Nikon Corporation

Junichi Omi

Hidenori Miyamoto

Isao Soshi

Minoru Kato

Kiyosada Machida

Hiroshi Wakabayashi

Yoshio Imura

Tatsuo Amanuma

Minoru Katoh

Toshiyuki Nakamura

Noriyasu Kotani

Akio Nishizawa

Yoshihiro Takeuchi

Shuji Iijima

Hidefumi Ohta

Jirou Asami

Minoru Katou

Daiki Tsukahara

Hitoshi Aoki

Koichi Daitoku

Nobuhiko Terui

Yuji Katano

Chie Sogoh

Yoshihiro Takeuchii

A vibration reduction apparatus to stably control the driving of a vibration reduction optical system. A vibration reduction apparatushas a fixed portion, a moving portion--having a vibration reduction optical systemand moves in a plane perpendicular to an optical axis, relatively with respect to the fixed portion, a first detection portiondetects relative movement in a first direction Dof the moving portion and the fixed portion, a second detection portion detects relative movement in a second direction Dof the moving portion and the fixed portion, and a center of gravity adjusting memberdisposed at the moving portion such that a center of gravity position Gof the moving portion can be brought close to a crossing point C of each detection direction of the first detection portion and the second detection portion.

Vibration reduction apparatus with a center of gravity adjusting member to reduce detection errors and optical apparatus

A vibration reduction device includes: an optical system that comprises a vibration reduction optical system; a first driving unit that moves the vibration reduction optical system in a first direction; a second driving unit that moves the vibration reduction optical system in a second direction that differs from the first direction. An optical axis of the vibration reduction optical system is located between the first driving unit and the second driving unit.

Vibration reduction device and camera

A vibration reduction mechanism, comprising: a first moving member and a second moving member which move relatively at a time of image blur correction; a guide member which guides relative movements of the first moving member and the second moving member; a plurality of first engagement portions, aligned in a row, which engage the first moving member with the guide member by spherical or cylindrical surfaces and groove-shaped portions; and a plurality of second engagement portions, aligned in a row, which engage the second moving member with the guide member by spherical or cylindrical surfaces and groove-shaped portions, wherein a groove shape of at least either one of the plurality of the first engagement portions or the plurality of the second engagement portions is formed with an elongated hole shape extending along an alignment direction of the first engagement portions aligned in a row.

Vibration reduction mechanism and optical device

A cam drive mechanism includes: a cylinder in which a cam groove is formed from one end face of an inner circumferential surface toward another end with a forming mold; a drive target object that comprises a cam follower to engage in the cam groove and is linearly driven along a rotational axis of the cylinder as the cylinder rotates; and a pressing member that presses the cam follower against a cam surface constituting a side surface of the cam groove. The cam surface is formed to have varying gradients so as to enable adjustment of an extent of displacement of the drive target object per unit of rotational angle by which the cylinder rotates and the cam groove is formed in a shape that allows the forming mold to be extracted from the cylinder through rotational extraction.

Cam drive mechanism, lens barrel and camera

A vibration correction system for a camera using a correcting lens driven by a reduction gear train attached to a motor. Image deflection, originating from vibration and the like of the camera, is prevented by shifting the correcting lens. A movement detector, to detect the amount of movement of the correcting lens, is arranged near the drive shaft of the motor or near the first couple of gears of the reduction gear train. After the correcting lens has been driven, the connecting lens is reset to a predetermined standard position, based on the output of the movement detector. By placing the movement detector on or near the drive shaft, a high resolving power is obtained. Accordingly, the correcting lens can be shifted with fine precise movements, and accurate correction of image deflection becomes possible.

Vibration correction system for a camera

A camera having a lens barrier unit that opens without encountering obstructions in response to the operation of an operating member and without increasing the size of the lens barrel of the camera. The lens barrier unit covers the front surface of a photographic lens in a closed position, and moves clear of the front surface of the photographic lens in an open position. A sliding member, which is a separate member from the operating member, mechanically drives the lens barrier unit to an open position in response to the movement of an operating member by means of the operation for photographic preparation (e.g., when the camera is switched ON), and drives the lens barrier unit to a closed position, by coupling to the movement of the photographic lens unit while moving from the extended position to the retracted position (e.g., when the camera is switched OFF). The camera may include a finder optical system for visually recognizing an image of an object, with the sliding member disposed in the vicinity of a film aperture. The slide member is disposed in a face-to-face position to the finder optical system with the film aperture being interposed therebetween.

Camera having a lens barrier unit opening/closing mechanism

An image deflection preventing device for a camera, such as a still camera which is used to drive a deflection preventing optical system in accordance with readings from angular velocity sensors and other circuitry. Moreover, an exposure mode selection device is included to select strobe photography according to the focusing distance from a distance measuring unit maintained in the camera to a subject to be photographed. The selection device can select strobe photography when the focusing distance is closer than a predetermined distance or when photographic magnification from a focal length detection unit to a subject to be photographed is greater than a predetermined value. The selection of strobe photography is done using results from a photometric unit in conjunction with the determination of a brightness level. In particular, if a given brightness level is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, strobe photography is selected, otherwise, exterior light photography is selected. The brightness level for selection of strobe photography is typically higher at closer distances, longer focal lengths, or larger photographic magnifications.

Camera with device to prevent image blurs

An optical lens barrel having a lens group which serves as a vibration compensation lens group and a focusing lens group. The lens group is held by a holder movably secured to a plate. The lens group is movable within the plate on a plane perpendicular to an optical axis of the lens group via a pair of DC motors and associated gear trains. The DC motors and associated gear trains are mounted on the plate. The plate is slidably movable parallel to the optical axis of the lens group by a stepping motor via a series of concentric drive rings disposed around the plate. The drive rings also actuate an aperture mechanism which serves as a shutter. This reduces both the number of lenses and components needed to provide vibration compensation and autofocusing functions.

Optical lens barrel with an optical lens group shiftable perpendicular

A miniaturized camera includes a cartridge chamber and a spool chamber positioned on either side of a lens barrel, thereby creating a gap above said lens barrel and a gap below said lens barrel. A battery is positioned in one of said gaps and at least one motor member, such as a lens barrel drive motor, is positioned in one of said gaps. Accordingly, the camera is not enlarged in size and miniaturization can be achieved.

Miniaturized camera employing motor members

A camera that prevents frame shifting without hindering a film feeding. The camera includes a cartridge chamber housing a film cartridge, a film passage forming member, a film passage restricting the film in accordance with the film passage forming member, a film introduction route from the cartridge chamber to the film passage. The camera further includes a frame shift prevention member with an insertion unit engaging with the film perforations and controlling the film movement. An angle of inclination of an opposing face on the insertion unit is provided so that a surface of the opposing face on the cartridge chamber side is coplanar to smoothly connect with a wall in the film introduction route.

Camera containing a frame shift prevention member and method

A camera includes, but is not limited to, a focus adjustment optical system such as a zoom or a non-zoom type optical system, for example, an actuator generating a drive force which moves the focus adjustment optical system, a transmission mechanism transmitting the drive force from the actuator to the focus adjustment optical system, a drive amount detection mechanism detecting an amount of drive of the focus adjustment optical system caused by the actuator; and wherein the actuator, the transmission mechanism and the drive amount detection mechanism are disposed in the camera in a position which is on the outer circumference of the aforementioned focus adjustment optical system and which is on a long side of an aperture that forms light fluxes into a rectangular shape to become incident on a film surface. Also provided is a camera that includes, but is not limited to, a variable power device conducting focus distance variable power operations based on multiple photographic lens groups by moving the multiple photographic lens groups in a direction of their optical axes, a vibration detection device to detect a vibration and to generate vibration signals in relation thereto, a vibration compensation device to correct vibration corresponding to the vibration detection signals from the vibration detection device and wherein the variable power device houses the vibration compensation device inside a main cover of a camera body when the camera is not in use and wherein the vibration compensation device is made to extend to a position outside of the main cover of the camera to a specified region when the camera is in use. Finally, a camera is provided that includes, but is not limited to, a lens groups positioned along an optical axis, a drive device changing a distance between a first lens group of the lens groups and the lens groups. The drive device includes an actuator and a displacement transmission device. The drive device is positioned in the camera along an exterior circumference of a second lens group of the lens groups. The second lens group is closest to an image forming plane.

Camera equipped with a device for focus adjustment during times of

In a camera, there is a requirement for ensuring the timing of opening and closing a film cartridge light cutoff door when a cartridge chamber lid is opened and closed, and moreover for lightening the operational force for opening and closing the cartridge chamber lid. In view of these requirements, the camera according to the present invention includes a cartridge chamber into which a film cartridge which comprises a light cutoff door is loaded, a cartridge chamber lid which is selectively opened and closed so as respectively to communicate the cartridge chamber to the exterior or to isolate the cartridge chamber from external light, and a door opening and closing mechanism which exerts opening driving force upon the light cutoff door so as to open it, after the cartridge chamber has been isolated from external light by closing operation of the cartridge chamber lid. Preferably, the door opening and closing mechanism comprises an energy storage mechanism which stores energy from the cartridge chamber closing operation in order to open the light shielding door of the cartridge. The opening of the light cutoff door is started only after the cartridge chamber has been isolated from external light by closing operation of the cartridge chamber lid.

Camera equipped with light cutoff door opening and closing mechanism

A high magnification zoom lens barrel including a drive ring having a short length in the optical axis direction to permit a compact camera configuration. The zoom lens barrel includes a first lens group support member to support a first lens group, and a second lens group support member to support a second lens group. The drive ring advances and withdraws the first lens group support member in the optical axis direction as the drive ring itself advances or withdraws in the optical axis direction as it rotates. The drive ring drives the first lens group support member with helicoids. A drive cam member is driven by the drive ring to rotate so that as the drive cam member rotates, it advances and withdraws the second lens group support member relative to the first lens group support member. A second drive ring is inserted into the drive cam member and rotates relative to the drive ring and is able to move in unison with the drive ring in the optical axis direction.

High magnification zoom lens barrel including a drive ring having a

A lens camera having a viewfinder mechanism and an adjustable strobe light generating unit, wherein the zoom viewfinder mechanism has a disk cam to cause a lens group of a viewfinder optical system to move back and forth in an optical axis direction according to a difference of the distances in the radial direction from the rotation center of shafts of individual lenses of the lens group, the shafts fitting in grooves of the disk and driving the individual lenses of the lens group in order to perform variable power of a zoom viewfinder. Drive gears drive the disk cam and one of the drive gears is a helical gear which has a predetermined angle for a lead angle, the rotation center of the disk cam and the rotation axis direction of the one drive gear being positioned so as to intersect. The strobe light generating unit is moved in the direction of the optical axis of the camera so that a radiating angle of a strobe fitted in the strobe light generating unit is changed according to the variable power of operation of the lens. Jaw portions are integrally formed on the strobe light generating unit and engage rail grooves formed on the body of the camera.

Lens shutter camera having a zoom viewfinder mechanism and an adjustable

A camera provided with a rear surface switch includes a pressure plate. The pressure plate maintains film in a flattened alignment within a film exposure region of the camera. An external cover encloses a rear of the pressure plate. A switch includes a movable operational member that protrudes from the cover. An electrical conductive member is attached to the rear of the pressure plate. An electrical signal is output in accordance with the movement of the operational member. The operational force resulting from the movement of the operational member is supported by the pressure plate.

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Kawasaki, Japan

Junichi Omi