Electronic image pickup apparatus having a light weight and easy to assemble lens barrier supporting mechanism which requires little force to operate
US6181380A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 6, 1997 |
| Grant date | Jan 30, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 6, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N23/50
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A pair of guide grooves are formed to extend parallel with each other on an outer surface of a housing of an electronic image pickup apparatus with a lens opening interposed therebetween. A lens barrier has both end portions engaged with the paired guide grooves and is movable between a close position for closing the lens opening and an open position for opening the lens opening while both end portions are guided by the guide grooves. One of the guide grooves opens in a cross direction crossing a front direction to which a front surface area, in which the lens opening is formed, on the outer surface of the housing, is directed, and the other of the guide grooves opens in the front direction on the outer surface of the housing. One of the end portions of the lens barrier corresponding to the one guide groove is inserted into and engaged with the one guide groove to be slidable along the one guide groove, and the other of the end portions of the lens barrier corresponding to the other guide groove is inserted into and engaged with the other guide groove to be slidable along the other guide groove. A separation protection member is fixed on the outer surface of the housing to cover at…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.