Camera with switching mechanism for selective operation of a retractable lens barrel and closeable lens barrier and method of operation
First Claim
1. A camera, comprising:
- a camera body having an opening;
a lens barrel movable between an extended position, in which the lens barrel protrudes through the opening in the camera body, and a withdrawn position, in which the lens barrel is withdrawn into the body;
a lens barrier movable between a closed position, in which the lens barrier covers the opening, and an open position, in which the lens barrier does not cover the opening;
a lens barrel drive coupled to the lens barrel to move the lens barrel between the extended position and the withdrawn position;
a lens barrier drive coupled to the lens barrier to move the lens barrier between the open position and the closed position;
a drive source for powering the lens barrel drive and the lens barrier drive;
a switching mechanism engaged with the drive source and selectively engageable with the lens barrel drive and with the lens barrier drive to cause the drive source to alternately power either the lens barrel drive or the lens barrier drive, the switching mechanism engaging the lens barrier drive to move the lens barrier from the open position toward the closed position only when the lens barrel drive has withdrawn the lens barrel through the opening into the body to an extent sufficient to prevent interference between the lens barrel and the lens barrier; and
a holding member coupled to the switching mechanism and holding the switching mechanism in engagement with the lens barrel drive when the lens barrel is in the extended position such that the drive source powers the lens barrel drive.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A camera uses a drive mechanism to scroll a lens barrel in and out of a camera body and to open and close a lens barrier that covers the front of the lens barrel. A spring is attached to the lens barrier, providing a spring force in the closing direction of the barrier and thereby preventing motion of the barrier in the opening direction of the barrier under an external force. A single electric motor is provided for driving a switching device, which includes a series of gears. The switching device switches power transmission of the motor between the lens barrel and the lens barrier, depending on the direction of rotation of the motor. Switching between scrolling in and out of the lens barrel and opening and closing of the lens barrier is possible only when the lens barrier can move in front of the lens barrel.
27 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A camera, comprising:
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a camera body having an opening; a lens barrel movable between an extended position, in which the lens barrel protrudes through the opening in the camera body, and a withdrawn position, in which the lens barrel is withdrawn into the body; a lens barrier movable between a closed position, in which the lens barrier covers the opening, and an open position, in which the lens barrier does not cover the opening; a lens barrel drive coupled to the lens barrel to move the lens barrel between the extended position and the withdrawn position; a lens barrier drive coupled to the lens barrier to move the lens barrier between the open position and the closed position; a drive source for powering the lens barrel drive and the lens barrier drive; a switching mechanism engaged with the drive source and selectively engageable with the lens barrel drive and with the lens barrier drive to cause the drive source to alternately power either the lens barrel drive or the lens barrier drive, the switching mechanism engaging the lens barrier drive to move the lens barrier from the open position toward the closed position only when the lens barrel drive has withdrawn the lens barrel through the opening into the body to an extent sufficient to prevent interference between the lens barrel and the lens barrier; and a holding member coupled to the switching mechanism and holding the switching mechanism in engagement with the lens barrel drive when the lens barrel is in the extended position such that the drive source powers the lens barrel drive. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A camera, comprising:
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a camera body having an opening; a lens barrel movable between an extended position, in which the lens barrel protrudes through the opening and extends out of the camera body, and a withdrawn position, in which the lens barrel is withdrawn into the camera body; a lens barrier movable between a closed position, in which the lens barrier covers the opening, and an open position, in which the lens barrier does not cover the opening; lens barrel drive means for moving the lens barrel between the extended position and the withdrawn position; lens barrier drive means for moving the lens barrier between the open position and the closed position; drive means for powering the lens barrel drive and the lens barrier drive; switching means for selectively engaging the drive means with the lens barrel drive means and with the lens barrier drive means to cause the drive means to alternately power either the lens barrel drive means or the lens barrier drive means to move the lens barrier from the open position toward the closed position only when the lens barrel drive means has withdrawn the lens barrel through the opening into the body to an extent sufficient to prevent interference between the lens barrel and the lens barrier; and locking means for locking the drive means in operative connection with the lens barrel drive means when the lens barrel is in the extended position, such that the drive means powers the lens barrel drive means. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A method of operating a camera having a lens barrel movable between an extended position and a withdrawn position, and having a lens barrier movable between a closed position and an open position, comprising the steps of:
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powering a lens barrel drive for the lens barrel from a drive source by engaging the lens barrel drive with a drive gear driven by the drive source; locking the drive gear to the lens barrel drive; driving the lens barrel from the extended position toward the withdrawn position with the lens barrel drive; powering a drive for the lens barrier from the drive source by unlocking the lens barrel drive from the drive gear and engaging the lens barrier drive with the drive gear, the lens barrier drive powering step occurring only when the lens barrel has moved into the body to an extent sufficient to prevent interference between the lens barrel and the lens barrier; and driving the lens barrier from the open position toward the closed position. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification