Patent US4291965A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4291965A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for automatically selecting a preselected focal position for a lens system
Assignee: Polaroid Corp
•
Filing: 1980-10-06
•
Granted: 1981-09-29
•
Expires: 2000-10-06
Abstract
Abstract An automatic focusing camera having a ranging device, which selects the nearest subject for focusing, including a manually operative member for defeating the ranging device and automatically signalling the lens drive arrangement to move the lens to a preselected focal position when focusing on other than the near subject is desired; as, for example, when focusing through a window with a sonic ranging camera.
Inventors
- 👤 Bruce K. Johnson
- 👤 George D. Whiteside
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 13:40
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B7/00; G02B7/28; G02B7/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
In an apparatus for automatically focusing image forming rays at a focal plane having ranging means for deriving a signal indicative of the range of a subject from the apparatus, a variable focusing objective lens assembly having at least one lens element displaceable to different focal positions so that at each focal position the image carrying light rays from a subject at corresponding different distance ranges from the apparatus are focused at the focal plane, means for mounting the lens assembly for movement of its lens element to the different focal positions, and positioning means responsive to the ranging means for positioning the lens element to a focal position corresponding to the subject range, the improvement comprising: manually actuatable means for disabling the ranging means and for signalling the positioning means to automatically move a lens element to a preselected one of the focal positions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
145 words
In an apparatus for automatically focusing image forming rays at a focal plane having ranging means for deriving a signal indicative of the range of a subject from the apparatus, a variable focusing objective lens assembly having at least one lens element displaceable to different focal positions so that at each focal position the image carrying light rays from a subject at corresponding different distance ranges from the apparatus are focused at the focal plane, means for mounting the lens assembly for movement of its lens element to the different focal positions, and positioning means responsive to the ranging means for positioning the lens element to a focal position corresponding to the subject range, the improvement comprising: manually actuatable means for disabling the ranging means and for signalling the positioning means to automatically move a lens element to a preselected one of the focal positions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said actuatable means disables the ranging means and provides a selected range signal to the positioning means for causing movement of the lens element to said preselected focal position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
94 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the ranging means provides a timed signal related to subject range, and the positioning means operates to move the lens element to each respective focal position in response to receipt of ranging signals within specified times and operates to move the lens element to the preselected one of the focal positions in the absence of a ranging signal and said actuatable means precludes receipt of the ranging signal by the positioning means so that the positioning means causes movement of the lens element to the preselected focal position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 2 or 3 wherein the preselected one of the focal positions is the hyperfocal position of the lens assembly.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 2 or 3 wherein said apparatus includes means for firing a pulse or artificial illumination, and said actuatable means additionally includes means for suppressing firing of said flash means in response to the actuatable means being actuated.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
99 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the lens assembly is focusable over a range of near to far subject distance in accordance with the position of the displaceable lens element, the lens element, during each focusing of the apparatus, being displaced by the positioning means from an initial position located near one end of the focusing range to the selected position in the range, and the actuatable means includes means for signalling the positioning means to move the lens element from its initial position through at least an adjoining focal position to the preselected one of the focal positions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the preselected focal position is the focal position forming the other end of focusing range.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the preselected focal position is for focusing at far distances.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3522764A
Cited
US3720145A
Cited
US3871756A
Cited
US3942183A
Cited
US4040072A
Cited
US4093365A
Cited
US4199246A
Cited
US4153903A
Cited
US4183643A
Cited
US4221475A
Cited
US4191460A
Cited
US4225219A
Cited
US4149792A
Cited
US4199316A
Cited
US4160590A
Cited
US4167316A
Cited
US4192587A
Cited
US4243309A
Cited
US4231645A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-09-28 | 1985-03-30 | 1985-09-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-09-28 | 1989-03-30 | 1989-09-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-09-28 | 1993-03-30 | 1993-09-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |