Patent US2154521A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5678093A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Camera
Assignee: Olympus Corp
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Filing: 1996-04-18
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Granted: 1997-10-14
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Expires: 2016-04-18
Abstract
Abstract A camera having: a substantially cylindrical-shaped, rotatable cam, limited to rotate unidirectionally. A drive belt conveys rotation of the rotary member, which rotates due to zooming of lens array, to drive the cam. A viewfinder optical system including a stationary objective lens, two prisms, a stationary eyepiece lens, and two variable-power lenses, when coupled with the cam member, advances or withdraws along the optical-axis during movement. An eyepiece variable-power lens is inserted into the optical path of the viewfinder optical system. A viewfinder panoramic field mask is united with an eyepiece variable-power lens. Upper and lower masks change picture size. A first rack extends in a moving direction of the masks. A second rack extends in a moving direction of the viewfinder panoramic field mask. A panoramic-mode setting gear engages the two racks. A plurality of panoramic-mode parallax compensation marks appear at a trimmed range position within the viewfinder field mask. Normal picture size-mode parallax compensation marks are removed from the field during a high power. A viewfinder objective lens sliding axis pin retained by the objective lens or first prism, guides the two variable-power lenses along the optical axis. One end of a viewfinder lens base retained by the stationary objective lens or first prism, has a ditch restraining rotation of the two variable-power lenses about the viewfinder objective lens sliding axis.
Inventors
- 👤 Yasuo Asakura
- 👤 Setsuya Kataoka
- 👤 Yoshihiro Maeda
- 👤 Keita Takahashi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 11:21
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B13/00; G03B13/02; G03B13/10; G03B13/12; G03B13/14; G03B17/00; G03B17/42; G03B17/425
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
A camera, comprising: a cylindrical member supported to freely rotate; a yieldable constraining member for constraining said cylindrical member to rotate in a given direction; a rotary member rotated responsive to a zooming movement of a photographing lens array; a belt member for conveying rotational motion of said rotary member to said cylindrical member to drive said cylindrical member; and a viewfinder optical system that, when coupled with an outer circumference of said cylindrical member by means of a cam, selectively advances or withdraws in an optical-axis direction responsive to a zooming movement of said photographing lens array.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
98 words
A camera, comprising: a cylindrical member supported to freely rotate; a yieldable constraining member for constraining said cylindrical member to rotate in a given direction; a rotary member rotated responsive to a zooming movement of a photographing lens array; a belt member for conveying rotational motion of said rotary member to said cylindrical member to drive said cylindrical member; and a viewfinder optical system that, when coupled with an outer circumference of said cylindrical member by means of a cam, selectively advances or withdraws in an optical-axis direction responsive to a zooming movement of said photographing lens array.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A camera according to claim 1, wherein said belt member has opposing ends thereof respectively fixed to said cylindrical member and said rotary member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
A camera according to claim 1, wherein said cylindrical member has a cam means that has a twisted slope, and said viewfinder optical system includes a viewfinder variable-power lens having a cam follower that abuts said cam means and a second yieldable constraining means for constraining said cam follower of said viewfinder variable-power lens to abut said cam means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A camera according to claim 1, wherein said belt member is a flexible belt having first and second ends respectively wound about cylindrical portions of said driving member and said driven member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
A camera according to claim 4, wherein of end of said flexible belt unwinds about one of said cylindrical portions as another end of said flexible belt winds about another one of said cylindrical portions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
68 words
A camera according to claim 4, wherein said constraining member is a spring said spring yielding its biasing force when said cylindrical member is rotated in a first direction due to unwinding of said belt about the cylindrical member and urging said cylindrical member to rotate in a second direction to wind said flexible belt about said cylindrical member when said belt in unwound from said rotary member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
A camera according to claim 1, wherein said rotary member and said cylindrical member are arranged a spaced distance apart, at least a portion of said viewfinder optical system being positioned between said cylindrical member and said rotary member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
A camera according to claim 7, wherein an intermediate portion of said belt moves along a path adjacent to said portion of viewfinder optical system which is positioned to permit said belt intermediate portion to move without interference from said viewfinder optical system thereby providing a compact arrangement.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
A camera according to claim 4 wherein said rotary member and said cylindrical member are arranged a spaced distance apart, said belt being of a length sufficient to extend said spaced distance.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
67 words
A camera having a zoom viewfinder, comprising: an optical system for zooming; a driven member to be driven responsive to a zooming movement; a zoom viewfinder optical system; a driving member for driving said zoom viewfinder optical system; and a flexible coupling member for coupling said driven member to said driving member to impart a driving force from at least said driving member to said driven member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
67 words
A camera having a zoom viewfinder, comprising: an optical system for zooming; a driven member to be driven responsive to a zooming movement; a zoom viewfinder optical system; a driving member for driving said zoom viewfinder optical system; and a flexible coupling member for coupling said driven member to said driving member to impart a driving force from at least said driving member to said driven member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
105 words
A camera, comprising: a cylindrical member supported to freely rotate; a yieldable constraining member for constraining said cylindrical member to rotate in a given direction; a rotary member rotated responsive to a movement for varying a power of a first optical system; a flexible belt member for conveying rotational motion of said rotary member to said cylindrical member to drive said cylindrical member; and a second optical system that, when engaged by cam means along an outer circumference of said cylindrical member, moves to vary a power of said second optical system responsive to said movement for varying the power of said first optical system.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
105 words
A camera, comprising: a cylindrical member supported to freely rotate; a yieldable constraining member for constraining said cylindrical member to rotate in a given direction; a rotary member rotated responsive to a movement for varying a power of a first optical system; a flexible belt member for conveying rotational motion of said rotary member to said cylindrical member to drive said cylindrical member; and a second optical system that, when engaged by cam means along an outer circumference of said cylindrical member, moves to vary a power of said second optical system responsive to said movement for varying the power of said first optical system.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
77 words
A camera, comprising: a cylindrical member supported to freely rotate; a constraining member for yieldable constraining said cylindrical member to rotate in a given direction; a rotary member rotated responsive to a movement for varying a power of a first optical system; a belt member for conveying rotational motion of said rotary member to said cylindrical member to drive said cylindrical member; and a second optical system whose power is varied with rotation of said cylindrical member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
77 words
A camera, comprising: a cylindrical member supported to freely rotate; a constraining member for yieldable constraining said cylindrical member to rotate in a given direction; a rotary member rotated responsive to a movement for varying a power of a first optical system; a belt member for conveying rotational motion of said rotary member to said cylindrical member to drive said cylindrical member; and a second optical system whose power is varied with rotation of said cylindrical member.
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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) | 2000-10-13 | 2001-04-14 | 2001-10-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-10-13 | 2005-04-14 | 2005-10-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-10-13 | 2009-04-14 | 2009-10-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |