Lens Moves In Or Out Of Light Path Patents (Class 396/73)
  • Publication number: 20030002867
    Abstract: The invention relates to a focusing method for a camera and camera where the lens system (10) is attached in a fixed manner to the body (14) of the camera at a fixed distance from the photosensitive surface (12) of the camera. Rays of light (S) coming from a target to be photographed are focused onto the photosensitive surface by placing between the lens system (10) and photosensitive surface one or more focusing plate(s) (16) made of a material that lets light pass through and the both surfaces of which are flat. The focusing plate is made of a material the index of refraction of which is greater than one, whereby rays of light will be refracted at the surfaces of the plate as they travel through the focusing plate. Refraction of the rays of light changes their course of propagation, which makes it possible to focus the camera to different ranges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventor: Kai Ojala
  • Patent number: 6477325
    Abstract: A lens holder for holding a taking lens is fitted in a lens barrel rotating and shifting. The lens barrel is provided with cams respectively inserted in pins of the lens holder. Each of the cams has a short-distance cam groove and a long-distance cam groove, and an oblique cam groove that connects the above mentioned cams. A flash selection switch slidable between an ON position and an OFF position. When the flash selection switch is in the OFF position, the pins are respectively located on the long-distance cam groove, so that the taking lens is set on a long-distance lens position to perform a daylight photography with pan-focus. When the flash section switch is slid to the ON position, the lens holder rotates by one of the pins. When the lens holder rotates, each of the pins respectively enters the short-distance cam groove and the taking lens is set on a short-distance lens position. The taking lens is focused on a short-distance zone to perform a flash photography.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Tobioka
  • Patent number: 6449430
    Abstract: A lens-fitted photo film unit is pre-loaded with photo film. First and second taking lenses are arranged in an arranging direction crosswise to a photographic optical axis, and have focal lengths different from each other. A rotatable lens holder supports the first and second taking lenses. An externally operable button member is operable by external operation, rotates the lens holder in the arranging direction, and sets the first and second taking lenses selectively on the photographic optical axis. A viewfinder optical system is settable at first and second viewfinder magnifications, and adapted to observation of a photographic field. A magnification changer mechanism including a lever is shifted in response to rotation of the lens holder, and sets the viewfinder optical system at the first and second viewfinder magnifications respectively when the first and second taking lenses are set on the photographic optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisashi Tasaka, Nobuyuki Kameyama, Shozo Kondo
  • Patent number: 6308012
    Abstract: A two-focus switchable lens comprises a taking lens system selectively using a wide-angle-side lens and a telephoto-side lens having respective focal lengths different from each other; and a fixed shutter 1, disposed on an image surface side of the taking lens system, for determining an amount of exposure. The wide-angle-side lens comprises two meniscus lenses L1, L2 each having a concave surface directed onto the object side; whereas an aperture stop 2 for defining brightness is disposed between the lens L2 and the fixed shutter 1, with a single blade configuration, positioned on the image surface side of the lens L2. The telephoto-side lens comprises a single positive meniscus lens L1′ having a convex surface directed onto the object side, whereas an aperture stop 2′ is disposed between the lens L1′ and the fixed shutter 1, with a single blade configuration, positioned on the image surface side of the lens L1′.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazunori Ohno
  • Patent number: 6282377
    Abstract: A dual lens camera has a lens carrier with a shorter focal length lens and a longer focal length lens for alternatively positioning only one of the lenses at a picture-taking axis. A single aperture for each one of the lenses is movable forward and rearward along the picture taking axis. The lens carrier is movable forward and rearward along the picture-taking axis in unity with the aperture, and is movable relative to the aperture to position the shorter focal length lens at the picture-taking axis when the aperture is moved rearward along the picture-taking axis and to position the longer focal length lens at the picture-taking axis when the aperture is moved forward along the picture-taking axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Joel S. Lawther, Craig A. Baker, Martin P. Farcella
  • Patent number: 6226460
    Abstract: A movable filter device comprises a rotary plate for holding an optical filter, a holding plate for holding the rotary plate rotatably at a pivot point, stopper pins, and a torsion coil spring. The torsion coil spring has one end coupled to the holding plate and the other end coupled to the rotary plate, and generates a force for extending both ends thereof. The force generated by the torsion coil spring prevents the rotary plate from stopping at positions other than those defined by the stopper pins. The rotary plate has slender portions of low rigidity for absorbing the impact of collision between the rotary plate and stopper pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Hino, Takaaki Tomita
  • Patent number: 6134389
    Abstract: In a camera of the kind arranged to obtain an object image through a photo-taking lens at an arbitrary image plane size on a photosensitive surface by using an image plane size varying member, either the nearest shootable distance of the photo-taking lens is arranged to become shorter than the normally nearest shootable distance or the magnification varying range of the power varying part of the photo-taking lens is arranged to be expanded on the wide-angle side, as the diagonal length of the image plane size becomes shorter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroki Nakayama, Hideo Taka
  • Patent number: 6091904
    Abstract: A main lens 500 and an auxiliary lens 550 are selectively loaded on a lens loading section 601 of a lens moving deck 600. The lens moving deck 600 is movable in a certain direction to selectively set the lens loading section 601 at an exposed position and a retracted position adjacent to each other. A lens storage deck 700 is provided adjacent the retracted position to load the main lens 500 thereon for housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Kobayashi, Takuji Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 6003999
    Abstract: A mirror recoil preventing device suitable for a camera has a mirror and a mirror support frame. The mirror support frame movably supports the mirror in movement from a first position to a second position. In a camera having a photographic lens and a range finding element, the mirror guides light from the photographic lens to the range finding element when positioned at the second position. As a first alternative, the mirror support frame has a U-shaped groove at one end thereof. A regulating member is located in the vicinity of the second position to engage with the U-shaped groove when the mirror support frame is at the second position. As a second alternative, the mirror support frame has a leading edge and a trailing edge such that in movement from the first position to the second position, the trailing edge trails the leading edge. A first regulating member is located to be immediately adjacent to the leading edge of the mirror support frame when the mirror support frame is at the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Kitaoka, Kosho Miura
  • Patent number: 5960218
    Abstract: Compact dual focal length cameras are disclosed having wide angle and telephoto modes of operation. The ratio of telephoto to wide angle ratios is at least 3 to 1, but is typically higher so that the cameras can be used in conjunction with binoculars to take telephoto pictures that give the same visual appearance as when the same scenes are observed through binoculars. Compactness and increased focal length are achieved via four mirror arrangements one preferred embodiment of which wraps around the camera film plane and uses a single constant angular velocity shutter for providing both wide angle and telephoto exposure times. Compact, single-use, medium telephoto cameras are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Mobi Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen D. Fantone
  • Patent number: 5950020
    Abstract: A multiple focal length folding imaging device includes a first and second housing which are operably joined together for movement relative to one another so that the second housing is movable relative to the first housing between at least a first position and a second position. The first housing is formed to at least partially receive therein the second housing, such that when the second housing is in the first position, the second housing is at least partially received within the first housing. The second housing includes an exiting aperture for allowing exiting of at least one image recordable unit therefrom when in the second position, and when the second housing is in the first position, the exiting aperture is at least partially disposed within the first housing so that the at least one image recordable unit cannot exit from the exiting aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Polaroid Corporation
    Inventors: Alan D. Ball, Peter P. Clark, John P. Kirby, Paul F. Neely, Jason D. Silver, George D. Whiteside
  • Patent number: 5950016
    Abstract: A recyclable camera and film combination for a camera recycling system is disclosed. The camera comprises a film cartridge chamber with a lid, a rotatable dial manually rotated in the same, direction flame by frame, for every shot, both in controlling the initial loading of the film and in winding up the film. Also included are means for automatically rewinding the film in response to the rotation of the dial after the last frame in the film has been shot, means for controlling the lid so as to automatically open when the entire film is rewound into the film cartridge, means for counting the number of film cartridges loaded into the cartridge chamber, and means for making the controlling means inoperative, whereby the lid does not open for the removal of the film cartridge loaded in the cartridge chamber when the counting means reaches a predetermined number of film cartridges and thus prevent the cartridge chamber from receiving any further film cartridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Samsung Aerospace Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahide Tanaka
  • Patent number: 5945843
    Abstract: A level conversion circuit as a semiconductor integrated circuit has a first load resistance (R1), a second load resistance (R2), a first NMOS transistor (MN3) and a second NMOS transistor (MN4) connected to them (R1 and R2) in parallel, respectively, that are driven directly by positive CMOS level signals, a first bipolar transistor (Q1), and a second bipolar transistor (Q2). Both emitters of the first and second bipolar transistors (Q1 and Q2) are connected commonly, and a voltage potential that is lower than a voltage potential of a collector of the first bipolar transistor (Q1) by a predetermined voltage potential is supplied into a base of the second bipolar transistor (Q2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takanori Hirota, Yasushi Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 5765049
    Abstract: An optical apparatus includes an optical unit which is arranged to be inserted into and retracted from an optical path, a fixed tube, and a restricting member which is disposed at the fixed tube and restricts a position of the optical unit in a direction of an optical axis thereof when the optical unit is in a state of being inserted into the optical path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Hase, Akihiro Namai
  • Patent number: 5751353
    Abstract: A small and light TV camera extender switching apparatus which is capable of switching two extenders having different magnifications. A first extender and a second extender are supported by the same support shaft so as to be rotatable independently of each other. The first extender and the second extender are rotated by operating the first operating lever and the second operating lever, respectively, via gear trains, so that either extender is moved from the resting position outside of an imaging optical path to a working position in the imaging optical path. A stopper mechanism which is capable of adjusting a retaining position is disposed on the lens frame or in the case so as to adjust the retaining positions of each extender at the resting position and the working position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Tanaka, Shigeru Yamamoto, Yoshitaka Mori
  • Patent number: 5721973
    Abstract: The dual-focus change-over camera provides a camera which allows telescope or wide angle photographing with a simple arrangement, and which is inexpensive, small size, and light weighted. The camera comprises a finder change-over member arranged to be movable for establishing two finder openings for different focal distance, a telescope lens and a standard lens for performing photographing with two focal distance, a fixed mirror for reflecting image light from the telescope lens, and a movable mirror movable between a first position (telescope position) for directing the image light from reflected by the fixed mirror to a film and a second position (standard position) for directing the image light from the other standard lens to the film. Then, the movable mirror is rotated to the first or second position in interlocking with the sliding operation of the finder change-over member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigeo Mizukawa
  • Patent number: 5678137
    Abstract: A camera has a light shielding member surrounding an axially movable lens housing arranged to project through a circular opening in a camera housing. The light shielding member has an annular disc portion with an inner peripheral grooved surface frictionally engaging an outer cylindrical surface of the lens housing. The disc portion is positioned between a transverse inner surface of the camera housing cover and a surface of a helicoid member. At its outer periphery, the light shielding member has a generally cylindrical flange that projects axially between a longitudinal inner surface of the camera housing and the helicoid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Katayama, Hiroshi Terunuma, Minoru Kato, Yoshio Imura, Noriyasu Kotani