Lens-driving device for camera

Claim 2

A lens-driving device for a camera that includes a photographing lens having at least one specific lens group that is movable in an optical axis direction, comprising: lens driving means for driving said at least one specific lens group between a photographing position and an accommodated position; a memory for storing a photographing position occupied by said at least one specific lens group upon an occurrence of a certain event; and means for controlling a movement of said at least one specific lens group, by said lens driving means, to return said at least one specific lens group to said photographing position stored in said memory upon an occurrence of a predetermined event, said at least one specific lens group performing a focus adjustment.

Claim 3

A lens-driving device according to claim 1, wherein said camera body has a main switch for switching ON/OFF an electrical supply to said lens driving means and said controlling means, and wherein said controlling means moves said at least one specific lens group to said accommodated position when said main switch is turned OFF, said controlling means moving said at least one specific lens group to said photographing position when said main switch is turned ON.

Claim 4

A lens-driving device according to claim 1, wherein said accommodating position comprises a most compact condition of said lens.

Claim 5

A lens-driving device according to claim 1, further comprising switch means for changing a condition of said camera between said photographing position and said accommodated position, said controlling means operating said lens driving means when said switch means changes over.

Claim 6

A lens-driving device according to claim 4, wherein said control means comprises an accommodation control means for driving said lens driving means so as to move said at least one specific lens group to said accommodated position when said switch means switches to an accommodated state, and a resumption control means for driving said lens driving means on the basis of said lens position stored in said memory so as to return said at least one specific lens group to said photographing position occupied just before an accommodating operation occurs, when said switch means changes over to said photographing state.

Claim 7

A lens-driving device according to claim 5, wherein said photographing lens is detachably formed on a camera body, said camera body having a main switch for switching ON/OFF an electrical supply to said lens driving means and said controlling means, and wherein said switch means is adapted to change over to said photographing state when said main switch is turned ON, and over to said accommodated state when said main switch is turned OFF.

Claim 8

A lens-driving device according to claim 1, wherein said photographing lens is detachably attached to a camera body.

Claim 9

A lens-driving device according to claim 7, wherein said at lest one specific lens group comprises a variable lens group which moves in an optical axis direction, varying an aerial space therebetween, so as to change a focal length of said photographing lens.

Claim 10

A lens-driving device according to claim 8, wherein said lens drive means also functions as a zoom mechanism for driving said variable lens group so as to said focal length of said photographing lens.

Claim 11

A lens-driving device according to claim 9, wherein said camera further comprises a zoom code plate for detecting a position of said variable lens group, said memory being adapted to store position information of said variable lens group that is detected by said zoom code plate.

Claim 12

A lens-driving device according to claim 10, wherein said lens drive means comprises a PZ motor within said photographing lens.

Claim 13

A lens-driving device according to claim 1, wherein said lens drive means also functions as a focus mechanism for driving said focal lens group so as to perform focusing.

Claim 14

A lens-driving device according to claim 12, further comprising a distance code plate for detecting a position of said focal lens group, said memory being adapted to store distance information that is detected by said distance code plate.

Claim 15

A lens-driving device according to claim 12, wherein said lens drive means comprises an AF motor within said camera body.

Claim 16

A lens-driving device according to claim 14, wherein said camera body includes said switch means, said control means, and wherein said photographing lens includes said lens drive means.

Claim 17

A lens-driving device according to claim 1, wherein said accommodated position of said specific lens group is at a position in which the overall length of photographing lens is shortest.

Claim 18

The lens-driving devices of claim 1, wherein said at least one specific lens group comprises a zooming lens group for performing a zooming operation and a focusing lens group for performing a focusing operation.

Claim 19

A lens-driving device for a camera that includes a photographing lens having at least one specific lens group that is movable in an optical axis direction, and lens driving means for driving said at least one specific lens group in an optical axis direction, comprising: switch means for changing a condition of said camera between a photographing state and an accommodated state; a memory for storing a photographing position occupied by said at least one specific lens group when said switch means switches from said photographing state to said accommodated state; accommodation control means for driving said lens drive means so as to displace said at least one specific lens group to an accommodation position when said switch means switches to said accommodated state; and resumption control means for driving said lens drive means on the basis of said position stored in said memory so as to return said at least one specific lens group from said accommodation position to said stored position of said at least one specific lens group, when said switch means changes over to said photographing state, said at least one specific lens group being movable in an optical axis direction so as to perform a focus adjustment.

Claim 20

A lens-driving device for a camera that includes a photographing lens having at least one specific lens group that is movable in an optical axis direction, and lens driving means for driving said at least one specific lens group in an optical axis direction, comprising: switch means for changing a condition of said camera between a photographing state and an accommodated state; a memory for storing a photographing position occupied by said at least one specific lens group when said switch means switches from said photographing state to said accommodated state; accommodation control means for driving said lens drive means so as to displace said at least one specific lens group to an accommodation position when said switch means switches to said accommodated state; and resumption control means for driving said lens drive means on the basis of said position stored in said memory so as to return said at least one specific lens group from said accommodation position to said stored position of said at least one specific lens group, when said switch means changes over to said photographing state, said at least one specific lens group being movable in an optical axis direction so as to perform a focus adjustment.

Claim 21

A lens-driving device according to claim 18, wherein said camera body has a main switch for switching ON/OFF an electrical supply to said switch means, said accommodation control means and said resumption control means, and wherein said accommodation control means drives said at least one specific lens group to said accommodation position when said main switch is turned OFF, and said resumption control means operates to return said at least one specific lens group to said photographing state when said main switch is turned ON.

