US3896466A - Control mechanism for varifocal objective - Google Patents

Control mechanism for varifocal objective Download PDF

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Publication number
US3896466A
US3896466A US421931A US42193173A US3896466A US 3896466 A US3896466 A US 3896466A US 421931 A US421931 A US 421931A US 42193173 A US42193173 A US 42193173A US 3896466 A US3896466 A US 3896466A
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United States
Prior art keywords
pair
components
varifocal
shaft
axis
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Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
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US421931A
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English (en)
Inventor
Heinz Korpert
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Jos Schneider Optische Werke GmbH
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Jos Schneider Optische Werke GmbH
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Filing date
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Priority claimed from DE19722259723 external-priority patent/DE2259723C3/de
Application filed by Jos Schneider Optische Werke GmbH filed Critical Jos Schneider Optische Werke GmbH
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Publication of US3896466A publication Critical patent/US3896466A/en
Assigned to JOS. SCHNEIDER OPTISCHE WERKE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT reassignment JOS. SCHNEIDER OPTISCHE WERKE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT CHANGE OF NAME (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). EFFECTIVE JULY 30, 1981 Assignors: JOS. SCHNEIDER GMBH & CO. OPTISCHE WERKE
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B7/00—Mountings, adjusting means, or light-tight connections, for optical elements
    • G02B7/02—Mountings, adjusting means, or light-tight connections, for optical elements for lenses
    • G02B7/04—Mountings, adjusting means, or light-tight connections, for optical elements for lenses with mechanism for focusing or varying magnification
    • G02B7/08—Mountings, adjusting means, or light-tight connections, for optical elements for lenses with mechanism for focusing or varying magnification adapted to co-operate with a remote control mechanism
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03B—APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
    • G03B17/00—Details of cameras or camera bodies; Accessories therefor
    • G03B17/02—Bodies
    • G03B17/12—Bodies with means for supporting objectives, supplementary lenses, filters, masks, or turrets
    • G03B17/14—Bodies with means for supporting objectives, supplementary lenses, filters, masks, or turrets interchangeably

Definitions

  • the presence of a differential gearing in cascade with the drive shaft along with detents on the two camming sleeves transmits the rotation of a control knob only to the front camming sleeve in a subrange of lesser focal lengths and only to the rear camming sleeve and the diaphragm in a subrange of greater focal lengths.
  • My present invention relates to a control mechanism for adjusting a varifocal objective used to take or reproduce pictures in photography, cinematography or television.
  • the second and third components, forming part of the front group, are simultaneously axially shiftable at different rates in a first part of the varifocal range whereas the fifth and sixth components, forming part of the rear group, are similarly shiftable in a second part of that range.
  • the stationary first, fourth and seventh components positively refracting and with the second, third, fifth and sixth components negatively refracting, such a system may have an overall varifocal ratio fi f up to about :1.
  • the advantage of placing the diaphragm between the two varifocal groups, rather than on the image side of the rear group, is that the diameter of the front lens can be reduced without causing undesirable vignetting. In that case, however, any shift of the fifth and sixth components to increase the overall focal length is accompanied by a reduction of the exit pupil and therefore a decrease in relative aperture if the diaphragm opening remains constant.
  • the general object of my present invention is to provide a single control mechanism for adjusting the two varifocal groups of such a system, or of any similar system with several components axially shiftable independently of one another in different parts of a range, whereby a user need not switch from one control to the other on crossing the boundary between the two subranges.
  • a more particular object, related to the preceding one, is to provide means for allowing thediaphragm to be independently (e.g.- manually) set to establish a se lected relative aperture which is maintained by the control mechanism throughout the varifocal range.
  • a first rotatable element such as an internally grooved sleeve, cammingly engaged by the shiftable components of the front lens group and a second, similar rotatable element cammingly enaged by the shiftable components of the rear lens group, these two rotatable elements being mechanically coupled with a drive member (e.g. a manually operable knob) forming part of a common control mechanism for the two groups.
  • a drive member e.g. a manually operable knob
  • control mechanism is also operatively coupled with a diaphragm interposed between the two groups. as discussed above, for adjusting same upon rotation of the second camming element.
  • This operative coupling may include an electronic programmer receiving position indications from the drive member or other parts of the control mechanism; alternately, the diaphragmadjusting means could be directly connected with that mechanism via a physical linkage such as a gear train.
  • a shaft extends parallel to the optical axis along which the movable components are shiftable, this shaft being mechanically coupled with the diaphragm.
  • both pairs of movable components could be axially shifted throughout the entire range between the minimum focal length f and the maximum focal length f
  • This alternate shifting can be accomplished by providing the camming formations of the two sleeves with extensions which lie in transverse planes so as to exert no camming effect upon the associated components even though the sleeve continues to rotate past the limit of its subrange.
  • FIG. 1 is a side-elevational view, partly in axial sec-
  • FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line Ill III of FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 4 diagrammatically illustrates an electronic coupling between a control member and an iris diaphragm in the system of FIG.-'l', i
  • FIG. 5 is a'developed view of two pairs of camming groovescarried by respective sleeves in the system of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 6 shows a modified coupling between a control shaft and a diaphragm in the system of FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 1 I have shown a varifocal optical system, generally similar to that disclosed in the aforementioned Macher application Ser. No. 396,427, with seven coaxial components, i.e., a substantially fixed front component 7 (which may be limitedly axially shiftable for focusing purposes), a movable negative second ,componentll, a movable negative third component 12, a fixed fourth component consisting of two axially separated lens members 8 and 9, a movable negative fifth component 13, a movable negative sixth component 14, and a fixed seventh component 10.
  • Components 1 1 and 12 are provided with studs 11a and 12a guided in respective camming grooves 3 and 4 of a sleeve 1 rotatable about the optical axis of the system. Similar studs 13a and 14a on components 13 and 14 engage in respective camming grooves and 6 of another such sleeve 2.
  • Sleeves 1 and 2 have toothed flanges 22 and 23 in mesh with respective pinions 19 and 20 on a shaft '21 extending parallel to axis 0; shaft 21 is rotatable by a gear 18 on a stub shaft 45 engaging the pinion .19.
  • Shaft 45 maybe manually driven by means of a knob 49 (FIG. 4) or may be coupled with an automatic zoom control not shown.
  • Another pinion 28 on shaft 21 meshes with a pinion ,29 on an ancillary shaft 46 which in turn engages a set generally helicoidal camming grooves 3, 4, 5 and 6 have beenshown in developed form.
  • grooves 3 and 4 are curved over part of their length, equaling a fraction of the cir- 'curnference of sleeve 1, which corresponds to a lower subrange fmi7
  • components 11 and 12 are axially shifted in the lower subrange, at different rates and partly in opposite directions, but are held stationary in the upper subrange; conversely, components 13 and 14 are held stationary in the lower subrange by zero pitch portions of curves 5 and 6 and are shifted independently in the upper subrange.
  • diaphragm 15 17 is continuously adjusted to compensate for the shift of components 13 and 14 according to the phantomline curvature of the camming grooves.
  • the coupling between shaft 21 and ring 17 should be modified so that the ring is also held stationary in the-lower subrange and entrained only in the upper one. This has been illustrated in FIG.
  • diaphragm 15 17 may be controlled electronically (rather than mechanically as in FIGS. 1 and 6) with the aid of a programmer as illustrated in FIG. 4.
  • rotation of shaft 45 and gear 18 by knob 49 into any selected focal-length position signals that position to the programmer which thereupon rotates the shaft 46 of pinion 29 ,into a corresponding position, the mating pinion 28 on shaft 21 being omitted in this case.
  • FIG. 2 differs from that of FIG. 1 mainly by the substitution of a differential gearing 53 for the pinion 19, this gearing comprising two coaxial spurgears 31, 33 idling on shaft 21 and a transverse stud 32 rigid with that shaft carrying a pairv of bevel gears 54, freely rotatable thereon.
  • Gears 31 and 33 have beveled sets ofv teeth 31a and 33a meshing with both bevel gears 54 and 55.
  • Gear 31 thus acts asan input of differential gearing 53 whose two outputs are gear 33 and shaft 21.
  • Gear 33 meshes with the teeth 22 of sleeve 1 which in this instance carries an arcuate rib 56 coacting with a fixed stop 39 to define a limited range of rotation of that sleeve.
  • a similar arcuate rib 57 on sleeve 2 coacts with a fixed stop 40.
  • sleeve 1 has an annular ridge 43 formed with a notch 41 which is engageable by a detent in the form of a roller 37 on a spring-loaded arm 34 pivoted on a shaft 36 (see also FIG. 3); a similar spring-loaded arm 35 on the same shaft 36 carries a roller 38 engageable with a notch 42 of an annular ridge 44 of sleeve 2.
  • M transmission 18, 53, 2l'of FIG. 2 is so arranged that with gear-18 turning u nidirectionally in a predetermined'sense, sleeve 1 tends to move counterclockwise and sleeve 2 tends to move clockwise as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 3.
  • sleeve 1 In the starting position f f,,,,,, illustrated in FlGS. 2 and 3, sleeve 1 is free to rotate but sleeve 2 is arrested by the detent roller 38 engaging in notch 42. After a rotation of a little more than 90, rib 56 comes to rest against stop 39 in the intermediate position f f,,,,,,,.
  • a varifocal objective comprising:
  • a front lens group centered on an axis including a first pair of shiftable components each movable along said axis at a rate different from that of the other component;
  • a rear lens group coaxial with said front lens group including a second pair of shiftable components each movable along said axis at a rate different from that of the other component;
  • first cam means operatively connecting said first rotatable element with said first pair of components; a second rotatable element; second cam means operatively connecting said second rotatable element with said second pair of components; and a common control mechanism for all said components including a rotatable drive member mechanically coupled with both said elements for rotating same.
  • control mechanism includes a shaft extending parallel to the axis of said components, said diaphragm being mechanically coupled with said shaft.
  • said adjusting means includes a mounting ring coupled with said third gear means and a setting ring coaxially spaced from said mounting ring, said diaphragm having a set of iris leaves pivoted to both said rings, said setting ring being rotatable independently of said mounting ring.
  • said first cam means comprises formations on said first element effective to shift said first pair of components only during a first phase of angular displacement of said shaft
  • said second cam means comprising formations on said second element effective to shift said second pair of components only during a second phase of angular displacement of said shaft.
  • control mechanism includes differential gearing having an input coupled with said drive member, a first output coupled with said first element and a second output coupled with said shaft, the shaft being in positive engagement with said diaphragm and with said second element.
  • a varifocal objective comprising:
  • a front lens group centered on an axis including a first pair of shiftable components each movable along said axis at a rate different from that of the other component;
  • a rear lens group coaxial with said front lens group including a second pair of shiftable components each movable along said axis at a rate different from that of the other component;
  • drive means rotatable about said axis within a range I of angular positions divided into a first and a second subrange, said drive means being provided with a first pair of generally helicoidal camming formations respectively engaging said first pair of components and with a second pair of generally helicoidal camming formations respectively engaging said second pair of components, said first pair of camming formations having portions of zero pitch engaging said first pair of components in said first subrange, said second pair of camming formations having portions of zero pitch engaging said second pair of components in said second subrange.
  • a varifocal objective as defined in claim 10 wherein said drive means comprises a first sleeve centered on said axis and provided with said first pair of camming formations, a second sleeve centered on said axis and provided with said second pair of camming formations, and transmission means for jointly rotating said sleeves at different rates.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Lens Barrels (AREA)
US421931A 1972-12-06 1973-12-05 Control mechanism for varifocal objective Expired - Lifetime US3896466A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE19722259723 DE2259723C3 (de) 1972-12-06 Verstelleinrichtung für Varioobjektive mit extrem großem Brennweite nberelch

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3896466A true US3896466A (en) 1975-07-22

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Family Applications (1)

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US421931A Expired - Lifetime US3896466A (en) 1972-12-06 1973-12-05 Control mechanism for varifocal objective

Country Status (6)

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US (1) US3896466A (sv)
JP (3) JPS4990528A (sv)
DD (1) DD105904A5 (sv)
FR (1) FR2209944B1 (sv)
GB (1) GB1437619A (sv)
SU (1) SU656553A3 (sv)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4064520A (en) * 1974-05-07 1977-12-20 Karl Vockenhuber Still photographic or movie camera
US4149775A (en) * 1977-08-03 1979-04-17 Blake Daniel H Zoom lens apparatus with adjustable aperture
US4235540A (en) * 1978-05-10 1980-11-25 Tokyo Kogaku Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha Eye fundus camera having variable power photographing optical system
US5764410A (en) * 1996-06-05 1998-06-09 Hakko Co., Ltd. Telescope including an interposition gear for zoom operation
US6598332B1 (en) 2000-02-25 2003-07-29 Hakko Co., Ltd Riflescope with adjustable eyepiece
WO2004001287A1 (en) * 2002-06-20 2003-12-31 Eveready Battery Company, Inc. Lighting device with adjustable spotlight beam
EP1947494A1 (en) * 2007-01-19 2008-07-23 Nikon Corporation Lens barrel and method for manufacturing the same

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5644403B2 (sv) * 1973-03-23 1981-10-19
US4634250A (en) * 1984-06-05 1987-01-06 Olympus Optical Company, Ltd. Zoom lens barrel
GB2210704B (en) * 1987-10-02 1991-11-06 Olympus Optical Co Zoom mechanism for zoom lenses

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1950166A (en) * 1931-09-14 1934-03-06 Otto B Durholz Variable focus lens unit
US3221628A (en) * 1961-12-22 1965-12-07 Schneider Co Optische Werke Depth-of-field indicator for varifocal objective
US3482500A (en) * 1966-07-16 1969-12-09 Schneider Co Optische Werke Control mechanism for camera objective or parts thereof
US3541941A (en) * 1967-08-07 1970-11-24 Rank Organisation Ltd Camera systems
US3610733A (en) * 1970-08-31 1971-10-05 Frank G Back Varifocal lens system and actuating mechanism

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2924146A (en) * 1958-05-14 1960-02-09 Frank G Back Remote control varifocal lens
JPS402871Y1 (sv) * 1964-09-24 1965-01-27

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1950166A (en) * 1931-09-14 1934-03-06 Otto B Durholz Variable focus lens unit
US3221628A (en) * 1961-12-22 1965-12-07 Schneider Co Optische Werke Depth-of-field indicator for varifocal objective
US3482500A (en) * 1966-07-16 1969-12-09 Schneider Co Optische Werke Control mechanism for camera objective or parts thereof
US3541941A (en) * 1967-08-07 1970-11-24 Rank Organisation Ltd Camera systems
US3610733A (en) * 1970-08-31 1971-10-05 Frank G Back Varifocal lens system and actuating mechanism

Cited By (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4064520A (en) * 1974-05-07 1977-12-20 Karl Vockenhuber Still photographic or movie camera
US4149775A (en) * 1977-08-03 1979-04-17 Blake Daniel H Zoom lens apparatus with adjustable aperture
US4235540A (en) * 1978-05-10 1980-11-25 Tokyo Kogaku Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha Eye fundus camera having variable power photographing optical system
US5764410A (en) * 1996-06-05 1998-06-09 Hakko Co., Ltd. Telescope including an interposition gear for zoom operation
US6598332B1 (en) 2000-02-25 2003-07-29 Hakko Co., Ltd Riflescope with adjustable eyepiece
US20070217198A1 (en) * 2002-06-20 2007-09-20 Eveready Battery Company, Inc. Lighting Device With Adjustable Spotlight Beam
US20050254233A1 (en) * 2002-06-20 2005-11-17 Alessio David J Lighting device with adjustable spotlight beam
US7261438B2 (en) 2002-06-20 2007-08-28 Eveready Battery Company, Inc. Lighting device with adjustable spotlight beam
WO2004001287A1 (en) * 2002-06-20 2003-12-31 Eveready Battery Company, Inc. Lighting device with adjustable spotlight beam
US7625101B2 (en) 2002-06-20 2009-12-01 Eveready Battery Co., Inc. Lighting device with adjustable spotlight beam
US20100033959A1 (en) * 2002-06-20 2010-02-11 Eveready Battery Company, Inc. Lighting Device With Adjustable Spotlight Beam
CN1662773B (zh) * 2002-06-20 2010-10-27 永备电池有限公司 聚光光束可调的照明装置
US7942554B2 (en) 2002-06-20 2011-05-17 Eveready Battery Company, Inc. Lighting device with adjustable spotlight beam
EP1947494A1 (en) * 2007-01-19 2008-07-23 Nikon Corporation Lens barrel and method for manufacturing the same
US20080192367A1 (en) * 2007-01-19 2008-08-14 Nikon Corporation Lens barrel and method for manufacturing the same
US7663810B2 (en) 2007-01-19 2010-02-16 Nikon Corporation Lens barrel and method for manufacturing the same

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1437619A (en) 1976-06-03
JPS52169339U (sv) 1977-12-22
FR2209944A1 (sv) 1974-07-05
DE2259723A1 (de) 1974-07-04
FR2209944B1 (sv) 1978-11-17
DE2259723B2 (de) 1974-10-24
JPS5330334U (sv) 1978-03-15
DD105904A5 (sv) 1974-05-12
SU656553A3 (ru) 1979-04-05
JPS4990528A (sv) 1974-08-29

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AS Assignment

Owner name: JOS. SCHNEIDER OPTISCHE WERKE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT

Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:JOS. SCHNEIDER GMBH & CO. OPTISCHE WERKE;REEL/FRAME:003925/0522

Effective date: 19810730