Camera diaphragm device

• US 7,942,592 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2010
• Issued: 05/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nidec Copal Corporation (Nidec Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nidec Copal Corporation (Nidec Corporation)
• Inventors: Nishimura, Toshihiro, Sawanobori, Koji
• Primary Examiner(s): Perkey; W. B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hancock; Dennis
• Application Number:
  US12/659,113
• Publication Number:
  US 20100220993A1
• Time in Patent Office: 446 Days
• Field of Search: 396505-510
• US Class Current: 396/510
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 9/02 Diaphragms

Abstract

A camera diaphragm device in which two diaphragm blades, that is, first and second diaphragm blades having respective first and second diaphragm aperture portions whose diameters differ from each other is provided. The diaphragm blades are mounted to blade mounting shafts provided close to each other and in a standing manner, and are separately reciprocatingly rotated by driving pins of respective rotors. When the diaphragm device is set in a minimum diaphragm aperture control state, not only is the first diaphragm blade having the first aperture portion for restricting the minimum diaphragm aperture moved to an aperture portion, but also the second diaphragm blade having the second aperture portion for restricting an intermediate diaphragm aperture is moved to the aperture portion from the same direction. An area of the aperture portion that cannot be covered by only the first diaphragm blade is covered by the second diaphragm blade.

Claims

1. A camera diaphragm device comprising:

a base plate having an aperture portion in which an optical axis serves as center;

an auxiliary plate having an aperture portion in which an optical axis serves as center, a blade chamber being formed between the auxiliary plate and the base plate, either the aperture portion of the auxiliary plate or the aperture portion of the base plate serving as an exposure aperture portion that restricts a maximum diaphragm aperture;

a first diaphragm blade having a diaphragm aperture portion which restricts a minimum diaphragm aperture, the first diaphragm blade being mounted to the base plate so that, by a driving pin of first driving means, the first diaphragm blade is reciprocatingly rotated to move to and away from the exposure aperture portion, the first diaphragm blade having a shape that causes an incapable-of-covering area to exist in addition to an area of the diaphragm aperture portion of the first diaphragm blade when the first diaphragm blade is moved to the exposure aperture portion, the incapable-of-covering area being where a portion of the exposure aperture portion is incapable of being covered; and

a second diaphragm blade having a diaphragm aperture portion which restricts an intermediate diaphragm aperture, the second diaphragm blade being mounted to the base plate at a position near where the first diaphragm blade is mounted so that, by a driving pin of second driving means, the second diaphragm blade is reciprocatingly rotated to move to and away from the exposure aperture portion from substantially a same direction as the first diaphragm blade, the second diaphragm blade having a shape causing the second diaphragm blade to cover a whole area of the exposure aperture portion, differing from an area of the diaphragm aperture portion of the second diaphragm blade, when the second diaphragm blade is moved to the exposure aperture portion,

wherein, when the first diaphragm blade is moved to the exposure aperture portion, the second diaphragm blade is also moved to the exposure aperture portion, so that the second diaphragm blade covers the incapable-of-covering area.

2. The camera diaphragm device according to claim 1, wherein the second diaphragm blade has a relief hole, and wherein the driving pin of the first driving means exists in the relief hole.

3. The camera diaphragm device according to claim 2, wherein the second diaphragm blade has a first engaging portion, which corresponds to a portion of an edge of the relief hole, and a second engaging portion, which corresponds to another portion of the edge,

wherein the first diaphragm blade has an engaging portion existing in the relief hole,

wherein, when the second diaphragm blade is in a moved away state from the exposure aperture portion, the first engaging portion of the second diaphragm blade contacts the engaging portion of the first diaphragm blade to prevent the first diaphragm blade from moving to the exposure aperture portion, and

wherein, when the first diaphragm blade is moved to the exposure aperture portion, the second engaging portion contacts the engaging portion of the first diaphragm blade to prevent the second diaphragm blade from moving away from the exposure aperture portion.

4. The camera diaphragm device according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the first diaphragm blade and the second diaphragm blade has an ND filter sheet mounted thereto so as to cover the diaphragm aperture portion thereof.

5. The camera diaphragm device according to claim 2, wherein the second diaphragm blade has a first engaging portion, which corresponds to a portion of an edge of the relief hole, and a second engaging portion, which corresponds to another portion of the edge,

wherein, when the second diaphragm blade is in a moved away state from the exposure aperture portion, the driving pin of the first driving means contacts the first engaging portion to prevent the first diaphragm blade from moving to the exposure aperture portion, and

wherein, when the first diaphragm blade is moved to the exposure aperture portion, the second engaging portion contacts the driving pin of the first driving means to prevent the second diaphragm blade from moving away from the exposure aperture portion.

6. The camera diaphragm device according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the first diaphragm blade and the second diaphragm blade has an ND filter sheet mounted thereto so as to cover the diaphragm aperture portion thereof.

7. The camera diaphragm device according to claim 2, wherein the first diaphragm blade and the second diaphragm blade each have an engaging portion,

wherein, when the second diaphragm blade is in a moved away state from the exposure aperture portion, the engaging portion of the first diaphragm blade contacts the engaging portion of the second diaphragm blade to prevent the first diaphragm blade from moving to the exposure aperture portion, and

wherein, when the first diaphragm blade is moved to the exposure aperture portion, the engaging portion of the second diaphragm blade contacts the engaging portion of the first diaphragm blade to prevent the second diaphragm blade from moving away from the exposure aperture portion.

8. The camera diaphragm device according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the first diaphragm blade and the second diaphragm blade has an ND filter sheet mounted thereto so as to cover the diaphragm aperture portion thereof.

9. The camera diaphragm device according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the first diaphragm blade and the second diaphragm blade has an ND filter sheet mounted thereto so as to cover the diaphragm aperture portion thereof.

10. The camera diaphragm device according to claim 1, wherein the first diaphragm blade and the second diaphragm blade each have an engaging portion,

wherein, when the second diaphragm blade is in a moved away state from the exposure aperture portion, the engaging portion of the first diaphragm blade contacts the engaging portion of the second diaphragm blade to prevent the first diaphragm blade from moving to the exposure aperture portion, and

wherein, when the first diaphragm blade is moved to the exposure aperture portion, the engaging portion of the second diaphragm blade contacts the engaging portion of the first diaphragm blade to prevent the second diaphragm blade from moving away from the exposure aperture portion.

11. The camera diaphragm device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first diaphragm blade and the second diaphragm blade has an ND filter sheet mounted thereto so as to cover the diaphragm aperture portion thereof.