US5162831A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Zoom lens drive system for camera
Assignee: Pentax Corp
•
Filing: 1990-04-18
•
Granted: 1992-11-10
•
Expires: 2010-04-18
Abstract
Abstract A zoom lens for a camera having a between-the-lens shutter includes a motor for moving the lens along an optical axis in forward and rearward directions. A switch is operable by an operator to control operation of the motor for moving the lens from an initial position on the axis to a final stationary position that establishes the focal length of the lens. Control apparatus is responsive to the setting of the switch for operating the motor such that movement of the lens from its initial position to its final position always ends after the lens travels to its final position in a predetermined direction.
Inventors
- 👤 Keisuke Haraguchi
- 👤 Shinsuke Kohmoto
- 👤 Takeo Kobayashi
- 👤 Shigeru Kondoh
- 👤 Hideki Ohkubo
- 👤 Norio Numako
- 👤 Saburo Sugawara
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 11:46
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B17/00; G03B17/02; G03B17/04; G02; G02B; G02B7/00; G02B7/02; G02B7/04; G02B7/10; G02B7/102; G03B13/00; G03B13/02; G03B13/10; G03B13/12; G02B23/00; G02B23/14; G02B23/145; G03B2215/00; G03B2215/05; G03B2215/0503; G03B2217/00; G03B2217/002
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
A zoom lens adapted for use with a lens driving system in a still camera, said zoom lens having a variable focal length, said zoom lens and driving system comprising: a zoom lens, said zoom lens having a focal length variable within a predetermined range, said range being bounded by first and second extreme focal length positions; means for driving said zoom lens to a selected focal length position within said range, and to at least as far as said two extreme focal length positions; and separate, independently operable first and second control means, said first control means comprising means for controlling said means for driving to move said zoom lens to a selected focal length position within said range, and second control means for controlling said means for driving to directly move said zoom lens to one of said first or second extreme focal length positions, as determined by said second control means, said second control means comprising means for directly moving said zoom lens to both of said two extreme focal length positions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
175 words
A zoom lens adapted for use with a lens driving system in a still camera, said zoom lens having a variable focal length, said zoom lens and driving system comprising: a zoom lens, said zoom lens having a focal length variable within a predetermined range, said range being bounded by first and second extreme focal length positions; means for driving said zoom lens to a selected focal length position within said range, and to at least as far as said two extreme focal length positions; and separate, independently operable first and second control means, said first control means comprising means for controlling said means for driving to move said zoom lens to a selected focal length position within said range, and second control means for controlling said means for driving to directly move said zoom lens to one of said first or second extreme focal length positions, as determined by said second control means, said second control means comprising means for directly moving said zoom lens to both of said two extreme focal length positions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A zoom lens and driving system according to claim 1, wherein said means for driving comprises a motor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A zoom lens and driving system according to claim 1, wherein said first control means comprises first switch means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
A zoom lens and driving system according to claim 3, wherein said first switch means comprises a plurality of switches, said plurality of switches including at least two separate switches for moving said lens between and to said two extreme focal length positions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
A zoom lens and driving system according to claim 3, wherein said first switch means comprises a plurality of switches, said plurality of switches including at least one switch for moving said lens between and to said two extreme focal length positions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A zoom lens and driving system according to claim 1, wherein said second control means comprises second switch means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
A zoom lens and driving system according to claim 6, wherein said first extreme focal length position is an extreme wide angle position, and said second switch means comprises means for directly moving said zoom lens to said extreme wide angle position from an inoperative position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
A zoom lens and driving system according to claim 7, wherein said second extreme focal length position is an extreme telephoto position, and wherein said second switch means further comprises means for directly moving said zoom lens to said extreme telephoto position from a macro photographic position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
A zoom lens and driving system having a variable focal length according to claim 1, wherein said second control means includes means for moving said zoom lens into a macro photographic position located beyond one of said first and second extreme positions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
A zoom lens and driving system according to claim 1, in combination with a still camera.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
A zoom lens and driving system according to claim 10, wherein said camera has separate finder and photographic optical axes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
A zoom lens according to claim 1, wherein said second control means is incapable of moving said zoom lens into any focal length position within said predetermined range.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
215 words
A device for a zoom lens adapted for use in a still camera, said zoom lens having a continuously variable focal length, said device comprising: a zoom lens having a variable focal length and at least one optical component mounted for movement, within a predetermined range, in order to vary the focal length of said zoom lens; a motor for driving said at least one optical component to vary the focal length of said zoom lens, said motor comprising means for driving said at least one optical component within said range and into two positions defining opposite extreme ends of said range; separate, independently operable first and second control means including switch means for controlling said motor, and thereby selecting a focal length for said at least one optical component said first control means comprising means for controlling said motor to drive said at least one optical component to a selected focal length within said range, including to said two positions, said second control means comprising means for driving said at least one optical component directly to one of the extreme ends of said range, as determined by said second control means, said second control means thereby comprising means for directly moving said at least one optical component to both of said two extreme ends.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
215 words
A device for a zoom lens adapted for use in a still camera, said zoom lens having a continuously variable focal length, said device comprising: a zoom lens having a variable focal length and at least one optical component mounted for movement, within a predetermined range, in order to vary the focal length of said zoom lens; a motor for driving said at least one optical component to vary the focal length of said zoom lens, said motor comprising means for driving said at least one optical component within said range and into two positions defining opposite extreme ends of said range; separate, independently operable first and second control means including switch means for controlling said motor, and thereby selecting a focal length for said at least one optical component said first control means comprising means for controlling said motor to drive said at least one optical component to a selected focal length within said range, including to said two positions, said second control means comprising means for driving said at least one optical component directly to one of the extreme ends of said range, as determined by said second control means, said second control means thereby comprising means for directly moving said at least one optical component to both of said two extreme ends.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
52 words
