# US 4,400,075 A · Automatic focus camera with interchangeable lens > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 4,400,075 A - Document ID: US4400075A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 06/298,170 - Filed: 1981-08-31 - Granted: 1983-08-23 - Earliest claimed: 1980-09-10 - Assignees: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Yasumasa Tomori; Mituhiko Shimoda - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4400075A ## CPC - G02B 7/36: using image sharpness techniques {, e.g. image processing techniques for generating autofocus signals (image data processing per se G06T; in cameras having a solid state image sensor H04N23/67)} - G03B 17/14: interchangeably - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D) ## Abstract An automatic focus camera with an interchangeable lens, comprising an interchangeable lens barrel having focussing lens means, a camera body having a focus detecting device, the lens barrel having a driving motor for axially moving the focussing lens means in accordance with a detection signal of the focus detecting device, switch circuit means on the camera body for actuating the focus detecting device and the driving motor, and external actuation switches on the lens barrel for actuating the focus detecting device and the driving motor, independently of the actuation of the switch circuit means. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An automatic focus camera with an interchangeable lens, comprising an interchangeable lens barrel having focussing lens means movable in directions of the optical axis of the camera, and a camera body having a focus detecting device which detects an image of an object formed by the focussing lens means, said lens barrel having a driving motor for axially moving the focussing lens means in accordance with a detection signal of the focus detecting device, wherein the improvement comprises a switch circuit means on the camera body for actuating the focus detecting device and the driving motor, and an external actuation switch on the lens barrel for actuating the focus detecting device and the driving motor, independently of the actuation of the switch circuit means on the camera body. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An automatic focus camera according to claim 1, further comprising a mount securing lens barrel having a mount which can be attached to a mount of the camera body. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) An automatic focus camera according to claim 2, further comprising means for transmitting and receiving signals between the focus detecting device of the camera body, the switch circuit means, the driving motor of the focussing lens means and the external actuation switch, provided on the mounts of the camera body and of the lens barrel, said signal transmitting and receiving means being connected to each other when the mount of the lens barrel is attached to the mount of the camera body. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) An automatic focus camera according to claim 3, further comprising a zooming barrel which can be axially displaced with respect to the mount securing lens barrel, said zooming barrel supporting the focussing lens means, the driving motor, and the external actuation switch. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) An automatic focus camera according to claim 4, further comprising a plurality of slide contacts provided on the zooming barrel and the mount securing barrel, for causing the driving motor and the external actuation switch of the zooming barrel to be always electrically in contact with the signal transmitting and receiving means on the mount securing barrel, independently of the axial position of the zooming barrel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) An automatic focus camera according to claim 1, wherein the external actuation switch comprises a power supply switch element of the driving motor and an actuation switch element of the focus detecting device, mechanically associated with the power supply switch element so that the actuation switch element is turned ON and OFF simultaneously with the power supply switch element. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) An automatic focus camera according to claim 6, wherein said actuation switch element of the focus detecting device causes the focus detecting device to be operated by way of the switch circuit of the camera body. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1, 2, 3) An automatic focus camera according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said lens barrel is provided thereon with a battery for the driving motor, and a main switch for connecting and disconnecting the battery and the external actuation switch. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) An automatic focus camera according to any one of claims 1-7, wherein two external actuation switches are provided on the upper portion and one side of the lens barrel when viewed from front, respectively. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) An automatic focus camera according to any one of claims 1-7, wherein the switch circuit means of the camera body is associated with and actuated by a shutter release button of the camera. ### Claim 11 An automatic focus camera with an interchangeable lens, comprising an interchangeable lens barrel having focussing lens means movable in directions of the optical axis of the camera, and a camera body having a focus detecting device which detects an image of an object formed by the focussing lens means, said lens barrel having a driving motor for axially moving the focussing lens means in accordance with a detection signal of the focus detecting device, wherein the improvement comprises a switch circuit means on the camera body for actuating the focus detecting device and the driving motor, an external actuation switch on the lens barrel for feeding the supply voltage to the driving motor and a semi-conductor switch circuit on the lens barrel which is operated when the external actuation switch is turned ON to actuating the focus detecting device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) An automatic focus camera according to claim 11, further comprising a mount securing lens barrel having a mount which can be attached to a mount of the camera body. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) An automatic focus camera according to claim 12, further comprising means for transmitting and receiving signals between the focus detecting device of the camera body, the switch circuit means, the driving motor of the focussing lens means, the external actuation switch and the semi-conductor switch circuit, provided on the mounts of the camera body and of the lens barrel, said signal transmitting and receiving means being connected to each other when the mount of the lens barrel is attached to the mount of the camera body. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) An automatic focus camera according to claim 13, further comprising a zooming barrel which can be axially displaced with respect to the mount securing lens barrel, said zooming barrel supporting the focussing lens means, the driving motor, the external actuation switch and the semi-conductor switch element. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) An automatic focus camera according to claim 14, further comprising a plurality of slide contacts provided on the zooming barrel and the mount securing barrel, for causing the driving motor, the external actuation switch and the semi-conductor switch circuit of the zooming barrel to be always electrically in contact with the signal transmitting and receiving means on the mount securing barrel, independently of the axial position of the zooming barrel. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) An automatic focus camera according to claim 11, further comprising a main switch which is connected in series to the external actuation switch. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) An automatic focus camera according to claim 11, further comprising a circuit for smoothing a pulse voltage which is produced when the main switch of the camera is turned ON. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) An automatic focus camera according to any one of claims 11-16, wherein two external actuation switches are provided on the upper portion and one side of the lens barrel when viewed from front, respectively. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) An automatic focus camera according to any one of claims 11-16, wherein the switch circuit means of the camera body is associated with and actuated by a shutter release button of the camera.