Patents Assigned to Leica Camera AG
  • Patent number: 9062970
    Abstract: A binocular telescope with an integrated laser rangefinder includes spatially separate first and second telescope tubes, each with an eyepiece and a focusable lens, that are connected by a folding bridge for setting eye spacing. The folding bridge has an eyepiece-side hinge body with first and second hinge eyes, and a spatially separate lens-side hinge body. The hinge eyes are connected to the telescope tubes. A rotary knob is mounted on a hinge shaft for focusing the lenses, which are arranged in the telescope tubes. A receiver of the laser rangefinder and an optoelectronic display element are disposed in the first telescope tube. A transmitter of the laser rangefinder is arranged on the lens-side hinge body, is flush with the hinge shaft, and emits a transmission beam parallel to an observation direction. The lens-side hinge body has first and second brackets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignees: LEICA CAMERA AG
    Inventors: Andreas Perger, Ioannis Kalaitzis, Ernst Pobenberger
  • Patent number: 8953935
    Abstract: In an illumination arrangement (1) for an image field delimiting frame (2) of a mixed-image viewfinder camera having an observation beam path (9) and a viewfinder beam path (3), the illumination arrangement is arranged in the viewfinder beam path (3) in the direction of light upstream of the image field delimiting frame (2), the illumination is formed by an active light source (14, 14?) and the viewfinder beam path (3) is mechanically delimited (16, 22) within the illumination apparatus (1) with respect to the light source (14, 14?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Leica Camera AG
    Inventor: Horst Stieger
  • Patent number: 8931992
    Abstract: Cylinder rings having single-start nut and bolt threads matched to one another and axial stop surfaces, running perpendicularly to the cylinder axis, between the cylinder rings are distinguished by the fact that the stop surfaces (11, 12) assigned to the nut thread (3) and the bolt thread (4) extend in an axially rising manner over at most one thread turn and each have at the end a step surface (13, 14) between the axially offset stop planes of the stop surfaces (13, 14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Leica Camera AG
    Inventor: Kai Oliver Seiter
  • Patent number: 8904696
    Abstract: A device for fast reticle adjustment of a sighting device is described, which is provided with a rotatable safeguard against unintended adjustment and has tactile and visual indicating means for the locked and unlocked position of the safeguard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Leica Camera AG
    Inventor: Reiner Geller
  • Patent number: 8909470
    Abstract: An optical observation device for target acquisition and navigation having at least one objective, which is to be turned toward the object to be observed, and at least one ocular, which is to be turned toward the eye of the observer, in a housing, wherein the housing has at least one image reversal system, means for range finding, for location/position determination, for determination of the compass direction, and for displaying data, is distinguished in that an integrated target acquisition module having optoelectronic rangefinder, a GPS position determination, an electronic compass direction determination, and a microcomputer unit for calculating and storing distance and location coordinates of a targeted destination, an integrated navigation module having a display screen, which is arranged externally on the housing, and actuating elements, which are arranged on the housing, for activating functions of the target acquisition and navigation module are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Leica Camera AG
    Inventor: Robert Denk
  • Patent number: 8807410
    Abstract: A carrying strap having an ever-ready case for hand-held optical devices is characterized in that there are provided first (2) and second (3) flat strap parts which are connected together, in each case at one of their ends, in a rotatable manner lying one on the other, such that the second strap part (3) can be rotated with respect to the first strap part (2), in that the free ends of the strap parts (2, 3) can be connected together with a buckle (5, 5?, 5?) and in that an ever-ready case (6) which is open toward the part (5?) of the buckle (5) on the first strap part (2) is fixed to the first strap part (2) in the rotary region of the strap parts (2, 3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Leica Camera AG
    Inventors: Oliver Zielberg, Stefan Daniel
  • Patent number: 8786948
    Abstract: An apparatus for illuminating a marking, which is applied on a transparent reticle in the form of a diffraction structure, wherein illuminating beams are injected into the reticle via a side edge surface of the reticle such that they are emitted after diffraction at the marking perpendicular to the plane of the reticle, wherein a concavely curved mirror having two focal points is attached to the side edge surface such that a light source is arranged in the region of the first focal point and the marking is arranged in the region of the second focal point, wherein a second mirror having two focal points is attached such that a second light source with a second emission wavelength is arranged in the first focal point thereof and the marking is arranged in the region of the second focal point of the second mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Leica Camera AG
    Inventor: Sigrun Kammans
  • Publication number: 20140176934
