Seikosha Co., Ltd.

Seiko Precision Inc.

Kazuo Akimoto

Miyoshi Tanikawa

Shigeru Tagami

Kanji Ito

Seiichi Imano

Toshiaki Hirai

Katsuhiko Matsushita

Yoichi Seki

Hiroto Tsuyuki

Tomoki Nakamura

Nobuo Shinozaki

Akira Ito

Michio Kawai

Akihiro Ito

Tadashi Ishikawa

Yukio Morino

Motoharu Sakurai

Takahito Otora

Yoshiyuki Iwamatsu

Teruyo Hayakawa

Junichi Nio

Hironobu Amemiya

Tomihiko Aoyama

Mitsuhiro Kakuta

Masaki Tanaka

Nobuyuki Fukui

Sigeru Tagami

Shinji Miyata

Hiroko Fujita

Hiroki Kusumi

Takayuki Sato

To achieve light blocking performance firmly by a simple constitution with no need of separately providing a special member, a photographing element is provided on a front face side of a circuit board for a camera and a light blocking member is provided on a rear face side thereof. Connection terminal portions++ are arranged to align at a peripheral portion of the board. As the light blocking member on the rear face side, a conductive pattern or a resist having light blocking performance is used and the conductive pattern is integrally formed with one of the connection terminal portions and the resist is formed at portions excluding the connection terminal portions. The conductive pattern may be formed by copper paste and the resist may be formed by a resist of black color or the like. A recessed portionfor containing the photographing element is provided on die front face side or the board and the resist having light blocking performance of a resist of black color or the like is provided at an inner face of the recessed portion. An optical apparatus unit having a lens to focus an object on the photographing element is connected to the front face side of the circuit board.

Solid state photoelement apparatus having light blocking circuit board

A camera shutter is capable of switching between a spring-drive mode and a motor-drive mode through a single electromagnet without performing an exposure operation. A control circuit controls a stepping motor for rotating a driving ring and the electromagnet for controlling the opening and closing operations of the diaphragm. A control circuit operates in a mode in which a first switch is turned ON, and in another mode in which a second switch is turned ON. When the first and second switches are turned ON, a normal photographing operation can be performed. However, when the first switch is turned ON and then OFF while keeping the second switch OFF, a power supply stop signal is transmitted to the electromagnet so that a closing sector is released from its restrained condition allowing the shutter to return to its initial state. When a photographer presses a shutter button after changing the mode, a photographing operation can be performed in the changed mode without the necessity of completing an exposure operation in the first selected mode.

Camera shutter

A control device for a camera shutter comprises a diaphragm value setting device for setting a predetermined diaphragm value of the shutter, an exposure value setting device for setting an exposure value of the shutter, a storing device for storing an opening size of the shutter, output timings of signals for controlling opening and closing operations of the shutter, and an exposure value of the shutter corresponding to the set diaphragm value, and a control apparatus for controlling the opening and closing operations of the shutter on the basis of output signals from the diaphragm value setting device, the exposure value setting device and the storing device. The control apparatus calculates the output timings of the signals for controlling the opening and closing operations of the shutter on the basis of the exposure value of the shutter outputted from the exposure value setting device, and controls the opening and closing operations of the shutter on the basis of the results of the calculation.

Control device for a camera shutter and a control method therefor

A camera operable in shutter-priority automatic exposure mode comprises a photometric circuit, an exposure data memory circuit for storing information on a plurality of selectable diaphragm openings, and a control circuit for calculating a desirable diaphragm opening based on a shutter speed preset prior to an exposure and luminance data output from the photometric circuit, and determining an actual diaphragm opening based on a comparison between the calculated diaphragm opening and the selectable diaphragm openings. The control circuit checks whether the preset shutter speed is higher or lower than a predefined reference shutter speed and selects one of the selectable diaphragm openings that provides a higher shutter speed if the preset shutter speed is higher than the reference shutter speed, or selects one of the selectable diaphragm openings that provides a lower shutter speed if the preset shutter speed is lower than the reference shutter speed.

Shutter-priority automatic exposure camera

A lens driving device for controlling the position of a lens setting member according to a distance to an object to be photographed has a lens barrel mounted to undergo movement in the direction of an optical axis, a lens setting member mounted to undergo rotation about the lens barrel and to move the lens barrel in the direction of the optical axis, a biasing spring for applying a biasing force for biasing the lens setting member in one direction, a ratchet engaging with the lens setting member to undergo rotation therewith, a retaining member having a pair of engaging pawls disposed to alternately engage with the ratchet to prevent rotation of the ratchet due to the biasing force of the biasing spring, an electromagnetic actuator for applying a first driving voltage for maintaining the retaining member in an engaged state and a second driving voltage for rocking the retaining member to alternately engage the pawls with the ratchet to cause the biasing spring to rotate the ratchet in a stepwise manner during periods when the ratchet is not engaged by either of the engaging pawls of the retaining member, and a driving ring for driving the lens barrel to return to an initial position by rotating the lens setting member to an initial position against the biasing force of the biasing spring and for performing at least one of an exposure operation and an aperture control operation. In the lens driving device, the first driving voltage of the electromagnetic actuator is lower than the second driving voltage such that a lower voltage is applied when the driving member is rotated and the lens setting member is at rest than when the lens setting member is not at rest.

Lens driving device

A camera shutter includes a driving member rotated in forward and reverse directions by a motor and having first and second control portions. A switching circuit switches an operating starting position of the driving member between first and second positions. An opening member is controlled by the first control portion of the driving member and a first biasing member biases the opening member in the direction of opening the shutter. A first restraint member restrains an operation of the opening member and resists the bias of the first biasing member. A closing member is controlled by the second control portion of the driving member and a second biasing member biases the closing member in the direction of closing the shutter. A second restraint member restrains an operation of the closing member and resists the bias of the second biasing member. When the driving member starts its operation from the first position, the opening member is restrained by the first control portion of the driving member, and when the driving member starts its operation from the second position, the opening member is restrained by the first restraint member.

A lens driving device comprises a lens driving member mounted for rotation between an initial position and a preselected focus position, an urging member for urging the lens driving member in a first direction of rotation to control a rotational position of the lens driving member in accordance with the preselected focus position, and a ratchet operably rotatable with the lens driving member. A retaining member is mounted for back and forth rocking movement and has retaining portions for alternate engagement with the ratchet during back and forth rocking movement of the retaining member. A control mechanism controls the rocking movement of the retaining member. A holding member holds the lens driving member from rotation in a second direction of rotation opposite to the first direction of rotation when the lens driving member is in the initial position.

Lens driving device for auto-focus camera

A rocking motor comprises a coil wound around a hollow coil bobbin. A rotor is rotatably mounted at a position close to an end portion of the coil bobbin. The rotor has a center shaft and a permanent magnet and is magnetized with two poles such that the positions of the poles are located close to the coil and the magnetization angle is greater than 90 degrees but less than 180 degrees. The positions of the poles of the rotor and the coil are adjacent to one another so that a rotary torque can be efficiently obtained by a magnetic force generated by the coil. The rocking motor can generate a high power output with a relatively low power supply and its operational performance is not adversely affected by an external magnetic field.

Rocking motor

A lens driving device for a camera or the like drives a lens through a correct distance by the distance through which the lens is driven being corrected according to errors in mechanical parts; as a result it is not necessary for the mechanical parts to be made of high precision, and maintenance of molds used in their manufacture can therefore be made easy.

When a driving member is rotated counterclockwise by a single motor with a pair of sectors biased in the closing direction by a biasing spring, a first driving pin causes an operating lever to rotate clockwise. The pair of sectors pivot in opposite directions to each other in association with the driving lever to reach a first position where the sectors are fully open without overlapping the lens opening. When the driving member is rotated clockwise, a second driving pin also causes the operating lever to rotate clockwise. The pair of sectors pivot in opposite directions to each other to reach a second position, that is, a half-open position where an opening smaller than the lens opening is obtained. At this time, The second driving pin abuts on a part of one sector to restrain the displacement of the driving member. Accordingly, the driving member is prevented from overrunning, and no hunting occurs.

Shutter for camera

A motor driven shutter by which various operational modes are freely selectable and photographing timing is shortened includes springs and a motor arranged in a manner freely selectable as driving forces for opening and closing the shutter and are combined or selected corresponding to the operational mode. The photographing timing is shortened by operating in parallel an F number setting operation and a focus adjusting operation. Various modes may be selected according to the photographing purpose, and the photographing timing may be shortened.

Motor driven shutter having focus adjusting and stop setting means

A distance measuring device for an automatic focusing camera includes a light receiving lens and a multilayer printed circuit board mounted on a holder. A potting frame is provided on the lens-facing side surface of the printed circuit board. An optical sensor and an IC are both mounted within a space enclosed by the potting frame and simultaneously sealed by a protecting resin. Resistors and capacitors of a distance measuring circuit are mounted on the opposite surface of the printed circuit board. The two surfaces of the printed circuit board are connected to each other via a through hole to construct the distance measuring circuit. The protecting resin transmits light having specified wavelengths. The light reflected from a subject to be photographed is received by the optical sensor after passing through the protecting resin, and the distance to the subject is calculated on the basis of the received light data.

Distance measuring device and camera having same

A motor driven shutter is activated by a single motor whose clockwise and counterclockwise rotations may be controlled. The motor driven shutter includes a driving member whose clockwise and counterclockwise rotations are controlled by the motor and having first and second control portions. An opening member is activated by the first control portion; and an opening spring biases the opening member in the direction of opening the shutter. A first electromagnet controls the activation timing of the opening member and resists the bias of the opening spring. A closing member is activated by the second control portion; and a closing spring biases the closing member in the direction of closing the shutter. A second electromagnet constrains the activation timing of the closing member and resists the bias of the closing spring. A selecting circuit selects excitation and demagnetization of the first and second electromagnets, the selecting circuit controlling a plural time excitation or demagnetization of the first and second electromagnets to carry out shutter opening and closing operations by the opening member and the closing member.

Motor driven shutter activated by single motor having controllable

In the distance measuring device for an automatic focusing camera, the reliability is improved by preventing the device from electric noise, and the structure is simplified so as to provide interchangeability to reduce the production cost. A light receiving lens 2 and a multilayer printed circuit board 3 are mounted on a holder 1. A potting frame 6 is provided on the lens-facing side surface of the printed circuit board 3. An optical sensor 4 and an IC 5 are both mounted within a space 3 enclosed by the potting frame 6, and sealed by a protecting resin 7 simultaneously. Further, resistors S and capacitors C of a distance measuring circuit are mounted on the opposite surface of the printed circuit board 3. Both the surfaces of the printed circuit board 3 are connected to each other via a through hole to construct the distance measuring circuit. The protecting resin 7 transmits light having specified wave lengths. The light reflected from a subject to be photographed is received by the optical sensor 4 after passing through the protecting resin, and a distance to the subject is calculated on the basis of the received light data.

A shutter control device for a camera includes a control arrangement for controlling the opening and closing of the shutter as a function of an exposure value and a diaphragm value. The control arrangement stores values corresponding to a predetermined diaphragm setting, and employs the parameters of the predetermined setting and the exposure value and diaphragm value in order to determine the opening time of the shutter. In another arrangement, the control arrangement determines the effective exposure time as a function of the brightness of the object, distance to the object and a diaphragm, and employs this effective exposure time and a stored correction factor to determine the actual exposure time.

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Chiba, Japan

Kazuo Akimoto