US4789880A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Focusing device for use in optical apparatuses
Assignee: Minolta Co Ltd
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Filing: 1987-07-16
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Granted: 1988-12-06
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Expires: 2007-07-16
Abstract
Abstract A focusing device for use in micro film readers or the like for projecting micro images to give in-focus conditon exactly and readily. The present device includes a memory for storing a distance data representing the distance between an original and a projective lens at in-focus position thereof, and a sensor for measuring the distance between an original and the projective lens wherein the projective lens is moved to the in-focus position by a focusing motor in response to the distance data stored in the memory and a signal representing the measured distance generated from the sensor.
Inventors
- 👤 Shinichi Mori
- 👤 Keijiro Sakamoto
- 👤 Hiroaki Nakauchi
- 👤 Akiyoshi Hamada
- 👤 Kazuyuki Yoshida
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 23:30
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B21/00; G03B21/10; G03B21/11; G02; G02B; G02B7/00; G02B7/28; G02B7/30; G02B7/32; G03B27/00; G03B27/32; G03B27/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
156 words
A focusing device for use in an optical apparatus which projects an image of an original to a fixed projective surface with a projective lens, the device comprising: drive means for shifting the projective lens along the optical axis; measurement means, adapted to shift together with the projective lens, for measuring a distance between the original and the projective lens and for generating a distance signal representing the measured distance; memory means for storing distance data according to the distance signal generated from the measurement means when the projective lens is shifted to an in-focus position by a manual focusing operation; and control means for generating a drive signal to the drive means in order to shift the projective lens toward the in-focus position when a distance represented by the distance signal which is generated from the measurment means is different from a distance represented by the distance data which is stored in the memory means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
156 words
A focusing device for use in an optical apparatus which projects an image of an original to a fixed projective surface with a projective lens, the device comprising: drive means for shifting the projective lens along the optical axis; measurement means, adapted to shift together with the projective lens, for measuring a distance between the original and the projective lens and for generating a distance signal representing the measured distance; memory means for storing distance data according to the distance signal generated from the measurement means when the projective lens is shifted to an in-focus position by a manual focusing operation; and control means for generating a drive signal to the drive means in order to shift the projective lens toward the in-focus position when a distance represented by the distance signal which is generated from the measurment means is different from a distance represented by the distance data which is stored in the memory means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A focusing device as defined in claim 1, wherein the optical apparatus has a lens mounting device on which one of projective lenses of varied magnifications is fitted interchangeably.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
A focusing device as defined in claim 1, further comprising: first input means for inputting an inhibit-instruction of inhibiting the shift of the projective lens by the drive means at the automatic focusing operation in order to manually move the projective lens for the manual focusing operation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
A focusing device as defined in claim 3, further comprising: second input means for inputting an in-focus instruction representing that the projective lens has been shifted in the in-focus position by the manual focusing operation; wherein the memory means stores the distance data according to the distance signal from the measurement means upon input of the in-focus instruction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
A focusing device as defined in claim 1, wherein the measurement means comprises: light emitting means for emitting light to the original; and light detecting means for receiving the light reflected by the original to generate the distance signal representing a distance between the original and the projective lens.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
141 words
A focusing device for use in an optical apparatus which projects an image of an original to a fixed projective surface with a projective lens, the device comprising: drive means for shifting the projective lens along the optical axis; measurement means, adapted to shift together with the projective lens, for measuring a distance between the original and the projective lens and for generating a distance signal representing the measured distance; memory means being provided to the projective lens for storing a distance data representing a distance between the original and the projective lens in an in-focus position according to the charactereistic of the lens; and control means for controlling the drive means to shift the projective lens to the in-focus position in response to the distance data stored in the memory means and the distance signal generated from the measurement means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
141 words
A focusing device for use in an optical apparatus which projects an image of an original to a fixed projective surface with a projective lens, the device comprising: drive means for shifting the projective lens along the optical axis; measurement means, adapted to shift together with the projective lens, for measuring a distance between the original and the projective lens and for generating a distance signal representing the measured distance; memory means being provided to the projective lens for storing a distance data representing a distance between the original and the projective lens in an in-focus position according to the charactereistic of the lens; and control means for controlling the drive means to shift the projective lens to the in-focus position in response to the distance data stored in the memory means and the distance signal generated from the measurement means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A focusing device as defined in claim 6, wherein the optical apparatus has a lens mounting device on which one of projective lenses of varied magnifications is fitted interchangeably.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
A focusing device as defined in claim 7, wherein each of the respective projective lenses has the memory means which stores the distance data according to the characteristics of each of the projective lenses.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
A focusing device as defined in claim 6, wherein the measurement means comprises: light emitting means for emitting light to the original; and light detecting means for receiving the light reflected by the original to generate the distance signal representing a distance between the original and the projective lens.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
63 words
A focusing device as defined in claim 6, wherein the control means generates a drive signal to the drive means in order to shift the projective lens toward the in-focus position when a distance represented by the distance signal which is generated from the measurement means is different from a distance represented by the distance data which is stored in the memory means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
A focusing device as defined in claim 6, wherein the control means controls the drive means in order to make a distance represented by the distance signal which is generated from said measurement means coincide with a distance represented by the distance data which is stored in the memory means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
57 words
A focusing device as defined in claim 9, wherein the optical apparatus has a lens mounting device on which one of projective lenses of varied magnification is fitted interchangeably, and each of the projective lenses is provided with a memory means respectively which stores the distance data according to the characteristics of each of the projective lenses.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
A focusing device as defined in claim 12, wherein the projective lens and the measurement means are composed integrally and detached together from the optical apparatus.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
49 words
A focusing device as defined in claim 8, wherein the measurement means comprises: light emitting means for emitting light to the original; and light detecting means for receiving the light reflected by the original to generate the distance signal representing a distance between the original and the projective lens.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
123 words
A focusing device for use in an optical apparatus provided with a projective lens thereon comprising: drive means for shifting the projective lens along the optical axis; memory means for storing a distance data representing a distance between an original and the projective lens in an in-focus position; measurement means, adapted to move relatively to the movement of the projective lens, for measuring a distance between the original and the projective lens and for generating a distance signal representing the measured distance; and control means for controlling the drive mean in order to coincide a distance represented by the distance signal which is generated from said measurement means with a distance represented by the distance data which is stored in the memory means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
123 words
A focusing device for use in an optical apparatus provided with a projective lens thereon comprising: drive means for shifting the projective lens along the optical axis; memory means for storing a distance data representing a distance between an original and the projective lens in an in-focus position; measurement means, adapted to move relatively to the movement of the projective lens, for measuring a distance between the original and the projective lens and for generating a distance signal representing the measured distance; and control means for controlling the drive mean in order to coincide a distance represented by the distance signal which is generated from said measurement means with a distance represented by the distance data which is stored in the memory means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
A focusing device as defined in claim 15, wherein the optical apparatus has a lens mounting device on which one of projective lenses of varied magnifications is fitted interchangeably.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
47 words
A focusing device as defined in claim 15, further comprising: first input means for inputting an inhibit-instruction of inhibiting the shift of the projective lens by the drive means at the automatic focusing operation in order to manually move the projective lens for a manual focusing operation.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
68 words
A focusing device as defined in claim 17, further comprising: second input means for inputting an in-focus instruction representing that the projective lens has been shifted in the in-focus position by the manual focusing operation; and second control means for controlling the memory means in order to store a distance data according to a distance signal generated from the measurement means upon the second input means is operated.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
A focusing device as defined in claim 16, wherein each of the projective lenses is provided with a memory means respectively which stores the distance data according to the characteristics of each of the projective lenses.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
A focusing device as defined in claim 19, wherein the projective lens and the measurement means are composed integrally and detached together from the optical apparatus.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
49 words
A focusing device as defined in claim 15, wherein the measurement means comprises: light emitting means for emitting light to the original; and light detecting means for receiving the light reflected by the original to generate the distance signal representing a distance between the original and the projective lens.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-12-06 | 1992-06-06 | 1992-12-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-12-06 | 1996-06-06 | 1996-12-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-12-06 | 2000-06-06 | 2000-12-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |