Hood Patents (Class 396/534)
  • Patent number: 11899508
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a camera and a terminal device. The camera can include a lens module that can be configured to move along its axis. The camera can further include an optical element, and the lens module moves toward or away from the optical element along its axis to adjust a distance between the optical element and the lens module. The camera can also include a light shielding component and a connecting structure, and the lens module is connected to the light shielding component through the connecting structure, the lens module moves along its axis, and drives the light shielding component to move through the connecting structure, to adjust a size of an opening of the light shielding component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yiwei Guo
  • Patent number: 11256160
    Abstract: An eyecup of an eyecup mounting mechanism includes an eye rubber, a fixing member that holds the eye rubber in a predetermined position, a movable member held movably by the fixing member, and an elastic member that presses the movable member against the fixing member to fix the movable member to the fixing member, and wherein a mounting member provided in the camera body is fitted between the fixing member and the movable member against a pressing force of the elastic member, and the mounting member is sandwiched by the fixing member and the movable member, for the purpose of providing a highly reliable eyecup mounting mechanism and an optical apparatus including the eyecup mounting mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Oki, Takuya Amano
  • Patent number: 10298906
    Abstract: A camera attachment apparatus for attaching to a mobile computing device having an integrated camera includes a house, a slide plate, an aperture, and an illumination system. The housing has a shape to mount on the mobile computing device. The slide plate is disposed within the housing and has a stowed position and a deployed position. The aperture is disposed in the slide plate. The illumination system is disposed on the slide plate. The slide plate is configured to align the aperture over the integrated camera when moved to the deployed position and does not obstruct the integrated camera in the stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Verily Life Sciences LLC
    Inventors: Peter Smith, Eric Peeters, Benjamin Krasnow
  • Patent number: 10136037
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a camera sensor and a lens hood. The camera sensor may be configured to capture video data of an environment near the apparatus. The lens hood may be configured to reduce an amount of glare from a light source. A lens effect results in a distortion of the video data captured by the camera sensor. An edge of the lens hood comprises a curvature corresponding to the distortion resulting from the lens effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: KUNA SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sean Keenan, Noah Washington
  • Patent number: 10117309
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a battery, a power adapter and a base. The battery may be configured to provide a power source. The power adapter may be configured to (a) receive AC power, (b) provide the AC power to a device and (c) convert the AC power to DC power. The power adapter may be implemented in a socket adapter for the device. The base may comprise a circuit and a camera sensor. The circuit may be configured to provide a connection to (i) the camera sensor, (ii) the battery and (iii) the DC power. Video data captured by the camera sensor may be sent via wireless communication. The circuit may be configured to generate control signals for activation of (i) the device and (ii) components of the circuit. The power source may provide power to the circuit and the camera sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: KUNA SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sai-Wai Fu, Haomiao Huang
  • Patent number: 9654678
    Abstract: The present invention concerns an apparatus comprising a shade, a camera sensor and a base. The camera sensor may be configured to capture video data of a surrounding environment of the apparatus. The base may be configured to enclose a circuit. The circuit may be configured to provide (i) an electrical connection to (a) the camera sensor and (b) components of the circuit, (ii) a connection between a power source and an external device, and (iii) control signals for activation of (a) the external device and (b) the components of the circuit. The circuit comprises an antenna module configured to connect and send data to a network through a wireless connection. The video data is sent as the data through the wireless connection. The camera sensor is positioned in a bottom part of the base that extends below the shade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Kuna Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Sai-Wai Fu, Haomiao Huang
  • Patent number: 9049279
    Abstract: A mobile terminal is provided. The mobile terminal includes a terminal body having a case defining an appearance of the terminal body, the case having at least one opening, a window disposed to shield the opening and a support frame located within the case, the window being mounted on the support frame. The support frame includes a first member to which the window is coupled and a second member integrally formed with the first member, the second member being coupled to the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Taewha Choi, Sanghee Nam, Hyoungwook Lim, Insu Park
  • Publication number: 20150110483
    Abstract: A camera accessory comprising a frame 34 having an opening for the lens, a filter holder rotatably attached to the frame, and at least one sunshade 6-8 attached to the frame, whereas the filter holder comprises a ring 13/14 with outer diameter matching the diameter of the frame opening, whereas the ring has an opening of a diameter sufficiently larger than the lens diameter to prevent the ring being visible in the frame when using the accessory, whereas the filter holder has a filter slot 15/16 attached to the ring on one side of the frame, and a lens ring attachment element 14 attached to the ring on the other side of the frame, whereas the frame and sunshade are rotatable around the longitudinal axis of the lens independent of rotating the filter holder around the longitudinal axis of the lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventor: Viktor KOSHKIN
  • Publication number: 20150104164
    Abstract: A camera body includes a flare cutter, a front case, and a control board. The flare cutter includes a first opening. The front case is disposed facing a first face of the flare cutter, and includes a second opening at a position facing the first opening. The control board is disposed on a second face of the flare cutter that is opposite the first face. When the flare cutter is viewed from outside of the front case, a part of the control board does not overlap with the flare cutter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventor: Koji YASUDA
  • Patent number: 8885016
    Abstract: An omnidirectional camera comprises a camera assembly 2 having two or more horizontal camera units 6 provided radiantly and a cover 4 for accommodating the camera assembly, and in the omnidirectional camera, a lens hole 37, through which an objective lens of the horizontal camera units come out, is formed on the cover, a lens hood 38 is provided on the cover concentrically with the lens hole, the lens hood has a shape of surface which does not intercept a field angle of the horizontal camera units, and a maximum height of the lens hood is larger than a protruding amount of the objective lens from the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha TOPCON
    Inventors: Jun Sasagawa, Hirokazu Yamada
  • Publication number: 20140248045
    Abstract: A camera apparatus includes: a cover that has transparency; a rotatable camera unit that is provided inside the cover; a shade plate portion that includes a shade plate capable of partially shading light incident on the camera unit, wherein a position of the shade plate is rotatable; a control unit that is configured to control rotation of the camera unit and the position of the shade plate; and a memory that stores posture information including an imaging direction of the camera unit and positional information on the shade plate in association with each other. The control unit controls a direction of the camera unit based on the posture information stored in the memory and controls the position of the shade plate based on the positional information on the shade plate stored in the memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jyouji WADA, Yoshihito URASHIMA, Masahito OKA, Yuuya JIKIHARA, Hirofumi ENOMOTO
  • Patent number: 8506183
    Abstract: Disclosed is a hood-cover combination for a lens of a camera. The hood-cover combination includes a hood, two covers and at least one button. The hood includes at least one canopy formed thereon. The covers are pivotally connected to the hood between an opening position and a closing position. The button is provided on the hood. The button is normally in a locking position for locking the covers in the opening position. The button is movable to a releasing position for allowing the pivoting of the cover to the opening position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Inventor: Chung Jen Chang
  • Patent number: 8475063
    Abstract: A lens cap includes a ring detachably mounted onto a lens of an optical apparatus and a pair of linkage sets pivotally connected to the ring, wherein the two linkage sets are diametrically corresponding to each other and respectively connected to a covering structure. A sleeve is longitudinally and slidably sleeved on the ring and the covering structure is connected to sleeve. As a result, the covering structure selectively opens/closes the sleeve when the sleeve is reciprocally moved relative to the ring. The covering structure and the sleeve are used as a lens cap when the covering structure closing the sleeve, and used as a lens hood when the covering structure is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Inventor: Chung Jen Chang
  • Publication number: 20130051784
    Abstract: Disclosed is a hood-cover combination for a lens of a camera. The hood-cover combination includes a hood, two covers and at least one button. The hood includes at least one canopy formed thereon. The covers are pivotally connected to the hood between an opening position and a closing position. The button is provided on the hood. The button is normally in a locking position for locking the covers in the opening position. The button is movable to a releasing position for allowing the pivoting of the cover to the opening position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Inventor: Chung Jen Chang
  • Patent number: 8335427
    Abstract: A camera viewfinder accessory mount in accordance with the invention includes a receiver mountable at least in part around a camera viewfinder frame. Thread units extend from the receiver. The thread units are defined by extensions having outside threads and inside geometric surfaces. A body portion of the accessory mount has a receiver end for matingly fitting the receiver, and a distal accessory end. The body portion further includes an indexing periphery having a peripheral shape for cooperating with the inside geometric surfaces of the thread units. The body portion also includes a stop radially extending from the periphery and spacedly disposed from the receiver end. A tightening wheel of the accessory mount has internal threads cooperable with the outside threads of the thread units to tighten the body portion receiver end to the camera viewfinder frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Hoodman Corporation
    Inventors: Louis J. Schmidt, Michael R. Schmidt, Robert P. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8280241
    Abstract: Disclosed is a hood-cover combination for a lens of a camera. The hood-cover combination includes a hood for detachable attachment to a portion of the camera around the lens, a frame rotationally located in the hood, two covers pivotally connected to the frame and two springs for biasing the covers from the frame so that the frame is kept open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Inventor: Chung Jen Chang
  • Publication number: 20120162483
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for combining a mobile communication device having a camera (150) that includes a curved sensor (160) are disclosed. The present invention offers higher quality pictures that conventional phones that incorporate a flat sensor. These higher quality pictures are obtained without the need for large, bulky and expensive lenses. Higher light gathering capacity is provided, which reduces or eliminates the need for a flash to enhance ambient illumination. Longer battery life is obtained, since the need for a flash is reduced or eliminated. The combination of a mobile communication device with a camera that utilizes a curved sensor renders dedicated pocket cameras obsolete. The present invention, which, for the first time, combines a mobile communication device with a high performance camera, will reduce or eliminate the need to carry a separate stand-alone camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Gary Edwin Sutton, Douglas Gene Lockie
  • Patent number: 8111984
    Abstract: A matte box assembly is arranged for use with a camera rig including a camera body supported on a pair of parallel and spaced apart mounting rails extending in a longitudinal direction. The matte box assembly includes a matte frame surrounding a lens opening for alignment with the camera lens and a filter mount to support a lens filter spanning the lens opening. A support frame is arranged to be mounted on the mounting rails of the camera rig onto which the matter frame is supported for pivotal movement about a vertical axis between an in-use position aligned with the camera lens and an out-of-use position offset to one side of the camera lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Inventor: Dennis Wood
  • Patent number: 8000598
    Abstract: A lens assembly includes a brush-like baffle between the lens and a transparent cover. The baffle at least partially surrounds the lens to prevent stray light from entering and causing flare or other image artifacts. If the baffle does not entirely surround the lens structure, an adjustment mechanism may be provided to rotate the baffle so as to “tune” a flare reduction effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Tsai
  • Patent number: 7883222
    Abstract: A lens hood for a camera, includes a sun shade projecting in front of the camera lens and/or at least one hood wing which can pivot about a vertical or horizontal pivot axis. Included is a three-dimensional structure with a basket-like holder for the sun shade and a fastening means, which defines the vertical or horizontal pivot axis and can pivot, for the hood wing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Arnold & Richter Cine Technik GmbH & Co. Betriebs KG
    Inventors: James Elias, Peter Giegerich
  • Patent number: 7831142
    Abstract: A camera viewfinder accessory mounting device is disclosed for a camera viewfinder including an outwardly projecting frame surrounding a viewing window and having opposed mounting members on opposite sides of the window. The device includes a body portion having a viewing opening and cooperative mounting members for slideably engaging the opposed mounting members of the frame. The body portion includes a stop adjacent one end of the cooperative mounting members, and a catch disposed between the cooperative mounting members at another end of the cooperative mounting members and extending perpendicular thereto. The device is slideable over the camera viewfinder frame along the mounting members and the catch latches the frame to secure the device on the viewfinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Hoodman Corporation
    Inventor: Robert P. Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20100111518
    Abstract: A camera viewfinder accessory mounting device is disclosed for a camera viewfinder including an outwardly projecting frame surrounding a viewing window and having opposed mounting members on opposite sides of the window. The device includes a body portion having a viewing opening and cooperative mounting members for slideably engaging the opposed mounting members of the frame. The body portion includes a stop adjacent one end of the cooperative mounting members, and a catch disposed between the cooperative mounting members at another end of the cooperative mounting members and extending perpendicular thereto. The device is slideable over the camera viewfinder frame along the mounting members and the catch latches the frame to secure the device on the viewfinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventor: Robert P. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 7692718
    Abstract: A video camera light shield for use with a video camera which has an adjustable hood component covering the LCD monitor and lens of a video camera, wherein the hood component is a two-section hood component adjustably slidable front to rear, with a two-piece front plate attached to the two-piece hood component which is adjustably side to side to adjust the light shield to more effectively fit to a variety of different video camera styles and sizes for best performance results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Inventor: Rolando Gonzales
  • Patent number: 7616392
    Abstract: A lens barrel that configures an imaging apparatus by being detachably attached to an imaging apparatus main body includes a lens barrel in which an imaging lens is formed and a connecting section to the imaging apparatus main body is formed on one end side in an optical axis direction of the imaging lens and a grip section provided on a side surface of the lens barrel and gripped by a camera operator during imaging. The grip section projects from the side surface of the lens barrel further to a side surface of the apparatus main body than an end face on the connecting section side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Ei Igarashi, Hibiki Yoshikawa, Yoshiyuki Kamata, Keisuke Ishii
  • Patent number: 7616887
    Abstract: A video camera monitor shield for use with a video camera which has a hood for covering the LCD monitor of a video camera, a base member with an upward extending rod at its front to which the hood adjustably connects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Inventor: Rolando Gonzales
  • Patent number: 7486887
    Abstract: A protective device to protect a camera view finder and one kind of LCD protective device, which consists of a frame and a light screen installed on a frame. The frame is a separate structure. A transparent plate is installed in the middle part of the frame and a rotatable light screen is set on the frame, which can be folded through rotation. A rotatable cover plate on the other side of the frame can cover the folded light screen. An adhesive substance on the surface connects the frame to the camera body. This structure improves the view finder from strong light scattering while the camera is in use, and at the same time, provides protection for the view finder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Inventor: Yongzhong Tian
  • Patent number: 7440693
    Abstract: In order to grasp an image capturing range, an image monitor is used for recognizing the range. A camera device of the present invention has a configuration that, depending on the shape and position of a shield unit that limits a range where a display lamp is visible, the range where the display lamp is visible is limited, and by making the range where the display lamp is visible and the angle of view of the camera coincident with each other, a subject can recognize to be within the image capturing angle of view during an image capturing process when the subject is in a range where the display lamp is visible and, also, can recognize to be out of the image capturing angle of view when the subject is located at a position where the display lamp is invisible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takamitsu Kouchi, Kazumi Teratani, Hirofumi Takemasa
  • Patent number: 7424214
    Abstract: A push-pull type camera module for a portable wireless terminal in which a hollow outer lens barrel is installed in the portable wireless terminal, a push-pull switch is installed in the outer barrel, an inner barrel is installed in the outer barrel, the inner barrel extending from or retracting to the outer barrel by the push-pull switch, a lens assembly is exposed at an outer surface of the inner barrel, the lens assembly taking a picture when the inner barrel is extended, a first switching module detects the extension and retraction of the inner barrel, and a second switching module detects rotation of the extended inner barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Han-Sik Kim, Jong-Hwan Kim
  • Patent number: 7386229
    Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, an LCD screen hood is provided for use with digital cameras. The hood includes a hood tube that defines a light blocking sidewall having an open camera end and an opposite viewing end and enclosing a longitudinally extending viewpath therebetween. An eyepiece mounted on the viewing end includes an eyepiece lens for enlarging an image on an associated LCD screen disposed at the camera end of the hood tube. An eye cup is mounted on the eyepiece for shielding the eyepiece lens from ambient light. An objective tube fixed to the hood tube carries a three piece objective lens mounted between the eyepiece lens and the camera end of the hood tube. Magnification of the eyepiece lens varies as appropriate between 1× and 2.5×. Rotation of the eyepiece tube provides for diopter adjuxtment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Hoodman Corporation
    Inventors: Louis J. Schmidt, Robert P. Schmidt, Michael R. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 7352387
    Abstract: To provide a camera that is suited to shoot both a demagnified image and a magnified image. The camera includes a housing body 11 containing a CCD 15, and a lens barrel 12. An abutted member 20 having an objective lens 40 therein is engaged with the lens barrel 12 and a rotatable manually-controlled member 30 is fitted around that lens barrel. The abutted member 20 moves back and forth in the direction of an optical axis K in response to the rotation of the manually-controlled member 30. A user moves the objective lens 40 back and forth by moving the abutted member 20 back and forth to shoot either a demagnified image or a magnified image. A demagnified image is photographed with the abutted member 20 contained in the lens barrel 12. A magnified image is photographed with the abutted member 20 projected from the lens barrel 12. An end of the abutted member 20 is positioned so that the focal point of the objective lens 40 falls on the center thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Scaler Corporation
    Inventor: Masao Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20080075455
    Abstract: A dimmer includes a window panel connected to a viewing screen area of a device with light-shielding plates provided thereon, the light-shielding plates including a plurality of plates respectively hinged at window edges of the window panel. A window of the window panel is closed off when each plate is folded, while a light-shielding structure is formed in front of the screen when each plate is straightened up. Torsion springs or the like automatically straighten up the left and right side plates and are respectively provided at hinged positions of the two plates and the like. A flat-plate magnifying lens, whose pulled-out end projects from the edge opposite to the hinged edge of the upper plate is slidably fitted in a sandwiched cavity. The flat-plate lens is positioned right in front of the screen when it is pulled out and folded downwardly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Inventor: Biguang Lin
  • Publication number: 20070230949
    Abstract: A thread structure for an optical lens comprises a plastic lens barrel, and the thread structure is formed on an outer surface of the lens barrel. In each single circle of the thread structure there is a normal thread and a partial withdraw thread. The partial withdraw thread is located on a longitudinal parting line of the thread structure, a top diameter and a pitch circle diameter of the partial withdraw thread are smaller than those of the normal thread, the thread structure is provided with ribs that are located at the root of a first normal thread close to the front end of the lens barrel. The withdraw thread produces an interval between the thread structure and the base, thus preventing the burrs on the parting surface from contacting the inner threads of the base and causing powder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Inventors: Andy LIU, Michael Tsai
  • Patent number: 7161749
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus is provided. The image pickup apparatus permitting a conversion lens to be mounted and dismounted, wherein a lens hood is composed of a base portion on the mounting side and a tubular portion on the front side, the base portion and the tubular portion are detachably coupled to each other, and another lens is contained in the inside of the lens hood when the another lens is mounted on the front side of an optical system, whereby even when the conversion lens is being used, the lens hood can be used as it is, and the incident light contracting function of the lens hood can be maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Nobumasa Sakurai, Yukio Yamada, Kaizo Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 7104658
    Abstract: A cup for an eyepiece of an optical observation instrument, comprises a peripheral wall which includes an eyepiece-connecting section for connection of the cup to an eyepiece, a transition section which adjoins the eyepiece-connecting section, a light-protecting attachment which, by way of a sectional part of the transition section, is joined to a side of the transition section that is turned away from the eyepiece-connecting section; a sight hole which is laterally defined by the peripheral wall; the peripheral wall being movable into a first, non-folded end position for someone who does not wear spectacles for preclusion of any incidence of stray light upon an eyepiece lens, and into a second, folded end position for spectacle wearers; and into a third stable position of ventilation, located between the first and the second end position, for someone not wearing spectacles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Steiner-Optik GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Fischbach, Carl Steiner
  • Patent number: 7034877
    Abstract: A protective device for a digital camera view finder of the LCD screen type includes a frame adapted to fit around edges of the viewfinder having connectors for connecting the frame to edges of the viewfinder, and a window viewing portion surrounded and supported by the frame providing unobstructed viewing of the LCD screen through the window. A glare reduction device is connectable to the protective device to provide glare free viewing of the LCD screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Hoodman Corporation
    Inventor: Robert P. Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20040151492
    Abstract: A camera lens shading device includes a shell. The shell has a mounting clamp for mounting the shell on a camera. The shell has a substantially concave inner surface with an opening for passing light to a camera lens. The shell has a first axis of symmetry. The shell further includes at least a first shade element positioned at the inside of the shell, of which a first edge is pivotally mounted next to the opening. The first edge is substantially parallel to the first axis of symmetry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2004
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Inventors: Fred Blok, Bastiaan Ladru
  • Patent number: 6742940
    Abstract: A shading device employed in a lens barrel having a plurality of lens groups includes a plurality of substantially tubular shading members provided between a first lens group and a second lens group that move relative to each other along the optical axis and overlap each other along the optical axis so as to allow the shading device to achieve a telescopic function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Norikatsu Konno, Hitoshi Imanari, Hideo Kanno, Kazumitsu Takezawa
  • Publication number: 20040091259
    Abstract: A photographic apparatus is disclosed for use with a stereoscopic microscope having at least two observation light paths for obtaining at least two images having parallax, with the photographic apparatus guiding a light flux that has been split from one of the observation optical paths. The photographic apparatus includes: a connecting part that may be connected to the stereoscopic microscope; at least two image pickup elements, each having an image receiving surface; a beam splitter positioned in an optical path between the connecting part and the at least two image receiving surfaces; and an image relay optical system in each light flux following the beam splitter. Each image relay optical system relays an intermediate image that is formed in each light flux following the beam splitter to a respective one of the at least two image receiving surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2003
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventor: Toyoharu Hanzawa
  • Patent number: 6687460
    Abstract: A telescopically extendible focusing hood which improves the viewing of the LCD screen of a digital camera in bright surrounding light. The focusing hood can be fixed to the rear wall of the camera, surrounding the LCD screen. The focusing hood preferably has an anti-reflection-coated enlarging lens or glass disk which covers the entire cross-section of the focusing hood in parallel to the fixing plane. In its extended state, the focusing hood can be used with a single lens in the manner of a 35 mm camera finder. When the enlarging lens is pushed in, the focusing hood can be used with two lenses for assessing the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Inventor: Jochen Müller
  • Patent number: 6657794
    Abstract: A movable lens hood mechanism of a zoom lens includes a plurality of lens groups guided linearly in a direction of an optical axis to change a focal length of the zoom lens; a first cam barrel rotatably driven to move the plurality of lens groups in the optical axis direction; a movable hood barrel having a photographic aperture positioned in front of the frontmost lens group and guided linearly in the optical axis direction; and a feed mechanism which drives the movable hood barrel forward/rearward in the optical axis direction relative to the frontmost lens group by rotation of the first cam barrel so that a space between the photographic aperture of the movable lens hood and the frontmost lens group in the optical axis direction varies in accordance with a variation of a focal length of the zoom lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Pentax Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nomura, Nobuaki Aoki, Yoshihiro Yamazaki, Satoru Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6614481
    Abstract: A hood device 10 is provided for a two-dimensionally-scanning camera 20. The scanning camera 20 includes a body housing 22 and an image pickup optical system 28 housed in the body housing 22 for capturing an image in the field of view. The scanning camera 20 has a finder screen 36 provided on the top surface of the body housing 22. The body housing 22 further has a photographing window 30 formed therein, through which environmental light may enter the image pickup optical system 28 so as to form an image to be captured by the scanning camera 20. The hood device 10 comprises a hood mechanism 42 coupled to the body housing 22 and movable between first and second positions. The hood mechanism 42, when in the first position, covers the finder screen 36 and close the photographing window 30. The hood mechanism 42, when in the second position, uncovers the finder screen 36, leaves the photographing window 30 open and partially surrounds the finder screen 36 for shading it from environmental light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Pentax Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiko Sasaki
  • Patent number: 6597873
    Abstract: A lens hood based on modular structure having at least one adapter module and at least one hood module, where each of the adapter modules is continuously fastened to each of lenses, each of the hood modules has double layer structure for the hood length extension, and any of the hood modules is detachably attachable to any of the adapter modules with an single identical attachment interface in an operation state, and is foldable in a store state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Inventor: Keiji Doi
  • Publication number: 20030091346
    Abstract: A shading device employed in a lens barrel having a plurality of lens groups includes a plurality of substantially tubular shading members provided between a first lens group and a second lens group that move relative to each other along the optical axis and overlap each other along the optical axis so as to allow the shading device to achieve a telescopic function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Norikatsu Konno, Hitoshi Imanari, Hideo Kanno, Kazumitsu Takezawa
  • Publication number: 20030063909
    Abstract: A lens hood based on modular structure having at least one adapter module and at least one hood module, where each of the adapter modules is continuously fastened to each of lenses, each of the hood modules has double layer structure for the hood length extension, and any of the hood modules is detachably attachable to any of the adapter modules with an single identical attachment interface in an operation state, and is foldable in a store state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Publication date: April 3, 2003
    Inventor: Keiji Doi
  • Publication number: 20020159775
    Abstract: The invention relates to a telescopically extendible focusing hood which improves the viewing of the LCD screen of a digital camera in bright surrounding light. Said focusing hood can be fixed to the rear wall of the camera, surrounding the LCD screen. The focusing hood preferably has an anti-reflection-coated enlarging lens or glass disk which covers the entire cross-section of the focusing hood in the fixing plane. In its extended state, the focusing hood can be used with a single lens in the manner of a 35 mm camera finder. When the enlarging lens is pushed in, the focusing hood can be used with two lenses for assessing the image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2001
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Inventor: Jochen Muller
  • Patent number: 6453125
    Abstract: A camera including a liquid crystal display is provided with a light interception hood mounting portion corresponding to the liquid crystal display, and a light interception hood which is detachably attached to the light interception hood mounting portion. The light interception hood is provided with a hood body which prevents external light entering the liquid crystal display when the light interception hood is attached to the light interception hood mounting portion, and a magnifier through which the liquid crystal display can be viewed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tetsuji Shono
  • Publication number: 20020097997
    Abstract: A shading hood member for a digital camera, which can easily be attached to a liquid crystal monitor of a digital camera of the existing type, and which has a simple structure and is compact in size, and which can be manufactured at low cost, is disclosed. The shading hood member is detachably attached to the liquid crystal monitor in such a manner as to cover the periphery of the liquid crystal screen of the liquid crystal monitor that is openably provided on the outside surface of a camera body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2001
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Inventor: Masao Izawa
  • Patent number: 6389238
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes an outer barrel including a lens-hood mount portion at the front end of the outer barrel, a lens hood being detachably attached to the lens-hood mount portion; an inner barrel including a filter mount portion at the front end of the inner barrel and positioned inside the outer barrel to be rotatable about an optical axis relative to the outer barrel; and a manually rotatable structure adopted to rotate the inner barrel from the outside of the outer barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroaki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6269227
    Abstract: A lid (40) with which an opening (35) in a lens hood (30) is made open or closed is rotatably supported by a hinge pin (47) that is supported at both ends on pin support portions (37) of the lens hood (30) and which is passed through pin insertion holes (44). When the lid (40) closes the opening (35), retainer lugs (42) of the lid (40) retain stoppers (36) of the lens hood (30) to keep the opening (35) closed. If the stoppers (36) are removed from the constraint by the retainer lugs (42) and the lid (40) is turned about the hinge pin (47) under the urging force exerted by the spring (48), the lid (40) is brought to a state where it makes the opening 35 open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takuji Hamasaki, Hiroaki Suzuki, Makoto Iikawa, Kazunori Ishizuka, Kazuhiro Hattori
  • Patent number: 6243540
    Abstract: A lens barrel assembly includes a lens barrel and a lens hood detachably mounted on the lens barrel. A lens barrel includes a mounting threaded portion and three guide rails at three circularly equally spaced positions around the lens barrel. Each guide rail is provided with a forward latch and a rearward latch. The lens hood is constructed of an elastically deformable member, and has a notch to be engaged with the rail. The lens hood is in sliding engagement with the outer circumference of the lens barrel, and is movable between a retracted position and a photographing position. At each position, the lens hood is locked by the respective latch. The lens hood is easily shifted to the photographing position or to the retracted position along the lens barrel, and is also easily attached to and detached from a camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideaki Kume, Kunio Yokoyama