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:
Sep. 29, 1998
Filed:
Oct. 31, 1996
Dean A Johnson, Churchville, NY (US);
Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, NY (US);
Abstract
A lens assembly comprises a lens barrel assembly for supporting a lens barrel, one or more guide members for guiding the movement of the lens barrel assembly in the direction of an optical axis, a gear shaft rotatable by a primary mover, and a drive linkage for coupling the lens barrel assembly with the gear shaft. In particular, the drive linkage has a drive nut portion meshing with the gear shaft over a partial circumferential threaded section thereof and movable in the direction of the optical axis by the rotation of the gear shaft to thereby move the lens barrel assembly in the direction of the optical axis. The advantage of this design is that it allows for a compliant linkage between a lead screw motor and the lens barrel assembly, wherein the connection to the lead screw utilizes the section of the nut for thread engagement. By utilizing up to 180 degrees of thread engagement between the linkage and the lead screw, this design further allows for simplified assembly.