| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 359817000 | Foldable or collapsible | 32 |
| 20080310034 | LENS DEVICE - A lens device includes a seat unit having an image sensing component, a first barrel unit, a first lens module coupled to the first barrel unit, and a second lens module mounted on the seat unit. When the first barrel unit moves toward the seat unit along an optical axis, the first lens module moves in radial directions via a first guide mechanism such that a first lens unit is misaligned with the image sensing component relative to the optical axis, while the second lens module is driven to rotate via a second guide mechanism such that a second lens unit is misaligned with the image sensing component. The lens device further includes a first biasing unit for biasing the first lens module to a first shooting position, and a second biasing unit for biasing the second lens module to a second shooting position. | 12-18-2008 |
| 20080310035 | Retractable lens camera - A retractable lens camera includes: a lens barrel; three or more lens groups provided in the lens barrel; a retracting unit that retracts the lens barrel and the lens groups into a camera body; and a displacing unit that displaces at least two lens groups to an escaping space out of an optical axis. | 12-18-2008 |
| 20090091850 | Collapsible lens barrel - A cam pin ( | 04-09-2009 |
| 20090257137 | LENS BARREL AND CAMERA - A collapsible lens barrel having a low-profile size and a camera applied with the collapsible lens barrel. The lens barrel includes a first retractable lens-retaining frame and a second retractable lens-retaining frame for retaining at least one of a plurality of lens groups and being retracted to a position outer than an inner radius of a movable lens cone in the collapsed state, respectively; and a first retractable lens-moving member and a second retractable lens-moving member. At least one of the first and second retractable lens-retaining frames is retained movable relative to the respective retractable lens-moving member along an optical axis direction in the collapsed state. | 10-15-2009 |
| 20100002316 | LENS BARREL - A lens barrel includes front and rear holding members holding front and rear optical elements; an advancing/retracting member; a first guide portion guiding the front holding member relative to the advancing/retracting member; a first biasing member biasing the front holding member rearwards; a second guide portion guiding the rear holding member independently of the advancing/retracting member; a second biasing member biasing the rear holding member forwards; and first contact portions provided between the front and rear holding members, a rearward movement of the front holding member causing the first contact portions to contact and transmit a rearward moving force to the rear holding member when the lens barrel moves to the lens barrel accommodated state. The first and second guide portions, force-applied portions provided between the first/second biasing members and the front/rear holding members, and the first contact portions being all positioned within one of four equiangular ranges. | 01-07-2010 |
| 20100027138 | LENS APPARATUS AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - A lens apparatus includes a first lens holding member configured to hold a lens, and an actuator configured to move the first lens holder in an optical axis direction. The lens apparatus transfers to a retracted state by moving the first lens holding member to a retracted position via the actuator from an image picking-up state. The lens apparatus further includes a stopper configured to move in a direction different from the optical axis direction between a first position at which the stopper restricts a movement of the first lens holding member and a second position off the first position, and a driving member configured to move the stopper from the second position to the first position relative to the first lens holding member that has moved to the retreated position. | 02-04-2010 |
| 20100046098 | LENS DRIVE UNIT, LENS BARREL, AND IMAGE FORMING DEVICE - A lens drive unit is configured to move a lens holding frame to a desired position by the engagement between a cam groove of a rotary cylinder and a cam follower of the lens holding frame. The lens drive unit includes a second linearly-moving guide cylinder arranged between the lens holding frame and a first linearly-moving guide cylinder. The second linearly-moving guide cylinder can be moved in the optical a direction with rotation of the rotary cylinder by the engagement of a cam follower of the second linearly-moving guide cylinder with a second cam groove of the rotary cylinder. The lens holding frame is guided in the optical axis direction by the second linearly-moving guide cylinder and moved in the optical axis direction with rotation of the rotary cylinder by the engagement of a cam follower of the lens holding frame with a first cam groove of the rotary cylinder. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100053780 | LENS DRIVING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A lens driving device includes a lens, a lens frame configured to support the lens, a drive mechanism configured to cause the lens frame to move upon an optical axis, and a fixed member configured to support the drive mechanism. The drive mechanism includes a rotational cylinder capable of moving upon the optical axis, a cam part on the fixed member and a cam follower which is formed on the rotational cylinder fitting with the cam part and has a conical portion and a cylindrical portion. The cam part includes a tapered cam groove formed such that the rotational cylinder extends in the optical axis upon a range whereupon the rotational cylinder moves from the collapsed state to a photography state and a planar surface formed such that the rotational cylinder does not move upon the optical axis upon the photography range, even if the rotational cylinder rotates. The conical portion fits with the cam groove of the cam part upon the range whereupon the rotational cylinder moves upon the optical axis, and the cylindrical portion fits with the planar surface of the cam part upon the range whereupon the rotational cylinder does not move upon the optical axis. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100067127 | LENS APPARATUS AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - The lens apparatus includes a first barrel member, a second barrel member, a first rolling bearing and a second rolling bearing. The second barrel member includes a cam for moving a lens unit in an optical axis direction, is disposed inside or outside the first barrel member and rotatable around an optical axis with respect to the first barrel member. The first rolling bearing prevents relative displacements of the first and second barrel members in the optical axis direction and in a radial direction. The first rolling bearing is rotatable between the first and second barrel members. The second rolling bearing prevents the relative displacement of the first and second barrel members in the radial direction. The second rolling bearing is rotatable between the first and second barrel members. The first and second rolling bearing are arranged at positions away from each other in the optical axis direction. | 03-18-2010 |
| 20100202066 | LENS BARREL, AND CAMERA - Provided is a lens barrel, which can be further reduced by providing such a first helicoid as can be easily manufactured even in the zone of a small lead. The lens barrel ( | 08-12-2010 |
| 20100277818 | LENS FRAME RADIALLY-DISPLACING MECHANISM OF RETRACTABLE PHOTOGRAPHIC LENS - A lens frame radially-displacing mechanism of a retractable photographic lens, includes a photographing optical system; a linearly advancing/retreating ring guided linearly in an optical axis direction; a radially-displaceable support frame pivoted parallel to the optical axis, supports a radially-displaceable optical element and rotates between an on-axis position and an off-axis displaced position when the retractable photographic lens moves between the ready-to-photograph state and the retracted state; a rear support frame supporting a rear optical element; and a distance controller which controls approaching positions of the displaceable support frame and the rear support frame. The distance controller includes an approaching-position limiter which limits movements of the displaceable support frame and the rear support frame to a predetermined distance when the displaceable support frame moves rearward, and a distance extender which extends the predetermined distance when the displaceable support frame rotates toward the off-axis displaced position. | 11-04-2010 |
| 20110026143 | RETRACTABLE LENS BARREL UNIT - A lens barrel unit includes a holder configured to hold a lens, a cam cylinder including a cam groove configured to engage with the holder and define a movement of the holder in an optical axis direction, and a projection that has a part of the cam groove and projects in the optical axis direction, and a straightforward movement cylinder configured to guide a straightforward movement of the holder, the straightforward movement cylinder including a flange forming a notch. In a process from a retraction state in which the projection is located in the notch to an image pickup state in which the projection is located outside of the notch, the straightforward movement cylinder moves relative to the cam cylinder in the optical axis direction. | 02-03-2011 |
| 20110069403 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS HAVING LENS BARREL - An image pickup apparatus includes a lens barrel. The lens barrel includes a fixture cylinder fixed onto an image pickup apparatus body, and provided with a plurality of cam grooves, and a movement cylinder provided with a plurality of cam followers, and configured to move in an optical axis direction as the cam follower rotates around an optical axis. One cam groove includes a non-engagement area that is not engaged with the cam follower. When the cam follower is located in the non-engagement area, a supporting member of a fixture cylinder supports in a radial direction a supported member that is provided to a part of the movement cylinder on an image plane side, and a part of the movement cylinder closer to the object side than the supported member is supported by the fixture cylinder in the radius direction via an elastic member. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110075275 | LENS DRIVE CONTROL DEVICE AND IMAGE PICKUP DEVICE - A lens drive control device for a lens barrel, which controls at least a part of a plurality of lens groups respectively including at least one lens, wherein a state of the lens barrel transits from a retracted state to a photographing extended state, the lens drive control device comprising: a detection device which detects that the at least one lens group reaches a reference position, and a determination device which determines an abnormal actuation based upon a detection by the detection device, upon actuation when the at least one lens group is moved from the retracted position to the position on the optical axis, wherein the determination device determines that the actuation is abnormal when the detection device detects that the at least one lens group reaches the reference position for a plurality of times. | 03-31-2011 |
| 20110109981 | LENS BARREL AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - An image pickup apparatus enabling construction of a small bending optical system with high magnification. A first lens group is movably disposed toward an object on a first optical axis. A second lens group is movably disposed radially inward of the first lens group. The second lens group comprises a drive frame drivingly controlled along the first optical axis and a lens holding frame for holding the second lens group. A prism is disposed on the first optical axis, for bending light incident on the prism to thereby guide the light along a second optical axis. The prism is retracted along the second optical axis in a non-shooting state. In the non-shooting state, the second lens group is retracted and accommodated in a space defined by the drive frame and the lens holding frame and a space occupied by the prism in a shooting state. | 05-12-2011 |
| 20110157729 | LENS BARREL AND IMAGING APPARATUS - A lens barrel includes: a holding frame; a cam ring rotatable relative to the holding frame around a rotational axis substantially parallel to an optical axis of an imaging optical lens system; and a cam follower and a cam groove that engage with each other so that the holding frame and the cam ring move relative to each other along the optical axis when the holding frame and the cam ring are rotated relative to each other. | 06-30-2011 |
| 20110181967 | LENS BARREL AND OPTICAL INSTRUMENT - The present invention provides a miniaturized lens barrel and optical instrument. The lens barrel ( | 07-28-2011 |
| 20110194198 | LENS BARREL AND IMAGING APPARATUS - For a lens barrel that restricts the rectilinear of a lens group using a restricting portion such as a rectilinear key, the light-shielding property for external light, the degree of freedom of design relating to the arrangement of the interlocking section for a cam ring, as well as a change in the relative distance between a front group and a rear group are increased. A lens barrel has a first group (front group) | 08-11-2011 |
| 20110267710 | LENS BARREL AND OPTICAL DEVICE - A lens barrel comprises barrier blades that open and close in a directional orthogonal to an optical axis; an optical system retention frame that includes a first surface along a direction orthogonal to the axis, the optical system retention frame retaining the optical system and movable with respect to the barrier blades in a direction along the axis; and a coupling plate includes a second surface relatively movable with respect to the first surface, the coupling plate causing the barrier blades to open and close by the coupling plate rotating about the axis; wherein, when the barrier blades are opened, the first surface is can move in the axis direction without abutting against the second surface and, when the barrier blades are closed, the first surface abuts against the second surface and movement of the first surface in the axis direction is restricted. | 11-03-2011 |
| 20110273786 | LENS BARREL - A lens barrel includes lens groups, lens retaining frames retaining the lens groups, respectively, between a collapsed state and a photographic state are moved toward an object side, a movable cylinder retaining the plurality of lens retaining frames therewithin, and a driving mechanism to move the lens retaining frames. The driving mechanism includes a main guide shaft parallel to the photographic axis and supports a retractable lens retaining frame retaining a retractable lens group movably along and rotatably about the main guide shaft, a lead screw disposed in parallel with the main guide shaft and to be driven to rotate, a screw member to be screwed on the lead screw by coming into contact with the lead screw in directions perpendicular to the lead screw to be moved along the lead screw by a rotation of the lead screw, and a cam structure connecting the retractable lens retaining frame with the screw member to convert a movement of the screw member along the lead screw into a rotary motion of the retractable lens retaining frame about the main guide shaft and a linear motion of the retractable lens retaining frame along the main guide shaft. | 11-10-2011 |
| 20120002307 | LENS BARREL - A lens barrel includes a plurality of lens groups including a retractable lens group, a plurality of lens retaining frames to retain the plurality of lens groups, a movable lens barrel to retain the plurality of lens retaining frames therein, and a fixed cylinder portion to retain the movable lens barrel therein. The plurality of lens retaining frames, the movable lens barrel and the fixed cylinder portion are configured to move the plurality of lens groups between a collapsed state with at least one portion of the plurality of lens groups collapsed and a photographing state. The plurality of lens retaining frames include a retractable lens retaining frame configured to movably retain the retractable lens group so as to position the plurality of lens groups in photographing positions on a single optical axis in the photographing state and to retract the retractable lens group to a retracted position outside an inside diameter position of the fixed cylinder portion in the collapsed state. The retractable lens retaining frame moves the retractable lens group between the photographing position and the retracted position by a driving force to drive the movable lens barrel relative to the fixed cylinder portion. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120008218 | IMAGING DEVICE AND LENS BARREL - An imaging device comprises a lens barrel having an optical system with an adjustable focal point, and has a first state can focus relative to an imaging face, and a second state can not focus relative to the imaging face, a changing unit for changing the lens barrel from the second state to the first state when the imaging unit is activated, a discriminating unit which discriminates whether the state of the barrel is the first state or the second state, and a control unit which, at a time of activating the imaging unit, changes the lens barrel to the first state by the changing unit if it is discriminated that the state of the barrel is the second state, and which maintains the first state if it is discriminated that the state of the barrel is the first state. | 01-12-2012 |
| 20120044589 | OPTICAL APPARATUS - An optical apparatus includes a cam barrel configured to hold an optical member, which is movable back and forth along a first optical axis, on an inner periphery of the cam barrel, a bending member configured to bend a light flux from an object from the first optical axis towards a second optical axis, and a guiding member extending in a direction parallel with the second optical axis and configured to support and hold the bending member to be movable back and forth in the direction parallel with the second optical axis, wherein the guiding member is configured to enter into a notch, which is provided to the cam barrel, when the optical member is stored into a space along the first optical axis into which the bending member has retracted. | 02-23-2012 |
| 20120087021 | MOVING DEVICE - A moving device is disclosed. The moving device includes a first lens barrel, a second lens barrel, a shutter module, a pushing lever, a flexible element, and a third lens barrel. The first lens barrel includes an upper edge and a groove which is at the upper edge. The second lens barrel is sleeved within the first lens barrel. The shutter module is disposed on the second lens barrel. The pushing lever includes a first end and a second end which is fixed within the groove of the first lens barrel. The flexible element is disposed besides the pushing lever for pushing the pushing lever. The third lens barrel is sleeved outside the first lens barrel. The third lens barrel includes a convex block. When the first lens barrel, the second lens barrel, and the third lens barrel are extending, the flexible element pushes the pushing lever for enclosing the pushing lever within the groove of the first lens barrel; when the first lens barrel, the second lens barrel, and the third lens barrel are stowing, the convex block pushes the pushing lever out of the groove of the first lens barrel. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120229923 | LENS BARREL AND IMAGING DEVICE - A lens barrel includes a fixed cylinder, a first rotary cylinder rotatably provided around an axis relative to the fixed cylinder, and a moving cylinder disposed inside of the first rotary cylinder to move integrally with the first rotary cylinder on the axis and rotate around the axis relative to the first rotary cylinder. The moving cylinder includes a front protrusion group of three or more protrusions and a rear protrusion group of two or more protrusions on an outer circumference. The first rotary cylinder includes, in an inner circumference, a first circumferential groove, a second circumferential groove, a first guide having three or more depressions, and a second guide having two or more depressions. The first rotary cylinder and the moving cylinder are coupled with each other by fitting the front and rear protrusion groups into the first and second circumferential grooves, respectively. | 09-13-2012 |
| 20140168795 | LENS BARREL - A lens barrel includes an optical system including a first lens group having at least one lens; a cam frame including a first cam groove; and a first movable frame including a first cam follower engaged with the first cam groove. When the first movable frame relatively rotates with respect to the cam frame, the first movable frame relatively moves with respect to the cam frame in an optical axis direction together with the first lens group. A region of the first cam groove, through which the first cam follower passes when a focal distance of the optical system is changed from a wide-angle end to a tele end includes first and second regions adjacent to each other. The first region has a groove width narrower than that of the second region. | 06-19-2014 |
| 20140204482 | LENS BARREL AND IMAGING APPARATUS - The lens barrel includes a stationary tube, a cam ring, and a rectilinear motion tube. The rectilinear motion tube is moved by the rotation of the cam ring in the optical axis direction. A lens frame holding a lens is moved by a driving unit (feed screw and a motor) in the optical axis direction. The stationary tube includes a main guide bar in the optical axis direction. The rectilinear motion tube includes another main guide bar in the optical axis direction. The lens frame includes first and second fitting portions slidably supported by the main guide bars in the optical axis direction, and the first and second fitting portions are disposed separately in the optical axis direction, and the main guide bars are disposed in different positions around the optical axis. | 07-24-2014 |
| 20140313602 | LENS BARREL HAVING RETRACTABLE LENS, AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - A lens barrel which is capable of retracting a retractable lens group by a simple construction and realizing stable image quality. The lens barrel has a lens, a first lens holding member that holds the lens, a second lens holding member that holds the first lens holding member and moves in a direction of an optical axis in conjunction with the first lens holding member, a drive mechanism that moves the first lens holding member between a shooting position on the optical axis and a retracted position outside the optical axis, and a first guide bar and a second guide bar. The drive mechanism retracts the first lens holding member from the shooting position to the retracted position while holding the second lens holding member on the optical axis. The first and second guide bars guide the second lens holding member in the direction of the optical axis. | 10-23-2014 |
| 20140355138 | LENS BARREL AND IMAGING APPARATUS - A lens barrel includes: a barrel body; an optical element inside the barrel body; and a wiring which is inserted inside the barrel body, and at least a part of which has a three-dimensional curve shape capable of extending and contracting in a direction of an optical axis of the optical element. | 12-04-2014 |
| 20150022909 | Stretched Fresnel Lens Solar Concentrator for Space Power, with Cords, Fibers, or Wires Strengthening the Stretched Lens - This invention includes a flexible Fresnel lens assembly which can be efficiently stowed into a small volume, and then deployed with a mechanism, including structural elements, that provides tensioning at the ends of the lens assembly to position and support the lens assembly in proper position relative to a photovoltaic receiver, onto which the lens assembly focuses sunlight for conversion into electricity. The flexible stretched lens assembly includes a transparent prismatic polymer film, comprising a refractive optical element, attached to flexible cords, fibers, or wires that carry the bulk of the tension load in the stretched lens assembly when it is deployed in its final functional position. This present invention represents a critical and mission-enabling improvement to an earlier stretched lens array invention described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,075,200 (Reference 1). | 01-22-2015 |
| 20150098142 | LENS BARREL AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - A retractable lens barrel includes a first main bar, a second main bar, a fixed barrel including the first main bar, a linear movement barrel including a second main bar and movable in an optical axis direction, a leaf spring configured to adjust decentering of the second main bar relative to the first main bar in a plane orthogonal to the optical axis, and leaf springs configured to adjust a tilt of the second main bar relative to the first main bar in the optical axis direction by pushing the linear movement barrel onto the fixed barrel at a plurality of positions in a plane orthogonal to the optical axis. The first main bar and the second main bar are configured to guide a lens frame holding a lens. After the second main bar is moved closer to an object than the first main bar, tilt adjustment by the leaf springs is completed following decentering adjustment by the leaf spring. | 04-09-2015 |
| 20150103420 | LENS BARREL - A lens barrel includes: a fixed frame; a zoom ring rotatably held around an outer periphery of the fixed frame; a contact member; and a biasing member. The zoom ring has a first sliding surface to a fourth sliding surface. When the contact member moves on the first sliding surface, a first load is applied to the biasing member; when the contact member moves on the second sliding surface, a second load greater than the first load is applied to the biasing member; and when the contact member moves on the third sliding surface, a load which varies in a range from the first load to the second load is applied to the biasing member. | 04-16-2015 |
