Photography – Having variable focal length of camera objective – Power zoom
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-10
2001-12-25
Mahoney, Christopher E. (Department: 2851)
Photography
Having variable focal length of camera objective
Power zoom
C396S439000, C396S539000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06334029
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a camera having a motor-driven zoom lens incorporated with the camera.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a conventional camera having a motor-driven zoom lens incorporated therewith, a zoom lens drive mechanism portion which includes a zooming motor and a gear train, a battery chamber for accommodating a battery for supplying electric power to the zooming motor, and other portions of the camera are separately provided as independent parts of the camera body (main body). These portions are individually fixed to the camera body in assembly of the camera.
However, it is not easy to space-efficiently design and arrange these portions within the camera, which makes it difficult to design the camera small and compact. Furthermore, it is time-consuming as these portions need to be fixed to the camera body individually.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary object of the present invention is to provide a camera having a motor-driven zoom lens which has an interior structure that enables a small and compact camera design and also facilitates the assembly of the camera.
To achieve the object mentioned above, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a camera including: a rotatable zoom lens barrel which moves along an optical axis when rotated about the optical axis relative to a camera body; a motor having a drive shaft; a motor accommodating member, positioned in the camera body, in which the motor is provided; a gear train for transmitting rotation of the drive shaft to the zoom lens barrel; and a gear train accommodating member, positioned in the camera body, in which at least part of the gear train is provided; and a battery chamber, positioned in the camera body, in which a battery is loaded, wherein the motor accommodating member, the gear train accommodating member and the battery chamber are formed as one unit to be secured to the camera body.
Preferably, the motor accommodating member is formed to correspond to a shape of the motor.
Preferably, the motor is in the shape of a cylinder, the motor accommodating member being formed having a substantially cylindrical shape.
Preferably, the battery includes at least one cylindrical cell, the battery chamber being formed having a substantially cylindrical shape.
Preferably, the gear train accommodating member includes a plurality of small stub-axles on which corresponding gears of the gear train are rotatably fitted.
Preferably, the camera includes a cylindrical film chamber, the unit being positioned adjacent to the film chamber so that the axis of the cylindrical shape of the motor accommodating member extends substantially parallel to the axis of the cylindrical film chamber.
Preferably, the camera includes a cylindrical film chamber, the unit being positioned adjacent to the film chamber such that the axis of the cylindrical shape of the battery chamber extends substantially parallel to an axis of the film chamber.
Preferably, the gear train accommodating member is positioned between the zoom lens barrel and the zoom motor accommodating member.
Preferably, the camera body includes a grip portion, the unit being positioned inside the grip portion.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a camera having a zoom lens barrel driven by a motor to perform zooming, the camera including: a gear train for transmitting rotation of the motor to the zoom lens barrel; and an accommodating unit, provided as a separate part from the camera body of the camera, which is to be secured to the camera body when the camera is assembled, the accommodating unit including: a motor acommodating portion for accommodating the motor; a gear train accommodating portion for accommodating the gear train; and a battery chamber.
Preferably, the camera body includes a grip portion, the accommodating unit being positioned inside the grip portion.
Preferably, the camera body includes a film chamber, the accommodating unit being positioned in front of, and adjacent to, the film chamber.
The present disclosure relates to subject matter contained in Japanese Patent Application No. 9-346180 (filed on Dec. 16, 1997) which is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
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Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Greenblum & Bernstein P.L.C.
Mahoney Christopher E.
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