Abstract: An optical component includes: an optical element; a sealing member in a ring shape arranged on the optical element; a stepped portion formed on a front of a circumference surface of the optical element; and a movement-restricting portion arranged at a rear of the optical element. The stepped portion restricts a movement of the sealing member toward a front of the optical element, and the movement-restricting portion restricts a movement of the sealing member toward a rear of the optical element.

Abstract: An optical component includes: an optical element; a sealing member in a ring shape arranged on the optical element; a stepped portion formed on a front of a circumference surface of the optical element; and a movement-restricting portion arranged at a rear of the optical element. The stepped portion restricts a movement of the sealing member toward a front of the optical element, and the movement-restricting portion restricts a movement of the sealing member toward a rear of the optical element.

Abstract: A lens unit or an image pickup unit including an image pickup device in addition to the lens unit comprises a base member located on an image pickup device side and a cover member to be directed to an object side. A slider is attached to the cover member to be axially movable. The slider is to hold the lens or a lens holder. A piezoelectric element actuator for driving the slider is also attached to the cover member. Thus, only a back face of the base member has to be adapted to various types of image pickup devices. A front face thereof may be formed in a simple shape for attachment of the base member to the cover member. Accordingly, the lens unit and the image pickup unit can easily conform to various types of image pickup devices. Further, the inner shape of the lens holder can be adapted to various types of lenses, so that the lens unit needs no change in structure.

Abstract: A varifocal mechanical correction mechanism for a lens barrel for a camera, wherein the mechanism drives a lens with a pair of cam rings for carrying out zooming and focusing functions. One of the cam rings is caused to linearly move in and out along an optical axis by a feed screw. The feed screw that has a shank portion outside a normal feed range and on a non-threaded portion of a shaft.

Abstract: An interchangeable camera system having a waterproof mount mechanism, and a photo-taking lens barrel and camera body used in the interchangeable-lens camera system. A large diameter part 2c which is provided on a lens-side mount surface 2a compresses a sealing member 6 in cooperation with a sealing surface 5c of a camera body 5 so that a gap between the lens-side mount surface 2a and the camera body 5 is sealed by the sealing member 6.

Abstract: A skirt located on a worm is inserted in a C-shaped hole of a photo-interrupter blade wheel, and a motor shaft passes thought the center of each of said members. The rotation of the worm is transmitted to photo-interrupter blades with a predescribed angle of play due to the relative dimensions of a notch formed on the skirt and the C-shaped hole.

Abstract: A pulse detection mechanism for detecting the rotation amount of a rotary member and its rotational direction with a high degree of accuracy by reducing the degree of fluctuation in the position of contact between pins and a pulse surface. A rotation shaft to which a pulse plate has been fixed is supported by a shaft insertion hole of a rotation shaft holding member and that of a pin receiving member. Pins are inserted through pin holes formed through the pin receiving member so that one end of each pin contacts the pulse surface and the other end thereof is urged by a leaf spring of a leaf spring member. The pulse surface and the pins are placed in position by the shaft insertion hole of the rotation shaft holding member and that of the pin receiving member so that the pulse detection mechanism so as to prevent a position fluctuation from being reduced greatly.

Abstract: A lens holding frame holding a lens in a lens barrel is arranged, and a contact member extending therebelow is in friction coupling with a driving axis. By applying driving pulses having such a waveform that includes a moderate rising portion followed by an abrupt falling portion to a piezoelectric element, the holding frame is moved along the direction of the optical axis. An index provided at the holding frame is exposed through a slit of lens barrel, and from the position of the lens on the holding frame, information with respect to the distance to the object is displayed. Detection of the position of the holding frame is performed by a position sensor of ferromagnetic thin film magneto-resistive element type (MR sensor) so as to obtain positional information of the lens on the holding frame based on the detection signal, and the obtained information may be displayed on a liquid crystal or other display portion provided on the lens unit or on a camera body.

Abstract: A drip-proof mechanism in an apparatus which is operated by moving an operation member relative to a member that is adjacent to the operation member. The operation member includes a main unit which is substantially cylindrical shaped and rotatable with respect to the adjacent member, and an elastic member which covers the outer surface of the main unit. On each circumference of the elastic member, extensions are formed as a unit at both ends of said the operation member, and each extensions is elastically pressed against the adjacent member when the operation member is assembled with the adjacent member to prevent drip.

Abstract: The surface groove 26c formed in the circumferential direction has a configuration 26x producing a shallow groove. Thus, relative rotation during lens attachment is accomplished without obstruction, and the strength of the bayonet pawls is improved by the enhanced thickness of the center portion by the formation of a gradual angle formation toward the exterior side of cylinder wall 20 from both ends of the surface groove toward the center portion thereof. This type of surface groove configuration 26x is formed at the three surface grooves 26a, 26b, 26c.

Abstract: A sliding coupling mounted between a pair of separately rotational members, including a pair of coiled springs, which realizes no rotational delay at time of reversing a rotational direction of one of the rotational members. Each coiled spring has a projecting part extending radially outwardly from one end thereof. The pair of coiled springs are fictionally mounted on an outer surface of one of the rotational members with the circular parts and the projecting parts of the coiled springs being overlapped with each other so that the winding directions of the coiled springs are opposite to each other. The other rotational member has an engaging groove with which the projecting parts of the coiled springs are engaged without a space between each projecting part and a surface forming the engaging groove of the rotational member in each rotational direction.

Abstract: An improved bayonet mount for removably attaching the photo-taking lens barrel to a camera body in an interchangeable lens camera system, which bayonet mount includes a body-side mount surface and a lens-side mount surface which have a plurality of stop members severally provided on each interior surface thereof and electrical contact elements severally provided on each interior side thereof. In the bayonet mount, one pair of the correspondent pairs of stop members which mutually engage when the lens barrel is attached to the camera body are disposed at positions which overlap the electrical contact elements in a radial direction on the mount surfaces.

Abstract: A lens holding frame holding a lens in a lens barrel is arranged, and a contact member extending therebelow is in friction coupling with a driving axis. By applying driving pulses having such a waveform that includes a moderate rising portion followed by an abrupt falling portion to a piezoelectric element, the holding frame is moved along the direction of the optical axis. An index provided at the holding frame is exposed through a slit of lens barrel, and from the position of the lens on the holding frame, information with respect to the distance to the object is displayed. Detection of the position of the holding frame is performed by a position sensor of ferromagnetic thin film magneto-resistive element type (MR sensor) so as to obtain positional information of the lens on the holding frame based on the detection signal, and the obtained information may be displayed on a liquid crystal or other display portion provided on the lens unit or on a camera body.