Rectilinear Reciprocation Patents (Class 396/491)
  • Patent number: 8537271
    Abstract: A camera shutter mechanism for covering and exposing an imaging sensor array is disclosed. The camera shutter mechanism includes a rotary motor, a crank mechanism, a cover, a guide, and a drive circuit. The rotary motor is coupled to the crank mechanism to rotate the crank mechanism about a central axis. The cover is coupled to the crank mechanism at a point away from the central axis. The drive circuit controls the rotary motor so that the cover moves back and forth repeatedly in a substantially linear motion along the guide between a shutter closed position and a shutter open position over the imaging sensor array. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Tsai
  • Publication number: 20120075521
    Abstract: A camera shutter mechanism for covering and exposing an imaging sensor array is disclosed. The camera shutter mechanism includes a rotary motor, a crank mechanism, a cover, a guide, and a drive circuit. The rotary motor is coupled to the crank mechanism to rotate the crank mechanism about a central axis. The cover is coupled to the crank mechanism at a point away from the central axis. The drive circuit controls the rotary motor so that the cover moves back and forth repeatedly in a substantially linear motion along the guide between a shutter closed position and a shutter open position over the imaging sensor array. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Tsai
  • Patent number: 8137013
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Opgal Optronic Industries Ltd.
    Inventor: Josef Deli
  • Publication number: 20110274423
    Abstract: An apparatus, useful in, for example, a miniature camera, includes an object, e.g., an optical element such as a shutter blade, an actuator operable to apply an impulse to the object such that the object moves from a first position to a second position, and at least one flexure coupled to the object and operable to confine movement of the object to movement along a predefined trajectory extending between the first and second positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: TESSERA MEMS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Roman C. Gutierrez
  • Patent number: 7784950
    Abstract: An image projecting apparatus has an integrator for generating plural secondary-light-source images for generating illumination light with a uniform intensity; and a variable stop mechanism arranged at or near a position conjugate with the secondary-light-source images. The variable stop mechanism has a base plate having a fixed aperture; and a stop blade which moves across the aperture for changing a quantity of light. The change in the quantity of light passing through said variable stop caused by the movement of said stop blade is greater than a change in a size of an effective region of a stop aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Opto, Inc.
    Inventor: Yasumasa Sawai
  • Patent number: 7161745
    Abstract: An aperture stop mechanism is composed of a small number of components, and accurately controls the position of a member that defines the rim of an aperture. The aperture stop mechanism (2) includes an aperture base plate (21), two aperture blades (22, 23), and a motor(24). The aperture blades (22, 23) are individually pivotable about pins (21a, 21b) provided on the aperture base plate (21). One aperture blade (22) has two gears (22a, 22b) formed along arcs about the pin (21a) with different pitch circle radii. The other aperture blade (23) has a gear along an arc about the pin (21b). The gear (22b) meshes with a motor gear (25), and the gear (22a) meshes with the gear (23a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Opto, Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Onishi, Atsushi Matsuura
  • Patent number: 5854657
    Abstract: Device for preventing entrance of backlight into an optical view finder for preventing degradation of an image, including a zoom lens part for adjusting a size and angle of an image signal of an objective in planning a picture frame, a mirror shutter part capable of opening and closing for sending the image signal processed in, and received from the zoom lens part to a first optical axis and a second optical axis, an image forming CCD part disposed at an image forming plane of the image signal of the zoom lens part on the first optical axis for converting the image formed on the first optical axis into an electric signal for applying the electric signal to a display or a recording medium, and an optical view finder part disposed on the second optical axis for adjusting a magnification of the image signal on the second optical axis by means of an internal optical system for being observed by an observer's eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Kee Tae Um
  • Patent number: 5797055
    Abstract: An extremely durable, super-high speed shutter with speeds of 1/8000 second or faster advantageously increases the blade acceptance rate, reduces the cost, prevents abnormalities such as light leaking between the curtains and the like, contributes to the implementation of a super-high speed shutter with speeds exceeding 1/8000 of a second, corresponding to TTL multi-pattern light adjustment, and the like. The shutter includes a front curtain and a rear curtain each including a plurality of dividing blades; and at least one of the dividing blades among the front curtain and the rear curtain that is positioned on the photo lens side is formed from a black material having at least one uncoated surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Matsubara, Masanori Hasuda
  • Patent number: 5608484
    Abstract: An electromagnetic camera shutter including an electrically conductive shutter blade and electrically conductive springs for urging the shutter blade into a first or a second position from a compressed position between the first and the second position. A permanent magnet is associated with said shutter blade and a control device applies a current through the springs and the shutter blade in a first direction to generate an electromagnetic field between the shutter blade and the permanent magnet so as to move the shutter blade from the first position to the second position and alternately, applies a current through the springs and the shutter blade in a second direction so as to move the shutter blade from the second position to the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Edward P. Furlani, William Mey, Thomas M. Stephany, J. Kelly Lee