    Abstract: A binocular telescope with an integrated laser rangefinder, consisting of: separate first and second telescope tubes (1, 2), each with an eyepiece (3, 3?) and a lens (4, 4?) that can be focused, wherein the telescope tubes (1, 2) are connected to one another by a folding bridge for setting the eye spacing, the folding bridge contains an eyepiece-side and a separate lens-side hinge body (5, 6), the eyepiece-side hinge body (5) contains a first hinge eye (7) connected to the first telescope tube (1) and a second hinge eye (8) connected to the second telescope tube (2), which are connected to one another by a hinge shaft (9), on which a rotary knob (10) is mounted for focusing the lenses (4, 4?) arranged in the telescope tubes (1, 2), and wherein the receiver of the laser rangefinder and an optoelectronic display element are arranged in the first telescope tube (1) in a fixed arrangement with respect to the optical observation axis (18) of the first telescope tube (1) and, with the transmission axis (17) ther
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicants: LEICA CAMERA AG
    Inventors: Andreas Perger, Ioannis Kalaitzis, Ernst Pobenberger
  • Patent number: 8708581
    Abstract: A mirror arrangement for reflex cameras is provided. A main mirror is pivotably connected to a steering lever, which is rotatable about a rotary spindle, such that the main mirror is pivoted and lowered during transition into the lower position. A secondary mirror is rotatably mounted to a housing via a pivot arm that is arranged pivotably about a rotary spindle that is fixed to the housing. The rotary spindle of the pivot arm is parallel to the rotary spindle of the steering lever. The mirror arrangement further comprises an actuating lever, which is connected to the main mirror and the pivot arm of the secondary mirror. The actuating lever is configured to provide simultaneous movement of the main mirror and of the secondary mirror from the upper position into the lower position and vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Leica Camera AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Kranz, Christoph Knapp
  • Patent number: 8678682
    Abstract: A device for controlling a central shutter, in which a plurality of shutter leaves (3) are mounted on a circularly annular leaf carrier (1) such that they can be pivoted on a pivoting arm (4), and in which, as actuating device for the pivoting movement of the shutter leaves (3), an annular cam plate (5) is mounted on the leaf carrier (1) concentrically with respect to the shutter opening (2), such that it can be rotated continuously in one direction, it being possible for the rotation of the cam plate (5) to be blocked by mechanical engagement into a cam trough (8) in front of an actuating flank (6) of a cam, is distinguished by the fact that, for mechanical blocking purposes, there is a push rod (9, 10) of a solenoid, which push rod (9, 10) can be moved perpendicularly with respect to the plane of the cam plate (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Leica Camera AG
    Inventors: Konstantin Aab, Stefan Uwe Best
  • Patent number: 8665537
    Abstract: What is described is a modified retrofocus-type wide-angle lens, with, as seen from the object, a front group (G1) with negative refractive power, a first rear group (Gh1) with positive refractive power displaceable along the optical axis for focusing purposes and a second rear group (Gh2) with positive refractive power facing an image plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Leica Camera AG
    Inventors: Stefan Roth, Peter Karbe
  • Publication number: 20130243414
    Abstract: In an illumination arrangement (1) for an image field delimiting frame (2) of a mixed-image viewfinder camera having an observation beam path (9) and a viewfinder beam path (3), the illumination arrangement is arranged in the viewfinder beam path (3) in the direction of light upstream of the image field delimiting frame (2), the illumination is formed by an active light source (14, 14?) and the viewfinder beam path (3) is mechanically delimited (16, 22) within the illumination apparatus (1) with respect to the light source (14, 14?)
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: LEICA CAMERA AG
    Inventor: Horst STIEGER
  • Patent number: 8534935
    Abstract: A device for synchronizing shutter blades, which are each fastened to a swivel arm which is mounted rotatably on a swivel pin on a circular-ring-shaped blade carrier, is distinguished in that a synchronizing ring disc (1) is arranged concentrically with respect to the blade carrier within a circle connecting the swivel pins (5) and is coupled in a form-fitting manner to each of the swivel arms (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Leica Camera AG
    Inventor: Konstantin Aab
  • Patent number: 8511918
    Abstract: A central shutter for camera objectives, said central shutter having a ring-shaped leaf carrier (1) surrounding the shutter aperture (2), on which leaf carrier at least two studs (13) are disposed arranged in a circularly symmetrical manner in relation to each other, on which studs sickle-shaped shutter leaves (14) are pivotably mounted, and having an electric motor drive pivoting the shutter leaves (14) over the shutter aperture (2), is distinguished in that the drive includes a motorized rotatable winding ring (3) which is realized as a flat ring disk and rests on the leaf carrier (1), a cam ring (7) realized as a flat ring disk is rotatably mounted in the winding ring (3), sawtooth-shaped cams (17) being provided on a ring surface thereof, wherein the winding ring (3) and the cam ring (7) are coupled to each other by means of at least one tension spring (9) that can be tensioned in the direction of rotation of the winding ring (3) and the pivoting movement of the shutter leaves (14) can be controlled by co
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Leica Camera AG
    Inventor: Konstantin Aab
  • Patent number: 8269882
