Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.

Fujinon Corporation

Keiji Kaneko

Atsushi Kanayama

Hisao Takemae

Tadashi Sasaki

Minoru Tanaka

Syunichiro Ouchi

Hiroshi Kato

Shinya Yajima

Hiroyuki Kawamura

Hidetomo Tateno

Tadamasa Manome

A screen of a display of a photographing system shows a distance scale indicating a present focus position and an indicator. The screen also shows a focus position already obtained by auto focusing, using a mark.

Lens control system and focus information display apparatus

The lens apparatus permits rapid focusing by the operator demanding an autofocus start-up direction to carry out AF in the direction in an AF mode. When a start of the AF mode is instructed, an AF standby state of waiting for the operator to demand the AF start-up direction by operating a focus operation member, thereby permitting the operator to properly demand the AF start-up direction, and permitting the demand to be appropriately detected. When automatically switching from the state where the operator operates the focus operation member to the AF, condition of the switching is that a focus evaluation value exceeds a predetermined threshold based on the operation of the focus operation member, or that an operation amount of the focus operation member is changed more then a predetermined amount, thereby permitting further rapid focusing and improvement of operability. Gradually switching a clutch, which switches the focus lens driving from manual to electrical operation, from a manual to electrical state in switching to the AF can eliminates uncomfortable operation feeling of the focus operation member. Further, for the processing after completion of focusing by the AF, a mode of returning to the AF standby state of waiting for the operator to demand the AF start-up direction, mode of returning to a manual mode, or mode of continuing the AF can be selected, which permits improvement of convenience of the AF mode.

Lens apparatus

When a constant rate switch is pressed during the operation of a seesaw switch, an output voltage of a potentiometer in the seesaw switch is stored in a condenser and a command from the seesaw switch is invalidated. The output voltage of the potentiometer when the constant switch is operated is input to an operational amplifier, and a zoom drive motor is run at a constant rate to maintain the zoom rate which has been controlled by the seesaw switch. There may be provided a function which reduces the rate in proximity to the telephoto end or the wide end, and the constant switch may also serve as another switch means such as a return switch.

TV lens drive unit having a mechanism for designating a constant zoom rate

The CPU of the lens drive unit obtains new data to be stored in an EEPROM from a personal computer. The CPU confirms with a supplied voltage confirmation circuit that voltage supplied from a power source to the lens drive unit is sufficient to reprogram the contents of the EEPROM. When the voltage of the power source is sufficient, a reprogramming voltage is applied from a reprogramming voltage applying device to the EEPROM, and the contents of the EEPROM are reprogrammed with the new data obtained from the personal computer. If the voltage of the power source is insufficient, the reprogramming of the contents of the EEPROM is not performed.

Lens driving apparatus

The present invention provides a lens barrel apparatus dispensing with deliberate switching between manual and automatic operation modes and permitting quick adjustment of conditions regarding the object. In this apparatus, a gear moving plate of a clutch mechanism is connected to the external gear of a zooming or focusing ring, a gear fixing plate of the clutch mechanism is connected to a zoom motor, and the gear moving plate is operated by a clutch operating motor via a coil spring and a moving gear to connect and disconnect the fixed plate. When the clutch mechanism is disconnected, a movable disk and a coil spring are enabled to freely rotate by a thrust bearing. By operating the clutch mechanism on the basis of an operational control signal for a zooming switch, switching between manual and electric operation modes is automatically accomplished. Further the manual operation torque of the zooming ring can be either adjusted with a volume control device or automatically maintained at a constant level. Further, if focusing is done when the zoom is set for manual operation, any variation in the angle of field due to a pumping phenomenon is corrected with a correcting circuit.

Manual and electric motor operated apparatus for lens barrels

A zoom control connector, to which a zoom controller is connected, is disposed at the bottom of a drive unit of an ENG lens. When connecting the connector with the zoom controller, a unit discrimination circuit connects a changeover circuit with an A/D converter, and an analog control signal outputted from the zoom controller is converted into a digital signal to be sent to a CPU. In contrast, when connecting the connector with a personal computer, the unit discrimination circuit connects the changeover circuit with a communication IC, and a digital control signal outputted from the personal computer is sent to the CPU through serial communication. Thus, the CPU can execute respective control in accordance with the control signal from the zoom controller or the personal computer received through one connector.

Lens drive unit

The present invention is an apparatus not requiring the change of manual and automatic operations, preventing a lens from unexpectedly moving under manual operation, and making it possible to perform manual operation when a driving speed is low even under automatic operation. The apparatus has an automatic manual-and-automatic-operation change mode for automatically driving a lens by a zoom switch in a predetermined direction by connecting a zooming ring to a zoom motor through a clutch mechanism and connecting or disconnecting the clutch mechanism by a clutch-operating motor, and making it possible to automatically perform manual operation when the zoom switch is not operated. Moreover, the apparatus has a manual-operation mode for enabling only manual operation in addition to the change mode so that automatic operation is not performed even if an operator touches the zoom switch. Furthermore, the apparatus controls the operation torque of an operation ring generated by the clutch mechanism so that the torque decreases an a driving speed set by the zoom switch lowers and so that manual operation can be performed even while automatic operation is performed by pressing the zoom switch. Furthermore, the apparatus variably controls a clutch position under automatic operation ON or OFF correspondingly to an environmental temperature and secures stable rotation of a lens-operating ring.

Manual and automatic apparatus for lens barrel

If a seesaw switch and a quick zoom switch means are operated concurrently, the seesaw switch takes priority. If the quick zoom switch is operated by mistake while the seesaw switch is operated, the operation of the quick zoom switch is invalidated. The seesaw switch continues the operation without suspending the photography. While the seesaw switch is operated, the taking lens is moved with a set maximum zoom rate being the upper limit. When the taking lens moves in accordance with the operation of the quick zoom switch, the set maximum rate is cancelled so that the taking lens can be zoomed at a preset zoom rate. Consequently, the zooming is performed quickly in accordance with the operation of the quick zoom switch.

Taking lens drive unit

A focus control device of the type including a first sensor circuit arranged to detect the degree of manipulation of a focus operating circuit to produce a lens displacement command signal, a second sensor circuit arranged to detect the current position of a focusing lens to produce a signal indicative of a current lens position, and a comparator arranged to compare the output signals of the first and second sensor circuit to produce a servo control signal according to a difference between the two sensor signals thereby to control the operation of the focusing lens, characterized in that the focus control device comprises an output signal characteristics converting circuit adapted to convert the characteristics of the servo control signal into compliance with a characteristics curve varying with high- and low-pitch inclinations toward the nearest subject distance and infinite ends of the focusing range, respectively.

Focus control device having improved sensitivity characteristics

A lens grip for a shoulder type camera, the lens grip having a housing which includes a fixed base member to be fixedly attached to a lens assembly of the camera and a cover member to be adjustably fixed to the base member, wherein the lens grip housing accomodates therein drive members including a lens drive motor and lens position sensor mechanisms therefor, operating members for controlling operations of the drive members, and an electric circuit board connected between the drive and operating members through wiring cables. In order to permit angular adjustments of the cover member on the base member of the housing, the cover and base members each are provided with a joint portion formed in a circular shape at least in part thereof, and are joined together through a coupling mechanism located at the center of the circular joint portions and, moreover, are arranged to permit angular adjustments of the cover member relative to the base member. A positioning mechanism is provided between the joint portions of the two housing members to fix the cover member in a desired angular position relative to the base member.

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Saitama, Japan

Keiji Kaneko