Abstract: A barrier-attached camera which can reduce the occurrence of damage to the camera, e.g., damage, of a mechanism portion of a lens barrel due to a careless operation of a barrier, and a method of changing a lock state of the barrier, are disclosed. The camera includes a slidable barrier 2 for covering the lens barrel 3 under the retracted state to protect the lens barrel 3, and a lock member 19 for locking the movement of the barrier 2 in a closing direction. During the movement of the barrier 2 in the closing direction, the movement of the lock member 19 to a lock position is made ready, so that immediately after the barrier 2 is moved to an open position, the lock member 19 can be moved to the lock position. Consequently, the closing operation of the barrier 2 is prohibited at the time when the extraction of the lens barrel 3 is started, immediately after the barrier 2 is opened, thus preventing collision of the barrier 2 with the lens barrel.

Abstract: A camera of the present invention comprises a sensor unit for measuring a distance to a subject. Moreover, the sensor unit includes a photoelectric conversion element, a housing with which the photoelectric conversion element is covered and in which a first through hole is formed in a predetermined position, and an electric substrate which is electrically connected to the photoelectric conversion element and in which a second through hole is formed in the predetermined position. Furthermore, the second through hole formed in the electric substrate is disposed opposite to the first through hole formed in the housing in a state in which the electric substrate is electrically connected to the photoelectric conversion element.

Abstract: A gear structure of the present invention comprises a first gear and a second gear. A teeth portion constituting a gear portion of the second gear are provided, in a partial area in its tooth width direction, with regulating portions formed into a shape which is cut so as to have a diameter smaller than an external diameter of a tooth top. Furthermore, the first gear is provided with fitting portions into which the regulating portions of the second gear are fitted. The regulating portions of the second gear are fitted into the fitting portions of the first gear so that they may be integrally stacked and arranged.

Abstract: A body of a lens frame, which is a lens barrel of the present invention, consists of an inner frame for holding a lens, an intermediate frame in which an adjusting screw is screwed, and an outer frame in which an adjusting screw is screwed. The frames are connected to one another by parallel springs. In the case of this lens frame, the inner frame is displaced in the direction of X-axis or a horizontal axis by screwing the adjusting screw thereinto in the direction of the horizontal axis and screwing another adjusting screw thereinto by the direction of a vertical axis. Thus, the inner frame is displaced in Y-direction through the intermediate frames. Consequently, the translation of the position of the optical axis of the lens is performed without inclination of the intermediate frame. Hence, the adjustment of the position of the optical axis is easily achieved. Moreover, this lens frame achieves a reduction in the cost of components thereof.

Abstract: A body of a lens frame, which is a lens barrel of the present invention, consists of an inner frame for holding a lens, an intermediate frame in which an adjusting screw is screwed, and an outer frame in which an adjusting screw is screwed. The frames are connected to one another by parallel springs. In the case of this lens frame, the inner frame is displaced in the direction of X-axis or a horizontal axis by screwing the adjusting screw thereinto in the direction of the horizontal axis and screwing another adjusting screw thereinto by the direction of a vertical axis. Thus, the inner frame is displaced in Y-direction through the intermediate frames. Consequently, the translation of the position of the optical axis of the lens is performed without inclination of the intermediate frame. Hence, the adjustment of the position of the optical axis is easily achieved. Moreover, this lens frame achieves a reduction in the cost of components thereof.

Abstract: A body of a lens frame, which is a lens barrel of the present invention, consists of an inner frame for holding a lens, an intermediate frame in which an adjusting screw is screwed, and an outer frame in which an adjusting screw is screwed. The frames are connected to one another by parallel springs. In the case of this lens frame, the inner frame is displaced in the direction of X-axis or a horizontal axis by screwing the adjusting screw thereinto in the direction of the horizontal axis and screwing another adjusting screw thereinto by the direction of a vertical axis. Thus, the inner frame is displaced in Y-direction through the intermediate frames. Consequently, the translation of the position of the optical axis of the lens is performed without inclination of the intermediate frame. Hence, the adjustment of the position of the optical axis is easily achieved. Moreover, this lens frame achieves a reduction in the cost of components thereof.

Abstract: A lens barrel in accordance with the present invention includes a stationary frame and a second group-of-lenses holding frame. One end of a second group-of-lenses main rod is attached to the second group-of-lenses holding frame with a sleeve between them so that the second group-of-lenses main rod can freely slide. Furthermore, one end of the second group-of-lenses sub rod is fixed to the second group-of-lenses holding frame. Consequently, the other ends of the second group-of-lenses main rod and second group-of-lenses sub rod are attached to the stationary frame so that the second group-of-lenses main rod and second group-of-lenses sub rod can freely slide. Consequently, the second group-of-lenses holding frame is borne while being permitted to freely advance or withdraw relative to the stationary frame without rotating by the main rod and second group-of-lenses sub rod. The main rod is fixed to neither the stationary frame nor lens holding frame but can slide by itself.

