IP Library Granted Patent US 7,116,901
Granted Patent B2
US 7,116,901 · App. 11/015,533 · Granted Oct 3, 2006

Zoom finder drive mechanisms

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,116,901
App. No.
11/015,533
Granted
Oct 3, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

A zoom finder drive mechanism, driven only when taking a picture. When a lens barrel is in a collapsed position, the cam-follower pin of a rotary barrel does not abut at an end of a protrusion of a finder cam barrel such that a first and second movable finder lenses are idle. When taking a picture, the cam-follower of the rotary barrel is abutted at the end of the protrusion of the finder cam barrel such that the first and second movable finder lenses are driven.

Claims (10)

1. A zoom finder drive mechanism, driven by movement of a zoom lens barrel of an optical photography system, comprising:

a fixing barrel, comprising:

at least one first cam groove, formed on an inner circumference thereof and having a bottom surface defined thereon; and

a hole, formed on an outer circumference thereof and connecting to a part of the first cam groove via the bottom surface of the first cam groove;

a rotary barrel, comprising at least one first cam-follower formed on an outer circumference thereof and engaged with the first cam groove of the fixing barrel, rotating about a central axis parallel to an optical axis of the optical photography system;

a finder cam barrel, disposed on the outer circumference of the fixing barrel, comprising a second cam groove formed on an outer circumference thereof, and rotating by contacting the first cam-follower of the rotary barrel via the hole of the fixing barrel; and

a finder lens drive member, comprising a second cam-follower engaged with the second cam groove so as to drive at least a portion of a finder lens group.

2. The zoom finder drive mechanism as claimed in claim 1 , wherein as the optical photography system is collapsed in a collapsed position when no photograph can be taken, the finder cam barrel does not contact the first cam-follower of the rotary barrel, and as the optical photography system is extended from a collapsed position so as to perform a zoom operation, the finder cam barrel contacts the first cam-follower of the rotary barrel via the hole of the fixing barrel.

3. The zoom finder drive mechanism as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the finder cam barrel further includes an enable means for contacting the first cam-follower as the rotary barrel rotates in the fixing barrel.

4. The zoom finder drive mechanism as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the enable means is a protrusion inserting in the hole of the fixing barrel.

Assignments (4)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE TITLE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 046886 FRAME 0097. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE TITLE IS CORRECTED TO "ZOOM FINDER DRIVE MECHANISMS". Recorded Oct 23, 2018
From: ASIA OPTICAL INTERNATIONAL LTD; OPTEK CORPORATION
To: ASIA OPTICAL CO., INC.
Reel/Frame 047288/0797 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 17, 2018
From: ASIA OPTICAL INTERNATIONAL LTD; OPTEK CORPORATION
To: ASIA OPTICAL CO., INC.
Reel/Frame 046886/0097 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 24, 2012
From: ASIA OPTICAL CO., INC.
To: ASIA OPTICAL INTERNATIONAL LTD.
Reel/Frame 028842/0284 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 17, 2004
From: SAKAMOTO, TAKAMASA
To: ASIA OPTICAL CO., INC.; OPTEK CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 016110/0201 →