Claim 22

A lens-driving device according to claim 18, wherein said accommodating position comprises a most compact condition of said lens.

Claim 23

A lens-driving device according to claim 18, wherein said photographing lens is detachably attached to a camera body.

Claim 24

The lens-driving device of claim 18, wherein said at least one specific lens group comprises a zooming lens group for performing a zooming operation and a focusing lens group for performing a focusing operation.

Claim 27

The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said autofocus lens comprises a power zoom autofocus lens.

Claim 28

The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said accommodation operation of an autofocus portion of said power zoom autofocus lens and said return of said autofocus portion of said power zoom autofocus lens to said photographing position is performed by a processor associated with a camera body of said camera, while said accommodation operation of a power zoom portion of said power zoom autofocus lens and said return of said power zoom portion of said power zoom autofocus lens to said photographing position is performed by a processor associated with said lens.

Claim 29

The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising a distance code plate that detects a position of said autofocus lens, said memory storing distance information that is detected by said distance code plate.

Claim 30

The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising: a distance code plate that detects a position of an autofocus portion of said power zoom autofocus lens, said memory storing distance information that is detected by said distance code plate; and a zoom code plate that detects a position of a power zoom portion of said power zoom autofocus lens, said memory storing position information that is detected by said zoom code plate.

Claim 31

The apparatus of claim 23, said autofocus lens comprising: a zoom lens group movable to perform a zooming operation; and a focus lens group movable to perform a focusing operation.

Claim 32

A lens-driving device for a camera, comprising: means for driving a lens associated with said camera in a direction that varies an overall length of said lens, said length of said lens being variable during a zooming operation and a focusing operation; and means for controlling said driving means upon the occurrence of a first predetermined event to accommodate said lens, said accommodation reducing the length of said lens to a minimal length, wherein said driving means operates a motor to accommodate said lens, said driving means producing a series of pulses representing an amount of rotation of said motor required to accommodate said lens, said series of pulses being utilized by said controlling means to control said driving means to return said lens to a position just prior to said accommodation of said lens in response to the occurrence of a second predetermined event.

Claim 33

A lens-driving device for a camera, comprising: means for driving a lens associated with said camera in a direction that varies an overall length of said lens, said length of said lens being variable during a zooming operation and a focusing operation; and means for controlling said driving means upon the occurrence of a first predetermined event to accommodate said lens, said accommodation reducing the length of said lens to a minimal length, wherein said driving means operates a motor to accommodate said lens, said driving means producing a series of pulses representing an amount of rotation of said motor required to accommodate said lens, said series of pulses being utilized by said controlling means to control said driving means to return said lens to a position just prior to said accommodation of said lens in response to the occurrence of a second predetermined event.

Claim 34

The lens driving device of claim 29, wherein said first predetermined event comprises a manipulation of a power switch to turn said camera OFF, and said second predetermined event comprises a manipulation of said power switch to turn said camera ON.

Claim 35

The lens-driving device of claim 29, further comprising a memory for storing data of said pulses.

Claim 36

The lens-driving device of claim 29, wherein said lens comprises a zooming lens group for performing a zooming operation and a focusing lens group for performing a focusing operation.

Claim 39

The apparatus of claim 33, wherein said first predetermined event comprises a means for turning said apparatus OFF that is manipulated to turn said apparatus OFF, and said second predetermined event comprises a means for turning said apparatus ON that is manipulated to turn said apparatus ON.

Claim 40

The apparatus of claim 33, said lens comprising a zooming lens group for performing said zooming operation and a focusing lens group for performing said focusing operation.

Claim 41

A lens-driving device for a camera that includes a lens having a focal lens group that is movable in an optical axis direction to perform a focus adjustment, comprising: means for changing a condition of said camera between a photographing state and an accommodating state; a memory for storing data representing a position occupied by said lens when said changing means changes said condition of said camera to said accommodation state; means for accommodating said focal lens group of said lens so as to reduce an overall length of said lens when said changing means changes said condition of said camera to said accommodating state; and means for resuming said photographing state in accordance with data stored in said memory when said changing means changes said condition of said camera to said photographing state.

Claim 42

A lens-driving device for a camera that includes a lens having a focal lens group that is movable in an optical axis direction to perform a focus adjustment, comprising: means for changing a condition of said camera between a photographing state and an accommodating state; a memory for storing data representing a position occupied by said lens when said changing means changes said condition of said camera to said accommodation state; means for accommodating said focal lens group of said lens so as to reduce an overall length of said lens when said changing means changes said condition of said camera to said accommodating state; and means for resuming said photographing state in accordance with data stored in said memory when said changing means changes said condition of said camera to said photographing state.

Claim 43

The lens-driving device of claim 36, said lens further comprising a zoom lens group that is movable in an optical axis direction to perform a zooming adjustment.

Claim 46

The apparatus of claim 38, wherein said returning means returns said lens to said photographing position when a power switch is turned ON.

Claim 47

The apparatus of claim 39, wherein said driving means operates a motor that produces a series of pulses representing an amount of rotation of said motor to drive said lens to said accommodation position, said returning means using said series of pulses to return said lens to said photographing position.

Claim 48

The apparatus of claim 38, said lens comprising a zooming lens group movable to perform a zooming operation and a focusing lens group movable to perform a focusing operation.

Claim 49

The apparatus of claim 38, wherein said photographing position comprises one of a plurality of focus positions.