IP Library Granted Patent US 7,184,228
Granted Patent B2
US 7,184,228 · App. 11/272,894 · Granted Feb 27, 2007

Lens body tube

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,184,228
App. No.
11/272,894
Granted
Feb 27, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

A lens body tube includes a main tube, at least one lens configured movable along the optical axis direction of the lens body tube in the main tube, a first ring configured to be rotated for a zooming operation, the first ring being disposed around the outer circumference of the main tube, a second ring configured to be rotated for a focusing operation, the second ring being disposed around the outer circumference of the main tube, a third ring configured to be rotated by the first ring, the third ring being disposed inside the main tube, a fourth ring configured to be translated along the optical axis direction by rotation of the third ring, the fourth ring being disposed inside the main tube, a fifth ring configured to be rotated by the second ring, and at least one lens frame, of the at least one lens, supported by the fifth ring. The fifth ring is screwed together with the fourth ring.

Claims (72)

1. A lens body tube comprising:

a main tube;

at least one lens configured movable along the optical axis direction of the lens body tube in the main tube;

a first ring configured to be rotated for a zooming operation, the first ring being disposed around the outer circumference of the main tube;

a second ring configured to be rotated for a focusing operation, the second ring being disposed around the outer circumference of the main tube;

a third ring configured to be rotated by the first ring, the third ring being disposed inside the main tube;

a fourth ring configured to be translated along the optical axis direction by rotation of the third ring, the fourth ring being disposed inside the main tube;

a fifth ring configured to be rotated by the second ring; and

at least one lens frame, of the at least one lens, supported by the fifth ring,

wherein the fifth ring is screwed together with the fourth ring.

2. The lens body tube according to claim 1 ,

wherein the main tube includes an inner tube and an outer tube,

wherein the third ring is disposed around the outer circumference of the inner tube,

wherein the first ring and the second ring are disposed around the outer circumference of the outer tube, and

wherein the fourth ring and the fifth ring are radially stacked between the second and third rings.

3. The lens body tube according to claim 1 ,

wherein the at least one lens is restricted from rotating around the optical axis.

4. The lens body tube according to claim 3 ,

wherein the lens body tube further includes a plurality of lenses, and

wherein the at least one lens is included in a front lens group, in the optical axis direction, among the plurality of lenses.

5. The lens body tube according to claim 1 ,

wherein the third ring is formed with at least one outer cam on the outer circumferential surface thereof, and

wherein the fourth ring is engaged with the at least one outer cam.

6. The lens body tube according to claim 1 ,

wherein the at least one lens frame and the fifth ring are configured engaged with each other through a bayonet mechanism, so as to relatively rotate with respect to each other, but to be mutually interlocked in the optical axis direction.

7. The lens body tube according to claim 2 ,

wherein the at least one lens is restricted from rotating around the optical axis.

8. The lens body tube according to claim 7 ,

wherein the lens body tube further includes a plurality of lenses, and

wherein the at least one lens is included in a front lens group, in the optical axis direction, among the plurality of lenses.

9. The lens body tube according to claim 2 ,

wherein the third ring is formed with at least one outer cam on the outer circumferential surface thereof, and

wherein the fourth ring is engaged with the at least one outer cam.

10. The lens body tube according to claim 2 ,

wherein the at least one lens frame and the fifth ring are configured engaged with each other through a bayonet mechanism, so as to relatively rotate with respect to each other, but to be mutually interlocked in the optical axis direction.

11. The lens body tube according to claim 3 ,

wherein the third ring is formed with at least one outer cam on the outer circumferential surface thereof, and

wherein the fourth ring is engaged with the at least one outer cam.

12. The lens body tube according to claim 3 ,

wherein the at least one lens frame and the fifth ring are configured engaged with each other through a bayonet mechanism, so as to relatively rotate with respect to each other, but to be mutually interlocked in the optical axis direction.

13. The lens body tube according to claim 5 ,

wherein the at least one lens frame and the fifth ring are configured engaged with each other through a bayonet mechanism, so as to relatively rotate with respect to each other, but to be mutually interlocked in the optical axis direction.

14. The lens body tube according to claim 7 ,

wherein the third ring is formed with at least one outer cam on the outer circumferential surface thereof, and

wherein the fourth ring is engaged with the at least one outer cam.

15. The lens body tube according to claim 7 ,

wherein the at least one lens frame and the fifth ring are configured engaged with each other through a bayonet mechanism, so as to relatively rotate with respect to each other, but to be mutually interlocked in the optical axis direction.

16. The lens body tube according to claim 8 ,

wherein the third ring is formed with at least one outer cam on the outer circumferential surface thereof, and

wherein the fourth ring is engaged with the at least one outer cam.

17. The lens body tube according to claim 8 ,

wherein the at least one lens frame and the fifth ring are configured engaged with each other through a bayonet mechanism, so as to relatively rotate with respect to each other, but to be mutually interlocked in the optical axis direction.

18. A lens body tube comprising:

a main tube;

at least one lens configured movable along the optical axis direction of the lens body tube in the main tube;

a first ring configured to be rotated for a zooming operation, the first ring being disposed around the outer circumference of the main tube;

a second ring configured to be rotated for a focusing operation, the second ring being disposed around the outer circumference of the main tube;

a third ring configured to be rotated by the first ring, the third ring being disposed inside the main tube;

a fourth ring configured to be translated along the optical axis direction by rotation of the third ring, the fourth ring being disposed inside the main tube;

a fifth ring configured to be rotated by the second ring; and

at least one lens frame, of the at least one lens, supported by the fifth ring,

wherein the fifth ring is screwed together with the fourth ring,

wherein the main tube includes an inner tube and an outer tube,

wherein the third ring is disposed around the outer circumference of the inner tube,

wherein the first ring and the second ring are disposed around the outer circumference of the outer tube,

wherein the fourth ring and the fifth ring are radially stacked between the second and third rings,

wherein the at least one lens is restricted from rotating around the optical axis,

wherein the lens body tube further includes a plurality of lenses,

wherein the at least one lens is included in a front lens group, in the optical axis direction, among the plurality of lenses,

wherein the third ring is formed with at least one outer cam on the outer circumferential surface thereof,

wherein the fourth ring is engaged with the at least one outer cam, and

wherein the at least one lens frame and the fifth ring are configured engaged with each other through a bayonet mechanism, so as to relatively rotate with respect to each other, but to be mutually interlocked in the optical axis direction.

Assignments (3)
CORPORATE SPLIT Recorded Dec 2, 2011
From: HOYA CORPORATION
To: PENTAX RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD.
Reel/Frame 027315/0115 →
MERGER Recorded Sep 26, 2011
From: PENTAX CORPORATION
To: HOYA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 026970/0554 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 15, 2005
From: HAMASAKI, TAKUJI; KOBAYASHI, TOMOAKI
To: PENTAX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 017238/0181 →