US4945372A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Camera
Assignee: Olympus Corp
•
Filing: 1989-02-06
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Granted: 1990-07-31
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Expires: 2009-02-06
Abstract
Abstract A camera includes a photographic optical system movable along its optical axis, and a cam ring rotatable about the optical axis of the optical system. When it is rotated by a motor, the cam ring moves the optical system to change the focal length thereof. Arranged at the outside of the cam ring are a viewfinder optical system, whose optical axis is parallel to that of the photographic optical system, and a strobe mechanism movable in a direction parallel to the optical axis of the photographic optical system. First and second cam portions are arranged on the cam ring and engage the viewfinder optical system and strobe mechanism, respectively, so as to move them along the optical axis of the photographic optical system, in association with the rotation of the cam ring.
Inventors
- 👤 Tatsuji Higuchi
- 👤 Kazuo Yamamoto
- 👤 Hitoshi Shirai
- 👤 Yasuo Yamazaki
- 👤 Yuichi Torikoshi
- 👤 Kazuyuki Iwasa
- 👤 Toshifumi Nakano
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 22:34
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B3/00; G03B3/10; G03B13/00; G03B13/02; G03B13/10; G03B13/12; G03B15/00; G03B15/02; G03B15/03; G03B15/05; G03B2215/00; G03B2215/05; G03B2215/0503; G03B2215/0507; G03B2215/051
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
268 words
A camera, comprising: a photographic optical system movable along an optical axis; a cam ring rotatable about the optical axis of the photographic optical system, for moving the photographic optical system along the optical axis thereof to change the focal length of the photographic optical system by rotation, said cam ring including a cylindrical body, and an interlocking member fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the body and having an engaging portion; drive means engaged with said engaging portion of the interlocking member, for rotating the cam ring; a viewfinder optical system arranged outside of the cam ring, in relation to the radial direction thereof, and having an optical axis parallel to that of the photographic optical system; a strobe mechanism arranged outside of the cam ring, in relation to the radial direction thereof, for movement parallel to the optical axis of the photographic optical system; first cam means formed on the interlocking member, for moving the viewfinder optical system along the optical axis thereof, in association with the rotation of the cam ring, said first cam means having a working surface engaging the viewfinder optical system and changing its configuration in the direction of the optical axis of the photographic optical system; and second cam means formed on the interlocking member, for moving the strobe mechanism in a direction parallel to the optical axis of the photographic optical system, in association with the rotation of the cam ring, said second cam means having a working surface engaging the strobe mechanism and changing its configuration in the direction of the optical axis of the photographic optical system.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
268 words
A camera, comprising: a photographic optical system movable along an optical axis; a cam ring rotatable about the optical axis of the photographic optical system, for moving the photographic optical system along the optical axis thereof to change the focal length of the photographic optical system by rotation, said cam ring including a cylindrical body, and an interlocking member fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the body and having an engaging portion; drive means engaged with said engaging portion of the interlocking member, for rotating the cam ring; a viewfinder optical system arranged outside of the cam ring, in relation to the radial direction thereof, and having an optical axis parallel to that of the photographic optical system; a strobe mechanism arranged outside of the cam ring, in relation to the radial direction thereof, for movement parallel to the optical axis of the photographic optical system; first cam means formed on the interlocking member, for moving the viewfinder optical system along the optical axis thereof, in association with the rotation of the cam ring, said first cam means having a working surface engaging the viewfinder optical system and changing its configuration in the direction of the optical axis of the photographic optical system; and second cam means formed on the interlocking member, for moving the strobe mechanism in a direction parallel to the optical axis of the photographic optical system, in association with the rotation of the cam ring, said second cam means having a working surface engaging the strobe mechanism and changing its configuration in the direction of the optical axis of the photographic optical system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A camera according to claim 1, wherein said interlocking member has an end face constituting at least one of the first and second cam means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
105 words
A camera according to claim 1, wherein said viewfinder optical system is provided with a plurality of lens assemblies including a pair of lens assemblies movable along the optical axis thereof, and said interlocking member has a pair of guide surfaces extending at an angle to the optical axis of the photographic optical system and constituting the first cam means, said guide surfaces individually engaging the movable lens assemblies, said viewfinder optical system including urging means for urging the pair of movable lens assemblies toward the guide surfaces corresponding thereto, so that said lens assemblies move following the guide surfaces as the cam ring rotates.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
A camera according to claim 4, wherein said interlocking member has a cam groove extending at an angle to the optical axis of the photographic optical system and constituting the second cam means, and said strobe mechanism has a guide projection engaging the cam groove to move along the cam groove as the cam ring rotates.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
A camera according to claim 1, wherein said engaging portion includes a gear portion extending in the form of an arc of a circle around the optical axis of the photographic optical system, and said drive means includes a motor and a gear train for transmitting the rotatory force of the motor to the gear portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
59 words
A camera according to claim 1, wherein said viewfinder optical system includes a view frame movable in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis thereof, and which further comprises a correction mechanism for moving the view frame in association with the rotation of the cam ring, to correct parallax between the photographic optical system and the viewfinder optical system.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
58 words
A camera according to claim 6, wherein said correction mechanism includes a rotatable correction lever having a pair of end portions, said view frame engaging one end of the correction lever, and third cam means for engaging the other end of the correction lever to rotate the correction lever in association with the rotation of the cam ring.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
99 words
A camera according to claim 1, which further comprises a camera body having a front face, a lens barrel protruding forward from the front face of the camera body and containing the photographic optical system, and a grip section protruding parallel to the lens barrel, from the front face of the camera body, and laterally adjoining the lens barrel, and wherein said cam ring is fitted on the outer peripheral surface of the lens barrel so as to be rotatable thereabout and said photographic optical system, said drive means, and said strobe mechanism are housed within the grip section.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
193 words
A camera comprising: a camera body having a front face; a lens barrel protruding forward from the front face of the camera body and containing a photographic optical system; a grip section protruding substantially parallel to the axis of the lens barrel, from the front face of the camera body, and laterally adjoining the lens barrel, said grip section having a front end face situated substantially at right angles to the axis of the lens barrel; a viewfinder mechanism including an optical axis extending parallel to the axis of the lens barrel and an objective lens, and housed within the grip section; an autofocus optical system including an objective lens and arranged underneath the viewfinder mechanism, within the grip section; a strobe mechanism including a flash window and arranged in the vicinity of the autofocus optical system, within the grip section; and a battery compartment arranged in the vicinity of the viewfinder mechanism, for containing a battery, within the grip section; said respective objective lenses of the viewfinder mechanism and the autofocus optical system and said flash window of the strobe mechanism being provided at the front end face of the grip section.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
193 words
A camera comprising: a camera body having a front face; a lens barrel protruding forward from the front face of the camera body and containing a photographic optical system; a grip section protruding substantially parallel to the axis of the lens barrel, from the front face of the camera body, and laterally adjoining the lens barrel, said grip section having a front end face situated substantially at right angles to the axis of the lens barrel; a viewfinder mechanism including an optical axis extending parallel to the axis of the lens barrel and an objective lens, and housed within the grip section; an autofocus optical system including an objective lens and arranged underneath the viewfinder mechanism, within the grip section; a strobe mechanism including a flash window and arranged in the vicinity of the autofocus optical system, within the grip section; and a battery compartment arranged in the vicinity of the viewfinder mechanism, for containing a battery, within the grip section; said respective objective lenses of the viewfinder mechanism and the autofocus optical system and said flash window of the strobe mechanism being provided at the front end face of the grip section.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
A camera according to claim 9, wherein said grip section constitutes a horizontal grip designed to be held by fingers placed in a row parallel to the optical axis of the lens barrel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
A camera according to claim 9, wherein said viewfinder mechanism includes a viewfinder optical system having an optical axis extending parallel to the axis of the lens barrel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
A camera according to claim 9, wherein said camera body has a film compartment therein for containing a film, and said viewfinder mechanism is situated above the film compartment.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
216 words
A camera, comprising: a photographic optical system movable along an optical axis; a cam ring rotatable about the optical axis of the photographic optical system, for moving the photographic optical system along the optical axis thereof to change the focal length of the photographic optical system by rotation, said cam ring including a cylindrical body, and an interlocking member fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the body and having a gear portion extending in the form of an arc of a circle coaxial with the optical axis of the photographic optical system; drive means engaged with said gear portion, for rotating the cam ring; a viewfinder optical system having a optical axis parallel to that of the photographic optical system and a movable part arranged outside of the cam ring, in relation to the radial direction thereof, and being movable along the optical axis of the viewfinder optical system so as to change a magnification thereof; and cam means provided on the interlocking member, for moving the movable part of the viewfinder optical system along the optical axis thereof, in association with the rotation of the cam ring, the cam means having a working surface engaging the movable part and changing its configuration in the direction of the optical axis of the photographic optical system.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
216 words
A camera, comprising: a photographic optical system movable along an optical axis; a cam ring rotatable about the optical axis of the photographic optical system, for moving the photographic optical system along the optical axis thereof to change the focal length of the photographic optical system by rotation, said cam ring including a cylindrical body, and an interlocking member fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the body and having a gear portion extending in the form of an arc of a circle coaxial with the optical axis of the photographic optical system; drive means engaged with said gear portion, for rotating the cam ring; a viewfinder optical system having a optical axis parallel to that of the photographic optical system and a movable part arranged outside of the cam ring, in relation to the radial direction thereof, and being movable along the optical axis of the viewfinder optical system so as to change a magnification thereof; and cam means provided on the interlocking member, for moving the movable part of the viewfinder optical system along the optical axis thereof, in association with the rotation of the cam ring, the cam means having a working surface engaging the movable part and changing its configuration in the direction of the optical axis of the photographic optical system.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
205 words
A camera, comprising: a photographic optical system movable along an optical axis; a cam ring rotatable within a predetermined angular range about the optical axis of the photographic optical system, for moving the photographic optical system along the optical axis thereof to change the focal length of the photographic optical system by rotation; drive means for rotating the cam ring; a viewfinder optical system having an optical axis parallel to that of the photographic optical system, a movable part arranged outside of the cam ring, in relation to the radial direction thereof, and being movable along the optical axis of the viewfinder optical system so as to change a magnification thereof, and a view frame movable in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the viewfinder optical system; cam means provided at the cam ring, for moving the movable part of the viewfinder optical system along the optical axis thereof, in association with the rotation of the cam ring; and correction means having a cam portion provided at the cam ring, for moving the view frame so as to correct parallax between the photographic optical system and the viewfinder optical system when said cam ring is rotated to one end of said angular range.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
205 words
A camera, comprising: a photographic optical system movable along an optical axis; a cam ring rotatable within a predetermined angular range about the optical axis of the photographic optical system, for moving the photographic optical system along the optical axis thereof to change the focal length of the photographic optical system by rotation; drive means for rotating the cam ring; a viewfinder optical system having an optical axis parallel to that of the photographic optical system, a movable part arranged outside of the cam ring, in relation to the radial direction thereof, and being movable along the optical axis of the viewfinder optical system so as to change a magnification thereof, and a view frame movable in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the viewfinder optical system; cam means provided at the cam ring, for moving the movable part of the viewfinder optical system along the optical axis thereof, in association with the rotation of the cam ring; and correction means having a cam portion provided at the cam ring, for moving the view frame so as to correct parallax between the photographic optical system and the viewfinder optical system when said cam ring is rotated to one end of said angular range.
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) | 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 |