Abstract: A barrier-attached camera which can reduce the occurrence of damage to the camera, e.g., damage, of a mechanism portion of a lens barrel due to a careless operation of a barrier, and a method of changing a lock state of the barrier, are disclosed. The camera includes a slidable barrier 2 for covering the lens barrel 3 under the retracted state to protect the lens barrel 3, and a lock member 19 for locking the movement of the barrier 2 in a closing direction. During the movement of the barrier 2 in the closing direction, the movement of the lock member 19 to a lock position is made ready, so that immediately after the barrier 2 is moved to an open position, the lock member 19 can be moved to the lock position. Consequently, the closing operation of the barrier 2 is prohibited at the time when the extraction of the lens barrel 3 is started, immediately after the barrier 2 is opened, thus preventing collision of the barrier 2 with the lens barrel.

Abstract: A strobe device in which a damper device is built has a light-emitting portion main unit containing a flash-emitting tube and other members therein supported by a rotational supporting mechanism having rotational damper functions. The rotational supporting mechanism includes a rotational shaft fixed to the light-emitting portion main unit and a bearing tube fixed to the camera main unit to which the rotational shaft is fit with a slight gap therebetween. Grease is filled and sealed in the gap between the rotational shaft and the bearing, thus configuring the rotational supporting mechanism. When the light-emitting portion main unit rotates toward a pop-up position due to the pressing force of a spring, friction torque of the rotational supporting mechanism acts to suppress the moving speed, and bouncing at the pop-up position is prevented.

Abstract: In a lens barrel, a group-2 lens frame, which is movable forwardly and backwardly, is fit into an inner peripheral portion of an M-cam frame which is rotatably supported. A cam groove, into which a cam follower fits, is provided at the M-cam frame. A shaft hole, into which a shaft portion of the cam follower is press-fit and fixed, is provided at the group-2 lens frame. Two edge portions are formed at the shaft portion. Two conical slide faces are provided at a portion which slides at the cam groove of the cam follower. The two edge portions are provided at end portions of the slide faces. When the cam follower attempts to tilt, the edge portions of the shaft portion bite-into a cam face, and prevent a fit-together state of the shaft portion from coming out of place. Further, when an external force acts on the cam follower, the edge portions of the conical slide faces bite into the cam groove such that a fit-together state of the cam follower is prevented from coming out of place.

Abstract: A barrier-attached camera of the present invention has a barrier movable to the open position and to the closed position, respectively, at which it opens and closes the front face of the lens barrel capable of moving forward and backward. When the barrier is moved to the closing direction, the lens barrel is contracted into the storage direction, at the time, the movement of the barrier to the closing direction is locked by the lock axis which is a lock member in the projected position. Even if in that state the lock axis is retained in the projected position, the lens barrel is smoothly contracted by the energizing spring developing the deflection. Once the operational force of the barrier is released, the lock axis is also drawn backward, and the barrier is capable of being driven and slid to the closed position. According to this barrier-attached camera, although the barrier is pressed and operated to the closing direction, the contracting motion of the lens barrel is not hindered.

Abstract: A body of a lens frame, which is a lens barrel of the present invention, consists of an inner frame for holding a lens, an intermediate frame in which an adjusting screw is screwed, and an outer frame in which an adjusting screw is screwed. The frames are connected to one another by parallel springs. In the case of this lens frame, the inner frame is displaced in the direction of X-axis or a horizontal axis by screwing the adjusting screw thereinto in the direction of the horizontal axis and screwing another adjusting screw thereinto by the direction of a vertical axis. Thus, the inner frame is displaced in Y-direction through the intermediate frames. Consequently, the translation of the position of the optical axis of the lens is performed without inclination of the intermediate frame. Hence, the adjustment of the position of the optical axis is easily achieved. Moreover, this lens frame achieves a reduction in the cost of components thereof.

Abstract: An electrical board is provided which includes a switch pattern disposed in a device or apparatus such as a camera, for example, for receiving an operation input in response to an operation from the exterior, and a connection land portion formed to be continuous with the switch pattern. Further, an electrical board device is provided which uses first electrical board as a first electrical board, and which further includes a second electrical board having a different switch pattern formed in a position different from the switch pattern of the first electrical board and connected to the connection land portion of the first electrical board. Thus, devices having different external appearances can be attained even if the devices require the same specification, and the board space can be efficiently used and the board itself can be made small.

Abstract: A body frame, which is a lens barrel device, comprising two semi-circular torus-shaped lens frames, respectively, mounting thereto a forward-group lens and a rearward-group lens, and two guide shafts fixed to one of the lens frames and slidably inserted into a sleeve fixed to the other of the lens frames and into a slot, the two lens frames being supported to advance and retreat relative to each other. When a jig is used to assemble the lens frames, the two lens frames are mounted to the jig while the forward-group lens, the rearward-group lens and the two guide shafts are inserted into the jig with gaps therebetween, the jig being in a state, in which the forward-group lens, the rearward-group lens and the two guide shafts are retained in a predetermined position, and an adhesive is filled into and fixed to the respective gaps to complete assembly. Such lens body frame can ensure optical performance without being affected by accuracy of parts such as lens frames, guide shafts, photographing lenses and so on.

Abstract: A lens barrel incorporating a lens driving device has a fixed frame; a cam ring inserted into the fixed frame in freely rotatable fashion, first and second group lens frames inserted into the cam ring enabling free forward and backward motion, and an aperture ring, supported by the first group lens frame in freely rotatable manner. In the above cam ring are provided a diagonal cam groove which drives the lens frames to zoom positions in stages, circumferential-direction cam grooves which hold each zoom position, and aperture cam grooves which drive the aperture ring; in a state in which the lens frames are positioned and fixed at respective zoom positions, the cam ring can be rotated to rotate the aperture ring, thereby setting the aperture value of the pickup lenses. By means of the lens driving device of this lens barrel, a simple configuration can be used to combine and set a prescribed zoom value and an arbitrary aperture value.

Abstract: A body of a lens frame, which is a lens barrel of the present invention, consists of an inner frame for holding a lens, an intermediate frame in which an adjusting screw is screwed, and an outer frame in which an adjusting screw is screwed. The frames are connected to one another by parallel springs. In the case of this lens frame, the inner frame is displaced in the direction of X-axis or a horizontal axis by screwing the adjusting screw thereinto in the direction of the horizontal axis and screwing another adjusting screw thereinto by the direction of a vertical axis. Thus, the inner frame is displaced in Y-direction through the intermediate frames. Consequently, the translation of the position of the optical axis of the lens is performed without inclination of the intermediate frame. Hence, the adjustment of the position of the optical axis is easily achieved. Moreover, this lens frame achieves a reduction in the cost of components thereof.

Abstract: The camera of the present invention is a camera having a slide barrier which is movable between a closing position where the slide barrier covers a taking lens and an opening position which is left from the taking lens, wherein a slit is formed in a portion of the slide barrier to form a click spring portion, and a click protruding portion which is engaged with a first click recessed portion and a second click recessed portion provided to a camera body is provided to the click spring portion. By suitably engaging the click protruding portion with the first click recessed portion or the second click recessed portion, the slide barrier can be positioned at the time of closing and fully opening the slide barrier.

Abstract: A zoom lens barrel wherein its cam ring has three sets of three cam grooves for advancing or retracting a first group frame, a focus frame and third group frame. The three cam grooves include a cam follower introducing groove connected to ends of two cam grooves for the focus frame and a third group frame and a joint groove for joining two cam grooves for the first group frame and the focus frame. When inserting a cam follower of the first group frame into the cam groove, after it is inserted into the introducing groove, it is passed through the cam groove for the focus frame and then, passed through the joint groove and fit to the cam groove for the first group frame. Further, when inserting the cam followers of the focus frame and third group frame into the cam groove, after it is inserted from the introducing groove, it can be fit to the focus frame and third group frame separately.

Abstract: In this camera, a non-operation continuation time of a camera operation switch in a lens barrel extended state is clocked, the extended state of the lens barrel is checked when the continuation time exceeds a predetermined first reference time shorter than the continuation time. The lens barrel is immediately extended when the lens barrel is extended to a tele-end position. When the lens barrel is not located at the tele-end position, the camera waits until the continuation time exceeds a predetermined second reference time longer than the continuation time, and the lens barrel is withdrawn to a collapse position. According to the camera, a photographic lens whose focal length can be changed or varied is automatically withdrawn at an appropriate time, lens frames are sufficiently protected, and the lens barrel can be prevented from being unnecessarily collapsed without missing the moment for a good picture.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes a first group frame supported by two first guide shafts and a second guide shaft such that it is capable of being advanced or retracted, a focus frame, a focus frame holding portion, and a third group frame. The first guide shafts are bonded and supported by the focus holding frame in parallel such that both ends thereof are exposed. The first group frame and the third group frame are supported slidably by both end portions. Further, the second guide shaft supports the focus frame slidably. An end of the second guide shaft is supported through a short fitting length while it is not fixed to the first group frame and the other end thereof is supported slidably by the third group frame through a short fitting length. Therefore, in this lens barrel, the accuracy in advancement and retraction of respective members is excellent and an efficiency of storage space is excellent thereby contributing to reduction of the size, achieving compactness.