IP Library Granted Patent US 9,442,270
Granted Patent B2
US 9,442,270 · App. 14/187,576 · Granted Sep 13, 2016

Lens barrel

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,442,270
App. No.
14/187,576
Granted
Sep 13, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A lens barrel includes a barrel body, an optical system disposed inside the barrel body, a zoom motor, a focus motor, a zoom lever switch disposed on the outer circumference of the barrel body and configured to transmit a user's operation instruction to the zoom motor, and a focus lever switch disposed on the outer circumference of the barrel body and configured to transmit a user's operation instruction to the focus motor. The zoom lever switch and the focus lever switch are arranged in a region formed of first and fourth quadrants of the lens barrel.

Claims (39)

1. A lens barrel which is attachable to a camera body, comprising:

an outer frame;

an optical system disposed inside the outer frame;

a zoom operation section disposed on an outer circumference of the outer frame, the zoom operation section being operable by a user to adjust a magnification of the optical system;

a focus operation section disposed on the outer circumference of the outer frame, the focus operation section being operable by the user to adjust a focus of the optical system;

an electric zoom adjustment mechanism configured to adjust the magnification of the optical system in response to an output from the zoom operation section; and

an electric focus adjustment mechanism configured to adjust the focus of the optical system in response to an output from the focus operation section,

wherein in a state in which the lens barrel is attached to the camera body, the zoom operation section and the focus operation section are arranged in a region formed of a first quadrant and a fourth quadrant of the lens barrel when the lens barrel attached to the camera body in a horizontal attitude is viewed from a side close to an object in an optical axis direction, and

wherein the zoom operation section and the focus operation section are arranged on a single circle about an optical axis.

2. The lens barrel of claim 1 , wherein

one of the zoom operation section or the focus operation section is disposed in the first quadrant, and

the other one of the zoom operation section or the focus operation section is disposed in the fourth quadrant.

3. The lens barrel of claim 1 , wherein

the zoom operation section and the focus operation section are configured such that at least one of a shape, a texture, or a property contributing to a user's operation feeling varies between the zoom operation section and the focus operation section.

4. The lens barrel of claim 1 , wherein

the zoom operation section and the focus operation section are configured such that a height varies between the zoom operation section and the focus operation section.

5. The lens barrel of claim 4 , wherein

one of the zoom operation section or the focus operation section positioned on a counterclockwise side in the region as viewed from the side close to the object in the optical axis direction is configured to be higher than the other one of the zoom operation section or the focus operation section.

6. The lens barrel of claim 1 , wherein

the zoom operation section and the focus operation section are configured such that at least one of a width in a circumferential direction or a width in the optical axis direction varies between the zoom operation section and the focus operation section.

7. The lens barrel of claim 1 , wherein

the zoom operation section and the focus operation section are configured such that a tip end surface shape varies between the zoom operation section and the focus operation section.

8. The lens barrel of claim 1 , wherein

the zoom operation section and the focus operation section are configured such that a surface treatment applied to a tip end surface varies between the zoom operation section and the focus operation section.

9. The lens barrel of claim 1 , wherein

the zoom operation section and the focus operation section are configured such that a material varies between the zoom operation section and the focus operation section.

10. The lens barrel of claim 1 , wherein

the zoom operation section and the focus operation section are configured such that operation force required for operation varies between the zoom operation section and the focus operation section.

11. The lens barrel of claim 10 , wherein

the zoom operation section and the focus operation section are elastically supported, and are operable against elastic force, and

the zoom operation section and the focus operation section are configured such that the elastic force varies between the zoom operation section and the focus operation section.

12. The lens barrel of claim 10 , wherein

the zoom operation section and the focus operation section are configured such that operational resistance upon the operation varies between the zoom operation section and the focus operation section.

13. The lens barrel of claim 1 , wherein

the zoom operation section and the focus operation section are configured such that an operation method varies between the zoom operation section and the focus operation section.

14. The lens barrel of claim 13 , wherein

the zoom operation section and the focus operation section are different types of switches.

15. The lens barrel of claim 13 , wherein

the zoom operation section and the focus operation section are configured such that an operation direction varies between the zoom operation section and the focus operation section.

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ERRONEOUSLY FILED APPLICATION NUMBERS 13/384239, 13/498734, 14/116681 AND 14/301144 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 034194 FRAME 0143. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Dec 24, 2020
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 056788/0362 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 10, 2014
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 034194/0143 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 21, 2014
From: ARAKI, YOSHIHARU; NAKAMURA, MAKOTO; KANESHIRO, TETSUYA
To: PANASONIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 032944/0802 →