Camera with driving mechanism and lens positioning control mechanism and method

A camera, comprising:

• a lens holding mechanism having an interface member, said lens holding mechanism configured to hold a camera lens therein;
• a motor configured to respond to a driving signal by providing a rotational driving force in a predetermined orientation;
• a geared ring having teeth used to rotate said geared ring via the rotational driving force of said motor;
• a cam disposed on said geared ring and having an interface surface configured to slidably contact said interface member of lens holding member, said interface surface having a sloped portion;
• a biasing member connected on one end thereof to one of said cam and said geared ring, and on the other end thereof to a movable body that is separate from said cam, said bias member configured to change an amount of stored potential energy when said motor drives said geared ring and causes said interface surface of said cam to urge said interface member of said lens holding member in a predetermined direction along an optical axis of said camera lens;
• and
• a clutch configured to controllably disengage said motor from said geared ring, wherein
• said biasing member configured to expend a portion of said stored potential energy to move said cam in an opposite direction to that moved when driven by the rotational force of said motor and causing said lens holding member to move in an opposite direction to said predetermined direction along said optical axis.

An optical imaging device, comprising:

• a lens position adjustment mechanism, including
• a lens holding mechanism configured to hold a lens therein and adjust a position of said lens with respect to an image recording medium,
• a motor configured to provide a driving force in a first predetermined direction,
• a focusing mechanism coupled to said motor and said lens holding mechanism and configured to adjust a position of said lens holding mechanism in a predetermined direction along an optical axis of said lens when driven by said motor in said first predetermined direction, said focusing mechanism having a cam that urges said lens holding mechanism along said optical axis when said cam is driven by said motor, and
• a biasing mechanism having a ring and a bias device, said bias device connected on one end to said ring and on the other end to said cam, said bias device increasing an amount of potential energy stored therein when said motor moves said cam relative to said ring, said bias mechanism configured to release said potential energy by moving said cam in an opposite direction to that moved by said motor, when said motor is mechanically decoupled from said cam;
• and
• a controllable clutch configured to mechanically decouple said motor from said cam.

A camera, comprising:

• a lens holding mechanism configured to hold a lens therein at an adjustable distance with respect to at least one of a photographic film and an electronic image sensor;
• a motor configured to provide a driving force in a first predetermined direction;
• and
• a positioning member mechanically coupled to said motor and said lens holding mechanism, wherein
• a bidirectional movement of said positioning member being mechanically controlled by said predetermined direction of said motor in order to move said lens in an axial direction from a lens retracting position through a lens focusing position and back to said lens retracting position along at least one of a first slope portion and a second slope portion of said positioning member, said first slope portion being opposite in orientation to said second slope portion, and
• said first slope portion of said positioning member having a lesser inclined portion, configured for use in a focusing operation, and a more steeply inclined portion, configured for use in a storing mode of operation.

A lens position adjustment mechanism comprising:

• a lens holding mechanism having an interface member, said lens holding mechanism configured to hold a camera lens therein;
• a motor configured to provide a rotational driving force in a predetermined direction;
• a cam having a sloped surface, said interface member of said lens holding mechanism configured to contact and slide along said sloped surface when said cam is driven by the rotational driving force of said motor, said lens holding mechanism configured to move said lens by a predetermined amount along an axial direction of said lens in correspondence with a controlled amount of movement of said motor;
• and
• a clutch configured to controllably disengage said motor from said cam, wherein
• said cam having a slot formed therein that receives said interface member of said lens holding mechanism, said slot being bounded on one side thereof by said sloped surface of said cam and on another side by a side wall of said cam.

A lens position adjustment mechanism, comprising:

• means for holding a lens at a predetermined distance from an image recording medium;
• means for producing a rotational driving force in a predetermined direction from a single driving source;
• means for coupling the rotational driving force to said means for holding;
• and
• means for bidirectionally moving the lens to a predetermined location along an optical axis of said lens by coupling said rotational driving force in the predetermined direction from said means for coupling.

A method for adjusting a lens in a camera, comprising the steps of:

• holding a lens at a predetermined distance from an image recording medium;
• producing a rotational driving force in a predetermined direction from a single driving source;
• coupling the rotational driving force produced in said producing step;
• and
• bidirectionally moving the lens in to a predetermined focal length along an optical axis of said lens by coupling said rotational driving force in the predetermined direction but not by applying a rotational driving force in a direction opposite to said predetermined direction and by releasing potential energy in a spring in the direction opposite.

A lens position adjustment mechanism, comprising:

• means for holding a lens;
• means for producing a rotational driving force in a predetermined direction from a single driving source;
• means for directing said means for holding along a surface and causing said means for holding to move the lens by a predetermined amount along an axial direction of the lens in correspondence with a controlled amount of movement of said rotational driving force that drives said means for directing;
• and
• means for controllably disengaging said rotational driving force from said means for directing,
• said means for directing having means for fitting that fits said means for holding therein, said means for fitting being bounded on one side thereof by said surface of said means for directing and on an other side by a wall of said means for directing.

An optical imaging device, comprising:

• a lens having an optical axis;
• and
• means for adjusting the lens including
• means for holding the lens at a predetermined distance from an image recording medium,
• means for producing a rotational driving force in a predetermined direction from a single driving force,
• means for coupling the rotational driving force to said means for holding, and
• means for bidirectionally moving the lens to a predetermined location along the optical axis of the lens by coupling said rotational driving force in the predetermined direction from said means for coupling.

An optical imaging device, comprising:

• a lens holding mechanism configured to hold a lens therein at an adjustable distance with respect to at least one of a photographic film and an electronic image sensor;
• a motor configured to provide a driving force in a first predetermined direction;
• and
• a positioning member mechanically coupled to said motor and said lens holding mechanism, wherein
• a bidirectional movement of said positioning member being mechanically controlled by said predetermined direction of said motor in order to move said lens in an axial direction from a lens retracting position through a lens focusing position and back to said lens retracting position along at least one of a first slope portion and a second slope portion of said positioning member, said first slope portion being opposite in orientation to said second slope portion, and
• said first slope portion of said positioning member having a lesser inclined portion, configured for use in a focusing operation, and a more steeply inclined portion, configured for use in a storing mode of operation.