Reflex Mirror Patents (Class 396/447)
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Patent number: 10162247Abstract: A shutter device (113, 113a) includes a shutter plate (1) where an opening is formed, a light shielding member (2, 3) movable reciprocally between a closed state where the opening is closed and an open state where the opening is open, a motor (19), a drive member (11, 12, 111, 112) including a cam engaging portion (11b, 12b, 111b, 112b), rotatable in conjunction with the light shielding member, and a cam member (15-1, 15-2, 114, 115) that is to be driven by the motor to rotate, the cam member engages with the cam engaging portion, and includes a first cam surface (15ic, 114i, 115g) and a second cam surface (15hc, 114g, 115i), the first cam surface drives the drive member to move the light shielding member to the closed state, the second cam surface drives the drive member to move it to the open state.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2018Date of Patent: December 25, 2018Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Jumpei Ishibiki, Hironori Imai
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Patent number: 9891408Abstract: A mirror drive device that eliminates the need of an additional driving source for releasing a mirror from a locked state, and achieves power saving, lower cost, and size reduction thereof. When a main mirror holder and a sub mirror holder rotatably attached thereto are in respective mirror-down positions, cams of a cam gear and a mirror drive gear that moves the sub holder are in contact to restrict movement of the mirror drive gear. When the holders are between the mirror-down position and a mirror-up position, gears of the cam gear and the mirror drive gear are in mesh for moving the sub holder. When the sub holder is moved from the mirror-down position to the mirror-up position, the sub holder is brought into contact with the main holder to push and move the main holder from the mirror-down position to the mirror-up position.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2016Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Keisuke Morita
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Patent number: 9310600Abstract: An imaging assembly for the viewing, imaging, and analysis of biological, chemical, and/or biochemical samples in gels or other substrates, in which an adjustable camera and lens module, a reflex mirror, and a focal plane mirror, are configured to bend or fold an optical path in order to image a target region, and where the optical path can be reflected along non-orthogonal angles. The imaging assembly is configured to reduce the overall size of the imaging apparatus due to the angles at which the mirrors and camera and lens assembly are positioned relative to each other, which allows for the imaging of relatively larger samples in the target region.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2014Date of Patent: April 12, 2016Assignee: Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Evan Thrush, Evelio Perez, Steve Swihart
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Patent number: 8979400Abstract: A camera movable-mirror drive mechanism includes a first shock-absorbing member, pushed by a main-mirror support member to absorb shock when the main-mirror support member rotates to a viewfinder light-guiding position; a second shock-absorbing member, pushed by the main-mirror support member when the main-mirror support member rotates to the retracted position; and a third shock-absorbing member, pushed by a sub-mirror support member to absorb shock when the sub-mirror support member rotates to a jutting position with rotation of the main-mirror support member to the viewfinder light-guiding position.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2014Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: Ricoh Imaging Company, Ltd.Inventor: Toshiaki Yamada
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Patent number: 8845211Abstract: A movable mirror shock-absorbing mechanism of a camera includes a movable mirror which is rotatable between a viewfinder light-guiding position and a retracted position, a pressing portion which moves with the rotation of the movable mirror, a first shock-absorbing member which is pressed and moved by the pressing portion to absorb shock of the movable mirror when the movable mirror rotates from the retracted position to the viewfinder light-guiding position, and a second shock-absorbing member which is pressed and moved by the pressing portion to absorb shock of the movable mirror when the movable mirror rotates from the viewfinder light-guiding position to the retracted position. The first and second shock-absorbing members are mutually identical in specifications.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2012Date of Patent: September 30, 2014Assignee: Pentax Ricoh Imaging Company, Ltd.Inventor: Toshiaki Yamada
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Publication number: 20140270748Abstract: A shutter apparatus includes a blade member, a blade moving member, a locking member, a cam member, and a restriction member. The cam member moves the locking member from the locking position to the non-locking position so that the blade moving member moves from the closing position to the opening position. The restriction member moves from the non-restriction position to the restriction position after the blade moving member moves from the closing position to the opening position. The cam member moves the locking member in a direction opposite to a direction from the non-locking position to the locking position so that the locking member moves the restriction member from the restriction position to the non-restriction position.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2014Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Masanori Sakai, Koichi Ito
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Patent number: 8790023Abstract: A movable mirror shock-absorbing mechanism of a camera is provided and includes a movable mirror rotatable between a viewfinder light-guiding position and a retracted position, a first shock-absorbing member which comes into contact with, and is pressed and moved by, the movable mirror when the movable mirror rotates between the retracted position and the viewfinder light-guiding position, and a second shock-absorbing member which supports the first shock-absorbing member in a manner to allow the first shock-absorbing member to move relative to the second shock-absorbing member, and when the movable mirror rotates, firstly the second shock-absorbing member moves the first shock-absorbing member solely in a pressing-moving direction in which the first shock-absorbing member is pressed and moved by the movable mirror, and subsequently the second shock-absorbing member is moved with the first shock-absorbing member in the pressing-moving direction.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2013Date of Patent: July 29, 2014Assignee: Ricoh Imaging Company, Ltd.Inventor: Toshiaki Yamada
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Patent number: 8783972Abstract: A movable mirror shock-absorbing mechanism of a camera is provided and includes a movable mirror rotatable between a viewfinder light-guiding position and a retracted position, a first shock-absorbing member which comes into contact with, and is pressed and moved by, the movable mirror to absorb shock of the movable mirror when the movable mirror rotates between the viewfinder light-guiding position and the retracted position, and a second shock-absorbing member to absorb shock of the movable mirror when the movable mirror rotates in the opposite.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2013Date of Patent: July 22, 2014Assignee: Ricoh Imaging Company, Ltd.Inventor: Toshiaki Yamada
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Patent number: 8760556Abstract: An image capture apparatus includes a variable translucency mirror, a viewfinder unit configured to receive light reflected by the variable translucency mirror, an imaging sensor configured to receive light transmitted through the variable translucency mirror, an image display unit configured to display an image based on the light received by the imaging sensor, and a controller configured to set a translucency of the variable translucency mirror. In a viewfinder mode, the controller sets the variable translucency mirror to be at least partially reflective such that light incident on the variable translucency mirror is reflected thereby and received by the viewfinder unit. In a display view mode, the controller sets the variable translucency mirror to be at least partially transparent, such that light incident on the variable translucency mirror is transmitted therethrough and received by the imaging sensor.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2011Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Andy Lai Lin
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Patent number: 8753024Abstract: A movable mirror shock-absorbing mechanism of a camera includes a mirror rotatable between a viewfinder light-guiding position and a retracted position, and a shock-absorbing member. The shock-absorbing member is held at a stand-by position with a pressure receiving portion thereof spaced from a contact portion provided on the mirror when the mirror is at the viewfinder light-guiding position or the retracted position. When the mirror rotates between the viewfinder light-guiding position and the retracted position, the contact portion presses the pressure receiving portion to move the shock-absorbing member against the biaser, the shock-absorbing member returns to the stand-by position after the pressing of the contact portion is released, and bouncing of the mirror is limited by a contact engagement between the contact portion and the pressure receiving portion.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2012Date of Patent: June 17, 2014Assignee: Pentax Ricoh Imaging Company, Ltd.Inventor: Toshiaki Yamada
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Patent number: 8734030Abstract: When a mirror holder is at a mirror-down position, a follower portion traces a first region of a cam portion to urge the mirror holder toward the mirror-down position by an urging force of an urging member. When the mirror holder is at a mirror-up position, the follower portion traces a second region of the cam portion to urge the mirror holder toward the mirror-up position by the urging force of the urging member. When the mirror holder is at an intermediate position between the mirror-down position and the mirror-up position, a contact portion is contacted with one edge of a hole by the urging force of the urging member. When the mirror holder is bounced near the mirror-down position or near the mirror-up position, the contact portion is contacted with an opposite edge of the hole against the urging force of the urging member.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2013Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kazuaki Yamana
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Publication number: 20140072292Abstract: A movable mirror shock-absorbing mechanism of a camera is provided and includes a movable mirror rotatable between a viewfinder light-guiding position and a retracted position, a first shock-absorbing member which comes into contact with, and is pressed and moved by, the movable mirror to absorb shock of the movable mirror when the movable mirror rotates between the viewfinder light-guiding position and the retracted position, and a second shock-absorbing member to absorb shock of the movable mirror when the movable mirror rotates in the opposite.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2013Publication date: March 13, 2014Applicant: RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD.Inventor: Toshiaki YAMADA
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Patent number: 8651752Abstract: A mirror contact member includes a first eccentric portion that is eccentric with respect to a rotation center of the mirror contact member, and a second eccentric portion that is eccentric with respect to the rotation center of the mirror contact member substantially at the same eccentricity as that of the first eccentric portion. When a mirror is displaced to a mirror-down state, the mirror is contacted with the first eccentric portion. A bounce regulation member is disposed to be rotatable about the second eccentric portion.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2012Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Masato Seita
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Patent number: 8636428Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a diaphragm configured to control an amount of incident light, a variable transmittance and reflectance element configured to reflect a part of the incident light to an optical viewfinder and transmit the remainder of the incident light as imaging light, and a controller configured to increase reflectance of the variable transmittance and reflectance element as a setting value of the diaphragm increases.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2012Date of Patent: January 28, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Masato Seita
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Patent number: 8628259Abstract: An image pickup apparatus capable of reducing variations in the time it takes for mirror bounce to end caused by adjustments made to the angle of a mirror, making assembly of the image pickup apparatus more efficient, and making the image pickup apparatus more compact. A mirror unit comes into contact with a positioning pin so as to be positioned in the shooting optical path. Rotating an adjustment member, on which a lock lever is rotatably fitted and to which the positioning pin is fixed, causes the mirror unit to move following the adjustment member. The lock lever and the positioning pin eccentrically move according to the rotation of the adjustment member and move in the same direction by the same amount. A gap between the mirror unit and a lock pin of the lock lever is constant.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2011Date of Patent: January 14, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Masato Seita
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Patent number: 8596889Abstract: A camera includes a first mirror contact member contactable with one side of a mirror, a first rotation member rotated about a first rotation shaft when the first mirror contact member is contacted with one side of the mirror, a second mirror contact member contactable with the other side of the mirror, and a second rotation member rotated about a second rotation shaft when the second mirror contact member is contacted with the other side of the mirror. The first rotation shaft is formed at a position different from a position of the first rotation member where the first mirror contact member is provided. The second rotation shaft is formed at a position different from a position of the second rotation member where the second mirror contact member is provided. The first and second rotation members are arranged such that the first and second rotation shafts are coaxially positioned.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2012Date of Patent: December 3, 2013Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Masato Seita
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Publication number: 20130136441Abstract: A movable mirror shock-absorbing mechanism of a camera includes a movable mirror which is rotatable between a viewfinder light-guiding position and a retracted position, a pressing portion which moves with the rotation of the movable mirror, a first shock-absorbing member which is pressed and moved by the pressing portion to absorb shock of the movable mirror when the movable mirror rotates from the retracted position to the viewfinder light-guiding position, and a second shock-absorbing member which is pressed and moved by the pressing portion to absorb shock of the movable mirror when the movable mirror rotates from the viewfinder light-guiding position to the retracted position. The first and second shock-absorbing members are mutually identical in specifications.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2012Publication date: May 30, 2013Applicant: PENTAX RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD.Inventor: PENTAX RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD.
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Publication number: 20130108257Abstract: A movable mirror shock-absorbing mechanism of a camera includes a mirror rotatable between a viewfinder light-guiding position and a retracted position, and a shock-absorbing member. The shock-absorbing member is held at a stand-by position with a pressure receiving portion thereof spaced from a contact portion provided on the mirror when the mirror is at the viewfinder light-guiding position or the retracted position. When the mirror rotates between the viewfinder light-guiding position and the retracted position, the contact portion presses the pressure receiving portion to move the shock-absorbing member against the biaser, the shock-absorbing member returns to the stand-by position after the pressing of the contact portion is released, and bouncing of the mirror is limited by a contact engagement between the contact portion and the pressure receiving portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2012Publication date: May 2, 2013Applicant: PENTAX RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD.Inventor: PENTAX RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD.
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Patent number: 8313254Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes a light-beam splitting mirror configured to transmit and reflect incident light that has entered the light-beam splitting mirror through a photographing optical system; an image sensor that receives light transmitted through the light-beam splitting mirror; an autofocus detecting unit that receives light reflected by the light-beam splitting mirror; a signal processing unit configured to process an image pickup signal of the image sensor; and a display unit configured to display an image being photographed, on the basis of an image signal obtained at the signal processing unit. In the image pickup apparatus, the light-beam splitting mirror has spectral characteristics including a reflectivity of 25% or more and 35% or less at a wavelength of 400 to 650 nm and a reflectivity of 60% or more at a wavelength of about 700 nm through optimization.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2010Date of Patent: November 20, 2012Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Yoshihiro Oshima, Shozo Masuda, Naoji Nada, Kazuhito Shimoda, Yasutoshi Katsuda, Hideaki Inoue, Yasuro Nakagawa
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Patent number: 8282293Abstract: A mirror brake mechanism of an SLR camera for applying a brake to a mirror pivoted about a mirror rotational shaft to be swingable between a viewing position and a retracted position. The mirror brake mechanism includes a brake shaft which is independent of the mirror rotational shaft and positionally aligned along an extension line of the mirror rotational shaft; an interlocking rotating member disposed on one of laterally opposite sides of the mirror and rotatable about the brake shaft; a mirror drive shaft which connects a mirror seat, on which the mirror is mounted, and the interlocking rotating member to each other in a rotational direction about the mirror drive shaft; a brake drum which rotates in association with the interlocking rotating member; and a mirror brake member which is brought into contact with and disengaged from the brake drum.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2010Date of Patent: October 9, 2012Assignee: Pentax Ricoh Imaging Company, Ltd.Inventor: Yoshinori Ono
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Patent number: 8282292Abstract: A mirror drive apparatus incorporating a brake mechanism of an SLR camera includes a mirror pivoted about a mirror rotational shaft and swingable between a viewing position and a retracted position, wherein the mirror is biased to swing from the viewing position to the retracted position; a brake drum which rotates in association with a swing movement of the mirror; a mirror brake member including a brake shoe which is brought into contact with and disengaged from the brake drum; a mirror control cam driven by a motor to return the mirror, which is biased to swing from the viewing position to the retracted position, to the viewing position from the retracted position; and a brake lever control mechanism which makes the brake shoe contact the brake drum and moves the brake shoe off the brake drum by a rotating operation of the mirror control cam.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2010Date of Patent: October 9, 2012Assignee: Pentax Ricoh Imaging Company, Ltd.Inventor: Yoshinori Ono
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Patent number: 8235606Abstract: A mirror unit that can decrease the wait time before distance measurement.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2011Date of Patent: August 7, 2012Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventor: Toshiaki Kurahashi
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Patent number: 8218066Abstract: An interchangeable lens (second interchangeable lens) is disclosed which allows a protruding amount from a mount reference surface of the interchangeable lens to be increased. The second interchangeable lens has a protruding portion protruding from a mount reference surface toward an image plane, has a larger protruding amount than the first interchangeable lens and has the same flange back as the first interchangeable lens. The first camera prevents mounting of the second interchangeable lens by the protruding portion of the second interchangeable lens contacting the first wall portion. The second camera includes a second wall portion provided at a position retreated from the protruding portion. The second camera includes a rotatable mirror member, and the rotation center of the mirror member is positioned on the opposite side of a finder optical system with respect to a plane including an in-plane direction of the mirror member.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2004Date of Patent: July 10, 2012Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Eiri Tsukatani, Masahisa Tamura, Jun Sugita, Atsushi Koyama
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Publication number: 20120163793Abstract: An image pickup apparatus capable of reducing variations in the time it takes for mirror bounce to end caused by adjustments made to the angle of a mirror, making assembly of the image pickup apparatus more efficient, and making the image pickup apparatus more compact. A mirror unit comes into contact with a positioning pin so as to be positioned in the shooting optical path. Rotating an adjustment member, on which a lock lever is rotatably fitted and to which the positioning pin is fixed, causes the mirror unit to move following the adjustment member. The lock lever and the positioning pin eccentrically move according to the rotation of the adjustment member and move in the same direction by the same amount. A gap between the mirror unit and a lock pin of the lock lever is constant.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2011Publication date: June 28, 2012Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Masato Seita
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Patent number: 8175779Abstract: A program is executed which includes a step (S100) of calculating a base required driving force, a step (S200) of calculating a reference driving force, a step (S400) of calculating a final required driving force on which a vibration suppression filtering process has been performed when the base required driving force is greater than a reference driving force, and a step (S500) of calculating a final required driving force on which the vibration suppression filtering process has not been performed when the base required driving force is equal to or less than the reference driving force.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2007Date of Patent: May 8, 2012Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroyuki Sawada, Toshihiro Fukumasu
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Publication number: 20120063763Abstract: A movable mirror shock-absorbing mechanism of a camera, includes a movable mirror rotatable between a viewfinder light-guiding position and a retracted position, a mirror-advancing shock-absorbing member which comes into contact with, and is pressed and moved by, the movable mirror to absorb shock of the movable mirror when the movable mirror rotates from the retracted position to the viewfinder light-guiding position, and a mirror-retracting shock-absorbing member which comes into contact with, and is pressed and moved by, the movable mirror to absorb shock of the movable mirror when the movable mirror rotates from the viewfinder light-guiding position to the retracted position. The mirror-advancing shock-absorbing member is held in a position so as not to contact with the movable mirror by the mirror-retracting shock-absorbing member when the movable mirror is in the viewfinder light-guiding position.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2011Publication date: March 15, 2012Applicant: HOYA CORPORATIONInventor: Toshiaki YAMADA
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Patent number: 7674051Abstract: A mirror adjustment mechanism including a first reflection mirror rotatable around a rotation shaft, and a second reflection mirror rotatably provided on the first reflection mirror. One of the ends of the rotation shaft of the first mirror is allowed to move in the direction of the surface of the first mirror. By this movement, it is possible to adjust the direction of the reflecting light on the second mirror without substantially affecting the direction of the reflecting light on the first mirror. For example, the present invention can be applied to the adjustment of a sub-mirror rotatably mounted on a main mirror of a single-lens reflex camera.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2006Date of Patent: March 9, 2010Assignee: Olympus Imaging Corp.Inventor: Naoki Fujikawa
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Patent number: 7458738Abstract: An image-taking apparatus is disclosed which allows preparatory driving for the next image-taking without degrading image quality and a reduction in time taken for one image-taking operation. The image-taking apparatus has a controller which controls an actuator which drives an operation mechanism which performs a first operation for allowing the image-taking with a photoelectrical conversion device and then a second operation (preparatory driving) for returning to the state before the first operation. The controller starts to drive the actuator for causing the operation mechanism to perform the second operation after the start of the travel of a rear curtain of a shutter and before the end thereof during accumulation of charge on the photoelectrical conversion device, or before reading of charge from the photoelectrical conversion device after the completion of exposure of the photoelectrical conversion device.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2005Date of Patent: December 2, 2008Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kei Tomatsu
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Patent number: 7006140Abstract: A digital still camera of the present invention has a photographing optical system, a body, an image sensor, a half mirror, a phase difference focus detector. The image sensor is arranged in the body and backward of the photographing optical system along an optical axis. The light-path space is formed between the photographing optical system and the image sensor along the optical axis, light from the photographing optical system passes through the light-path space and is received by the image sensor. The half mirror is provided along the optical axis in the light-path space and the phase difference focus detector is provided outside the light-path space. The half mirror is arranged in the light-path space such that all of the light directed from the photographing optical system to the image sensor substantially passes through the half mirror.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2001Date of Patent: February 28, 2006Assignee: PENTAX CorporationInventor: Tetsuji Shono
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Patent number: 6795650Abstract: An optical and electronic viewer of a camera has a body having entrance and exit openings and entrance and exit tunnels extending inward from respective openings. The body has a cross tunnel connecting the entrance and exit tunnels. An eyepiece is mounted at the exit opening and defines and eyepiece axis. An objective lens is mounted at the entrance opening and defines an objective axis. An electronic imager is disposed within the body, in optical alignment with the objective lens. A microdisplay is mounted in the exit tunnel interior to the eyepiece. First and second reflectors are disposed in the cross tunnel. The reflectors are aligned and are each movable, within the cross tunnel, between an optical-viewing position and a non-viewing position. The first reflector is aligned with the objective axis and the second reflector is aligned with the eyepiece axis in optical-viewing position. The reflectors are spaced from the axes and each other in non-viewing position.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2002Date of Patent: September 21, 2004Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventor: Scott C. Cahall
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Patent number: 6536960Abstract: In a digital camera having a half mirror retractable out of the optical path and an optical viewfinder receiving light reflected from the half mirror, the sensitivity of an image-sensing device is set as specified by the user. When a relatively high sensitivity is specified, an image to be recorded is shot with the half mirror operated as a quick-return mirror, and, when a relatively low sensitivity is specified, an image to be recorded is shot with the half mirror kept in the optical path. A sensitivity that cannot be coped with simply by changing the position of the half mirror is set by adjusting, in conjunction therewith, the output gain of the image-sensing device.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2000Date of Patent: March 25, 2003Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroaki Kubo, Yasuhiro Morimoto
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Patent number: 6390692Abstract: A single-lens-reflex camera includes means for virtually eliminating vibration, noise, and motion caused by mirror movement, resulting in a higher resolution image being recorded on a light-sensitive surface at the rear of the camera. A pair of bi-parting mirrors are smoothly and noiselessly slid from a position adjacent each other, reflecting an image upward to a viewing screen for focusing and viewing, to a separated position. When mirrors are separated they are clear of the image, so the image can then fall upon the shutter and light-sensitive surface at the rear of the camera. After the image is recorded on the light-sensitive surface, the mirrors return to their original adjacent position. The mirrors are symmetrically arranged, so their inertial masses oppose and cancel each other during mirror movement, thereby eliminating camera movement from this source. This allows larger and heavier mirrors to be used in large format cameras.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2001Date of Patent: May 21, 2002Inventor: William L. Booth
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Patent number: 6345918Abstract: A mirror-reflex camera is provided having a viewfinder mirror which can be displaced between a viewing position and a taking position, and an electromagnetic drive for adjusting the viewfinder mirror. The viewfinder mirror can be displaced linearly between the viewing position and the taking position to ensure the quick and reliable adjustment of the viewfinder mirror between the viewing position and taking position, with a relatively low outlay and little expenditure of energy. The electromagnetic drive has a permanent magnet arrangement and a linearly displaceable plunger coil arrangement. The viewfinder mirror is displaceable, in particular, via a driver with the plunger coil arrangement.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 1999Date of Patent: February 12, 2002Assignee: Rollei Fototechnic GmbHInventor: Joerg Tiedemann
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Patent number: 6257775Abstract: A mirror-reflex camera, having a mirror support which supports a viewfinder mirror and can be adjusted between two end positions, a viewing position and a taking position. Latches are provided with the mirror support for latching in the end positions. Adjustable engaging levers are provided which engage in the latches in an engaging position and release the latches in a release position. A holding device (such as a plate) is provided for holding a driver. The driver can be adjusted along a driver track by a drive and can be moved in the holding device along its driver track within a distance which is limited by two bearing positions in the holding device. The mirror support can be adjusted above the holding device by the driver in these bearing positions. The engaging means, which can, in particular, be pivotable latching levers, can be adjusted from the engaging position into the release position by the driver.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 1999Date of Patent: July 10, 2001Assignee: Rollei Fototechnic GmbHInventors: Erwin Scholz, Joerg Tiedemann
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Patent number: 6227727Abstract: An electromotive drive for swiveling the viewfinder mirror in a single-lens mirror reflex camera between its viewfinder position and its picture taking position. A balanced mirror drive includes a drive arm. The drive arm forms an integral component of the electromotive drive. The drive arm can be electromotively swiveled in about a fixed pivot axis lying parallel to the viewfinder-mirror swivel axis. The drive arm is kinematically coupled with the viewfinder mirror in such a way that the swiveling of the drive arm induces a swiveling in the opposite direction of the viewfinder mirror.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 1999Date of Patent: May 8, 2001Assignee: Rollei Fototechnic GmbHInventor: Bodo Mielke
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Patent number: 6227726Abstract: An electronic camera includes a quick-return mirror pivoted by a drive shaft. The mirror is selectively movable between a luminous flux reflective position in which an image-forming luminous flux from an imaging optical system is reflected toward a view finder optical system and a luminous flux transmissive position in which the image-forming luminous flux is transmitted toward an image pickup device. A transflector is arranged on the quick-return mirror. A shielding member moves to an open position when the quick-return mirror takes the luminous flux reflective position, and moves to an external light shielding position when the quick-return mirror takes the luminous flux transmissive position. An interlocking mechanism has a toggle spring for moving the shielding member in interlock with the quick-return mirror. The electronic camera is thus free from the splitting of the image forming luminous flux reaching the image pickup device, and performs AF, AE, and AWB operations any time.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 1999Date of Patent: May 8, 2001Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.Inventor: Tatsuji Higuchi
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Patent number: 6169856Abstract: A single lens reflex camera provided with a focus detection unit 58 arranged so as to have a photoreceptive surface disposed adjacent to an aperture 53a provided in the bottom wall 53 of a mirror box, and further provided with a cover 60 for effectively closing the aperture 53a during exposure.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 1999Date of Patent: January 2, 2001Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takamasa Sakamoto, Akio Kimba, Junichi Tanii
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Patent number: 6164844Abstract: The invention is directed to an engaging mechanism. The engaging mechanism comprises a cam element which moves upon modification of an engaging position, a cam follower abutted against a cam surface of the cam element, a detecting element for detecting a position of the cam follower, and a section to be detected provided on the cam follower, for giving at least three different kinds of output values to the detecting element.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 1998Date of Patent: December 26, 2000Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoichiro Okumura, Michio Nagai, Hiroshi Terada, Atsushi Maruyama
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Patent number: 5781811Abstract: A shock absorber of a mirror in a single lens reflex camera having a mirror which rotates about a shaft to move between a viewing position and a retracted position includes a rotating member which rotates together with the mirror when the mirror rotates, a brake member which is rotatable about a shaft, a friction member which resists the rotation of the brake member, and an association member which is provided on the rotating member to rotate the brake member together with the rotating member in the same direction when the rotating member rotates in the forward or reverse direction, at the termination of the upward movement of the mirror from the viewing position to the retracted position or at the termination of the downward movement from the retracted position to the viewing position.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 1997Date of Patent: July 14, 1998Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tetsuji Shono
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Patent number: 5768644Abstract: An apparatus for preventing mirror bounce in a camera includes a mirror member rotatable in reciprocation between a viewing position and a photographing position. A mirror receiving member receives a kinetic energy of the mirror member by making a predetermined motion when a collision of the mirror member takes place and, at the same time, position-regulates the mirror member in the viewing position. A moment of inertia of the mirror receiving member and/or the mirror member is set so that a bounce time after the collision of the mirror member is shorter by 15% or above than a bounce time when fixing the mirror receiving member.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 1996Date of Patent: June 16, 1998Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventor: Yoshiaki Tanabe
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Patent number: 5758219Abstract: A brake apparatus includes a reciprocally rotating member which reciprocally rotates by an angular displacement smaller than 360.degree.. Two cam surfaces of different shapes are formed on the reciprocally rotating member. A brake drum rotates in association with the reciprocally rotating member. A brake lever is provided with a control arm which engages with a cam surface, and a brake arm which engages with the brake drum. The brake lever swings the brake arm toward or away from the brake drum in accordance with the shape of a cam surface. The control arm of the brake lever can elastically deform, so that it can be located in a position in which it can selectively engage with one of the cam surfaces at the same phase of rotation of the reciprocally rotating member during the forward and reverse rotations thereof.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 1997Date of Patent: May 26, 1998Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Akihiro Arai
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Patent number: 5721996Abstract: The invention is directed to an engaging mechanism. The engaging mechanism comprises a cam element which moves upon modification of an engaging position, a cam follower abutted against a cam surface of the cam element, a detecting element for detecting a position of the cam follower, and a section to be detected provided on the cam follower, for giving at least three different kinds of output values to the detecting element.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 1997Date of Patent: February 24, 1998Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoichiro Okumura, Michio Nagai, Hiroshi Terada, Atsushi Maruyama
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Patent number: 5715003Abstract: A single lens reflex camera including a mirror-slit unit provided between a photographing lens and a recording medium and being provided with a pair of mirrors which can be selectively moved onto an optical axis of the photographing lens, and a slit provided between the mirrors; a reciprocally sliding mechanism which reciprocally moves the mirror-slit unit with respect to the recording medium, so that the slit gives the light to a picture area of the recording medium; and a photographing control mechanism which controls the reciprocally sliding mechanism, so that upon viewing, the mirrors of the mirror-slit unit are selectively moved onto the optical axis of the photographing lens so as to make the light incident upon a finder optical system, and upon photographing, the slit moves with respect to the picture area of the recording medium to make light, of an object to be photographed, incident upon the recording medium. The invention is also directed to an exposure method in the single lens reflex camera.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 1995Date of Patent: February 3, 1998Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kyusei Kanno
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Patent number: 5640625Abstract: An automatic exposure control device for use with a camera having a continuous shooting mode includes, but is not limited to, a photometric unit measuring subject brightness, an exposure control unit controlling the automatic exposure control device according to the operation of the photometric unit, a range finding unit detecting subject distance, a focus control unit focusing a lens of the camera according to the operation of the range finding unit, a mirror raising unit raising a mirror of the camera and a timer timing the time from a start of a shutter release operation of the camera until the completion of a mirror raising operation by the mirror raising unit.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 1995Date of Patent: June 17, 1997Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventor: Toshiaki Hozumi
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Patent number: 5628038Abstract: A camera with a mirror device comprises a first mirror, i.e., a main mirror, device for reflecting object light, and a second mirror, i.e., a sub-mirror, device for reflecting light transmitted through the first mirror device to another device, i.e., a focus detector. The second mirror device has a reflective layer formed as a sub-mirror surface formed directly on a base member. With the sub-mirror surface formed by, e.g., evaporation directly on a partial protruded area of the base member, the manufacture process is facilitated, a sub-mirror area can be increased, and reliability and durability are improved because the sub-mirror will not experience variations in its mounting angle or be subject to peeling-off from a separate base member.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 1994Date of Patent: May 6, 1997Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Masaki Higashihara