Lens Adapter Patents (Class 396/530)
  • Patent number: 11868028
    Abstract: An accessory includes: a detection terminal; a first power supply terminal through which a first power supply voltage is supplied; a second power supply terminal through which a second power supply voltage is supplied; a ground terminal; a ready terminal; a first clock terminal; a first data terminal; a second data terminal; a second clock terminal; a third data terminal; a first circuit to which the first power supply voltage is supplied through the first power supply terminal; and a second circuit to which the second power supply voltage is supplied through the second power supply terminal, wherein: the ground terminal is used as a ground potential for the first circuit and the second circuit; and a distance between the second clock terminal and the first power supply terminal is longer than a distance between the first clock terminal and the first power supply terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takayuki Funaoka
  • Patent number: 11803103
    Abstract: Disclosed is a photographic lamp chuck compatible with different lamp holders. The photographic lamp chuck comprises a main chuck body (100), wherein an accessory installation position is provided on the main chuck body (100), a first insertion hole (101) for accommodating a lamp holder of a first-type photographic lamp is provided in the main chuck body (100), an arc-shaped positioning face (103) and a groove body (102) are formed in an inner wall of the first insertion hole (101), a positioning inserting member (200) is movably inserted into the groove body (102), a first positioning face is arranged on the positioning inserting member (200), a second insertion hole (202) is enclosed by the first positioning face of the positioning inserting member (200) and the inner wall of the first insertion hole (101), and the second insertion hole is used for accommodating a lamp holder of a second-type photographic lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Godox Photo Equipment Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Weijun Zeng
  • Patent number: 11805318
    Abstract: A camera body with which it is possible to improve the effect of shake correction, a camera accessory, and an information transmission method wherein the camera body to which a camera accessory can be detachably mounted, and includes: a movable section which is movable to correct shaking of the camera body; a detection unit which detects the shake and outputs a detection signal; a calculation unit which, on the basis of the detection signal, calculates an amount of movement of the movable section; and a transmission unit which transmits, to the camera accessory, body-side information the calculation unit uses to calculate the amount of movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Sueyuki Ohishi
  • Patent number: 11693206
    Abstract: A lens apparatus includes a first barrel member including a first helicoid screw on an inner surface included therein, a second barrel member including a second helicoid screw, screwed with the first helicoid screw, on an outer surface included therein, the second barrel member being movable along a direction of an axis of the first barrel member, an urging member configured to urge the second helicoid screw against the first helicoid screw in a direction of a diameter of the first barrel member, and a third barrel member including an outer surface which has a diameter smaller than a diameter of the second helicoid screw. The urging member is held by the second barrel member inside the second barrel member, and is in contact with the outer surface of the third barrel member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Go Shibasaki
  • Patent number: 11650483
    Abstract: An accessary that is attachable to a camera body, includes a first power terminal to which a first drive power is supplied from the camera body; a second power terminal to which a second drive power is supplied from the camera body; a first ground terminal that is a ground terminal corresponding to the first drive power; a second ground terminal that is a ground terminal corresponding to the second drive power; and a communication terminal group consisting of a plurality of terminals used for a first data communication with the camera body and a second data communication with the camera body, the second data communication being independent of the first data communication. The plurality of terminals of the communication terminal group are arranged directly adjacent to each other, and the first ground terminal is arranged between the first power terminal and the communication terminal group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuharu Imafuji, Masafumi Oikawa
  • Patent number: 11558541
    Abstract: An interchangeable lens communicable with an accessory and an image pickup apparatus includes a communicator configured to communicate with the accessory and the image pickup apparatus, and a memory configured to store information corresponding to a type of accessory. The communicator acquires information on the type of the accessory by communicating with the accessory, and transmits optical information corresponding to the type of the accessory to the image pickup apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Koya Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11550206
    Abstract: Provided is a light receiving apparatus including a first light receiving unit; a body to which the first light receiving unit is secured; a first exterior portion that covers at least a portion of the body; and a mount that is capable of having an interchangeable lens attached thereto, to which the body and the first exterior portion are secured. Also provided is a light receiving apparatus, in which a body to which a first light receiving unit is secured and a first exterior portion that covers at least a portion of the body are secured to a mount that is capable of having an interchangeable lens attached thereto, and force placed on the first exterior portion is absorbed by the mount, such that transfer of the force placed on the first exterior portion to the body is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Okutani, Eiji Matsukawa, Yoshiaki Tanabe
