INC.
    Inventor: Keith A Raniere
  • Publication number: 20150043900
    Abstract: A shutter apparatus includes a blade member, a blade moving member, a locking member, a cam member, and a restriction member. The cam member moves the locking member from the locking position to the non-locking position so that the blade moving member moves from the closing position to the opening position. The restriction member moves from the non-restriction position to the restriction position after the blade moving member moves from the closing position to the opening position. The cam member moves the locking member in a direction opposite to a direction from the non-locking position to the locking position so that the locking member moves the restriction member from the restriction position to the non-restriction position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Masanori Sakai, Koichi Ito
  • Patent number: 8646993
    Abstract: After a shutter drive motor drives a shutter to a holding mode, if a first determination unit determines that a mirror is not ready to move to a mirror up mode, a control unit switches the shutter drive motor to a first braking mode. After the shutter drive motor is switched to the first braking mode, if the first determination unit determines that a mirror is ready to move to the mirror up mode before a second determination unit determines that the shutter drive motor is to be switched to a second braking mode, the control unit switches the shutter drive motor to an open mode until a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the first determination unit determined that the mirror was ready to move to a mirror up mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Kosaka
  • Patent number: 8545115
    Abstract: A blade room for a second blade group is formed between a shutter base plate and a middle plate and a blade room for a first blade group is formed between the middle plate and an auxiliary base plate, by separating a space between the shutter base plate and the auxiliary base plate by the middle plate. A push pin which is planted on the shutter base plate pushes a portion on the lower area of the middle plate toward the auxiliary base plate so that the middle plate bends in the shape of an arc. Also, the area of the middle plate below the exposure aperture has the narrowest width in the portion which is pushed by the push pin and the pushed portion of the middle plate has a shape by which the area of the middle plate below the exposure aperture is easy to bend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Nidec Copal Corporation
    Inventors: Kenta Kawakami, Nobuyoshi Inoue
  • Publication number: 20130202282
    Abstract: After a shutter drive motor drives a shutter to a holding mode, if a first determination unit determines that a mirror is not ready to move to a mirror up mode, a control unit switches the shutter drive motor to a first braking mode. After the shutter drive motor is switched to the first braking mode, if the first determination unit determines that a mirror is ready to move to the mirror up mode before a second determination unit determines that the shutter drive motor is to be switched to a second braking mode, the control unit switches the shutter drive motor to an open mode until a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the first determination unit determined that the mirror was ready to move to a mirror up mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
  • Patent number: 8500343
    Abstract: After a first cam bear has unlocked a blade lever, a second cam gear is driven from a mirror-down position to a mirror-up position. Accordingly, a first blade and a second blade are driven in a direction of opening an aperture by an urging force of a blade return spring before a mirror starts a mirror-up operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuki Niwamae
  • Patent number: 8496389
    Abstract: When a second cam gear and a first cam gear rotate one turn, a shutter device changes to a first state, a second state, and a third state in this order. In the first state, the second cam gear charges a mirror lever drive spring and a blade drive spring, so that the first cam gear holds the blade lever. In the second state, the second cam gear releases charging of the mirror lever drive spring and charges the blade drive spring, so that the first cam gear releases holding of the blade lever. In the third state, the second cam gear releases charging of the mirror lever drive spring and charging of the blade drive spring, so that the first cam gear releases holding of the blade lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroaki Inukai
  • Patent number: 8491203
    Abstract: A shutter base plate is formed with a first shaft parallel to an optical axis of a photographic light flux, and a blade lever rotates about the first shaft to drive a first blade and a second blade. A drive lever rotates about the first shaft to drive the blade lever. A second cam gear rotates about a second shaft formed on the shutter base plate in parallel to the first shaft to charge a mirror drive spring. A first cam gear rotates about a third shaft formed on the shutter base plate in parallel to the first shaft to switch between a state in which the blade lever is held so that the first blade and the second blade close the aperture and a state in which holding of the blade lever is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroaki Inukai
  • Patent number: 8491204
    Abstract: A shutter base plate is formed with a first shaft parallel to an optical axis of a photographic light flux, and a drive lever rotates around the first shaft to drive a first blade and a second blade. A mirror lever rotates around a second shaft parallel to the first shaft to drive a main mirror. A second cam gear rotates around a third shaft parallel to the first shaft to charge a mirror lever drive spring and a blade drive spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroaki Inukai
  • Patent number: 8348526
    Abstract: A focal plane shutter device includes a shutter base plate having an opening part, a front curtain, a first elastic member, a rear curtain, a second elastic member, and a drive unit. The front curtain is movable between a first and second position to cover and uncover the opening. The first urging member is configured to move the front curtain between the first and second positions. The rear curtain is movable between a first and second position to cover and uncover the opening. The second urging member is configured to move the rear curtain between the first and second positions. The drive unit is configured to resist the first and second urging members. The drive unit is also configured to hold the front curtain at the second position when resisting the first urging member and hold the rear curtain at the first position when resisting the second urging member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Dai Shintani
  • Publication number: 20120128343
    Abstract: After a first cam bear has unlocked a blade lever, a second cam gear is driven from a mirror-down position to a mirror-up position. Accordingly, a first blade and a second blade are driven in a direction of opening an aperture by an urging force of a blade return spring before a mirror starts a mirror-up operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuki Niwamae
  • Patent number: 7948552
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus which can remove a dust stuck to a surface of an optical member such as a cover glass or an optical filter without damaging the surface of the optical member, and which can take a good image without imaging shadows of the dust stuck to the surface of the optical member. An image pickup apparatus comprises an optical element, an image pickup device, and a drive unit. The drive unit applies voltage to a non-uniform electric field generating device and moving the non-uniform electric field generating device to scan an optical incidence plane of the optical element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Goro Noto
  • Patent number: 7899319
    Abstract: A camera capable of displaying a live view is disclosed, which has a movable reflecting mirror movable between a viewing position for reflecting a light beam from a photographing lens to guide the light beam to a finder optical system, and a position retracted from an area through which the light beam from the photographing lens passes, and which is configured such that, upon focusing the photographing lens from the state of the live view display, the movable reflecting mirror is driven without charging a shutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Olympus Imaging Corp.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Terada
  • Patent number: 7775728
    Abstract: A focal plane shutter for cameras includes: a shutter blade assembly; an electromagnet assembly; driving means that includes a mounting member mounted with an iron scrap member that cooperates with an iron core member of the electromagnet assembly; and a setting member that operates the driving means to a set position. The iron scrap member includes a shaft fitted in a mounting hole of the mounting member, an iron scrap portion provided at one end of the shaft and brought into contact with the iron core member, and a removal preventing flange provided at the other end of the shaft, a collar member is fitted to the shaft between the mounting hole and the flange, an edge of the mounting hole is formed to have an arcuate surface protruding toward the collar member, and the collar member is formed to have, on the edge side, an arcuate surface protruding toward the flange and substantially perpendicular to the arcuate surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Nidec Copal Corporation
    Inventors: Masakatsu Ichihara, Nobuyoshi Inoue
  • Patent number: 7758258
    Abstract: An image-pickup apparatus includes a mirror moving into and out of an optical path, a shutter mechanism including shutter blades and a shutter-driving spring driving the shutter blades in an open direction, a charge-holding member holding the shutter mechanism with the shutter-driving spring charged, and a hold-releasing member releasing the holding of the shutter mechanism by the charge-holding member. The shutter blades and the charge-holding member are moved in a plane parallel to a light-receiving surface of an image-pickup element. The hold-releasing member is moved in a plane orthogonal to the light-receiving surface of the image-pickup element and drives the mirror in a moving-out direction when releasing the holding of the shutter mechanism. The apparatus has a small configuration associated with driving the shutter mechanism and is appropriate for providing a cleaning mechanism of the image-pickup element by using a movable member different from the shutter blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masato Seita
  • Patent number: 7708477
    Abstract: In the focal plane shutter for cameras, a shutter base plate, an shank for attaching the first blade drive component and the second blade drive component respectively so as to enable to be rotated, an shank for attaching a set component so as to enable to be rotated, and an shank for attaching the first blade and the second blade so as to enable to be rotated respectively are made of synthetic resins. Each of the shanks is fabricated after a shutter base plate was fabricated beforehand, and grooves for sump having cross section of V letter shape are formed at the same interval of angle extending toward the axial direction of the shank at the circumferential side surfaces of the shanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Nidec Copal Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Arai, Shigemi Takahashi, Nobuyoshi Inoue
  • Patent number: 7628550
    Abstract: There is disclosed a single-lens reflex camera which does not drive a movable reflecting mirror when it enters a shooting operation while a live view is being displayed. For example, the rotation direction of a motor controlling the driving of shutter charge and a movable reflecting mirror can differ between a live view state and the other states. Then, a transmission mechanism for transmitting a driving force from the motor to the movable mirror is configured to release its engagement between the motor and the movable mirror when the motor rotates in a direction for the live view state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Olympus Imaging Corp.
    Inventor: Yoichiro Okumura
  • Patent number: 7599722
    Abstract: The portable terminal with camera comprises: a first housing and a second housing which are movably connected to each other; an image pickup device which is arranged in one of the first housing and the second housing; and a conversion lens which is arranged in the other of the first housing and the second housing. In a first state where the first housing and the second housing are laid on each other, the image pickup device and the conversion lens have an identical optical axis so that a focal length of the image pickup device is converted from a focal length in a second state where the first housing and the second housing are arranged to each other differently than the first state. Thus, the focal length can be converted using a simple arrangement, so as to easily switch between image-capturing of a distant object as with ordinary cameras and image-capturing of an operator's face or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Sugio Makishima
  • Patent number: 7435017
    Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a digital single lens reflex camera which includes a motor on a side of a mirror box above a battery storage unit for a detachable battery, such that the motor's output shaft can be substantially perpendicular to the optical axis, which facilitates reduction of the size of the entire camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Eiri Tsukatani
  • Publication number: 20080175583
    Abstract: An image-pickup apparatus includes a mirror moving into and out of an optical path, a shutter mechanism including shutter blades and a shutter-driving spring driving the shutter blades in an open direction, a charge-holding member holding the shutter mechanism with the shutter-driving spring charged, and a hold-releasing member releasing the holding of the shutter mechanism by the charge-holding member. The shutter blades and the charge-holding member are moved in a plane parallel to a light-receiving surface of an image-pickup element. The hold-releasing member is moved in a plane orthogonal to the light-receiving surface of the image-pickup element and drives the mirror in a moving-out direction when releasing the holding of the shutter mechanism. The apparatus has a small configuration associated with driving the shutter mechanism and is appropriate for providing a cleaning mechanism of the image-pickup element by using a movable member different from the shutter blades.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masato Seita
  • Patent number: 7324748
    Abstract: The size of the opening 1094a of the shutter base plate 1094 is set, considering driving amounts of the image sensor 101 and the low pass filter 108 during shake correction, so that the size of the opening 1094a in X-axis direction (Y-axis direction) is set equal to or larger than the sum of the size of the low pass filter 108 and the maximum moving amount of the low pass filter 108 in the X-axis direction (Y-axis direction).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Photo Imaging Inc.
    Inventors: Wataru Abe, Yoshiharu Tanaka, Toshihiko Hirota
  • Patent number: 6494626
    Abstract: A focal plane shutter capable of carrying out electric automatic exposure control and mechanical manual exposure control comprises a selecting member for selecting an automatic exposure position and a plurality of exposure time period positions, a switching member operated by the selecting member for switching a mechanical exposure time period control mechanism in correspondence with respective exposure time period positions, an electromagnetic device for electrically driving the switching member, and an electronic circuit for controlling the electromagnetic device. In operation, when the selecting member is disposed at the automatic exposure position, the switching member is controlled to be driven by the electromagnetic device, and when the selecting member is disposed at an exposure time period position, the switching member is driven by the selecting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Seiko Precision Inc.
    Inventor: Tadashi Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 6394667
    Abstract: Openings 30 are formed in positions that are exposed when the back cover of the camera is opened so that ratchets 14a and 14b of a shutter unit 10 incorporated in a camera body 1 are seen through the openings 30. After external parts such as a cover are attached and the camera is assembled to a substantially finished state, the back cover is opened. Then, inserting a tool through the opening 30, the ratchet 14a or 14b is rotated to perform the final adjustment of the screen speed of the shutter unit 10. After the final adjustment, a perforation detection unit 32 is attached to cover the openings 30.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nobuharu Murashima
  • Patent number: 6390691
    Abstract: A focal-plane shutter for a camera has a base plate having a shutter opening and which is connectable to a body of the camera having a rear cover which can be opened and closed during a film replacement operation. The focal-plane shutter has an opening sector group having sectors for undergoing opening movement in an operational state to open the shutter opening during a shutter release operation, and a closing sector group having sectors for undergoing closing movement in an operational state to close the shutter opening during the shutter release operation. A control device controls the opening sector group and the closing sector group to open and close the shutter opening, respectively. A holding device holds the closing sector group at a nonoperational position during an opening state of the rear cover of the camera and releases the hold of the closing sector group in the nonoperational position during a closing state of the rear cover of the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Seiko Precision Inc.
    Inventor: Tadashi Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 6036378
    Abstract: A focal plane shutter unit includes two pairs of blade units consisting of a plurality of light shielding thin plates, a first plate having a first aperture, a second plate having a second aperture, disposed in a face-to-face relationship with the first plate, and having a part of a film passage path in a surface opposite to the surface on which the first plate is disposed, and a blade housing unit for housing the two pairs of blade units disposed in between the first plate and the second plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Naoyuki Murakami, Masaru Shida
  • Patent number: 5659825
    Abstract: A camera body adapted for use in a single lens reflex (SLR) camera which has a mirror box associated therewith and a mount to removably mount and slidably adjust the placement of the mirror box. The mount allows the mirror box to be slid in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of a photographic lens and the light received thereby. Additionally, a camera body includes a front portion having a mount to affix a photographic lens, and a rear portion having a rail system for allowing a photosensitive film to travel within the rail system. The front portion and the rear portion are integrally formed. Finally, a camera body includes an aperture and related shutter insertion and removal mechanism for allowing easy access to a shutter mechanism of a camera without having to disassemble the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Toshio Dobashi
  • Patent number: 5623711
    Abstract: Guide rails for positioning a film are formed on a shutter block. The guide rails project through an opening in a thin back plate of a camera body to regulate the position of a film drawn from a film cartridge chamber into a spool chamber. A frame aperture formed in the shutter block regulates the exposable area of a frame of film. The shutter block is fixable to a box-shaped mirror housing, which is then fixed to the camera body and a supporting plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1997
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masayuki Misawa