Cam Ring Type Or Zoom Ring Type Patents (Class 359/701)
  • Patent number: 12105344
    Abstract: A lens barrel including a space-saving position adjustment function. The lens barrel constitutes a part of a projection optical system including a catoptric system including at least one reflecting mirror and that uses a dioptric system including multiple lens groups. At least one of the multiple lens groups includes a non-circular lens. The lens barrel includes a movable part that has an inner wall surface holding the non-circular lens and that is able to move the lens group that includes the non-circular lens in an optical axis direction of the non-circular lens, a holding part that is disposed on an outer circumferential side of the movable part and that holds the movable part and a shaft part formed in the optical axis direction, and a curved part that is disposed on an outer circumferential side of the holding part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: RICOH INDUSTRIAL SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventor: Kazuhisa Takahashi
  • Patent number: 12105347
    Abstract: Provided is an optical apparatus having good lens positioning accuracy and excellent optical performance. The optical apparatus includes a straight-proceeding barrel configured to move on a lens group in an optical axis direction and a guide barrel having a guide groove part configured to guide the movement of the straight-proceeding barrel in the optical axis direction. In the guide groove part, a first guide groove part is formed in the optical axis direction so as to have a bottom on an outer diameter side, and a second guide groove part is formed in the optical axis direction as a through hole from the outer diameter side to an inner diameter side. The first guide groove part and the second guide groove part are connected to each other and have respective use regions configured to partially overlap each other in the optical axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Makoto Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 12085776
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a lens, a cam barrel configured to rotate around an optical axis, an actuator disposed on an inner peripheral side of the cam barrel, a movement unit disposed on the inner peripheral side of the cam barrel and configured to move the lens in an optical-axis direction, and an adjustment unit disposed on the inner peripheral side of the cam barrel and configured to adjust a position of the lens. The movement unit, the adjustment unit, and the actuator are arranged at different phases from one another in a circumferential direction of the cam barrel. Widths of the movement unit, the adjustment unit, and the actuator in the optical-axis direction overlap one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshihiro Ogawa, Mitsuhiro Izumi
  • Patent number: 11947181
    Abstract: Provided is a focusing assembly including a focusing barrel and a barrel retaining ring; the focusing barrel includes a first sleeve, a second sleeve, and a third sleeve that are sequentially sleeved from inside to outside of the focusing barrel; the first sleeve is provided with a lens mounting portion for mounting a focusing lens, a first end of the second sleeve is provided with a display screen mounting portion for mounting a display screen, a second end of the second sleeve is detachably connected to the barrel retaining ring, the first end and the second end being opposite ends of the second sleeve; and the lens mounting portion and the display screen mounting portion are configured such that the relative position thereof in a focusing direction of the focusing assembly is adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignees: BEIJING BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuhong Liu, Zhanshan Ma, Haoran Jing, Zheng Ge, Zhiyu Sun, Jinbao Peng, Hao Zhang, Wenhong Tian, Lili Chen
  • Patent number: 11868038
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention relates to a camera module comprising: a housing; a bobbin arranged inside the housing; a first magnet arranged on the bobbin; a first coil arranged in the housing and facing the first magnet; a plurality of lenses attached to the bobbin; and an iris unit coupled to the bobbin, wherein the plurality of lenses comprises a first lens and a second lens distanced from each other, and at least a portion of the iris unit is positioned between the first lens and the second lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jae Keun Park, Tae Min Ha
  • Patent number: 11740431
    Abstract: A housing of an imaging unit is disclosed. The housing comprises an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein the inner surface of the housing defines a lens channel sized to receive a lens barrel. Further, the inner surface of the housing defines a helical step in the lens channel, wherein the helical step protrudes outwardly into the lens channel, and wherein the helical step is angled at a first predetermined pitch. Further, the inner surface of the lens channel defines a glue pocket, in the lens channel, which extends from the inner surface of the housing to the outer surface of the housing such that a first edge surface, defining a portion of a periphery of the glue pocket, is coplanar with the helical step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: HAND HELD PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Timothy Good, Gregory Rueblinger
  • Patent number: 11520116
    Abstract: A lightweight lens barrel that includes two focus lenses. The first lens holding frame for holding a first lens L5, a first drive unit STM5 for causing the first lens holding frame to move in the optical axis direction, a second lens holding frame for holding a second lens L6, and a second drive unit STM6 for causing the second lens holding frame to move in the optical axis direction, the first lens holding frame being arranged on an inner peripheral side of the second lens holding frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Kishimoto, Kenichi Kitano, Osamu Gomibuchi
  • Patent number: 11487108
    Abstract: Disclosed is an interchangeable conversion lens for underwater photography or cinematography able to change from macro to wide angle photographic perspectives and consists of a sequential assembly of optical lens elements. This conversion lens includes an objective lens, a relay lens and a focusing unit which are positioned on an optical axis and are interrelated in their optical performance to one another. The objective lens is to form an intermediate image (reversed and inverted) from wide angle perspective to half the size of the sensor in the camera, this intermediate image is then transmitted through the relay lens and the focusing unit which projects the image through a macro lens into the sensor of a camera. The three parts can be disassembled and reassembled underwater, all three separate parts are waterproof and therefore the optical performance of water is taken into consideration in the optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: NAUTICAM HOLDINGS LIMITED
    Inventor: Yuk Shing Lai
  • Patent number: 11409186
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention relates to a camera module comprising: a housing; a bobbin arranged inside the housing; a first magnet arranged on the bobbin; a first coil arranged in the housing and facing the first magnet; a plurality of lenses attached to the bobbin; and an iris unit coupled to the bobbin, wherein the plurality of lenses comprises a first lens and a second lens distanced from each other, and at least a portion of the iris unit is positioned between the first lens and the second lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jae Keun Park, Tae Min Ha
  • Patent number: 11366281
    Abstract: A lens apparatus that can secure a necessary lens moving distance while avoiding growing in size and that is able to firmly hold a lens. The lens apparatus comprises a first lens group holding member, a second lens group holding member, an exterior cylinder disposed on an outer peripheral side of the first lens group holding member, a first cam cylinder disposed to be rotatable around an optical axis and movable in an optical axis direction corresponding to a rotation angle, a guide cylinder having a diameter fitting portion rotatably holding the first cam cylinder around the optical axis, and a second cam cylinder. The exterior cylinder does not have a cam groove or a guide groove for guiding another member, and is driven to a position at which part of the exterior cylinder is exposed to an outside corresponding to a rotation angle of the second cam cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroki Ito
  • Patent number: 11300753
    Abstract: A lens apparatus includes a base member including a rectilinear guide groove portion, a cam barrel including a cam groove portion, a lens holding member provided with a roller member inserted into the rectilinear guide groove portion and the cam groove portion and configured to support a lens unit, a first light amount adjustment unit, a biasing member configured to bias the roller member to the cam groove portion, and a pressing member provided between the first light amount adjustment unit and the lens holding member and configured to press the biasing member, wherein the first light amount adjustment unit includes a rotation regulating portion configured to regulate rotation of the pressing member around an optical axis of the lens unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takehiko Sato
  • Patent number: 11181714
    Abstract: A focus mechanism includes an inner barrel and an outer barrel that holds the inner barrel to allow the inner barrel to move along an optical axis. An inner peripheral surface of the outer barrel includes a medium-diameter portion having an inner diameter and a small-diameter portion having an inner diameter. The small-diameter portion is continuous to the medium-diameter portion, is positioned on a back side of the medium-diameter portion in an insertion direction ID where the inner barrel is inserted into the outer barrel. The small-diameter portion has an inner diameter that allows an X-ring absorbing the rattling of the inner barrel to be in pressure contact with the small-diameter portion in a case where the inner barrel is inserted into the outer barrel in a state where the X-ring is fitted to a groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Daigo Aiba
  • Patent number: 10863087
    Abstract: A mobile terminal is disclosed. The mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a camera unit including a wide-angle lens; an input interface for receiving an input from a user; and a controller for controlling the camera unit such that the camera unit captures an image in a normal mode in which the image is captured at a normal angle or a wide-angle mode in which the image is captured at a wide angle, on the basis of an input for moving the mobile terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jinseong Lee, Kyuhee Kim, Chorok Shin, Seongeun Kim, Younghoon Song
