Patent US5679946A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5679946A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Photo-taking lens temperature compensation system
Assignee: Minolta Co Ltd
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Filing: 1996-06-24
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Granted: 1997-10-21
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Expires: 2016-06-24
Abstract
Abstract A system that is mounted in a camera capable of focal point detection and that performs correction of the focal point detection data in accordance with the temperature, wherein the temperature inside the photo-taking lens barrel is measured and the focal point detection data is corrected based on the temperature data for the interior of the photo-taking lens barrel. Using this construction, because the temperature of a lens element comprising the photo-taking lens can be accurately measured even where the ambient temperature of the camera has suddenly changed, for example, appropriate correction suitable for the temperature conditions may be performed. Also disclosed is a construction in which the correction of the focal point detection data is performed based on not only the temperature data but also the focal length data for the photo-taking lens. Using this construction, appropriate correction suitable for the temperature conditions may be performed even when, for example, the focal length of the photo-taking lens has changed.
Inventors
- 👤 Hiromu Mukai
- 👤 Yasumasa Sugihara
- 👤 Rieko Hasegawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 01:46
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B7/00; G02B7/02; G02B7/028
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
An optical device comprising: a lens system having at least one lens element, a lens barrel for containing the lens system therein, said lens barrel having a cylindrical surface and a cylindrical interior volume divided into an upper quadrant region, which is located between the center axis of said cylindrical interior volume and an upper quarter segment of said cylindrical surface, and a lower three quadrant region, which is located between said center axis and the remaining lower three quarter segment of said cylindrical surface; a temperature sensor which is provided inside of the lens barrel, said temperature sensor being located within said lower three quadrant region of said interior volume of said lens barrel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
115 words
An optical device comprising: a lens system having at least one lens element, a lens barrel for containing the lens system therein, said lens barrel having a cylindrical surface and a cylindrical interior volume divided into an upper quadrant region, which is located between the center axis of said cylindrical interior volume and an upper quarter segment of said cylindrical surface, and a lower three quadrant region, which is located between said center axis and the remaining lower three quarter segment of said cylindrical surface; a temperature sensor which is provided inside of the lens barrel, said temperature sensor being located within said lower three quadrant region of said interior volume of said lens barrel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The optical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lens system includes at least one sensitive lens element which is sensitive to temperature change.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The optical device as claimed in claim 2, where said temperature sensor is positioned substantially in the plane of the sensitive lens element and offset from the periphery thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The optical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said temperature sensor is located in the periphery of the lens element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The optical device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said lens element is sensitive to temperature change.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The optical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said temperature sensor is located between the lens element and said cylindrical surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
The optical device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a distance measuring device which measures a distance from the optical device to an object; and a correcting device which corrects the distance measured by said distance measuring device in accordance with the temperature sensed by said temperature sensor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The optical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lens system is a zoom lens system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
122 words
An optical device for a camera, said optical device comprising: a lens system having at least one lens element; a lens barrel for containing the lens system therein,, said lens barrel having a cylindrical surface and a cylindrical interior volume divided into an upper quadrant region which is located between the center axis of said cylindrical interior volume and an upper quarter segment of said cylindrical surface, and the remaining lower three quadrant region, which is located between said center axis and the remaining lower three quarter segment of said cylindrical surface; a temperature sensor which is provided inside of the lens barrel, said temperature sensor being located within said lower three quadrant region of said interior volume of said lens barrel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
122 words
An optical device for a camera, said optical device comprising: a lens system having at least one lens element; a lens barrel for containing the lens system therein,, said lens barrel having a cylindrical surface and a cylindrical interior volume divided into an upper quadrant region which is located between the center axis of said cylindrical interior volume and an upper quarter segment of said cylindrical surface, and the remaining lower three quadrant region, which is located between said center axis and the remaining lower three quarter segment of said cylindrical surface; a temperature sensor which is provided inside of the lens barrel, said temperature sensor being located within said lower three quadrant region of said interior volume of said lens barrel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The optical device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said correcting device corrects image point position data in accordance with the temperature sensed by said sensor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The optical device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said correcting device corrects a driving amount of a focusing lens of said lens system in accordance with the temperature.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The optical device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said lens system includes at least one sensitive lens element which is sensitive to temperature change.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The optical device as claimed in claim 12, where said temperature sensor is positioned substantially in the plane of the sensitive lens element and offset from the periphery thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The optical device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said temperature sensor is located in the periphery of the lens element.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The optical device as claimed in claim 14, wherein said lens element is sensitive to temperature change.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The optical device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said temperature sensor is located between the lens element and said cylindrical surface.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The optical device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said lens system is a zoom lens system.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of making an optical device comprising the step of providing a lens system which includes a lens element in a lens barrel, said lens barrel having a cylindrical surface and a cylindrical interior volume divided into an upper quadrant region, which is located between the center axis of said cylindrical interior volume and an upper quarter segment of said cylindrical surface, and a lower three quadrant region, which is located between said center axis and the remaining lower three quarter segment of said cylindrical surface; and providing a temperature sensor in the lens barrel within said lower three quadrant region offset interior volume of said lens barrel.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of making an optical device comprising the step of providing a lens system which includes a lens element in a lens barrel, said lens barrel having a cylindrical surface and a cylindrical interior volume divided into an upper quadrant region, which is located between the center axis of said cylindrical interior volume and an upper quarter segment of said cylindrical surface, and a lower three quadrant region, which is located between said center axis and the remaining lower three quarter segment of said cylindrical surface; and providing a temperature sensor in the lens barrel within said lower three quadrant region offset interior volume of said lens barrel.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said lens element is a sensitive lens which is sensitive to temperature change.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as claimed in claim 18 wherein said temperature sensor is located on the periphery of the lens element.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as claimed in claim 18 wherein said temperature sensor is located between the lens element and said cylindrical surface.
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-10-20 | 2001-04-21 | 2001-10-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-10-20 | 2005-04-21 | 2005-10-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
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