Photography – Having variable focal length of camera objective – Having direct viewfinder
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-28
2001-02-06
Lee, Eddie C. (Department: 2851)
Photography
Having variable focal length of camera objective
Having direct viewfinder
C396S175000, C396S177000, C396S379000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06185375
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a finder mechanism and a drive mechanism, for use in a camera, which are projected and retracted in step with an imaging optical system.
2. Related Art Statement
A mechanism for driving a camera view finder is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 8-313975. With a lens barrel interlocked with a view finder cam, the view finder drive mechanism projects and retracts a view finder optical system in step with the lens barrel that is projected, retracted and rotated. The view finder drive mechanism helps the make camera compact.
The camera with the above view finder drive mechanism includes an imaging lens barrel that is rotatable about an optical axis and movable between a projected position and a retracted position, a view finder having a lens movable along the optical axis, and a long gear and cam shaft for transferring the rotation of the lens barrel to the movable lens during the projection and retraction of the lens barrel. By means of the long gear and cam shaft, the rotary force of the lens barrel is transferred to the movable lens of the view finder to vary the magnification of the movable lens.
In the finder drive mechanism disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 8-313975, the lens barrel and the view finder cam are adjusted in phase with one another during assembly. This necessitates additional manufacturing steps, thereby increasing manufacturing costs. If an error occurs in an assembly process, disassembly and a reassembly of the camera will be required.
Disassembly and reassembly of the camera are also required when gears in a drive power transfer system in the view finder drive deviate as a result of gear tooth slippage.
The same problem is encountered not only in the view finder drive mechanism but also in a pop-up flash unit. As a unit driven together with the lens barrel, the pop-up flash unit is projected to its flashing position (pop-up position) from its retracted position in a camera body when the imaging lens is projected from its photograph-disable position (retracted position) to its photograph-enable position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a camera view finder mechanism which is easily assembled and aligned in relative position without paying particular attention to a zoom position deviation in a view finder optical system during an assembly process or when deviations takes place. The present invention also provides a camera drive mechanism, other than the camera optical finder mechanism, which is easily assembled and aligned in relative position without paying particular attention to a relative position deviation from an imaging lens position during an assembly process or when the deviation takes place.
In one aspect, the camera finder mechanism of the present invention includes a view finder optical system having a plurality of lenses, a drive source for generating driving power, and drive power transfer mechanism including a clutch, for transferring the driving power from the drive source to the finder optical system via the clutch The drive source drives the drive power transfer mechanism, causing the view finder optical system to be projected and retracted via the clutch.
In another aspect, the camera drive mechanism of the present invention includes a lens barrel that is projected and retracted in the direction of an optical axis, a movable member that moves in response to the state of the lens barrel, a drive source for driving the lens barrel and the movable member, drive power transfer mechanism for transferring driving power from the drive source to the lens barrel and the movable member, clutch arranged on the drive power transfer means. The drive source drives the drive power transfer mechanism, causing the view finder optical system to be projected and retracted via the clutch.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the invention comprises: a zoom lens whose focal length is variable and is adjustable between a telephoto and a wide angle position, said zoom lens including at least a pair of moveable lenses which move relative to one another to adjust said focal length of said zoom lens; a zoom view finder whose focal length is adjustable between a telephoto and a wide angle position, said zoom view finder including at least a pair of moveable lenses which move relative to one another to adjust said focal length of said zoom view view finder; a source of motive force; a transmission which applies said motive force to said zoom lens and said zoom view view finder so that said focal lengths of said zoom view view finder and said zoom lens will normally be adjusted in unison, but which permits said focal length of one of said zoom lens and said zoom view view finder to be adjusted independently of said focal length of the other of said zoom lens and said zoom view view finder.
In the preferred embodiment, the focal length and the zoom lens and the zoom view view finder may be adjusted independently of the focal length of the other of the zoom lens and the zoom view view finder when one of the zoom lens and zoom view finder reaches its telephoto or wide angle position before the other of said zoom lens and said zoom view view finder reaches its telephoto or wide angle position.
The present invention is also directed towards a process for adjusting the focal alignment of a zoom lens and a zoom view finder, said a zoom lens having a focal length which is variable between a telephoto and a wide angle position, said zoom lens including at least a pair of moveable lenses which move relative to one another, said zoom view finder having a focal length which is adjustable between a telephoto and a wide angle position, said zoom view finder including at least a pair of moveable lenses which move relative to one another, said focal lengths of said zoom lens and said zoom view finder normally being adjusted in unison but, due to the presence of a clutch in the gear train applying power to at least one of said zoom lens and zoom view view finder, may have its focal length adjusted independently of one another, said process comprising the acts of: moving said zoom lens into one of its telephoto and wide-angle positions and, while said zoom lens is in said one of its positions, moving said zoom view view finder into its corresponding telephoto and wide-angle positions.
The invention also is directed towards a process for adjusting the alignment of the respective focal lengths of a zoom lens and a zoom view view finder which are normally adjusted in unison but, due to the presence of a clutch in the gear train applying power to at least one of said zoom lens and zoom view view finder, may be adjusted independently of one another, said zoom lens and said telephoto lenses each being movable between a telephoto and a wide-angle position, said process comprising the acts of: initially placing said zoom lens and said zoom view view finder in a camera with said focal lengths of said zoom lens and said zoom view view finder being misaligned, moving said zoom lens into one of its telephoto and wide-angle positions and, while said zoom lens is in said position, and moving said zoom view view finder into its corresponding telephoto or wide-angle position.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4945372 (1990-07-01), Higuchi et al.
patent: 4951074 (1990-08-01), Ueda
patent: 5539490 (1996-07-01), Kang et al.
patent: 5734931 (1998-03-01), Inoue et al.
patent: 5790908 (1998-08-01), Matsuda
patent: 5832317 (1998-11-01), Shimizu
patent: 8313975 (1996-11-01), None
Lee Eddie C.
Olympus Optical Co,. Ltd.
Ostrolenk Faber Gerb & Soffen, LLP
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