Abstract: A device is provided having one or more light quantity controlling members that move into, and out of, an opening portion through which light passes and which is formed by at least a portion of inner diameter sides of a first stator and a second stator, thus controlling the amount of light passing therethrough. The one or more light quantity controlling members are disposed between the magnet and the second stator.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved lens system for low light applications. This improved low light lens system is designed for any suitable low light application, such as the above described biological imaging application. In one embodiment, a finite conjugate lens system is disclosed. The lens system includes, in order from a camera side to an object side, a first lens group and a second lens group. The first and second lens groups are adapted so that when light is passed from the object side to the image side, a substantially sized region of collimated light is formed between the first and second lens group. Preferably, the first and second lens groups are adapted to demagnify an object at the object side.

Abstract: This invention discloses a shutter and lens apparatus including a lens housing for receiving a multi-function support. The multi-function support includes a lens seat fitting with a lens and two solenoid valves attached on its bottom. A shutter slice and a diaphragm are mounted on the top surface of multi-function support, and pivot around a shaft projected thereon. Two movable rods of the solenoid valves are coupled with the shutter slice and diaphragm to drive them passing a light path, an axis through the lens, for controlling time and quantities of light projected through the lens. A housing cover encases the lens, the multi-function support, and a spring into the lens housing.

Abstract: An optical device capable of controlling its optical transmittance. The optical device has a first liquid conductive or having a polarity and a second liquid. The first and second liquids are substantially equal in refractive index but differ in transmittance. The first and second liquids do not mix with each other. The first and second liquids are sealingly contained in a container in such state that the boundary therebetween has a predetermined shape. When a voltage is applied between these liquids through electrodes formed in such a place or condition as to avoid interference with passage of a bundle of rays incident upon the optical element, the output of the applied voltage is selected under control to change the shape of the boundary, thereby changing the quantity of transmitted light in the bundle of rays traveling through the optical device.

Abstract: A shutter device loaded in a fixed focus camera for making soft-focus photograph includes a swingable shutter drive member and two shutter blades for opening and closing a shutter opening. When the shutter drive member swings in response to photographing operation, the shutter blades rotate oppositely to each other such that the shutter opening gradually appears. While opening, the shutter blades continuously form a small stop. After a flashlight is emitted during forming the small stop, the shutter blades rotate moreover and the shutter opening is entirely exposed. Then the shutter blades close to cover the shutter opening entirely.

Abstract: A lens shutter comprises shutter blades capable of moving within a shutter chamber of a camera to open and close a lens aperture. A stopper capable of entering into movement loci of the shutter blades selectively takes a position for aperture restriction that stops the shutter blades immediately before they reach positions for full opening of the lens aperture, or a position for restriction release that allows the shutter blades to reach the positions for full opening of the lens aperture. The stopper is urged by a spring toward the position for aperture restriction and is retracted by a releasing member to the position for restriction release when the lens aperture is to be fully opened.

Abstract: The camera shutter unit of the present invention is provided with a diaphragm blade arranged to be capable of moving between a stopping-down position wherein an aperture is stopped down, and an evacuating position wherein the aperture is opened. A shutter blade is arranged to be capable of moving between an opening position, wherein the aperture is opened, and a closing position, wherein the aperture is closed. A drive-control mechanism is provided for drive-controlling the shutter blade and the diaphragm blade. The drive-control mechanism has a single electromagnetic drive source, and a spring for restricting movement of the shutter blade toward the closing position when the diaphragm blade is positioned in the stopping-down position, and for releasing its restriction by a predetermined or more drive force generated by the electromagnetic drive source. Therefore, the unit can be of a small size and low in cost, and its reliability of function can be improved.

Abstract: In a lens barrel in which the light exposure controlling unit for controlling the amount of light is integrated, an electromagnetic unit is employed as a drive source for driving the shutter blades, and the direction of the movement of the plunger in the electromagnetic unit is switched by the shutter lever, and the shutter blades are opened and closed. The coil and the plunger constructing the electromagnetic unit are disposed in parallel with the optical axis O, and their arrangement contributes to reduce the space required for the electromagnetic unit, whereby enabling downsizing of the light exposure controlling unit and the lens barrel.

Abstract: A sector blade driving device includes a plurality of sector blades which define an adjustable photographic aperture, and a cylindrical member which surrounds the periphery of the sector blades to prevent harmful light from entering the photographic aperture from outside of the sector blade driving device. At least part of the cylindrical member which the sector blades press against when the plurality of sector blades are fully opened is made of a resilient material.

Abstract: The space required in the vicinity of a shutter aperture can be reduced to achieve an overall reduction in size of a device by providing a diaphragm mechanism for covering the shutter aperture formed of a plurality of members cooperating with each other to cover the shutter aperture. By cooperation of a small-diaphragm plate having a diaphragm aperture formed therethrough smaller in diameter than the shutter aperture and an auxiliary plate, for example, a space reduction is facilitated. The small-diaphragm plate is pivotably mounted adjacent one side of the shutter aperture. The auxiliary plate has a shape that cooperates with the convex-arcuate portion to cover the shutter aperture. When the small-diaphragm plate and the auxiliary plate are driven by the diaphragm actuating member and moved to a first position covering the shutter aperture, the two plate cooperate to fully cover the shutter aperture.

Abstract: A quantity-of-light adjusting device includes a drive source, a base member having an opening formed therein, and a blade arranged to move by being driven by the drive source and having three openings formed therein side by side in a row in a moving direction of the blade, wherein, among the three openings formed in the blade, the opening situated in the middle of the row is larger than the opening formed in the base member.

Abstract: A lens-equipped film unit comprises a photographing mechanism including a photographic lens, a shutter of a fixed speed, an aperture and a strobe, and an unexposed photographic film has being charged therein. The photographing mechanism satisfying the relationship: 7.0≦log2(G2)+log2(1/T)≦12.5, wherein T represents shutter speed (sec) of the shutter and G represents guide number (ISO 100.m) of the strobe. The film unit further comprises a photometer to measure a subject light quantity and to output light quantity signal corresponding to the subject light quantity, and an exposure quantity controller toward the charged photographic film in accordance with the light quantity signal.

Abstract: A shutter for a camera capable of opening a shutter sector in a reduced period of time includes a shutter opening formed in a shutter plate, shutter sectors for opening and closing the shutter opening, a drive lever having a drive pin for operating the shutter sectors, and an actuator for driving the drive lever. The drive pin penetrates through-holes formed in the shutter sectors. The through-holes have a size sufficiently large so that the drive lever is driven by the actuator substantially in a no-load state immediately after starting to drive the drive lever so that the shutter sectors are not moved until the drive pin has achieved sufficient acceleration.

Abstract: In a camera shutter apparatus, a shutter blade is arranged movably In an open direction and a close direction relative to a lens aperture for opening and closing the lens aperture from a home position to perform an exposure operation. A setting member is provided to operate when setting the lens aperture at a predetermined diameter for holding the shutter blade to a stop position corresponding to the predetermined diameter with a biasing force. A drive source is provided for generating a driving force necessary for moving the shutter blade. A controller is provided to operate when moving the shutter blade from the home position to the stop position so as to set the lens aperture and then moving the shutter blade in the close direction for an exposure operation.

Abstract: According to the present invention, an aperture/shutter system comprises a stator, a homogeneous rotor and at least one shutter blade. The rotor is located adjacent to the stator and has at least one positioning feature; and the shutter blade has a complimentary feature coupled directly to the positioning feature so as to be directly rotatable by the rotor.

Abstract: A camera provided with an aperture controllable shutter capable of determining exposure by varying aperture movement, and a photographic lens capable of varying focal length. In accordance with the focal length of the photographic lens, an aperture size or an aperture characteristic of the aperture controllable shutter is determined. A diaphragm of the aperture controllable shutter is driven based on the determined aperture size, aperture characteristic and object brightness.

Abstract: A shutter/diaphragm apparatus includes an intermediate plate between a diaphragm cam plate and a diaphragm rotating plate. A plurality of blades are provided between the diaphragm cam plate and the intermediate plate and between the diaphragm rotating plate and the intermediate plate. The blades are driven by a relative rotation between the diaphragm cam plate and the diaphragm rotating plate to vary the size of an aperture defined by the blades. The relative rotation can also completely close the aperture. The invention can also be applied to a diaphragm apparatus which has no shutter function.

Abstract: A rotation driving device comprises a first fixed member having an aperture, a second fixed member having an aperture, the second fixed member being fixed with respect to the first fixed member, a ring-like rotary member, the rotary member being fitted in the first fixed member at an outer diameter portion of the rotary member and being fitted in the second fixed member at a diameter portion of the rotary member having a diameter smaller than that of the outer diameter portion, and a moving member arranged to advance and retreat in a radial direction of the rotary member in accordance with a rotation of the rotary member, wherein, where an amount of fitting play between the second fixed member and the rotary member is denoted by X and an amount of fitting play between the first fixed member and the rotary member is denoted by Y, the rotation driving device satisfies the following condition:X<Y.

Abstract: An aperture system includes aperture blades defining an aperture opening and an aperture mechanism for moving the aperture blades, both of which are provided in a barrel. The aperture system further includes a motor, for driving the aperture mechanism, supported on a motor support fixed to the barrel, and a detecting device for detecting that the aperture mechanism is in a predetermined state. The motor is controlled based on a detection by the detecting device. The motor support is constructed so that the mounting angle of the motor is adjustable with respect to a rotation axis of the motor to change the timing of motor pulses of the motor with respect to the timing of the detection of the detection device.

Abstract: An hard stop for use with an aperture mechanism includes at least one blade moveable along a path between a closed position and at least one open position. At least one hard stop piston is moveable between a first position, out of the blade path, and a second position, in the blade path, to position the blade in the open position when an edge of the blade contacts the hard stop piston. The hard stop includes a magnetic piston, an electromagnet coil proximate to the magnetic piston, and a ferromagnetic ring arranged such that when current is applied in one direction through the coil it causes the magnetic piston to move to the first position in a first direction and held in such position by the attraction of the magnetic piston to the ferromagnetic ring and causes the magnetic piston to move to the second position when current is applied in an opposite direction to the coil and the magnetic piston is held in such position by the attraction of the magnetic piston to the ferromagnetic ring.

Abstract: When a driving member is rotated counterclockwise by a single motor with a pair of sectors biased in the closing direction by a biasing spring, a first driving pin causes an operating lever to rotate clockwise. The pair of sectors pivot in opposite directions to each other in association with the driving lever to reach a first position where the sectors are fully open without overlapping the lens opening. When the driving member is rotated clockwise, a second driving pin also causes the operating lever to rotate clockwise. The pair of sectors pivot in opposite directions to each other to reach a second position, that is, a half-open position where an opening smaller than the lens opening is obtained. At this time, The second driving pin abuts on a part of one sector to restrain the displacement of the driving member. Accordingly, the driving member is prevented from overrunning, and no hunting occurs.

Abstract: A blade mechanism includes a driving ring. At least two blades each have a pivot, a driving pin and an opening. The pivot of one blade is placed between the pivot and the driving pin of the other blade. The blades are rotated around the pivots by the driving ring. The opening is formed in the blades so as not to block the rotation of the other blades.