US3782261A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Data transmission device for use with interchangeable-lens-cameras
Assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
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Filing: 1972-04-11
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Granted: 1974-01-01
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Expires: 1992-04-11
Abstract
Abstract A device for exchanging information, such as exposure data, between a camera body and an interchangeable lens mounted thereon. The device provides accurate data exchange even when the machining tolerances of the camera mount and the lens mount are eased. The device includes an annular surface on the camera mount which has a uniform circular array of data transmission elements. Each of the data transmission elements is biased towards a projected position in which it sticks out of the camera mount annular surface, but can be pushed into a retracted position. The lens mount has a corresponding annular surface which is provided with one or more arcuate grooves adapted to receive loosely selected data transmission elements when the lens is mounted in its final position on the camera. Thus, when the lens is mounted on the camera, selected data transmission elements are received in the groove or grooves and thus remain in their projected position, while other data transmission elements are pushed into their retracted position by the annular surface of the lens mount. The data transmitted between the camera and the lens is determined by the particular combination of retracted and projected data elements when a lens is mounted on the camera. Because of the digital nature of the data exchange, the machining tolerances of the camera mount and the lens mount may be eased, since each of the circumferential edges of the grooves in the lens can be anywhere between particular data transmission elements when the lens is in its final position on the camera, so long as it does not overlap the outline of an element which must remain in its projected position. With eased machining tolerances, the cost of producing cameras with interchangeable lenses can be reduced substantially without sacrificing quality.
Inventors
- 👤 K Araki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 01:52
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B17/00; G03B17/02; G03B17/12; G03B17/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
298 words
A camera having a mount for interchangeable lenses and a lens having a mount adapted to mate with the camera mount to secure the lens in a defined final position on the camera, wherein the improvement is in means for information exchange between the camera and a lens mounted thereon in its final position, comprising: an array of data transmitting elements carried by one of said mounts, each data transmitting element movable between a first and a second position; and displacing means carried by the other mount for placing each of the data transmitting elements in a selected one of its first and second positions when the lens is mounted in its final position on the camera, wherein the data transmitting elements are movable along lines parallel to the optical axis of the lens when the lens is mounted on the camera, wherein the camera mount includes a mount surface from which the data transmitting elements which are in their first positions project outwardly, and the lens mount includes a displacing surface mating with the data transmitting elemeNts when the lens is in its final position on the camera to push inwardly to their second positions selected data transmitting elements, wherein the array of data transmitting elements is a circular array of data transmitting elements which are uniformly spaced from each other, and wherein the displacing surface on the lens mount includes an annular surface having at least one arcuate slot adapted to receive loosely at least one selected data transmitting element when the lens is in its final position on the camera, whereby selected data transmitting elements are received loosely within said arcuate slot and remain in their first positions, while other selected data transmitting elements are pushed inwardly to their second positions by the displacing surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
298 words
A camera having a mount for interchangeable lenses and a lens having a mount adapted to mate with the camera mount to secure the lens in a defined final position on the camera, wherein the improvement is in means for information exchange between the camera and a lens mounted thereon in its final position, comprising: an array of data transmitting elements carried by one of said mounts, each data transmitting element movable between a first and a second position; and displacing means carried by the other mount for placing each of the data transmitting elements in a selected one of its first and second positions when the lens is mounted in its final position on the camera, wherein the data transmitting elements are movable along lines parallel to the optical axis of the lens when the lens is mounted on the camera, wherein the camera mount includes a mount surface from which the data transmitting elements which are in their first positions project outwardly, and the lens mount includes a displacing surface mating with the data transmitting elemeNts when the lens is in its final position on the camera to push inwardly to their second positions selected data transmitting elements, wherein the array of data transmitting elements is a circular array of data transmitting elements which are uniformly spaced from each other, and wherein the displacing surface on the lens mount includes an annular surface having at least one arcuate slot adapted to receive loosely at least one selected data transmitting element when the lens is in its final position on the camera, whereby selected data transmitting elements are received loosely within said arcuate slot and remain in their first positions, while other selected data transmitting elements are pushed inwardly to their second positions by the displacing surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
164 words
A camera comprising a camera body having a mount for a lens, a lens having a mount thereon mating with the camera mount to secure the lens in a defined position on the camera body, an array of data transmitting elements carried by one of said mounts and movable toward and away from the other one of said mounts and being biased towards said other one of said mounts, said other mount having a surface bearing against said data transmitting elements to position said data transmitting elements in a first position, said surface having at least one slot therein to receive loosely at least one selected data transmitting element which is moved from said first position to a second position within said slot by the biasing thereof, said mounts being relatively movable to permit the position of said slot to be changed with respect to said data transmitting elements to vary which of said data transmitting elements are moved to said second position thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
164 words
A camera comprising a camera body having a mount for a lens, a lens having a mount thereon mating with the camera mount to secure the lens in a defined position on the camera body, an array of data transmitting elements carried by one of said mounts and movable toward and away from the other one of said mounts and being biased towards said other one of said mounts, said other mount having a surface bearing against said data transmitting elements to position said data transmitting elements in a first position, said surface having at least one slot therein to receive loosely at least one selected data transmitting element which is moved from said first position to a second position within said slot by the biasing thereof, said mounts being relatively movable to permit the position of said slot to be changed with respect to said data transmitting elements to vary which of said data transmitting elements are moved to said second position thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
A data transmission device for use with interchangeable-lens-cameras as set forth in claim 2 wherein a plurality of n data transmission means are provided so that the total number of data bits exchanged between the camera body and the interchangeable lens mounted thereon is 2n, where n is a positive integer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A camera as in claim 2, in which said mounts are relatively movable in pivotable fashion about an axis perpendicular to said surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A camera as in claim 4, in which said array of data transmitting elements is arcuate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
A camera as in claim 5 in which said surface includes a plurality of arcuate slots.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A camera as in claim 6, in which at least some of said slots subtend angles different from each other.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3354805A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-31 | 1977-07-02 | 1978-01-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-31 | 1981-07-02 | 1982-01-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-31 | 1985-07-02 | 1986-01-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |