Plural Pivoted Blades Patents (Class 396/510)
  • Patent number: 7878721
    Abstract: A light amount adjuster for adjusting a size of a diaphragm aperture on an optical axis of an optical system, includes: a pair of straight moving diaphragm blades so provided at a portion to which the diaphragm aperture is opposed as to slide along a plane orthogonal to the optical axis in a direction of getting close to or separated from the optical axis; a pair of swing diaphragm blades so provided at a portion to which the diaphragm aperture is opposed as to swing about a center axis in parallel to the optical axis in a direction of getting close to or separated from the optical axis; and a drive mechanism for adjusting the size of the diaphragm aperture by sliding the pair of straight moving diaphragm blades and by allowing the pair of swing diaphragm blades to swing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Ryuhei Azuma, Atsuya Ishii, Kunioki Takahashi, Shinichirou Yamashita, Kenichi Daikai
  • Patent number: 7854557
    Abstract: A vane driving device includes: two boards each having an opening and defining a blade chamber therebetween; a blade changing an area of the opening and housed in the blade chamber; a drive source for driving the blade, the drive source including: a coil winded around a stator and exciting a stator; a rotor rotatably supported by a rotary shaft, rotatable in conjunction with the rotary shaft, and magnetized to have different polarities in a circumferential direction; and a rotor pinion meshing a driven member, and integrally formed in the rotary shaft; and a printed substrate electrically connected to the coil. The two boards define a drive source chamber housing the drive source therebetween. At least one of the two boards has an opening for escaping the coil outwardly from the drive source chamber. The printed substrate is arranged on a outer wall surface opposite to the drive source chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Precision Inc.
    Inventor: Hisashi Kawamoto
  • Patent number: 7850375
    Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a light quantity adjusting apparatus that can include a first blade member configured to be driven by a drive source, such as a motor, and a second blade member whose movement is configured to be related to the movement of the first blade member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinichi Masuda, Eriko Namazue
  • Patent number: 7832950
    Abstract: A fixed aperture and a fixed shaft are formed in a fixed member. A drive shaft is formed in a driving member. A fixed shaft hole and a drive shaft hole are formed in a plurality of diaphragm blades, and the plurality of blades is connected to the fixed shaft and the drive shaft. An aperture diameter of a variable aperture AP which is an aperture zone formed by the plurality of diaphragm blades is controlled by rotating relatively the driving member with respect to the fixed member. Here, the diaphragm blades are disposed in a plurality of layers, and a part of) the diaphragm blades belonging to an adjacent layer are disposed to be overlapping with respect to an optical axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Takayuki Ide
  • Patent number: 7819728
    Abstract: A rotary shutter actuator comprising a retainer, a rotatable member, a plurality of shutters, and a dial. The rotatable member is supported by the retainer, and the plurality of shutters are swivelably coupled to the retainer. The dial has an opening and is operably connected to each of the shutters and the rotatable member. Thus, as the dial is rotated, the shutters move to and from a fully open and closed position. The dial also causes the rotatable member to rotate with respect to the retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Magna International Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Vern Beckley
  • Patent number: 7806606
    Abstract: The present invention is a miniature camera module for use in miniature camera applications. It is an object of the present invention to provide the miniature camera module with solenoid controlled blades in order to alter the amount and quality of light passing through a conduit disposed on the surface of the module. In some embodiments of the present invention, the blade comprises a shutter to completely block light. In other embodiments, the blade comprises an aperture, a neutral-density filter, a monochromatic filter, and the like. In some embodiments of the present invention, the miniature camera module is positioned within a more elaborate miniature camera chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Flextronics AP, LLC
    Inventor: Lothar Westerweck
  • Patent number: 7798730
    Abstract: The present invention is a miniature camera shutter module for use in miniature camera applications. It is an object of the present invention to provide the miniature camera shutter module with solenoid controlled blades in order to alter the amount and quality of light passing through a conduit disposed on the surface of the module. In some embodiments of the present invention, the blade comprises a shutter to completely block light. In other embodiments, the blade comprises an aperture, a neutral-density filter, a monochromatic filter, and the like. In some embodiments of the present invention, the miniature camera shutter module is positioned within a more elaborate miniature camera chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Flextronics AP, LLC
    Inventor: Lothar Westerweck
  • Publication number: 20100220993
    Abstract: A camera diaphragm device in which two diaphragm blades, that is, first and second diaphragm blades having respective first and second diaphragm aperture portions whose diameters differ from each other is provided. The diaphragm blades are mounted to blade mounting shafts provided close to each other and in a standing manner, and are separately reciprocatingly rotated by driving pins of respective rotors. When the diaphragm device is set in a minimum diaphragm aperture control state, not only is the first diaphragm blade having the first aperture portion for restricting the minimum diaphragm aperture moved to an aperture portion, but also the second diaphragm blade having the second aperture portion for restricting an intermediate diaphragm aperture is moved to the aperture portion from the same direction. An area of the aperture portion that cannot be covered by only the first diaphragm blade is covered by the second diaphragm blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Inventors: Koji Sawanobori, Toshihiro Nishimura
  • 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: 7758258
    Abstract: An image-pickup apparatus includes a mirror moving into and out of an optical path, a shutter mechanism including shutter blades and a shutter-driving spring driving the shutter blades in an open direction, a charge-holding member holding the shutter mechanism with the shutter-driving spring charged, and a hold-releasing member releasing the holding of the shutter mechanism by the charge-holding member. The shutter blades and the charge-holding member are moved in a plane parallel to a light-receiving surface of an image-pickup element. The hold-releasing member is moved in a plane orthogonal to the light-receiving surface of the image-pickup element and drives the mirror in a moving-out direction when releasing the holding of the shutter mechanism. The apparatus has a small configuration associated with driving the shutter mechanism and is appropriate for providing a cleaning mechanism of the image-pickup element by using a movable member different from the shutter blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masato Seita
  • Publication number: 20100158507
    Abstract: A diaphragm unit includes: a pair of straight-moving diaphragm blades and a pair of swing diaphragm blades overlapping with each other in an optical axis direction of an optical system and forming a diaphragm opening centered on the optical axis by moving in directions in which the diaphragm blades get close to and apart from the optical axis along a plane perpendicular to the optical axis; a receiving member receiving the pair of straight-moving diaphragm blades and the pair of swing diaphragm blades; and a diaphragm driving mechanism adjusting the size of the diaphragm opening by moving the diaphragm blades. The receiving member has a pair of side surfaces facing each other in the optical axis direction. One and the other of the straight-moving diaphragm blades and one and the other of the swing diaphragm blades are disposed on one and the other of the side surfaces, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Hattori, Ryuhei Azuma
  • Patent number: 7708479
    Abstract: An imaging device and a portable information terminal device of the present invention include: a blade driving unit (20) made up of a base plate (21) having an opening portion (21a) serving as an optical path, an infrared light cut filter blade (23) movably supported by the base plate between a receded position displaced from the opening portion and a position facing the opening portion, and a first electromagnetic driving source (26) that drives the infrared light cut filter blade (23); a lens optical system (32, 33, 34) arranged on the optical path passing through the opening portion; an imaging element (42) that images an object through the lens optical system; and a control unit (51) that drives and controls the blade driving unit (20) and the imaging element (42). The control unit drives and controls the first electromagnetic driving source (26) so as to move the infrared light cut filter blade (23) to the receded position when using an infrared light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Nidec Copal Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuaki Watanabe, Yoshiyuki Ohzeki, Mitsutaka Hidaka
  • Patent number: 7708480
    Abstract: A focal plane shutter for digital cameras includes a first driving member for a first blade and a second driving member for the first blade, mounted to the same shaft; arms for the first blade on which a set spring is hooked; and a set member for restraining the first driving member for the first blade in the proximity of the position where the exposure operation is completed, at a set position by rotating a restraining member, and actuating the first driving member for the first blade to the starting position of the exposure operation in the restoration to the initial position immediately after the release.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Nidec Copal Corporation
    Inventors: Katsunobu Yoshida, Nobuyoshi Inoue
  • Patent number: 7699546
    Abstract: A light amount adjusting device includes: a cover plate having a light-passing hole; a first separator being sheet-shaped and having a hole; a second separator being elastically deformable and sheet-shaped, positioned on a side opposite to the cover plate with the first separator therebetween, and having a hole; a first light amount adjusting blade movable between the cover plate and the first separator; a second light amount adjusting blade being movable between the first separator and the second separator; a base body to which the cover plate, the first separator, and the second separator are mounted, having a throughhole and mounting grooves, the throughhole being formed to have a diameter larger than a diameter of the hole of the second separator, the mounting grooves allowing the second separator to be mounted therein and being opened toward the throughhole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kazumasa Osoniwa, Yutaka Maeda, Hideo Ohkuma
  • Patent number: 7699542
    Abstract: A transparent plate is fixed to the body of a mobile phone with a camera in order to cover an aperture for photography. A solid-state image sensor (4) is placed on the image plane of a photographing optical system. Between a base plate having an aperture for regulating the optical path of photographing light and a cover plate having an aperture, a blade chamber for housing a shutter blade is provided, and an actuator for driving the shutter blade is fixed to the outer surface of the blade chamber. The base plate and the cover plate are arranged in the body so that the aperture is located between the transparent plate and the photographing optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Nidec Copal Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuaki Watanabe, Yoshiyuki Ohzeki
  • Patent number: 7677740
    Abstract: An optical diaphragm for adjusting a light quantity of an incident light beam includes: a plurality of light-shielding vanes attached to a circumferential portion of an aperture of a base plate in a manner rotatable along a plane orthogonal to an optical axis of the light beam. The light-shielding vanes may be rotated to change an aperture area of the aperture of the base plate for transmitting the light beam. The plurality of light-shielding vanes each include a vane plate for intercepting the incident light beam; and a bearing integrally provided to the vane plate, the bearing each allowing a rotary shaft to be inserted therein so as to be supported by the rotary shaft. The vane plate is perpendicularly attached to the bearing. The plurality of light-shielding vanes move parallel to each other in an opening and closing direction thereof without crossing with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kesatoshi Takeuchi, Hiroshi Kuriyama
  • Publication number: 20100021157
    Abstract: A vane driving device includes: a board having an opening; a blade changing an area of the opening, having a cam slot, and being elastically deformable; and a drive member transmitting a drive force from a drive source to the blade, and having a drive pin engaging the cam slot. The drive member is stopped by contacting the drive pin with at least one of end portions of the cam slot, when the blade is located in a fully opened state or in a small aperture state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: SEIKO PRECISION INC.
    Inventors: Hisashi KAWAMOTO, Osamu TAKANO
  • Publication number: 20090269048
    Abstract: A blade drive device includes: a board having an opening; a blade for adjusting an amount of the opening; and first and second drive rings having a support structure for commonly supporting the blade for swinging, rotating in an identical direction with a given speed difference, and being arranged in a same plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: SEIKO PRECISION INC.
    Inventor: Mitsuru SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20090232491
    Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a light quantity adjusting apparatus that can include a first blade member configured to be driven by a drive source, such as a motor, and a second blade member whose movement is configured to be related to the movement of the first blade member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinichi Masuda, Eriko Namazue
  • Patent number: 7559709
    Abstract: An iris diaphragm device has at least one lens shutter for adjusting the size of an aperture through which incident light passes. At least one ND filter is installed to move independently of the lens shutter, and reduces the amount of incident light by covering the aperture stopped down by the lens shutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Eui-kuen Oh
  • Patent number: 7553094
    Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a light quantity adjusting apparatus that can include a first blade member configured to be driven by a drive source, such as a motor, and a second blade member whose movement is configured to be related to the movement of the first blade member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinichi Masuda, Eriko Namazue
  • Publication number: 20090116832
    Abstract: A light amount adjuster for adjusting a size of a diaphragm aperture on an optical axis of an optical system, includes: a pair of straight moving diaphragm blades so provided at a portion to which the diaphragm aperture is opposed as to slide along a plane orthogonal to the optical axis in a direction of getting close to or separated from the optical axis; a pair of swing diaphragm blades so provided at a portion to which the diaphragm aperture is opposed as to swing about a center axis in parallel to the optical axis in a direction of getting close to or separated from the optical axis; and a drive mechanism for adjusting the size of the diaphragm aperture by sliding the pair of straight moving diaphragm blades and by allowing the pair of swing diaphragm blades to swing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Ryuhei Azuma, Atsuya Ishii, Kunioki Takahashi, Shinichirou Yamashita, Kenichi Daikai
  • Publication number: 20080205880
    Abstract: A diaphragm blade includes a light-shielding, thin-plate blade base made of laser absorptive resin to regulate an aperture, and a first shaft portion made of laser transmissive resin and provided on one surface of the blade base. The first shaft portion includes a cylindrical member which is welded to the protruding weld portion, a protruding weld portion integrally formed with the blade base, and a recess formed at the back side of the protruding weld portion. The cylindrical member has a first recess defined at one end thereof near the blade base and coming into contact with the protruding weld portion, and a second recess defined at the other end. A contact surface of the protruding weld portion is melted with laser beam transmitted through the cylindrical member, whereby the protruding weld portion is welded to the cylindrical member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Chikara Aoshima, Eriko Namazue, Makoto Miyawaki
  • Publication number: 20080199177
    Abstract: A fixed aperture and a fixed shaft are formed in a fixed member. A drive shaft is formed in a driving member. A fixed shaft hole and a drive shaft hole are formed in a plurality of diaphragm blades, and the plurality of blades is connected to the fixed shaft and the drive shaft. An aperture diameter of a variable aperture AP which is an aperture zone formed by the plurality of diaphragm blades is controlled by rotating relatively the driving member with respect to the fixed member. Here, the diaphragm blades are disposed in a plurality of layers, and a part of) the diaphragm blades belonging to an adjacent layer are disposed to be overlapping with respect to an optical axis direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takayuki IDE
  • Publication number: 20080170851
    Abstract: A light amount adjusting device includes: a cover plate having a light-passing hole; a first separator being sheet-shaped and having a hole; a second separator being elastically deformable and sheet-shaped, positioned on a side opposite to the cover plate with the first separator therebetween, and having a hole; a first light amount adjusting blade movable between the cover plate and the first separator; a second light amount adjusting blade being movable between the first separator and the second separator; a base body to which the cover plate, the first separator, and the second separator are mounted, having a throughhole and mounting grooves, the throughhole being formed to have a diameter larger than a diameter of the hole of the second separator, the mounting grooves allowing the second separator to be mounted therein and being opened toward the throughhole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kazumasa OSONIWA, Yutaka MAEDA, Hideo OHKUMA
  • Publication number: 20080089679
    Abstract: Provided is an iris for a photographing apparatus. The iris includes a plate, a plurality of iris wings, a motor, and a filter unit. The plate includes a transmission hole therein. The plurality of iris wings are movably provided on one side of the plate. The motor provides power used to move the iris wings. The filter unit is provided inside the iris wings to control an amount of transmitted light that passes through the transmission hole, and the filter unit is at least portions of the iris wings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Inventors: Sung Bong Kim, Woo Seong Tak, Se Woong Park
  • 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: 7210795
    Abstract: A light quantity adjusting device for adjusting light quantity of a projector apparatus. The adjusting device includes a substrate having an optical path opening and a blade guide surface having level differences in a direction perpendicular to the optical path; a plurality of blade members arranged at a circumferential edge of the optical path opening for rotating along the blade guide surface in an inclined state with respect to the optical path; and a plurality of pins disposed on the substrate for supporting base end portions of the blade members to rotate around the base end portions for opening and closing the optical path opening. A transmission member is mounted on the substrate for engaging the blade members, and a drive device drives the transmission member to rotate the blade members to open and close the optical path opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Nisca Corporation
    Inventors: Toyoyuki Hara, Masahide Shirasu, Yukihiko Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 7085032
    Abstract: A light regulator includes a substrate having an optical aperture, an even number of blade members (six or more) arranged substantially uniformly around the optical aperture, and spindles provided on the substrate for freely rotatably supporting base end portions of the blade members. The blade members are overlapped with each other at edges thereof, and tip portions thereof face the optical aperture. The blade members on the substrate are divided into a first blade set and a second blade set. The first blade set includes at least two first blade members overlapping with each other. The first blade members are rotatably supported at the base end portions thereof on the spindles, and tip portions of the first blades are placed inside an edge of the optical aperture when the first blades are fully closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Nisca Corporation
    Inventor: Masayoshi Sato
  • Patent number: 6984078
    Abstract: Diaphragm blades move in a direction approaching to or separated from an optical axis of an incident light at the time of operation. Opening edges of the diaphragm blades are provided with neutral density (ND) filters having a predetermined transmittance to pass the incident light. Edges of the ND filters are provided with inclined surfaces having a predetermined angle with respect to the optical axis. With this configuration, flare is suppressed and image quality is enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Tamron Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michio Inoue, Makoto Araoka
  • Patent number: 6924946
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a lens diaphragm device that can avoid a degradation of an image due to both diffraction of a light beam and flares. The diaphragm device includes two diaphragm vanes (2 and 4) that respectively have notches (28 and 36) opposed to each other in a single plane perpendicular to an optical axis (O), and two of the vanes are moved close to and apart from each other in the single plane so as to vary an aperture of the lens diaphragm. The lens diaphragm device also includes two optical filters (6 and 8) used to reduce a quantity of a beam of light passing through the diaphragm, and an aperture of the diaphragm defined by edges of the optical filters and the notches of the vanes is shaped to be asymmetrical about straight line which crosses the optical axis and is perpendicular to directions of the motion of the vanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Tamron Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuko Watanabe, Michio Inoue, Yasunori Miyauchi
  • Patent number: 6912097
    Abstract: An iris diaphragm comprising an annular base, an annular rotatable element and a number of leaves which can be mounted to form a variable aperture, each leaf extending between the base and element and being connected thereto in a pivotal relationship, is characterised in that a first end of each of said leaves is pivotally connected to an opening provided on the element or base by means of a burst hole joint, and a second end of each of said leaves being rotatably secured in a sliding relationship to a slide provided on the base or the element by means of a slide pin secured to the leaf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Wilkes Iris Limited
    Inventor: Keith Woods
  • Patent number: 6872013
    Abstract: An iris includes a stator assembly having a frame coupled to an electrically wound, substantially annular magnetic core. The iris further includes a rotor, which is rotatably coupled to the magnetic core such that a channel is defined. A diaphragm, having a plurality of diaphragm leaves, is coupled to the stator assembly. The diaphragm leaves are pivotally arranged to form an adjustable aperture, which is substantially concentric with the channel. A portion of at least one of the diaphragm leaves is coupled to the stator assembly, and another portion of at least one of the plurality of diaphragm leaves is coupled to the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: James K. Guy
  • Patent number: 6752542
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: PENTAX Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nomura, Takamitsu Sasaki, Kazunori Ishizuka, Maiko Takashima
  • Patent number: 6714362
    Abstract: A lens shutter mechanism includes, between front and rear support frames having photographing apertures, shutter sectors which open and close the photographing apertures; a shutter drive ring which is rotatable about the optical axis to drive the shutter sectors; diaphragm sectors which change an aperture diameter of the photographing apertures independently of the shutter sectors; and a diaphragm drive ring which is rotatable about the optical axis to drive the diaphragm sectors. The shutter drive ring and the diaphragm drive ring are located at different radial positions and at the same optical axis position. One and the other of the shutter drive ring and the diaphragm drive ring is provided with an inner flange and an outer flange respectively, which radically project toward each other so as to overlap in the axial direction, and engage so as to be relatively slidable in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: PENTAX Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nomura, Takamitsu Sasaki, Kazunori Ishizuka, Maiko Takashima
  • Patent number: 6466380
    Abstract: An iris diaphragm, in particular for an exposure lens in semiconductor lithography, is provided with a diaphragm base (2) and a grooved ring (1) which can be rotated relative to one another, having a multiplicity of leaves (4) which in each case are mounted in the diaphragm base (2) and in the grooved ring (1) and are guided by curved tracks (6), arranged in the grooved ring (1), for the purpose of adjusting the diaphragm aperture. A drive device (11) serves the purpose of twisting the diaphragm base (2) and grooved ring (1) relative to one another. The curved tracks are designed as circumferential tracks (6) in the grooved ring (1). The circumferential track (6) is split up into alternating useful-region curves (6a) and return curves (6b). The diaphragm base (2) or the grooved ring (1) can be rotated in a preselected rotary drive direction by a drive device (11), the leaves (4) being guided in a circulating fashion in the circumferential track (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung
    Inventor: Thomas Bischoff
  • Patent number: 6442343
    Abstract: A first stop plate with a small stop opening is disposed behind a taking lens, and a second stop plate with a middle stop opening is disposed between a first and second lens, which comprise the taking lens. Upon moving a changeover knob to an ON position, a flash unit and the second stop plate are actuated such that the middle stop opening is retracted from an photographic light path PL. The small stop opening is retracted from the photographic light path PL when subject luminance is less than a predetermined value. In high-luminance condition, the small stop opening and the middle stop opening are set on the photographic light path PL, and in middle-luminance condition, the small stop opening is retracted. In low-luminance condition, the middle stop opening is retracted by operation of the changeover knob, so only a large stop opening is set on the photographic light path PL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Kameyama, Shigeki Takahara, Yuji Mikami
  • Patent number: 6161966
    Abstract: A lens-aperture control mechanism is provided for use in a lens unit to control the aperture of the lens unit. The lens-aperture control mechanism includes a plurality of blades, each being movable radially inward into the lens barrel and outward from the lens barrel; a rotatable ring coupled to the blades, capable of urging the blades to move radially inward into the lens barrel when being turned in a first direction and outward from the lens barrel when being turned in a second direction; and a power driver for driving the rotatable ring to turn in a specified direction by a specified angular displacement so as to move the blades to a specific radial position to define a specific aperture for the lens unit. The inner end of each of the blades is formed in a concave shape or a curved haft-cutaway portion. When combined, the inner ends of the blades can define a near-circular aperture for the lens unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: UMAX Data Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Guang-Shang Chang, Jian-Ming Peng, Chien-Chin Chan
  • 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: 5926663
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryuji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5923913
    Abstract: An iris diaphragm comprises a stationary circular base having a pair of opposite sides and pivot pins at only one of the sides, a plurality of opaque blades positioned adjacent the side of the circular base that has the pivot pins to define an aperture between the blades, and having pivot holes that contain the pivot pins to permit the aperture to be changed in size by pivoting the blades about the pivot pins, a rotatable ring positioned adjacent the side of the circular base without the pivot pins, and a plurality of interconnections between the ring and respective ones of the blades to make rotation of the ring relative to the circular base pivot the blades about the pivot pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Michael J. O'Brien, Robert C. Bryant, Richard A. Colleluori
  • Patent number: 5809357
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takuji Hamasaki
  • Patent number: 5749015
    Abstract: A light-quantity control device having a light-quantity control member which moves to change an aperture opening amount. A drive source swings the light-quantity control member in one direction and a spring having a coil part urges the light-quantity control member against the swinging direction of the drive source. A base member having an aperture fixedly supports the drive source and swingably supports the light-quantity control member. The base member has a shaft for carrying the coil part of the spring. The shaft is formed at a position outside the supporting position of the drive source on the base member relative to the center of the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Denshi Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Sato, Koichi Shimada
  • Patent number: 5687417
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Edward P. Furlani, Bijan Barzideh
  • Patent number: 5646769
    Abstract: A light-quantity control device includes a drive source, a light-quantity control member which is arranged to vary the amount of opening of an aperture by shifting its position, and a speed control part which is arranged to control the driving speed of the drive source in proportion to a rate of change per unit time of the area of the aperture of the light-quantity control member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Assignee: Canon Denshi Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Sato, Koichi Shimada
  • Patent number: 5646770
    Abstract: A light-quantity control device includes a drive source, a light-quantity control member which is arranged to vary the amount of opening of an aperture by shifting its position, and a speed control part which is arranged to control the driving speed of the drive source in proportion to a rate of change per unit time of the area of the aperture of the light-quantity control member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Assignee: Canon Denshi Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Sato, Koichi Shimada
  • Patent number: 5594519
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hitoshi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 5589906
    Abstract: A light-controlling variable aperture incorporates a resilient opaque tube positioned along the optical axis. When the resilient opaque tube is twisted, a constricting circular aperture forms a circular iris in an intermediate portion thereof. The circular iris is constricted to various sizes according to the degree of twisting of the tube to control the amount of light passing therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hitoshi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 5576792
    Abstract: A method for assembling an iris diaphragm, the method comprises the steps of: providing an iris blade having an end portion for forming a portion of an aperture of the iris diaphragm, and the blade having a hole therethrough; interposing the iris blade between a yoke assembly having a top and bottom portion both having a hole in registry with each other and in registry with the hole in the blade; and dispensing an adhesive into the holes in the top and bottom portions and the hole in the iris blade for, in effect, forming a mechanical fastener for attaching the iris blade to both the top and bottom portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Michael J. O'Brien, Richard A. Colleluori, William P. Luce