Abstract: A shutter assembly comprising a first planar member and a second planar member opposed from one another and forming a sleeve having a cavity therebetween, the sleeve having a pair of side rails adjacent the cavity along sides of the sleeve. A first shutter member having a first end is disposed in the cavity and slidingly disposed along one of the side rails, and a second shutter member having a second end is disposed in the cavity and slidingly disposed along the other side rail. The first end is opposed to the second end and is configured to be selectively advanced towards, and retracted from, the second end so as to define an aperture therebetween having a first shape when disposed in a first position, and wherein the aperture has a second larger shape when the first end is disposed in a second position. The first shutter member and the second shutter member maintain a thermal contact with the side rails and the planar members in all positions.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first blade configured to be coupled to a first magnet and a second blade configured to be coupled to a second magnet. At least one of the blades has at least one cutout. The apparatus also includes electromagnetic motors configured to generate different electromagnetic fields to (i) cause the magnets to move the blades into a first configuration and (ii) cause the magnets to move the blades into a second configuration. The blades are separated to form a larger aperture in the first configuration, and the at least one cutout in the blades forms a smaller aperture in the second configuration. The apparatus may further include a cover plate and a base plate. The base plate can include an opening that defines the larger aperture and blade stops and stop pins configured to stop movement of the blades.

Abstract: A device for controlling a central shutter, in which a plurality of shutter leaves (3) are mounted on a circularly annular leaf carrier (1) such that they can be pivoted on a pivoting arm (4), and in which, as actuating device for the pivoting movement of the shutter leaves (3), an annular cam plate (5) is mounted on the leaf carrier (1) concentrically with respect to the shutter opening (2), such that it can be rotated continuously in one direction, it being possible for the rotation of the cam plate (5) to be blocked by mechanical engagement into a cam trough (8) in front of an actuating flank (6) of a cam, is distinguished by the fact that, for mechanical blocking purposes, there is a push rod (9, 10) of a solenoid, which push rod (9, 10) can be moved perpendicularly with respect to the plane of the cam plate (5).

Abstract: An image-pickup apparatus includes a driving member for leading blades configured to drive a leading blade group, a driving member for trailing blades configured to drive a trailing blade group, a cam member configured to rotate the driving member for leading blades and the driving member for trailing blades, a motor configured to drive the cam member, and a controller configured to control the motor. The controller applies a second voltage that is lower than a first voltage applied in releasing the driving member for leading blades to the motor when the driving member for trailing blades is released at normal shooting, and a third voltage that is lower than the first voltage and that is higher than the second voltage to the motor when the driving member for trailing blades is released at live view shooting.

Abstract: An image-pickup apparatus includes a driving member for leading blades configured to drive a leading blade group, a driving member for trailing blades configured to drive a trailing blade group, a cam member configured to rotate the driving member for leading blades and the driving member for trailing blades, a motor configured to drive the cam member, and a controller configured to control the motor. The controller applies a second voltage that is lower than a first voltage applied in releasing the driving member for leading blades to the motor when the driving member for trailing blades is released at normal shooting, and a third voltage that is lower than the first voltage and that is higher than the second voltage to the motor when the driving member for trailing blades is released at live view shooting.

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.

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.

Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator includes a rotor rotatable within a predetermined angular range, a magnetizing coil, and a yoke having an arcuate surface facing the rotor, and first and second magnetic-pole parts that have mutually different magnetic poles upon energizing the coil. The rotor includes a magnetized rotor part defining the outer peripheral surface of the rotor and magnetized to have different magnetic poles, a non-magnetized driving pin rotatable with the magnetized rotor part, and a protrusion part protruding radially from the rotor and facing the first or second magnetic-pole part while being magnetized to have the same magnetic pole as the outer peripheral surface of the rotor. The surface of the rotor that faces the yoke and that exerts a magnetic action is increased due to the inclusion of the protrusion part, and hence a desired maintaining force and driving torque can be obtained.

Abstract: A damping system for an electromagnetically operable rotary shutter includes a damper for arresting the motion of a pivotally supported shutter actuating drive arm. The damper has a first portion composed of an ultrahigh density polyethylene and a second portion composed of a damped polyurethane that are arranged to strike one against the other during operation of the shutter. Moreover the first portion of the damper has a straight edge and the second portion has a surface that is curved so as to maintain substantially a point contact between the two portions throughout the duration of the impact between the two. The combination of materials and configuration of the surfaces of the two portions provides energy absorption while avoiding the adherence of the two portions upon impact.

Abstract: An electromagnetically operable rotary shutter is rendered bi-stable by the use of two linear electric motors, one to open the shutter and a second to close the shutter together with a latch that holds the shutter in either an open or a closed position in the absence of power to purposefully open or close the shutter.

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

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: 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: An electromagnetic drive for a focal-plane shutter of a camera having two light-excluding shutter curtains, each of the two shutter curtains being having its own electric drive motor, which is a linear motor constructed from permanent magnets and electromagnetic coils. The linear motor has at least two mutually aligned permanent magnets. The opposite pole faces of the magnets have the same polarity. A soft-magnetic disk is disposed between the permanent magnets. A soft-iron casing encloses the magnets and the soft-magnetic disk with an annular gap therebetween. A coil former is displaceably mounted in the annular gap such that it can exert an operating stroke between two stops. The coil former has a drive element for transferring the axial displacement of the coil former to the assigned shutter curtain.