  • Patent number: 11277545
    Abstract: An image capture device includes a heatsink having a cutout within the heatsink. The image capture device also includes a housing, a mounting structure located on an external side of the housing, and an integrated sensor and lens assembly (ISLA) extending through the cutout in the heatsink and connecting to the mounting structure. The ISLA is free of contact with the heatsink. The heatsink can include mounting flanges to support components including printed circuit boards and battery cages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventors: Kielan C. Crow, Akshay Shinde, Nicholas Vitale, Eduardo Hernandez Pacheco
  • Patent number: 11243456
    Abstract: In a mount device including a mount which an accessory is attachable to and detachable from, a plurality of terminals arranged along a circumferential direction of the mount and used for electrical connection with the accessory includes a first terminal which is used to supply driving electric power serving as a first voltage to the accessory, and a second terminal which exhibits a voltage that changes according to the accessory mounted to the mount device, wherein the second terminal is able to be set to an input state or an output state, and is set to the input state during a period in which the driving electric power is not output to the accessory via the first terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoto Fujihashi, Yasuyuki Watazawa
  • Patent number: 11201996
    Abstract: A camera is usable while a plurality of accessory apparatuses are connected to the camera. The camera includes a camera communication unit connected to a data communication channel used for a data communication between the camera and each of the plurality of accessory apparatuses, and a camera controller configured to perform the data communication with each of the plurality of accessory apparatuses via the data communication channel. The camera controller transmits to at least one sleep target accessory apparatus among the plurality of accessory apparatuses which is selected based on authentication information acquired from each of the plurality of accessory apparatuses, a sleep request command for shifting the sleep target accessory apparatus from an operation state for performing processing in response to a data transmission from the camera to a sleep state that does not perform the processing regardless of the data transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuto Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11187869
    Abstract: An accessory for a camera includes: a first terminal; a second terminal; a third terminal; a fourth terminal; a fifth terminal; a sixth terminal; an eighth terminal that receives a first clock signal of a first cycle from the camera; a seventh terminal that receives a first data signal in synchronization with the first clock signal; a ninth terminal that outputs a third data signal to the camera in synchronization with the first clock signal; a tenth terminal that outputs a second clock signal of a second cycle to the camera, the second cycle being longer than the first cycle; and an eleventh terminal that outputs a second data signal to the camera in synchronization with the second clock signal, wherein: the eighth terminal is positioned between the seventh terminal and the ninth terminal, and the tenth terminals is positioned between the ninth terminal and the eleventh terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takayuki Funaoka
  • Patent number: 11163217
    Abstract: An interchangeable device that is attachable to an electronic device includes a first communication unit communicating with the electronic device via a first path; and a second communication unit communicating with the electronic device via a second path. The first path includes a first contact that outputs to the electronic device a signal indicating whether it is possible to perform communication via the first path, a second contact that communicates a first clock signal with the electronic device, a third contact to which a signal is input from the electronic device synchronized with the first clock signal, and a fourth contact that outputs a signal to the electronic device synchronized with the first clock signal. The second path includes a seventh contact communicating a second clock signal with the electronic device, and an eighth contact that outputs to the electronic device a signal synchronized with the second clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuharu Imafuji, Masafumi Oikawa
  • Patent number: 11143837
    Abstract: An accessory for a camera includes: a first terminal; a second terminal; a third terminal; a fourth terminal; a fifth terminal; a sixth terminal; an eighth terminal that receives a first clock signal of a first cycle from the camera; a seventh terminal that receives a first data signal in synchronization with the first clock signal; a ninth terminal that outputs a third data signal to the camera in synchronization with the first clock signal; a tenth terminal that outputs a second clock signal of a second cycle to the camera, the second cycle being longer than the first cycle; and an eleventh terminal that outputs a second data signal to the camera in synchronization with the second clock signal, wherein: the eighth terminal is positioned between the seventh terminal and the ninth terminal, and the tenth terminals is positioned between the ninth terminal and the eleventh terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takayuki Funaoka
  • Patent number: 11137567
    Abstract: An accessory for a camera, includes: a first terminal; a second terminal through which a first power is supplied; a third terminal used for a ground for the first power; a fourth terminal through which a second power is supplied; a fifth terminal used for a ground for the second power; a sixth terminal used to indicate whether communication is allowed; an eighth terminal receiving a first clock of a first cycle; a seventh terminal receiving a first data signal in synchronization with the first clock; a ninth terminal outputting a third data signal in synchronization with the first clock; a tenth terminal outputting a second clock of a second cycle longer than the first cycle; and an eleventh terminal, wherein: the third, fourth and fifth terminals are positioned between the second and sixth terminals; and the seventh, eighth and ninth terminals are positioned between the sixth and tenth terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takayuki Funaoka
  • Patent number: 11076086
    Abstract: An electronic device communicates with a lens unit whose focus range is a first range between a first position and a second position of a focus lens. The electronic device obtains first information indicating a third position of the focus lens, at which the focus distance of the lens unit infinity, and a second range between the third position and the second position of the focus lens. The electronic device controls, on the basis of the first information, a display unit to display the first range and the second range of the focus lens to be distinguishable from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Satoru Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 11054605
    Abstract: An interchangeable lens is removably attached to a camera body including a body-side mount, body-side terminal group above an upper side of an image sensor and a first to fourth body-side claws. The second body-side claw extends in circumferential direction with a center angle and is located outside the body-side terminal group. The interchangeable lens includes the lens-side mount, lens-side terminal group, a first to fourth lens-side claws engaged with the first to fourth body-side claws in proper attachment of the interchangeable lens. The four body-side claws are disposed in four regions divided by first and second body-side lines in relation to the arc-shaped body-side terminal group. The interchangeable lens is inserted to the camera body and rotated by a first angle for attaching and the terminals of the camera body and the interchangeable lens are connected. The center angle of the second body-side claw is smaller than the first.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Nagaoka, Noriyasu Kotani
  • Patent number: 11054604
    Abstract: An interchangeable lens is removably attached to a camera body including a body-side mount, an image sensor, a plurality of body-side claws disposed outside of the image sensor and a plurality of elastic members respectively disposed on image sides of the body-side claws. The interchangeable lens includes the lens-side mount, first and third lens-side claws engaged with the plurality of body-side claws upon attachment to the camera body. The first and third lens-side claws project from the cylindrical portion in the outer periphery direction of the lens-side mount and extend in the circumferential direction around the optical axis. The first and third lens-side claws are in contact with the two elastic members opposite to each other across an optical axis in once upon attachment to the camera body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Nagaoka, Noriyasu Kotani
  • Patent number: 11036117
    Abstract: A lens device includes a housing configured to maintain a lens. The lens device also includes a maintaining structure disposed at an exterior surface of the housing surrounding the lens, and configured to detachably maintain a peripheral device. The lens device further includes one or more electric contacts disposed on the exterior surface of the housing between the lens and the maintaining structure, and configured to electrically connect with the peripheral device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chihiro Tsukamoto, Futoshi Iinuma
  • Patent number: 11002405
    Abstract: A photographic payload augmentation device is provided. The photographic payload augmentation device comprises a ring including a ring body, wherein the ring body comprises a magnetic material, and wherein the ring is configured to mount onto a photographic payload device. The device further includes a plurality of weight units, wherein at least one of the plurality of weight units is magnetically mountable onto the magnetic material of the ring body. The another embodiment, the photographic payload augmentation device comprises a ring including a ring body, wherein the ring comprises a ferromagnetic metal material, and wherein the ring is configured to mount onto a photographic payload device. Further, this embodiment includes a plurality of magnetized weight units, wherein at least one of the plurality of magnetized weight units is magnetically mountable onto the magnetic material of the ring body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Stabilens, LLC
    Inventor: Zachary Miller
  • Patent number: 10911651
    Abstract: A camera body includes a DCL terminal, a DLC terminal, and a LCLK terminal, that perform communication with a lens apparatus by a first voltage, or a second voltage that differs from the first voltage. The camera body also includes a DLC2 terminal that is only used when communication using the DCL terminal, DLC terminal, and LCLK terminal is performed by the first voltage. The DLC2 terminal is disposed adjacent to the LCLK terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hitoshi Yasuda, Yasuyuki Watazawa, Naoto Fujihashi
  • Patent number: 10890827
    Abstract: A camera accessory, at which light from a subject enters, detachably mountable at a camera body, includes: a communication unit that communicates with the camera body; and a first storage unit that stores a discriminating signal indicating whether or not another device capable of communicating with the camera body is mountable on a subject side of the camera accessory, wherein: the communication unit transmits the discriminating signal to the camera body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akihiko Kawai
  • Patent number: 10754116
    Abstract: A kit for a camera filter adaptor includes a filter retaining apparatus and a lens engagement apparatus. The filter retaining apparatus has a filter retaining portion and a first interfacing portion opposite the filter retaining portion. The retaining portion is configured for retaining a camera filter. The lens engagement apparatus has a lens coupling portion and a second interfacing portion. The lens coupling portion is configured for being coupled to a camera lens. The second interfacing portion is configured for interfacing with the first interfacing portion of the filter retaining apparatus to form an engagement therewith. The interfacing defines an interfacing diameter that is greater than a lens coupling diameter. A method for using the kit is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Inventor: Donat Lemay
  • Patent number: 10666842
    Abstract: A camera body includes a DCL terminal, a DLC terminal, and a LCLK terminal, that perform communication with a lens apparatus by a first voltage, or a second voltage that differs from the first voltage. The camera body also includes a DLC2 terminal that is only used when communication using the DCL terminal, DLC terminal, and LCLK terminal is performed by the first voltage. The DLC2 terminal is disposed adjacent to the LCLK terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hitoshi Yasuda, Yasuyuki Watazawa, Naoto Fujihashi
  • Patent number: 10599017
    Abstract: An interchangeable lens to be detachably attached to a camera body, that includes a holding unit at which a plurality of contacts is arranged, the interchangeable lens includes: a first communication contact system arranged at the holding unit; and a second communication contact system different from the first communication contact system, arranged at the holding unit at a position different from a position at which the first communication contact system is arranged. The fourth contact is arranged at a position closer to the second communication contact system than the first contact, the second contact, and the third contact are, and the seventh contact and the eighth contact are arranged at positions closer to the first communication contact system than the fifth contact and the sixth contact are.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuharu Imafuji, Masafumi Oikawa
  • Patent number: 10560616
    Abstract: A camera body includes a DCL terminal, a DLC terminal, and a LCLK terminal, that perform communication with a lens apparatus by a first voltage, or a second voltage that differs from the first voltage. The camera body also includes a DLC2 terminal that is only used when communication using the DCL terminal, DLC terminal, and LCLK terminal is performed by the first voltage. The DLC2 terminal is disposed adjacent to the LCLK terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hitoshi Yasuda, Yasuyuki Watazawa, Naoto Fujihashi
  • Patent number: 10551723
    Abstract: The electronic device can be used with various modules attached to a device main body and is electrically connected by the respective connector portions. The device main body includes a connection terminal portion with a concave shape, and the module has a connection terminal portion with a convex shape that fits into the connection terminal portion of the device main body. The device main body includes a power source terminal group in a first surface, and includes a ground terminal group and terminal groups that are compatible with the external communication interface in the second surface on the side opposite thereto. The terminal groups has a pair of terminal groups that are used for transmitting differential signals and a ground terminal, and communication terminal groups for communication with a power source module are adjacent to the ground terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroki Ota
  • Patent number: 10539859
    Abstract: An interchangeable lens serving as an accessory apparatus includes a power control unit configured to switch between a first power state where communication with a camera main body serving as an image pickup apparatus is possible and a second power state which provides smaller power consumption than the first power state. The interchangeable lens also includes a setting unit configured to switch a communication setting between a first setting corresponding to a first communication method that is a communication method used in an initial communication and a second setting corresponding to a second communication method different from the first communication method. In addition, in a case where the communication setting of the interchangeable lens is the second setting, the power control unit does not perform the switching from the first power state to the second power state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yutaka Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10536620
    Abstract: A lens barrel of the invention includes: an imaging optical system including a focus adjustment lens; a driver that drives the focus adjustment lens in a direction of an optical axis; a transceiver that transmits and receives a signal to and from a camera body; and a controller that controls the transceiver to repeatedly transmit a first image plane transfer coefficient which is determined in correspondence with a position of the focus adjustment lens included in the imaging optical system and a second image plane transfer coefficient which does not depend on the position of the focus adjustment lens to the camera body at a predetermined interval, and, when the controller repeatedly transmits the second image plane transfer coefficient to the camera body, the controller varies the second image plane transfer coefficient over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Tomita
  • Patent number: 10477092
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus according to an embodiment of the present technology includes a main body and a movable unit. The main body includes a lens tube portion. The movable unit includes a movable portion and a bias portion that biases the movable portion toward the lens tube portion, the movable portion having a relative position with respect to the lens tube portion being variable along an axial direction orthogonal to an optical axis of the lens tube portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasuaki Isonaga
  • Patent number: 10440254
    Abstract: When a camera (10) turns in the reverse rotational direction toward a preset position, the camera (10) additionally turns in the reverse rotational direction by the number of offset pulses and then further turns in the forward rotational direction by the number of offset pulses. While the camera (10) turns in the forward rotational direction and the reverse rotational direction by the number of offset pulses, an image cutout unit (15) outputs image data corresponding to an area whose position in a photographing range of the camera (10) is moved in a direction of canceling the movement linked with the turning of the camera (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yukinori Kishida, Nobuyuki Inokihara, Yasuyuki Kasai
  • Patent number: 10101639
    Abstract: Disclosed is a housing for a portable handheld electronic device such as a cellphone. The device has a housing, having a left side and right side. At least one of the left side and right side is provided with integral surface features or surface structures to enhance gripping the cellphone, preferably along the entire length of the phone or within about the top half or one third of the phone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: HodiniX LLC
    Inventors: Stephen G. Pizzo, Peter Jarred Land, James H. Jannard, Hector Ortega
  • Patent number: 10073325
    Abstract: A camera body comprises a fixing frame having a contact base mounting position and a lens limiting assembly arranged at the contact base mounting position. The lens limiting assembly comprises an elastic element arranged on the contact base mounting position, a lens assembly ring arranged on the elastic element, and a locking ring configured to abut against and press the elastic element when the locking ring rotates in one direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignees: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., JCD (GUANGZHOU) OPTICAL CORPORATION LIMITED
    Inventors: Feihu Yang, Jianguo Zhu, Yanxin Huang
  • Patent number: 9323024
    Abstract: An interchangeable lens to be detachably attached to a camera body, that includes a holding unit at which a plurality of contacts is arranged, in the interchangeable lens, the first contact is arranged on one end and the eleventh contact is arranged on another end of the arrangement of the twelve contacts; the second contact is arranged next to the first contact in the arrangement of the twelve contacts; and the twelfth contact is arranged next to the eleventh contact in the arrangement of the twelve contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuharu Imafuji, Masafumi Oikawa
  • Patent number: 8941934
    Abstract: A lens connection module is disclosed, which can be magnetically installed on an image capture device having a light entry opening and a first magnetic unit, and comprises a lens connection body and a second magnetic unit installed on the lens connection body for magnetically connecting to the first magnetic unit. The lens connection body includes a light collecting pathway corresponding to the light entry opening and extending along a light axis, the first magnetic unit has at least one ferromagnetic component arranged on the front face in a radially asymmetric manner, and the second magnetic unit has a magnetic component corresponding to the ferromagnetic component and installed on a joint face. As such, the lens connection module allows quick installation onto and detachment from the image capture device, thereby increasing application flexibility and operation convenience of the image capture device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Lumos Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chih-Yi Yang
  • Publication number: 20150016814
    Abstract: A lock releasing device for camera 1 that is disposed on a camera body side C and can release a lock of a lens locking mechanism 2 that locks an interchangeable lens L mounted on the camera body side C by an external operation, comprising a lock releasing part 3 that can release the lock of the lens locking mechanism 2 by imparting a predetermined displacement amount Sm and a lock releasing ring 4 that is disposed at a coaxial position to the interchangeable lens L in such a manner as to transmit at least a predetermined displacement amount Sm to the lock releasing part 3 and enable external operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: COSINA CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yohei KUROIWA
  • Publication number: 20140248047
    Abstract: A conversion adapter apparatus is provided that connects a camera body and an interchangeable lens. The conversion adapter apparatus includes a camera body side installation portion to receive a camera body, a lens side installation portion to receive an interchangeable lens, and a first communication contact group provided on the camera body side installation portion and connected to a communication contact group. The conversion adapter apparatus additionally includes a second communication contact group provided on the lens side installation portion and connected to the communication contact group and a conductive member that electrically connects the first communication contact group and the second communication contact group. A position of the first communication contact group around a camera optical axis and a position of the second communication contact group around the camera optical axis are different from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshifumi Urakami, Shoji Kaihara
