US5655159A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Camera with zooming lens barrel and coupled view finder
Assignee: Konica Minolta Inc
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Filing: 1995-10-02
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Granted: 1997-08-05
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Expires: 2015-10-02
Abstract
Abstract A camera having a zooming lens barrel. The zooming lens barrel includes: plural lens component; a guide portion for guiding one of the plural lens components along the guide portion in an optical axis direction of the plural lens components in which the guide portion has plural focal distance positions; a driver for moving one of the plural lens components along the guide portion in the optical axis direction; a movement controller for controlling the driver so as to move one of the plural lens components to a predetermined position. The guide portion includes a first area for performing focusing from the first focal distance position, a second area which is not used for focusing, and a third area for performing focusing from the second focal distance position.
Inventors
- 👤 Haruki Nakayama
- 👤 Satoshi Nakamoto
- 👤 Yuichi Honda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 18:51
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B7/00; G02B7/02; G02B7/04; G02B7/10; G02B7/102
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
248 words
A camera having a zooming lens barrel comprising (a) first lens components for forming an optical image of an object on a recording medium; (b) second lens components for visualizing said optical image; (c) a guide portion, on said zooming lens barrel, adapted to guide said first lens components in a direction parallel to an optical axis of said first lens components so that a field of view of said first lens components is continuously varied at least from a first field of view, through a second field of view narrower than said first field of view, a third field of view narrower than said second field of view, a fourth field of view narrower than said third field of view, to a fifth field of view narrower than said fourth field of view; and (d) a coupler for guiding said second lens components parallel to an optical axis of said second lens components in response to movement of said first lens components so that a field of view of said second lens components is varied stepwise at least from a sixth field of view, between said first field and said third field, through a seventh field of view, between said third field and said fourth field, to an eighth field of view, between said fourth field and said fifth field; and wherein an interval between said sixth field and said seventh field is substantially the same as an interval between said seventh field and said eighth field.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
248 words
A camera having a zooming lens barrel comprising (a) first lens components for forming an optical image of an object on a recording medium; (b) second lens components for visualizing said optical image; (c) a guide portion, on said zooming lens barrel, adapted to guide said first lens components in a direction parallel to an optical axis of said first lens components so that a field of view of said first lens components is continuously varied at least from a first field of view, through a second field of view narrower than said first field of view, a third field of view narrower than said second field of view, a fourth field of view narrower than said third field of view, to a fifth field of view narrower than said fourth field of view; and (d) a coupler for guiding said second lens components parallel to an optical axis of said second lens components in response to movement of said first lens components so that a field of view of said second lens components is varied stepwise at least from a sixth field of view, between said first field and said third field, through a seventh field of view, between said third field and said fourth field, to an eighth field of view, between said fourth field and said fifth field; and wherein an interval between said sixth field and said seventh field is substantially the same as an interval between said seventh field and said eighth field.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The camera of claim 1 wherein said second lens components constitute a view finder of said camera.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The camera of claim 1 wherein said coupler interconnects said first lens components with said second lens components.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
116 words
The camera of claim 1 wherein a first range of said field of view of said first lens component between said first field of view and said second field of view is used for focusing said optical image onto said recording medium; a second range of said field of view of said first lens component between said second field of view and said third field of view is not used for focusing said optical image onto said recording medium; and a third range of said field of view of said first lens component between said third field of view and said fourth field of view is used for focusing said optical image onto said recording medium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The camera of claim 1 wherein said guide portion is a cam.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
246 words
A camera having a zooming lens barrel comprising (a) first lens components for forming an optical image of an object on a recording medium; (b) second lens components for visualizing said optical image; (c) a guide portion, on said zooming lens barrel, adapted to guide said first lens components in a direction parallel to an optical axis of said first lens components so that a field of view of said first lens components is continuously varied at least from a first field of view, through a second field of view narrower than said first field of view, a third field of view narrower than said second field of view, a fourth field of view narrower than said third field of view, to a fifth field of view narrower than said fourth field of view; and a coupler for guiding said second lens components parallel to an optical axis of said second lens components in response to movement of said first lens components so that a field of view of said second lens components is carried stepwise at least from a sixth field of view, between said first field and said second field, through a seventh field of view, between said second field and said fourth field, to an eighth field of view, between said fourth field and said fifth field; wherein an interval between said sixth field and said seventh field is substantially the same as an interval between said seventh field and said eighth field.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
246 words
A camera having a zooming lens barrel comprising (a) first lens components for forming an optical image of an object on a recording medium; (b) second lens components for visualizing said optical image; (c) a guide portion, on said zooming lens barrel, adapted to guide said first lens components in a direction parallel to an optical axis of said first lens components so that a field of view of said first lens components is continuously varied at least from a first field of view, through a second field of view narrower than said first field of view, a third field of view narrower than said second field of view, a fourth field of view narrower than said third field of view, to a fifth field of view narrower than said fourth field of view; and a coupler for guiding said second lens components parallel to an optical axis of said second lens components in response to movement of said first lens components so that a field of view of said second lens components is carried stepwise at least from a sixth field of view, between said first field and said second field, through a seventh field of view, between said second field and said fourth field, to an eighth field of view, between said fourth field and said fifth field; wherein an interval between said sixth field and said seventh field is substantially the same as an interval between said seventh field and said eighth field.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The camera of claim 6 wherein said second lens components constitute a view finder of said camera.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The camera of claim 6 wherein said coupler interconnects said first lens components with said second lens components.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
116 words
The camera of claim 6 wherein a first range of said field of view of said first lens component between said first field of view and said second field of view is used for focusing said optical image onto said recording medium; a second range of said field of view of said first lens component between said second field of view and said third field of view is used for focusing said optical image onto said recording medium; and a third range of said field of view of said first lens component between said third field of view and said fourth field of view is not used for focusing said optical image onto said recording medium.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The camera of claim 6 wherein said guide portion is a cam member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5576779A
Cited
US5461443A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-08-04 | 2001-02-03 | 2001-08-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-08-04 | 2005-02-03 | 2005-08-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-08-04 | 2009-02-03 | 2009-08-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |