Patent · US Expired

Collapsible lens barrel with flexible substrate

US6052535A · kind A · utility

46Cited by
5References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJan 8, 1999
Grant dateApr 18, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 8, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B7/10
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Because the keys located on the first rotating barrel have essentially the same inner diameter as the second rotating barrel, no unnecessary space is formed inside the first rotating barrel and the second rotating barrel. In addition, although the inner diameter of the keys of the first rotating barrel and the inner diameter of the second rotating barrel are essentially the same, because the keys engage with the straight advancement grooves on the second rotating barrel, the first rotating barrel and the second rotating barrel do not interfere with each other. Moreover, because the keys that are thinner than the second rotating barrel overlap with the second rotating barrel, said keys being inside the second rotating barrel, the thickness of the keys does not affect the outer diameter of the lens barrel at all. Therefore, it is only the first straight advancing barrel that is located outside the second rotating barrel to move out the second rotating barrel and that adds to the outer diameter of the lens barrel. Also, a flexible substrate is accommodated in an optical path space when the lens barrel is collapsed.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.