Patent US4400075A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4400075A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Automatic focus camera with interchangeable lens
Assignee: Pentax Corp
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Filing: 1981-08-31
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Granted: 1983-08-23
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Expires: 2001-08-31
Abstract
Abstract An automatic focus camera with an interchangeable lens, comprising an interchangeable lens barrel having focussing lens means, a camera body having a focus detecting device, the lens barrel having a driving motor for axially moving the focussing lens means in accordance with a detection signal of the focus detecting device, switch circuit means on the camera body for actuating the focus detecting device and the driving motor, and external actuation switches on the lens barrel for actuating the focus detecting device and the driving motor, independently of the actuation of the switch circuit means.
Inventors
- 👤 Yasumasa Tomori
- 👤 Mituhiko Shimoda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 14:37
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B7/00; G02B7/28; G02B7/36; G03; G03B; G03B17/00; G03B17/02; G03B17/12; G03B17/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
An automatic focus camera with an interchangeable lens, comprising an interchangeable lens barrel having focussing lens means movable in directions of the optical axis of the camera, and a camera body having a focus detecting device which detects an image of an object formed by the focussing lens means, said lens barrel having a driving motor for axially moving the focussing lens means in accordance with a detection signal of the focus detecting device, wherein the improvement comprises a switch circuit means on the camera body for actuating the focus detecting device and the driving motor, and an external actuation switch on the lens barrel for actuating the focus detecting device and the driving motor, independently of the actuation of the switch circuit means on the camera body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
128 words
An automatic focus camera with an interchangeable lens, comprising an interchangeable lens barrel having focussing lens means movable in directions of the optical axis of the camera, and a camera body having a focus detecting device which detects an image of an object formed by the focussing lens means, said lens barrel having a driving motor for axially moving the focussing lens means in accordance with a detection signal of the focus detecting device, wherein the improvement comprises a switch circuit means on the camera body for actuating the focus detecting device and the driving motor, and an external actuation switch on the lens barrel for actuating the focus detecting device and the driving motor, independently of the actuation of the switch circuit means on the camera body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
An automatic focus camera according to claim 1, further comprising a mount securing lens barrel having a mount which can be attached to a mount of the camera body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
82 words
An automatic focus camera according to claim 2, further comprising means for transmitting and receiving signals between the focus detecting device of the camera body, the switch circuit means, the driving motor of the focussing lens means and the external actuation switch, provided on the mounts of the camera body and of the lens barrel, said signal transmitting and receiving means being connected to each other when the mount of the lens barrel is attached to the mount of the camera body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
An automatic focus camera according to claim 3, further comprising a zooming barrel which can be axially displaced with respect to the mount securing lens barrel, said zooming barrel supporting the focussing lens means, the driving motor, and the external actuation switch.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
An automatic focus camera according to claim 4, further comprising a plurality of slide contacts provided on the zooming barrel and the mount securing barrel, for causing the driving motor and the external actuation switch of the zooming barrel to be always electrically in contact with the signal transmitting and receiving means on the mount securing barrel, independently of the axial position of the zooming barrel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
59 words
An automatic focus camera according to claim 1, wherein the external actuation switch comprises a power supply switch element of the driving motor and an actuation switch element of the focus detecting device, mechanically associated with the power supply switch element so that the actuation switch element is turned ON and OFF simultaneously with the power supply switch element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
An automatic focus camera according to claim 6, wherein said actuation switch element of the focus detecting device causes the focus detecting device to be operated by way of the switch circuit of the camera body.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
An automatic focus camera according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said lens barrel is provided thereon with a battery for the driving motor, and a main switch for connecting and disconnecting the battery and the external actuation switch.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
An automatic focus camera according to any one of claims 1-7, wherein two external actuation switches are provided on the upper portion and one side of the lens barrel when viewed from front, respectively.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
An automatic focus camera according to any one of claims 1-7, wherein the switch circuit means of the camera body is associated with and actuated by a shutter release button of the camera.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
139 words
An automatic focus camera with an interchangeable lens, comprising an interchangeable lens barrel having focussing lens means movable in directions of the optical axis of the camera, and a camera body having a focus detecting device which detects an image of an object formed by the focussing lens means, said lens barrel having a driving motor for axially moving the focussing lens means in accordance with a detection signal of the focus detecting device, wherein the improvement comprises a switch circuit means on the camera body for actuating the focus detecting device and the driving motor, an external actuation switch on the lens barrel for feeding the supply voltage to the driving motor and a semi-conductor switch circuit on the lens barrel which is operated when the external actuation switch is turned ON to actuating the focus detecting device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
139 words
An automatic focus camera with an interchangeable lens, comprising an interchangeable lens barrel having focussing lens means movable in directions of the optical axis of the camera, and a camera body having a focus detecting device which detects an image of an object formed by the focussing lens means, said lens barrel having a driving motor for axially moving the focussing lens means in accordance with a detection signal of the focus detecting device, wherein the improvement comprises a switch circuit means on the camera body for actuating the focus detecting device and the driving motor, an external actuation switch on the lens barrel for feeding the supply voltage to the driving motor and a semi-conductor switch circuit on the lens barrel which is operated when the external actuation switch is turned ON to actuating the focus detecting device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
An automatic focus camera according to claim 11, further comprising a mount securing lens barrel having a mount which can be attached to a mount of the camera body.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
86 words
An automatic focus camera according to claim 12, further comprising means for transmitting and receiving signals between the focus detecting device of the camera body, the switch circuit means, the driving motor of the focussing lens means, the external actuation switch and the semi-conductor switch circuit, provided on the mounts of the camera body and of the lens barrel, said signal transmitting and receiving means being connected to each other when the mount of the lens barrel is attached to the mount of the camera body.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
An automatic focus camera according to claim 13, further comprising a zooming barrel which can be axially displaced with respect to the mount securing lens barrel, said zooming barrel supporting the focussing lens means, the driving motor, the external actuation switch and the semi-conductor switch element.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
70 words
An automatic focus camera according to claim 14, further comprising a plurality of slide contacts provided on the zooming barrel and the mount securing barrel, for causing the driving motor, the external actuation switch and the semi-conductor switch circuit of the zooming barrel to be always electrically in contact with the signal transmitting and receiving means on the mount securing barrel, independently of the axial position of the zooming barrel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
An automatic focus camera according to claim 11, further comprising a main switch which is connected in series to the external actuation switch.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
An automatic focus camera according to claim 11, further comprising a circuit for smoothing a pulse voltage which is produced when the main switch of the camera is turned ON.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
An automatic focus camera according to any one of claims 11-16, wherein two external actuation switches are provided on the upper portion and one side of the lens barrel when viewed from front, respectively.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
An automatic focus camera according to any one of claims 11-16, wherein the switch circuit means of the camera body is associated with and actuated by a shutter release button of the camera.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4323303A
Cited
DE3120911A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-08-22 | 1987-02-21 | 1987-08-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-08-22 | 1991-02-21 | 1991-08-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-08-22 | 1995-02-21 | 1995-08-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |