Interchangeable lens with optically readable marking

• US 20070166028A1
• Filed: 01/16/2007
• Published: 07/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leica Camera AG (Lisa Germany Holding GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Leica Camera AG (Lisa Germany Holding GmbH)
• Inventors: Kranz, Gerhard, Denk, Robert, Zielberg, Oliver, Lies, Ulrich
• Granted Patent: US 7,625,144 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 396/529
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/14 adapted to interchange lenses G02B7/027 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/14 interchangeably
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/18 Signals indicating condition of a camera member or suitability of light indicating depth of field G03B13/30
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 7/20 in accordance with change of lens

Abstract

An interchangeable lens (1) with a locking device (2, 2′) for system cameras is described, wherein an orientation marking (4) for mounting the locking device (2, 2′) on the camera is provided at the end of the lens housing (3) facing the camera, and the contact surface (6) of the locking device (2, 2′) has a latching depression (8) at a distance from the orientation marking (4) counter to the direction (7) of rotation of the locking operation and the contact surface (6) contains at least two, preferably six, surface areas (10) which are situated next to one another in an isolated fashion at a distance from the latching depression (8) counter to the direction (7) of rotation within an angle segment of from 100° to 160°, preferably 110° to 150°, and can be detected individually by optical means.

Claims

1. Interchangeable lens with a locking device for system cameras, wherein an orientation marking for mounting the locking device on the camera is provided at the end of the lens housing facing the camera, and the contact surface of the locking device has a latching depression at a distance from the orientation marking counter to the direction of rotation of the locking operation, characterized in that the contact surface contains at least two, preferably six, surface areas which are situated next to one another in an isolated fashion at a distance from the latching depression counter to the direction of rotation within an angle segment of from 100°

to 160°

, preferably 110°

to 150°

, and can be detected individually by optical means.

2. Interchangeable lens according to claim 1, wherein the surface areas are of equal size and equidistant from one another.

3. Interchangeable lens according to claim 1, wherein the surface areas have a light-reflective coating or a light-absorbing coating.

4. Interchangeable lens according to claim 3, wherein the coating comprises a light chrome coating or a dark chrome coating.

5. Interchangeable lens according to claim 3, wherein the coating is composed of a light lacquer layer or a dark lacquer layer.

6. Interchangeable lens according to claim 3, wherein light-absorbing surface areas are produced by baking heating by means of laser engraving, by chemical etching or sand blasting.

7. Interchangeable lens according to claim 1, wherein the surface areas are in the form of depressions in the contact surface.

8. Interchangeable lens according to claim 7, wherein the depressions are produced by laser engraving or milling and have a light-reflective characteristic or a light-absorbing characteristic.

9. Interchangeable lens according to claim 8, wherein the light-absorbing characteristic of the depressions is produced subsequently by introducing light-absorbing lacquer.

10. Use of the surface areas in the contact surface of the locking device for encoding basic lens data, such as focal length and aperture ratio, and/or individual lens data, such as special correction values.