Interchangeable lens with double-sided printed circuit board

Claim 2

An interchangeable lens comprising: double-sided printed circuit board with a front side and a rear side that is disposed such that its major plane extends substantially orthogonally to an optical axis of optical elements disposed axially along a lens barrel; electrical elements; at least one flexible connecting member for electrically connecting said electrical elements into electrical circuits on said double-sided printed circuit board; integrated circuit chip elements mounted on the front side of said double-sided printed circuit board which is directed forwardly of said lens barrel as viewed in the direction of said optical axis; lands provided on the rear side of said double-sided printed circuit board which is directed rearwardly of said lens barrel as viewed in the direction of said optical axis, said lands including lands for connection to said flexible connecting members and at least one check land for allowing electrical check of an electrical circuit; and a mount member provided on a rear end of said interchangeable lens as viewed in the direction of the optical axis, said mount member being capable of demountably mounting said interchangeable lens to a camera body.

Claim 3

An interchangeable lens according to claim 1, wherein said double-sided printed circuit board has a substantially doughnut-like form with a central opening about said optical axis serving as an area which permits a light beam to pass therethrough.

Claim 4

An interchangeable lens according to claim 1, wherein said double-sided printed circuit board has a centrally disposed open region about said optical axis which permits a light beam to pass therethrough.

Claim 5

An interchangeable lens according to claim 2, wherein said double-sided printed circuit board has at least one notch formed in an outer periphery thereof at a position corresponding to a position where at least one flexible connecting members is connected to a corresponding circuit on said double-sided printed circuit board.

Claim 6

An interchangeable lens according to claim 1, wherein said flexible connecting member comprises a flexible printed circuit boards.

Claim 7

An interchangeable lens according to claim 1, wherein said at least one flexible connecting member is connected to said double-sided printed circuit board in a slacked condition, so that said double-sided printed circuit board and at least one of said electrical elements permit a relative motion therebetween in the direction of the optical axis after the connection of said at least one connecting member to said double-sided printed circuit board.

Claim 8

An interchangeable lens according to claim 3, wherein said double-sided printed circuit board comprises a rigid material.

Claim 9

An interchangeable lens according to claim 3, wherein said lands are disposed in a region outside of a position where said at least one connecting member is connected to said double-sided printed circuit board.

Claim 10

An interchangeable lens comprising: a mount member provided on a rear end of a lens barrel as viewed in the direction of optical axis of optical elements disposed axially along said lens barrel, said mount member being capable of demountably mounting said lens barrel to a camera body; a double-sided printed circuit board disposed on the front side of said mount member as viewed in the direction of said optical axis, said double-sided printed circuit board providing a planar region substantially orthogonal to said optical axis; electrical contact members disposed proximate to a position where said mount member is located; electrical elements disposed on the front side of said double-sided printed circuit board as viewed in the direction of said optical axis; a first flexible connecting member for electrically connecting said double-sided printed board into electric circuits and with said electrical contact members; a second flexible connecting member for electrically connecting said double-sided printed circuit board to said electrical elements; and integrated circuit chip elements including ICs mounted on said double-sided printed circuit board; wherein said chip elements are mounted on the front side of said planar region of said double-sided printed circuit board as viewed in the direction of said optical axis, while said first and second connecting members are provided on the rear side of said planar region of said double-sided printed circuit board as viewed in the direction of said optical axis.

Claim 11

An interchangeable lens comprising: a mount member provided on a rear end of a lens barrel as viewed in the direction of optical axis of optical elements disposed axially along said lens barrel, said mount member being capable of demountably mounting said lens barrel to a camera body; a double-sided printed circuit board disposed on the front side of said mount member as viewed in the direction of said optical axis, said double-sided printed circuit board providing a planar region substantially orthogonal to said optical axis; electrical contact members disposed proximate to a position where said mount member is located; electrical elements disposed on the front side of said double-sided printed circuit board as viewed in the direction of said optical axis; a first flexible connecting member for electrically connecting said double-sided printed board into electric circuits and with said electrical contact members; a second flexible connecting member for electrically connecting said double-sided printed circuit board to said electrical elements; and integrated circuit chip elements including ICs mounted on said double-sided printed circuit board; wherein said chip elements are mounted on the front side of said planar region of said double-sided printed circuit board as viewed in the direction of said optical axis, while said first and second connecting members are provided on the rear side of said planar region of said double-sided printed circuit board as viewed in the direction of said optical axis.

Claim 12

An interchangeable lens according to claim 9, wherein the position where said first flexible connecting member is connected to said double-sided printed circuit board and the position where said second flexible connecting member is connected to said double-sided printed circuit board are offset in the circumferential direction around said optical axis.

Claim 13

An interchangeable lens according to claim 10, wherein said double-sided printed circuit board has a substantially doughnut-like form with a central opening about said optical axis serving as an area which permits a light beam to pass therethrough.

Claim 14

An interchangeable lens according to claim 10, wherein said double-sided printed circuit board has a central open region aperture about said optical axis which permits a light beam to pass therethrough.

Claim 15

An interchangeable lens according to claim 11, wherein said double-sided printed circuit board is provided with at least one first and a second notch formed in an outer periphery thereof, said first notch being provided at a position corresponding to a position where said first flexible connecting member is connected to said double-sided printed circuit board, and said second notch being provided at a position corresponding to a position where said second flexible connecting member is connected to said double-sided printed circuit board.

Claim 16

An interchangeable lens according to claim 10, wherein at least one of said first and second flexible connecting members comprises a flexible printed circuit board.

Claim 17

An interchangeable lens according to claim 10, wherein at least one first flexible connecting member and at least one second flexible connecting members are connected to said double-sided printed circuit board in a slacked state, so that said electrical contact members and said electric circuit elements permit relative motion therebetween in the direction of said optical axis after the connection of at least one of said flexible connecting members to said double-sided printed circuit board.

Claim 18

An interchangeable lens according to claim 11, wherein said double-sided printed circuit board comprises a rigid material.

Claim 19

An interchangeable lens according to claim 9, further comprising at least one check land for allowing electrical check of an electrical circuit in said lens barrel, said check land being provided on the rear side of said planar region of said double-sided printed circuit board as viewed in the direction of said optical axis.

Claim 20

An interchangeable lens according to claim 17, wherein said at least one check land is disposed in a region which is outside of a region where either said first or second flexible connecting member is provided.

Claim 21

An interchangeable lens according to claim 10, wherein said electric element comprises a focus motor.

Claim 22

An interchangeable lens according to claim 10, wherein said electric element comprises an aperture driving motor.

Claim 23

An interchangeable lens according to claim 12, said optical elements comprising a group of lenses disposed in alignment with said aperture in said double-sided printed circuit board.

Claim 24

An interchangeable lens according to claim 17, wherein said check land is disposed in a region that is outside of the outer periphery of said mount member.

Claim 25

An interchangeable lens according to claim 1, wherein said electric element comprises a focus motor.

Claim 26

An interchangeable lens according to claim 1, wherein said electric element comprises an aperture driving motor.