US6667770B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic image pickup apparatus
Assignee: Olympus Corp
•
Filing: 1998-09-08
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Granted: 2003-12-23
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Expires: 2018-09-08
Abstract
Abstract An electronic image pickup apparatus according to the present invention includes a holding barrel, a lens frame supported by guide shafts inside the holding barrel and slidable and moveable in a direction of an optical axis, a light beam adjusting unit including an aperture and/or shutter for mechanically adjusting a light beam passing through the lens frame, and an image pickup element for converting an object image passed through the light beam adjusting unit to an electrical signal. The light beam adjusting unit comprises a base plate arranged perpendicular to the optical axis inside the lens barrel, an aperture member and/or a shutter member attached to the base plate, and an aperture driver for driving the aperture member and/or a shutter driver for driving the shutter member, arranged on the base plate.
Inventors
- 👤 Tatsuji Higuchi
- 👤 Kenichi Aoki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 22:22
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/50; H04N23/55
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
246 words
An electronic image pickup apparatus comprising: a holding barrel; a guide shaft inside the holding barrel and parallel to a center axis of the holding barrel; a movable lens frame group guided by the guide shaft and movable in a direction of an optical axis in the holding barrel; a light beam adjusting unit for mechanically adjusting a light beam passing through the movable lens frame group; an image pickup element of charge-storage type to convert an object image passed through the light beam adjusting unit to an electrical signal; and said light beam adjusting unit including: a base plate arranged perpendicular to the optical axis inside the holding barrel; an aperture driver and a shutter driver located on the base plate; an aperture member located on the base plate and driven by the aperture driver to perform a lens stopping operation when current is supplied to the aperture driver, thereby restricting a light beam incident on the image pickup element; a shutter member located on the base plate and driven by the shutter driver to perform a shielding operation to shield the image pickup element from the light beam; and current supply control means for controlling current supply to start current supply to the shutter driver causing the shutter to close when a charge transfer operation of the image pickup element is started, after current supply to the aperture driver is cut off when a charge storage operation of the image pickup element is completed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
246 words
An electronic image pickup apparatus comprising: a holding barrel; a guide shaft inside the holding barrel and parallel to a center axis of the holding barrel; a movable lens frame group guided by the guide shaft and movable in a direction of an optical axis in the holding barrel; a light beam adjusting unit for mechanically adjusting a light beam passing through the movable lens frame group; an image pickup element of charge-storage type to convert an object image passed through the light beam adjusting unit to an electrical signal; and said light beam adjusting unit including: a base plate arranged perpendicular to the optical axis inside the holding barrel; an aperture driver and a shutter driver located on the base plate; an aperture member located on the base plate and driven by the aperture driver to perform a lens stopping operation when current is supplied to the aperture driver, thereby restricting a light beam incident on the image pickup element; a shutter member located on the base plate and driven by the shutter driver to perform a shielding operation to shield the image pickup element from the light beam; and current supply control means for controlling current supply to start current supply to the shutter driver causing the shutter to close when a charge transfer operation of the image pickup element is started, after current supply to the aperture driver is cut off when a charge storage operation of the image pickup element is completed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The electronic image pickup apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each of the aperture driver and the shutter driver comprises a solenoid plunger mechanism.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
The electronic image pickup apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising an aperture lever to drive the aperture member with driving force of the aperture driver and a shutter lever to drive the shutter member with driving force of the shutter driver, the aperture lever and the shutter lever having the same shape and located on the base plate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
204 words
An electronic image pickup apparatus comprising: a lens assembly having an optical axis; a light beam adjusting unit for mechanically adjusting a light beam passing through the lens assembly; an image pickup element of charge-storage type to convert an object image passed through the light beam adjusting unit to an electrical signal; and said light beam adjusting unit including: a base plate arranged perpendicular to the optical axis; an aperture driver and a shutter driver located on the base plate; an aperture member located on the base plate and driven by the aperture driver to perform a lens stopping operation when current is supplied to the aperture driver, thereby restricting a light beam incident on the image pickup element; a shutter member located on the base plate and driven by the shutter driver to perform a shielding operation to shield the image pickup element from the light beam; and current supply control means for controlling current supply to start current supply to the shutter driver causing the shutter to close when a charge transfer operation of the image pickup element is started, after current supply to the aperture driver is cut off when a charge storage operation of the image pickup element is completed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
204 words
An electronic image pickup apparatus comprising: a lens assembly having an optical axis; a light beam adjusting unit for mechanically adjusting a light beam passing through the lens assembly; an image pickup element of charge-storage type to convert an object image passed through the light beam adjusting unit to an electrical signal; and said light beam adjusting unit including: a base plate arranged perpendicular to the optical axis; an aperture driver and a shutter driver located on the base plate; an aperture member located on the base plate and driven by the aperture driver to perform a lens stopping operation when current is supplied to the aperture driver, thereby restricting a light beam incident on the image pickup element; a shutter member located on the base plate and driven by the shutter driver to perform a shielding operation to shield the image pickup element from the light beam; and current supply control means for controlling current supply to start current supply to the shutter driver causing the shutter to close when a charge transfer operation of the image pickup element is started, after current supply to the aperture driver is cut off when a charge storage operation of the image pickup element is completed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The electronic image pickup apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein each of the aperture driver and the shutter driver comprises a solenoid plunger mechanism.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
60 words
The electronic image pickup apparatus according to claim 4 , further comprising an aperture lever to drive the aperture member with driving force of the aperture driver and a shutter lever to drive the shutter member with driving force of the shutter driver, the aperture lever and the shutter lever having the same shape and located on the base plate.
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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) | 2006-12-22 | 2007-06-23 | 2007-12-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-12-22 | 2011-06-23 | 2011-12-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-12-22 | 2015-06-23 | 2015-12-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |