With Adjustment Lock Patents (Class 359/702)
  • Patent number: 11719816
    Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LiDAR) device comprising: a laser emitting chip configured to emit laser, a laser detecting chip configured to detect laser, an emitting optic module configured to guide laser generated from the laser emitting chip to the outside of the LiDAR device, a detecting optic module configured to guide laser received from the outside of the LiDAR device to the laser detecting chip, an emitting optic holder located between the laser emitting chip and the emitting optic module, and an at least one emitting optic fixer located between the emitting optic holder and the emitting optic module, wherein the at least one emitting optic fixer is configured to fix a relative position between the laser emitting chip and the emitting optic module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: SOS LAB Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Bumsik Won, Suwoo Noh, Gyeonghwan Shin
  • Patent number: 10302900
    Abstract: A lens drive device includes a lens holder capable of holding at least one lens and a frame arranged around the holder and holding the holder relatively movable along a light axis of the lens. At least three stopper convex portions protruding toward the frame are formed on an outer circumference of the holder. Stopper concave portions housing each of the stopper convex portions are formed on the frame correspondingly to the stopper convex portions. A convex intersection corner between the first convex end surface and the convex side surface has a chamfering portion or an R curved surface portion to avoid touching a concave intersection corner between the concave bottom surface and the concave side surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shusuke Ichihashi
  • Patent number: 9256050
    Abstract: A lens barrel assembly includes: a lens barrel that is rotatable about an optical axis and is movable in a direction along the optical axis; a moving plate that is combined with the lens barrel so that the moving plate is rotated together with the lens barrel and is movable with respect to the lens barrel in the direction along the optical axis; a power transmission unit that is installed on the moving plate and transmits an outside rotation force to the lens barrel via the moving plate; and a stopper that is disposed on a path on which the moving plate moves in the direction along the optical axis and that limits a movement of the moving plate in the direction along the optical axis in a partial section of the path on which the lens barrel is moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoon-seok Kang
  • Publication number: 20150131166
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a lens stopper mechanism comprising a case and a lens holder. The lens holder holds a lens and has at least one stopper portion; the stopper portion presses against the case after the lens holder moves toward the case for a predetermined distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: TDK TAIWAN CORP.
    Inventors: FU-YUAN WU, YI-HO CHEN, SHIH-TING HUANG
  • Patent number: 9025257
    Abstract: Provided is a lens barrel including: a guide shaft in an axial form supported by a reference member; a holding member holding an optical system, and movable in an axial direction of the guide shaft with respect to the reference member; and an interlocking member including an engaging section engaging with the holding member, the interlocking member moving in the axial direction while rotating around an optical axis of the optical system, and moving along the guide shaft without rotating the holding member. The lens barrel may include a driving cylinder including a cam groove engaging with the interlocking member, where when rotated around the optical axis, the driving cylinder drives the interlocking member by means of the cam groove, to cause the interlocking member to move linearly in the direction of the guide shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Kunihiro Fukino
  • Patent number: 8891175
    Abstract: A lens-frame moving mechanism includes a lens frame guided to move between a ready-to-photograph position and a retracted position, the lens frame being biased forwardly by a biaser; an intermediate linearly movable member, wherein the lens frame contacts the intermediate linearly movable member; a leading screw formed on the drive shaft of a motor; a nut member screw-engaged onto the leading screw, wherein the nut member does not rotate relative to the lens frame and moves the intermediate linearly movable member in the optical axis direction; and a rearwardly-movable member which rearwardly moves the lens frame against the biasing force such that the lens frame moves away from the intermediate linearly movable member in the optical axis direction while the lens frame is moved from the ready-to-photograph position to the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Nomura
  • 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: 8643961
    Abstract: An optical device includes a lens module, a case structure and an optical adjusting mechanism. The optical adjusting mechanism includes a first adjusting member, a second adjusting member and an elastic element. The first adjusting member includes a first interference transmission structure. The second adjusting member is movably connected with the case structure, and includes a second interference transmission structure. In response to the movement of the lens module, the elastic element elastically urges against the second adjusting member so that the second adjusting member is movable within a predetermined distance range, and the second interference transmission structure presses against and engages with the first interference transmission structure. Once the second adjusting member is moved, the first adjusting member is synchronously moved so that optical parameters of the lens module are adjusted through the first adjusting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Tien-Hsiung Wang, Tsang-Hsing Ku
  • Patent number: 8520319
    Abstract: A zoom lens barrel assembly including: 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: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    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: 8379306
    Abstract: The invention relates to improving optical properties of optical instruments with variable magnification, such as zoom binoculars, reducing the weight thereof, and enabling the user to change magnifications quickly. The invention provides an optical instrument with a focal length-varying lens 4 disposed on the optical axis between an objective lens 7 and an eyepiece 3, further having an adjusting lens 5 for adjusting optical properties when the focal length-varying lens is in an area to provide high magnification. The adjusting lens is supported so that it is capable of moving between a location on the optical axis and a location off the path of light beams. Interlocked with a magnification-varying mechanism that controls the position of the focal length-varying lens, the adjusting lens is moved to the on-the-axis location when the focal length-varying lens is in an area to provide high magnification, and to the off-the-axis location when low magnification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Kamakura Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naomi Watanabe, Kazuya Miyaji
  • Patent number: 8294995
    Abstract: A linear guide mechanism of a lens barrel, the lens barrel including a rotatable ring, and a linearly movable member which holds an optical element and moves linearly in an optical axis direction by rotation of the rotatable ring, the linear guide mechanism includes a plurality of partial linear guide members which linearly guide the linearly movable member in the optical axis direction. A movement range of the linearly movable member in the optical axis direction is shared by a plurality of different movement ranges, via which the linearly movable member is linearly guided in the optical axis direction by the plurality of partial linear guide members, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Nomura
  • Patent number: 7990626
    Abstract: Provided is a lens barrel comprising: an optical system including an optical component that moves relative to a fixed cylinder; a holding frame that holds the optical component; a guide axle that is connected to the holding frame and that extends in a direction parallel to an optical axis of the optical system; a scaling drive unit that can move relative to the fixed cylinder and that moves the holding frame in the direction of the optical axis when the optical system scales; and a focusing drive unit that has at least a portion thereof fixed to the fixed cylinder and that moves the guide axle in the direction of the optical axis while facing at least a portion of the guide axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Kunihiro Fukino
  • Patent number: 7880858
    Abstract: A liquid crystal lens includes a first light-pervious plate, second light-pervious plate opposite to the first light-pervious plate, a first electrode layer on the first light-pervious plate, a second electrode layer on the second light-pervious layer, a liquid crystal layer and a driving voltage unit. The first electrode layer includes a plurality of concentric, annular electrodes and is comprised of carbon nanotubes. The liquid crystal layer is sandwiched between the first and second light-pervious plates. The liquid crystal layer includes a plurality of annular regions spatially corresponding to the respective annular electrodes. A density of liquid crystal in the annular regions of the liquid crystal layer is different from each other. The driving voltage unit is configured for providing voltages between each of the annular electrodes and the second electrode layer for creating a gradient distribution of refractive index of the liquid crystal layer in radial directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ga-Lane Chen
  • Patent number: 7782545
    Abstract: A zoom lens assembly and zoom lens module are provided, including a first lens, a second lens, a plurality of guiding blocks, a sheathing tube, a plurality of linking members and an adjusting tube. The first lens includes a plurality of curved surfaces disposed on a second lens surface toward a first lens surface. The second lens includes a plurality of driving rods disposed on a third lens surface and abutting the curved surfaces. The guiding blocks are respectively fixed on the first lens. The sheathing tube sheathes the first lens and the second lens and comprises a plurality of guiding notches to receive the guiding blocks, and a plurality of slits. The linking members pass through the slits and are fixed on the second lens. The adjusting tube sheathes the sheathing tube and comprises a plurality of driving notches to receive the linking members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Asia Optical Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Tsu-Meng Lee, Hui-Chuan Kuo
  • Patent number: 7719775
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes a first tube and second tube, the first tube movable relative to the second tube by rotation of the second tube, an engaging unit disposed on the second tube, and a barrier driving unit disposed on an object side of the first tube that opens and close a barrier. The first tube is relatively moved in an optical axis direction by engaging with the engaging unit. The barrier is opened and closed when a first interlocking unit which is arranged on the barrier driving unit and a second interlocking unit which is arranged on the cam tube are shifted from a non-interlocking state to an interlocking state. When the first interlocking unit and second interlocking unit are in the interlocking state, at least a portion of the first interlocking unit and the engaging unit overlap with each other in a radial direction of the second tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Kudoh
  • Patent number: 7670072
    Abstract: A locking positioning mechanism includes a first element and a second element, the first element and second element rotatable relative to one another about a common rotational axis between a locked orientation and an unlocked orientation and axially translatable relative to one another. The mechanism further includes one or more first locking surfaces of the first element and one or more second locking surfaces of the second element. The second locking surfaces are configured to clear the first locking surfaces in the unlocked orientation. The second locking surface is configured for an interference fit with a first locking surface in the locked orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Aptina Imaging Corporation
    Inventors: Richard P. Tella, Robert G. Ritter
  • Patent number: 7660053
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes a lens frame movable in optical axis directions of a lens, a cam barrel rotated around outside the lens frame to move the lens frame in the optical axis directions, a base supporting the cam barrel to be rotatable and to be immovable in axial directions, and a hollow motor including a rotor and a stator and rotating the cam barrel. The stator supported by the base surrounds the rotor provided outside the cam barrel to be movable in the axial directions and rotate integrally with the cam barrel. As the rotor moves in one of the axial directions, a second locking portion of the base engages with a first locking portion of the rotor to prevent rotation of the rotor. A movement mechanism moves the rotor in the axial directions between a locking position and an unlocking position of the first and second locking portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Tsutomu Naitou
  • Patent number: 7593169
    Abstract: The present invention provides an optical option attachment ring comprising: a ring body into which a lens barrel is inserted; a clamping ring rotatably fastened on the periphery of the ring body; an elastic member arranged between the ring body and the clamping ring; and an abutting portion which is provided on the clamping ring and abuts on the elastic member according to the rotational position of the clamping ring to elastically deform the elastic member to cause at least a part of the elastic member to project further inwards than the inner peripheral surface of the ring body and to be positioned in a groove formed in the lens barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Fujinon Corporation
    Inventor: Syunichiro Ouchi
  • Patent number: 7593145
    Abstract: A shock lockup apparatus is mounted on the chassis of an image scanning device includes a stopping block and a lockup module, with part of the transmission belt driving the chassis of the image scanning device being placed in between. In such a manner, when the image scanning device is being moved and the chassis receives shock or momentum, then the locking unit of the lockup module will move toward the stopping block to clip the transmission belt and fix the chassis synchronously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Avision Inc.
    Inventor: Yulun Chang
  • Patent number: 7492536
    Abstract: A lens system having at least one front movable lens group and a rear movable lens group which are movable in an optical axis direction. The lens system includes a position detector for determining whether the rear movable lens group is positioned in a predetermined normal moving range thereof; and a lens control device which stops the front movable lens group and moves the rear movable lens group rearward into the predetermined normal moving range if the rear movable lens group is in an abnormal moving range thereof in front of the normal moving range during a forward movement of the front movable lens group from a predetermined initial position thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Nagai, Hiroshi Nomura, Kazunori Ishizuka, Toshiharu Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20090002847
    Abstract: A collapsible lens barrel is provided, including a mechanism capable of reliably inhibiting rotation of a rotational barrel even if any impact is applied thereto, for example, due to a fall with the barrel being extended. When the rotational barrel is pressed upon a fixed member due to impact in defiance of the biasing force of a wave spring, a first engagement portion provided at a camera body-side end of the rotational barrel engages with second engagement portions provided on a subject-side surface of the fixed member, which locks rotation of the rotational barrel, thereby making it possible to prevent gears from being damaged, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Inventors: Toshiyuki NAKADA, Hideaki Kawane, Hiroyasu Fujinaka, Itaru Enguchi
  • Patent number: 7471464
    Abstract: A lens holder includes an inner barrel for holding at least one lens, an outer barrel that is positioned outside the inner barrel and supports the inner barrel so that the inner barrel linearly slides along a central axis thereof across an inner surface of the outer barrel, and a cam barrel that rotates in a state where the cam barrel is coaxially disposed between the inner barrel and the outer barrel. The cam barrel includes at least two subunits of the same shape produced by dividing the cam barrel on a plane that includes the central axis, an operating part that passes through an operating slit provided on the outer barrel and moves at least one of the subunits to rotate the cam barrel, a helical cam mechanism that slides, via a driven part provided on the inner barrel, the inner barrel forward and backward along the central axis when the cam barrel rotates, and a locking mechanism for pulling at least one of the subunits onto the outer barrel to stop rotation of the cam barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Nittoh Kogaku K.K.
    Inventor: Takuya Kageyama
  • Publication number: 20080285151
    Abstract: An exemplary zoom ratio adjusting switch includes a panel, a rotary member and a spring. The panel defines first and second grooves whose innermost extremities are on a circumference of a circle. Each groove includes a wide part and a narrow part. The rotary member includes a body positioned to a top side of the panel and first and second locking legs extending from the body. The first and second locking legs extend though the wide parts and slide in the narrow parts respectively. Feet extend from the locking legs respectively at the bottom side of the panel and are restrained at the bottom side of the panel. The spring is positioned to the bottom side of the panel and restrains travel of the first locking leg from the narrow part to the wide part of the first groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: HENG-HSING HUANG
  • Publication number: 20080252995
    Abstract: A lens adjusting mechanism includes a fixed board, a movable board, two first sliding blocks, a first driving device and two second sliding blocks. The movable board is provided on the fixed board. The first sliding blocks, each of which has two first driving members connected to the first sliding blocks, are provided on the movable board for movement along an X axis. The first driving members drive the first sliding blocks moving along a Y axis together with the movable board. The second sliding blocks, each of which has two second driving members pivoted on the fixed board and connected to the second sliding blocks, are provided on the movable board for movement along the Y axis. The second driving members drive the second sliding blocks moving along the X axis together with the movable board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: CHI LIN TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hao-Chan Wei, Tai-Chen Kuo
  • Patent number: 7391965
    Abstract: A lens apparatus is disclosed, which is capable of keeping the engagement of a protruding portion of a first member and a cam groove portion of a second member even if an external force acts on the apparatus. The lens apparatus comprises: a first member including first and second protruding portions; and a second member including a first groove portion with which the first protruding portion engages, and a second groove portion into which the second protruding portion is inserted. The second protruding portion and the second groove portion are away from each other in a case where the first and second members are located in a specified positional relationship, and come into contact with each other in a case where the first and second members are located in another positional relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Noguchi
  • Patent number: 7265913
    Abstract: A movable lens control device for controlling movements of movable lens groups including a first movable lens group and a second movable lens group, the movable lens control device including a lens driving device for moving the first and second movable lens groups in the optical axis direction; a position detector for detecting a position of the second movable lens group and determining whether the second movable lens group is in a predetermined normal moving range thereof; and a controller which controls operations of the lens driving device to stop the first movable lens group and to move the second movable lens group to a position within the normal moving range upon the position detector determining that the second movable lens group is positioned outside of the normal moving range during a movement of the first movable lens group from a predetermined initial position thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: PENTAX Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Nagai, Hiroshi Nomura, Kazunori Ishizuka, Toshiharu Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7156523
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention can provide a projector can include an illumination device that outputs illumination light, a color separation system that divides the illumination light output from the illumination device into blue light, red light, and green light and guides the blue light, red light, and green light to first to third optical paths, respectively, and first to third light modulation devices disposed in the first to third optical paths to be illuminated by the blue light, red light, and green light. In the projector, a distance from the illumination device to the third optical modulation device can be longer than a distance from the illumination device to the first optical modulation device and a distance from the illumination device to the second optical modulation device, a relay system having a first lens disposed at the light incident side, a second lens disposed at the light exit side, and a third lens disposed between the first and second lenses can be provided in the third optical path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hidemasa Yamakawa, Joji Karasawa, Masafumi Sakaguchi, Kanji Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7130132
    Abstract: Provided is a zoom lens barrel including a plurality of lens groups, each having at least one lens arranged in an optical axis direction, an actuating mechanism capable of moving the lens groups in an optical axis direction, and a shutter unit including an opening portion for exposure, a blade capable of adjusting the degree of opening of the opening portion, and an electronic actuating apparatus capable of actuating the blade to adjust the degree of opening of the opening portion according to the distance between the shutter unit and one of the lens groups adjacent to the shutter unit when the distance is shorter than a predetermined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Techwin Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang-geol Lee
  • Patent number: 7102831
    Abstract: A lens barrel has its collapsed length that can be further decreased by removing unnecessary space and bringing lens groups close to each other and a photographic apparatus incorporates the lens barrel. When the lens barrel is collapsed, at least a fourth lens group is retracted from a photographic optical axis by an advance/retract mechanism. In that case, a first lens group and third lens group are aligned along the optical axis and stuffed into the lens barrel, the fourth lens group is placed on the top, bottom, right, or left side of these lenses, and a second lens group is placed on the top, bottom, right, or left side of the first and third lens groups. This reduces the length of the lens barrel. During extension, the second and fourth lens groups are advanced onto the photographic optical axis by the advance/retract mechanism to extend the lens barrel greatly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignees: Fujinon Corporation, Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akio Omiya, Takehiko Senba, Hiroshi Endo, Yoshihiro Ito
  • Patent number: 7092171
    Abstract: A lens barrel with a lock arranged to avoid loosening the lock and defocusing the lens barrel when vibrated during focusing and zooming. The lens barrel includes a fixed cylinder, an adjustment ring, lock screws and a lock ring, lock screws and a lock ring. The adjustment ring is slidably attached to the fixed cylinder so as to rectify locations of optical components along the optical axis. The lock screws in screw holes extend at one end of the fixed cylinder in parallel with the optical axis, and each lock screw has a part that serves as a turning force transmitting segment and moves along the optical axis at the end of the fixed cylinder. The lock ring is slidably attached to the end of the fixed cylinder and has an inner surface that is mated with the force transmitting segment to let the lock screws rotate to secure the adjustment ring to the fixed barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Tamron Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 7035020
    Abstract: A zoom lens includes a movable barrel mounting a lens holder barrel having a focusing lens element for rotational and axial movement therein and a cam barrel mounting the movable barrel for rectilinear axial movement therein. The movable barrel is axially moved for zooming through slide engagement between zooming cam slots of the cam barrel and rectilinear axial guide slots of a stationary barrel when the cam barrel rotates and allows the lens holder barrel to axially moves through helicoids coupling. The movable barrel is provided with a moving range restrictive structure having a plurality of screw holes and a single screw pin selectively screwed in one of the screw holes for focus adjustment. The screw pin is exposed to the outside of the zoom lens all at once when the cam barrel is in a telephoto or wide-angle position or one by one during rotation of the can barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Inventor: Masayuki Inamoto
  • Patent number: 7012760
    Abstract: To the female helicoidal screw of the lens barrel (outer barrel body), there is always imparted a biasing force from a plurality of looseness eliminating springs formed on the outside peripheral portion of the lens barrel (inner barrel body) which are integrally supported on the lens barrel (inner barrel body), by means of the male helicoidal screw, and the male helicoidal screw is slid while being thrusted against the female helicoidal screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Fujinon Corporation
    Inventors: Teruaki Matsushima, Koji Ohgaki
  • Patent number: 6970305
    Abstract: A lock pin is inserted into a hole of a lens holding frame in order to lock a blur correction lens when blur correction is not executed. An optical axis of the blur correction lens and an optical axis of a photographic optical system match when the blur correction lens and the lens holding frame have fallen in the gravitational direction by their own weight and the lock pin and the hole have come into contact with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichi Katagishi, Noriyasu Kotani
  • Patent number: 6956705
    Abstract: A zoom lens barrel structure includes a first lens frame including an outer ring portion, an inner ring portion, a flange wall, and a first cam follower; a cam ring positioned between the outer and inner ring portions; a second lens frame having a second cam follower, positioned inside the inner ring portion; a first cam groove formed on an outer peripheral surface of the cam ring, the first cam follower being engaged in the first cam groove; a second cam groove formed on an inner peripheral surface of the cam ring so that the second cam follower engages in the second cam groove; a linear guide ring, positioned around the first lens frame; and a linear guide mechanism, provided between the inner ring portion of the first lens frame and the second lens frame, for guiding the second lens frame linearly along the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: PENTAX Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nomura, Yoshihiro Yamazaki, Isao Okuda
  • Patent number: 6912096
    Abstract: A rear-focus zoom lens device includes a wide-angle direction rotation restricting unit and a telephoto direction rotation restricting unit for separately restricting rotations of a zoom ring in a wide-angle direction and a telephoto direction and for separately canceling the restricting operations at any rotational positions of the zoom ring in the wide-angle direction and the telephoto direction, respectively, when rotating the zoom ring in the wide-angle direction and the telephoto direction, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hirotsugu Terada
  • Patent number: 6853500
    Abstract: A retracting mechanism of a zoom lens barrel includes a first through third lens group moving rings; a first linear guide projection formed on the first lens group moving ring to be engaged in a linear guide slot from outside the second lens group moving ring, the first linear guide projection including a hanging groove formed therealong, a rear end of the hanging groove being closed; a second linear guide projection formed on the third lens group moving ring to be engaged in the linear guide slot from inside the second lens group moving ring; and a linear moving key projecting from a front end of the second linear guide projection to be engaged in the hanging groove. A rear moving limit of the third lens group moving ring is determined by contact of the linear moving key with the closed end of the hanging groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: PENTAX Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nomura, Yoshihiro Yamazaki, Isao Okuda
  • Patent number: 6819503
    Abstract: A lock pin is inserted into a hole of a lens holding frame in order to lock a blur correction lens when blur correction is not executed. An optical axis of the blur correction lens and an optical axis of a photographic optical system match when the blur correction lens and the lens holding frame have fallen in the gravitational direction by their own weight and the lock pin and the hole have come into contact with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichi Katagishi, Noriyasu Kotani
  • Patent number: 6779899
    Abstract: An arrangement for rotatable adjustment of a cap on an eyepiece housing with a stationary pin pointing radially outward from the eyepiece housing and a groove which is assigned to the pin, arranged on the inner side of the cap and rises in the axial direction, is characterized in that, in a plane at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the eyepiece housing, three pins are arranged on the latter, the heads of which pins have at least approximately the same spacing from the longitudinal axis, and in that the sliding bottom of the groove assigned to each pin has a smaller spacing in relation thereto, so that the cap bears against the pins under prestress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Leica Camera AG
    Inventors: Philipp Syré, Alfred Hengst
  • Patent number: 6778340
    Abstract: In a lens mounting mechanism, by rotating a ring member through touching lugs of the ring member and aligning grooves of a base member and recesses of the ring member in the circumferential direction, and then inserting a lens barrel into a hole portion, the lens barrel is moved to the hole portion without being interfered by projections of a barrel mounting member, so that the lens barrel can be inserted into the hole portion until a flange portion abuts against an opening end surface. Then, by touching the lugs of the ring member and rotating the ring member to displace the recesses from the grooves of the base member in the circumference direction, the projection of the barrel mounting member is locked by the ring member and the barrel mounting member is fixed to the base member, so that the lens barrel can be mounted to the apparatus body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: THK Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kaoru Hoshide, Minoru Kouchi, Kentaro Eto, Takashi Ogata
  • Publication number: 20040085639
    Abstract: A lock pin is inserted into a hole of a lens holding frame in order to lock a blur correction lens when blur correction is not executed. An optical axis of the blur correction lens and an optical axis of a photographic optical system match when the blur correction lens and the lens holding frame have fallen in the gravitational direction by their own weight and the lock pin and the hole have come into contact with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2003
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuichi Katagishi, Noriyasu Kotani
  • Patent number: 6728046
    Abstract: A stopper structure for use in a lens barrel assembly, the lens barrel assembly having a helicoid ring which includes a male helicoid, on the outer periphery of the helicoid ring, for engaging with a female helicoid on an inner periphery of a fixed barrel secured to a camera body; and gear teeth formed along the male helicoids to extend between the male helicoids and arranged in a circumferential direction about an optical axis, the helicoid ring moving along the optical axis while been driven by a pinion which is engaged with the gear teeth; wherein the stopper structure includes a stopper member which engages with at least one tooth of the gear teeth in order to prevent rotation of the helicoid ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: PENTAX Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nomura, Takamitsu Sasaki, Kazunori Ishizuka, Maiko Takashima
  • Patent number: 6717743
    Abstract: A lens moving device comprises a cam follower which is provided to a lens holding frame supporting a lens, and a cam gear with which the cam follower is engaged. The cam gear is rotated by a stepping motor, so that the lens holding frame and the lens move along the optical axis thereof. The cam gear is molded from synthetic resin and is provided with a stopper at the both ends of a non-operative area, in which the cam follower does not come in contact during a normal operation. The non-operative area has a gate mark, which is formed during the resin molding process. The stopper prevents the cam follower from interfering with the gate mark.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: PENTAX Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Ichinokawa
  • Publication number: 20030107813
    Abstract: A light reflecting and light diffusing sheet material useful, inter alia, as a back-reflector for liquid crystal displays (LCDs), comprises a sheet of light diffusing material having a light reflecting coating or backing. In a preferred embodiment, the reflective backing comprises a light-reflecting sheet formed separately from the light-diffusing sheet and juxtaposed with a rear surface of the sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Robin J T Clabburn, Alison M Fairhusrt, David R D Tinson
  • Patent number: 6512639
    Abstract: In a collapsing mechanism of the projecting lens apparatus, when a focus ring is moved to the back over a moving range for adjusting the focus, the focus ring is connected to a zoom ring. Then, the zoom ring rotates by following the focus ring which moves to the back, and a first and a second zoom lenses are moved to the back over a moving range for adjusting the zoom. Therefore, the focus ring completely collapses into a body of a projector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Syuichi Hosoya
  • Patent number: 6490098
    Abstract: A lens barrel comprises an optical system provided within a main body of the barrel, an operation ring used for a photographer to operate the optical system, driving means, used for an electric drive, for generating a driving force transferred to the operation ring via a driving force transfer member, and a rotation restricting stopper for restricting a range of rotation of the operation ring. The rotation restricting stopper is movable between a position for restricting the range of the rotation of the operation ring and a position where the range of the rotation is not restricted, and substantially simultaneously restricts a range of rotation of the driving force transfer member in the position for restricting the range of the rotation of the operation ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Tanioka
  • Publication number: 20020141075
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes a variable power lens unit, an aperture-variable light-amount adjusting unit having an adjusting member that adjusts the fully open state of the aperture, and a variable power lens control mechanism that shifts the variable power lens unit from a first variable power position to a second variable power position. The variable power lens control mechanism moves the variable power lens unit beyond the second variable power position, then returns it toward the second variable power position, and stops it at the second variable power position. The lens barrel further comprises a cam member having a cam portion with which the adjusting member is engaged, and moves relative to the light-amount adjusting unit in operative association with the control action of the variable power lens control mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2002
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryuichi Nagae
  • Publication number: 20020135886
    Abstract: The lens driving apparatus 1 in accordance with the present invention comprises a focus motor 2 (driving source) having a lead screw 11; a lens holding frame 3 in mesh with the lead screw 11 so as to be movable alone an optical axis O as the lead screw 11 rotates; a nut plate 4 in mesh with the lead screw 11 so as to be movable along the optical axis O as the lead screw 11 rotates; and urging means 5 for urging the lens holding frame 3 and nut plate 4 in a direction by which they approach each other or separate from each other. Since a constant urging action is imparted by the urging means 5, no rattling occurs as the lead screw 11 rotates, and the load applied to the driving source 2 becomes constant, whereby no problem occurs in terms of control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Publication date: September 26, 2002
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO OPTICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Onda
  • Publication number: 20020105731
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes a stationary barrel, first through third lens support rings, and a lens drive ring including a first guide engaged with a guide formed on the stationary barrel; an engaging portion engaged with a guide formed on the first lens support ring, the lens drive ring and the first lens support ring being relatively rotatable and integrally movable in the optical axis direction; a second guide, engaged with a guide formed on the second lens support ring, to move the second lens support ring in the optical axis direction relative to the lens drive ring via rotation of the lens drive ring; and a third guide engaged with a guide formed on the third lens support ring to move the third lens support ring in the optical axis direction relative to the lens drive ring via rotation of the lens drive ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2002
    Publication date: August 8, 2002
    Applicant: ASAHI KOGAKU KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Makoto Iikawa, Takuji Hamasaki
  • Patent number: 6411781
    Abstract: Lens barrel has a changeover member for changing the lens focusing operation between automatic focusing and manual focusing. The lens barrel includes an automatic focusing unit for automatically adjusting a focusing operation of the lens, a changeover unit for selectively choosing either the manual focusing unit or the automatic focusing unit, and a locking mechanism for prohibiting the changeover operation of the changeover unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Yuuichi Katagishi, Koushi Yoshibe
  • Publication number: 20020030896
    Abstract: A barrel assembly of a zoom camera includes a front lens frame where a front lens group is installed, a front guide frame for supporting the front lens frame, a zoom ring advancing and retreating along an optical axis of the front lens group, an inner helicoid ring installed to be capable of advancing and retreating with respect to the zoom ring, a rear lens frame where a rear lens group which is arranged on the same optical axis as the front lens group is installed, and a cam unit formed at the zoom ring and an inner rotator which is installed at the inner helicoid ring to be capable of advancing and retreating, for adjusting the interval between the front lens group and the rear lens group as the front lens group moves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2001
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Applicant: Samsung Techwin Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Seon-ho Lee, Nae-jin Jo