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:
Jan. 24, 1995
Filed:
Nov. 26, 1991
Shoji Kaihara, Kanagawa, JP;
Hidehiko Fukahori, Kanagawa, JP;
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A camera has a flash unit which is movable between a retracted position and a projected position and which is provided with an illumination-angle varying mechanism. The camera includes an engagement mechanism for holding the flash unit in the retracted position by engagement. A drive mechanism drives the flash unit in a direction of the projected position when the engagement of the engagement mechanism is released. A transmission system transmits an output rotation of a motor, which serves as a drive source, to each of (i) the illumination-angle varying mechanism, and (ii) the engagement mechanism. The transmission system is driven by a rotation of the motor in a first direction (a) to release the engagement of the engagement mechanism, and (b) to drive the illumination-angle varying mechanism to vary a flash illumination angle. The transmission system is driven by a rotation of the motor in a second direction to perform a camera operation other than a flash unit operation. The camera may also include one or more of a brake member for braking a movement of the flash unit, a clutch for switching a direction of drive transmission, and multiple transmission systems.