  • Patent number: 10641985
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes a first moving barrel, a second moving barrel disposed on an object side and an outer circumference side of the first moving barrel and configured to hold an optical element different from a lens, a guide barrel that has a first rectilinear groove that guides a movement of the first moving barrel, and a second rectilinear groove that guides a movement of the second moving barrel in the optical axis direction, and a cam barrel rotatable relative to the guide barrel and having a first cam groove and a second cam groove. The first moving barrel includes a first protruding member engaged with the first rectilinear groove and the first cam groove. The second moving barrel includes a second protruding member engaged with the second rectilinear groove and the second cam groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomoki Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 10591698
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes a first moving barrel, a second moving barrel disposed on an object side and an outer circumference side of the first moving barrel and configured to hold an optical element different from a lens, a guide barrel that has a first rectilinear groove that guides a movement of the first moving barrel, and a second rectilinear groove that guides a movement of the second moving barrel in the optical axis direction, and a cam barrel rotatable relative to the guide barrel and having a first cam groove and a second cam groove. The first moving barrel includes a first protruding member engaged with the first rectilinear groove and the first cam groove. The second moving barrel includes a second protruding member engaged with the second rectilinear groove and the second cam groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomoki Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 10554949
    Abstract: A camera module is disclosed. A device according to an embodiment of the present invention can move a bobbin in a first direction perpendicular to an optical axis by applying a first predetermined current to a driving unit, and move the bobbin in as second direction perpendicular to the optical axis by applying a second predetermined second current to the driving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Seong Cheol Jeong
  • Patent number: 10139587
    Abstract: The lens barrel includes a first rotatable member rotatable to move a focusing lens in an optical axis direction, a first aperture stop unit including a first light-blocking member and a second rotatable member rotatable to move the first light-blocking member, a third rotatable member to be rotated by receiving a rotation of the first rotatable member, a first mechanism configured to, in the variation of magnification, convert a relative movement of the second and third rotatable members into a rotation of the second rotatable member, and a second mechanism configured to, in the focusing, transmit the rotation of the first rotatable member to the third rotatable member to rotate the third rotatable member and transmit the rotation of the third rotatable member to the second rotatable member to rotate the second rotatable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Katsumi Ohmori
  • Patent number: 10114192
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a lens module. The lens module includes a lens barrel and a lens group. The lens group is installed inside the lens barrel. The lens barrel includes a first barrel wall extended horizontally and a second barrel wall bended and extended from the first barrel wall. The lens module includes also a stop installed inside the lens barrel. The stop is installed inside the lens barrel and clamped between the first barrel wall and the lens group. The stop and the lens group are lined up in turn from object side to image side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: AAC TECHNOLOGIES PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Chuandong Wei, Jie Ma, Junjie Yan, Yuchan Gao
  • Patent number: 9817204
    Abstract: A lens barrel which is capable of accurately performing positioning of lenses and preventing a mounted external barrel unit from coming off unexpectedly. The lens barrel comprises a fixed cam ring having a rotation regulating cam groove disposed on an inner circumferential surface thereof, the cam groove opening to an object side end part thereof in an optical axis direction of the lens barrel, a movable cam ring received in the fixed cam ring, and an external barrel unit having, on an outer circumferential surface thereof, a rotation regulating section engaged with the rotation regulating cam groove. The external barrel unit is received in the fixed cam ring and outwardly fitted on the movable cam ring. The rotation regulating cam groove has a movement-regulating section, configured to regulate movement of the rotation regulating section in the optical axis direction, at an object side end part thereof in the optical axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Kudoh
  • Patent number: 9658424
    Abstract: A mechanism which enables reduction of the diametrical size of a lens barrel of an optical apparatus. In the lens barrel, a third group lens unit has a rotation restricted portion. A fourth group lens holder rearward of the third group lens unit has a rotation restricting portion. A sixth group lens holder rearward of the fourth group lens holder has a rotation restricting portion. The rotation restricted portion of the third group lens unit and the rotation restricting portion of the fourth group lens holder are mutually engaged, whereby relative rotation between the lens unit and the lens holder is restricted, and the rotation restricted portion of the third group lens unit and the rotation restricting portion of the sixth group lens holder are mutually engaged, whereby relative rotation between the lens unit and the lens holder is restricted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Kudoh
  • Patent number: 9557517
    Abstract: The present invention provides a lens barrel that holds a lens system including a plurality of lens groups in which an object-side fixed lens group and image-side fixed lens group that are fixed to both ends of a cylindrical fixed barrel are arranged, and a first focusing lens group and a second focusing lens group that are moving lens groups are arranged inside the fixed barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuru Toyama, Kazuyuki Iwasa
  • Patent number: 9513458
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a threaded spacer and a biasing element to reduce backlash. The threaded spacer includes a thread end point that is offset from the thread start point of the carrier frame. The offset thread ending and starting points create a gap between the threaded spacer and the carrier frame. The biasing element applies a force to the threaded spacer, thereby reducing the backlash between the lens and the carrier frame, while at the same time allowing the lens to be rotated for focus adjustments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: COGNEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kai Flügge, Laurens Nunnink
  • Patent number: 9268111
    Abstract: A lens structure is provided. The lens structure comprises a first barrel, a second barrel and a third barrel. The first barrel has a first groove and comprises a first pin. The second barrel has a second groove and comprises a second pin. The third barrel has a third groove. The first barrel is rotatably disposed outside of the third barrel. The second barrel is disposed in the inside of the third barrel. The second pin of the second barrel slides along the third groove of the third barrel and the first groove of the first barrel. The first pin of the first barrel slides along the second groove of the second barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: ABILITY ENTERPRISE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Cheng-Nan Chiang
  • Patent number: 9232134
    Abstract: An imaging device comprises a lens barrel including an optical system that collects light from a predetermined viewing area and that defines an optical axis; an imaging unit that receives the light collected by the optical system and generates image data, the image data defining a main image that includes a determined sub area; a ring-shaped operation ring that is provided on an outer circumference of the lens barrel and that is manually rotatable about the optical axis of the optical system; and an area change unit that changes at least one of (A) a size of the determined sub area, or (B) a position of the determined sub area, responsive to a manual operation of the operation ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Kazunori Yuge, Tetsuya Takagi
  • Patent number: 9207428
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes a correction lens to move for zoom tracking, a zoom lens driver to mechanically move a zoom lens according to an amount of turn of a zoom ring, a storage unit to store relational information associating a zoom lens position with a focus position of the correction lens, and a controller to control the correction lens driver. The controller determines a focus position of the correction lens corresponding to a position distant by a predetermined amount from a detected zoom lens position, by referring to the relational information, and controls the correction lens driver to drive the correction lens to a target position set to the determined focus position. A formula varying with the change rate of the zoom lens position is used to calculate the predetermined amount, and is set according to positions of the zoom lens and the focus lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Abe
  • Patent number: 9188844
    Abstract: A projection device includes a main body, a light source, a light valve, and a lens module. The light source produces an illumination beam. The light valve converts the illumination beam into an image beam. The lens module disposed at the main body includes a lens barrel and a lens. The lens barrel has an inner wall, a containing space and a riveting portion. The inner wall surrounds the containing space. The riveting portion is located in the containing space. There is a gap between the riveting portion and the inner wall. The lens disposed in the containing space has a light emitting surface and a side surface. The side surface leans against the riveting portion. An end of the riveting portion extends to the light emitting surface to limit the lens in the containing space The image beam passes through the lens to form a projection beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Young Optics Inc.
    Inventors: Jui-Chang Shen, Shih-Hsiung Kao, Ping-Hsun Huang, Mu-Hsi Huang
  • Patent number: 9152020
    Abstract: An additional knurled ring for an optical lens is composed of an annular portion and teeth distributed in a radial direction around the outside of the annular portion. The inner diameter and shape of the additional knurled ring match the outer diameter and shape of an adjusting ring of the optical lens. The additional knurled ring is movably connected with the outside of the adjusting ring of the optical lens. Since the additional knurled ring for the optical lens can be extended towards the front of the lens and beyond the front end of the optical lens, the interference of stray light with the imaging of the optical lens is blocked. Digital scale designations are engraved or printed on the outside of the additional knurled ring for optical lens, the position of the scale and the values of the designations are corresponding to the focal length, aperture, and focal range information of the optical lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: SHENZHEN PCHOOD TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jin Luo
  • Patent number: 9019625
    Abstract: A lens advancing device of the present invention includes an advancing ring holding the lens unit; a holder supporting the advancing ring; an operation unit; and a came surface formed on one of the advancing ring and the holder, and an abutting part formed on the other of the advancing ring and the holder and is engageable with the cam surface. The lens unit is disposed along an optical axis by rotating the advancing ring and thereby changing the engaging position between the cam surface and the abutting part. The lens advancing device further includes a pressing part retaining the elastic body be abutment to make the elastic body exert the elastic force upon the advancing ring and press the abutting part against the came surface. This reduces changes of resistance in rotational operation of the advancing ring between photographing modes, which makes the user feel less uncomfortable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouichirou Matsuoka, Arata Sakamoto
  • Publication number: 20150109683
    Abstract: An object is to provide a lens system that can change the magnitude of torque required to rotate an operation ring according to the attachment/detachment of a drive unit to/from a lens barrel, the lens barrel, and the drive unit. When the drive unit is not mounted on the lens barrel, a torque adjustment mechanism works and a friction member presses the operation ring by a biasing force of a biasing member. When the drive unit is mounted on the lens barrel, a release member provided on the drive unit releases a bias, which is performed by the biasing member, by acting on the torque adjustment mechanism through a passage formed in a fixed ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi MITARAI
  • Publication number: 20150092283
    Abstract: An appropriate operation angle (actuation angle) corresponding to a use is obtained by a relatively simple structure. A focus ring 20 is mounted around a focus cam 10. When the focus ring 20 is moved to a front end side, a gear formed in the focus ring 20 meshes with a gear 17 of the focus cam 10 and the rotation of the focus ring 20 is directly transmitted to the focus cam 10. When the focus ring 20 is moved to a rear end side, the gear formed in the focus ring 20 meshes with pinions 15 mounted on the focus cam 10 and the rotation of the focus ring 20 is directly transmitted to the focus cam 10 through the pinions 15. A half of the rotation angle of the focus ring 20 is the same as the rotation angle of the focus cam 10.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Masahiro HIDESHIMA, Tsuyoshi MITARAI, Atsushi MISAWA
  • Patent number: 8976460
    Abstract: A varifocal lens barrel includes a plurality of lens groups, each of which are linearly movable in the optical axis direction thereof without rotating about the optical axis during a zooming operation and during a focusing operation, including a base barrel which is linearly movable in the optical axis direction by rotation of a zoom operational ring, wherein lens frames of the respective lens groups are each supported by the base barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Pentax Ricoh Imaging Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Iikawa, Ichiro Imaei
  • Publication number: 20150036039
    Abstract: An optical apparatus includes an operator rotationally operable about an optical axis of an image pickup optical system and configured to move, when rotationally operated, part of the image pickup optical system in an optical axis direction of the image pickup optical system and to change a focal length, an adjustor rotationally operable about the optical axis and configured to change, when rotationally operated, a pressure applied to the operator so as to change an operating load necessary to rotationally operate the operator, and an indicator prohibited from rotating about the optical axis and configured to move in the optical axis direction of the image pickup optical system, the indicator including part disposed between the operator and the adjustor. The operator indicates a plurality of zoom states, the part of the indicator has a pointer configured to select one of the plurality of zoom states.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventor: Yuki NAGAO
  • Publication number: 20150029598
    Abstract: A focus mechanism has a removable and replaceable cam that allows selection of different rates of rotation and total axial displacement of a lens assembly. The rate and displacement are determined by the cam profile. The rate and displacement of the lens assembly can be selected by removing a cam with one profile and replacing it with another similar cam having a different profile. Rotation of an outer ring is coupled to the cam with drive pins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventor: David Rogers Campbell
  • Patent number: 8928997
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes a cam ring configured to be rotatably driven, a lens holding cylinder provided on an outer circumference of the cam ring and configured to hold a lens, and a barrier cylinder configured to hold a lens barrier, the barrier cylinder includes a cylinder portion, a first protrusion which extends from the cylinder portion toward an image plane side, and a cam engagement portion which is engaged with a cam groove of the cam ring, the lens holding cylinder includes a cylinder portion and a second protrusion which extends from the cylinder portion toward the image plane side, and the second protrusion of the lens holding cylinder is arranged so as to overlap with the cam engagement portion of the barrier cylinder in a radial direction orthogonal to an optical axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takumi Uehara
  • Patent number: 8896934
    Abstract: A zoom lens barrel assembly includes: a first zoom ring that supports a first lens group; a first guide ring, of which the first zoom ring is disposed on an inner side, is cam-connected to the first zoom ring to cause the first lens group to move linearly along an optical axis direction by rotation; a second zoom ring that supports a second lens group and is cam-connected to the first guide ring to move linearly along the optical axis direction; a second guide ring cam-connected to the first guide ring and configured to move linearly along the optical axis direction to rotate the first guide ring; a second cylinder configured to move linearly along the optical axis direction together with the second zoom ring while being rotated; and an external cylinder including a third lens group and is cam-connected to the second cylinder to cause the second cylinder to rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoon-seok Kang
  • Patent number: 8885267
    Abstract: A lens barrel capable of keeping a stable zoom operation, increasing magnification of an image pickup apparatus with a simple configuration, and decreasing a camera thickness. A lens barrel is moved in an optical axis direction between a taking position and a retracted position to change magnification. A lens holding member holds a lens and has a follower part. A rectilinear movement regulating member regulates relative rotation of the lens holding member and has a convex part at an outside and a rectilinear rib at an image surface side than the convex part. A cam barrel has a cam groove for engaging the follower part and a groove for engaging the convex part formed on an inner surface. The cam barrel has a cam piece extended to the image surface side, a part of the cam groove is formed on an inner surface of the cam piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Kudoh
  • Patent number: 8755129
    Abstract: A lens barrel capable of distributing, upon receipt of the impact of, e.g., dropping, a torque load so as not to concentrate on a particular linear movement key and groove for linearly moving a barrel member, thereby suppressing occurrence of a failure. The lens barrel has a fixed barrel (8) and a third lens group barrel (3). In a movement region of the third lens group barrel (3) moving in the optical direction relative to the fixed barrel (8), each of a set of a first linear movement groove (8c) and a first linear movement key (3c) and a set of a second linear movement groove (8d) and a second linear movement key (3d) has a mutually engageable region and a mutually disengageable region, and a set of a groove (8e) and a projection (3e) has not a mutually engageable region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobuyoshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8755130
    Abstract: A zoom lens device includes a base barrel, first and second cam barrels connected rotatably to and movable relative to the base barrel, first and second lens barrels connected respectively to the first and second cam barrels, and a driving barrel surrounding and rotatable relative to the base barrel. Rotation of the driving barrel drives the first and second cam barrels to rotate synchronously and move individually along an axis, and therefore causes individual axial movements of the first and second lens barrels along the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Asia Optical Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Chun-Yu Hsueh, Tun-Kuei Huang
  • Patent number: 8724234
    Abstract: A zoom lens barrel includes a fixed barrel in which a first mark is indicated, and a zoom operation ring in which a second mark is indicated, the zoom operation ring being supported on the fixed barrel. The zoom lens barrel has a focal length region where at least angles of view of a circular fisheye and a full-frame fisheye can be formed, and one of the angles of view of the circular fisheye and the full-frame fisheye is formed for a predetermined image-pickup element size in a focal length where the first mark and the second mark are matched to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takumi Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 8717691
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes a lens group including a fixed lens including one or more lenses and an adjustment lens including one or more lenses, and a lens frame to hold the lens group, including an adjustment lens frame to hold the adjustment lens and an aligning mechanism to hold the adjustment lens frame movably in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis of the lens group relative to the lens frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke Terahara, Takehide Ohno
  • Publication number: 20140098278
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes a cam ring that includes a first cam sliding part and a second cam sliding part, and that is rotated in a direction around an optical axis; a fixing and holding barrel in which the cam ring is disposed; a moving ring that includes a first cam engagement part and a second cam engagement part, and that is moved in an optical axis direction; and an optical element that is moved in connection with movement of the moving ring. In a part of a movement range of the moving ring, one of the first cam engagement part and the second cam engagement part is engaged with the first cam sliding part or the second cam sliding part, and another one of the first cam engagement part and the second cam engagement part is positioned on an outside of the cam ring in the optical axis direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Koyama, Hideki Ootsuka
  • Publication number: 20140098427
    Abstract: A zoom lens barrel assembly includes: a first zoom ring that supports a first lens group; a first guide ring, of which the first zoom ring is disposed on an inner side, is cam-connected to the first zoom ring to cause the first lens group to move linearly along an optical axis direction by rotation; a second zoom ring that supports a second lens group and is cam-connected to the first guide ring to move linearly along the optical axis direction; a second guide ring cam-connected to the first guide ring and configured to move linearly along the optical axis direction to rotate the first guide ring; a second cylinder configured to move linearly along the optical axis direction together with the second zoom ring while being rotated; and an external cylinder including a third lens group and is cam-connected to the second cylinder to cause the second cylinder to rotate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Inventor: Yoon-seok Kang
  • Publication number: 20140078599
    Abstract: A lens advancing device of the present invention includes an advancing ring holding the lens unit; a holder supporting the advancing ring; an operation unit; and a came surface formed on one of the advancing ring and the holder, and an abutting part formed on the other of the advancing ring and the holder and is engageble with the cam surface. The lens unit is disposed along an optical axis by rotating the advancing ring and thereby changing the engaging position between the cam surface and the abutting part. The lens advancing device further includes a pressing part retaining the elastic body be abutment to make the elastic body exert the elastic force upon the advancing ring and press the abutting part against the came surface. This reduces changes of resistance in rotational operation of the advancing ring between photographing modes, which makes the user feel less uncomfortable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kouichirou Matsuoka, Arata Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 8670188
    Abstract: A zoom lens barrel assembly includes: a first zoom ring comprising a first protrusion; a guide ring disposed around the first zoom ring comprising a first guide slot through which the first protrusion passes, and a second guide slot; a second zoom ring comprising a second protrusion, and movable in an axial direction; a first cylinder comprising a guide groove into which the second protrusion inserts, and a third protrusion passing through the second guide slot, and disposed between the first and second zoom rings; a second cylinder disposed around the guide ring comprising a fourth protrusion, a first groove portion into which the first protrusion inserts, and a second groove portion into which the third protrusion inserts, and supporting the first zoom ring and the first cylinder; and an external cylinder disposed around the second cylinder and comprising a third groove portion into which the fourth protrusion inserts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-eun Kim, Chan-ho Lee, Hyun-min Oh, Hee-yun Chung, Bong-chan Kim, Jong-jun Kim
  • Patent number: 8654453
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus which makes it possible to form a multi-stage retractable lens barrel permitting the amount of extension of the lens barrel to be set as desired. A first intermediate rotary barrel fitted, for rotation, on a first intermediate rectilinear motion barrel restrained from rotation about an optical axis. A second intermediate rectilinear motion barrel is rectilinearly guided by the first intermediate rectilinear motion barrel. A second intermediate rotary barrel is fitted on the second intermediate rectilinear motion barrel and engaged with the first intermediate rotary barrel, rotation. The first intermediate rectilinear motion barrel has a cam groove formed on an inner peripheral surface thereof, for engagement with the second intermediate rotary barrel to cause the same to move along the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenichi Katano
  • Patent number: 8649110
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes a fixed frame, a rotary frame provided inside the fixed frame, a first frame provided inside the rotary frame, an electronic component provided inside the first frame, and a flexible printed circuit board connected, at one end thereof, to the electronic component and connected, at the other end thereof, to the fixed frame. A gear part is provided at an outer circumferential surface of the rotary frame. In the first frame, a first protrusion outwardly protruding beyond the gear part in a radial direction about the optical axis is provided at a position corresponding to the flexible printed circuit board in a circumferential direction about the optical axis on a side of the gear part opposite to the object in the optical axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Manabu Kobayashi, Atsushi Hasegawa, Toshiyuki Nakada
  • Patent number: 8649675
    Abstract: An interchangeable lens mountable to a camera body includes a zoom lens configured to adjust an angle of view of a subject image, a driver configured to move the zoom lens in an optical axis direction, a plurality of operating members configured to generate an operation signal for driving the driver according to operation performed by a user, a communication unit configured to receive, from the camera body, setting information for setting valid/invalid of at least one of the plurality of operating members, and a controller configured to control the driver. The controller drives and does not drive the driver based on the operation signal from the operating member having been set to valid and invalid, respectively, by the setting information received through the communication unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Junji Takahata, Takahiro Ikeda
  • Publication number: 20130335832
    Abstract: A zoom lens barrel assembly includes: a first zoom ring comprising a first protrusion; a guide ring disposed around the first zoom ring comprising a first guide slot through which the first protrusion passes, and a second guide slot; a second zoom ring comprising a second protrusion, and movable in an axial direction; a first cylinder comprising a guide groove into which the second protrusion inserts, and a third protrusion passing through the second guide slot, and disposed between the first and second zoom rings; a second cylinder disposed around the guide ring comprising a fourth protrusion, a first groove portion into which the first protrusion inserts, and a second groove portion into which the third protrusion inserts, and supporting the first zoom ring and the first cylinder; and an external cylinder disposed around the second cylinder and comprising a third groove portion into which the fourth protrusion inserts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Young-eun Kim, Chan-ho Lee, Hyun-min Oh, Hee-yun Chung, Bong-chan Kim, Jong-jun Kim
  • Publication number: 20130308204
    Abstract: A lens barrel having an image forming optical system including a first optical system and a second optical system which is moveable independently from the first optical system, a first driving portion which drives the first optical system during a magnification changing operation of the image forming optical system, and a second driving portion which drives the second optical system during the magnification changing operation, along with driving the second optical system during a focus adjustment of the image forming system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Inventors: Kunihiro FUKINO, Masaaki KUSANO
  • Patent number: 8582213
    Abstract: This invention discloses a zoom lens structure and a camera lens. The zoom lens structure comprises a shifting barrel, a zoom-driving ring, a fixed barrel and a focus-driving ring. The shifting barrel has a first guiding protrusion. The zoom-driving ring is arranged at a periphery of the shifting barrel, and having a groove-hole and a first-driving part. The fixed barrel is arranged at a periphery of the zoom-driving ring, and having a first groove. The first guiding protrusion is passed through the groove-hole and inserted into the first groove. The focus-driving ring is coupled to an end of the zoom-driving ring and having a second-driving part at the outer edge thereof. By a driving module driving the first-driving part and the second-driving part at the same time, the zoom-driving ring and the focus-driving ring are rotated forwardly or reversely for zooming or focusing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Altek Corporation
    Inventor: Yi-Yuan Tsai