Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a controller configured to control a motor and an image sensor. The controller rotates the motor in a first direction as reading of a signal corresponding to first imaging starts for one frame using the image sensor, and charges the first urging member and the blade member. The controller rotates the motor in a second direction reverse to the first direction after a charge of the blade member by the first urging member is completed, completes reading the signal corresponding to the first imaging before opening the exposure opening, and stops rotating the motor in the second direction.

Abstract: A micro shutter device and a method of manufacturing the micro shutter device are provided. A transparent substrate is provided. A barrier is formed on the substrate to partition a unit pixel. A pattern layer is formed with a transparent material to have a transparent first pattern portion on the substrate in the unit pixel. A movable plate is arranged to face the pattern layer, has an opaque second pattern layer corresponding to a shape of the first pattern portion, and is configured to transmit light therethrough except the second pattern portion. An actuator is for moving the movable plate. Therefore, light leakage due to diffraction can be prevented, resulting in increasing contrast ratio and improving light efficiency.

Abstract: A blade drive device includes: a board including an optical path opening; first and second blades cooperatively defining an amount of light passing through the optical path opening to a given amount of light. The first blade includes a first opening. The second blade includes: a first cutout portion defining the amount of light in cooperation with the first opening; and a second cutout portion defining the amount of light in cooperation with the first opening. The second cutout portion overlaps the first blade when the first cutout portion and the first opening cooperatively define the amount of light.

Abstract: A shutter mechanism for an optical system includes a linear track having a first end and a second end, a first magnetic assembly located adjacent the first end of the track and a second magnetic assembly located adjacent the second end of the track, the two magnetic assemblies arranged in opposite polarities. A shutter plate is provided coupled to a coil mounted on and movable across the track. When a direct electric current is passed through the coil in one direction the shutter is forced to move to the first end of the track, whereas when a direct electric current is passed through the coil in an opposite direction the shutter is forced to move to the second end of the track.

Abstract: There is provided an image pickup apparatus having a simple structure that enables reduction of shutter release time lag and shutter control with highly accurate shutter time.

Abstract: In the focal plane shutter for cameras, a shutter base plate, an shank for attaching the first blade drive component and the second blade drive component respectively so as to enable to be rotated, an shank for attaching a set component so as to enable to be rotated, and an shank for attaching the first blade and the second blade so as to enable to be rotated respectively are made of synthetic resins. Each of the shanks is fabricated after a shutter base plate was fabricated beforehand, and grooves for sump having cross section of V letter shape are formed at the same interval of angle extending toward the axial direction of the shank at the circumferential side surfaces of the shanks.

Abstract: A shutter base plate is made of synthetic resin and is configured with one overhang section on the blade-chamber-side surface at one end of an arcuate slot and the other overhang section on the blade-chamber-outside surface. A shock absorbing member made from elastic material is configured with concave portions on the blade-chamber-side surface and three concave portions on the blade-chamber-outside surface. The shock absorbing member is mounted to the shutter base plate in such a way that these concave portions come in contact with the overhang sections, and as is well known, when an exposure operation is completed, the driving pin of a driving member abuts on the shock absorbing member.

Abstract: Described is a compact focal plane shutter system adapted for large-format exposure shutters. The focal plane shutter includes at least one multi-segmented screen having multiple rigid blades. Each blade can be moved at a different velocity. By using multiple blades, the rotational inertia about a drive axis can be reduced compared to a conventional single screen shutter system, thus a greater acceleration can be achieved with the same amount of torque about the drive axis. Using smaller blades allows for greater acceleration, resulting in faster shutter speeds to support a wider range of applications. Additionally, the overlap between blades of a multi-segmented screen in an open position is greater than the overlap of the blades in a closed position, providing a compact system. A drive mechanism linearly translates the blades of the multi-segmented screen between the open and closed positions.

Abstract: In an image capture apparatus, the surface of an optical element and a shutter are made to have conductivity, and they are grounded so as to have the same potential, so that adhesion of foreign matter onto the surface of the optical element can be prevented.

Abstract: A focal plane shutter apparatus is constructed by a light shielding blade, a fitting pin attached to the blade and an arm which is slidably engaged with the fitting pin to open or close the blade. A surface hardness of the fitting pin is higher than that of the arm. Concretely, the surface hardness of the arm is Hv300 to 600, and the surface hardness of the fitting pin is Hv450 to 1000. The arm and the fitting pin are subjected to chemical polishing treatment. Furthermore, the fitting pin is plated with nickel, chromium, palladium or rhodium. The fitting pin and arm have a substantially equal material hardness, or the material hardness of the fitting pin is higher. As the case may be, the fitting pin or arm may be plated with gold. Such an arrangement can suppress generation and accumulation of abrasion powder in the focal plane shutter apparatus assembled into a digital camera.

Abstract: A focal-plane shutter for digital still cameras is constructed so that a first driving member for a first blade connected to the first blade is biased by a cocking spring to rotate clockwise and a second driving member for the first blade is biased by a driving spring to rotate counterclockwise. A driving member for a second blade connected to the second blade is biased by a driving spring to rotate counterclockwise. An exposure aperture is fully opened before photographing, and when a cocking member is rotated in a clockwise direction in photographing, the first driving member is released from the holding of the cocking member and is rotated, and the exposure aperture is covered by the first blade. After that, when releasing members are separated from the iron cores of respective electromagnets, locks of locking members are released, and the driving members are rotated counterclockwise in turn. Consequently, exposure is carried out through a slit formed by the first blade and the second blade.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a shutter apparatus including a base plate, a plurality of blades which run between a superposed state and a spread state for opening and closing a shutter aperture and two arms, each of the arms pivotably supported on the base plate. It is characterized in that each of the two arms are pivotably connected to the plurality of blades, and the two arms cause the plurality of blades to run between the superposed state and the spread state, and a protruding section is formed in a central area of at least one of the plurality of the blades, and the protruding section protrudes in the blade running direction so as to overlap with the base plate in the spread state.

Abstract: A focal plane shutter has a light shielding shutter blade. A blade dowel is attached to the shutter blade. A blade arm is slidably engaged with the blade dowel to open or close the shutter blade. A surface hardness of the blade dowel is higher than a surface hardness of the blade arm. The surface hardness of the blade arm is Hv300 to 900, and the surface hardness of the blade dowel is Hv450 to 1000. The blade arm and the blade dowel are subjected to chemical polishing treatment. The blade dowel is plated with nickel, chromium, palladium or rhodium. A material of the blade dowel is a free-cutting stainless steel or a carbon tool steel, and a material of the blade arm is a carbon tool steel or a titanium material.

Abstract: A focal-plane shutter for cameras is constructed so that the second blade group is placed in a blade chamber on the shutter base plate side and the first blade group is placed in a blade chamber on the auxiliary base plate side. The auxiliary base plate is placed on the image sensor side in a camera and secures projecting members, each having a spherical convex portion whose surface is palladium-plated. In the first blade group, five blades are pivotally supported by two arms, and immediately before, at least, a joint shank for pivotally supporting a slit-forming blade is moved inside the aperture for exposure of the auxiliary base plate during operation and reaches a position corresponding to the edge of the aperture, the arm strikes on the projecting member and is shifted to the object side so that the head of the joint shank does not abut against the edge of the aperture. Consequently, it is avoidable that the head of the joint shank abuts against the edge of the aperture to produce wear dust.

Abstract: A shutter device of the invention includes: a shutter base plate having a shutter opening; a first arm member which rotates with a first shaft as a rotation center relative to the shutter base plate; a second arm member which rotates with a second shaft as a rotation center relative to the shutter base plate; and plural shutter blades, wherein each of the plural shutter blades is joined to the first and second arm members and when the first and second arm members rotate with respect to each shaft, the plural shutter blades travel over the shutter opening in a predetermined direction, and in a state in which the plural shutter blades are positioned in their overlapping state, when an angle formed between a line connecting the rotation center of the first arm with a connecting center to the first arm member of a shutter blade, located on a front end side (opposite side to the first rotation center) of the first arm member and a direction perpendicular to the predetermined direction is assumed to be &agr;, a con

Abstract: A focal-plane shutter for a camera is provided with two blade chambers into which a space between two base plates is partitioned by an intermediate plate having an aperture for exposure. A shutter blade group placed in each of the blade chambers is constructed with a plurality of arms whose ends are pivotally mounted to one of the two base plates on the side of the aperture and at least one blade pivotally supported by the arms through individual joint shanks so that working paths of the joint shanks does not run inside the apertures. A wall is provided on at least one of the two base plates so as to project toward the blade chamber side, along the edge of the aperture, and has an inclined face directed toward the aperture of an opposite base plate.

Abstract: A shutter device of the invention includes: a shutter base plate having a shutter opening; a first arm member which rotates with a first shaft as a rotation center relative to the shutter base plate; a second arm member which rotates with a second shaft as a rotation center relative to the shutter base plate; and plural shutter blades, wherein each of the plural shutter blades is joined to the first and second arm members and when the first and second arm members rotate with respect to each shaft, the plural shutter blades travel over the shutter opening in a predetermined direction, and in a state in which the plural shutter blades are positioned in their overlapping state, when an angle formed between a line connecting the rotation center of the first arm with a connecting center to the first arm member of a shutter blade, located on a front end side (opposite side to the first rotation center) of the first arm member and a direction perpendicular to the predetermined direction is assumed to be &agr;, a con

Abstract: To prevent a front end of a slit forming sector of one of an open shutter sector group and a close shutter sector group from colliding with an upper edge portion of a partition opening of a partition plate and preventing leakage of light, a partition plate is provided with a partition plate opening and a projection is formed on the partition plate for preventing sector collision. The projection is formed slightly lower than the level of the upper edge portion of the partition plate opening so that immediately before a slit forming sector of the close shutter sector group comes into contact with the upper edge portion of the partition plate opening, a front end of the slit forming sector rides over the projection and is displaced from the upper edge portion of the partition plate opening.

Abstract: A focal plane shutter has a base plate provided with a shutter opening, opening and closing sector groups each having a plurality of sectors, and a plurality of arms each having one end pivotally supported on the base plate so as to pivotally connect and support the sectors through connecting pins to form a parallel link mechanism. Each of the connecting pins has a tapered portion or a flange having a diameter small enough to prevent the action of each sector from being hindered when any of the sectors becomes interposed between any of the remaining sectors or an arm supporting the sector and any of the other sectors. Each of the arms may also have a reduced thickness portion proximate the connecting pin corresponding thereto to thereby prevent movement of the interposed sector from being hindered.

Abstract: A focal plane shutter device which, regardless of the number of times of operation, does not lose precision of operation. The shutter device has bend portions disposed in drive arms which drive shutter blades. The convex portions of the bend portions (ridge portions) face an adjacent shutter baseplate side. These bend portions reduce or eliminate friction as between caulking pins connecting blades to the drive arms, thereby increasing reliability.

Abstract: A shutter is disclosed having a shutter blade frame comprised of two spaced apart rails, each rail incorporating at least one magnet section. Individual pairs of electromagnets are positioned for movement along the rails. At least one shutter blade, having an opening defined thereby, is connected to a pair of electromagnets for movement along the rails from a rest position to an open position. Application of current to the electromagnets causes the at least one shutter blade to travel along the rails causing an alignment of the defined opening with a selected light path to cause an exposure generally of an image sensor such as film. Springs are positioned on the shutter frame for urging the at least one shutter blade to the rest position.

Abstract: A focal plane shutter comprises a base plate having a shutter opening, at least one shutter sector group having sectors, and arms pivotally connected to and supporting the sectors for displacing the sectors relative to the shutter opening. At least a first one of the sectors comprises an intermediate sector interposed between a second one of the sectors and one of the arms connected to and supporting the second sector. The intermediate sector has an edge portion disposed proximate a connection of the second sector and the arm connected to and supporting the second sector. At least the edge portion of the intermediate sector is thinner than other portions thereof to facilitate smooth displacement of the sectors relative to the shutter opening without any obstruction.