    Abstract: A method for determining the current camera aperture (working aperture) of lenses on digital cameras having a viewfinder eyepiece and internal exposure measurement through the lens is wherein a further external exposure measurement is carried out past the lens and the value of the working aperture is determined from a reference table stored in the digital camera from the difference ?BV between the two measured exposure values BV(int) and BV(ext). A digital camera suitable for carrying out the method wherein outside the region covered by the lens tube, the housing of the digital camera has an additional window for a further exposure meter with an upstream optics that is directed onto the subject and serves to restrict the shooting angle, and includes a memory for a reference table for determining the aperture value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Leica Camera AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Kranz, Oliver Zielberg, Ulrich Lies, Robert Denk
  • Publication number: 20120226978
    Abstract: A graphical user interface for display on a touchscreen display of an electronic user device includes an orbital menu that has a plurality of displayed selectable icons arranged in a first essentially circular pattern, wherein the selectable icons are a predetermined number of otherwise available icons for a current menu level of the orbital menu. In certain embodiments, the available icons are user selectable so as to be able to access device functions, menu levels, device options, etc. The orbital menu may include a number of hidden icons, which correspond to the remaining available icons that otherwise exceed the predetermined number. Additionally, the orbital menu may include a graphical representation of the selectable icons as spinning along the first essentially circular pattern in response to a user contact of the orbital menu provided using the touchscreen display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: Leica Camera AG
    Inventors: Maike HARBERTS, Nils PORRMANN, Steffen SKOPP
  • Publication number: 20120226979
    Abstract: A graphical user interface for display on a touchscreen display of an electronic user device includes operating modes arranged along at least a two dimensional plane of the graphical user interface, where the operating modes include at least a media play mode and a media capture mode. The graphical user interface also includes a currently-active view of a first operating mode displayed on the touchscreen display, where the currently-active view is changeable from the first operating mode to a second operating mode in response to a user input. Additionally, the graphical user interface includes a graphical representation of the second operating mode which is displayed on the touchscreen display as the currently-active view following the user input, where the user input corresponds to an instruction to navigate in a direction of the at least two dimensional plane of the graphical user interface which corresponds to the second operating mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: Leica Camera AG
    Inventors: Maike Harberts, Steffen Skopp
  • Publication number: 20110293263
    Abstract: A central shutter for camera objectives, said central shutter having a ring-shaped leaf carrier (1) surrounding the shutter aperture (2), on which leaf carrier at least two studs (13) are disposed arranged in a circularly symmetrical manner in relation to each other, on which studs sickle-shaped shutter leaves (14) are pivotably mounted, and having an electric motor drive pivoting the shutter leaves (14) over the shutter aperture (2), is distinguished in that the drive includes a motorized rotatable winding ring (3) which is realized as a flat ring disk and rests on the leaf carrier (1), a cam ring (7) realized as a flat ring disk is rotatably mounted in the winding ring (3), sawtooth-shaped cams (17) being provided on a ring surface thereof, wherein the winding ring (3) and the cam ring (7) are coupled to each other by means of at least one tension spring (9) that can be tensioned in the direction of rotation of the winding ring (3) and the pivoting movement of the shutter leaves (14) can be controlled by co
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: LEICA CAMERA AG
    Inventor: Konstantin Aab
  • Patent number: 7848634
    Abstract: An interchangeable lens connects in a prescribed position to a support surface on a camera of a camera system using a locking apparatus. A method and apparatus for identifying interchangeable lenses uses optical radiation. After the locking operation is performed, a defined optical radiation is directed from two or more, preferably six, light transmitters arranged in the support surface to reflecting or absorbing surfaces on the locking apparatus which are assigned to said light transmitters. The radiation returning from the respective reflecting/absorbing surfaces is picked up by light receivers arranged next to the light transmitters in the support surface. A binary coded signal for identifying the interchangeable lens is formed from the output signals of the light receivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Leica Camera AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Kranz, Oliver Zielberg, Robert Denk, Ulrich Lies
  • Patent number: 7706682
    Abstract: Described is a wide-angle slip-on viewfinder (1) on rangefinder cameras for analog and digital wide-angle recordings of different image recording formats with lenses of different focal lengths, comprising three lens groups (LG1, LG2, LG3), a frame/mask unit (10) and a partially transmissive prism cube (8) which is designed as a combination element, wherein, on the light entrance side (4) in the viewfinder beam path (9), a first lens group (LG1) has a negative refractive power and the second and third lens groups (LG2, LG3) have a positive refractive power, wherein the second lens group (LG2) is composed of a first lens (L3) arranged downstream of the first lens group (LG1) and a second lens (L4) arranged on the light exit side (7) and the partially transmissive prism cube (8) is arranged between the lenses (L3, L4) and the third lens group (LG3) is arranged in a mask imaging beam path (11) which is at right angles to the viewfinder beam path (9) between the frame/mask unit (10) and the partially transmissive
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Leica Camera AG
    Inventors: Kathrin Keller, Uwe Reinstädtler