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. 30, 2001
Filed:
Dec. 01, 1998
Minolta Co., Ltd., Osaka, JP;
Abstract
A field-of-view frame switching device has a rectangular fixed field-of-view frame and a plurality of light-shielding members for covering portions of the rectangular fixed field-of-view frame so as to vary the size of the actual field-of-view frame. The light-shielding members are composed of a first pair of oppositely arranged light-shielding members and a second pair of oppositely arranged light-shielding members. The field-of-view frame switching device also has a coupling member for coupling the light-shielding members together in such relation that, when the first pair of light-shielding members are positioned closer to each other to narrow the actual field-of-view frame, the second pair of light-shielding members are positioned wide apart from each other and that, when the first pair of light-shielding members are positioned wide apart from each other, the second pair of light-shielding members are positioned closer to each other to narrow the actual field-of-view frame. The field-of-view frame switching device further has a moving member for moving at least a part of the light-shielding members in a direction substantially parallel to one side of the rectangular fixed field-of-view frame.