Camera encoder assembly, system and method thereof

An encoder assembly for a camera shutter and lens focus assembly comprising a housing, a rotary motor mounted on the housing and having a central shaft, a rotary beam actuator connected to the shaft, and shutter blades and a focus lens carrier in mechanical communication with the beam actuator, wherein rotation of the shaft in a first direction by the motor operates to rotate the beam actuator to cause movement of the shutter blades to cause the shutter blades cooperatively to define an opening to permit light to pass therethrough in accordance with a preselected program, and rotation of the shaft in a second direction operates to rotate the beam actuator to cause movement of the focus lens carrier to position the focus lens carrier in accordance with a preselected program, the encoder assembly comprising:

• an encoder mask fixed in the housing and having an arcuate window having alternating opaque and transmissive radial portions therein, the area of said opaque portions exceeding the area of said transmissive portions;
• an encoder sheet rotatably mounted in the housing and disposed adjacent said encoder mask, said encoder sheet having an arcuate window having alternating opaque and transmissive radial portions therein, the area of said sheet opaque portions exceeding the area of said sheet transmissive portions;
• sensor means for passing light pulses from a first side of said mask and said sheet through said windows when a mask window transmissive portion is in registration with a sheet window transmissive portion, and for detecting the passed light pulses on a second side of said mask and said sheet, and for converting the passed light pulses to electrical signals, and for transmitting the electrical signals;
• and
• a controller for receiving the electrical signals from said sensor means and for determining therefrom the position and direction of movement of the shutter blades and the position of the focus lens carrier, and for comparing the shutter blade position and direction of movement with the preselected program, and for comparing the focus lens carrier position with a preselected program, and for sending to said motor a signal instructing any required compensating motor shaft movement change, and thereby shutter blade movement change, and focus lens carrier change.

An encoder assembly comprising:

• encoding mask means coupled to one of a pair of relatively movable members for providing alternating light blocking and unblocking portions;
• encoding sheet means coupled to a second one of the pair of relatively movable members for providing alternating light blocking and unblocking portions;
• sensor means for passing pulses of light through said unblocking portions of said masking and sheet means from a first side when said unblocking portions are in registration with each other;
• and for detecting the pulses of passed light on a second side of said masking and sheet means, and for converting the passed light pulses to electrical signals and for transmitting the electrical signals;
• each area of said unblocking means of said sheet means is asymmetrical in area from each area of said unblocking means of said mask means as said unblocking means of said sheet means moves relative to said unblocking means of said mask means for providing for increased intervals at which the maximum amount of beam light is transmitted through the unblocking portions and is read by sensing means.

An encoder assembly for a camera shutter and lens focus assembly comprising a housing, a rotary motor mounted on the housing and having a central shaft, a rotary beam actuator connected to the shaft, and shutter blades and a focus lens carrier in mechanical communication with the beam actuator, wherein rotation of the shaft in a first direction by the motor operates to rotate the beam actuator to cause movement of the shutter blades to cause the shutter blades cooperatively to define an opening to permit light to pass therethrough in accordance with a preselected program, and rotation of the shaft in a second direction operates to rotate the beam actuator to cause movement of the focus lens carrier to position the focus lens carrier in accordance with a preselected program, the encoder assembly comprising:

• an encoder mask fixed in the housing and having an arcuate window having alternating opaque and transmissive radial portions therein, the area of said opaque portions exceeding the area of said transmissive portions;
• an encoder sheet rotatably mounted in the housing and disposed adjacent said encoder mask, said encoder sheet having an arcuate window having alternating opaque and transmissive radial portions therein, the area of said sheet opaque portions exceeding the area of said sheet transmissive portions;
• sensor means for passing light pulses from a first side of said mask and said sheet through said windows when a mask window transmissive portion is in registration with a sheet window transmissive portion, and for detecting the passed light pulses on a second side of said mask and said sheet, and for converting the passed light pulses to electrical signals, and for transmitting the electrical signals;
• and
• a controller for receiving the electrical signals from said sensor means and for determining therefrom the position and direction of movement of the shutter blades and the position of the focus lens carrier, and for comparing the shutter blade position and direction of movement with the preselected program, and for comparing the focus lens carrier position with a preselected program, and for sending to said motor a signal instructing any required compensating motor shaft movement change, and thereby shutter blade movement change, and focus lens carrier change.