U.S. patents available from 1976 to present.
U.S. patent applications available from 2005 to present.

Retractable lens system and method of retracting a retractable lens system

Patent 6978089 Issued on December 20, 2005. Estimated Expiration Date: Icon_subject February 20, 2023. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Patent References

3377427

Camera having a plurality of built-in lenses
Patent #: 4451129
Issued on: 05/29/1984
Inventor: Ikari ,   et al.

Photographic camera with built-in optical converter
Patent #: 4525050
Issued on: 06/25/1985
Inventor: Ohashi

Folding camera with movable member mounting an objective lens and reflex mirror
Patent #: 4545661
Issued on: 10/08/1985
Inventor: Hamaguchi ,   et al.

Compact camera capable of encasing a phototaking optical system
Patent #: 4597657
Issued on: 07/01/1986
Inventor: Wakabayashi

Camera with focal length varying device
Patent #: 4643554
Issued on: 02/17/1987
Inventor: Ogawa

Camera with switchable focal length
Patent #: 4643555
Issued on: 02/17/1987
Inventor: Wakabayashi

Camera having a photo-taking lens barrel movable in the direction of the optic axis
Patent #: 4721972
Issued on: 01/26/1988
Inventor: Wakabayashi

Camera having partially retractable taking optical system
Patent #: 4768048
Issued on: 08/30/1988
Inventor: Wakabayashi

Variable focal length camera
Patent #: 4771303
Issued on: 09/13/1988
Inventor: Matsumoto ,   et al.

More ...

Inventors

Assignee

Application

No. 10368342 filed on 02/20/2003

US Classes:

396/75, Motorized lens displacement396/349, Having axially moving lens396/350, Having pivoting lens396/63, EXPOSURE CONTROL SYSTEM RESPONSIVE TO FOCAL LENGTH396/73Lens moves in or out of light path

Examiners

Primary: Mathews, Alan
Assistant: Smith, Arthur A

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Foreign Patent References

  • 3317999 DE 11/01/1983
  • 19623066 DE 12/01/1997
  • 0598703 EP 05/01/1994
  • 0634680 EP 01/01/1995
  • 0810466 EP 03/01/1997
  • 2261298 GB 05/01/1993
  • 2262356 GB 06/01/1993
  • 2309551 GB 07/01/1997
  • 2344661 GB 06/01/2000
  • 2344662 GB 06/01/2000
  • 2394787 GB 05/01/2004
  • 58-10708 JP 01/01/1982
  • 58-145930 JP 08/01/1983
  • 58-162914 JP 09/01/1983
  • 61-69002 JP 04/01/1986
  • 61-133933 JP 06/01/1986
  • 61-270737 JP 12/01/1986
  • 63-149629 JP 06/01/1988
  • 64-34623 JP 03/01/1989
  • 5-313226 JP 11/01/1993
  • 6-230263 JP 08/01/1994
  • 6-308592 JP 11/01/1994
  • 7-191249 JP 07/01/1995
  • 7-199019 JP 08/01/1995
  • 7-288724 JP 10/01/1995
  • 8-234089 JP 09/01/1996
  • 8-313790 JP 11/01/1996
  • 09-5849 JP 01/01/1997
  • 9-15682 JP 01/01/1997
  • 10-32740 JP 02/01/1998
  • 10-254054 JP 09/01/1998
  • 10-282394 JP 10/01/1998
  • 11-109203 JP 04/01/1999
  • 2000-023002 JP 01/01/2000
  • 2002-277719 JP 09/01/2002
  • 2003-114473 JP 04/01/2003
  • 2003-149723 JP 04/01/2003
  • 200-3-207709 JP 07/01/2003
  • 7-295050 JP 11/01/2005

International Classes

G03B017/00
G03B017/04
G03B005/02

Abstract

A retractable lens system includes a plurality of optical elements. All of the plurality of optical elements are positioned on a common optical axis when the retractable lens is in use. A removable element of the plurality of optical elements is moved to a removed position outside of the common optical axis, and the removable element and at least one element of the remaining elements of the plurality of optical elements are moved rearward, respectively, when the retractable lens system is in a retracted position.

Other References

  • English Language Abstract JP 58-10708.
  • English Language Abstract JP2003-207709.
  • English Language Abstract JP 200-277719.
  • English Language Abstract JP10-282394.
  • English Language Abstract JP58-162914.
  • An English language translation of Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-277719, which was published on Sep. 25, 2002.
  • Pentax Press News, “Pentax Optio S”, Feb. 4, 2003, together with an English language translation of the same.
  • Digital CAPA Mar. 2003, together with an English language translation of the same.
  • Pentax News Release, “A High-Quality Zoom Lens Digital Camera so Small that it Fits into a Tin of Altoids”, Jan. 8, 2003.
  • English language Abstract of JP 9-15682.
  • English Language Abstract and Translation of JP 8-234089.
  • English language Abstract of JP 61-133933.
  • English language Abstract of JP 08-313790.
  • English language Abstract of JP 6-230263.
  • English Language Abstract of JP 10-254054.
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