Light quantity adjusting device and photographing device having the same

• US 7,396,169 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2005
• Issued: 07/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nisca Corporation (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Nisca Corporation (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Naganuma, Hiroaki
• Primary Examiner(s): FULLER, RODNEY EVAN
• Application Number:
  US11/159,335
• Publication Number:
  US 20060008270A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,111 Days
• Field of Search: 396/449, 396/452, 396/457, 396/458, 396/459, 396/460, 396/463, 396/469, 396/471, 396/493, 396/494, 396/495, 396/505, 396/506, 348/363
• US Class Current: 396/469
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 29/00 Combinations of cameras, projectors or photographic printing apparatus with non-photographic non-optical apparatus, e.g. clocks or weapons; Cameras having the shape of other objects combinations with flash apparatus G03B15/03
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 9/04 Single movable plate with two or more apertures of graded size, e.g. sliding plate or pivoting plate
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 9/22 each moving in one direction to open and then in opposite direction to close, e.g. iris type

Abstract

A light quantity adjusting device includes a ring-shaped base plate having an exposure aperture at a center thereof, a first light quantity adjusting blade arranged in the exposure aperture, a first drive device for opening/closing the first light quantity adjusting blade, a second light quantity adjusting blade arranged in the exposure aperture, and a second drive device for opening/closing the second light quantity adjusting blade. The first drive device includes a magnet rotor and an exciting coil formed in a ring shape, and a guiding member for inducing a magnetic field to a position facing a magnetic pole formed on a circumference side of the magnet rotor. The second drive device includes a magnet rotor, an exciting coil, and a guiding member for guiding a magnetic field to a position facing a magnetic pole formed on a circumference side of the magnet rotor.

Claims

1. A light quantity adjusting device, comprising:

a base plate with a ring shape having an exposure aperture at a center thereof,

a first light quantity adjusting blade arranged in the exposure aperture,

a first drive device for opening and closing the first light quantity adjusting blade, said first drive device having a first magnet rotor with a ring shape, a first exciting coil with a ring shape, and a first guiding member for guiding a magnetic field generated in the first exciting coil to a position facing a magnetic pole formed on a circumference side of the first magnet rotor, said first magnet rotor and said first exciting coil being arranged on an inner circumferential edge of the exposure aperture in a stacked state,

a second light quantity adjusting blade arranged in the exposure aperture, and

a second drive device for opening and closing the second light quantity adjusting blade, said second drive device having a second magnet rotor, a second exciting coil, and a second guiding member for guiding a magnetic field generated in the second exciting coil to a position facing a magnetic pole formed on a circumference side of the second magnet rotor, said second magnet rotor and said second exciting coil being arranged on a portion of an outer circumferential edge of the exposure aperture.

2. A light quantity adjusting device according to claim 1, wherein said first guiding member includes an inner guiding member made of a soft magnetic material and facing an inner circumferential surface of the first magnet rotor, and an outer guiding member made of a soft magnetic material facing an outer circumferential surface of the first magnet rotor, said outer guiding member having a comb-tooth shape and being integrated with the inner guiding member.

3. A light quantity adjusting device according to claim 1, wherein said first light quantity adjusting blade includes shutter blades for opening and closing the exposure aperture, said second light quantity adjusting blade including an iris blade for adjusting a diameter of the exposure aperture, said first drive device being arranged to generate an output torque larger than that of the second drive device.

4. A light quantity adjusting device, comprising:

a base plate with a ring shape having an exposure aperture at a center thereof,

a first light quantity adjusting blade arranged in the exposure aperture,

a first drive device for opening and closing the first light quantity adjusting blade, said first drive device having a first magnet rotor with a ring shape and a first exciting coil with a ring shape,

a second light quantity adjusting blade arranged in the exposure aperture, and

a second drive device for opening and closing the second light quantity adjusting blade, said second drive device having a second magnet rotor with a ring shape arranged on a portion of an outer circumferential edge of the exposure aperture and a second exciting coil with a ring shape having a diameter substantially equal to that of the second magnet rotor, one of said first drive device and said second drive device being arranged on the base plate in a stacked state in an order of the first or second magnet rotor and the exciting coil corresponding thereto, and the other of said first drive device and said second drive device being arranged on the base plate in a stacked state in an order of the first or second exciting coil and the magnet rotor corresponding thereto.

5. A light quantity adjusting device according to claim 4, wherein said first magnet rotor is arranged on an inner circumferential edge of the exposure aperture, and the first exciting coil has a diameter substantially equal to that of the first magnet rotor.

6. A light quantity adjusting device according to claim 5, wherein said first light quantity adjusting blade includes shutter blades for opening and closing the exposure aperture, said second light quantity adjusting blade including an iris blade for adjusting a diameter of the exposure aperture, said first drive device being arranged to generate an output torque larger than that of the second drive device.

7. A light quantity adjusting device according to claim 5, wherein at least one of said first drive device and said second drive device includes a plurality of different magnetic poles formed alternately on the circumferential side of at least one of the first magnet rotor and the second magnet rotor, and a guiding member for inducing a magnetic field generated in the first or second exciting coil to a position facing the magnetic poles.

8. A light quantity adjusting device according to claim 7, wherein said guiding member includes an inner guiding member made of a soft magnetic material facing an inner circumferential surface of the first or second magnet rotor, and a plurality of outer guiding members made of a soft magnetic material facing an outer circumferential surface of said first or second magnet rotor, said plurality of outer guiding members having a comb-tooth shape and being integrated with the inner guiding member.

9. A photographing device comprising the light quantity adjusting device according to claim 5, a focusing lens for focusing light coming from an object, and a photographing unit for receiving the light from the focusing lens, said base plate being arranged in an optical path from the object to the focusing lens.