# US 5,708,886 A · Camera > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,708,886 A - Document ID: US5708886A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/718,209 - Filed: 1996-09-20 - Granted: 1998-01-13 - Earliest claimed: 1993-08-23 - Assignees: Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Eiichi Hayashi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5708886A ## CPC - G03B 13/12: to compensate for change of camera lens or size of picture - G11B 31/006: {with video camera or receiver} - H04N 23/55: Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof - 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) - G11B: INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER (recording measured values in a way that does not require playback through a transducer G01D9/00; recording or playback apparatus using mechanically marked tape, e.g. punched paper tape, or using unit records, e.g. punched or magnetically marked cards G06K; transferring data from one type of record carrier to another G06K1/18; circuits for coupling output of reproducer to radio receiver H04B1/20; gramophone pick-ups or like acoustic electromechanical transducers or circuits therefor H04R) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A camera is applied to a compact camera or a VTR integrated with a simplified camera. A cam cylinder is used as lens driving mechanisms for a photographing optical system and a finder optical system. A moving lens frame and a connecting member provided with a cam dependent moving member are connected with an elastic member for forcing in a direction approaching each other, and then when an external force is added to the moving lens frame, the zoom lens system can be prevented from being damaged. A space near a focal surface is sealed up by a taking lens frame and a concave portion of a case, whereby the focal surface can be kept from collecting dust. Further, both end portions of a guide pole for guiding the taking lens frame so as to move back and forth in the case are press fitted into through holes formed at front and rear ends of the case and supported, whereby the guide pole can be assembled easily. Plural cylindric pins are formed at corner portions of a rectangular lens, and then the pins come in contact with flat portions formed at corner portions of an adjacent lens, so that plural lenses can be held in predetermined intervals without an interval ring. Further, a back focus can be adjusted from the front of the zoom lens system and the focus of image can be kept though the case expands or contracts because of a temperature change. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A camera comprises: a photographing optical system for holding taking lens groups and provided with a taking lens frame which is movable back and forth along a photographing optical axis; a finder optical system for holding finder lens groups and provided with a finder lens frame which is movable back and forth along a finder optical axis; a connecting member provided with a cam follower; a cam cylinder provided with cam grooves on a peripheral surface, into which respective cam followers projected from said connecting member and said finder lens frame are put; and an elastic member for connecting said taking lens frame and said connecting member by forcing in a direction approaching each other; wherein said cam cylinder is rotated so as to move said taking lens frame back and forth through said elastic member and said connecting member and said finder lens frame back and forth along said cam grooves respectively, so that a photographing magnification and a finder magnification are changed and corresponded; said cam cylinder being a side cam cylinder, which is parallel to said photographing optical axis of said photographing optical system and said finder optical axis of said finder optical system, and which is rotatably arranged around an axis that is different from said photographing axis and said finder optical axis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A camera as set forth in claim 1, wherein a display member showing an on-off state of a power switch of the camera is arranged in a visual field of said finder optical system enterably and retractably, and said cam cylinder drives and controls said display member so as to enter the visual field of the finder optical system when said power switch is set off. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A camera as set forth in claim 2, wherein a case of said photographing optical system and a case of said finder optical system are combined so as to form a common case. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A camera as set forth in claim 1, wherein said cam cylinder is located at a side of said optical system and at one of an upper side and a lower side of said finder optical system. ### Claim 5 A camera provided with a zoom lens system comprises: a camera body; a moving lens frame for holding taking lenses and movable back and forth along a photographing optical axis in a case; a connecting member provided with a cam follower; a cam cylinder provided with cam grooves into which the cam follower of said connecting member is put, and rotated so as to move the connecting member back and forth along the photographing optical axis; and an elastic member for connecting said moving lens frame and said connecting member by forcing in a direction approaching each other; wherein said cam cylinder is rotated to thereby move the moving lens frame back and forth through said elastic member and said connecting member, so that a photographing magnification is changed; said moving lens frame being movable to the rear of the photographing optical axis in response to external force applied to said moving lens frame that is projected from the front of the camera body. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A camera as set forth in claim 5, wherein said moving lens frame is guided with guide poles movably and said connecting member is guided with said guide poles so as to be moveable back and forth along the photographing optical axis. ### Claim 7 In a camera provided with a zoom lens system in which plural taking lens frames for holding taking lenses are moved back and forth along a photographing optical axis in a case so as to zoom, and a subject image is formed on a focal surface arranged at a rear end of said case: a rear taking lens frame of the plural taking lens frames is formed in a cylinder shape of which a rear end is open; and, a cylinder portion that surrounds said focal surface is provided and projected forward along the photographing optical axis at a rear end in the case, and the rear taking lens frame moves back and forth in a state that it is overlapped with the cylinder portion of the case. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A camera provided with a zoom lens system as set forth in claim 7, wherein a front taking lens frame of the plural taking lens frames is formed in a cylinder shape of which a rear end is open, and the front taking lens frame moves back and forth in a part of a moving scope in a state that it is overlapped with the rear taking lens frame. ### Claim 9 A camera comprising a lens of a rectangular shape having integrally formed pins in cylinder shapes at corner portions and an adjacent lens of a rectangular shape having receiving portions corresponding to the integrally formed pins at corner portions, wherein said receiving portions are flat portions and the integrally formed pins contact the receiving portions, thereby maintaining a lens interval at a fixed and predetermined distance. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A camera as set forth in claim 9, wherein a pin is integrally formed at each corner portion. ### Claim 11 A camera comprises: a photographing optical system for holding taking lens groups and provided with a taking lens frame, which is movable back and forth along a photographing optical axis, in a case; a cam cylinder provided with a cam groove on a peripheral surface, into which a cam follower projected from said taking lens frame is put, and rotated so as to move said taking lens frame back and forth along said cam groove, so that a photographing magnification is changed; an axis stored in said cam cylinder coaxially for supporting said cam cylinder movably in said optical axis direction and supported rotatably at a front end portion and a rear end portion by said case; forcing means for forcing said axis backward such that the rear end portion of said axis comes contact with said case; and, an adjustment screw member for connecting said cam cylinder and said axis and for moving said cam cylinder in regard to the axis in said optical axis direction by being rotated from a front of said case; wherein said adjustment member is rotated so as to move said photographing lens groups through said cam cylinder in said optical axis direction, whereby said photographing lens groups are focused on a focal surface at the rear end portion of said case. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A camera as set forth in claim 11, wherein said forcing means is a flat spring, and the flat spring is arranged at a front end portion of said case and abuts a front end portion of said axis so as to force said axis backward. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) A camera as set forth in claim 11, wherein said zoom lens system includes an elastic member placed between said cam cylinder and said axis for forcing said cam cylinder in one of said optical axis direction.