Abstract: The present invention relates to an aperture unit having an optical axis. The aperture unit includes a fixed portion, a guiding element, a first blade and a driving assembly. The guiding element is movably connected to the fixed portion, and the first blade is movably connected to the guiding element and the fixed portion. The driving assembly is disposed on the guiding element for driving the guiding element to move relative to the fixed portion in a first moving dimension. When the guiding element moves relative to the fixed portion in the first moving dimension, the first blade is driven by the guiding element to move relative to the fixed portion in a second moving dimension, and the first moving dimension and the second moving dimension are different.

Abstract: A body-mountable image capture device comprising a device body and a cover slidably mounted onto the device body, the device body comprising a camera, the cover sliding between a first position and a second position such that in the first position the camera is concealed and in the second position the camera is exposed. The body-mountable image capture device comprises activation means operable to initiate the camera when the cover is in the second position and the camera is exposed. The orientation of the camera is adjustable with respect to that of the device body such that the orientation of the camera can be maintained. The orientation of the camera may be automatically adjusted to keep the field of view generally horizontal. The camera may automatically rotate left and right in a horizontal plane responsive to movement of a head mounted sensor to thereby track a user's head movements.

Abstract: A shutter arrangement for covering a camera lens includes a camera lens cover that is movable in a plane along a first direction between a first closed position and a second opened position. In the first closed position, the camera lens cover substantially covers the camera lens and in the second opened position, the camera lens is substantially uncovered. The shutter arrangement also includes a movable cover that moves between a first position and a second position which displaces the movable cover from the plane.

Abstract: A shutter apparatus mounted in an image sensing apparatus, the shutter apparatus comprising: a blade member configured to open/close an opening through which light from an object passes, and control an aperture area of the opening; and a driving unit capable of first and second driving controls, the first driving control driving the blade member to serve as a stop, and the second driving control driving the blade member to serve as a shutter, wherein when the object is captured by an image sensor, the driving unit temporarily drives the blade member in an opening direction from a first position, to which the blade member is driven in a closing direction to serve as a stop, and then activates the blade member to a fully closing position.

Abstract: A continuous variable non-circular aperture for an infra-red camera is formed by a plurality of positionable metal blades arranged to define there between an aperture of non-circular shape. A rotatable actuator plate positions the blades. Actuator rotation in one direction moves the metal blades to increase the size of the non-circular aperture without changing the non-circular shape of the aperture and vice-versa when the actuator plate is rotated in the opposite direction also maintaining the non-circular aperture shape. A preferred non-circular shape for a continuous variable aperture now possible is a rectangle; another is configured as a racetrack.

Abstract: A blade drive device includes: a board including an optical path opening; first and second blades cooperatively defining an amount of light passing through the optical path opening to a given amount of light. The first blade includes a first opening. The second blade includes: a first cutout portion defining the amount of light in cooperation with the first opening; and a second cutout portion defining the amount of light in cooperation with the first opening. The second cutout portion overlaps the first blade when the first cutout portion and the first opening cooperatively define the amount of light.

Abstract: A diaphragm device is provided and includes: a diaphragm mechanism having a diaphragm vane and a diaphragm frame receiving the diaphragm vane; a diaphragm-mechanism cover fixed to a lens barrel to which the diaphragm mechanism is attached, the diaphragm-mechanism cover clamping the diaphragm mechanism with a receiving surface of the lens barrel. The diaphragm mechanism and the diaphragm-mechanism cover are inserted in the lens barrel through a side surface of the lens barrel, and a part of the diaphragm mechanism and a part of the diaphragm-mechanism cover protruding outward relative to the side surface of the lens barrel. The diaphragm device further includes a supporting member in a portion of the diaphragm mechanism protruding outward relative to the side surface of the lens barrel, the supporting member supporting the diaphragm mechanism in a direction of the diaphragm mechanism detachable from the lens barrel.

Abstract: A light-amount adjusting apparatus includes two aperture diaphragms that move in such a direction that the two aperture diaphragms come close or get away with respect to an optical axis of an incident light to adjust a size of an aperture opening. At least one of the two aperture diaphragms includes an optical filter having a predetermined light transmittance characteristic. The optical filter freely advances and retreats in a direction of the aperture opening in conjunction with a movement of the aperture diaphragm.

Abstract: Disclosed is a light amount adjusting apparatus for an image pickup apparatus which is capable of reducing the force with which a plate member and a blade member are held in close contact with each other and driving the blade member smoothly even in a high-humidity condition. The light amount adjusting apparatus includes a base plate 5 having an opening 5a, a blade member 1 movable within a range including a position where the blade member overlaps the opening 5a in a light axis direction and restricting the amount of light passing through the opening 5a by overlapping the opening 5a, and a plate member 2 adjacent to the blade member 1 and having a cut portion 2a at a position where the plate member overlaps the blade member 1 in the light axis direction in a state in which the blade member 1 is at a predetermined position.

Abstract: A light controller includes a substrate that has an optical path opening; at least a pair of blades that is reciprocally supported on the substrate and opens and closes the optical path opening; and a driver unit that drives the opening and closing of the pair of blades. The pair of blades is displaced movably on the substrate between an open position where the optical path opening is opened and a closed position where the optical path opening is closed by overlapping with each other. The driver unit and the pair of blades are connected for driving by a transmission unit, and the transmission unit transmits drive power such that one of the pair of blades can be moved at a higher speed than the other blade within a predetermined travel range between the open position and closed position.

Abstract: Provided is a light amount control device eliminating a deviation in image forming position over the entire area of the variable range of an aperture due to an ND filter and assuring smooth stopping operation. The light amount control device of the present invention includes: a first shading member and a second shading member which are adapted to move within a plane perpendicular to an optical axis to vary an area of a light passage opening; a lever member which is connected with the first shading member and the second shading member and which is rotatable; an actuator for driving the lever member; and an ND filter mounted to the first shading member. The ND filter is configured to cover an entirety of the light passage opening in an open state, and the second shading member has a guard portion which, with the light passage opening being in a closed state, is arranged between the lever member and the ND filter, preventing the ND filter from coming into contact with the lever member.

Abstract: There is disclosed a light amount adjustment apparatus for adjusting a state of a flux passed through an aperture having a predetermined aperture diameter, the apparatus comprising: a light amount adjustment member in which a first region having a predetermined transmittance to the flux and a second region for blocking the flux are disposed on the same base material. In the light amount adjustment apparatus, although an optical filter is integrally constituted with a diaphragm blade, there is little positional shift of an ND filter, a shape of the ND filter has a degree of freedom, deterioration of resolution of an image is improved for use in optical apparatuses such as a photographing apparatus, optical properties are superior, the whole apparatus can be miniaturized, and cost reduction of a product can be achieved.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a camera having a shutter mechanism; actuating means for actuating the shutter mechanism; and, an aperture selecting assembly that is movable from an initial mode position to at least a first mode position. Also disclosed is an aperture selector assembly that is coupled to the shutter actuating mechanism and includes a slide that is selectively movable from an initial mode position to one of a plurality of aperture selecting positions. During slide movement to the desired aperture setting, the strobe is energized and the energy to operate the shutter is stored in a spring. At the desired position, the selector slide is detented by a first clasping device until a shutter button is actuated for releasing the shutter and firing the strobe. A second clasping device becomes operative during shutter actuation to hold the slide in position even though the detent of the first clasping device has been released.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus with an exposure controlling mechanism being made to define an iris aperture by moving iris blades on surfaces perpendicular to an optical axis, wherein the exposure controlling mechanism includes a first iris blade to which a first ND filter having at least two levels of transmissivity is attached, a second iris blade to which no ND filter is attached, and a third iris blade to which a second ND filter having a single transmissivity is attached, and the first to the third iris blades are made to differ respectively in amounts and phases of their displacements caused by an operation of a driving means.

Abstract: A quantity-of-light adjusting device includes a drive source, a base member having an opening formed therein, and a blade arranged to move by being driven by the drive source and having three openings formed therein side by side in a row in a moving direction of the blade, wherein, among the three openings formed in the blade, the opening situated in the middle of the row is larger than the opening formed in the base member.

Abstract: A quantity-of-light adjusting device includes a drive source, a base member having an opening formed therein, and a blade arranged to move by being driven by the drive source and having three openings formed therein side by side in a row in a moving direction of the blade, wherein, among the three openings formed in the blade, the opening situated in the middle of the row is larger than the opening formed in the base member.

Abstract: A light-quantity controlling device includes a driving source, a first light-quantity controlling member driven by the driving source and having a first elongated opening extending in a direction of movement of the first light-quantity controlling member, and a second light-quantity controlling member driven by the driving source in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the first light-quantity controlling member and having a second elongated opening extending in the direction of movement of the second light-quantity controlling member. The light-quantity controlling device also includes a supporting member configured to support the first and second light-quantity controlling members and having an opening therein. The first and second elongated openings intersect each other at the opening provided in the supporting member when the first and second light-quantity controlling members are driven by the driving source.

Abstract: The space required in the vicinity of a shutter aperture can be reduced to achieve an overall reduction in size of a device by providing a diaphragm mechanism for covering the shutter aperture formed of a plurality of members cooperating with each other to cover the shutter aperture. By cooperation of a small-diaphragm plate having a diaphragm aperture formed therethrough smaller in diameter than the shutter aperture and an auxiliary plate, for example, a space reduction is facilitated. The small-diaphragm plate is pivotably mounted adjacent one side of the shutter aperture. The auxiliary plate has a shape that cooperates with the convex-arcuate portion to cover the shutter aperture. When the small-diaphragm plate and the auxiliary plate are driven by the diaphragm actuating member and moved to a first position covering the shutter aperture, the two plate cooperate to fully cover the shutter aperture.