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US5793540A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Lens fixing structure

Assignee: Alps Alpine Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1996-10-08
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Granted: 1998-08-11
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Expires: 2016-10-08
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Abstract

Abstract A lens fixing structure obviates the need for using a U-shaped lens holder retaining member which is apt to cause incomplete laser welding and which adds to cost. According to the lens fixing structure, a lens is fixed as follows: firstly, only a lens holder is held by a retainer to position it in directions x, y, and z while it is being suspended with respect to a base; secondly, a pair of lens holder retaining members composed of magnet are attracted to the lens holder while they are placed on the base by another retainer or by hands; thirdly, another retainer or other retaining element is removed from the lens holder retaining members; and lastly, the lens holder retaining members and the base are fixed at predetermined points by laser welding and the lens holder retaining members and the lens holder are also fixed at other predetermined points by laser welding.

Inventors

  • 👤 Motohiko Ohtsuki
  • 👤 Kimihiro Kikuchi

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 20:41
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/42; G02B6/4201; G02B6/4219; G02B6/4236; G02B6/4237; G02B7/00; G02B7/02; G02B7/023

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim 87 words
A lens fixing structure comprising: a base; a pair of lens holder retaining members fixed to said base; a lens holder fixed to said lens holder retaining members in a state where it is suspended with respect to said base; and a lens retained by said lens holder; wherein either said lens holder or said lens holder retaining members are formed using a magnetic material and the other is formed using magnet, and said lens holder and said lens holder retaining members are fixed by laser welding.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 87 words
A lens fixing structure comprising: a base; a pair of lens holder retaining members fixed to said base; a lens holder fixed to said lens holder retaining members in a state where it is suspended with respect to said base; and a lens retained by said lens holder; wherein either said lens holder or said lens holder retaining members are formed using a magnetic material and the other is formed using magnet, and said lens holder and said lens holder retaining members are fixed by laser welding.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 41 words
A lens fixing structure according to claim 1, wherein said lens holder retaining members are formed using magnet and said base is formed using a magnetic material, and these lens holder retaining members and said base are fixed by laser welding.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 17 words
A lens fixing structure according to claim 2, wherein said magnet is one of iron/cobalt/chromium-based and iron/manganese/oxygen-based.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 17 words
A lens fixing structure according to claim 1, wherein said magnet is one of iron/cobalt/chromium-based and iron/manganese/oxygen-based.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

JPH02139506A Cited
US5499143A Cited
US5589990A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2001-08-10 2002-02-09 2002-08-11 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2005-08-10 2006-02-09 2006-08-11 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2009-08-10 2010-02-09 2010-08-11 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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