Focusing Ring Patents (Class 359/825)
  • Patent number: 11796486
    Abstract: A flip top spectrometer sample cell including first and second members each includes a window aligned with each other when the first and second members are coupled together defining a predefined spacing between the windows when the first and second members are coupled together, the first and second members decoupled for manually placing a fluid sample on a the window. The flip top spectrometer sample cell is configured to be withdrawn out of a housing for cleaning of the windows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Spectro Scientific, Inc
    Inventors: Patrick F. Henning, Thomas G. Barraclough, Eric J. Olson, Stephen D. Lawrence, Robert J. Yurko
  • Patent number: 11782233
    Abstract: An optical apparatus including: an optical element; a front fixed barrel; a front cover; a function operation ring, which is arranged between the front fixed barrel and the front cover, and is configured to be rotated to move the optical element; and a fixing screw configured to fix the front fixed barrel and the front cover to each other, in which at least one of the front fixed barrel or the front cover includes a deformation beam portion configured to absorb stress generated by the fixing screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuichiro Kato
  • Patent number: 11575813
    Abstract: An imaging lens driving module includes a lens carrier, a frame element, a driving mechanism and a metal conductive element. The lens carrier is disposed in the frame element. The driving mechanism includes a metal elastic element, a coil and a magnet assembly. The metal elastic element includes an outer fixing part coupled to the frame element, an inner fixing part coupled to the lens carrier, and an elastic part. The coil is fixed to the lens carrier and disposed corresponding to the magnet assembly. The metal conductive element is coupled to the lens carrier. The metal elastic element further includes an electrically connecting part and a compensating elastic part. The metal conductive element has a corresponsive surface corresponding to and electrically connected to the electrically connecting part. The compensating elastic part is connected to the electrically connecting part and the inner fixing part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: LARGAN DIGITAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Te-Sheng Tseng, Heng Yi Su, Ming-Ta Chou, Wen-Hung Hsu
  • Patent number: 11506860
    Abstract: A focusing device includes a fixing base, a screw rod, a focusing gear, a height adjusting ring, and a focusing ring. A first through hole is defined in the fixing base, the screw rod with a first thread is movably mounted on the fixing base. The focusing gear is also mounted on the fixing base and defines a third through hole corresponding to the first through hole. An outer wall of the focusing gear has an engaging portion meshing with the first thread. The focusing ring is movably received in the third through hole and located on a side of the height adjusting ring away from the fixing base. The height adjusting ring can adjust a distance between the focusing ring and a lens module to avoid distortion of an optical lens in any circumstances during focusing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: TRIPLE WIN TECHNOLOGY(SHENZHEN) CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Jin-Ke Chen, Xing-Yuan Zhang, Wei Wang, Jie Wang, Peng-Qi Yu, Yi-Bo Xing
  • Patent number: 11435057
    Abstract: A zoom structure includes a light source, a first sleeve, a second sleeve, a lens fixedly connected with the first sleeve and a limitation element. The second sleeve and the first sleeve are coaxially arranged, the second sleeve is rotationally connected with the limitation element in a circumferential direction. The second sleeve is provided with a plurality of spiral sliding grooves. The first sleeve is provided with a plurality of sliding structures connected with the spiral sliding grooves. A position of the light source module is fixed. The lens is opposite to the light source module in the axial direction. The second sleeve is rotatable relative to the limitation element in the circumferential direction. The spiral sliding grooves push the sliding structures to move on the limitation element in the axial direction, the sliding structures then drive the first sleeve and the lens to move in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Opple Lighting Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shitao Deng, Yueping Wang, Xuejun Feng
  • Patent number: 11378787
    Abstract: A lens apparatus includes an optical system including a front lens group having a positive refractive power and configured to move to an object side during focusing from infinity to a close-distance object, and a rear lens group arranged on an image side of the front lens group and configured to be immovable during focusing, a motor configured to move the front lens group, and a holding member including a flange portion, on the object side, extending in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis of the optical system and configured to hold at least part of the rear lens group, wherein the motor includes a coil, a casing housing the coil, and a shaft portion extending from the casing in an optical-axis direction of the optical system, and arranged at a position at which an end surface on the image side of the casing is on the object side with respect to the flange portion in the optical-axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuichi Kosaka, Shinsuke Yoshida
  • Patent number: 10942437
    Abstract: A projection lens is separated by a second mirror into a first optical system that is disposed so as to be closer to an image forming panel and a second optical system that includes the second mirror and is disposed so as to be closer to a screen which is a projection surface. The second optical system is held rotatably around a second optical axis with respect to the first optical system by a first rotation mechanism. A rotation angle of the second optical system with respect to the first optical system is detected by a first sensor. A tilt angle of the projected image on the projection surface by the rotation angle is obtained by a tilt correction section, and the display position of the image to be displayed on the image forming panel is corrected according to the tilt angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Hironobu Kayano
  • Patent number: 10816761
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the field of optical lenses, and discloses a lens module. In the present disclosure, the lens module includes a lens receiving portion having a receiving space, and a lens disposed in the receiving space. The lens receiving portion includes an inner wall around an optical axis of the lens and defining the receiving space, and an outer wall around the optical axis of the lens and disposed opposite to the inner wall. The lens module further includes a buffer member surrounding and being wrapped on at least a part of the outer wall. The lens module provided by the present disclosure is unlikely to be damaged during the assembly process, thereby preventing its performance from being adversely affected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: AAC Optics Solutions Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Chuandong Wei
  • Patent number: 10310358
    Abstract: In the present invention, an edge face of an diaphragm ring (4) has a part (a locked portion) wherein a plurality of depressions (62) are formed and a substantially flat surface portion wherein no depression (62) is formed, and by a simple operation of operating a link releaser (52) so as to rotate the diaphragm ring (4), it is possible to switch between a click mode and a non-click mode. When taking still images, a diaphragm value can be fixed by using the click mode, and when video is taken, the diaphragm value can be smoothly changed during imaging by using the non-click mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: KOWA COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Shuichi Tominaga, Suguru Hanzawa
  • Patent number: 10054760
    Abstract: A zoom lens barrel comprises: a focus lens frame moves in an optical axis direction (inOAD) during zooming and focusing; a focus cam ring (FCR) rotates to move focus lens frame inOAD; a key member rotates to transmit torque to FCR; a zoom lens frame moves inOAD along with FCR; a zoom cam ring rotates to move zoom lens frame inOAD; a first rotation transmission portion (RTP) provided to FCR; and a second RTP provided to key member to be engaged with first RTP, in which cam grooves formed on zoom cam ring are engaged with rollers provided to zoom lens frame, respectively, focus lens frame moves inOAD when FCR rotates with rotation of key member during focusing, and focus lens frame moves inOAD along with zoom lens frame when FCR rotates with relative position change of first and second RTPs inOAD during zooming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tadanori Okada
  • Patent number: 9939607
    Abstract: A lens barrel for imaging a subject; and a lens frame which holds the lens. The lens frame includes a body structure opened at a tip and an end; and a lens base which fixes the lens and is adhered to a tip opening of the body; the lens base includes: a tip base including an opening which exposes a tip side lens optical surface and an inner side which supports the lens; and a circle or arc sidewall extending axially from the tip base; the inner surface of the sidewall is formed along an outer circumference surface of the lens; the inner side surface and the outer circumference are adhered to each other; and a portion of the upper surface of the sidewall is provided toward an end side separated from the far end of the lens to be exposed inside the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Junichi Jono, Yasuyuki Natsuno, Yuichi Atarashi
  • Patent number: 9838010
    Abstract: A digital camera is provided that includes a rotation operation member unit having a circumferential surface, a sheet fixed to the circumferential surface of the rotation operation member unit, and a photo reflector provided at a position facing the sheet that applies light to the sheet and detects the light reflected from the sheet. In the sheet, regions that reflect light to a level at which a photo reflector can detect the reflected light and regions that do not reflect the light are alternately formed. Additionally, a convex portion that is formed in the sheet in the rotation axis direction of the rotation operation member unit, and a concave portion that is formed in the rotation axis direction of the rotation operation member unit are engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takafumi Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 9791763
    Abstract: The device and method are intended for the standardization of picture taking without contact with the subject. Two light beamers converging at a distance within the range of camera focus are enabling reproducible viewing conditions via superimposition of the spots of the beamers on the subject and the light of the beamers are extinguished during picture taking in order not to bias the image. The device is constituted of a body (1) adaptable to a camera (1) with objective (2) and is including two light beamers (4A) and (4B) whose beams (5A) and (5B) are converging at a distance (D) within the focus range of the camera as well as a mechanism to extinguish the light beamers during picture taking. It can be improved by enabling the covering of the focus ring (2) and zoom ring (8) of camera (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Inventor: Jean-Philippe Thirion
  • Patent number: 9705427
    Abstract: A driving motor includes a member having a contact surface, a vibrator including a contact part that is brought into contact with the contact surface, a pressing unit, and a contact member located between the pressing unit and the vibrator. The vibrator and the member move relatively by a vibration of the vibrator. The pressing unit comprises an elastic member so as to apply a pressing force on the contact part against the member including the contact surface. The contact member has a curved surface portion formed as an arc shape curved toward the pressing unit, and comes into contact with the pressing unit at the curved surface portion. The curved surface portion is formed so as to locate a position of a center of a circle including the arc shape of the curved surface portion not closer to the contact member than to the contact part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Oikawa, Ryo Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 9470870
    Abstract: Optical assemblies have one or more optical elements mounted in the cavity of a barrel. The optical element has a curved abutment surface engaging a seat provided in the cavity. The barrel has an inner wall provided with a set of internal threads. External threads are provided on a peripheral wall of the optical element or on a perimeter wall of a retaining ring securing the optical element within the cavity. The internal and external threads have a thread profile including a load-bearing thread face perpendicular to the center axis of the cavity. The thread profile may define a Buttress thread profile or a square thread profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: INSTITUT NATIONAL D'OPTIQUE
    Inventor: Frédéric Lamontagne
  • Patent number: 9389389
    Abstract: Provided is a lens apparatus, including: a lens barrel; a movable optical member arranged in the lens barrel; and an operation ring arranged on an outer peripheral surface of the lens barrel and configured to be rotated about an optical axis when the movable optical member is to be driven in an optical axis direction, the operation ring including a plurality of gears formed about the optical axis, the plurality of gears being mutually rotated at the same cycle when the operation ring is rotated, at least one of the plurality of gears being arranged apart from an electric operation member in the optical axis direction when the operation ring is rotated by the electric operation member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Atsushi Miura
  • Patent number: 9103947
    Abstract: A system includes a light detector, optics, a telescope camera mount, a plurality of spacers, and a retainer. The optics are configured to focus light on the light detector. The telescope camera mount is configured to at least partially support the optics. The plurality of spacers are positioned between the optics and the light detector. A retainer is coupled to the plurality of spacers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Lance T. Brown, Phil C. White, Christopher J. Stein
  • Publication number: 20150146035
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes: a motor; an input transmission ring that is rotated by the motor and is rotatable around the optical axis; and a lens drive cylinder connected to the input transmission ring so that rotating force can be transmitted from the input transmission ring, the lens drive cylinder moving a lens in the optical axis direction and being rotatable. The lens drive cylinder is placed on one side of the motor in the optical axis direction, and the input transmission ring is placed on the same side of the motor as the lens drive cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Yoshifumi Mitani, Yutaka Tsujimoto
  • Patent number: 9013607
    Abstract: An optical instrument of the present invention comprises a ring member which is arranged to be rotatable with respect to a lens barrel, and also to slide in an optical axis direction, a movement mechanism for slide movement of the ring member to a first position or a second position in the optical axis direction, an encoder that generates signals in accordance with a rotation operation of the ring member, a slide position determination section for determining positional change accompanying slide movement to the first position or the second position by the movement mechanism, and a control section for performing determination of the signals from the encoder to switch the display operation, and prohibiting switching of the display operation when the slide position determination section has determined a positional change accompanying the slide operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Olympus Imaging Corp.
    Inventors: Yuzuru Taguchi, Manabu Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 8982485
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes a moving frame, a stepper motor that drives the moving frame, a screw member that rotates in accordance with rotation of the stepper motor, a screw gear that rotates in accordance with rotation of the screw member, a nut member that screws with the screw member, moves, by pressing, the moving frame, an external rotation operation ring, including a drive gear that rotates in response to external operation, that switches between a first state where the drive gear meshes with the screw gear, rotates the screw member, and drives the moving frame and a second state where the drive gear and the screw gear are not meshed, and control means that drive-controls the stepper motor in conjunction with rotation of the external rotation operation ring when the external rotation operation ring is in the second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Olympus Imaging Corp.
    Inventors: Yutaka Arakawa, Kyoji Murayama
  • Publication number: 20150060550
    Abstract: A modular focus system for image based code readers includes swappable lens attachments enables fixed focus, manual focus, and variable focus operation from a single reader. A manual focus lens cap includes a manually adjustable focus ring to change the focus of the reader. A variable focus lens module includes a liquid lens that is manipulated by a voltage delivered via a pair of electrodes to adjust the focus of the reader. The lens attachments can be swapped out and replaced as needed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: COGNEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Laurens Nunnink, Richard Reuter
  • Publication number: 20150062423
    Abstract: Provided is a lens apparatus, including: a lens barrel; a movable optical member arranged in the lens barrel; and an operation ring arranged on an outer peripheral surface of the lens barrel and configured to be rotated about an optical axis when the movable optical member is to be driven in an optical axis direction, the operation ring including a plurality of gears formed about the optical axis, the plurality of gears being mutually rotated at the same cycle when the operation ring is rotated, at least one of the plurality of gears being arranged apart from an electric operation member in the optical axis direction when the operation ring is rotated by the electric operation member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventor: Atsushi Miura
  • Patent number: 8964317
    Abstract: A lens apparatus includes a movable optical element, a driving ring rotatable about an optical axis and adapted to drive the optical element by its rotation, and an operating ring coupled to the driving ring and adapted to rotate about the optical axis integrally with the driving ring. The operating ring includes a first partial operating ring fixed to the driving ring by a first fixing mechanism that allows adjustment of the fixing position with respect to the rotational direction and a second partial operating ring fixed to the first partial operating ring in such a way as to cover the first fixing mechanism. The second partial operating ring is fixed to the first partial operating ring by a second fixing mechanism that allows adjustment of the fixing position with respect to the rotational direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kentaro Takano
  • Patent number: 8942553
    Abstract: A lens device includes a movable optical element, a rotary member; first and second magnetic recording scales fixedly disposed on an outer periphery of the rotary member to extend along a peripheral direction of the rotary member; a signal detecting unit which detects first to fourth signals; and a position detecting unit which detects a position of the movable optical element based on the detected signals, in which the position detecting unit includes: a phase difference calculating unit which calculates a phase difference between the first signal and the third signal, based on the detected first to fourth signals for one cycle; a phase average calculating unit which calculates an average of the phase differences respectively calculated for n cycles; and an absolute position detecting unit which detects an absolute position of the movable optical element based on the calculated average.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Mamoru Miyashita
  • Publication number: 20140362459
    Abstract: A lens barrel has a telescopic structure in which an inner barrel and an outer barrel move relative to each other. A plurality of ring retainers (201 and 202) are disposed at different positions with respect to the optical axis direction between an inner barrel (11) and an outer barrel (12) to support a number of bearing balls (30) so that the bearing balls (30) roll in contact with the inner barrel (11) and the outer barrel (12). The retainers (201 and 202) are supported floatingly in a direction parallel to the optical axis in accordance with the rolling movement of the bearing balls (30). The inner barrel (11) and the outer barrel (12), which move relative to each other, are supported by the ball bearings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventor: Tosao Tohjima
  • Publication number: 20140347754
    Abstract: An adjusting assembly for a lens of a camera has a hollow housing with a mounting portion, at least one driving ring mounted around the lens, at least one turning rod mounted through the mounting portion and engaging with the at least one driving ring, and at least one limiting ring. The at least one limiting ring is embedded in the mounting portion of the housing and prevents the at least one turning rod from dropping out of the housing. The mounting portion is integrally formed on the housing and has an enlarged thickness that allows the at least one turning rod to be stably mounted on the housing. The at least one turning rod is embedded in the housing, such that appearance of the housing is smooth and pleasing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: Hunt Electronic Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shin-Rong Lee
  • Publication number: 20140340776
    Abstract: A lens device, includes: a lens barrel including an operation ring provided to be rotatable about an optical axis; a drive unit including a drive part configured to rotatably drive the operation ring, the drive unit being detachably fixed to a predetermined portion on an outer circumference of the lens barrel, in which the drive unit moves in relation to the lens barrel in a direction of the optical axis to be attached to or detached from the lens barrel, and the operation ring and the drive unit are respectively provided with engaging parts, wherein, when the operation ring is at a predetermined rotation angle about the optical axis, the engaging parts being configured to be engaged with each other during the attachment or detachment of the drive unit in relation to the lens barrel to allow the attachment or detachment of the drive unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: KENTARO IMAGAWA, ATSUSHI MISAWA
  • Publication number: 20140268375
    Abstract: An outer tube body of a device for changing operating force is connected to a gear part of a zoom ring of a lens barrel to rotate the outer tube body together with the zoom ring. The outer tube body has a cylindrical shape and includes a hollow part into which an inner tube body whose rotation is restricted is arranged. Grease is interposed in a gap is formed between an inner peripheral surface of the outer tube body and an outer peripheral surface of the inner tube body. A load caused by viscosity resistance of the grease is applied against rotation of the outer tube body together with the zoom ring. The inner tube body can be displaced in a direction of the center axis so that area of a sliding contact region between the outer tube body and the inner tube body is changed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Minoru TANAKA, Atsushi MISAWA
  • Patent number: 8837062
    Abstract: A lens unit includes an operating member to be operated by a user, an area configured to switch the operating member between an operable state and an inoperable state, and an urging member configured to urge the operation locking member toward the position at which the operating member is brought into the inoperable state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Uehara
  • Patent number: 8834044
    Abstract: The interchangeable lens includes a lens holding member holding a lens, a first supporting bar engaging with the lens holding member to guide movement of the lens holding member in an optical axis direction, a second supporting bar engaging with the lens holding member to prevent rotation of the lens holding member, the second supporting bar having a shorter length than that of the first supporting bar. The interchangeable lens further includes a mount contact provided as an electric contact in a mount portion detachably attachable to a camera body. When viewed from the optical axis direction, the first supporting bar is disposed in an area not overlapping the mount contact, and the second supporting bar is disposed in an area overlapping the mount contact, and when viewed from a direction orthogonal to the optical axis direction, part of the first supporting bar overlaps the mount contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Uehara, Kousuke Kiyamura, Mitsuhiro Izumi
  • Patent number: 8796582
    Abstract: A laser welding apparatus includes a laser welding unit including a first lens adapted to focus a laser beam; a second lens adapted to diffuse the laser beam to the first lens; and a third lens adapted to guide the laser beam to the second lens. The relative positions of the first lens, the second lens, and the third lens, are adjusted to adjust a diffusion angle and a beam width of the laser beam entering the first lens. The laser welding apparatus performs: actuating the laser welding unit to travel at a predetermined speed along a predetermined trajectory; directing the laser beam at a first welding spot; adjusting the focal length to focus the laser beam at the first welding spot; holding the laser focal spot size substantially constant; and directing the laser beam at a second welding spot after completion of welding for the first welding spot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Showa Optronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Kawai, Yuji Hamaguchi, Tatsuya Sakurai
  • 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: 20140029121
    Abstract: A lens device comprising a barrel body which movably holds a focus lens in an optical axis direction; a focus ring provided on an outer circumferential part of the barrel body and having a regulated rotation range; a rotation position detecting unit which detects a rotation position in the rotation range of the focus ring; a touch sensor provided on the outer circumferential part of the barrel body so as to be adjacent to the focus ring; and a control device which perform absolute position control of moving the focus lens to an absolute position corresponding to the rotation position detected by the rotation position detecting unit and relative position control of moving the focus lens to a relative position corresponding to a sliding amount on the touch sensor on an outer circumferential surface in a circumferential direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi MITARAI
  • Publication number: 20140009847
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes a fixed portion with an optical system including a focusing lens. An operation member is placed so as to be movable to first and second positions along an optical axis of the fixed portion, and turnable around the optical axis at the first and second positions. A turning member turns along with the operation member when moved to the second position, and does not operate with the operation member when moved from the second position to the first position. Positioning means position the operation member at the first or second position through a plurality of balls. When the operation member is at the first position it is urged to the first position by the plurality of balls. When the operation member is at the second position, it is urged to the second position by the plurality of balls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP.
    Inventors: Mitsuru Toyama, Tamotsu Koiwai, Takeshi Ito
  • Patent number: 8625211
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a variable magnification device and a telescopic sight using the same, and more particularly, to a variable magnification device which is capable of easily adjusting a magnification of a telescopic sight. The variable magnification device includes: a rotation bunch which has a ring shape conforming to the circumference of a barrel of a telescopic sight and includes a bent end formed on one side of the circumference of the rotation bunch; and a rod which is connected to the bent end and is bendable in the longitudinal direction of the barrel. The magnification of the telescopic sight can be adjusted with an aiming posture maintained, thereby allowing immediate hit on a target. In addition, a leverage effect can be used to easily and finely adjust the magnification of the telescopic sight with one hand, thereby preventing distortion of an aiming posture as maximally as possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Inventor: Do Hyeon Lim
  • Patent number: 8565591
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes an operation member adapted to be movable to a first position and a second position and turnable at each of the positions, a turning member adapted to turnably engage with the operation member at the second position, and disengage from the operation member at the first position, a first detection unit adapted to detect a turning position of the turning member configured to turn in engagement with the operation member, a second detection unit adapted to detect a turning amount and a rotational direction of the operation member when the operation member is disengaged from the turning member, and a moving unit adapted to move the focusing lens along the optical axis based on an output from the first detection unit or the second detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Olympus Imaging Corp.
    Inventors: Mitsuru Toyama, Tamotsu Koiwai, Takeshi Ito
  • Publication number: 20130271862
    Abstract: A lens apparatus includes a movable optical element, a driving ring rotatable about an optical axis and adapted to drive the optical element by its rotation, and an operating ring coupled to the driving ring and adapted to rotate about the optical axis integrally with the driving ring. The operating ring includes a first partial operating ring fixed to the driving ring by a first fixing mechanism that allows adjustment of the fixing position with respect to the rotational direction and a second partial operating ring fixed to the first partial operating ring in such a way as to cover the first fixing mechanism. The second partial operating ring is fixed to the first partial operating ring by a second fixing mechanism that allows adjustment of the fixing position with respect to the rotational direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kentaro Takano
  • Patent number: 8559807
    Abstract: A lens barrel of the present invention includes: a first barrel; a second barrel capable of relative rotation around an optical axis with respect to the first barrel; a focusing lens; a drive portion that drives the focusing lens; a rotational operation member that can move in the optical axis direction to a first position, and a second position; and an engagement portion that, when the rotational operation member is at the second position, causes the second barrel and the rotational operation member to engage with each other and rotates the second barrel accompanying rotation of the rotational operation member, and when the rotational operation member is at the first position, disengages the second barrel and the rotational operation member from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Olympus Imaging Corp.
    Inventors: Mitsuru Toyama, Takeshi Ito, Tamotsu Koiwai
  • Patent number: 8508873
    Abstract: A water-resistant structure of a lens barrel includes a sealing member that seals an annular gap between inner and outer annular members, wherein the sealing member is positioned in a vicinity of an open end of the outer annular member and is fixed to one of the inner and outer annular members to be slidable on the other of the inner and outer annular members, and a drain groove formed on the inner annular member and positioned alongside the sealing member at a position closer to the open end of the outer annular member than the sealing member. Furthermore, a frictional resistance of a first sealing member produced between a secondary annular member and a manually-rotatable annular members is greater than a frictional resistance of the second sealing member that urges one of two of the manually-rotatable annular members to follow a rotation of the other thereof when rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Pentax Ricoh Imaging Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Iikawa, Yuji Kogure, Yuzo Minowa, Toshiyuki Irie
  • Publication number: 20130114949
    Abstract: A camera lens and an image capturing device using the same. The camera lens comprises a lens-barrel fixing-base, a driving barrel, a focusing lens-barrel and an elastic member. The lens-barrel fixing-base has a hollow part, which has a first supporting part. The first supporting part has a connecting part. The driving barrel has a groove formed at an inner wall of the driving barrel. The focusing lens-barrel has a guiding part, which is inserted into the groove for allowing the focusing lens-barrel to be axially moved in the driving barrel. The focusing lens-barrel has a second supporting part. The elastic member is a hollow-ring structure setting between the lens-barrel fixing-base and the focusing lens-barrel. One end of the elastic member is positioned against the first supporting part and the another end of the elastic member is positioned against the second supporting part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: ALTEK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hong-Bin Koh, Tsung-Ken Yang
  • Patent number: 8422006
    Abstract: A system for testing a lens module is provided. The lens module includes a barrel and a lens received in the barrel. The barrel includes a side surface which is parallel to the central axis thereof. The lens includes a smooth flat non-optical surface. The system includes an alignment device, a position detection device, and a processing device. The alignment device includes a leveling unit and an alignment block including an alignment surface for being in contact with and parallel to the side surface. The leveling unit adjusts the alignment surface to be perpendicular to a horizontal plane such that the side surface is perpendicular to the horizontal plane. The position detection device determines the three dimensional coordinates of three non-collinear points on the non-optical surface. The processing device determines whether the non-optical surface is parallel to the horizontal plane according to the coordinates of the three non-collinear points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Cheng-Shiun Wu
  • Publication number: 20120328276
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes an operation member adapted to be movable to a first position and a second position and turnable at each of the positions, a turning member adapted to turnably engage with the operation member at the second position, and disengage from the operation member at the first position, a first detection unit adapted to detect a turning position of the turning member configured to turn in engagement with the operation member, a second detection unit adapted to detect a turning amount and a rotational direction of the operation member when the operation member is disengaged from the turning member, and a moving unit adapted to move the focusing lens along the optical axis based on an output from the first detection unit or the second detection unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP.
    Inventors: Mitsuru Toyama, Tamotsu Koiwai, Takeshi Ito
  • Patent number: 8326137
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a lens barrel in which operability for a user is increased and a reduction in parts is achieved while provided with a manual operating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Naoto Yumiki, Takushi Terasaka, Toshio Yoshimatu
  • Publication number: 20120300322
    Abstract: A lens holder driving device includes a lens holder for holding a lens assembly and a ring-shaped driving coil fixed to the lens holder. The lens holder has N bonded surfaces for bonding N areas of an inner surface of the driving coil to a tubular portion of the lens holder by means of an adhesive agent. At least one of the N bonded surfaces has a peeling inhibiting arrangement for inhibiting the driving coil from peeling from the lens holder after the N areas of the inner surface of the driving coil are bonded to the N bonded surfaces by means of the adhesive agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: MITSUMI ELECTRIC CO., LTD
    Inventor: Koji TAKASHIMA
  • Patent number: 8300334
    Abstract: A variable power lens, having first and second lens groups, includes first and second lens group support frames, a linear guide ring, first and second lens group drive rings which rotate to move the first and second lens group support rings in the optical axis direction relative to the linear guide ring, a drive ring coupler which couples the first and second lens group drive rings with each other to prevent relative rotation therebetween while allowing relative movement therebetween in the optical axis direction; and a drive-ring movement controller which integrally rotates the first and second lens group drive rings via the drive ring coupler without relatively moving in the optical axis direction when a power-variation operating member is operated, and moves one of the first and the second lens group drive rings in the optical axis direction without rotating when a focus operating member is operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Pentax Ricoh Imaging Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazunori Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8270105
    Abstract: Disclosed is a lens device including a click mechanism of a ring member that is rotated with respect to a lens barrel body, slides in the optical axis direction, has high slidability during a click operation and high durability, and can prevent one-sided abrasion due to the inclination of the ring member. A click mechanism of a first focus ring includes: elastic members for clicking provided at three equally divided positions on the circumference of a front fixed ring of a lens barrel body; and a contact portion that is formed in a central portion of the inner circumferential surface of the first focus ring and comes into contact with a convex portion of the elastic member for clicking. The elastic member for clicking is made of polyacetal with high slidability. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the abrasion of the elastic member for clicking during a click operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Mori
  • Patent number: 8243379
    Abstract: A camera module includes a barrel, a holder, a focus ring and an elastic element. The barrel includes a bottom surface opposing the holder. The holder includes an end surface facing the bottom surface of the barrel. At least one of the bottom surface and the end surface defines a first curved cutout and a second curved cutout. The depth of the first curved cutout is different from that of the second curved cutout. The focus ring is positioned between the bottom surface and the end surface. The focus ring includes a bump. An end of the elastic element is fixed to the barrel and the other end is fixed to the holder. The elastic element pulls the barrel to position the focus ring between the barrel and the holder. When rotating the focus ring, the bump can be received in the first curved cutout or the second curved cutout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yen-Chun Chen
  • Publication number: 20120176692
    Abstract: There is provided a focus ring that is capable of preventing deposits from adhering to a member having a lower temperature in a gap between two members having different temperatures. A focus ring 25 is disposed to surround a peripheral portion of a wafer W in a chamber 11 of a substrate processing apparatus 10. The focus ring 25 includes an inner focus ring 25a and an outer focus ring 25b. Here, the inner focus ring 25a is placed adjacent to the wafer W and configured to be cooled; and the outer focus ring 25b is placed so as to surround the inner focus ring 25a and configured not to be cooled. Further, a block member 25c is provided in a gap between the inner focus ring 25a and the outer focus ring 25b.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Jun Yamawaku, Chishio Koshimizu
  • Patent number: 8118436
    Abstract: A projection image display apparatus has a front panel, a projection lens, a lens hood, and a lens dial. The front panel has an opening for the projection lens. The projection lens projects through the opening for the projection lens. The lens hood covers the projection lens circumferentially, and has an opening spaced from an end of the lens hood for a dial. The lens dial is provided for adjusting focusing or zooming. It is provided at a circumference of the projection lens and exposed through the opening for the dial. The apparatus can thus avoid dust or the like foreign matters otherwise entering from a top side thereof into its main body, and also protect the projection lens when the apparatus is carried and inadvertently has a projection lens unit brought into contact with a desk or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiteru Oda, Yoshiho Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8094392
    Abstract: A driving device for an optical device comprising: an operation ring 3 to which a driving force from an operation member 4 is transmitted; a driving ring 9 to which a driving force from an actuator 20 is transmitted; an output ring 5 which transmits a driving force to an optical component 8a; and a planetary roller 6 which slides on one end face 3b of said operation ring 3 and one end face 9b of said driving ring 9, said planetary roller 6 being rotatably attached to said output ring 5 so as to selectively transmit the driving force from any one of said operation ring 3 and said driving ring 9 to said output ring 5. A sliding face 3b of said operation ring 3 with said planetary roller 6 consists of a lower friction member than the operation ring body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Mitsuteru Hino