  • Patent number: 8821046
    Abstract: There is provided an accessory that is attachable to or detachable from an apparatus body having a plurality of contact terminals, the accessory including a plurality of connection terminals that are connected to the plurality of contact terminals, respectively, and exchange a signal with the apparatus body, when the plurality of connection terminals are attached to the apparatus body, a lock lever that is operated between a lock position and a non-lock position and performs locking with respect to the apparatus body, when the lock lever is operated to the lock position, and a detection activation section that starts a detection operation of a connection state of the plurality of contact terminals and the plurality of connection terminals, when the lock lever is operated to the lock position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuto Kikuchi, Shouta Katou
  • Patent number: 8814449
    Abstract: An adapter includes: a first mount section that is detachably attached to a camera body; a second mount section that is provided separately from the first mount section and is detachably attached to an interchangeable lens; and an adapter control section that is capable of communicating between the camera body mounted on the first mount section and the interchangeable lens mounted on the second mount section. The adapter control section provides body transmission lens information for transmission to the camera body, on the basis of lens information requested from the camera body and lens information received from the interchangeable lens, through mutually different methods according to types of the lens information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Masanori Hasuda, Masafumi Oikawa, Noriaki Nakajima, Shunji Nagaya
  • Publication number: 20140233937
    Abstract: An optical accessory adapter is used to couple together a lens apparatus and an optical accessory attached to an object side portion of the lens apparatus having fitting attachment diameters different from each other. The adapter is provided with a cutout portion in a part of a region outside the attachment diameter of the lens apparatus on an object side surface thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akira YOKOYAMA
  • Patent number: 8757904
    Abstract: An adapter includes: a first mount section that is detachably attached to a camera body; a second mount section that is provided separately from the first mount section and is detachably attached to any one of a plurality of types of interchangeable lenses which are different from each other in a method of controlling a diaphragm; and an accessory control section that controls the diaphragm of the interchangeable lens in response to a common control command which is received from the camera body regardless of the type of the interchangeable lens mounted on the second mount section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Masanori Hasuda, Masafumi Oikawa, Noriaki Nakajima, Shunji Nagaya
  • Patent number: 8757905
    Abstract: A conversion adapter apparatus is provided that connects a camera body and an interchangeable lens. The conversion adapter apparatus includes a camera body side installation portion to receive a camera body, a lens side installation portion to receive an interchangeable lens, and a first communication contact group provided on the camera body side installation portion and connected to a communication contact group. The conversion adapter apparatus additionally includes a second communication contact group provided on the lens side installation portion and connected to the communication contact group and a conductive member that electrically connects the first communication contact group and the second communication contact group. A position of the first communication contact group around a camera optical axis and a position of the second communication contact group around the camera optical axis are different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshifumi Urakami, Shoji Kaihara
  • Patent number: 8755684
    Abstract: An adapter includes: a first mount section that is detachably attached to a camera body; a second mount section that is provided separately from the first mount section and is detachably attached to an interchangeable lens; and a power supply section that generates supply voltages of a third power supply system and a fourth power supply system, which are to be fed to the interchangeable lens mounted on the second mount section, from a second power supply system between a first power supply system of the camera body, which is mounted on the first mount section, and the second power supply system which is different from the first power supply system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Hideaki Sugiyama, Fumiya Taguchi, Masanori Hasuda, Masafumi Oikawa, Noriaki Nakajima, Shunji Nagaya
  • Patent number: 8714844
    Abstract: An intermediate adapter includes: a first mount unit having a first mount center point, at which a camera body, with twelve body connector terminals disposed near a camera body mount unit at the camera body, is mounted; a body-side connector terminal holding portion where twelve body-side connector terminals, each connected to one of the twelve body connector terminals and each including a contact area to come into contact with one of the body connector terminals, are disposed; a second mount unit having a second mount center point, at which a camera accessory is to be detachably mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Masafumi Oikawa, Kazuharu Imafuji
  • Patent number: 8678678
    Abstract: An adapter includes a first housing member that includes a first mount portion to which a camera body can be attached and detached and a second mount portion to which an interchangeable lens can be attached and detached, a second housing member that is integrally formed with the first housing member and includes a screw-receiving part, which can be attached to and detached from a tripod, in a side opposite to the first housing member, a driven member, and an actuator of a drive system for driving the driven member. The screw-receiving part is arranged in the vicinity of a center of an end of the second housing member, and at least a portion of the actuator is arranged in the periphery of the screw-receiving part in the second housing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshio Imura
  • Patent number: 8665360
    Abstract: A camera system includes an interchangeable lens and a camera body to which the interchangeable lens can be mounted, either directly or via an adapter. A lens microcomputer of the interchangeable lens is configured to hold lens information including information related to a focal point detection method. A body microcomputer of the camera body is configured to select a focal point detection method on the basis of lens information. The body microcomputer is configured to select a contrast detection method as the focal point detection method if the interchangeable lens is compatible with a contrast detection method. The body microcomputer is configured to select a phase difference detection method as the focal point detection method if the interchangeable lens is not compatible with a contrast detection method, and the adapter is compatible with a phase difference detection method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Dai Shintani, Kenichi Honjo, Norikazu Katsuyama
  • Patent number: 8662767
    Abstract: A camera body includes a housing, an imaging element and a body mount. The body mount is fixed to the housing, and has a portion to which an adapter can be mounted. The body mount is disposed at a position away from the light receiving face of the imaging element by the amount of a flange back. A lens back of an interchangeable lens unit is longer than the flange back. The flange back is shorter than the length obtained by subtracting the adapter length, which is the length of the adapter in the optical axis direction, from the lens back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Honjo, Hiroshi Ueda, Dai Shintani
  • Publication number: 20140010528
    Abstract: A conversion adapter apparatus is provided that connects a camera body and an interchangeable lens. The conversion adapter apparatus includes a camera body side installation portion to receive a camera body, a lens side installation portion to receive an interchangeable lens, and a first communication contact group provided on the camera body side installation portion and connected to a communication contact group. The conversion adapter apparatus additionally includes a second communication contact group provided on the lens side installation portion and connected to the communication contact group and a conductive member that electrically connects the first communication contact group and the second communication contact group. A position of the first communication contact group around a camera optical axis and a position of the second communication contact group around the camera optical axis are different from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshifumi Urakami, Shoji Kaihara
  • Patent number: 8567036
    Abstract: A method for assembling a lens module is provided. The lens module includes a lens barrel, a lens holder, a lens and a filter. The lens barrel includes a first portion and a second portion. The method for assembling the lens module includes the steps of; providing a tray which defines a plurality of perforations, each of which is for accommodating the lens barrel; spreading glue on the second portion, and affixing the filter on the second portion by means of glue; solidifying the glue; cleaning the inside of the lens barrel after the filter is mounted on the second portion; cutting the filter into a plurality of filter portions whose shape matches the shape of the second portion; and placing the lens holder with the lens into the lens barrel complete with a filter portion after the lens barrel has been cleaned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shao-Kai Pei
  • Patent number: 8564893
    Abstract: A support apparatus supporting a lens barrel includes an annular fitting member, constructed by cutting a metal die case blank, to form an inner peripheral groove therein, and annular sheets disposed on front and rear cut surfaces of the inner peripheral groove in a direction of an optical axis. A plurality of engaging members provided on an outer peripheral surface of the lens barrel are positioned between the annular sheets disposed in the inner peripheral groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Jun Sugita
  • Patent number: 8545117
    Abstract: A conversion adapter apparatus is provided that connects a camera body and an interchangeable lens. The conversion adapter apparatus includes a camera body side installation portion to receive a camera body, a lens side installation portion to receive an interchangeable lens, and a first communication contact group provided on the camera body side installation portion and connected to a communication contact group. The conversion adapter apparatus additionally includes a second communication contact group provided on the lens side installation portion and connected to the communication contact group and a conductive member that electrically connects the first communication contact group and the second communication contact group. A position of the first communication contact group around a camera optical axis and a position of the second communication contact group around the camera optical axis are different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshifumi Urakami, Shoji Kaihara