# US 6,724,428 B1 · Shutter and lens apparatus of a digital camera with a stepless focusing function > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,724,428 B1 - Document ID: US6724428B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 09/387,545 - Filed: 1999-08-31 - Granted: 2004-04-20 - Earliest claimed: 1999-08-31 - Assignees: Nucam Corporation - Inventors: Nai-Sim Goh - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6724428B1 ## CPC - G03B 9/06: Two or more co-operating pivoted blades, e.g. iris type (shutters functioning as diaphragms by limiting extent of opening movement G03B9/08) - 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) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract This invention discloses a shutter and lens apparatus including a lens housing for receiving a multi-function support. The multi-function support includes a lens seat fitting with a lens and two solenoid valves attached on its bottom. A shutter slice and a diaphragm are mounted on the top surface of multi-function support, and pivot around a shaft projected thereon. Two movable rods of the solenoid valves are coupled with the shutter slice and diaphragm to drive them passing a light path, an axis through the lens, for controlling time and quantities of light projected through the lens. A housing cover encases the lens, the multi-function support, and a spring into the lens housing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A shutter and lens apparatus, which comprises: a lens housing having a cavity; a multi-function support placed in the cavity, having a lens seat and a plurality of extrusions around the cavity in a bottom surface of the multi-function support; a lens positioned in the lens seat; a shutter slice having a shutter aperture, and pivoting on a shaft of the multi-function support for allowing the shutter aperture passing light through the lens by pivoting to the shaft; a diaphragm having a first ape and a second aperture, and pivoting on the shaft for allowing the first aperture or the second aperture to pass the light path; a first solenoid valve attached on a bottom of the multi-function support for controlling the shutter slice pivoting to the shaft; a second solenoid valve attached on the bottom of the multi-function support for controlling the diaphragm pivoting to the shaft; focus adjustment having a focus adjusting gear with a plurality of inclines, the extrusions resting on and moving along the inclines thereby changing altitudes of the multi-function support; a sensor chip base; a sensor chip coupling with the sensor chip base for transforming light passing through the lens into electric output signals; a spring mounted on the multi-function base; and a housing cover encasing the spring, the lens, and the multi-function support in the lens housing, the spring stressed between the housing cover and the multi-function support keeping the extrusions contacting with the inclines while focusing the lens. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The shutter and lens apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a split for dividing the shutter slice and the diaphragm. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The shutter and lens apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first solenoid valve has a movable rod for turning the shutter slice. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The shutter and lens apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second solenoid valve has a movable rod for turning the diaphragm. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The shutter and lens apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lens comprises a slot for allowing the shutter slice or the diaphragm placing into the slot, thereby enabling the light passing through the lens. ### Claim 6 A shutter and lens apparatus, which comprises: a lens housing having a cavity; a multi-function support, which is placed in the cavity, having a lens seat, and a plurality of extrusions around the cavity in a bottom surface of the multi-function support; a lens positioned in the lens seat; a shutter slice having a shutter aperture, and pivoting on a shaft of the multi-function support for allowing the shutter aperture passing light through the lens by pivoting to the shaft; a diaphragm having a first aperture and a second aperture, and pivoting on the shaft for allowing the first aperture or the second aperture to pass the axis; a first solenoid valve attached on a bottom of the multi-function support for controlling the shutter slice pivoting to the shaft; a second solenoid valve attached on the bottom of the multi-function support for controlling the diaphragm pivoting to the shaft; a focus adjustment having a focus adjusting gear with a plurality inclines, the extrusions resting on and moving along the inclines thereby changing altitudes of the multi-function support and the lens; a first decelerating gear driven by driving means outside the shutter and lens apparatus; a second decelerating gear driven by the first decelerating gear and connecting with the focus adjusting gear to tune the focus adjustment; a micro adjustment connecting with the focus adjustment for predetermining an altitude of the focus adjustment thereby allowing the lens being adjusted in a focus range; a sensor chip base having a plurality of pillars connected with the first decelerating gear, the second decelerating gear, and the micro adjustment; a sensor chip coupling with the sensor chip base for transforming the light passing through the lens into electric output signals; a spring mounted on the multi-function base; and a housing cover encasing the spring, the lens, and the multi-function support in the lens housing, the spring stressed between the housing cover and the multi-function support keeping the extrusions contacting with the inclines while focusing the lens. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The shutter and lens apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a split for dividing the shutter slice and the diaphragm. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The shutter and lens apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first solenoid valve has a movable rod for turning the shutter slice. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The shutter and lens apparatus of claim 6, wherein the second solenoid valve has a movable rod for turning the diaphragm. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The shutter and lens apparatus of claim 6, wherein the driving means comprises a stepping motor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The shutter and lens apparatus of claim 6, further comprising: an initial mark on a bottom surface of the focus adjustment; and a position detector sensing the initial mark to locate the focus adjustment. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) The shutter and lens apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first decelerating gear comprises a first gear and second gear, in which the first gear is larger than the second gear in radius, and the first gear connects to the driving means, and the second gear connects to the second decelerating gear. ### Claim 13 (depends on 6) The shutter and lens apparatus of claim 6, wherein the second decelerating gear comprises a first gear and second gear, in which the first gear is larger than the second gear in radius, and the first gear connects to the first decelerating gear, and the second gear connects to the focus adjustment. ### Claim 14 (depends on 6) The shutter and lens apparatus of claim 6, wherein the lens comprises a slot for allowing the shutter slice or the diaphragm placing into the slot, thereby controlling an amount of the light passing through the lens. ### Claim 15 (depends on 6) The shutter and lens apparatus of claim 6, wherein the inclines comprises main inclines and sub-inclines, in which the main inclines are in a same altitudes and divided by the sub-inclines, for allowing the extrusions moving along the inclines thereby changing altitudes of the lens.