Lens shade

Claim 2

A lens shade for use with photographic apparatus of the type including an objective lens having a first field of view and a light sensing device, having a second field of view that overlaps the first field of view, for evaluating lighting conditions in the first field of view, said lens shade comprising: light blocking means configured to surround at least a portion of the objective lens and extend forwardly therefrom, outside of the first field of view, for blocking light emanating from points outside of the first field of view to prevent said light from impinging upon the objective lens, said light blocking means being dimensioned such that at least a portion thereof extends into the second field of view of the light sensing device; and a light transmitting section in said portion of said light blocking means that extends into the second field of view for transmitting light emanating from portions of the overlapping first and second fields of view through said light blocking means such that it may impinge upon the light sensing device.

Claim 3

A lens shade as defined in claim 1 wherein said portion of said light blocking means that extends into the second field of view includes a light blocking wall that is adapted to be positioned between the objective lens and the light sensing device and said light transmitting section includes an opening in said wall.

Claim 4

A lens shade as defined in claim 1 wherein said light transmitting section is configured to selectively transmit light originating in the overlapping first and second fields of view and to selectively block light originating outside of the first field of view.

Claim 5

A lens shade as defined in claim 3 wherein said light transmitting section includes at least one louvered opening in said light blocking means.

Claim 6

A lens shade as defined in claim 1 wherein said light blocking means includes an opaque, U-shaped, light blocking member including a top wall and a pair of side walls depending from said top wall and said light transmitting section includes an opening in one of said side walls.

Claim 7

A lens shade as defined in claim 5 wherein said one side wall having said opening therein is adapted to be positioned between the lens and the light sensing device.

Claim 8

A lens shade as defined in claim 1 wherein the photographic apparatus includes a first housing section mounting the lens and light sensing device thereon in close proximity and a second housing section extending forwardly of the first housing section below the objective lens and said light blocking means includes a U-shaped light blocking member that is adapted to extend outwardly from the first housing section such that it surrounds three sides of the objective lens and overlies the second housing section such that said U-shaped member and the second housing section cooperate to completely surround the lens.

Claim 9

A lens shade as defined in claim 1 wherein said lens shade forms part of an accessory mounting system for mounting said lens shade on the apparatus and said system includes a holder that is adapted to be coupled to said apparatus and said light blocking means includes means thereon for coupling said lens shade to said holder.

Claim 10

A lens sHade as defined in claim 8 wherein said means for coupling said lens shade to the holder includes a channel on said light blocking means that is adapted to be slidably mounted over an exterior surface of the holder.

Claim 11

A lens shade as defined in claim 8 wherein light blocking means includes detent means thereon for releasably securing said lens shade to the holder.

Claim 12

A lens shade as defined in claim 1 wherein said light transmitting means includes one or more openings in said light blocking means.

Claim 13

A lens shade as defined in claim 11 wherein said opening is at an angle with respect to said light blocking means for transmitting light directed at one side of said light blocking means and for blocking light directed at the opposite side of said light blocking means.

Claim 14

A lens shade as defined in claim 1 wherein said light transmitting section includes a transparent section in said light blocking means.

Claim 15

A lens shade as defined in claim 13 wherein said transparent section includes one or more fiber optic light pipes.

Claim 16

A lens shade as defined in claim 1 further including means integrally formed with said light blocking means for mounting said lens shade on the photographic apparatus.

Claim 17

A lens shade as defined in claim 15 wherein said mounting means includes a pair of mounting arms adapted to snap around at least a portion of the apparatus to hold said lens shade in an operative position in alignment with the objective lens.

Claim 18

A lens shade that is adapted to be mounted on a compact camera of the type including a compact housing section having an objective lens and a photocell window mounted thereon in close proximity to one another, the objective lens having a first field of view and the photocell window having a second field of view that overlaps the first field of view, said lens shade comprising: a U-shaped light blocking member including a top wall and a pair of side walls depending from the ends of said top wall, said U-shaped member being adapted to be positioned in front of said housing section such that said top wall extends outwardly from said housing section over the objective lens and said side walls extend outwardly from the housing section on either side of said objective lens, said top and side wall being dimensioned not to extend into the first field of view, and one of said side walls being adapted to be positioned between the objective lens and the photocell window and being dimensioned to extend into the second field of view, said top and side wall serving to block light originating from points outside of the first field of view to prevent such light from impinging on the objective lens; and means in said one side wall for selectively transmitting light from portions of the overlapping fields of view through said one side wall to the photocell window and for selectively blocking light directed towards said one side wall from points outside of the first field of view.

Claim 19

A lens shade that is adapted to be mounted on a compact camera of the type including a compact housing section having an objective lens and a photocell window mounted thereon in close proximity to one another, the objective lens having a first field of view and the photocell window having a second field of view that overlaps the first field of view, said lens shade comprising: a U-shaped light blocking member including a top wall and a pair of side walls depending from the ends of said top wall, said U-shaped member being adapted to be positioned in front of said housing section such that said top wall extends outwardly from said housing section over the objective lens and said side walls extend outwardly from the housing section on either side of said objective lens, said top and side wall being dimensioned not to extend into the first field of view, and one of said side walls being adapted to be positioned between the objective lens and the photocell window and being dimensioned to extend into the second field of view, said top and side wall serving to block light originating from points outside of the first field of view to prevent such light from impinging on the objective lens; and means in said one side wall for selectively transmitting light from portions of the overlapping fields of view through said one side wall to the photocell window and for selectively blocking light directed towards said one side wall from points outside of the first field of view.

Claim 20

A lens shade as defined in claim 17 wherein said light transmitting means includes a louvered opening in said one side wall for directing and transmitting light directed towards one side of said one side wall to the photocell window.

Claim 21

A lens shade as defined in claim 18 wherein said louvered opening is bounded by forward and rear angled sections of said one side wall and the leading edge of one angled section overlaps the trailing edge of said second angled section to prevent light directed towards the opposite side of said one side wall from passing through said louvered opening.

Claim 22

A lens shade as defined in claim 17 further including a channel integrally formed with interior surfaces of said top and said pair of side walls for releasably coupling said shade to an accessory holder that is adapted to be mounted on the compact camera housing section.

Claim 23

A lens shade as defined in claim 17 further including means on interior surfaces of said top and side walls for reducing the reflectivity of said interior surfaces.