Including Diaphragm Patents (Class 396/458)
  • Patent number: 11778292
    Abstract: A sensor shield for a digital camera includes a casing and lens locking ring on a front thereof. The sensor shield includes a barrier member removably coupled to the lens locking ring of the camera body and has a ring-shaped configuration that defines an aperture. The sensor shield has a plurality of iris blades that is rotatably movable between a closed configuration in arranged in an overlapping spiral configuration that prevents ambient air from flowing through said aperture and an open configuration at which said plurality of iris blades are arranged in a rotatably displaced configuration that, when actuated, allows ambient air to flow through its aperture. The sensor shield may receive a camera lens and is actuated by rotation thereof such that a spring is compressed and the iris blades are urged from the closed configuration to the open configuration that allows ambient air to pass through.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Inventor: Terry Edward Zaperach
  • Patent number: 10768393
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a camera lens module. The camera lens module may include a base in which a lens barrel is placed, an auto-focusing driving unit disposed in parallel to the first side surface of the base in such a way as to face the first side surface and disposed to face the lens barrel, and an optical element driving unit disposed in parallel to a second side surface placed in a direction opposite the first side surface, disposed to face the lens barrel, and disposed to stand opposite to the auto-focusing driving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: JAHWA electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hee Seung Kim, In Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 10509193
    Abstract: A driving mechanism includes a frame, a carrying base, and a drive module. The carrying base is disposed in the frame, and includes a carrying body, a first stop element and a second stop element. The carrying body is configured to carry an optical element. The first stop element is disposed on the carrying body, and configured to limit the range of motion of the carrying body in a first direction. The second stop element is disposed on the carrying body, and configured to limit the range of motion of the carrying body in the first direction. The driving module is disposed in the frame, and configured to move the carrying body relative to the frame. The first direction is parallel to the axis of the optical element, and the first stop element is closer to the top portion of the frame than the second stop element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: TDK TAIWAN CORP.
    Inventors: Chao-Chang Hu, Bing-Ru Song, Yi-Ho Chen, Chia-Pin Hsu, Chih-Wei Weng, Shin-Hua Chen, Chien-Lun Huang, Chao-Chun Chang, Shou-Jen Liu, Kun-Shih Lin, Nai-Wen Hsu, Yu-Cheng Lin, Shang-Yu Hsu, Yu-Huai Liao, Yi-Hsin Nieh, Shih-Ting Huang, Kuo-Chun Kao, Fu-Yuan Wu
  • Patent number: 10412313
    Abstract: An apparatus for driving an iris of a camera, which includes first and second magnets provided at different locations; a blade having an opening through which light is introduced, the blade being configured to adjust the amount of light introduced to a lens by means of physical movement; a driving unit configured to perform the physical movement of the blade; and a blade yoke made of a magnetic material and provided to the blade to generate an attractive force to the first or second magnets according to a location of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: JAHWA electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chang Wook Park, In Soo Kim, Hee Seung Kim
  • Patent number: 9999148
    Abstract: An electronics housing includes a base body and a metal plating layer formed on a surface of the base body. The base body includes an upper cover, a lower cover and a metal ring. The upper cover and the lower cover are integrally fused by virtue of an ultra high frequency technology, and the metal ring is embedded between the upper cover and the lower cover. A nickel-deposited layer of the metal plating layer is electrolessly deposited on the surface of the base body. A copper layer of the metal plating layer is plated on the nickel-deposited layer. A nano-nickel layer of the metal plating layer is plated on the copper layer. A surface decoration layer of the metal plating layer is plated on the nano-nickel layer. The base body together with the metal plating layer defines at least one assembling hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Cheng Uei Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: James Lee
  • Patent number: 9671675
    Abstract: A stop apparatus includes blades each having a drive pin, a support member supporting pivot members of the blades, and a cam member having cams engaging with the drive pins. The blades form an aperture. The cam member includes cams of which the largest radial distances from the center of the aperture are different from each other. The blades include first blades and second blades. The radial distance from the center of the drive pins of the first blades and that of the drive pins of the second blades are different from each other in an open aperture state. The pivot members of the first and second blades are disposed at positions at a radial distance from the center shorter than the radial distance from the center of a drive pin having the longest radial distance from the center in the open aperture state among the drive pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Daichi Kamo
  • Patent number: 9164355
    Abstract: Incident light that passes through the optical aperture is controlled by pivoting the light control unit (130) alternately to a first stationary position of being retracted from the optical aperture (102 and 122), and a second stationary position of overlapping with the optical aperture by moving the light control unit by the drive unit (132 and 150), and when the light control unit is at the first stationary position, the light control unit is capable of sticking out of the first substrate and the second substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tatsuhiko Okita
  • Patent number: 8861098
    Abstract: When the lens barrel is in the storage state, a part of a lens group and a group cylinder are inserted into an aperture of a diaphragm unit and a shutter blade of a shutter unit is closed for light shielding. With this arrangement, the cylinder length in the storage state is shortened, and the performance degradation of an image sensor and optical components provided on a front side of an image sensor can be prevented as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toru Ishimasa
  • Patent number: 8649110
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes a fixed frame, a rotary frame provided inside the fixed frame, a first frame provided inside the rotary frame, an electronic component provided inside the first frame, and a flexible printed circuit board connected, at one end thereof, to the electronic component and connected, at the other end thereof, to the fixed frame. A gear part is provided at an outer circumferential surface of the rotary frame. In the first frame, a first protrusion outwardly protruding beyond the gear part in a radial direction about the optical axis is provided at a position corresponding to the flexible printed circuit board in a circumferential direction about the optical axis on a side of the gear part opposite to the object in the optical axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Manabu Kobayashi, Atsushi Hasegawa, Toshiyuki Nakada
  • Patent number: 8625981
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: an image-pickup lens; a shutter partitioned into a plurality of sections along a first direction and allowed to open and close for each of the plurality of sections; a stop adjusting an amount of light; and a drive section driving the shutter and the stop. The drive section controls the shutter in such a manner that any one of the sections of the shutter is opened and the remaining sections are closed, and drives the stop in such a manner that passage of a flux of light through the open section is limited to a larger extent in a second direction than in the first direction, the second direction being orthogonal to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Takada, Kengo Hayasaka
  • Patent number: 8625980
    Abstract: A lens barrel that is capable of decreasing a barrel length under a retracted condition by simplifying a configuration. The lens barrel changes a focal length by moving first and second lens groups in an optical axis direction. A light-amount adjusting member is located between the first and second lens groups. First, second, third holding frames hold the first lens group, the second lens group, and the light-amount adjusting member, respectively. A cam mechanism moves the first, second, and third holding frames in the optical axis direction so that a part of the second lens group is inserted into the aperture of the light-amount adjusting member and concave and convex surfaces of the first and second lens groups are overlapped in the optical axis direction under a retracted condition. The aperture diameter of the light-amount adjusting member is enlarged when shifting to the retracted condition from a shooting condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toru Ishimasa
  • Patent number: 8553343
    Abstract: An imaging device support structure includes a master flange having an opening portion through which an optical axis passes, an imaging device which is directly or indirectly attached to the master flange and is positioned in the opening portion as viewed in an optical axis direction, and a shielding member which shields a gap between the master flange and the imaging device in the opening portion. The shielding member includes a slit or a groove and is pressed against an opening edge of the opening portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Fujinaka, Koichiro Hirabayashi, Kazuo Shibukawa
  • Publication number: 20120321292
    Abstract: A shutter includes a driver ring, a plurality of shutter blades coupled to the drive ring such that movement of the drive ring transitions the plurality of shutter blades between an open position exposing a central aperture of the shutter, and a closed position blocking the central aperture, and a first stop and a second stop movable relative to the first stop. At least one of the first and second stops limits travel of the shutter blades.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventors: David Viglione, Stephen T. Pasquarella, David Michael Krieger, Helen Hong Yan
  • Patent number: 8243373
    Abstract: When the lens barrel is in the storage state, a part of a lens group and a group cylinder are inserted into an aperture of a diaphragm unit and a shutter blade of a shutter unit is closed for light shielding. With this arrangement, the cylinder length in the storage state is shortened, and the performance degradation of an image sensor and optical components provided on a front side of an image sensor can be prevented as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toru Ishimasa
  • Publication number: 20120076484
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: an image-pickup lens; a shutter partitioned into a plurality of sections along a first direction and allowed to open and close for each of the plurality of sections; a stop adjusting an amount of light; and a drive section driving the shutter and the stop. The drive section controls the shutter in such a manner that any one of the sections of the shutter is opened and the remaining sections are closed, and drives the stop in such a manner that passage of a flux of light through the open section is limited to a larger extent in a second direction than in the first direction, the second direction being orthogonal to the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro Takada, Kengo Hayasaka
  • Patent number: 8083421
    Abstract: A miniature camera module comprising: a module frame comprising a surface with a conduit passing through the surface, thereby allowing light to pass through the surface via the conduit; a first blade coupled to the module frame and configured to rotate about a first axis between an open position and a closed position, wherein the first blade does not eclipse the conduit at all when in the open position and the first blade at least partially eclipses the conduit when in the closed position; a first solenoid coupled to the module frame; and a first pin coupled to the first solenoid, wherein an actuation of the first solenoid causes the first pin to rotate the first blade from the open position to the closed position. In some embodiments, the module includes additional blades, solenoids and pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Flextronics AP, LLC
    Inventor: Lothar Westerweck
  • Patent number: 8059953
    Abstract: A zoom lens includes a zoom optical system including movable lens groups for zooming which are moved between a ready-to-photograph position and an accommodated position, a diaphragm mechanism, and a lens shutter. One of the movable lens groups serves as an aperture-control lens group. The diaphragm mechanism and the lens shutter are positioned in front of and behind the aperture-control lens group and are movable relative to the aperture-control lens group in the optical axis direction. The diaphragm and the lens shutter are moved to close positions to the aperture-control lens group when the movable lens groups are moved to the accommodated position. Both apertures of the diaphragm mechanism and of the lens shutter are widely opened to allow the aperture-control lens group to partly enter the apertures when the diaphragm mechanism and the lens shutter are moved to the close positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Nomura
  • Patent number: 7796878
    Abstract: A lens barrel 11 is mounted in a collapsible imaging device 1 and includes a third lens frame 55. The third frame 55 is a lens frame to which correction lenses L5, L6, L7 are mounted and includes a shutter unit 57, a vibration compensation actuator 71, a lens frame main body 95, a focus lens frame 105, and a focus motor 115. The focus lens frame 105 is urged against the lens frame main body 95 toward the image plane side by means of a focus spring 110. A motor section 117 of the focus motor 115 is arranged in a region interposed between two multilayer printed circuit boards 77, 79 when viewed from the image plane side or the object side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takeo Santo, Keiji Sakamoto, Keishi Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 7736073
    Abstract: An image-capturing apparatus adapted to receive a detachable lens apparatus having a mechanical shutter includes an image-capturing unit configured to capture an image of a subject, a communication unit configured to enable communication with the lens apparatus, and a control unit configured to perform an image generating operation using a video signal supplied from the image-capturing unit. The control unit controls timing of the image generating operations performed together with a plurality of opening and closing operations of the mechanical shutter on the basis of information received via the communication unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuji Tsuda
  • Patent number: 7719775
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes a first tube and second tube, the first tube movable relative to the second tube by rotation of the second tube, an engaging unit disposed on the second tube, and a barrier driving unit disposed on an object side of the first tube that opens and close a barrier. The first tube is relatively moved in an optical axis direction by engaging with the engaging unit. The barrier is opened and closed when a first interlocking unit which is arranged on the barrier driving unit and a second interlocking unit which is arranged on the cam tube are shifted from a non-interlocking state to an interlocking state. When the first interlocking unit and second interlocking unit are in the interlocking state, at least a portion of the first interlocking unit and the engaging unit overlap with each other in a radial direction of the second tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Kudoh
  • Patent number: 7665914
    Abstract: An iris diaphragm actuator includes a magnetic position sensing structure, at least one driving element and a light intercepting element. The magnetic position sensing structure includes a magnetic element and a magnetic sensor relatively disposed. The driving element connects and drives the magnetic element or the magnetic sensor to perform a rotating motion with respect to a rotation center such that the distance and angle between the magnetic element and the magnetic sensor are changed so as to obtain a substantially linear relation between a magnetic flux sensed by the magnetic sensor and the position of the magnetic element. Also, an arrangement method of a magnetic position sensing structure is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Chii-How Chang
  • Patent number: 7658558
    Abstract: A shutter for an optical apparatus has multiple sectors and an operation member. Each of the multiple sectors has a cam opening for engagement and is pivotally provided to open and close a shutter opening, the operation member moves each of said multiple sectors in engagement with the cam opening, and the cam opening of at least one sector that is one of the multiple sectors is formed to change a moving direction of said at least one sector, when the operation member moves said at least one sector to a position to close the shutter opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Precision, Inc.
    Inventors: Hisashi Kawamoto, Kazuya Shioda, Phichet Numnual
  • Patent number: 7637675
    Abstract: A first cam gear (a shutter cam gear) and a second cam gear (a mirror cam gear) are driven to successively realize a first phase (a stop phase), a second phase (a live view phase), and a third phase (a shooting phase).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masanori Sakai, Hiroaki Inukai
  • Patent number: 7566180
    Abstract: A digital camera is provided with an imaging element including a plurality of pixels, a shutter unit capable of intercepting light transmitted from an object to the imaging element, and an optical low pass filter adapted to allow light with predetermined lower spatial frequencies to pass therethrough. The optical low pass filter is embedded in the shutter unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventor: Yuichi Kurosawa
  • Patent number: 7549810
    Abstract: A light amount adjusting apparatus for an image pickup which is capable of reducing the force with which a plate member and a blade member are held in close contact with each other and driving the blade member smoothly even in a high-humidity condition. The apparatus includes a base plate 5 having an opening 5a, a blade member 1 movable within a range including a position where the blade member overlaps the opening 5a in a light axis direction and restricting the amount of light passing through the opening 5a by overlapping the opening 5a, and a plate member 2 adjacent to the blade member 1 and having a cut portion 2a at a position where the plate member overlaps the blade member 1 in the light axis direction in a state in which the blade member 1 is at a predetermined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Kudo
  • Patent number: 7441966
    Abstract: A shutter for an optical apparatus has multiple sectors and an operation member. Each of the multiple sectors has a cam opening for engagement and is pivotally provided to open and close a shutter opening, the operation member moves each of said multiple sectors in engagement with the cam opening, and the cam opening of at least one sector that is one of the multiple sectors is formed to change a moving direction of said at least one sector, when the operation member moves said at least one sector to a position to close the shutter opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Precision Inc.
    Inventors: Hisashi Kawamoto, Kazuya Shioda, Phichet Numnual
  • Patent number: 7422381
    Abstract: A shutter apparatus includes a shutter substrate having a shutter opening, two shutter blades that are pivotally provided in the shutter substrate and that have cam openings, and an operation member that is engaged with the cam openings and that drives to turn the two shutter blades. The two shutter blades move to form three states of a fully open state, a fully closed state, and a small aperture state in this order, in accordance with a movement of the operation member, the two shutter blades are positioned to interpose the shutter opening therebetween in the fully open state, a first shutter blade is positioned on the shutter opening and has an aperture opening in the small aperture state, and moves to the shutter opening in one direction while the state is shifted to the fully open state, the fully closed state, and the small aperture state, and a second shutter blade is reciprocated in the fully closed state that serves as a turning point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Precision, Inc.
    Inventor: Takashi Nakano
  • Publication number: 20080175584
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a light amount adjustment apparatus, including: a shutter blade and a filter blade each configured to operate in a predetermined direction to adjust the amount of light transmitted through a lens group; a first magnet configured to drive the shutter blade; a first core and a first coil; a second magnet configured to drive the filter blade; and a second core and a second coil. The filter blade has a control portion for controlling and adjusts the amount of light transmitted through the lens group. The filter blade has at least one hole or one cutaway portion formed at a portion of the filter blade other than the control portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hideo Ohkuma
  • Patent number: 7374352
    Abstract: Disclosed is a light amount adjusting apparatus for an image pickup apparatus which is capable of reducing the force with which a plate member and a blade member are held in close contact with each other and driving the blade member smoothly even in a high-humidity condition. The light amount adjusting apparatus includes a base plate 5 having an opening 5a, a blade member 1 movable within a range including a position where the blade member overlaps the opening 5a in a light axis direction and restricting the amount of light passing through the opening 5a by overlapping the opening 5a, and a plate member 2 adjacent to the blade member 1 and having a cut portion 2a at a position where the plate member overlaps the blade member 1 in the light axis direction in a state in which the blade member 1 is at a predetermined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Kudo
  • Publication number: 20080095528
    Abstract: A portable electronic device (200) includes a housing (20) and a digital camera module (30). The housing is configured for containing electronic components, and has an aperture (21) defined therethrough for allowing light to be transmitted therethrough. The aperture has a diameter which grows smaller from an outer side of the housing to an inner side of the housing. The digital camera module is mounted inside the inner side of the housing, and receives light transmitted from the aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Applicant: ALTUS TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventors: CHING-LUNG JAO, CHIEN-CHIH LIU
  • Patent number: 7343090
    Abstract: A lens-fitted photo film unit is preloaded with a roll of photo film whose film speed is ISO3200, and has a mode selection member that is manually operated to select one of a standard photography mode, an indoor photography mode and a night-view photography mode. In the standard photography mode, an exposure is made without flash with a small aperture size and at a high shutter speed. In the indoor photography mode, an exposure is made with a flashlight, with a middle aperture size and at a high shutter speed. In the night-view photography mode, an exposure is made with a flash light, with a large aperture size and at a low shutter speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Masuda, Nobuyuki Kameyama, Hirofumi Katsura, Kazumi Koike
  • Patent number: 7338221
    Abstract: A sector drive mechanism includes an electromagnetic actuator including a rotor having four polarities, a C-shaped stator, and a current control portion that controls current applied to a first coil and a second coil, the C-shaped stator including a first magnetic pole magnetically excited by the first coil, a second magnetic pole magnetically excited by the second coil, and a third magnetic pole magnetically excited by the first coil and the second coil, and sectors that are connected to the electromagnetic actuator to open and close a shutter opening provided in a substrate. The first coil and the second coil are driven to close the shutter opening with a fewer number of pulses applied from the current control portion than the number of the pulses to open the shutter opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Precision Inc.
    Inventors: Seiichi Oishi, Hiroyuki Mizukami, Hisashi Kawamoto, Takashi Nakano
  • Patent number: 7338174
    Abstract: Each shading plate comprises a rotating shaft and a driving shaft arranged vertically. First divided shading plate is loosely fitted to and supported by (not adhere to) the rotating shaft and rotates around the shaft. Second divided shading plates are fixed to the rotating shafts and rotate by rotating movement of the shafts. A driving shaft is connected longitudinally to (not adhere to) an edge of the first divided shading plate and supply power to rotate the first divided shading plates. Recesses are formed at the center of upper short side and at the center of lower short side of the first divided shading plate and the first divided shading plate and the second divided shading plates which form one and the same shading plate are so constructed that their short sides are overlapped each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignees: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., THK Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki Koba, Kaoru Hoshide, Minoru Kouchi
  • Patent number: 7253575
    Abstract: A highly versatile optical shutter for industrial and scientific applications is disclosed. The has a aperture which defines a light path through the shutter, and a shutter vane or blade that is moved into and out of the light path using a precision, microprocessor controlled motor, such as a stepping motor. Preferably, the motor is mounted on the shutter housing using a shock absorbing material. A control unit associated with the shutter comprises the microprocessor, a motor driver, preferably one which is capable of microstepping the motor, and a non-volatile memory device, such as EEPROM, which stores a plurality of shutter control programs defining different trajectories of the shutter vane. Different programs may be used, for example, to maximize shutter speed or frequency, or to minimize vibrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Sutter Instrument Company
    Inventors: Jack Belgum, Ximin Wang, Dale Flaming
  • Patent number: 7226224
    Abstract: A miniaturized lens assembly includes a front lens portion, a rear lens portion, a large diaphragm plate mounted between the front and rear lens portions, a small diaphragm plate rotatable relative to the large diaphragm plate, a shutter plate rotatable relative to the large diaphragm plate, first and second actuating elements mounted on the rear lens portion, and two pivot axles mounted between the front and rear lens portions. The miniaturized lens assembly is miniature in size, is simple in structure, and is easy to assemble.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Asia Optical Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Yao-Ching Huang
  • Publication number: 20040258405
    Abstract: A shutter/filter unit as an optical apparatus includes a shutter actuator, a filter actuator, a shutter drive ring, two shutter blades, and one ND filter, which are connected to a driving source body in series. The shutter blades are rotationally driven via the shutter drive ring so as to open and shut by the shutter actuator, and the ND filter is rotationally driven back and forth by the filter actuator directly. The shutter blades and the ND filter are coaxially supported upon a blade-support pin, and are independently rotationally driven. Employing this apparatus, a conventional optical apparatus having a light-exclusion member and a light-attenuating member housed therein is further miniaturized so as to contribute miniaturization to an image-pickup apparatus, such as a camera, having the optical apparatus mounted thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2003
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Applicant: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Shiratori, Tomoaki Sato, Tatsuo Takanashi
  • Patent number: 6818287
    Abstract: A light shielding blade material for use in an optical apparatus is constructed by a substrate composed of a plastic film having a pair of surfaces opposed to each other. A shield coating capable of blocking an incident light is formed on each surface of the substrate. A reinforcement member is disposed on each shield coating. The reinforcement member is composed of a thermosetting resin prepreg sheet reinforced with fibers arranged in an alignment direction, and hardened to laminate with the substrate through the shield coating. A lubricant coating having a black appearance and a lubricity sufficient to suppress a surface friction is formed on each reinforcement member such that an upper layer of the lubricant coating and a lower layer of the shield coating are separated from each other by an intermediate layer of the reinforcement member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Nidec Copal Corporation
    Inventors: Takao Ogawa, Ryo Sakurai, Noribumi Tachihara
  • Patent number: 6767145
    Abstract: A lens shutter for cameras includes two base plates in which a blade chamber is provided between them and their apertures are superposed to provide a circular exposure aperture, at least one shutter blade located in the blade chamber to perform the opening and closing operation of the exposure aperture, a first motor mounted to one of the base plates outside the blade chamber so that an output port extends to the blade chamber to cause the shutter blade to perform the opening and closing operation, a light-amount control device located in the blade chamber to perform the introducing and removing operations with respect to the exposure aperture, and a second motor mounted to one of the base plates outside the blade chamber so that an output port extends to the blade chamber to cause the light-amount control means to perform the introducing and removing operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Nidec Copal Corporation
    Inventor: Tohru Eguro
  • Patent number: 6705775
    Abstract: A first pin to be used for rotatably supporting a shutter blade is disposed near a second pin to be used for rotatably supporting a stop-changing plate. A rotational direction of the shutter blade from a closed position to an open position is set so as to be identical with a rotational direction of the stop changing plate directing from a smaller-stop position to a larger-stop position. Rotational spaces of the shutter blade and the stop changing plate are arranged at one side of a photographic optical axis so that a protrusion of a front cover for containing them is prevented from enlarging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Mikami, Fuminori Kawamura
  • Patent number: 6612755
    Abstract: A shutter device includes a shutter blade for opening and closing a shutter opening and a stop plate having a small stop of a shutter opening. While the small stop is disposed on the shutter opening, the shutter blade swings from a primary position responding to operation of shutter release. After the shutter blade leaves the shutter opening, a flashlight is emitted. Thereafter, the stop plate swings sequentially such that the shutter opening may entirely appear, and then the shutter blade swing back to the primary position with covering the small stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film.Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuo Kamata
  • Patent number: 6585429
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Nidec Copal Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke Yaginuma, Nabuaki Watanabe, Tomokazu Kihara
  • Patent number: 6493513
    Abstract: A shutter device for a camera includes a shutter blade for providing an exposure by opening/shutting a photographic light path, and a shutter drive lever for driving the shutter blade. The shutter device includes a shutter release button. A photometric switch is turned on in response to depression of the shutter release button. A photometric circuit is operated by turning on of the photometric switch, for measuring object brightness. An aperture stop changeover mechanism changes over an aperture stop of the photographic light path according to the photographic light path. A delay structure such as a delay lever detects completion of actuation of the aperture stop changeover mechanism and responsively moves the shutter drive lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Noguchi, Hirokazu Yokoo, Takashi Imamura, Yuji Mikami
  • Publication number: 20020136556
    Abstract: A lens shutter mechanism includes a support frame having a photographing aperture; at least three shutter sectors which open and close the photographing aperture via rotating axes which extend parallel to the optical axis; and at least three diaphragm sectors which vary an aperture diameter formed by the diaphragm sectors to restrict the diameter of the photographing aperture, independently from the shutter sectors, via rotating axes which extend parallel to the optical axis. The support frame is provided with rotational center portions spaced from each other at equi-angular intervals about the optical axis, the number of the rotational center portions being same as each of the number of the shutter sectors and the number of the diaphragm sectors. Each of the rotational center portions rotatably and coaxially supports a one of the shutter sectors and one of the diaphragm sectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Publication date: September 26, 2002
    Applicant: ASAHI KOGAKU KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nomura, Takamitsu Sasaki, Kazunori Ishizuka, Maiko Takashima
  • Publication number: 20020037169
    Abstract: The camera shutter unit of the present invention comprises 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, 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, and a control means for controlling the electromagnetic drive source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Publication date: March 28, 2002
    Inventors: Daisuke Yaginuma, Nobuaki Watanabe, Norihumi Ikeda, Tomokazu Kihara
  • Publication number: 20010041074
    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 arranged to be capable of moving between an opening position wherein the aperture is opened and a dosing position wherein the aperture is closed, and a drive-control mechanism 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 become small size and low in cost, and its reliability of function can be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Publication date: November 15, 2001
    Applicant: Nidec Copal Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke Yaginuma, Nabuaki Watanabe, Tomokazu Kihara
  • Patent number: 6269226
    Abstract: A shutter device includes first and second light blocking members arranged to be movable to vary the amounts of opening, first and second motors arranged to drive respectively the first and second light blocking members, and a control circuit arranged to individually control the driving actions of the first and second motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Chikara Aoshima
  • Patent number: 6222995
    Abstract: A lens-fitted photo film unit can take indoor- and night-photographs at adequate tone- and color-reproductions, by satisfying the condition: −6≦2log2(A)+log2(1/T)−log2(0.3·S)≦5 wherein T, A and S represents the shutter speed, the aperture size, and the ISO film speed. The film speed is determined to be not less than ISO640, and more preferably not less than ISO1000. The guide number (ISO100·m) of a flash device of the film unit is set to be in a range from 0.1 to 8, more preferably from 1 to 6, and most preferably from 3 to 5, and satisfies the condition: 8.0≦log2 (G2)+log2 (1/T)≦12.0, in combination with the shutter speed T.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Uchida
  • Patent number: 6033132
    Abstract: An iris apparatus includes a transparent elastic member which is provided on an optical axis including a convex surface, the apex thereof being located on the optical axis; a transparent plate which is opposed to the convex surface of the transparent elastic member in the optical axis direction; an elastic tube which defines a space between the convex surface of the transparent elastic member and the transparent plate; light intercepting liquid which is contained within the space; and an actuator that relatively moves the transparent elastic member and the transparent plate in the optical axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shuzo Seo
  • Patent number: 5997187
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takuji Hamasaki
  • Patent number: 5970259
    Abstract: An optical apparatus according to the present invention includes a cylindrical holding barrel, a lens moving mechanism including a cylindrical cam which is rotatably fitted on an outer surface of the holding barrel in such a manner that a plurality of moving lens frames held in the holding barrel are moved in an optical axis direction, a light quantity adjusting mechanism held in the holding barrel, for adjusting a quantity of light passing therethrough, lens moving mechanism driving sources for driving the lens moving mechanism, and light quantity adjusting mechanism driving sources for driving the light quantity adjusting mechanism. The lens moving mechanism driving sources and the light quantity adjusting mechanism driving sources are held in the holding barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsuji Higuchi