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:
May. 12, 1998
Filed:
Oct. 22, 1996
Kazushige Ichino, Tokyo, JP;
Ryoichi Suzuki, Yokohama, JP;
Takayuki Tsuboi, Yokohama, JP;
Yoshiaki Hamada, Kawasaki, JP;
Yuji Fujihara, Kawasaki, JP;
Yoshiyuki Kaneko, Kawasaki, JP;
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A camera includes a plurality of camera operation mechanisms, a sun gear which rotates by means of a motor, a planetary gear which revolves around the sun gear, a plurality of output gears each capable of meshing with the planetary gear by means of a revolution of the planetary gear. The plurality of output gears transmit power to the plurality of camera operation mechanisms, respectively. A holding member switchable from a first state in which the planetary gear is allowed to revolve freely to a second state in which the planetary gear is held at a revolution position where the planetary gear is in mesh with one of the plurality of output gears. The holding member includes a moving member rotatable in interlocked relation to the revolution of the planetary gear. The holding member switches from the first state to the second state by means of a movement of the moving member in a direction different from a direction of rotation of the moving member. A controller determines whether a direction of rotation of said planetary gear when revolution of said planetary gear is to be started for selection of one of said plurality of output gears is identical to a direction of rotation of said planetary gear for rotating said one of said plurality of output gears, and, if both directions differ, switches said holding means to said second state after changing the direction of rotation of said planetary gear into an opposite direction.