US4101223A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Attachment member for exchangeable lenses
Assignee: Minolta Co Ltd
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Filing: 1977-07-07
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Granted: 1978-07-18
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Expires: 1997-07-07
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is an attachment member including a substantially circular body adapted to be releasably attachable to the outer periphery of an exchangeable lens of the type, which when mounted on a single lens reflex camera body, is adapted to transmit to the camera body only information as to the step-difference between a minimum f-number of the lens and a f-number set by a diaphragm setting ring of the lens. The attachment member includes a transmitting member on the substantially circular body at an angular position dependent upon the maximum f-number of the exchangeable lens to be used therewith. Thus when the attachment member is attached to an exchangeable lens at the predetermined angular position, the attachment member is capable of transmitting to a camera body information as to the maximum f-number of the exchangeable lens. Therefore, by the use of an attachment member in accordance with the present invention, when the diaphragm setting ring of the lens is set to a minimum aperture (maximum f-number position), two types of information are transmitted to the camera body and provide, in combination, information as to minimum f-number of the exchangeable lens to the camera mechanism. This information as to minimum f-number is essential for automatically determining the proper f-number of an aperture setting for a particular exposure prior to a stopping down operation of the diaphragm of the exchangeable lens.
Inventors
- 👤 Shuzo Mutsushita
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 17:30
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B17/00; G03B17/02; G03B17/12; G03B17/14; G02; G02B; G02B7/00; G02B7/02; G02B7/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
250 words
An attachment member adapted for use in conjunction with an exchangeable lens for a single lens reflex camera body where the exchangeable lens is of the type including a diaphragm setting ring manually rotatable for setting a desired diaphragm aperture and information transmitting means arranged on said diaphragm setting ring for transmitting to a camera body information as to the step-difference between a minimum f-number of the exchangeable lens and a set f-number corresponding to the diaphragm aperture set by said diaphragm setting ring when the exchangeable lens is mounted on a camera body. said attachment member comprising: a substantially circular body adapted to be releasably attached to the outer periphery of said exchangeable lens; and an information transmitting means arranged on said substantially circular body at an angular position thereon dependent upon a maximum f-number of the particular exchangeable lens to be used therewith and adapted for transmitting to a camera body information as to be maximum f-number of the exchangeable lens when the substantially circular body is attached to the exchangeable lens at a predetermined angular position, and the exchangeable lens is in turn mounted on a camera body, whereby with the diaphragm setting ring of an exchangeable lens set to a minimum aperture corresponding to the maximum f-number, information as to the minimum f-number of the exchangeable lens may be obtained within a camera body when information thus transmitted by the information transmitting means of the lens and the attachment member to the camera body is combined.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
250 words
An attachment member adapted for use in conjunction with an exchangeable lens for a single lens reflex camera body where the exchangeable lens is of the type including a diaphragm setting ring manually rotatable for setting a desired diaphragm aperture and information transmitting means arranged on said diaphragm setting ring for transmitting to a camera body information as to the step-difference between a minimum f-number of the exchangeable lens and a set f-number corresponding to the diaphragm aperture set by said diaphragm setting ring when the exchangeable lens is mounted on a camera body. said attachment member comprising: a substantially circular body adapted to be releasably attached to the outer periphery of said exchangeable lens; and an information transmitting means arranged on said substantially circular body at an angular position thereon dependent upon a maximum f-number of the particular exchangeable lens to be used therewith and adapted for transmitting to a camera body information as to be maximum f-number of the exchangeable lens when the substantially circular body is attached to the exchangeable lens at a predetermined angular position, and the exchangeable lens is in turn mounted on a camera body, whereby with the diaphragm setting ring of an exchangeable lens set to a minimum aperture corresponding to the maximum f-number, information as to the minimum f-number of the exchangeable lens may be obtained within a camera body when information thus transmitted by the information transmitting means of the lens and the attachment member to the camera body is combined.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
An attachment member as defined in claim 1, further including means for indication the predetermined angular position of said substantially circular body at which said circular body is to be attached to an exchangeable lens.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
An attachment member as defined in claim 2, wherein said substantially circular body has a dimension such as to be able to be attached to the outer periphery of a diaphragm setting ring of an exchangeable lens, and said information transmitting means is capable of transmitting information to a camera body only when the diaphragm setting ring is set to the minimum diaphragm aperture.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
88 words
An attachment member as defined in claim 3, wherein said substantially circular body includes a cut-away portion at such a position that said cut-away portion is adapted to be registered with a f-number graduation scale extending about the circumference of a diaphragm setting ring of a lens when said circular body is attached to said diaphragm setting ring at the predetermined circular position and thereby function as said circular position indicating means, the circular length of said cut-away portion corresponding to the length of said f-number graduation scale.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
83 words
An attachment as defined in claim 3, wherein said substantially circular body includes a transparent portion such that the transparent portion may be registered with a f-number graduation scale extending about the circumference of a diaphragm setting ring of an exchangeable lens when said circular body is attached to said diaphragm setting ring at the predetermined circular position, and thereby function as said circular position indicating means, the circular length of said transparent portion corresponding to the length of said f-number graduation scale.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
An attachment member as defined in claim 5, wherein said substantially circular body includes a cut-away portion at such a position that an information transmitting means of an exchangeable lens may be positioned within said cut-away portion when said circular body is attached at the predetermined position to a diaphragm setting ring of such a lens.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
An attachment member as defined in claim 2, further including means for restricting the circular movement of said substantially circular body relative to an exchangeable lens.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
67 words
An attachment member as defined in claim 7, wherein said substantially circular body has a dimension such as to be able to be attached to the outer periphery of a diaphragm setting ring of an exchangeable lens and said circular movement restricting means of the substantially circular body includes an engaging portion which is adapted to engage with an engaging portion provided on the diaphragm setting ring.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
71 words
An attachment member as defined in claim 2, wherein said substantially circular body has a dimension such as to be able to be attached to the outer periphery of a fixed outer sleeve of an exchangeable lens whereby said information transmitting means of the attachment member is capable of transmitting information to a camera body regardless of the aperture to which a diaphragm setting ring of the exchangeable lens is set.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
An attachment member as defined in claim 9, wherein said angular position indicating means of said substantially circular body includes an indexing portion provided at such a position to be registered with an indexing portion on an outer sleeve of an exchangeable lens when the substantially circular body is attached to said outer sleeve at the predetermined position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
70 words
An attachment member as defined in claim 10, wherein the indexing portion of the substantially circular body has such configuration and dimension so as to be able to engage with an index member of an outer sleeve of an exchangeable lens thereby restricting the circular movement of said substantially circular body relative to the outer sleeve when said circular body is attached to the outer sleeve at the predetermined position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
64 words
An attachment as defined in claim 10, wherein said attachment member is adapted to engage an outer sleeve of an exchangeable lens, and said information transmitting means of said attachment member includes a portion for releasably engaging a diaphragm setting ring of the lens thereby preventing undesired rotation of said diaphragm setting ring when said substantially circular body is attached to said outer sleeve.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
51 words
An attachment member as defined in claim 1, wherein said substantially circular body comprises a pair of semi-circular bodies, means for pivotably supporting one end of each of said semi-circular bodies with one another, and means for releasably locking the other ends of each of said semi-circular bodies with one another.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
44 words
An attachment member as defined in claim 1, further including means for indicating the position of said substantially circular body at which said circular body is to be attached to an exchangeable lens in the direction of the optical axis of said exchangeable lens.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
An attachment member as defined in claim 1, further comprising means for restricting the movement of said substantially circular body relative to an exchangeable lens in the direction of the optical axis of the exchangeable lens.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
An attachment member as defined in claim 1, wherein said substantially circular body is of resilient material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
An attachment member as defined in claim 1, wherein the substantially circular body bears thereon an indicating mark for indicating the type of exchangeable lens with which said attachment member may be used.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
214 words
In combination an attachment member and a camera including an exchangeable lens and a camera body, said exchangeable lens mounted on said camera body and including a diaphragm setting ring manually rotatable for setting a desired diaphragm aperture and first information transmitting means arranged on said diaphragm setting ring for transmitting to said camera body first information as to the step-difference between a minimum f-number of said interchangeable lens and a set f-number corresponding to the diaphragm aperture set by said diaphragm setting ring, said attachment comprising: a substantially circular body releasably attached to the outer periphery of said exchangeable lens; and second information transmitting means arranged on said substantially circular body at an angular position thereon dependent on the maximum f-number of said exchangeable lens, the second information transmitting means for transmitting to said camera body second information as to the maximum f-number of said exchangeable lens when said substantially circular body is attached to said exchangeable lens at a predetermined angular position whereby, with said diaphragm setting ring of the lens set to a minimum aperture corresponding to said maximum f-number, information as to the minimum f-number of said interchangeable lens can be obtained within said camera body when said first and second information thus transmitted to said camera body is combined.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
214 words
In combination an attachment member and a camera including an exchangeable lens and a camera body, said exchangeable lens mounted on said camera body and including a diaphragm setting ring manually rotatable for setting a desired diaphragm aperture and first information transmitting means arranged on said diaphragm setting ring for transmitting to said camera body first information as to the step-difference between a minimum f-number of said interchangeable lens and a set f-number corresponding to the diaphragm aperture set by said diaphragm setting ring, said attachment comprising: a substantially circular body releasably attached to the outer periphery of said exchangeable lens; and second information transmitting means arranged on said substantially circular body at an angular position thereon dependent on the maximum f-number of said exchangeable lens, the second information transmitting means for transmitting to said camera body second information as to the maximum f-number of said exchangeable lens when said substantially circular body is attached to said exchangeable lens at a predetermined angular position whereby, with said diaphragm setting ring of the lens set to a minimum aperture corresponding to said maximum f-number, information as to the minimum f-number of said interchangeable lens can be obtained within said camera body when said first and second information thus transmitted to said camera body is combined.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
38 words
A combination as defined in claim 18, wherein said attachment member includes means for indicating the predetermined angular position of said substantially circular body at which said substantially circular body is to be attached to said exchangeable lens.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
69 words
A combination as defined in claim 19, wherein said substantially circular body of said attachment member has a dimension such as to be able to be attached to the outer periphery of said diaphragm setting ring and said second information transmitting means is capable of transmitting said second information to said camera body when said diaphragm setting ring of said exchangeable lens is set to the minimum diaphragm aperture.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
111 words
A combination as defined in claim 20, wherein said diaphragm setting ring of the lens bears thereon a f-number graduation scale ranging from the minimum to the maximum f-number of said exchangeable lens and extending about the circumference of the ring, and said angular position indicating means of the substantially circular body includes a cut-away portion provided on said substantially circular body at such a position that said cut-away portion may be registered with said f-number graduation scale when said substantially circular body is attached to said diaphragm setting ring at the predetermined circular position, the circular length of said cut-away portion corresponding to the length of said f-number graduation scale.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
106 words
A combination as defined in claim 20, wherein said diaphragm setting ring of the lens bears thereon a f-number graduation scale ranging from the minimum to the maximum f-numbers of said exchangeable lens and extending about the circumference of the ring, and said angular position indicating means includes a transparent portion provided on said substantially circular body at such a position that said transparent portion may be registered with said f-number graduation scale when said substantially circular body is attached to said diapharagm setting ring at the predetermined circular position, the circular length of said transparent portion corresponding to the length of said f-number graduation scale.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
49 words
A combination as defined in claim 20, wherein said substantially circular body includes a cut-away portion at such a position that said first information transmitting means may be positioned within said cut-away portion when said substantially circular body is attached to said diaphragm setting ring at the predetermined position.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
28 words
A combination as defined in claim 19, wherein the attachment member includes means for restricting the circular movement of said substantially circular body relative to said exchangeable lens.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
64 words
A combination as defined in claim 24, wherein said substantially circular body has such a dimension to be attached to the outer periphery of said diaphragm setting ring, and said circular movement restricting means includes a first engaging portion provided on said substantially circular body and a second engaging portion is provided on said diaphragm setting ring and engageable with said first engaging portion.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
69 words
A combination as defined in claim 19, wherein said exchangeable lens includes a fixed outer sleeve, and said substantially circular body has a dimension such as to be able to be attached to the outer periphery of said outer sleeve, whereby said second information transmitting means is capable of transmitting said second information to said camera body regardless of the aperture to which said diaphragm setting ring is set.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
71 words
A combination as defined in claim 26, wherein said angular position indicating means of said attachment member includes a first indexing portion provided on said outer sleeve and a second indexing portion provided on said substantially circular body, said second indexing portion being provided at such a position to be registered with said first indexing portion when said substantially circular body is attached to said outer sleeve at the predetermined position.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
54 words
A combination as defined in claim 27, wherein said first and second indexing portion have configuration and dimension to enable engagement with one another for restricting the circular position of said substantially circular body relative to said outer sleeve when said substantially circular body is attached to said outer sleeve at the predetermined position.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
45 words
A combination as defined in claim 27, wherein said outer sleeve is adjacent to said diaphragm setting ring, and said second information transmitting means includes a portion for releasably engaging said diaphragm setting ring when said substantially circular body is attached to said outer sleeve.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
46 words
A combination as defined in claim 18, wherein said substantially circular body comprises a pair of semicircular bodies, means for pivotably supporting one end of each semi-circular body with each other, and means for releasably locking the other end of each semi-circular body with each other.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
47 words
A combination as defined in claim 18, the attachment member further including means for indicating the position of said substantially circular body at which said substantially circular body is to be attached to said exchangeable lens in the direction of the optical axis of said exchangeable lens.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
38 words
A combination as defined in claim 18, the attachment member further including means for restricting the movement of said substantially circular body relative to said exchangeable lens in the direction of the optical axis on said exchangeable lens.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
16 words
A combination as defined in claim 18, wherein said substantially circular body is of resilient material.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
32 words
A combination as defined in claim 18, wherein said substantially circular body bears thereon an indicating mark for indicating with what type of an exchangeable lens said attachment member may be used.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
DE2546465A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-07-17 | 1982-01-16 | 1982-07-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-07-17 | 1986-01-16 | 1986-07-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-07-17 | 1990-01-16 | 1990-07-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |