Patent · US Expired

Multi-blade lens-aperture control mechanism

US6161966A · kind A · utility

16Cited by
3References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 29, 1999
Grant dateDec 19, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 29, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03B9/02
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A lens-aperture control mechanism is provided for use in a lens unit to control the aperture of the lens unit. The lens-aperture control mechanism includes a plurality of blades, each being movable radially inward into the lens barrel and outward from the lens barrel; a rotatable ring coupled to the blades, capable of urging the blades to move radially inward into the lens barrel when being turned in a first direction and outward from the lens barrel when being turned in a second direction; and a power driver for driving the rotatable ring to turn in a specified direction by a specified angular displacement so as to move the blades to a specific radial position to define a specific aperture for the lens unit. The inner end of each of the blades is formed in a concave shape or a curved haft-cutaway portion. When combined, the inner ends of the blades can define a near-circular aperture for the lens unit. This lens-aperture control mechanism can variably control the lens aperture to the desired value and can provide a near-circular aperture for the lens. Moreover, the lens-aperture control mechanism, being simple in mechanical construction, is easy to assemble and thus low in manufac…

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