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. 16, 2001
Filed:
Jun. 17, 1999
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, and a plurality of output gears each capable of meshing with the planetary gear by means of revolution of the planetary gear. The plurality of output gears transmit power to the plurality of camera operation mechanisms, respectively. A holding member is 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. A controller causes the planetary gear to revolve so as to mesh with a selected one of the plurality of output gears, and switches the holding member from the first state to the second state, after completion of a power transmitting operation.