US4962399A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Zoom lens driving apparatus
Assignee: Pentax Corp
•
Filing: 1989-12-20
•
Granted: 1990-10-09
•
Expires: 2009-12-20
Abstract
Abstract A camera having a zoom lens and a mode selection switch, including a first drive for moving the zoom lens in an optical axis direction within a zooming range, and a second drive for selectively moving the zoom lens within and out of a zooming range in accordance with a selection mode selected by a mode selection switch, a zoom lens driving apparatus including a device for varying the speed of the movement of the zoom lens by the first drive and by the second drive.
Inventors
- 👤 Norio Numako
- 👤 Takeo Kobayashi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 22:54
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B7/00; G02B7/02; G02B7/04; G02B7/10; G02B7/102; G03; G03B; G03B3/00; G03B3/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
A zoom lens driving apparatus adapted for use in a camera having a zoom lens and a mode selection means, said apparatus including a first driving means for moving the zoom lens in an optical axis direction within a zooming range, and a second driving means for selectively moving the zoom lens in and out of the zooming range in accordance with a selection mode selected by the mode selection means, the driving apparatus further comprising a zoom lens driving apparatus which comprises means for varying the speed of the movement of the zoom lens between the first driving means and the second driving means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
105 words
A zoom lens driving apparatus adapted for use in a camera having a zoom lens and a mode selection means, said apparatus including a first driving means for moving the zoom lens in an optical axis direction within a zooming range, and a second driving means for selectively moving the zoom lens in and out of the zooming range in accordance with a selection mode selected by the mode selection means, the driving apparatus further comprising a zoom lens driving apparatus which comprises means for varying the speed of the movement of the zoom lens between the first driving means and the second driving means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A zoom lens driving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the speed of movement at which the zoom lens is moved by the second driving means is larger than the speed at which the zoom lens is moved by the first driving means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A zoom lens driving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first driving means comprises constant speed means for maintaining the speed of movement of the zoom lens by the first driving means constant.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A zoom lens driving apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a common zoom motor which drives both the first and second driving means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A zoom lens driving apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a driving circuit means for driving the zoom motor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A zoom lens driving apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said constant speed means comprises a constant voltage circuit which supplies a predetermined voltage to a zoom motor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A zoom lens driving apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said second driving means comprises a power source which supplies a predetermined voltage, higher than the constant voltage of the constant voltage circuit, to the zoom motor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A zoom lens driving apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising control means for controlling the operation of the first and second driving means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
A zoom lens driving apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said control means comprises a microcomputer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A zoom lens driving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said camera is a lens shutter type of camera.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A zoom lens driving apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said zoom lens continuously varies the focal length thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
A zoom lens driving apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said zoom lens discontinuously varies the focal length thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
A zoom lens driving apparatus according to claim 11, wherein a lens retracted position in which the zooming lens is accomodated is created at one of the extremities of the zooming range.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
A zoom lens driving apparatus according to claim 11, wherein a MACRO position is located at the other extremity of the zooming range.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
A zoom lens driving apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising a cam means for driving the zoom lens, said cam means being capable of rotating or axially moving.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
A zoom lens driving apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a detecting means for detecting the angular position and the axial position of the cam means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
A zoom lens driving apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the axial position of the zoom lens, both in and out of the zooming range, is detected by said detecting means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
A zoom lens driving apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said detecting means is controlled by a microcomputer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
A zoom lens driving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first driving means comprises a zoom switch which actuates the zoom lens selectively in the optical axis directions.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
A zoom lens driving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second driving means comprises a mode selection switch which forms the mode selection means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
55 words
A zoom lens driving apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said zoom lens can be moved to selectively occupy an optional position within the zooming range, the MACRO position created at the zooming range and the lens retracted position created at the zooming range in accordance with the mode selected by the mode selection switch.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
80 words
A camera having a zoom lens being movable in a zooming range between a first limit position and a second limit position, said camera comprising a driving means, said driving means including a first mode for positioning said zoom lens at selected positions within said zooming range and a second mode for moving said zoom lens to at least one of said first and second limit positions, wherein the speed of movement of said first and second modes are different.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
80 words
A camera having a zoom lens being movable in a zooming range between a first limit position and a second limit position, said camera comprising a driving means, said driving means including a first mode for positioning said zoom lens at selected positions within said zooming range and a second mode for moving said zoom lens to at least one of said first and second limit positions, wherein the speed of movement of said first and second modes are different.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
The camera according to claim 22, wherein the speed of movement of the zoom lens in said second mode is greater than the speed of movement in said first mode.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
The camera according to claim 22, wherein said driving means comprises a single zoom motor.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
The camera according to claim 22, wherein said camera is a lens shutter type of camera.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
The camera according to claim 22, wherein one of said first and second limit positions is a MACRO position.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
94 words
A zoom lens driving apparatus adapted to be used in a camera having a zoom lens and a mode selection means, said apparatus including means for moving said zoom lens in an optical axis direction within a zooming range of said zoom lens, and means for selectively moving said zoom lens into and out of zooming range in accordance with a selection mode selected by said mode selection means, said apparatus further comprising means for differentiating the speed of movement of the zoom lens within said zoom range and outside of said zooming range.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
94 words
A zoom lens driving apparatus adapted to be used in a camera having a zoom lens and a mode selection means, said apparatus including means for moving said zoom lens in an optical axis direction within a zooming range of said zoom lens, and means for selectively moving said zoom lens into and out of zooming range in accordance with a selection mode selected by said mode selection means, said apparatus further comprising means for differentiating the speed of movement of the zoom lens within said zoom range and outside of said zooming range.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
15 words
A zoom lens driving apparatus in accordance with claim 27, in combination with said camera.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
37 words
A zoom driving apparatus in accordance with claim 27, wherein said driving means comprises means for moving said zoom lens faster when it is out of said zooming range than when it is within said zooming range.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
26 words
A zoom lens driving apparatus in accordance with claim 27, further comprising a common zoom motor for driving both of said first and second driving means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
69 words
A zoom lens driving apparatus in accordance with claim 27, wherein said zooming range is between a first limit position and a second limit position, said first limit position corresponding to the shortest focal length of the zoom lens, and said second limit position corresponding to the longest focal length of said zoom lens, said first limit position and said second limit position being outside of said zooming range.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
39 words
A zoom lens driving apparatus in accordance with claim 31, wherein said means for selectively moving said zoom lens includes means for moving said zoom lens directly to either of said first limit position or said second limit position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4410253A
Cited
US4445757A
Cited
JPS60225122A
Cited
JPS60235125A
Cited
WO1987007036A1
Cited
WO1987007038A1
Cited
JPS6425112A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-10-08 | 1994-04-09 | 1994-10-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-10-08 | 1998-04-09 | 1998-10-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-10-08 | 2002-04-09 | 2002-10-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |