Focusing apparatus for a surveying instrument

• US 5,715,101 A
• Filed: 04/24/1996
• Issued: 02/03/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Asahi Seimitsu Kabushiki Kaisha, Pentax Corporation (Hoya Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Asahi Seimitsu Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Nakamura, Yasuo, Nakamura, Satoru
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelms, David C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CORNELY, JOHN
• Application Number:
  US08/636,954
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 359/696, 359/698, 359/822-825
• US Class Current: 359/823
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/00 Surveying instruments or accessories not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/08 adapted to co-operate with a remote control mechanism

Abstract

A focusing apparatus for a surveying instrument including an objective lens, a focusing lens and a reticle. The focusing lens is movable in an optical axis direction, by a rotating shaft member which is rotated by a motor, to form an image, of an object to be surveyed, on the reticle. Means for detecting a focus state of the object image and for controlling the motor in accordance with the detected focus state are provided. A focusing knob, coaxial with the rotating shaft member, and movable in an axial direction thereof is also provided. A plurality of clutches disengageably engages the focusing knob or the motor with the rotating shaft member, according to an axial movement of the focusing knob.

Claims

1. A focusing apparatus for a surveying instrument including an objective lens, a focusing lens, and a reticle, in which said focusing lens is movable to form an image of an object on said reticle, comprising:

a motor which drives said focusing lens in an optical axis direction;

means for detecting a focus state of the image of an object and for controlling said motor in accordance with said detected focus state;

a rotating shaft member rotated by a rotation of said motor to thereby move said focusing lens in the optical axis direction;

a focusing knob which is coaxial with said rotating shaft member and movable in an axial direction thereof; and

a plurality of clutches which disengageably engage one of said focusing knob and said motor with said rotating shaft member, according to an axial movement of said focusing knob.

2. The focusing apparatus for a surveying instrument according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of clutches comprises a first clutch and a second clutch, said first clutch being used for an automatic focusing adjustment, and said second clutch being used for a manual focusing adjustment.

3. The focusing apparatus for a surveying instrument according to claim 2, wherein when said focusing knob is moved in one axial direction, said first clutch disengages said focusing knob from said rotating shaft member and engages said motor with said rotatable shaft member, and further wherein when said focusing knob is moved in another axial direction, said second clutch disengages said motor from said rotatable shaft member and engages said focusing knob with said rotatable shaft member.

4. The focusing apparatus for a surveying instrument according to claim 1, wherein said axis of said focusing knob and said rotating shaft member is substantially perpendicular to the optical axis, and wherein said focusing lens is provided with a rack which extends in a direction substantially parallel to the optical axis, said rack meshing with a pinion provided in said rotating shaft member.

5. The focusing apparatus for a surveying instrument according to claim 3, wherein said first clutch is provided with a first clutch portion and a first clutch tooth portion, coaxial with said focusing knob, said first clutch portion and said first clutch tooth portion engaging and disengaging when said focusing knob is respectively moved in said one axial direction and said another axial direction.

6. The focusing apparatus for a surveying instrument according to claim 5, wherein said second clutch is provided with a second clutch portion and a second clutch tooth portion, coaxial with said focusing knob, said second clutch portion and said second clutch tooth portion engaging and disengaging when said focusing knob is respectively moved in said another axial direction and said one axial direction.

7. The focusing apparatus for a surveying instrument according to claim 6, wherein said first and said second clutch tooth portions are respectively biased toward said first and second clutch portions by respective first and second springs.

8. The focusing apparatus for a surveying instrument according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of clutches is a friction clutch.

9. The focusing apparatus for a surveying instrument according to claim 2, further comprising a click stop mechanism which engages said focusing knob at one of an automatic adjustment position in which said first clutch engages and a manual adjustment position in which said second clutch engages.

10. The focusing apparatus for a surveying instrument according to claim 9, wherein said click stop mechanism comprises two adjacent click grooves provided on an outer peripheral surface of said focusing knob and two corresponding click pawls which are engaged in the click grooves when said focusing knob is moved in said axial direction.

11. The focusing apparatus for a surveying instrument according to claim 10, wherein one of said click grooves in which one of said corresponding click pawls is engaged in said automatic adjustment position is provided with at least one hole in which said click pawl can be engaged.

12. The focusing apparatus for a surveying instrument according to claim 1, further comprising focusing knob moving means for moving said focusing knob in said axial direction.

13. The focusing apparatus for a surveying instrument according to claim 12, wherein said focusing knob moving means comprises a cylindrical rotation switching member, and a movement converting mechanism which converts the rotation of said rotation switching member into a linear movement of said focusing knob.

14. The focusing apparatus for a surveying instrument according to claim 13, wherein said cylindrical rotation switching member is rotatable relative to said focusing knob and is immovable in said axial direction.

15. The focusing apparatus for a surveying instrument according to claim 13, wherein said movement converting mechanism comprises a linear movement guide groove provided on a body of said surveying instrument and extending in said axial direction of said focusing knob, a lead groove provided on said rotation switching member and inclined with respect to said axial direction, and a member to be guided, movable in said axial direction together with said focusing knob, and fitted in said linear movement guide groove and said lead groove.

16. The focusing apparatus for a surveying instrument according to claim 15, wherein said focusing knob is provided, on an outer peripheral surface thereof, with a peripheral groove perpendicular to said optical axis direction, and wherein a cylindrical member is relatively rotatably fitted onto said focusing knob.

17. The focusing apparatus for a surveying instrument according to claim 15, wherein said member to be guided comprises a linear key screw which is screw-engaged with said cylindrical member, a front end of said linear key screw projecting into said cylindrical member so as to be slidably fitted in said peripheral groove.

18. The focusing apparatus for a surveying instrument according to claim 1, wherein said rotating shaft member is provided between said focusing lens and said motor.

19. The focusing apparatus for a surveying instrument according to claim 1, wherein said focusing knob is substantially cylindrical.

20. The focusing apparatus for a surveying instrument according to claim 1, wherein said objective lens, said focusing lens and said reticle are provided in respective order from said object.

21. A focusing apparatus for a surveying instrument including an objective lens, a focusing lens, a reticle and an eyepiece, for adjusting a position of said focusing lens along an optical axis thereof to bring an image of an object into focus on said reticle, said focusing apparatus comprising:

means for detecting a focus state of said object image relative to said reticle;

a motor for driving said focusing lens along said optical axis;

a rotating shaft member rotated by said motor to move said focusing lens along said optical axis;

means for controlling said motor in accordance with said focus state detected by said detecting means;

a focusing knob which is coaxial with said rotating shaft member and movable in an axial direction thereof; and

a plurality of clutches which disengageably engage one of said focusing knob and said motor with said rotating shaft member, according to an axial movement of said focusing knob.

22. A level having a focusing apparatus for adjusting a position of a focusing lens of a telescope, provided on said level, along an optical axis thereof to bring an image of an object observed through said telescope into focus, said focusing apparatus comprising:

means for detecting a focus condition of said object image;

a motor for driving said focusing lens along said optical axis;

a rotating shaft member rotated by said motor to move said focusing lens along said optical axis;

means for controlling said motor in accordance with said focus state detected by said detecting means;

a focusing knob which is coaxial with said rotating shaft member and movable in an axial direction thereof;

a first clutch which disengages said focusing knob from said rotating shaft member and engages said motor with said rotating shaft member when said focusing knob is moved in one axial direction, so that said focusing lens can be controlled by said control means; and

a second clutch which disengages said motor from said rotating shaft member and engages said focusing knob with said rotating shaft member when said focusing knob is moved in another axial direction, so that said focusing lens can be manually adjusted by said focusing knob.