Control device for a zoom lens system

• US 3,930,720 A
• Filed: 02/18/1975
• Issued: 01/06/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Uesugi, Kyozo
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Alfred E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Clark, Conrad J.
• Application Number:
  US05/550,521
• Time in Patent Office: 322 Days
• Field of Search: 350/187, 350/255
• US Class Current: 359/695
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/105 with movable lens means specially adapted for focusing at close distances
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/14 interchangeably

Abstract

A control device for a varifocal lens system of a type which includes an optical system having a lens group movable along the optical axis thereof and in which the amount of the movement of the movable lens group necessary for focusing is varied in response to the focal length of the optical system selected by the zooming operation. The control device includes a member pivotable about a point in response to the focusing operation, a first movable member having a portion operatively coupled to the pivotable member, and a second movable member operatively coupled with the movable lens group. The first movable member is movable in a first direction perpendicular to the optical axis in response to the zooming operation for varying the distance from the portion of the first movable member to the pivoting point of the pivotable member. The first movable member is also movable integrally with the second movable member, in a second direction parallel with the optical axis in response to a pivoting of the pivotable member for moving the movable lens group along the optical axis for focusing. In this manner, the amount of movement of the movable lens group is varied in accordance with the distance from the portion of the first movable member to the pivoting point of the pivotable member.

Claims

1. A control device for a zoom lens system having an optical system including a focus lens unit and a zoom lens unit coaxially arranged and movable along the optical axis of the optical sytstem, the position of the focusing lens unit being varied in accordance with the focal length of the optical system, the control device comprising:

zoom adjusting means for moving said zoom lens unit along the optical axis in response to a zooming operation so as to vary the focal length of said optical system;

means pivotally mounted about a point and being pivotable in response to a focusing operation; and

,

focus adjusting means having a portion coupled to said pivotable means and additionally coupled to said focus lens unit, said focus adjusting means being operated in response to movement of said pivotable means and in response thereto causing movement of said focus lens unit along said optical axis for a distance dependent upon the distance between said coupled portion and said pivoting point so as to adjust the focal point of said optical system, said focus adjustment means also being coupled to said zoom adjusting means so that said coupled portion is movable in response to operation of said zoom adjusting means so as to vary the distance between said coupled portion and said pivoting point in accordance with a variance in the focal length of said optical system caused by the zooming operation.

2. A control device as defined in claim 1, wherein said zoom lens unit forms one part of said focus lens unit and is arranged behind the outer part of said focus lens unit with respect to an object.

3. A control device as defined in claim 1, wherein said zoom lens unit is arranged in front of said focus lens unit with respect to an object.

4. A control device as defined in claim 1, wherein said zoom lens unit and said focus lens unit comprise the same lens groups.

5. A control device as defined in claim 1, wherein said focus lens unit forms one part of said zoom lens unit and is arranged behind the other part of said zoom lens unit with respect to an object.

6. A control device as defined in claim 1 further comprising a barrel structure supporting said focus lens unit and said zoom lens unit;

and wherein said zoom control means, said pivotable means and said focus adjustment means are provided outside of said barrel structure; and

said focus adjustment means includes;

a first movable member movable in a first direction parallel to said optical axis and coupled with said focus lens unit so as to move said focus lens unit along said optical axis for adjustment of the focal point; and

,

a second movable member providing said coupled portion, said second movable member being associated with said first movable member and said zoom control means so as to be movable in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction independently of said first movable member, in response to the operation of said zoom control means so as to vary the distance between said coupled portion and said pivoting point in accordance with a variance in the focal length and movable in said first direction together with said first movable member, in response to movement of said pivotable means, for a distance dependent upon the distance between said coupled portion and said pivoting point.

7. A control device as defined in claim 6, wherein said zoom adjusting means includes a rotatable member coupled to said zoom lens unit and said second movable member, said rotatable member having rotatable in response to a zooming operation so as to move said zoom lens unit along the optical axis to vary the focal length of said optical system and also so as to move said second movable member in the second direction to vary the distance from said coupled portion to said pivoting point.

8. A control device as defined in claim 7, wherein said second movable member has a slot extending in the first direction, and said rotatable member has a pin provided at a radially offset position from its rotating center, said slot and said pin cooperating to move said second movable member in the second direction in accordance with the rotation of said rotatable member.

9. A control device as defined in claim 6 futher comprising means for conveying a focusing operation to said pivotable means so that said pivotable means can be pivoted in response to such focusing operation.

10. A control device for a zoom lens system including an optical system having first, second and third lens groups coaxially arranged and positioned away from an object in such order, a fixed barrel, a first movable barrel carrying the first lens group and movable along the optical axis of the optical system, a second movable barrel carrying the second lens group and movable along the optical axis, and a third movable barrel carrying the third lens group and movable along the optical axis, for focusing the first to third movable barrels being moved as a unit by an amount dependent upon the focal length of the optical system selected by a zooming operation, the control device comprises:

a first manually operable member for focusing;

a second manually operable member for zooming;

means for zoom control operable in response to operation of said second manual member so as to move said second and third movable barrels along the optical axis for select distances for varying the focal length of said optical system;

means pivotable about a pivoting point lying in a plane parallel to the optical axis and being pivoted in response to operation of said first manual member;

first focus adjustment means movable in a first direction parallel to the optical axis to move said first, second and third movable barrels along the optical axis as a unit for adjustment of the focal point of said optical system; and

,

second focus adjustment means having a portion operatively coupled with said pivotable means, and said second means also being operatively coupled with said first movable member so as to be moved in the first direction with said portion in response to a pivoting of said pivotable means, such movement in the first direction being for an amount dependent upon the distance between said portion and said pivoting point, said second focus adjustment means also being operatively coupled with said zoom control means so as to be moved in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction independently of said first focus adjustment means in response to operation of said zoom control means to vary the distance between said portion and said pivoting point in accordance with a variance in the focal length.

11. A control device as defined in claim 10, wherein said pivotable means includes a first pivotable member pivotable about said pivoting point in response to the focusing operation and a second pivotable member pivotable about said pivoting point together with said first pivotable member and operatively coupled with said portion of said second focus adjustment means;

and further comprising manually operable means for changing the relative position of said second pivotable member to said first pivotable member in a pivoting plane of said second pivotable member.

12. A control device as defined in claim 11 further comprising a pin connecting said first pivotable member and said second pivotable member together at their substantially end portions offset from said pivoting point so as to permit said second pivotable member to pivot about said pin in the pivoting plane of said second pivotable member by the operation of said manual means so at to change the relative position of said second pivotable member to said first pivotable member in said pivoting plane of said second pivotable member.

13. A control device for an objective lens system of the type in which the focal length is variable in response to a zooming operation, the objective lens system having at least one lens group movable in response to a focus adjusting operation so that the amount of movement of such lens group for an object at the same distance varies in reliance upon the focal length adjusted, the control device comprising:

zoom means responsive to a zooming operation for adjusting said objective lens system to vary its focal length;

focus means coupled with said at least one lens group for adjusting the position of said lens group;

control means angularly movable about a rotational axis in response to a focus adjusting operation and associated with said focus means at an associating point positioned at a distance from said rotational axis so as to determine the position of said focus means as a function of the angular position of said control means; and

,

adjusting means for varying the distance between said associating point and said rotational axis in accordance with the focal length adjusted by said zoom means.

14. A control device as defined in claim 13, further comprising a barrel structure supporting said lens system;

wherein said control means is disposed outside of said barrel structure in such a manner that said rotational axis is substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of said lens system.

15. A control device as defined in claim 14, wherein:

said zoom means includes a disk plate rotatable about an axis parallel with said rotational axis and cam means for determining the focal length in accordance with the rotational position of said disk plate; and

focus means includes an intermediate member coupled with said control means at said associating point and guide means for guiding said intermediate member to move in such a specific direction as to vary the distance between said associating point and said rotational axis; and

said adjusting means includes means for moving said intermediate member in such specific direction in accordance with the rotation of said disk plate.

16. A control device as defined in claim 15, whrein said focus means further includes a frame structure interconnected with said lens groups for focus adjustment so as to move therewith, and said guide means is formed on said frame structure.

17. A control device as defined in claim 16, wherein said lens system includes two groups of lenses movable relative to each other for varying the focal length and interlocked with said disk plate to be controlled thereby, and said disk plate is mounted on said frame structure to move therewith.

18. A control device as defined in claim 17, wherein said control means includes a control plate provided with a straight groove extending in a radial direction with respect to said rotational axis, and said intermediate member has a pin fixed thereon and engaged with said groove.

19. A control device as defined in claim 18, wherein:

said frame structure is movable along the optical axis of said lens system for focus adjustment;

said guide means guides said intermediate member in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of said frame structure;

said intermediate member has a slot;

said disk plate has a pin fixed thereon and engaged with said slot;

said cam means includes cam slot means formed on said disk plate such that said pin of said disk plate moves substantially in parallel with said intermediate member with said cam slot means selecting approximately a middle focal length in the available range.

20. A control device for a varifocal objective lens system of the type in which the amount of focus adjustment varies as a function of the focal length of the system, said control device comprising:

first operable means angularly movable about a rotational axis in response to a focus adjusting operation;

second operable means movable in response to a focal length adjusting operation to vary the focal length of the system;

focus control means for adjusting the focusing condition of said objective lens system in accordance with the angular position of said first operable means, said focus control means being coupled between said first and second operable means such that the distance from said rotational axis to an acting point where said first operable member acts on said focus control member varies in accordance with the movement of said second operable means so that the amount of adjustment for focusing for the same angular movement of said first operable means varies as a function of the focal length adjustment.

21. A control device as defined in claim 20, further comprising a barrel structure supporting lens system;

and wherein said control means is disposed outside of said barrel structure such that said rotational axis is substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of said lens system and said second operable means includes a disk plate rotatable about an axis substantially parallel with said rotational axis.

22. A control device as defined in claim 21, wherein said objective lens system includes two groups of lenses movable relative to each other, one of said lens groups being interlocked with said focus control means to be controlled thereby, and said disk plate has cam means for controlling the relative movement of said lens groups.

23. A control device as defined in claim 21, wherein:

said objective lens system includes two groups of lenses movable relative to each other;

said disk plate has cam means for controlling the relative movement of said lens groups and said disk plate is associated with said two lens groups in such a manner that rotation of said disk plate causes the relative movement; and

said focus control means is movable in accordance with the angular position of said first operable means together with said disk plate to move said two lens groups in response to adjustment of the focusing condition.

24. A control device as defined in claim 23, wherein said focus control means includes an intermediate member movable in response to a rotation of said disk plate and a frame structure having guide means for controlling the movement of said intermediate member, said disk plate is rotatably mounted on said frame structure and said intermediate member is interconnected with said control means to vary the distance between said rotational axis and said acting point in accordance with the movement of said intermediate member.

25. A control device as claimed in claim 24, wherein:

said frame structure is movable along the optical axis of said objective lens system for focus adjustment;

said guide means guides the intermediate member in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of said frame structure;

said intermediate member has a slot;

said disk plate has a pin fixed thereon and engaged with said slot;

said cam means includes two cam slots formed on said disk plate such that said pin of said disk plate moves in parallel with said intermediate member at the middle of the zoom control range.