Operation switch of zoom lens camera

Claim 2

An operational switch in a camera body having a motor-driven zoom lens comprising: a switch member which is rotatable between an ON position and an OFF position about a first axis provided on said camera body; a recess in said camera body comprising a linear recess portion and a sector recess portion opposite said linear recess portion, wherein said switch member is positioned in said linear recess portion when in said OFF position, and said switch member is rotatable to be oppositely positioned in said sector recess portion to be in said ON position; and said switch member being further rotatable about a second axis only when said switch member is positioned in said ON position, said linear recess portion preventing rotation of said switch member about said second axis when said switch member is in said OFF position; wherein rotation of said switch member about said second axis actuates zooming of said motor-driven zoom lens such that rotation in one direction about said second axis performs zooming in a tele to wide direction, and rotation in a direction about said second axis opposite to said one direction performs zooming in a wide to tele direction, and wherein said second axis is normal to said first axis; said sector recess portion comprising a substantially planar surface which guides said rotation of said switch member about said second axis such that said switch member rotates in a plane which is substantially parallel with said substantially planar surface.

Claim 3

An operational switch according to claim 1, further comprising a battery circuit for said motor driven zoom lens, said battery circuit being turned ON and OFF when said switch member is positioned at said ON position and said OFF position, respectively.

Claim 4

An operational switch according to claim 1, wherein said recess is positioned in a top surface of said camera body.

Claim 5

An operational switch according to claim 3, wherein said switch member rotates in a plane substantially parallel to said top surface of said camera body when said switch member rotates about said second axis.

Claim 6

An operational switch for a camera body having a motor-driven zoom lens comprising: a first rotatable shaft located on said camera body; a switch member which is supported by said rotatable shaft and which is rotatable between an ON position and an OFF position about a second shaft which defines a first axis perpendicular to said first rotatable shaft; a recess in said camera body comprising a linear recess portion and a sector recess portion opposite said linear recess portion, wherein said switch member is positioned in said linear recess portion when in said OFF position, and said switch member is rotatable to be oppositely positioned in said sector recess portion to be in said ON position; said switch member being further rotatable about a second axis defined by said first rotatable shaft only when said switch member is positioned at said ON position, said linear recess portion preventing rotation of said switch member about said second axis when said switch member is in said OFF position, wherein rotation of said switch member about said second axis actuates zooming of said motor-driven zoom lens such that rotation in one direction about said second axis performs zooming in a tele to wide direction, and rotation in a direction about said second axis opposite to said one direction performs zooming in a wide to tele direction, said sector recess portion comprising a substantially planar surface which guides said rotation of said switch member about said second axis such that said switch member rotates in a plane which is substantially parallel with said substantially planar surface; a first switch mechanism for operating in accordance with the rotation of said switch member about said first axis; and, a second switch mechanism for operating in accordance with the rotation of said rotatable shaft.

Claim 7

An operational switch for a camera body having a motor-driven zoom lens comprising: a first rotatable shaft located on said camera body; a switch member which is supported by said rotatable shaft and which is rotatable between an ON position and an OFF position about a second shaft which defines a first axis perpendicular to said first rotatable shaft; a recess in said camera body comprising a linear recess portion and a sector recess portion opposite said linear recess portion, wherein said switch member is positioned in said linear recess portion when in said OFF position, and said switch member is rotatable to be oppositely positioned in said sector recess portion to be in said ON position; said switch member being further rotatable about a second axis defined by said first rotatable shaft only when said switch member is positioned at said ON position, said linear recess portion preventing rotation of said switch member about said second axis when said switch member is in said OFF position, wherein rotation of said switch member about said second axis actuates zooming of said motor-driven zoom lens such that rotation in one direction about said second axis performs zooming in a tele to wide direction, and rotation in a direction about said second axis opposite to said one direction performs zooming in a wide to tele direction, said sector recess portion comprising a substantially planar surface which guides said rotation of said switch member about said second axis such that said switch member rotates in a plane which is substantially parallel with said substantially planar surface; a first switch mechanism for operating in accordance with the rotation of said switch member about said first axis; and, a second switch mechanism for operating in accordance with the rotation of said rotatable shaft.

Claim 8

An operational switch according to claim 5, wherein said shaft is rotatable by said switch member.

Claim 9

An operational switch according to claim 5, wherein said recess is positioned in a top surface of said camera body.

Claim 10

An operational switch according to claim 7, wherein said switch member rotates in a plane substantially parallel to said top surface of said camera body when said switch member rotates about said second axis.

Claim 11

An operational switch according to claim 5, further comprising: a battery circuit for said motor driven zoom lens, said battery circuit being turned ON and OFF when said switch member is positioned at said ON position and said OFF position, respectively.

Claim 12

An operational switch according to claim 5, wherein said second switch mechanism comprises a zoom switch for zooming said motor-driven zoom lens.

Claim 13

An operational switch according to claim 10, wherein said second shaft comprises a lateral shaft provided on an upper surface of said camera body.

Claim 14

An operational switch according to claim 11, wherein said switch member is retracted into said camera body and projects from a rear surface of said camera body when said switch member is rotated to a forward position and a rearward position about said second shaft, respectively.

Claim 15

An operational switch for a camera body having a motor-driven zoom lens comprising: a switch member having first and second switch mechanisms wherein said switch member is rotatable about a first axis between an ON position and an OFF position; a battery circuit for said motor-driven zoom lens, said battery circuit being turned ON and OFF when said switch member is positioned at said ON position and said OFF position, respectively; and a recess in said camera body comprising a linear recess portion and a sector recess portion opposite said linear recess portion, wherein said switch member is positioned in said linear recess portion when in said OFF position, and said switch member is rotatable to be oppositely positioned in said sector recess portion to be in said ON position; said switch member operating said second switch mechanism in accordance with rotation of said switch member and a rotatable shaft about a second axis, perpendicular to said first axis and defined by said rotatable shaft, only when said switch member is positioned at said ON position, said linear recess portion preventing rotation of said switch member about said second axis when said switch member is in said OFF position; wherein rotation of said switch member and said rotatable shaft about said second axis actuates zooming of said motor-driven zoom lens such that rotation in one direction about said second axis performs zooming in a tele to wide direction, and rotation in a direction about said second axis opposite to said one direction performs zooming in a wide to tele direction.

Claim 16

An operational switch for a camera body having a motor-driven zoom lens comprising: a switch member having first and second switch mechanisms wherein said switch member is rotatable about a first axis between an ON position and an OFF position; a battery circuit for said motor-driven zoom lens, said battery circuit being turned ON and OFF when said switch member is positioned at said ON position and said OFF position, respectively; and a recess in said camera body comprising a linear recess portion and a sector recess portion opposite said linear recess portion, wherein said switch member is positioned in said linear recess portion when in said OFF position, and said switch member is rotatable to be oppositely positioned in said sector recess portion to be in said ON position; said switch member operating said second switch mechanism in accordance with rotation of said switch member and a rotatable shaft about a second axis, perpendicular to said first axis and defined by said rotatable shaft, only when said switch member is positioned at said ON position, said linear recess portion preventing rotation of said switch member about said second axis when said switch member is in said OFF position; wherein rotation of said switch member and said rotatable shaft about said second axis actuates zooming of said motor-driven zoom lens such that rotation in one direction about said second axis performs zooming in a tele to wide direction, and rotation in a direction about said second axis opposite to said one direction performs zooming in a wide to tele direction.

Claim 17

An operational switch according to claim 13, wherein said sector recess portion comprises a substantially planar surface which guides said rotation of said switch member about said second axis such that said switch member rotates in a plane which is substantially parallel with said substantially planar surface.

Claim 18

An operational switch according to claim 13, wherein said recess is positioned in a top surface of said camera body.

Claim 19

An operational switch according to claim 15, wherein said switch member rotates in a plane substantially parallel to said top surface of said camera body when said switch member rotates about said second axis.

Claim 20

An operational switch according to claim 13, further comprising: a linear recess in said camera body for preventing operation of said second switch member about said second axis when said switch member is in said OFF position.

Claim 21

An operational switch for a camera body having a motor-driven zoom lens comprising: a switch member having first and second switch means, wherein said switch member is rotatable between an operative position in which an associated battery circuit is turned ON by said first switch means and an inoperative position in which said battery circuit is turned OFF by said first switch means; a recess in said camera body comprising a linear recess portion and a sector recess portion opposite said linear recess portion, wherein said switch member is positioned in said linear recess portion when in said inoperative position, and said switch member is rotatable to be oppositely positioned in said sector recess portion to be in said operative position; said switch member operating said second switch means in accordance with the rotation of said switch member when said switch member is in the operative position; wherein said linear recess portion in the camera body prevents operation of said second switch means when said switch member is in the inoperative position, and said sector recess portion permits said switch member to operate said second switch means when said switch member is in the operative position.

Claim 22

An operational switch for a camera body having a motor-driven zoom lens comprising: a switch member having first and second switch means, wherein said switch member is rotatable between an operative position in which an associated battery circuit is turned ON by said first switch means and an inoperative position in which said battery circuit is turned OFF by said first switch means; a recess in said camera body comprising a linear recess portion and a sector recess portion opposite said linear recess portion, wherein said switch member is positioned in said linear recess portion when in said inoperative position, and said switch member is rotatable to be oppositely positioned in said sector recess portion to be in said operative position; said switch member operating said second switch means in accordance with the rotation of said switch member when said switch member is in the operative position; wherein said linear recess portion in the camera body prevents operation of said second switch means when said switch member is in the inoperative position, and said sector recess portion permits said switch member to operate said second switch means when said switch member is in the operative position.

Claim 23

An operational switch according to claim 18, wherein said sector recess portion comprises a substantially planar surface which guides said rotation of said switch member in said operative position, wherein said switch member rotates in a plane which is substantially parallel with said substantially planar surface.

Claim 24

An operational switch according to claim 18, wherein said recess is positioned in a top surface of said camera body.

Claim 25

An operational switch according to claim 20, wherein said switch member rotates in a plane substantially parallel to said top surface of said camera body when said switch member operates said second switch means.