A device for a zoom lens according to claim 13, wherein said control means comprises at least one first switch for moving said at least one optical component within said range, and at least one second switch for selectively moving said at least one optical component to either of said two positions.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
59 words
A device for a zoom lens according to claim 13, said control means further comprising a mode switch having a zoom position selectable by an operator and two further operational positions individually selectable by an operator, one operational position identifying one end position of said range and the other operational position identifying the other end position of said range.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device for a zoom lens according to claim 13, wherein said two end positions of said range comprise a first, wide angle position, and a second, telephoto position.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device for a zoom lens according to claim 13, said at least one optical component of said zoom lens being movable to a macro position beyond said telephoto end position.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device for a zoom lens according to claim 13, wherein said control means has a macro photographic position selectable by an operator.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device for a zoom lens according to claim 13, in combination with a still camera.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device for a zoom lens according to claim 19, wherein said camera has separate photographic and finder optical axes.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
A device for a zoom lens in accordance with claim 13, wherein said second control means is incapable of moving said at least one optical component to any focal length position within said predetermined range.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device in accordance with claim 13, wherein said second control means comprises means for moving said at least one optical component to an extreme wide angle position directly from an inoperative photographic position.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
160 words
A power zoom device for continuously varying the focal length of a photographing optical system adapted to be used in a still camera, wherein said focal length is varied by a power source, said device comprising separate, independently operable first and second control means for controlling movement of said photographing optical system, said first control means comprising means for moving said optical system within a predetermined range bounded by a first position corresponding to the shortest focal length of said system and a second position corresponding to the longest focal length of said system, said second control means comprising switching means for moving said optical system directly to a position corresponding either to the shortest focal length of said system or the longest focal length of said system, as determined by said second control means, said second control means being capable of moving said optical system to both said shortest focal length position and to said longest focal length position.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
160 words
A power zoom device for continuously varying the focal length of a photographing optical system adapted to be used in a still camera, wherein said focal length is varied by a power source, said device comprising separate, independently operable first and second control means for controlling movement of said photographing optical system, said first control means comprising means for moving said optical system within a predetermined range bounded by a first position corresponding to the shortest focal length of said system and a second position corresponding to the longest focal length of said system, said second control means comprising switching means for moving said optical system directly to a position corresponding either to the shortest focal length of said system or the longest focal length of said system, as determined by said second control means, said second control means being capable of moving said optical system to both said shortest focal length position and to said longest focal length position.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
13 words
A device according to claim 23, wherein said power source comprises a motor.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device according to claim 23, wherein said shortest focal length position comprises an extreme wide angle position.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device according to claim 23, wherein said longest focal length position comprises an extreme telephoto position.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
39 words
A device according to claim 23, wherein said switching means comprises at least a first switch, said first switch comprising means for selectively moving said photographing optical system directly into one of said shortest and longest focal length positions.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device according to claim 27, wherein said first switch comprises means for moving said optical system into said shortest focal length position from an inoperative photographing position.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
41 words
A device according to claim 23, wherein said second control means is incapable of moving said photographing optical system to any focal length position in a zoom range located between said shortest focal length position and said longest focal length position.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device according to claim 27, wherein said first switch further comprises means for moving said photographing optical system into a position closely adjacent to, and slightly beyond, said longest focal length position.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device according to claim 30, wherein said first switch comprises means for selectively moving said photographing optical system only into one of said shortest focal length, longest focal length, or closely adjacent positions.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device according to claim 30, wherein said closely adjacent, and slightly beyond, position comprises a macro-photographing position.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
12 words
A device according to claim 23, in combination with a still camera.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device according to claim 33, said camera having separate finder and photographic optical axes.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device in accordance with claim 28, wherein said first switch further comprises means for moving said optical system into said longest focal length position from a macro-photographing position.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
133 words
A zoom lens camera comprising: (a) a zoom lens capable of moving into a plurality of positions within a predetermined zooming range bound by first and second extreme focal length positions; (b) means for driving said zoom lens; (c) first control means for moving said zoom lens in response to operation of a first switch, said first control means including means for moving said zoom lens into a focal length position within said range related to the position of said zoom lens when said first switch operation is terminated; and (d) second control means for directly moving said zoom lens either to said first or said second extreme focal length position said second control means being capable of moving said zoom lens to both said first and said second extreme focal length positions.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
133 words
A zoom lens camera comprising: (a) a zoom lens capable of moving into a plurality of positions within a predetermined zooming range bound by first and second extreme focal length positions; (b) means for driving said zoom lens; (c) first control means for moving said zoom lens in response to operation of a first switch, said first control means including means for moving said zoom lens into a focal length position within said range related to the position of said zoom lens when said first switch operation is terminated; and (d) second control means for directly moving said zoom lens either to said first or said second extreme focal length position said second control means being capable of moving said zoom lens to both said first and said second extreme focal length positions.
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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) | 1995-11-10 | 1996-05-11 | 1996-11-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-11-10 | 2000-05-11 | 2000-11-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-11-10 | 2004-05-11 | 2004-11-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |