Patent US4796045A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4796045A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Photo-taking lens assembly having an automatically and manually movable lens
Assignee: Nikon Corp
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Filing: 1988-03-15
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Granted: 1989-01-03
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Expires: 2008-03-15
Abstract
Abstract A photo-taking lens assembly having a movable lens movable in the direction of the optic axis thereof comprises electric moving means including an electric rotating member electrically rotatively driven to move the movable lens, manual moving means including a manually operable member extraneously manually operable to move the movable lens, and means for combining the amounts of movement of the movable lens by the electric moving means and the manual moving means during the operation of the electric rotating member and the manually operable member.
Inventors
- 👤 Yoshinari Hamanishi
- 👤 Yoshiharu Shiokama
- 👤 Hitoshi Imanari
- 👤 Sachio Ohmori
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 19:05
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B7/00; G02B7/02; G02B7/04; G03; G03B; G03B3/00; G03B3/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
A photo-taking lens assembly having a lens moved along the optic axis thereof on the basis of a detection signal relating to the focusing state of a photo-taking optical system, said photo-taking lens assembly comprising: manually operable means for moving said lens; means for detecting an amount of the manual operation of said manually operable means and producing a drive output representing said amount of said manual operation; and drive control means including electrically driven output transmitting means and adapted to respond to said detection signal to drive said output transmitting means and move said lens when said drive output of said manually operable means is not produced, and to move said lens on the basis of an amount determined by the combination of said detection signal and said drive output when said drive output of said manually operable means is produced.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
142 words
A photo-taking lens assembly having a lens moved along the optic axis thereof on the basis of a detection signal relating to the focusing state of a photo-taking optical system, said photo-taking lens assembly comprising: manually operable means for moving said lens; means for detecting an amount of the manual operation of said manually operable means and producing a drive output representing said amount of said manual operation; and drive control means including electrically driven output transmitting means and adapted to respond to said detection signal to drive said output transmitting means and move said lens when said drive output of said manually operable means is not produced, and to move said lens on the basis of an amount determined by the combination of said detection signal and said drive output when said drive output of said manually operable means is produced.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
89 words
A photo-taking lens assembly having a movable lens movable along the optic axis thereof, said photo-taking lens assembly comprising: electric moving means including an electrically rotatable member electrically rotatively driven to move said movable lens; manual moving means including a manually operable member rotatable about the optic axis to move said movable lens; means for detecting said manually operable member having been rotated and outputting a detection signal; and means for inhibiting the operation of said electric moving means in response to the detection signal from said detecting means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
89 words
A photo-taking lens assembly having a movable lens movable along the optic axis thereof, said photo-taking lens assembly comprising: electric moving means including an electrically rotatable member electrically rotatively driven to move said movable lens; manual moving means including a manually operable member rotatable about the optic axis to move said movable lens; means for detecting said manually operable member having been rotated and outputting a detection signal; and means for inhibiting the operation of said electric moving means in response to the detection signal from said detecting means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
A photo-taking lens assembly according to claim 2, wherein said detecting means includes means for measuring an amount of the rotation of said manually operable member to generate said detection signal when said manually operable member is rotated by a predetermined amount.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A photo-taking lens assembly according to claim 3, wherein said measuring means generates said detection signal when said manually operable member is rotated by said predetermined amount within a predetermined time.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A photo-taking lens assembly according to claim 3, wherein said detecting means outputs said detection signal corresponding to an amount of the rotation of said manually operable member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A photo-taking lens assembly according to claim 5, wherein said inhibiting means inhibits the operation of said electric moving means when said amount represented by said detection signal reaches a predetermined amount within a predetermined time.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
A photo-taking lens assembly according to claim 5, wherein said inhibiting means removes the inhibition of the operation of said electric moving means after a predetermined time from the termination of the rotation of said manually operable member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
A photo-taking lens assembly according to claim 2, further comprising means for combining the amounts of movement of said movable lens by said electric moving means and said manual moving means during the operation of said electrically rotatable member and said manually operable member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
79 words
A photo-taking lens assembly according to claim 8, wherein said combining means includes a pair of gears and a planet gear meshing with said pair of gears and rotated while revolving about the optic axis, said planet gear is held for rotation and revolution by said manually operable member, and one of said pair of gears is operatively associated with said electrically rotatable member and rotates the other gear through said planet gear to thereby move said movable lens.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
92 words
A photo-taking lens assembly according to claim 8, wherein said combining means includes a first cylinder member having first screw means and rotated about the optic axis in response to the rotation of said manually operable member, a second cylinder member holding said movable lens, having second screw means and rotated about the optic axis in response to the rotation of said electrically rotatable member, and a third cylinder member threadably engaged with said first screw means and said second screw means and rectilinearly movable in the direction of the optic axis.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
A photo-taking lens assembly according to claim 2, further comprising means for outputting a signal when said movable lens arrives at a limit of the movement thereof in one direction and means for stopping the operation of said electric moving means moving said moving lens in said direction in response to said signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
129 words
A photo-taking lens assembly having a movable lens movable along the optic axis thereof by the drive of a drive motor, said photo-taking lens assembly comprising: electric moving means including an electrically rotatable member electrically relatively driven to move said movable lens; manual moving means including a manually operable member for moving said movable lens; means for combining the amounts of movement of said movable lens by said electric moving means and said manual moving means during the operation of said electrically rotatable member and said manually operable member; and friction-braking means for applying a friction force to said manually operable member to set the torque T1 necessary to operate said manually operable member and the torque T2 necessary to move said movable lens in the relation that T1>T2.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
129 words
A photo-taking lens assembly having a movable lens movable along the optic axis thereof by the drive of a drive motor, said photo-taking lens assembly comprising: electric moving means including an electrically rotatable member electrically relatively driven to move said movable lens; manual moving means including a manually operable member for moving said movable lens; means for combining the amounts of movement of said movable lens by said electric moving means and said manual moving means during the operation of said electrically rotatable member and said manually operable member; and friction-braking means for applying a friction force to said manually operable member to set the torque T1 necessary to operate said manually operable member and the torque T2 necessary to move said movable lens in the relation that T1>T2.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
58 words
A photo-taking lens assembly according to claim 12, wherein said electric moving means includes clutch means provided between said electrically rotatable member and said drive motor, and rotation preventing means for preventing idle rotation of said electrically rotatable member when the connection between said electrically rotatable member and said drive motor is cut off by said clutch means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
A photo-taking lens assembly according to claim 12, wherein said combining means includes a differential mechanism for coupling said electric moving means and said manual moving means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
86 words
A photo-taking lens assembly according to claim 14, wherein said electrically rotatable member comprises a drive gear and wherein said differential mechanism includes a first gear formed integrally with a gear meshing with said drive gear and rotatable about the optic axis, a second gear having a cam for moving said movable lens along the optic axis and rotatable about the optic axis, and a planet gear rotatably supported on said manually operable member and meshing with both of said first gear and said second gear.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
89 words
A photo-taking lens assembly according to claim 14, wherein said electrically rotatable member comprises a drive gear and wherein said differential mechanism includes a first cylinder member having first screw means and rotatable about the optic axis with said manually operable member, a gear cylinder holding said movable lens, having second screw means and meshing with said drive gear and rotatable about the optic axis, and a double helicoid cylinder threadably engaged with said first screw means and said second screw means and rectilinearly movable along the optic axis.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
134 words
A photo-taking lens assembly having a movable lens movable along the optic axis thereof by the drive of a drive motor controlled on the basis of a focus detection signal relating to the focusing state of a photo-taking optical system, said photo-taking lens assembly comprising: automatic moving means driven on the basis of said focus detection signal by said drive motor and moving said movable lens along the optic axis; manual moving means including a manually operable member rotatable about the optic axis to move said movable lens along the optic axis by a manual operation; means for detecting said manuallly operable member having been rotated and outputting a manual operation signal; and means for inhibiting the operation of said automatic moving means in response to the manual operation signal from said detecting means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
134 words
A photo-taking lens assembly having a movable lens movable along the optic axis thereof by the drive of a drive motor controlled on the basis of a focus detection signal relating to the focusing state of a photo-taking optical system, said photo-taking lens assembly comprising: automatic moving means driven on the basis of said focus detection signal by said drive motor and moving said movable lens along the optic axis; manual moving means including a manually operable member rotatable about the optic axis to move said movable lens along the optic axis by a manual operation; means for detecting said manuallly operable member having been rotated and outputting a manual operation signal; and means for inhibiting the operation of said automatic moving means in response to the manual operation signal from said detecting means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
43 words
A photo-taking lens assembly according to claim 17, wherein said detecting means includes means for measuring an amount of the rotation of said manually operable member to generate said manual operation sigal when said manually operable member is rotated by a predetermined amount.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
A photo-taking lens assembly according to claim 18, wherein said measuring means generates said manual operation signal when said manually operable member is rotated by said predetermined amount within a predetermined time.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
A photo-taking lens assembly according to claim 18, wherein said detecting means outputs said manual operation signal corresponding to an amount of the rotation of said manually operable member.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
37 words
A photo-taking lens assembly according to claim 20, wherein said inhibiting means inhibits the operation of said automatic moving means when said amount represented by said manual operation signal reaches a predetermined amount within a predetermined time.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
38 words
A photo-taking lens assembly according to claim 20, wherein said inhibiting means removes the inhibition of the operation of said automatic moving means after a predetermined time from the termination of the rotation of said manually operable member.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
31 words
A photo-taking lens assembly according to claim 17, further comprising means for combining the amounts of movement of said movable lens by said automatic moving means and said manual moving means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
79 words
A photo-taking lens assembly according to claim 22, wherein said combining means includes a pair of gears and a planet gear meshing with said pair of gears and rotated while revolving about the optic axis, said planet gear is held for rotation and revolution by said manually operable member, and one of said pair of gears is operatively associated with said automatic moving means and rotates the other gear through said planet gear to thereby move said movable lens.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
89 words
A photo-taking lens assembly according to claim 22, wherein said combining means includes a first cylinder member having first screw means and rotated about the optic axis in response to the operation of said manually operable member, a second cylinder member holding said movable lens, having second screw means and rotated about the optic axis in response to the rotation of said automatic moving means, and a third cylinder member threadably engaged with said first screw means and said second screw means and rectilinearly movable along the optic axis.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
53 words
A photo-taking lens assembly according to claim 17, further comprising means for outputting a signal when said movable lens arrives at a limit of the movement thereof in one direction and means for stopping the operation of said automatic moving means moving said moving lens in said direction in response to said signal.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
154 words
A photo-taking lens assembly having a movable lens moved along the optic axis thereof by the drive of a drive motor controlled on the basis of a detection signal relating to the focusing state of a photo-taking optical system, said photo-taking lens assembly comprising: automatic moving means including a drive gear driven by said drive motor and rotatable to move said movable lens along the optic axis; manual moving means including a manually operable member rotatable about the optic axis to move said movable lens along the optic axis by a manual operation; means for combining the amounts of movement of said movable lens by said automatic moving means and said manual moving means; and friction-braking means for applying a friction force to said manually operable member to set the torque T1 necessary to operate said manually operable member and the torque T2 necessary to move said movable lens in the direction that T1>T2.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
154 words
A photo-taking lens assembly having a movable lens moved along the optic axis thereof by the drive of a drive motor controlled on the basis of a detection signal relating to the focusing state of a photo-taking optical system, said photo-taking lens assembly comprising: automatic moving means including a drive gear driven by said drive motor and rotatable to move said movable lens along the optic axis; manual moving means including a manually operable member rotatable about the optic axis to move said movable lens along the optic axis by a manual operation; means for combining the amounts of movement of said movable lens by said automatic moving means and said manual moving means; and friction-braking means for applying a friction force to said manually operable member to set the torque T1 necessary to operate said manually operable member and the torque T2 necessary to move said movable lens in the direction that T1>T2.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
55 words
A photo-taking lens assembly according to claim 27, wherein said automatic moving means includes clutch means provided between said drive gear and said drive motor, and rotation preventing means for preventing idle rotation of said drive gear when the connection between said drive gear and said drive motor is cut off by said clutch means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
27 words
A photo-taking lens assembly according to claim 27, wherein said combining means includes a differential mechanism for coupling said automatic moving means and said manual moving means.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
76 words
A photo-taking lens assembly according to claim 29, wherein said differential mechanism includes a first gear formed integrally with a gear meshing with said drive gear and rotatable about the optic axis, a second gear having a cam for moving said movable lens along the optic axis and rotatable about the optic axis, and a planet gear rotatably supported on said manually operable member and meshing with both of said first gear and said second gear.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
79 words
A photo-taking lens assembly according to claim 27, wherein said differential mechanism includes a first cylinder member having first screw means and rotatable about the optic axis with said manually operable member, a gear cylinder holding said movable lens, having second screw means and meshing with said drive gear and rotatable about the optic axis, and a double helicoid cylinder threadably engaged with said first screw means and said second screw means and rectilinearly movable along the optic axis.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
128 words
A photo-taking lens assembly capable of being mounted on a camera housing and having a movable lens moved along the optic axis thereof by the drive of a motor of said camera housing, said photo-taking lens assembly comprising: a rotating member electrically rotatively driven to move said movable lens; means for coupling said rotating member with said motor when said lens assembly is mounted on said camera housing; manual moving means including a manually operable member for moving said movable lens; means for combining the amounts of movement of said movable lens by said rotating member and said manual moving means during the operation of said rotating member and said manually operable member; and a clamp member operable for clamping said rotating member to prevent idle rotation thereof.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
128 words
A photo-taking lens assembly capable of being mounted on a camera housing and having a movable lens moved along the optic axis thereof by the drive of a motor of said camera housing, said photo-taking lens assembly comprising: a rotating member electrically rotatively driven to move said movable lens; means for coupling said rotating member with said motor when said lens assembly is mounted on said camera housing; manual moving means including a manually operable member for moving said movable lens; means for combining the amounts of movement of said movable lens by said rotating member and said manual moving means during the operation of said rotating member and said manually operable member; and a clamp member operable for clamping said rotating member to prevent idle rotation thereof.
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) | 1992-01-03 | 1992-07-04 | 1993-01-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-01-03 | 1996-07-04 | 1997-01-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-01-03 | 2000-07-04 | 2001-01-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |