Patent US4945371A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4945371A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Device for controlling a zoom lens of a camera
Assignee: Minolta Co Ltd
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Filing: 1989-08-28
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Granted: 1990-07-31
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Expires: 2009-08-28
Abstract
Abstract A device for controlling a zoom lens of a camera includes drive means for driving a zoom lens, control means for controlling the drive means, the control means having a plurality of selectable control modes having a linear mode and a stepping mode, or a plurality of stepping modes, and selection means for selecting one of the plurality of selectable control modes. Also, the device includes control means for controlling the drive means so as to drive the zoom lens in steps at a settable interval or to one of a plurality of stop positions. Further, the device includes display means for indicating a selected control mode or stop positions.
Inventors
- 👤 Takeshi Hashimoto
- 👤 Keisuke Maeda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 11:38
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B7/00; G02B7/02; G02B7/04; G02B7/10; G02B7/102
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
73 words
A device for controlling a zoom lens of a camera comprising: drive means for driving a zoom lens; control means for controlling the drive means, the control means having a plurality of selectable control modes including a linear mode in which the zoom lens is driven continuously, and a stepping mode in which the zoom lens is driven in steps; and selection means for selecting one of the plurality of selectable control modes.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
73 words
A device for controlling a zoom lens of a camera comprising: drive means for driving a zoom lens; control means for controlling the drive means, the control means having a plurality of selectable control modes including a linear mode in which the zoom lens is driven continuously, and a stepping mode in which the zoom lens is driven in steps; and selection means for selecting one of the plurality of selectable control modes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device according to claim 1 further comprising display means for indicating a selected control mode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device according to claim 2 wherein the display means has a first display portion for indicating the linear mode and a second display portion for indicating the stepping mode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A device according to claim 2 wherein the display means has a first display portion for indicating a focal length of the zoom lens and a second display portion for indicating a selected control mode.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
63 words
A device for controlling a zoom lens of a camera comprising: drive means for driving a zoom lens; control means for controlling the drive means, the control means having a plurality of selectable control modes including a plurality of stepping modes in which the zoom lens is driven in steps; and selection means for selecting one of the plurality of selectable control modes.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
63 words
A device for controlling a zoom lens of a camera comprising: drive means for driving a zoom lens; control means for controlling the drive means, the control means having a plurality of selectable control modes including a plurality of stepping modes in which the zoom lens is driven in steps; and selection means for selecting one of the plurality of selectable control modes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device according to claim 5 wherein the plurality of stepping modes have respective step intervals different from one another.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
A device according to claim 6 wherein the respective step intervals consist of predetermined numbers of unit intervals, the unit interval being one of a given number of divided intervals of a whole movable range of the zoom lens.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device according to claim 5 wherein the plurality of stepping modes have different numbers of stop positions respectively.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device according to claim 5 further comprising display means for indicating a selected control mode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device according to claim 5 further comprising display means for indicating a focal length of the zoom lens.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
A device according to claim 10 wherein the display means has a display portion for indicating a focal length of the zoom lens in the form of a range from a shortest focal length of the zoom lens to a present focal length of the zoom lens.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device according to claim 5 further comprising display means for indicating a stop position.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
46 words
A device for controlling a zoom lens of a camera comprising: drive means for driving a zoom lens; control means for controlling the drive means so as to drive the zoom lens in steps at a settable interval; and setting means for setting a desired interval.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
46 words
A device for controlling a zoom lens of a camera comprising: drive means for driving a zoom lens; control means for controlling the drive means so as to drive the zoom lens in steps at a settable interval; and setting means for setting a desired interval.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device according to claim 13 further comprising display means for indicating a focal length of the zoom lens.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
47 words
A device according to claim 14 wherein the display means has a display portion for indicating the focal length of the zoom lens in the form of a range from a shortest focal length of the zoom lens to a present focal length of the zoom lens.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
50 words
A device for controlling a zoom lens of a camera comprising: drive means for driving a zoom lens; control means for controlling the drive means so as to drive the zoom lens to one of a plurality of stop positions; and display means for indicating the pluralitY of stop positions.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
50 words
A device for controlling a zoom lens of a camera comprising: drive means for driving a zoom lens; control means for controlling the drive means so as to drive the zoom lens to one of a plurality of stop positions; and display means for indicating the pluralitY of stop positions.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device according to claim 16 wherein the display means includes means for indicating a present position of the zoom lens.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
57 words
A device according to claim 17 wherein the display means comprises a plurality of indicating elements corresponding to the plurality of stop positions, an indicating element corresponding to a present position of the zoom lens being changed to a state different from the other indicating elements so as to indicate the present position of the zoom lens.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
72 words
A device for controlling a zoom lens of a camera comprising: drive means for driving a zoom lens; control means for controlling the drive means, the control means having a plurality of selectable stepping modes having respective step intervals different from one another; selection means for selecting one of the plurality of selectable stepping modes; and display means for indicating a selected stepping mode and stop positions of the selected stepping mode.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
72 words
A device for controlling a zoom lens of a camera comprising: drive means for driving a zoom lens; control means for controlling the drive means, the control means having a plurality of selectable stepping modes having respective step intervals different from one another; selection means for selecting one of the plurality of selectable stepping modes; and display means for indicating a selected stepping mode and stop positions of the selected stepping mode.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-07-30 | 1994-01-29 | 1994-07-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-07-30 | 1998-01-29 | 1998-07-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-07-30 | 2002-01-29 | 2002-07-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |