IP Library Granted Patent US 12,638,751
Granted Patent B2
US 12,638,751 · App. 18/418,346 · Granted May 26, 2026

Camera

Inventors: Koji Sekizawa (Tokyo, JP); Tomihiro Wakayama (Tokyo, JP); Yuichi Ozawa (Tokyo, JP); Hisashi Tasaka (Tokyo, JP)
Assignees: NIDEC PRECISION CORPORATION; FUJIFILM CORPORATION
G03B17/04G03B5/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,638,751
App. No.
18/418,346
Granted
May 26, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A camera includes a lens barrel including a rotary cylinder and a key cylinder movable forward relative to a barrel portion in a frame from a position radially inside the barrel portion, and a linearly movable cylinder movable forward relative to the rotary cylinder and the key cylinder from a position radially inside the key cylinder. The camera includes a light shield having a rear extendable portion connected to the frame and a front extendable portion connected to the linearly movable cylinder. The rear extendable portion contracts in an optical axis direction in a retracted state and extends in the optical axis direction in a first photographing state and a second photographing state. The front extendable portion contracts in the optical axis direction in the retracted state and extends to have a length greater than or equal to its equilibrium length in the optical axis direction in the second photographing state.

Claims (24)

1 . A camera, comprising:

a frame including a film compartment to contain a photographic film and a barrel portion extending from the film compartment in an optical axis direction;

a lens barrel movable in the optical axis direction inside the barrel portion, the lens barrel including

a rear lens barrel unit movable forward relative to the barrel portion from a position radially inside the barrel portion, and

a front lens barrel unit movable forward relative to the rear lens barrel unit from a position radially inside the rear lens barrel unit, the front lens barrel unit accommodating at least one lens; and

a light shield separate from the rear lens barrel unit and connecting the frame and the front lens barrel unit, the light shield including

a rear extendable portion connected to the frame and extendable from a contracting state in the optical axis direction, and

a front extendable portion connected to the front lens barrel unit and extendable from a contracting state in the optical axis direction to be longer than an equilibrium length of the front extendable portion, wherein the front extendable portion is integral with the rear extendable portion,

wherein the lens barrel is shiftable between

a retracted state in which the rear lens barrel unit is accommodated radially inside the barrel portion and the front lens barrel unit is accommodated radially inside the rear lens barrel unit,

a first photographing state in which the rear lens barrel unit extends forward relative to the barrel portion and the front lens barrel unit is accommodated radially inside the rear lens barrel unit, and

a second photographing state in which the rear lens barrel unit extends forward relative to the barrel portion and the front lens barrel unit extends forward relative to the rear lens barrel unit,

the rear extendable portion in the light shield contracts in the optical axis direction to have a first length in the optical axis direction in the retracted state and has a second length greater than the first length in the optical axis direction in the first photographing state and the second photographing state, and

the front extendable portion in the light shield contracts in the optical axis direction to have a third length in the optical axis direction in the retracted state and has a fourth length greater than the third length and greater than or equal to the equilibrium length in the optical axis direction in the second photographing state.

2 . The camera according to claim 1 , wherein

in the first photographing state and the second photographing state, the rear extendable portion and the front extendable portion are located outside a light beam projected from the at least one lens onto the photographic film.

3 . The camera according to claim 1 , wherein

the rear extendable portion in the light shield contracts in the optical axis direction when folded and extends in the optical axis direction when unfolded from a folded state.

4 . The camera according to claim 1 , wherein

the front extendable portion in the light shield includes a cylindrical bellows extendable in the optical axis direction.

5 . The camera according to claim 1 , further comprising:

an attachment plate attaching the front extendable portion in the light shield to the front lens barrel unit.

6 . The camera according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a drive cylinder configured to drive the rear lens barrel unit and the front lens barrel unit in the lens barrel, the drive cylinder being rotatable relative to the barrel portion without moving in the optical axis direction.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 22, 2024
From: SEKIZAWA, KOJI; WAKAYAMA, TOMIHIRO; OZAWA, YUICHI; TASAKA, HISASHI
To: NIDEC PRECISION CORPORATION; FUJIFILM CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 066191/0502 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2023-007755 · Jan 23, 2023 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240248377A1 · Jul 25, 2024
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