US4690537A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Lens Barrel
Assignee: Minolta Co Ltd
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Filing: 1985-09-23
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Granted: 1987-09-01
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Expires: 2005-09-23
Abstract
Abstract An automatic focusing camera includes a camera body and an interchangeable objective lens. The camera body includes a detector device exposed to the object image and a circuit providing a signal of a value in accordance with the detector device sensed difference between the object image, a predetermined focal plane and a circuit responsive to the signal for controlling a motor to rotate an amount in accordance with the signal. The objective lens includes a stationary front lens and an axially movable focusing lens which axially moves with a follower engaging the cam way of a cylindrical cam which is gear rotated by the separably coupled motor shaft. The cam is shaped whereby Δθ=C·ΔL wherein Δθ is the amount of rotation of the motor, ΔL is the axial movement of the object image and C is a constant depending on the objective lens which has a ROM having information in accordance with C and which is separably coupled to the motor control circuit.
Inventors
- 👤 Makoto Ando
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 00:52
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B7/00; G02B7/02; G02B7/04; G02B7/10; G02B7/08; G03; G03B; G03B17/00; G03B17/02; G03B17/12; G03B17/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
A lens barrel detachably attached to a camera including focus detaching means detecting an amount of an aberration of positions between a predetermined focal plane and an image surface, signal means generating a focus detecting signal corresponding to said aberration amount and driving means moving in response to said signal, said lens barrel comprising: storage means for storing a fixed coefficient for tranforming said aberration amount to a focus detecting signal corresponding to said amount; information means for generating said fixed coefficent to said signal means of said camera; an optical lens system including a stationary front element and a movable element movably supported along its optical axis for focusing; a rotating member rotated by said driving means; and a cam means for moving said movable element along its optical axis in response to the rotation of said rotating member, wherein said cam means is formed such that the degree of rotation (Δθ) of said rotating member and the amount of movement (ΔL) of said image surface have a following relation: Δθ=C·ΔL (wherein C is a constant).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
177 words
A lens barrel detachably attached to a camera including focus detaching means detecting an amount of an aberration of positions between a predetermined focal plane and an image surface, signal means generating a focus detecting signal corresponding to said aberration amount and driving means moving in response to said signal, said lens barrel comprising: storage means for storing a fixed coefficient for tranforming said aberration amount to a focus detecting signal corresponding to said amount; information means for generating said fixed coefficent to said signal means of said camera; an optical lens system including a stationary front element and a movable element movably supported along its optical axis for focusing; a rotating member rotated by said driving means; and a cam means for moving said movable element along its optical axis in response to the rotation of said rotating member, wherein said cam means is formed such that the degree of rotation (Δθ) of said rotating member and the amount of movement (ΔL) of said image surface have a following relation: Δθ=C·ΔL (wherein C is a constant).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
A lens barrel as defined in claim 1, wherein said rotating member comprises a driven shaft detachably attached to said driving means for being rotated by said driving means and a rotating barrel rotated by said driven shaft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A lens barrel as defined in claim 2, wherein said cam means is formed in said rotating barrel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
161 words
An automatic focusing system comprising: focus detecting means for detecting the amount of an aberration of positions between a predetermined focal plane and an image surface; signal means for generating a focus detecting signal corresponding to said aberration amount; storage means for storing a fixed coefficient for tranforming said aberration amount to a focus detecting signal corresponding to said amount; information means for generating said fixed coefficient to said signal means; rotatory driving means rotatable in response to said signal; an optical lens system including a stationary front element and a movable element movably supported along its optical axis for focusing; and a cam means moving said movable element along its optical axis in response to the rotation of said rotatory driving means, wherein said cam means is formed such that the degree of rotation (Δθ) of said rotatory driving means and the amount of movement (ΔL) of said image surface have the following relation: Δθ=C·ΔL (wherein C is a constant).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
161 words
An automatic focusing system comprising: focus detecting means for detecting the amount of an aberration of positions between a predetermined focal plane and an image surface; signal means for generating a focus detecting signal corresponding to said aberration amount; storage means for storing a fixed coefficient for tranforming said aberration amount to a focus detecting signal corresponding to said amount; information means for generating said fixed coefficient to said signal means; rotatory driving means rotatable in response to said signal; an optical lens system including a stationary front element and a movable element movably supported along its optical axis for focusing; and a cam means moving said movable element along its optical axis in response to the rotation of said rotatory driving means, wherein said cam means is formed such that the degree of rotation (Δθ) of said rotatory driving means and the amount of movement (ΔL) of said image surface have the following relation: Δθ=C·ΔL (wherein C is a constant).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
An automatic focusing system as defined in claim 4, wherein said rotatory driving means comprises a driving motor having a rotating shaft and a rotating barrel surrounding and coaxial with said focusing lens.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
An automatic focusing system as defined in claim 5, wherein said cam means is formed in said rotating barrel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
165 words
A lens barrel detachably attached to a camera, comprising: focus detecting means for detecting the amount of aberration of position between a predetermined focal plane and an image surface; signal means for generating a focus detecting signal corresponding to said amount; storage means for storing a fixed coefficient for transforming said aberration amount to the focus detecting signal corresponding to said amount; information means for generating said fixed coefficient to said signal means; rotatory driving means rotatable in response to said signal; an optical lens system including a stationary front element and a movable element movably supported along its optical axis for focusing; and a cam means for moving said movable element along its optical axis in response to the rotation of said rotatory driving means, wherein said cam means is formed such that the degree of rotation (Δθ) of said rotatory driving means and the amount of movement (66 L) of said image surface have the following relation: Δθ=C·ΔL (wherein C is a constant).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
165 words
A lens barrel detachably attached to a camera, comprising: focus detecting means for detecting the amount of aberration of position between a predetermined focal plane and an image surface; signal means for generating a focus detecting signal corresponding to said amount; storage means for storing a fixed coefficient for transforming said aberration amount to the focus detecting signal corresponding to said amount; information means for generating said fixed coefficient to said signal means; rotatory driving means rotatable in response to said signal; an optical lens system including a stationary front element and a movable element movably supported along its optical axis for focusing; and a cam means for moving said movable element along its optical axis in response to the rotation of said rotatory driving means, wherein said cam means is formed such that the degree of rotation (Δθ) of said rotatory driving means and the amount of movement (66 L) of said image surface have the following relation: Δθ=C·ΔL (wherein C is a constant).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-08-31 | 1991-03-02 | 1991-09-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-08-31 | 1995-03-02 | 1995-09-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-08-31 | 1999-03-02 | 1999-09-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |