US 7,454,132 B2 · Linkage mechanism between zoom lens barrel unit and zoom member, camera, and method of assembling illumination range-changing device and zoom finder device

Abstract

A linkage mechanism between a zoom strobe device and a zoom finder device, which contributes to reduced size of a camera, and can control the illumination range of the zoom strobe device and the magnification of a finder optical system of the zoom finder device. A cam plate is disposed linearly movably in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis of a zoom lens barrel unit. The linear motion of the cam plate changes the magnification of the zoom finder optical system and the range of illumination with strobe light. A linkage member is disposed movable along the optical axis. The linkage member has an engaging portion for being engaged with a cam groove formed in the outer periphery of a drive ring, and moves along the optical axis as the engaging portion moves following the cam groove along with rotation of the drive ring, thereby causing the cam plate to move linearly along the optical axis.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A linkage mechanism between a zoom lens barrel unit and a zoom member disposed outwardly of the zoom lens barrel unit and having a zoom mechanism, comprising:

a cam plate that is disposed for linear motion in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis of the zoom lens barrel unit, the linear motion of said cam plate changing a zoom state of the zoom member;
a cam groove formed in an outer periphery of a drive ring disposed for rotation around the optical axis of the zoom lens barrel unit;
and
a linkage member having an engagement member that engages with the cam groove, said linkage member moving forward and backward in the direction of the optical axis as said engagement member moves following the cam groove along with rotation of said drive ring, thereby causing said cam plate to move linearly in the direction orthogonal to the optical axis of the zoom lens barrel unit,
wherein said cam groove is provided with a dead area in which the motion of said linkage member is not caused by the rotation of said drive ring.

2 more elements

A method of assembling an illumination range-changing device having a moving section that moves to change a range of illumination with illuminating light, and a zoom finder device having a lens group that moves to change magnification of a finder optical system, comprising:

a first step of assembling the illumination range-changing device and the zoom finder device to a base plate;
and
a second step of causing a cam plate that has a first cam groove formed therein for engaging with the lens group of the zoom finder device, and a second cam groove formed therein for engaging with the moving section of the illumination range-changing device, to slide with respect to the base plate, to thereby assemble the cam plate to the base plate,
wherein said second step comprises a first sub-step of causing the lens group of the zoom finder device assembled to the base plate to be engaged with the first cam groove of the cam plate, in a first position outside a range of normal use of the zoom lens barrel unit, a second sub-step of causing the cam plate to slide with respect to the base plate from the first position to a second position which is within the range of normal use of the zoom lens barrel unit, and a third sub-step of causing the moving section of the illumination range-changing device to engage with the second cam groove of the cam plate in the second position, to thereby assemble the cam plate to the base plate.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Linkage mechanism between zoom lens barrel unit and zoom member, camera, and method of assembling illumination range-changing device and zoom finder device

Life of this patent

Linkage mechanism between zoom lens barrel unit and zoom member, camera, and method of assembling illumination range-changing device and zoom finder device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims11