The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 05, 1991
Filed:
Oct. 23, 1990
Takahisa Shimada, Osaka, JP;
Toshio Yamaki, Osaka, JP;
Kenji Tsuji, Kashiwara, JP;
Masaaki Nakai, Kawachinagano, JP;
Akihiko Fujino, Sakai, JP;
Hiroshi Ootsuka, Sakai, JP;
Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha, Osaka, JP;
Abstract
A lens retracting apparatus for a photo-taking device which comprises an interchangeable photo-taking lens, a main switch selectively switchable between an ON position for enabling an operation of the photo-taking device and an OFF position for inhibiting the operation of the camera, a focus detecting unit, a drive unit for selectively retracting and extending a focusing lens of the photo-taking lens toward an in-focus position on the basis of a result of focus detection carried out by the focus detecting unit, a discriminating unit for determining whether or not the photo-taking lens is retracted to a predetermined position, and a control means for driving the drive unit to retract the photo-taking lens only by switching off the main switch and also for stopping the drive unit when a condition in which the photo-taking lens is retracted to the predetermined position is determined by the discriminating unit.