CA1329886C - Lens shutter camera including zoom lens - Google Patents

Abstract

IN THE ABSTRACT
A lens shutter type of camera is disclosed in which a zoom lens is positioned in a lens block (1) which has a sector gear (15) rotatably associated with the lens block and with a rotatable cam ring (14). The cam ring and sector gear are rotatable in a substantially constant axial position. A movable finder optical assembly (8) and a movable strobe assembly (9) are movable in association with movement of the zoom lens. The zoom lens is movable between an extreme telephoto position and an extreme wide angle position, as well a into a fully collapsed lens position beyond the extreme wide angle position and a macro or close-up photographing position beyond the extreme telephoto position. When the camera is in its macro mode, a prism (P1) is inserted into the finder optical assembly to correct for parallax; the strobe assembly is moved to change its illumination angle; and an optical wedge (4e) is pivoted into the path between a light receiver (4) and a light emitter (3e). A single cam plate (53) is provided to move the finder assembly and the strobe assembly. The photographic aperture (22b) can be selectively closed by barrier plates (31a) when the zoom lens is moved into its fully collapsed position. A light intercepting assembly (210) is provided for preventing light from entering the photographic optical assembly via cam grooves (20 and 21).
This intercepting assembly includes a flexible code plate (90) which surrounds a peripheral portion of the cam ring (14) and which provides positional information relating to the position of the zoom lens.

Description

LENS SHUTTER CAMERA INCLUDING ZOOM LENS
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
The present application is a divisional of co-pending Canadian Application Serial No. 536,919 filed May 12, 1987.
5 1. Technical Field The present invention generally relates to a lens shutter type of auto-focus camera, and more particularly to a zoom lens type of camera in which a zoom lens system is used as a taking or photographing optical system, and in which a finder optical 10 system and an electronic flash device (i.e., a strobe) are associated with the zooming operation of the zoom lens system.
In other words, the finder optical system and the strobe move in coordinated fashion with zooming movement of the lens.
This application is related to the commonly assigned Canadian Application Serial No. 536,921, filed May 12, 1987, entitled "Zoom Lens Drive System for Lens Shutter Type of Camera".

2. ~c~round Art Generally, in conventional lens shutter (i.e., between the lene ~hutter) types o~ auto-~ocus cameras, it is impossible to vary the ~ocal length o~ the photographic optical system. Other lens shutter types o~ auto-~ocus cameras comprise a two focal length system, in which a lens is provided for varying the ~ocal length and can be selectively inserted in the photographing optical E~ystem. In such a sy6tem, two focal lengths are provided; however, it is possible to use only the two ~ocal length~ provided, e.g., a wide angle and a telephoto range ~or the zoom lens, or, e.g., a standard range and a telephoto range ~or the zoom len~. While taking advantage o~ such dual rocal lengths, it is impo~sible to cover the range of focal lengths between the two extreme ~ocal lengths, or between a wide angle and a medium telephoto focal length. Under such circumstances, taking pioture~ with the use o~ a zoom lens has hereto~ore only beon po~sible by using a 6ingle lens re~lex camera.
However, slngle len~ re~lex cameras are more expensive and heavier than len~ shutter type cameras, and, accordingly, it is not easy ~or a photographer who is un~amiliar with cameras to ~reely use such slngle lens re~lex cameras. Because o~ the heavy .. . .
~k ' ''':

.. ''. ' 1329~6 weight and relatively large si~e of such single lens reflex cameras, female photographers and travellers who are desirous of reducing the weight and the amount of baggage carried tend to hesitate to use such a single lens reflex (hereinafter SLR) camera, even if they appreciate the high quality pictures which are generally taken by such cameras.
Accordingly, users who would otherwise hesitate to use single lens reflex cameras which are relatively bulky and heavy, a~ noted above, have only two alternate choices: (a) a relatively small, light lens shutter type of automatic camera which has hereto~ore not been capable of controlling the focal length of the photographing optical system: or (b) a dual focal length type o~ auto-~ocus camera in which only two extreme focal lengths can be used.
One aspect of the present invention provides in an small, light, compact lens shutter type camera, an optical system having a zoom ~unation and a macro ~unction, an independent finder optical system having first, second and third lens groups, and a prism ~or selected insertion into the optical path to deflect the optical path o~ the finder optical system.
In a particular aspect o~ the invention, the ~inder optical ~y~tem is lndependent o~ the photographing optical system and compri~es at least one len~, and an optical element which is ~electively insertable into the finder optical system when the photographing optical system is in the macro mode, the optical element comprlsing means ~or correcting parallax by de~lecting the optical axis o~ the ~inder optical system towards the optical axi8 o~ the photographic optical system.
The present lnvention, provides in a pre~erred embodiment, A len~ ~hutter type camera comprising a photographic optical fltem h~ving a zooming ~unction and a macro function, an independent ~inder optical system comprising a ~irst lens group h~vlng ~ negative re~ractive lndex and comprising a positive lens 3~ ~nd ~ negative lens, a ~econd lens group comprising a negative lon-, a thlrd lens group having a positive re~ractive lndex, and ~ prl~m which i~ adapted to be ~electively in~erted into the optical path between the lenses of the first lens group, the prism comprising means for de~lecting the optical path o~ the 132~8~6 finder optical system towards the optical axis of the photo-graphic optical system when the prism is positioned between the lenses of the first lens ~roup In a further embodiment, the finder optical system in a lens shutter type camera having a photographic optical system which can occupy a macro photographic mode, the finder optical system is independent of the photographing optical system and comprises at least one lens, and an optical element selectively insertable into the finder optical system when the photographing optical system is in the macro mode, the optical element comprising means ~or eorreeting parallax by deflecting the optical axis of the ~inder optical system towards the optical axis of the photographic optical ~ystem In yet a further embodiment, in a camera having a photographic optical system including a continuously variable ~oeal length lens and a finder optical system, the optical system having ~paced optical axes, the camera further comprising a ~trobe assembly and a ~ocus distance measurement assembly, means ~or moving the photographie optieal system between plural poeitione having di~erent ~oeal length, moving means eonnected to tho photographie optieal system and responsive to focal length ¢hanging movement o~ the photographie optieal system to eorres-pondingly move at least one eomponent of the finder optical eyetem into a maero position when the photographie optieal aeeembly is moved into a maero position In yet a ~urther embodiment, in whieh the finder optieal ~yetem oomprises a ~irst lens group having a negative re~raetive index compri~ing a poeitive lens and a negative lens, a seeond lon~ group comprlsing a negative lens, and a third lens having a poeitive re~raetive index, and wherein the seeond group nega-tivo len~ eompri~es a ~ront a rear sur~aee, and wherein the rear eur~ace o~ the eecond group negative lens, loeated away ~rom the ub~oot being photographed, ineludes a semi-transparent sur~aee, 3~ the thlrd len~ group having at leaet one lens whieh ineludes a aurraoo aloeeet to the sub~ect, the third lens group sur~aee lnoludlng at lea5t one bright ~rame eompri0ing means for de~ining a photographic range, the third lene group ineluding a positive I len~ Whlch eompri0es meane ~or enlarging a virtual image o~ the _ 4 _ 13 2 9 8~ 6 bright frame which is reflected by the semi-transparent surface.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
The present invention provides, in a preferred embodiment, a lens shutter type of camera having a subject distance measuring device, a photographing optical system which is driven in response to measurement of the subject distance which is detected by the subject distance measuring device, a finder optical system which is independent of the photographing optical system, and a strobe. In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the photographing optical system comprises a zoom lens assembly which is capable of successively varying the focal length of this optical system; the finder optical system i8 independent of the photographing optical system and comprises a variable power finder optical lens assembly which is capable of varying the f ield of view of the f inder lens assembly, in accordance with the specific focal length of the zooming lens ~y~tem at any point in time; and the zoom lens system and the variable power finder optical system are driven by a single zooming motor.

13~98~6 - 5 - - -~
With such an arrangement, only the zooming -operation and the shutter release operation will be manually effected, resulting in a high quality, compact automatic camera.
The lens shutter type o~ camera of a preferred embodiment used in the present invention is functionally equivalent, or in fact superior, to a single lens reflex camera, insofar as it incorporates a strobe device, thereby providing a highly systemitized, auto-focus camera which is easy to use and handle. -The strobe device can be of a type, e.g., in -which the illumination angle will be fixed, but is preferably a variable illumination angle strobe device which is capable of varying the illumination angle in accordance with, or in response to, the variable focal- :-length o~ the zoom lens system.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the zoom lens system can either be ;
partially or completely moved in the direction of the optlcal axis Or the photograp~ing optical system, beyond one o~ the rocal length extremities, when the camera is placed into the macro mode. Another feature o~ one embodiment o~ the present invention is that the rinder optical system comprises a variable power rinder optical system which includes an optical - element which is capable Or varying the rield o~ view, the optical element varying the ~ield of view in accordance with or in response to the particular rocal length Or the zoom lens system. The ~inder system include~ an optical element which is capable of - d-~lecting the rinder optical axis towards the optical axl~ o~ the photographing optical system in order to correct parallax in the macro mode Or the camera.
In accordance wlth yet another reature o~ another ;- prererred embodiment Or the pre~ent invention, a trobe devl¢e comprises a variable illumination angle strobo device which is capable Or varying the strobe 1~ .

- 6 _ 1 32 9 8 ~ 6 illumination angle in accordance with the focal length '~
of the zoom lens system and in association with or in response to movement or transfer of the zoom lens (photographing lens) system into the macro mode.
The subject di~tance measuring device of the present invention is capable of detecting the subject distance by a conventional triangulation measuring method, which has been adopted to ensure precise detection of the subject distance, even when the -camera is in its macro mode; this distance measuring device includes an optical element which is capable of deflecting the distance measuring light in order to optically extend the base length of the measuring device in response to transfer or movement of the zoom lens system into the macro mode.
In one preferred aspect of the present invention a lens shutter type of auto focus camera is provided which has a zoom lens which is continuously movable between an extreme wide angle position and an extreme telephoto position. The lens is movable beyond the extreme telephoto position into a macro or close-up photographing position; and it is movable beyond the extreme wide angle position into a closed position in which the photographing lens is completel~ collapsed and in which lens barriers are provided to close an openlng in a lens barrier block. ~he rinder rield of view and strobe illumination angle in the camera vary in accordance with the zooming operation Or the lens, a~ well as when the picture Or a subject is taken in a macro mode at a close distance. Focusing can be automatically controlled in both the macro mode and in any range o~ the zooming lens. An optical wedge is adapted to be po~ltioned along the optical path or the di~tance mea~uring device which ~orm~ a portion Or the automatic rOcu~ing ~y~tem Or the camera. A prism is adapted to be pivoted lnto the optical path Or the rinder optical system in order to correct ror parallax .

~ .

132~8~ ~

in the macro mode. A cam plate is provided which is driven by a single motor, which also drives the zoom -~
lens via a cam ring; and the cam plate is adapted to drive the finder optical system and the strobe light ~
assembly in accordance with zooming operation of the - -zoom lens. -In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention there is provided a lens shutter type of camera having a movable zoom lens, the camera further comprising a finder optical assembly, means for moving the finder optical assembly in association with zooming movement of the zoom lens in order to vary the ~ield of view through the finder optical assembly, a ;
strobe assembly, and means for moving the strobe assembly in association with zooming movement of the zoom lens.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention there is provided a lens shutter type Or camera having a zoom lens driven by a motor, means ~or driving the zoom lens continuously between an extreme wide angle position and an extreme telephoto position, and means ~or driving the zoom lens beyond the extreme telephoto position into a ¢lo~e-up photographic position.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention there is provided a subject distance measuring device ~or an automatic ~ocus camera having a m~cro photographic position, the sub;ect distance ~ ;
mea~uring device compri~ing means ror determining the di~tanoe Or a sub~ect ~rom a rilm plane in the camera, the camera having a photographic optical system which 1~ automatically rocused in accordance with the detected di~tance o~ the sub~ect, the optical system being movable to an extreme telephoto position and to a macro po~ltion beyond the extreme telephoto po-ition, the sub~ect distance measuring device aomprlsing an optical element and means ror '. ', ' ''.' , "''' 13~8~

selectively inserting the optical element into the optical path of the subject distance measuring device.
In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention there is provided a photographing zoom lens positionable within a camera, the zoom lens having at least a first lens group and a second lens group, and means for positioning the zoom lens in an extreme wide angle position and an extreme telephoto -position, the zoom lens further comprising means for moving only the first lens group into a position beyond the extreme telephoto position in order to provide close focusing of the lens when the camera is placed into a macro photographic mode. ~
In accordance with another embodiment of the -present invention there is provided in a camera having a zoom lens positionable in an extreme wide angle -.
position, an extreme telephoto position, a plurality o~ variable magni~ication positions therebetween, and a macro photographing position located beyond the telephoto position, an auto~ocus assembly comprising a light emitter and a light receiver, the light receiver :
comprising a position sensing device, wherein the positlon sensing device comprises a ~irst area which is used to sen~e the position o~ a sub~ect during automatic ~ocusing Or the camera ror all lens positions except the macro position, and a second area . .
closely ad~acent to the ~irst area which comprises means ~or sensing the position o~ a subject during macro ~ocusing o~ the camera.
In accordance with another embodiment of the .
present lnvention there i5 provided a camera comprising: (a) a zoom lens which i5 movable between an extreme wide angle position, an extreme telephoto po~itlon, a plurality o~ variable magni~lcation po~itlons between the two extreme positions, and a i macro rocusing poeition beyond the telephoto poeition;
j ~b) a device ~or measuring the distance o~ a sub;ect 1- .....

- 1329~6 g from the film plane of the camera, the measuring device including a light receiver and a light emitter; .. ~.
(c) an optical element which is selectively positionable in the optical path between the light receiver and the light emitter; (d) means for driving the lens; and (e) means for positioning the optical element between the light receiver and the light emitter when the lens is moved into the macro ~
position. . -In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention there is provided in a lens shutter -~
type camera comprising a photographic optical system .
having a zooming function and a macro function, an independent finder optical system comprising a first lens group having a negative refractive index and comprising a positive lens and a negative lens, a second lens group comprising a negative lens, a third lens group having a positive refractive index, and a ~ .
prism which is adapted to be selectively inserted into the optical path between the lenses of the first lens group, the prism comprising means ~or de~lecting the : .
optical path o~ the ~inder optical system towards the opt~cal axis of the photographic optical system when the prism is positioned between the lenses o~ the ~:
rlret lens group. .
In accordance with another embodiment of the .
present invention there is provided a ~inder optical - .
system in a lens shutter type Or camera having a ::
photographing optical system which can occupy a macro .`
photographing mode, the rinder optical system being .
independent o~ the photographing optical system and :
comprieing at leaet one lens, and an optical element which le selectively ineertable into the ~inder optical system when the photographing optical system ~ 1~ in the macro mode, the optical element comprising .- meane ~or correcting parallax by derlecting the optical axis Or the rinder optical system towards the ,. .

132~8~ :

optical axis of the photographic optical system.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention there is provided a movable cam plate for a camera which is adapted to be driven by a motor, the cam plate comprising a substantially flat main portion, a downwardly extending rack attached to a rear edge of the main portion, and a plurality of grooves in the main portion.
In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention there is provided a lens shutter type camera comprising a photographic optical system including a zoom photographing lens with at least one movable lens group for varying the optical length of the system, an independent finder optical system which has at least one movable lens for varying the finder ~ield of view in accordance with the focal length of the æoom lens system, and a variable illumination angle strobe assembly with a lamp which is movable in accordance with the ~ocal length of the zoom lens system, and a driving member which moves in association with the move~ent of the movable lens group, the driving member comprising means for moving the ~inder optical system and the strobe assembly.
In accordance with another embodiment of the p~esent invention there is provided a lens cap apening and closing mechanism adapted to be used with a lens support ~rame having an outer periphery, a central aperture, and at least one barrier plate for ~electively closing the central aperture, the mechanism comprising a movable member positioned in a peripheral opening o~ the ~rame, the member being engaged with the at least one barrier plate, and means ~or 6eIectively moving the member inwardly o~ the ~rame to close the aperture with the at least one barrler plate.
In accordance with another embodiment of the pre~ent invention there is provided a camera ha~ing a ~`~5~

132~83~
photographing zoom lens movable into a completely collapsed lens position rearwardly of an extreme wide angle lens position, the lens being supported by an exterior frame having a central photographic aperture -and at least one barrier for selectively closing the central aperture, the camera comprising means for closing the aperture with each barrier when the lens is moved into the collapsed lens position, and means for opening the aperture in all other lens positions. :
In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention there is provided a light blocking mechanism used in a lens shutter camera including a rotatable cam ring with at least one camming groove ;~
therein, the mechanism comprising at least one light intercepting member positioned about the periphery of the cam ring, the member thereby comprising means for covering each camming groove and ~or preventing light ~rom entering the interior of the cam ring.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention there is provided in a lens shutter type o~ camera having a cam ring.rotatable at a con~tant axial position and at least one movable lens ¦ barrel movable along an optical axis o~ photographic j optical system o~ the camera in association with ~ ;
rotation o~ the cam ring, a light interception member ~ positioned in a space between a ~ront end of a cam ¦ ring support member and a ~ront cover having an opening through which the lens barrel is adapted to move.
In accordance with another embodiment o~ the present invention there is provided in a lens shutter type Or camera having a ~lexible printed circuit board ~FPC) ~or conducting camera operational signals ~rom a ¦ camora body to a shutter block attached to an axially movable lens barrel, a guide plate ~or the FPC, the guldo plate comprising means ~or guiding movement o~
the FPC a5 the lens barrol moves axially.
, , ~
. ' ' .

- 12 - 132~8~ -In accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention there is provided a lens shutter type of camera having a flexible printed circuit board ~ -(FPC) for conducting operational signals from a camera body to a shutter block attached to an axially movable lens barrel, and further comprising an anti-reflection device attached to the flexible printed circuit board.
In still another embodiment of the present invention there is provided a lens shutter type of : .
camera having a photographic optical system having a zoom lens with a rotatable cam ring having cam grooves which are engaged by at least one lens group of the zoom lens, the at least one lens group being movable along an axis of the photographic optical system to vary its optical length in response to rotational motion o~ a cam ring positioned about the zoom lens.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention there is provided a lens shutter type o~ camera having a zoom photographic lens movable by a driving motor into a completely collapsed lens po~ition located rearwardly o~ an extreme wide angle lens position, the lens being supported by an exterior frame having a central photographic aperture, the camera including at least one barrisr ~or selectively closing the central aperture, the camera comprising means ~or moving the lens into the collapsed lens position ~rom a non-collapsed position of the lens and means ~or closing the aperture when the lens is so moved.
In accordance with still a ~urther embodiment of the present invention there is provided a lens shutter - typ~ o~ ¢amera having a zoom lens movable along a photographic axi~, a ~inder optical assembly, and a ~trobe a8~embly, both o~ the assemblies being movable along re8pe¢tive axes which are ~ubstantially parallel to the photographic axis, the lens being rotatable about the photographic axis, the camera ~urther ,' ;'.':..
.::
".,: ~' 13298~ ~
- 12a - -comprising means for converting rotational movement of the zoom lens into movement of the assemblies along the parallel axes.
Other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will hereinafter be described.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS :
The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be described in greater detail with respect to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent -similar elements throughout the several views, and ~
wherein: i-Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a first ;
embodiment of a lens shutter type of camera having a zoom lens formed in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of a lens barrel block, a light emitter, a light receiver, and a macro-compensating optical element which forms a part of a distance measuring device, together with a zooming motor, all forming a portion of the invention o~ Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 i5 a top plan view o~ the apparatus of Fig. 2;

P5713SOl ~ .

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV of Fig. 2;
Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the apparatus of Fig. 2 taken along line v-v of Fig. 2;
Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a lens barrel block and two photographing optical lenses formed in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 7 is a developed view o~ the camming grooves in a "flattened" cam ring used to surround the 10 ~ront and rear lens element groups of the photographic -optical system o~ the camera of Fig. l;
Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a lens barrel bloc~ used in the camera o~ Fig. 1:
Fig. 9 is a sectional view illustrating an optical arrangement ~or adjusting the ~ocus point of the camera when the camera is placed into it~ macro mode;
Fig. 10 is an enlarged plan view o~ the prism, ~rame ~i.e., mask) and one light receptor lens o~ the system o~
~ig. 9;
Fig. 11 ls a rront elevational view illustrating the assembly Or Fig. l0;
Fig. 12 is a sectional view o~ an optical arrangement u~ed in a two lens group zooming lens in the camera o~ Fig.
ls : .:
Flg. 13 is a schematic view illustrating the light omitter and light receptor o~ a distance measuring device used in the camera o~ Fig. l;
Fl~. 14 ls a sectional view o~ an optical arrangement o~ a ~y~tem rOr ad~usting the ~ocal point Or the ob~ect dl~tance measurlng system when the camera i5 ln a macro mod~s Figs. 15A - 17A are vertical sectional views o~ a ~irst embodlment o~ a ~indsr optlcal system used in accordance with the pre~ent invention, in which:
Fig. 15A i~ a side plan view o~ the ~inder optical a~sembly when in a wide ~leld, small magnl~ication posltlon;
~ ..

132988~ ~ :
:: .

Fig. 16A is a plan view of the assembly of Fig. 15A -when the camera is in a narrow field, large magnification mode;
Fig. 17A is a plan view of the assembly of Fig. 15A
when the camera is in a narrow field, large magnification position when the camera is in its macro mode;
Figs. 15~, 16B and 17B, respectively, illustrate the aberrations of the optical systems of Figs. 15A, 16A and 17A, respectively;
Fig~. 18A-20B are all vertical sectional views of a second embodiment of a finder optical system formed in accordance with the present invention in which:
Fig. 18A ls a plan view of th~ optical sy6tem when the camera i5 in a wide field, small magnification mode~
Fig. l9A i5 a plan view of the optical system when the camera is ln a narrow field, large magniflcation mode; and Fig. 20A is a plan view of the optical system when the camera ls ln a narrow field, large magnlflcation macro mode;
Figs. 18~, 19~ and 20B, respectively, are all views lllu~trating the aberrations for the finder optlcal assembly when lt ls ln the po~ition~ of Flg~. 18A, l9A and 20A, re~pectively7 Flg. 21 ls a plan vlew of a cam plate which can be attached to a portlon of the flnder block and the stro~e 2S lamp asoembly of the present inventlon~
Flg. 22 ls a sectlonal view taken along line XXII-XXII
o~ Fig. 217 Fig. 23 is a back plan view o~ the cam plate of Flg.

Fig. 24 i~ a plan vlew o~ the apparatus o~ Fig. 21 with the cam plate removed;
~ Fig. 2S is a se¢tional view taken along llne XXV-XXV of -;~ Fig. 21J
~- Fig. 2C i~ a s~ctlonal vlew taken along llne XXVI-XXVI
o~ Fig. 25 showing the rinder plate ln a ~lrst position~
Fig. 27 is a sectional vlew similar to that o~ Flg. 26 ' .
1329~
P5713SOl : -but illustrating the finder plate in a second, operational position;
Fig. 28 is a sectional view similar to the view of Fig.
26, in which a deflecting prism actuating plate has been removed to facilitate consideration;
Fig. 29 is a front elevational view of the apparatu~ of Fig. 25, shown in a position in which a deflection prism actuating plate is inserted;
Fig. 30 is a sectional view taken along line XXX-XXX of Fig. 29;
Fig~. 31 and 32 are sectional vteWs o~ a first embodiment o~ an optical barrler mechanism, as viewed along a plane which i8 perpendicular to an optical axis, when in its open positlon with the central lens ~rame opening being open;
Flg. 32 i8 a sectional view similar to that o~ Fig. 31 but illu~trating the optical barrier mechanism when it is in it~ clo~ed position;
Fig. 33 1~ a ~ectional view o~ a ~econd embodiment o~
an optical barrier mechanism ~ormed ln accordance with the present invention, the vlew being similar to that Or the rirst embodiment o~ the optical barrier mechanism illustrated in Fig. 31;
Fig. 34 i~ a sectional view o~ the optlcal barrier me¢hanism o~ Fig. 33 in its closed position, similar to the view o~ the embodiment Or Fig. 32;
Fig. 35 is an exploded perspective vlew o~ a light intercepting mechanlsm positioned ad~acent to a lens barrel ,~- block - 30 Fig. 36 1~ a perspective view o~ a light intercepting ring Fig. 37 1~ a 5ectional view taken along line XXXVII-XXXVII o~ Flg. 36J
- Fig. 33 i~ a ~ectlonal view o~ a ~econd embodiment o~ a light intercepting rinq rormed in accordance with the ~ re~ent invention which i9 ~imilar to the view o~ Fig. 37; ~

1 ~

13298~6 ~

P5713Sol Fig. 39 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of a guiding device for a flexible printed circuit board (i.e., an FPC) with the cam ring being partially cut away;
Fig. 40 is a perspective view of the FPC board guide member of Fig. 39;
Fig. 41 is a sectional view of a mechanical arrangement of an FPC board guide plate with respect to the space de~ined between the cam ring and a front lens group frame;
Fig. 42 is a side elevational view of an FPC board which i~ illu~trated in extension (in dashed lines) and in a de~ormed positlon (in solid lines), respectively;
Fig. 43 is a side elevational view o~ a light intercepting means u6ed in association with an FPC board;
Fig. 44 is a developed or schematic view o~ a code plate, with the lens o~ the code plate and grooves o~ the cam being illustrated on a flattened cam ring, illustrating the ~unctional relationship between conductive lands on the code plate and the cam ,~ring and plate) groovess Fig. 45 i5 a table illustrating the zoom code on the code plate o~ Fig. 44 and the stopping positions which are located on the code plate;
Fig. 46 is a ~ront elevational view o~ the operational switche~ Or a camera ~ormed in accordance with the present 2S lnventions Fig. 47 i5 a back elevational view o~ the camera o~ the pre~ent invention illustrating a zooming lens operatlon switch thereon1 Fig. 48 ie a top plan view o~ the camera o~ Figs. 46 and 47, illu~trating addltlonal operational switche~
Fig. 49 i~ a ~chematic sectional view illustrating a mode changing switch ~ormed in accordance with the present - invontion in a rir~t, lnoperative position;
- Flg. SO is a ~ectional view Or a mode changing switch 3~ and a macro button illustrated ln a ~econd operational po~ition s . .

s 132~8~6 P5713S01 ~-Fig. 51 is a schematic view of an alternative telephoto-wide angle switch of the camera of the present -invention;
Fig. 52 is a front plan view of a finder optical system len~ having a plurality of bright frames thereon, Fig. 53A is a perspective view of a double-wedge shaped prism used in the present finder optical system;
Fig. 53B is a top plan view of the prism of Fig. 53A;
and Fig. 53C is a right hand side plan view of the prism of Fig. 53A.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
The present invention will now be described below in greater detail, with speci~ic reference to the accompanying drawing~ which illustrate a variety o~ embodiments and ~eatures o~ the present invention.
The description will be generally provided in accordance with the ~ollowing general sub headings:
A. The Overall Camera Con~truction ~or a Lens Shutter ~ype o~ Camera B. Distance Measuring Device, i.e., Range Finder, and Camera Ma¢ro Functioning Thereo~
C. Finder Optical System D. Flnder and Strobe Driving Mechanisms E. Barrier, i.e., Lens Cap, ~echanism F. Light lnterception Assembly and Mechanism G. FPC ~oard Guide and Anti-Rerlection Mechanism --~
H. Mechani~m ~or D~tecting In~ormation Relating to the Po~ition o~ the Zoom Lens A. Ov-rall Ç~mQ~ Construction ~or ~ n~ Shutter i~YE~

- ~ Th- overall con~tructlon oS a lens ~hutter type o~
i- oam-xa ~orm-d ln accordance with the pre~ent invention is . :~ W-ll illu~trat-d in Flg~ 8. A len~ shutter type o~
--- 3S cam-ra rormed ln accordance with the present invention ntlally compri~e~ a zoom lens ~arrel block 1, a ~inder .. . .
,,~ ,,; ~:,.
,' ,.:

_ ,-1" .

132~8~ ~
P5713SOl and strobe block 2 (hereinafter referred to as a finder blocX), a light emitter 3 and a light receiver 4 forming a portion of a distance measuring, i.e., AF, device, and a zooming motor 5 which is used for the zooming opération of the photographing optical system. All of these elements are secured to a base 6 which forms an immovable portion of the camera body.
Base 6 includes, as is best illustrated in Figs. 2-4, a lens barrel supporting plate portion 6a which lies in a plane which is perpendicular to the optical axis of the len~; and a horizontal supporting plate por~ion 6b is provided which extends a~ right angles from the lens barrel support plate portion 6a. Support plate portion 6b extends beyond the side edge of plate 6a, as seen in Fig. 2, in order to support ~inder assembly 8 and strobe assembly 9.
The base rurther comprises motor supporting plate portions 6c which are positioned perpendicularly with respect to the horizontal support plate portion 6b. Lens barrel block 1 is ~upported on lens barrel support plate portion 6a, whlch has a central opening (unre~erenced) ~or receiving the lens barrel block as illu~trated in Fig. 2. A zooming motor 5 is attached to motor support plate portions 6c and i8 located above the central portion o~ lens barrel block 1.
Pre~erably, only a single such motor (a.g., a DC motor) is 2~ u~ed to drivingly engage all o~ the movable elements o~ the ~ystem~ A distance measuring device includes a light emitter 3 and a light receiver 4, which are secured to the horlzontal support plate portion 6b o~ base 6, and which are locat~d on op~osite ~ldes Or zoomlng motor 5 (see Figs. 2 ~30 and 3). Flnder block 2 i~ ~ecured to the rlght hand portion ;o~ horlzontal ~upport plate portion 6b, as viewed from the - ~ront O~ th- camera a~ ~een ln Fig. Z. A gear train ~upport -~ plat- portlon 6e i~ connected to motor support plate portion 6c via ~pacer 6~, a~ be~t illu~trated in Fig. 3.
3g~n~ barrel blo¢k 1 is adapted to be actuated by -~ zoomlng motor 5, and the construction o~ thls block will be ,,~ . . .
, . . .

132~

P5713Sol described hereinbelow with more specific reference to Figs.
6-10. A rear securing plate 11 is mounted to lens barrel support plate portion 6a of base 6 by fastening screws 10, -as is best illustrated in Fig. 6. Rear securing plate 11 includes four guide rods 12 which are attached to and through bores in the rear portion of the guide plate and which are located about the optical axis of the photoyraphing optical system and parallel to this axis. A
front securing plate 13 is secured to the front ends of guide rods 12; these guide rods and plates are the main securing elements for lens barrel block 1.
A rotatable cam ring 14 is positioned between front and rear securing plat~ 13 and 11, respectively; a sector gear 15 i5 provided about a substantial portion (but preferably not the entire 360) o~ the outer periphery o~ cam ring 14;
this gear can be attached to the cam rlng by conventional means, e.g., via set screws 15a, as seen in Fig. 6; this gear i5 adapted to engage, either directly or indirectly, a ~ir~t pinion 7 ~Fig. 1) which i~ positioned between the gear train 6upport plate 6e and the motor support plate portion 6c, a~ seen ln Flgs. 3 and (particularly) Fig. 5. Gear 15 can be a sector gear which will cover a predetermined range o~ rotational movement o~ cam ring 14: a turning recess 44a and cam sur~ace 44 are provided ad~acent to each other on (a ~lat sur~ace portion o~) the gear. The cam ring is itsel~ provided with zooming cam grooves 20 and 21 (see Fig.
7) whlch are used to engage the ~ront and rear lens element group~, re~pectively.
Fig. 7 i~ a ~¢hematic or developed view o~ zooming cam groov-~ 20 and 21 o~ ring 14. Cam groove 21, used to engage th- rear len~ elemont group, include~ an extreme wide angle ~ixing ~ection 21a, a variable magnl~ication se¢tion 21b inclln~d upwardly ~ag ~een in Flg. 7) ~rom section 21a, and an oxtrome telephoto ~ixlng section 21c. Cam groove 20, 3~ u~ed ~or the rront lens element group, lncludes a section 20a ror opening and closlng barrier block 30, a lens , .
:, ' 1 32988~
P5713SOl retraction section 2Ob, an extreme wide angle fixing s~ction 20c, a variable magnification section 20d, an extreme telephoto fixing section 20e, a macro transfer section 20f, and an extreme macro fixing section 20g.
When the term macro is used throughout this specification, it refers to a ~close-up" photographing configuration for the cam~ra. Previously, the term "macro"
has occasionally been used to mean "bigger than life~
however, the term macro has been used throughout this speci~ication as an equivalent term for close-up, and whenever it is used it should be taken to have such a meanin~ unless indicated to the contrary herein.
The total angle e) 1 oî the rotational displacement oî
cam ring opening and closing section 20a, lens retraction se¢tion 2Ob, and extreme wide angle ~ixing section 20c o~
zooming cam groove 20 is identical to angle 0 1 oî the extreme wide angle ~ixing section 21a oî zooming cam groove 21. Angle~ 2 Or the variable magniîication, i.e., variable power, section 20d o~ zooming cam groove 20 i8 identical to angle0 2 ~ the variable magnirication, i.e., variable power, section 21b Or zooming cam groove 21. Further, the total angle 0 3 o~ the extreme telephoto îixing section 20e, the macro position ~ixing section 20g, and the macro trans~er section 20~, ls equal to the angle 0 3 Or the extreme telephoto ~ixing section 21c. In the illustrated embodiment, the zooming range i~ between approximately 35mm and approxlmately 70mm.
~ roller 17, as illu~trated in both Figs. 6 and 8, is po~ltloned withln zoomlng cam groove 20; this roller is 30 Attached to a Sront lens group ~rame 16. A roller 19 o~
reAr len- grou~ ~rame 18 i5 po~ltioned wlthin zooming cam groove 21, agaln ag illustrated ln Flgs. 6 and 8. Front l-~n~ group ~rame 16 and rear lens group ~rame 18 are movably gulded by guide rods 12, and a de¢orative ~rame 22 and 3~ hutter bloc~c 23 are 8ecured to the ~ront lens ~roup ~rame 16 via ~et scr~ws 22a, as best ~een in the exploded view o~

; ; :

- 13298~

Fig. 8, as well as in the cross-sectional view of Fig.
6.
The front lens frame 24 which supports front lens element group L1 is engaged by shutter block 23 via helicoid 25, which is shown in Fig. 8. Front lens frame 24 includes an arm 24a which engages lens feeding lever 23a of shutter block 23 (see Fig. 6), so that when lens feeding lever 23a rotates in a circumferential direction in order to rotate front lens frame 24, the front lens frame will move along the direction of the optical axis of the photographing optical system under the guidance of helicoid 25.
Rear lens element group L2 is directly attached to ~ -~
rear lens group frame 18, as seen in Fig. 6. One -~
desired configuration of lens groups Ll and L2, as ~ -illustrated in Fig. 6, are disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Patent No. 4,720,179.
The structure o~ shutter block 23 is known per se. This shutter block rotates lens feeding lever 23a over a predetermined angular displacement in accordance with a detection signal which is received by the shutter block ~rom the distance measuring device, as described hereina~ter, via a pulse motor whlch is incorporated within the camera body and which-is adapted to open shutter sector 23b, which has been closed ~or a predetermined time, and to thereafter return lens ~eeding lever 23a into its original position a~ter the shutter has again closed. This type of shutter block is disclosed, e.g., in unexamined Japanese Published Patent Application ~XOKAI) No. 60-235,126 dated November 21, 1985. The pr-~ent camera utilizes such a shutter block in the ~undamental way di~closed therein.
- Finder block 2 include~ ~inder assembly 8 and ~trobe a~sembly 9. The ~inder device and the strobe dovice are adapted to vary, respectively, the ~ield o~
inder view and the illumination angle, i.e., the lnten~ity o~ the strobe, ~ ' ,. ,''.
~ .

l ~ ~ g ~

P5713SOl -- 22~
in accordance with variance in the focal length of the lens barrel block l. zooming motor 5 is used as a power source both for finder control and strobe control; onl~ a sin~le motor need therefore be used.
As seen in Fig. l, sector gear 15 of cam ring 14 is engaged by a second pinion 50 which is different from the first pinion 7 referred to previously. Sha~t 51, to which pinion 50 is attached, extends rearwardly towards the rear portion of base 6, and is provided with a reduction gear train 52 adjacent a rear end o~ the shaft. The reduction gear train includes a ~inal gear 52a which meshes with a rack 53a o~ movable cam plate 53. This substantially flat cam plate 53 is slidable in right and left hand lateral directions, as viewed in Fig. l, and include~ a downwardly bent portion 53b at its rear end, ae best shown in Fig. l.
Rack 53a is ~ormed on the lower end o~ bent portion 53b of cam plate 53. Reduction gear train 52 is adapted to reduce rotation o~ gear 15 in order to restrict or limit the lateral movement o~ cam plate 53. The cam plate i9 provided with a variable power cam groove 55 ~or guiding movement o~
~inder device 8, a parallax correctlon cam groove 56, and a ~trobe cam groove 57 ~or guiding movement o~ strobe deviae 9.
~he lens syetem used in ~inder optical assembly 8 essentially comprises a sub~ect lens group L3, an eyepiece group L4, and a movable variable power lens group L5, and ~urther comprises a de~lection prism Pl which is used when the camera is placed into the macro or close-up mode.
Variable power lens group L5 makes the image picture eize, whl¢h i~ adapted to vary in accordance with the varla~le power operation o~ lens ~arrel block 1, be aolncident with the ~ield o~ view in ~inder device 8.
D-rlection prism Pl will enter the optical path o~ the ~inder len~ sy~tem only in the macro mode, in order to 3~ ad~u~t parallax which otherwise occurs in ~uch mode.
Sp~ci~lcally, parallax which inevitably occurs when using " , '' '.
:: .

1 3 2 9 8 ~ 6 lens shutter type of cameras will increase as the subject -whose picture is being taken approaches the camera; and,~ -accordingly, a large parallax would normally result in the macro mode. In order to solve this problem and reduce the large parallax which otherwise occurs in the macro mode, deflection prism Pl is provided in the form of a wedge with a thicker lower end and a thinner upper end. Deflection prism Pl, when located along the optical axis of the finder optical system, serves to deflect rays downwardly in order to take a picture o~ a subject which is located extremely close to the camera. Fig. 28 illustrates the optical path o~ light rays when the de~lection prism Pl is located along -the optical axis of the camera. As described hereinafter, the wedge prism which is used is preferably selected to be a double wedge prism, which varies in width in both the vertical and in the horizontal direction~, as clearly illustrated in Figures 53A, B and C. The use o~ such a prism bends the light rays downwardly and rightwardly, to move them into substantial a~ignment with the photographic optical axis.
Strobe assembly 9 restricts or limits the illumination angle when the ~ocal length o~ the photographing lens i~
large, namely, as the zoom lens is ~ed ~orwardly; and the ~trobe assembly 9 i0 moved to increase the illumination angle in the macro mode, in order to decrease the amount o~
light which reaches the sub~ect. In the embodiment ~;
illustrated, strobe device 9 includes a fixed Fresnel ~ens L6, a movable concave re~lector 59, and a xenon lamp 58 whiCh can be moved along the direction o~ the optical axis o~ tho ~trobe. Alternately, a simple 5trobe could be used ln Which the illumination angle would be ~ixed. Although ~: ~uch a ~trobe arrangemant is possible, it is pre~erable to move the lamp in the optical axis direction in accordance With movement o~ the zoom lens in order to optimize the 3~ ~uantity o~ llght given to a sub~ect during photography, d~p~ndent upon the po~ition occupied by the photographing , ,; ,, ~'C' ` ~ ~

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132~86 P5713S~l _ 24 -optical system in the zoom lens.
B. Distance Measurinq Device, i.e., Ranqe Finder. and ~Camera Macro Function Before looking in a detailed fashion at thé distance measuring device of the present invention and its relationship to the macro function of the camera, the relationship between the distance of a subject from the two lens group zoom lens and the displacement or forward feed of the zoom lens will be now be discussed.
Fig. 12 illustrates a relatively simple construction ~or a two lens group zoom lens. In such a construction, the distance o~ ~he subject ~nd the displacement of t~e zoom lens have a relationship as follows:
U-~l (2+X/~l+~l/X) + HH + ~ ...(1), wherein:
U eguals the distance o~ a sub~ect ~rom the ~ilm plane;
fl eguals the ~ocal length o~ the ~irst lens group;
X equals the dlsplacement o~ the zoom lens:
H~ equals the principal point distance; and ~ eguals the distance between the ~ocal point o~ the ~irst len8 group and ths ~ocal point Or the two ~Pns group zoom lens.
From eguation (1) it can be calculated that:
X-1-2~1-HH-delta+U- ~ (2~1+HH+delta-U)2-4fl2~/2 ,,.(2) Flg. 13 illustrates the relationship between the di~tance U o~ a sub~ect and the positional deviation ~t) on a po~ition detection element 4a, which ~orms a portion o~
the distance measurlng device which detects the distance o~
a ~ub~ect ~rom the ~ilm plane based upon the principle o~
triangulation.
! Tho triangulation distance measuring device includes allght emitter 3 having a light source 3a and a light mlttlng len~ 3b7 and a llght receiver 4 having a light recelvlng len~ 4b and a po5ition detection element 4a, e.g., 3g a photo ~en~ltive detector (herelna~ter PSD). The ray8 o~
llght emitted ~rom light source 3a are rerlected by the f P5713S01 1329~6 ~ :
_ 25 -- ~:
subject, and the light reflected therefrom is received by position detecting s~nsor 4a in order to detect the distance of the subject from the film plane F. Namely, the deviation (t) of the image on position detection sensor 4a, from a reference point represented by the position of an image of a subject at an infinite distance, relative to distance U of the subject from film plane f, is given by the following -equation: -taLxf/(U-f-d) ...(3), in which:
L represents the base length of the distance measuring device; ;
~ represents the focal length of the light receiving lens;
and d represents the distance between film plane F and the ~ocal plane o~ the light receiving lens.
The deviation ~t) can be detected by the ele¢tria current, i.e., output, of position detecting sensor 4a in accordance with the quantity o~ light received by position . detecting sensor 4a, in a well known ~ashion. The photographing optical system o~ the camera i9 ad~usted to ~orm an image on a ~ocal point o~ the image plane in accordance with the output signal, i.e., electric current, o~ position detecting sensor 4a, based upon equations (2) and ~3), 50 that automatic ~ocusing can be e~eated. The actuating or driving mechanism o~ the photographic optical ~ystem i8 noted above.
It is necessary to shi~t the range o~ measurement o~
the sub~ect distance by the distance measuring device toward~ a close sub~ect distance side in order to achieve the macro ~unction o~ the camera. In the macro mode, the photographlng optical sy~tem i~ elther partially or entirely di~placed, ~rom a standard picture taking position, towards the ~ub~e¢t to be taken, as i~ well known.
In the embodiment o~ Fig. 12, the ~irst lens group o~ ;
3g the photographing lens is moved ~orward, towards the sub~ect over a predetermined displacement, in the macro mode, ~' . , , '' ?i " ~

1~2~8~6 P5713Sol independently of (and beyond) the displacement effected by the automatic focusing device during normal photography.
Fig. 14 represents one mechanism for shifting the range of measurement of the subject distance in the macro mode in accordance with the present invention. In Fig. 14, a relatively conventional prism P having an apex angle of S is inserted in front of light receiving lens 4b in order to shift the range of measurement of the subject distance towards the subject whose photograph is being taken. In other words, the zoom lens camera system uses a pivotable prism or wedge which is adapted to be positioned in ~ront o~
light receiver 4.
Assuming, e.g., that the apex angle and the refractive index of prism P are ~ and n, respectively, the deviation tl 15 o~ the image on position detecting sensor 4a, with respect to the sub~ect distance Ul, can be obtained as follows:
~lrstly, the incident angle alpha o~ the rays of light on the plane o~ prism ~ ad~acent to the sub~ect i9 determined by the ~ollowing eguation:
alpha-tan 1 ~L/(Ul-~-d)) + cr Re~raction angle beta o~ the rays o~ light which are incident upon prism P having an apex angle ~ at the incident angle alpha is determined by the ~ollowing e~uation:
beta~alpha- S +sin~l ~n sin ( S - sin (alpha/n)~, and, there~ore ~ ~O~
Accordingly, deviation tl o~ the image on position detecting ~ensor 4a will be determined by tl~ x tan ~ .
Sub~ect distance Um~l, which i5 obtained when light Which i~ coincident with the optical axis o~ light receiving len~ 4b inter~ects thQ optical axis o~ light emitting lens 3b 1~ determined as ~ollows, provided that the thickne~s Or prl~m ~ i~ negli~ible:
Um~ /tan t~ln 1 (n 8in ~ ) ~ +~+d.
3S In one example, the pre~ent AppliCants calculated the vAlue~ o~ U, Ul, t, tl, and t-tl, ln a camera in which the : : , .~ ., .
:

~ `~ 3i~ Y~

:
:
P5713S01 1~8~ -photographing optical system included a two lens group zoom lens, wherein: fl, i.e., the focal length of the first group, equals 24.68mm; HH (i.e.,the principal point distance) equals 7.02mm; delta, i.e., the distance between ~
5 the focal point of the first lens group and the focal point ~ ~-of the zoom lens, equals 3~.04mm; -d, i.e., the distance between the film plane and the focal -plane of the light receiving lens, equals 6.292mm; the displacement of the first group at the macro setting equals 0.5502mm.; L, i.e., the base length of the distance meaeuring device, equals 30mm; ~, i.e., the focal length of thç light recei~ing lens, équals 20mm.; S , i.e., the apex angle o~ the prism P, equals 2.826; n, i.e., the refractive index o~ prism P, equals 1.483; the distance range which can be measured equals 0.973m~ infinity; and the number of steps o~ ~orward ~eeding movement o~ the zoom lens ls 18, so that the range o~ 0.973m ~ 6m is divided into 17 ~orward ~eeding motion ~teps o~ the zoom lens. The re~ults of these calculations are illustrated in Table 1 hereinbelow. In the~e calculations, the distance range o~ o.g73m~ 6m i8 9hi~ted towards the range o~ 0.580m~ 1.020m.
In Table 1 hereina~ter, step 17-18 represents a 6hi~tlng point at which the 17th step changes to the 18th otep~ ~lmilarly, the step 0-1 represents a point o~ transfer b-tw--n 0 ~nd th- ~Lr-t ntep.

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; ', , : ,' : :, P5713S01 - 2~ ~ 13298~ ~

TABLE 1 ~ ~ -POSITIONS OF IMAGES ON T~E POSITION DETECTING SENSOR
AT DIFFERENT SUBJECT DISTANCES
STEP NO. U (m) U l(m) t(mm) _l(mm) _l_t ~mm~

5 17-18 6.000 1. 020 0. 1004 0.12740.0270 17 5.154 0.996 0.1170 0.14230.0253 16 4.027 0.951 0.1500 0.17190.0219 3.310 o.sll 0.1827 0.20130.0186 14 2.814 0.875 0.2153 0.23050.0153 10 13 2.450 0.841 0.2476 0.25950.0120 12 2.1i2 0.810 0.2797 0.28840.0087 11 1.952 0.782 0.3115 0.31700.0055 `
lo 1.775 0.756 0.3432 0.34550.0023 9 1.628 0.732 0.3747 0.3738-0.0009 8 1.504 0.709 0.4059 0.4018-0.0041 7 1.399 0.688 0.436g 0.4298-0.0072 6 1.309 0.668 0.4678 0.4575-0.0103 1.230 0.650 0.4984 0.4850-0.0134 4 1.161 0.633 0.5288 0.5124-0.0165 3 1.100 0.616 0.5591 0.5396-0.0195 2 1.045 0.601 0.5891 0.5666-0.0225 1 0.996 0.587 0.6189 0.5934-0.0255 0-1 0.973 0.580 0.6338 0.6068-0.0270 u. m~l~l 283m . . .
As can be seen ~rom Table 1, an image deviation of O.Oi7mm occurs at the position detecting sensor 4a at the two extremities o~ the range o~ measurement o~ the sub~eot aistance which can be measured, as a result o~ compensatlon by pri~m P. Such a devlation corresponds substantially to about 1 ~tep, in the sense o~ the number o~ ~eeding step~ of ~- the zoom len~. Accordingly, it is not possible to move the photographio len6 lnto a correct ~ocal polnt by directly aontrolling dlsplacement Or the photographing optical system ~ in r-~pon~e to the output o~ po~ltlon detecting sensor 4a, - 3S thu~ r-~ulting ln an "out o~ ~ocus~' ~ltuation.
-~ In other words, lt 1~ imposslble to completely ~,, i . .
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P5713SOl - 29 - 1 3 2 9 ~ 8 6 : :

compensate for deviation in the images by using only prism P, since the rate of change of deviation tl of the image on position detecting sensor 4a with respect to subj ect distance Ul cannot be varied by prism P. The prism begins S to compensate for the image deviation, but cannot alone do s o . . , In view of such results, the present inventors have found that complete compensation of such deviation can be achieved if the rate of deviation tl is adjusted by lo multiplying this rate by 1.1130 (calculated by dividing 0.5334 by 0.4794), which equals the change in t from step o-1 to step 17-18 divided by the change in tl between step 0-1 and step 17-18, since decreases in the deviations t and tl between steps 17-18 and 0-1 are 0.5334mm and 0.4794mm, 15 respectively. To this end, in the present invention, a macro mode compensating optical element is adapted to be selectively moved in front o~ the distance measuring optical system only when the camera is placed in the macro mode, in order to optically extend the base length between the light 20 emitter and the light receiver of the distance measuring optical system, and in order to- intersect the optical axis o~ the light emitter and the optical axis of the light receiver with a ~inite distance. Further, in this qmbodiment, an actuating mechanism is provided for moving 25 the macro compensating optical element in rront o~ the light receiver in coordination with trans~er or movement of the photographing optical system, i.e., the zoom lens, from the normal photographic mode to the macro mode, as discussed in detail hersiina~ter.
Figure 9 illustrates an optical arrangement o~ the distance measuring device when in the macro mode, in the automatic ~ocu~ camera o~ the present invention. In this rlgure, macro compensatlng element 4e comprises a prism 4c and a ma~k or ~rame 4d, rather than only the optical wedge 3~ o~ Ylg. 14. Element 4e i5 moved in ~ront o~ light receiving len~ 41~ Or the di~tance measuring device when the camera is , . ' . .

: .

P5713SOl - 30 -in the macro setting. In the normal photographic mode, element 4e is retracted away from the optical axis of light receiving lens 4b.
Prior to discussing the mechanlcal structure which is adapted to actuate the compensation element 4e, the actual construction of the macro compensating element 4e and the reasons why measurement accuracy can be improved or increased in the macro mode will be described in detail.
The element includes a prism 4c which is adapted to optically extend the base length of the distance measuring device and to re~ract rays of light which ente~ the prism.
Figure 10 illustrates in detai} prism 4c, mask 4d, and light receiving lens 4b. Figure ll i~ a ~ront elevational view o~ Figure 10; and both o~ these ~igures illustrate how mask or ~rame 4d is capable o~ intercepting rays of light out o~ the path o~ light approaching the prism. Mask 4d includes a ~ront opening 4~ which i5 shown in the ~orm of a generally rectangular, elongated ~lot, on the (front) side o~ the ~rame located most closely ad~acent to the sub~ect being photographed, and a rear opening 4g (see Fig. 10) on the side o~ the ~rame or mask most closely ad~acent to light receiving lens 4b. Opening 4~ is in the ~orm of a slit ~paced ~rom optical axis 0 o~ light receiving lens 4b by a di~tance (1) whlch is measu~ed on the opposite side Or the optical axis ~rom light emitting lens 3b. Rear opening 4g 1~ also in the ~orm o~ a elongated slit, whlch is ~ubstantially located along the optical axis O of light receiving lens 4b.
When prism 4c, together with ma~k 4d, move in ~ront o~
light recelving len~ 4b, l.e., when the camera is in the ~acro mode, a rir~t lene group o~ the photographic lene is red ~orwardly by a con~tant displacement, independently Or th- di~placement Or the len5 which i9 ~ed ~orwardly during th- nor~al photographi¢ mode by the automati¢ rOcusing device. A~ best seen in Figs. 9 and 10, when prism 4c i5 located in ~ront o~ light receiving lenq 4b, the range o~

t~.. 'Ji :
:
1329~6 P5713Sol - 31 -measurement of the distance of the subject can be shifted to the macro mode range. Prism 4c serves to move light incident thereon in a parallel fashion, over a displacement (1) in the direction o~ the base length, so that base length L can be optically extended to equal the distance ~L~
Assuming that the angle and the refractive index of prism 4c are ~ 1~ and n, respectively, and that the parallel displacement of light by prism 4c is represented by the distance (1), deviation t2 of the ~mage on position 1~ detecting element 4a, as viewed with respect to the sub~ect distance U2, can be obtained as hereinafter detailed.
The incident angle o~ light on the plane of prism 4c which 1~ ad~acent to the ~ubject is provided by the ~ollowing equation:
alphal~tan 1 ~L+l)/(U2-~-d)} + ~
This equation indicates that the base length of the triangulation distance measuring device i8 extended ~rom L
to ~L+l) by the insertion o~ prism 4c in front of the light . receiving lens 4b. The re~raction angle betal o~ light which i~ incident upon a prism having an angle ~ 1~ whiah ilight is incident upon the prism at an incident angle o~
alphal ~ i5 calculated in accordance with the ~ollowing oguation:
betal - alphal- ~ l+sin al[nsin ( ~ l-sin 2S ~alphal/n))]~ and, there~ore~ alphal ~ ~ 1 ~ betal.
Accordingly, deviation t2 o~ the image on position detecting sensor 4a is egual to ~ x tan ~ 1~ i.e., t2 = F x tan ~ 1' ~ he 5ub~ect di5tance Um~2 which is obtained when light aoinoident With the optical axi~ o~ light receiving lens 4b lnter~ects the optical axis o~ light emitting lens 3b is ylelded by u~ing the ~ollowing equation, provided that the thi¢kne~ o~ prlsm 4¢ is negligible:
Um~2-~1)/tan ~in~l(n x Bin ~ +~+d.
~ 3g~able 2 hereina~ter illu~trates the results o~ the ¦ calculations in Which the distance measuring device o~ Figs.
~, ' 132~886 ::
P5713SOl - 32 - ~ `

10 and 11 has been applied to a photographing lens --satisfying the same basic criteria as those mentioned with respect to the embodiment of Figure 14, i.e., namely that:

(a) The photographic lens is a 2-group lens;
(b)fl, i.e., the ~ocal lenqth of the ~ `
~irst group, equals 24.68 mm;
(c) HH, i.e., the principal point distance, equals 7 .02mm;
(d) delta, i.e., the distance between the ~ocal length o~ the ~lrst lens group and the ~ocal length o~ the zoom lens, equals 30.04 mm;
(e) d, i.e., the distance between the ~ilm plane and the ~ocal plane o~ the light re¢eiving lens, equals 6.292mm;
(~) the displacement o~ the ~irst lens group in the macro setting equals - 0.5502mm;
~g) ~, i.e., the base length o~ the dlstance measuring device, equals 30mm;
(h) ~, l.e., the ~ocal length o~ the light receiving lens, equals 20mm~
~ i.e., the angle o~ prism 4c, eguals 3.39~ ` -~) n, i.e., the re~raction index o~ the pri~m, egual~ 1.483t ~k) ~1), i.e., the distance representing ~- the parallel di~placement o~ the ray~ o~
light, oquals 3.39mm~
~ ~1) the range o~ meaeurement o~ the ;~
-~ 35 di~tanae o~ the ~ub~ect which can be moagured egual~ 0.973m- infinity;
~m) the number o~ ~tep~ o~ ~orward ~eeding movement o~ the zoom lens is 185 '/ ,., r~ :
.. ' ~ '' ~

P57 3SOl _ 33 _ 1 3 2 9 ~ 8 ~

(n) the range of 0.973m~ 6m is divided ~:
into 17 steps; and -(o) the photographic range of 0.973m- 6m :.~
is shifted into the range of 0.580m- .. -1.020m. ~

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;-'~ 3 POSITIONS OF IMAGES ON THE POSITION DETECTING SENSOR AT : .
DIFFERENT SUBJECT DISTANCES WITH THE MACRO COMPENSATION
~LEMENT OF FIGURES 9, 10 AND 11 STEP NO. U tm) U 2(m) t(mm~ -2(mm) _2-t tmm) ~:

17-18 6.000 1.020 0.1004 0.1005 o.ooo 17 5.154 0.996 0.1170 o. 1171 0.0001 16 4.027 0.951 0.150~ 0.1500 o lo 15 3. 310 o.sll 0.1827 0.1827 o 14 2.814 0.875 0.2153 0. 2152 -o.ooo 13 2.450 0.841 0.2476 ~.2475 -o.ooo 12 2.172 0.810 0.2791 0.2796 -o,ooo 11 1.952 0.782 0.3115 0.3115 o 1.775 0.756 0.3432 0.3432 o 9 1.628 0.732 0.3747 0.3746 -o.oOo 8 1.504 0.709 0.4059 0.4059 o 7 1.399 0.688 0.4369 0.4369 o 6 1.303 0.668 0.4678 0.4677 -o.oool 1.230 0.650 0.4984 0.4984 o 4 1.161 0.633 0.5288 0.5288 0 3 1.100 0.616 0.55gl 0.5591 0 2 i.045 0.601 0.5891 0.5891 0 1 0.996 0.587 0.6189 0.6190 o.ooo ~ ... . . .
25 Q~ 0.973 0.580 0.6338 0.6338 0 ~
u m~2-1.283m ', .
, -It should be clearly understood rrom Table 2 that the deviatlon o~ the image~ on the position detecting sensor 4a r.r~30 at di~erent oteps between the normal photographic mode and the macro mode will there~ore be within ~/- O.OOOlmm. This 1~ repre~ented by the value t2~t in the last column on page 2~ Accordlngly, it io po~slble to almost completely torm imag-c at the ~oaal point by ad~uoting the photographic 3J optical cystom ln accordance with the output o~ the position d-e-ctlng ~-n~or 4a. Tabl- Z llluotratss that ~rl~m 4c a~n ; ~ .
. . . .

1329g~6 :
P5713Sol - 35 -optically extend the base length, which is normally 30mm in a normal photography camera mode, in the macro mode so that it will be 1.113 times the normal base length, i.e., the base length will be 33.39mm when the camera is in its macro mode; as a result, displacement of position detect~ng sensor 4a can be increased by a factor of 1.113.
In operation, it is possible to automatically focus the camera within any zooming range, including the macro setting of the camera, by actuating previously discussed shutter unit 23 in accordance with the output signals, i.e., the measurement data, which are sent by position detecting sensor 4a. Speci~icaily, when driving pulses are applied to the pulSe motor o~ shutter unit 23 in~ accordance with the measurement data whlch has been received from detecting sensor 4a, a lens actuating or feeding lever 23a, as seen in Flg. 8, rotates over an angle corresponding to the driving pulses which it has received in order to rotate front lens ~rame 24 together with it. As a result o~ this rotation of ~ront lens ~rame 24, the ~ront lens element group Ll is moved along the direction o~ the photogxaphing optical axis, via the action o~ helicoid 25, in order that ~ocusing o~ the photographia lens assembly will be automatically e~ected.
~ ens barrel block 1 rotates cam ring 14 when zooming motor 5 is driven. Rotation o~ cam ring 14 causes roller 17 Or ~ront ~rame 16 to engage the extreme macro position ~lxlng sectlon 20g o~ cam groove 20, i.e., roller moves into 8e¢tion 20g ~rom macro trans~er section 20~ o~ cam ring 14, 80 that ~ront lens element group Ll will be fed ~urther ~orwardly to move into position ~or macro mode operation of the camera.
A~ clearly seen in Figs. 1 and 2, macro compensating element 4e i8 ~ecured to a ~ree end o~ a ~lexibls compen8ation or correctlng ~lag 42, Which is pivoted at itg ba9- end to camera base plate 6 via a 8ha~t 41 located below light recoiv-r 4. Flag 42 ls normally retained ln a ~ub~tantially 8traight position when no external ~orce is .
1329~6 . '" . ' applied to the flag, and is elastically deformed whenever an external force is applied to the flag. Also attached to shaft 41, and having a pointed surface directed away from the flag, is a projection 43, which can either be formed integrally with the flag and attached to shaft 41, or which can be formed separately from the flat and attached to shaft 41 at a central bore of the projection. The macro compensating element 4e is continuously and rotatably biased into a retracted position in which it is retracted away from the optical axis of light receiver 4 by a tension spring 46, - as illustrated in Fig. 2. As seen in Fig. 2 and (better) in Fig. 1, cam ring 14 includes a pro~ection 44 on secto~ gear 15 (or on the cam ring) which engages flag projection 43 in order to move macro compensating optical element 4e into the optical axis o~ the distance measuring device and in front o~ light receiver 4 whenever the cam ring 14 rotates to the macro setting position. As shown in Fig. 1, a substantially semi-cylindrical recess ~or other recesScon~iguration) 44a i5 provided on the gear 15 ad~acent to the camming surface o~ ~ro~ection 44. This reces~ i5 provided to ~acilitate the pivotlng or rotating motlon o~ ~lag pro~ection 43 as the cam rlng rotate~. In other words, rQcess 44a is necessary to ~acilitate turning movement o~ the projection and hence plvotlng or rotating motion o~ optical element 4e into the po~ition illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, in ~ront o~
light receiver 4. Alternately, ring 14 or gear 15 can be ~ormed with a smaller diameter in order to provide sur~i¢ient plvotlng room ~or pro~ectlon 43. Camming - pro~ection 44, which e~ects, via it~ engagement with 30 pro~eotion. 43, rotational or advancing motion o~ macro compensatlng optlcal element 4e, 18 positioned and con~lgured ~o that the optlcal element will be rotated ~l~ghtly pa8t the position in which the element would be Allgned wlth the optlcal axis o~ light receiver 4. However, 3g the rlAt end or the element ~e which most closely approaches eupport plate 6e whlch is lntegrally attached to base 6, is ~: , ' `.''' "`
,` ,', ',,:

"',.~,~! ~
~298~6 P5713SOl - 37 -adapted to engage the left hand side surface of plate 6e (as seen in Fig. 2) via a shock absorbing nub or button 4g, shown in both Figs. 1 and 2. Accordingly, over rotational motion of element 4e which is effected by projection 44 will 5 be absorbed both ~y the flexlble flag 42, which is formed ;
from a resilient plastic, rubber, or other resilient material and/or the provision of nub 4g, which will serve to engage the side edge o~ plate 6e.
Thus, when cam ring 14 moves into the macro setting position, the macro compensating optical element 4e can automatically be brought into alignment with the optical axis of the light receiver, into a position in front of the light receiver, in order to optically extend the base length between the light emitter 3 and the light receiver 4.
C. Finder O~ti¢al SYstem The ~inder optical syatem is best illustrated in Figures 1 and 15-20.
The ~inder optical system i5 designed not only to vary magnification between a wide ~ield o~ view with a small ao magni~ication, and a narrow ~ield o~ view with a large magni~ication, in accordance with the zooming operation o~
the photographing lens sy6tem, but also to provide a ~ield o~ view having lees parallax when the camexa is used in its macro mode.
25One signi~icant ~eature o~ the present invention is that the ~inder optical ~ystem is capable o~ automatically moving ln associatlon with both zooming o~ the photographic len~ and movement o~ the photographic lens into a macro ~etting in order to satis~y all of the requirements o~ a rind-r ~y~tem a~ ~et ~orth immediately above. ~hile conv-ntional ~lnder~ appear to provide a plurality Or bright rr~me- with di~erent slze~ in the ~ield o~ view o~ the rinder, thi~ i~ not a ~atis~actory solution to the problems - not-d above, e.g~, the u6e o~ ~uch ~rames alone wlll not 3i~ mlnlmlze parallax ln a macro operational mode such as that us-d in the present camera.
,. ,' ., .

132~8~6 P5713SOl - 38 -Under such circumstances, and in accordance with the present invention, a finder optical device is provided in a lens shutter type of camera having a zoom lens which essentially comprises an improved inverted Galilean finder.
In other words, the finder optical system of the present invention includes a first lens group having a negati~e refracting power which comprises a positi~e lens ln the form of a ~ixed lens L3 and a movable negative lens in the form of a variable power lens L5, a second lens group having a negative lens L4-l whlch is one lens in a fixed eyepiece group L4, and a third lens group having a positive refracting power lens L4-2 which defines a second lens in the fixed eyepiece lens group L4. A prism Pl is adapted to be selectively moved between the positive lens L3 and the ~ ;~
negative lens L5 of the ~irst lens group in order to re~ract rays o~ light towards the optical axis. The negative lens L5 o~ the fir~t group can be displaced from a posltion ad~acent to the sub~ect towards a position which is ad~acent to a photographer's eye in order to vary the magnification from a wide field of view having a small magnification to a ~arrow field of view having a large magni~ication. Prism Pl, çelectively brought in'to alig~ment with the optical axis Or the finder optical system, serves ko decrease the parallax when the photographic optical system is in the macro ~etting and when the negative len~ L5 o~ the first group moves ¢losest to the eye o~ the photographer along the optical axi~.
The bright frames whlch are lllustrated in dashed lines in Fig. 52 define the photographing ranges and are applied to the ~ace o~ the lens o~ the thlrd group which is closest to the ub~ect, l.e., on the le~t hand face A of stationary eyepi~¢~ lens L4-2 ln Figs. 15A, 16A, 17A, 18A, l9A and 20A, re~pectlvoly. These yellow frames, which are placed on lens ~urfaco A comprise a central autofocus ~pot ~to be 3~ positioned on the main portion of a photographic sub~ect), a large picture area ~rame ~for ordinary photography using the .

, ~; ?~

13~988~
P5713Sol - 39 -zoom lens), and a smaller parallax correction frame (used since the picture area will slightly narrow in the macro mode). Further, face ~ of the second lens group ~4-1 which is most closely adjacent to the eye of a photographer, is formed from a semi-transparent material, so that a virtual image of the bright frames which are formed by the semi-transparent face can be enlarged and viewed through the positive lens of the third lens group L4-2.
The yellow bright frames are positioned on the front surface of the fixed eye piece len~ L4-2 by, e.g., sputtering; and the rear surface of the eyepiece lens element L4-1, i.e., surface 3 or r6, can be in the form of a semi-transmi~sive, ~emi-reflective concave mirror. Light rays emitted from (i.e., reflected by) the bright frames are re~lected rearwardly by concave sur~ace R6 and are ~ocuced on the viewers eye. The eye recognize~ enlarged ~alse images o~ the ~rames in a po~ition in the far foreground, whi¢h images are formed via the optical effect o~ lenses L4-1 and ~4-a.
The negative lens L5 o~ the ~lrst group is movable, as noted above, so that it will move ~rom a position which it i~ located ad~acent to the sub~ect into a position in which it is more closely ad~acent to the eye o~ a photographer, in order to increase the focal length o~ the photographic optical system during the normal zooming operation, so that magni~ication can be varied ~rom a wide ~ield Or view having a ~mall magni~lcation to a narrow ~ield o~ view having a large magni~ication. When a picture io taken in the ma¢ro ~beyond telephoto) mode with a narrow ~ield o~ view and larg- magni~ication, a pri~m io inserted between the movable lon~ ~5 and stationary len~ L3 in order to decrease parallax, 60 that light will be re~racted toward~ the location o~ the axis o~ the photographic optical ~ystem.
~nough room i9 provided ~or the prism to pivot upwardly 3g ~or macro ~ocusing, i.e., thereby creating a need to move the leno L5 a relatively large distance, as ~hown in Figs.

1 3 2 9 8 ~
P5713SOl -- 40 -16A, 17A, l9A and 20A, in order to insert the prism Pltherein in a pivotable or rotatable fashion.
on advantage of the system is that it incorporates only a single moving lens L5, rather than zooming a plurality of lenses or the entire finder optical lens system and having to thereafter compensate for such zooming movement of all of the lenses. This serves to simplify the zooming cam plate structure, as movement of only a single lens will suffice to change the magnification of finder image.
The fixed viewing frames, as shown in Fig. 52, are provided in order to avoid having to make a viewing adjustment. The two rear eyepiece lens groups L4-1 and L4-2 which include the ~rames are ~ixed, and the curvatures of their respective sur~aces are controlled so that the re~lected ~rames will have a desired magnification which is compatible with the image magni~ication over the entire range o~ zooming operation o~ the photographic lens.
The apex angle or angles o~ the selectively insertable prism are de~lned by the resultant angles in the horizontal and vertical directions, in accordance with the positions o the optical ~inder system and the photographlc optical system. The prism can be a single wedge prism, or can be a double wedge shaped prism, as illustrated in Figs. 53A, 53B, and 53C, whi¢h illustrate a double wedge prlsm Pl' which is advantageous because it is capable o~ bending light downwardly and rightwardly towards the optical axis o~ the photographic optical system.
As illustrated in Figs. 53, double wedge prism Pl has a ~urra¢e which increases, when viewed ~rom the top in the dlr-ctlon o~ arrow A ~see Fig~. 53A and 53B) and which also lncrease~ ~rom the le~t hand to the right hand dlrection, as vlewed ~rom the ~ront o~ the camera ~rom the photographing opt~ cal axis, and as shown by arrow 3 ~Flgs. 53A and S3C).
In the exampla lllustrat-d, the angle ~ H can be 2.8, 3g th- angl- ~ V can be 4.2, the angle ~ H' could be -~ 4.2, and the anglo ~3 V' could be 5Ø
; ~ , - , d ~ ~

13298g6 .
P5713Sol - 41 -The wedge prism is adapted to be inserted between the first convex single lens element L3 and the movable concave single lens element Ls in a rotatable fashion. This permits the finder unit to be made compactly and allows the prism to ~-:
be inserted between these two elements. The viewing distance of the false image of an object and the bright ~rames remain stationary throughout the zooming range of the photographic lens, and parallax compensation is provided by moving the prism between the lenses in the macro or close up picture taking mode. The viewing magnification or size of the bright frame images is also maintained constant throughout the zooming range o~ the photographic lens, as well as in the macro setting, due to the placement of the bright frames on the stationary lens element L4-2. The distance between the eye of ~ viewer and the image distance, i.e., the diopter o~ the finder, virtually does not vary, because the zooming concave lens element moves over an image magni~ication o~ lx, or, i.e., is li~e size.
Parallax compensation in the macro or close up.picture taking mode is e~ected by posltioning the wedge prism between the lens elements, as well ~g by the use o~ the compensation ~raming marks illustrated in Fig. 52 (which is the hormal means o~ parallax compensation in a close ~ocu~ing mode in view~inder type cameras). The edges o~ the wedge prism are tinted green to highlight the ~rame that illu~trates the photographic area in the macro or close-up mode.
Theoretically, the prism could be located in ~ront o~
the ~ir~t lens group; however, by 80 arranging the prism, it would incr-a~o the ov-rall size o~ the ~inder optical ~y~t-m. Th- pris~ cannot, however, be located between the s-cond and thlrd len~ groups, because ir it were inserted b~tween the~e group~, the positions o~ the bright ~rame and o~ the vlrtual image o~ the sub~e¢t could vary in accordance wlth movemont of the prlsm. However, when the prism is retractably lnserted between the positive lens and the ' " " .

13~8~6 :
P5713Sol - 42 - ~-negative lens of the first lens group, as is the case in the present invention, the prism is free from such problems, and virtually no change in dioptric power to the virtual image of the subject will occur.
Several examples of a finder optical system formed in accordance with the present invention will now be discussed: -Exam~ 1 ~ -Figs. 15A, 15B, 16A, 16B and 17A, 17B illustrate `
diîferent positions o~ a first embodiment of a finder device - ~ -10 ~ormed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 15A
illustrates the finder optical system when it is providing a wide field o~ view with a small magnification; Fig. 16A
illustrates this ~inder system when it is providing a narrow ~ield o~ view with a large magnlfication: and Fig. 17A
15 illustrates the ~inder system whenever it i5 providing a narrow ~leld o~ view with large magnification and when it is in the macro mode, respectively. Figs. 15B, 16B and 17B, respectively, are views illustrating the aberrations o~ the ~inder lens system in the positions o~ Figs. 15A, 16A and 20 17A, respectively.
Thi~ i~inder optical system includes a positive single lens ~3 and a negative slngle lens 15 which ~orm the rirst lens group' ~ negative single eyepiece lens L4-1 which ~orms the ~econd len~ group; and a positive single eyepiece lens 25 ~4-2 ~orming the third lens group; together with a ~electively positionable prism Pl. Among all o~ these optl¢al elements, only the negative single lens L5 is movable along the direction o~ the optical axis, and prism `
Pl i~ selectlvely movable into alignment with this optlcal 30 axle7 all o~ tho other lenses remain stationary.
Tablo6 3 and 4 which ~ollow illustrate the curvatures r, th- dlstance5 d, the re~ractlve indexes Nd and Abbe's number~ ~ d o~ the opposite ~ide ~aces Or optical elements - ~3, IJ5, ~4-1, IJ4-2, ~nd Pl ~Table 4 only), re~pectively. As 3g ~hown ln the ~ollowing tables 3 and 4, each o~ ~eatures r, d, Nd and~ d are designated by any one o~ numbers 1-8 and .'': ,' ' ,: .

x, ~ (f 132~

1-10, respectively, as viewed from the side of the positive single lens L3 which is closest to the subject, i.e., from the left hand portion of the figures towards the eye or right hand portion of the figures.
Table 3 represents the position of the lens when it is in its wide field of view, small magnification position (0.38x) and wh~n it is in its narrow field of view, large magnification position (0.70x), and Ta~le 4 illustrates the position o~ the lens when it is in the macro mode. The apex angles of prism Pl used in this mode, when it is in a double wedge prism are, e.g., 2.8 in horizontal section and 4.2 in vertical section.
The bright ~rame which defines the picture taking range is applied to sur~ace A o~ the positive single lens L4-2 of the third lens group which is most closely adjacent to the sub~ect being photographed, and the surface B of the negative single lens L4-1 o~ the second lens group which is mo~t closely ad~acent to the photographers eye is semi-tran~parent. As a result, a virtual lmage o~ the bright ~rame applied to ~ace A o~ the positive single lens L4-2 is ~ormed and re~lected by ~ace B, and is therea~ter enlarged and viewed through the positive single lens L~-2, again as di8cUssed previou81y.

P5713S01 - 44 - 13~98~

No. r d Nd ~_ 1 30.800 4.50 1.4918657.4 2 -2221.231 0.50 (0.38x) 15.80(0.70x) ' 3 55.555 1.21 1.4918657.4 4 9.680 18.30 tO.38x) ~
3.00 (0.70x) -8.327 1.00 1.6031160.7 6 50.845 7.33 -7 cX~ 2.23 1.6031160.7 8 -1'l .780 .. ....
TAB~E 4 15 No. r d Nd ~d 1 30.800 4.50 1.4918657.4 2 -2221.231 1.70 3 C~3 2.70 1.4918657.4 4 cX~ 11.40 55.555 1.21 1.4918657.4 6 9.680 3.00 7 -8.327 1.00 1.6031160.7 8 50.845 7.33 g c~j 2.23 1.6031160.7 -11.780 Exam~le 2 Fig. 18A illustrates a second embodlment o~ the ~inder optical syst0m in its wide ~ield o~ view, small magni~icatlon positlon~ Fig. lsA illustrates this embodiment 30 in its narrow rleld o~ view, larg0 magni~ication po6ition7 and Fig. 20A illustrate~ this ~inder optical assembly ombodlmont ln its narrow ~i~ld o~ v10w, large magnl~icatlon, macro modo posltlon~ and Pigs. 18B, 19B and 20B, r-op-ctively, illustrate the ab0rrations in the ~inder lens 3~ ~y~te~ in th~ three dl~0rent po~itions illustrated in Figs.
~ 18A, l9A and 20A, re~pect~vely. In thls second embodlment -; ",:
~ ,, "
,, , 132988~ ~
P5713Sol - 45 -of the finder optical device, the lens system is different from that in the first embodiment as discussed in example 1, insofar as the third lens group comprises two lenses in the form of positive lenses L4-2 and L4-3.
Tables 5 and 6 illustrate the curvatures r, distances d, refractive indexes Nd, and Abbe's numbers ~d, for all of the elements of the second embodiment of the finder lens system, which tables are similar to Tables 3 and 4 previously discussed with respect to the first embodiment of the finder optical system. In Table 5, which represents the wide field of view, small magnification (0.35x) position of the system, &nd the narrow field of view, large magnification.(0.648x) position of the system, and in Table 6, which represents the system when in the.macro mode, the apex angle of prism Pl is 3.0 in the horizontal direction and 5.0 in the vertical direction, e.g. The bright frame which defines the photographic range is again applied to ~ace A of the positive lens L4-2 of the third group, and face B of the negative single lens L4-1 of the second group is again semi-transparent, as in the first embodiment of the flnder syetem.

P5713S01 - 46 - 1~2 9~g~

TABLE 5 - `
No. r d Nd ~d 1 25.800 4.50 1.49186 57.4 2 -190.341 0.50 (0.35x) -11.89(0.648x) ~ -3 85.200 1.50 1.49186 57.4 4 8.081 14.39 (0.35x) -3.00(0.648x) -7.056 1.00 1.67003 47.3 10 6 34.700 5.37 7 C~3 2.93 1.60311 60.7 8 -12.538 0.30 9 -30.259 2.23 1.49186 57.4 -15.420 No. r d Nd ~d -1 25.800 4.50 1.49186 57.4 2 -190.341 9.42 3 CX~ 2.00 1.49186 57.4 ~;
20 4 CX~ O .47 85; 200 1.50 1.49186 57.4 `
6 8.081 3.00 7 -7.056 1.00 1.67003 47.3 -8 34.700 5.37 - 25 9 CX~ 2.93 1.60311 60.7 -12.538 0.30 ~ ;
11 -30.259 2.23 1.49186 57.4 12 -15.420 A~ illustrated in Fig. 17A~ the ~inder optical device .
-~30 o~ the present invention pre~erably satls~ies the ~ollowing `: :~
~:¢onditions: .: `
1) 0.3 ~dP~0.5t ~2) ~ 1.8~ and ~3) 0.45~ ~3/~D ~0.7; wherein~
D ~ the total length o~ the ~inder;
s~- 3~dP ~ the di~tan¢e between the ~ace o~ lens ~3 whi¢h is ~ mo~t clO5e~ y ad~a¢ent to pri~m Pl and the ~ace o~ lens ~5 ,~ ~
,'~ i''`:' " ,...

(; 1 P5713S01 - 47 - 13298~6 which is most closely adjacent to prism Pl;
fl+ = the focal length of the positive lens of the first lens group, and f3 = the focal length of the third lens group.
These criteria are useful and helpful to enable prism Pl to be retractably inserted between the movable lens L3 of the first lens group and the negative lens L5 of the first lens group and to minimize the effective diameter of the prism when it i5 brought into alignment with the optical axis.
The first condition, i.e., 0.3 < dP < 0.5 is based upon the fact that i~ the value of dP exceeds the noted upper llmit, ~he e~fec~i~e diameter of the lens L3 will become large, ma~ing it di~icult to provide a compact camera as does the present invention; to the contrary, if the value of dP was ~0.3, it would become extremely difficult to smoothly and easily rotate prism Pl so that it would come into alignment with, and be capable o~ retracting away from, the optical axis in a position between lenses L3 and L5.
Conditions 2 and 3, in which ~1+ ~ 1.8, and 0.45 ~
~3~LD <0.7, are provided to minimize the effective diameter o~ pris,m Pl. The sscond criteria noted above is substantially equivalent to setting or establishing the . rocal length FR Or the lens system which i5 positioned rearwardly o~ prism Pl when the prism is ln alignment with the ~inder optical axis. Namely, i~ exceeds its noted upper limit of 1.8, the e~ective diameter of the prism will become large, thereby resulting in di~ficulty in realizing a I compact prism and ~inder.
I 30 Condition three is basically equivalent to a r-~ulremont ~or the third lens group located rearwardly o~
~ tho prl5m. Namely, i~ r3/~D ls les5 than the lower limlt o~
i 0.45, the tolsrance o~ the system will become qulte small.
j~ To tho contrAry, 1~ the value o~ ~3/LD exceeds the upper 3i~ limlt Or 0.7, ths e~ective diameter o~ the prism will increa~o .

13~98~6 - -P~713Sol - 48 -The values of dP, fl~, and f3/LD in the first and second embodiments above will now be listed; all of these values are set to satisfy conditions 1, 2 and 3 noted above.
First Embodiment Second Embodiment dP 0.45 0.36 fl+ 1.76 1.42 f3/LD 0.56 0,49 D. Drive Mechanism for the Finder and Strobe Devices The driving mechanism which serves to actuate finder optical assembly 8 and strobe assembly 9 is best illustrated in Figs. 21-30.
A mother plate 60 is attached to a f~nder block 54 which is mounted to base plate 6 via horizontal support plate extension 6b. The mother plate ls provided with guide pins 62 integrally attached to the mother plate and which are adapted to fit within a substantially linear guide groove 61 o~ cam plate 53. Sliding motion of cam plate 53 -~ 'i8 in the lateral direction, with respeat to the optical -axis o~ the camera, and is restricted by the engagement b,etween guide grooves 61 and guide pins 62s and a guide pro~ectlon or ~lange 60a (shown in both Figs. 21 and 22) is ~ormed integrally with mother plate 6'0 and serves to prevent aam pl2te 53 ~rom ~loating or moving away from the ~ront ~ur~ace o~ the mother plate, particularly at the ~ront end -25 o~ cam plate 53 where the ~lange engages the cam plate.
iFinder mother plate 60 includes a variable power lens guide groove 63, a de~lection prism guide groove 64, and a -strobe assembly gulde groove 65. Each o~ these guide groov-~ extends parallel to the photographic ~ptical axis of ~-~30 th- camora. A guide pro~ectlon 66a o~ variable ~lnder lens ~rama 66, which carrles the variable ~inder power lens group , i~ ~itt~d wlthln varlable power lens gulde groove 63.
Gulde pro~ectlon 67a o~ de~lectlon prism actuating plate 67 ~- ~io ~lldably posltloned or ~ltted with~n de~lection prism 3 5 gulde groove 64~ and guide pro~ection 68a o~ strobe assembly ca~ 68, which casing has a concave re~lector 59 attached ~. . . . .

132~
P5713Sol - 49 -thereto, is fitted or positioned within strobe guide groove 65.
Variable power lens frame 66, deflection prism actuating plate 67, and strobe assembly case 68, together move in a direction which is parallel wit~ respect to the optical axis, along the respective guide grooves. Guide projections 66a, 67a, and 68a are provided with driven pins 69, 70 and 71, which fit within the variable power cam groove 55, the parallax compensating cam groove 56, and the strobe cam groove 57, respectively. Accordingly, when cam plate 53 moves laterally, variable power lens frame 66, reflection prism actuating plates 67, and strobe case 68 move along the respective camming grooves 55, 56 and 57.
The sections of the variable power cam groove 55, parallax compensating cam groove 56, and strobe cam groove 57 correspond to sections of zooming cam grooves 20 and 21 o~ cam ring 14 which have been illustrated in Fig. 7 and described with respect thereto. Speci~ically, the variable power cam groove 55 includes an extreme wide angle ~ixing section 55a, a variable power section 55b, and an extreme telephoto ~ixing section 55c, with the angles 0 1~ 0 2 and 0 3, respectively, o~ these three sections corresponding to the similar angles in the cam ring Fig. 7. ~he parallax compensating cam groove 56 includes a non-projecting section 56a, a pro~ecting movement section 56b, i.e., a ~orward ~eed section used ~or the macro mode, and a pro~ected position ~ixing section 56c, i.e., an extreme macro ~ixing section.
... . .
Strobe cam groove 57 include~ an extreme wide angle ~ixlng section 57a, a variable power section 57b, an extreme t-lephoto ~ixing section 57c, a ma¢ro ~eeding ~ection 57d, and an extremo macro ~ixing section 57e. The relationship botwe~n cam grooves 55, 56 and 57, and zooming cam grooves 20 and 21, i8 bo~t illustrated in the schematic or plan view lllu~trated in Fig. 44.
The variable power lens ~rame 66 which supports the variablo power lens group L5 i5 movably supported along .' 1 ~ 2 ~
P5713SOl - 50 -guide face 54a of finder block 54 so that frame 66 will hang therefrom, as best illustrated in Fig. 25. The frame can be formed, e.g., from a resin which can slide with ~espect to the finder block in a substantially frictionless fashion.
When variable power lens frame 66 moves along variable power cam groove 55, magnification of the finder optical system, including lens group L3, eye piece group L4, and variable power lens group L5, will vary, so that the photographic range over which lens barrel block 1 moves will be substantially coincident with the field of view of the ~inder.
The deflection prism actuating plate 67 is illustrated in Figs. 26-28, and is hereinafter described in greater detail.
De~lection prism Pl, which is formed of synthetic resin, is rotatably supported by finder block 54 via two lower opposed prism support pins 74 of the prism. These supporting pins include torsion springs 75 which surround them, with one end o~ each spring bearing against a respective abutment 76 which abutments are provided along the side ~aces o~ de~lection prism Pl, so that the de~lectlon prism will be continuously biased into a position in which the prism Pl moves into alignment with the optical axis of ~inder lenses ~3-L5. Abutment 76 are located in arc-shaped grooves 79 ~ormed in ~inder block 54, as best illustrated ln Figs. 26-28. The de~lection prism actuating plate 67 i9 held between ~inder block 54 and a guide plate 80 (~ee Flg. 25) connected to ~inder block 54 so that a .guide pin 81 which is positioned on the side ~ace o~ ~inder !~30 block 54 will ~it within linear guide groove 82 o~ guide plate 80.
Position restricting abutments 76 on the prism can be engaged by a stop sur~a¢e 77 and a guiding sur~ace 78 Or de~lectlon prism actuating plate 67~ ~urther, the prism 3S abutments 76 can come into contact with an end surrace o~
th~ groove 79 in plate 67 (see Fig. 27). Derlection prism j ' '.' ~:
: .

1329886 :-:
Ps713sol - 51 -actuating plate 67 serves to retract the deflection prism from the optical path of lenses L3-L5, against the bias of springs 75, when pin 70 is located in the non-projection section 56a of parallax compensating cam groove 56, insofar as the rotation preventing face 77 of the plate will move into engagement with abutment 76 (see Fig. 26). When pin 70 moves into the projecting movement section 56b, guide surface 78 will move into a butting contact with abutment 76, so that deflection prism Pl will rotate into a position in which it is in align~ent with the finder system optical axis with the help of torsicn spring 75. During such movement, abutments 76 move on and along face 78, and de~lection prism Pl will gradually move into the optical path, as illustrated in Figs. 27 and 28, 60 that the optlcal path o~ the ~inder will be deflected downwardly by prism Pl, as illustrated by the arrow in Fig. 28. As a result of this movement, a sub~ect which is otherwise located below the ~inder optiaal axis wlll come into the camera ~ield o~ view, and parallax in the macro mode o~ the camera will be decreased. It is even ~urther decreased, as noted above, when a double wedge prism (Fig. S3A) i9 used to de~lect the ~inder optical axis downwardly and (rightwardly) towards the optical axis o~ the photographing optical~sy~tem.
A guide blocX 85 is provided along the side ~ace o~
2S ~trobe case 68 and is ~itted within a linear gulde groove 84 whi¢h is parallel to the optical axis o~ the camera which is ~ormed in guide plate 80, as illustrated in Fig. 30.
Further, height ad~usting pins 86 (see Flgs. 23 and 29) are provlded on the upper and lower ~acss o~ stro~e case 68 and a~e ada~ted to prsvent the strobe case ~rom ~alllng downwardly. The strobe case 68 moves along strobe cam groove S7 when cam plate 53 moves in the lateral direction.
VaxiAble power section 57b o~ strobe cam groove 57 is adaFt-d to mova xenon lamp 58 rearwardly, away ~rom Fresnel len~ L6. Rearward movement o~ the xenon lamp 58 causes the llluminatlon angle o~ light emltted ~rom Fresnel lens ~6 to ',' "
:.

.

1~2~8~ -P5713Sol - 52 -:. .
decrease so as to substantially increase the guide number in accordance with an increase in the focal length. To the contrary, in macro feeding section 57d, the illumination angle is increased, and the guide number is therefore 5 substantially decreased in the macro mode.
E. Barrier i.e.. Lens cap Mechanism The barrier lens cap mechanism is best illustrated in Figs. 6, 8 and 31-34.
Barrier mechanism 30 opens and closes a pair of 10 barriers 31, (see Fig.8 ) which are located forwardly of the front lens element group Ll of the photographic (zooming) lens system, and which are closed with the assistance of rotational force which is produced when cam ring 14 rotates within retracting or storing cam section 2Ob (see Fig. 7) ln 15 which the lens i8 collapsed.
Fig. 31 and 32 illustrate a ~irst embodiment o~ the barrier mechanism. In this embodiment, barrier mechanism 30 opens and closes a photographic opening 22b at the opening oî ~rame 22 via pivoted barrier elements 31. ~he barrier 20 elements are pivoted, via pins 32, in a substantially symmetrical ~ashion with respect to the photographic opening 22b o~ the ~ront lens group support ~rame 22.
Barriers 31 are disposed in a symmetrically opposite position with respect to each other and include respective 25 barrier plate portions 31a which can be moved 90 as to pro~ect into the path o~ the photographing optical axis, as well as driving arm portions 31b which are positioned on the opposite eides Or the barriers rrom the side on which barri~r plate portlons 3 la are located. Driving arm 30 portlons 31b are generally attached to the inner rront ~urrace o~ barrler assembly 30 by pin~ 33. Driving arm portions 3 lb include pins 33 which are engaged by op-ratlonal arms 34a Or opening and closing springs 34, as ~hown in Figs. 31 and 32. In othsr words, pins 33 are 3~ adapted to slide within, and/or be moved by, respective ~ork-shaped end portions o~ the driving arms.
'; .
.''', '.

:! ~.`. ,:1 P5713S01 - 53 - 1329~8~ :

Opening and closing springs 34 are comprised, e.g., of molded synthetic resin and include the Y-shaped spring arm 34b and driving arm portions 34c, in addition to the fork-shaped operational arms 34a which engage pins 33. Each of the springs is pivoted to the barrier mechanism 30 by a respective pin 35. Spring arms 34b bear against the inner wall of the front lens group support frame 22 in order to continuously bias barrier plate portions 3la, via operational arm 34a, into positions in which barrier plate portions 31a are located away from the optical axis of the photographing optical assembly, and in which the front ~
aperture 22b o~ the frame 22 remains in an open position. ~ -Driving arms 34c come into engagement with opposed ~lange portions 36a o~ pin 36, which i5 movably fitted in a radial direction within ~ront lens group support frame 22.
As shown in Figs. 31 and 32, pin 36 is engaged by a ~ree end o~ an operational lever 38 which is pivoted to front securing plate 13 via pin 37, through an operational .aperture 39 o~ the ~ront group lens support ~rame 22.
Although a pivotable actuatlng lever is lllustrated in the embodiments o~ Figs. 31-34, any structure which can move pin 36,inwardly in a radial dlrection would be satisfactory.
,~ Pin 36 occupies a substantially radially projecting po~ition, under the in~luence o~ the spring ~orce o~ spring 34, when no external ~orce is applied to pin 36, as i~
illustrated in Fig. 31. In this position, the barrier plate portions 3la are located away ~rom the photographing optical axi~ or path, and aperture 22b remains in an open position.
A restricting projection or abutment 40 is provided on tho inner wall o~ cam ring 14, which is adapted to bear again-t the outer end o~ the operational lever (or other analogous structure) 38 when the cam ring rotates in its ~ixed axial position into a predetermined position in order to pro~s pin 36 radlally inwardly; this occurs when cam ring 14 ~pin 17)rotate~ within the opening and closing section 20a Or zooming cam groove 20.

. .
:.; - . "

P5713SOl - 54 - 132~8~

With such an arrangement of the barrier mechanism, when projection 40 is not in engagement with operational lever 38, barrier plates 31a of barrier~ 31 open photographic opening 22b. Specifically, cam ring 14 causes rollers or 5 pins 17 to engage any groove section other than opening and closing section 20a of zooming cam groove 20, with l~arriers 31 thus being opened.
To the contrary, when zooming motor 5 is driven by a lock switch (not shown in the drawings) to rotate cam ring 10 14, so that roller 17 will move into and engage opening and closing section 20a of zooming cam groove 20 from lens collapsing or retracting groove section 20b, projection 40 will push opening and closing pin 36, via operational lever 38, in the radial direction, and barriers 31 will rotate 15 through their engagement with spring drive arms 34c and operational arms 34a to move the barrier plate portions 31a into the optical path o~ the lens system. As a result, the photographic opening 22b will be closed so as to protect ~ront lens element group Ll. Namely, front lens groups 20 ~upport rrame 22 closes barriers 31 a~ter the ~rame has been collapeed ~rom the rearmost position ~rom which a picture can be taken.
When a picture is to be taken, zooming motor ~ is roversed so ae to rotate cam rlng 14, so that the zooming 2S cam groo~re 20 will be rotated îrom a position ln which openln~ and closing section 20a ls engaged by roller~s) 17 towarde a position in which lens collapsible section 20b i5 ~o engaged. This causes barriers 31 to open and the front lene group ~1 ie moved into a position in which a picture 30 can be taken.
-~ Fig-. 33 and 34 illuetrate a ~econd embodiment o~ a m-chaniem ueed in a lens shutter type o~ camera ln aocordanc- with the present lnvention. Ae shown in Flgs. 33 and 34, thi~ barrier mechaniem 30 ie ba~ically identlcal to 3S th- mbodlm-nt llluetrated ln Flge. 31 and 32.
S~ecl~loally, barrier mechaniem 30 in Flgs. 33 and 34 also '' ' ` ,:' , ,'.

P5713SOl - S5 - ~ 3 2~ 9 ~

include a pair of barriers 31, 31 which are positioned ~n a substantially ~ymmetrical fashion with respect to the photographic opening 22b of front lens group support frame 22. Barriers 31, 31 are pivoted to frame 22 via pins 32 in order to open and close photographic opening 22b. However, details of construction of the barrier mechanism in this embodiment are different from those in the first embodiment discussed above.
Barriers 31, 31 which are illustrated in Figs. 33 an~
34 are symmetrically dlsposed with respect to each other and include barrier plate portions 3la which can be pro;ected onto the photography optical axis, and driving arms 31b which lie or are disposed on opposite sides of the barrier plate portion~ 31a; and the barriers are pivotably attached to the ~rame by pins 32.
Driving arms 31b include operational pins 133 which are engaged to, and which are adapted to abut or contact, a ~ingle wire spring 134 having elastic leg portions 134a. A
~ree end Or each o~ the elastic leg portions 134a i5 adapted to contact a respective pin 133 in order that barrier plate portions 3la will be continuously biased into an open position in which the photographic aperture 22b ie opened and the barriers located away ~rom the optical axis and the aperture. Thus, when no external ~orce is applied to barriers, they constantly maintain the photographing aperture in an open condition.
Wire spring 134 is made rrom metal and has a central, U-shaped portion 134b which bears again~t a support pin 135 provided on ~ront lens group support ~rame 22. Wire spring 134 has a constant ~pring ~orce which ~orce will not va n in aacordan¢e wlth changes in temperature, humidlty or other environmental parameter~. ~ccordingly, it is there~ore ~; po~lblo to bias barriers 31 in a direction in which a photog-aphing aperture is maintained in an open po~ition by - 3~ a ~ub~tantially constant spring ~orce.
Operational plns 133 are engaged by respective driving ": . .' 13298~6 Ps713sol - 56 -free ends 136a of a pair of right and left driving arms 136, which are spaced from each other and which are adapted to open barriers 31, by overcoming the biasing force exerted by wire spring 134. The free ends 136a of each of the driving arms 136 bears against a respective inner side of a respective operational pin 133, which is located away from the outer side of each pin against which one elastic leg portion 134a bears. Driving arms 136 are pivoted to lens support frame 22 via pins 137. Driving arms include operational arm portions 136b located on opposite sides of the drlving arms ~rom ~ree ends 136a, with a pin 137 provided between them to pivot the arm to frame 22, such that operational arm portions 136b will engage flange portions 138a o~ pin 138, which is radially movably fitted within an opening 39 in ~rame 22. Pin 138 includes a head (unre~erenced) which is adapted to bear against the free end o~ operational lever 141; the lever is pivoted to front securing plate 13 by pin 140, and the head can extend, when depre~sed, through an opening 39 o~ ~rame 22. The opening and closing pin 138 is normally maintained in a position in which it projects outwardly ~rom the inner periphery o~
~ame 22, and is radially movable by lever 141 into a position ih which the head o~ pin 138 is ~orced inwardly through opening 39, overcoming the in~luence o~ wire spring 25 134. Thus when an external ~orce is applied to pin 138, it move6~ radially inwardly againct the ~orce o~ spring 134, ag seen in Fig. 34.
As in the ~irst embodiment, the cam ring 14 can be ; provided, along its inner wall, with a narrowing pro~ection 40 attached to ite interior peripheral sur~ace which is adapted to push the operational lever 141 inwardly so that it wlll engag~ operatlonal arm portions 13 6b ~via pin - ~langell 138a) when cam ring 14 rotates 80 that roller 17 i~
po~itloned within opening and closing section 20a o~ zooming 3g cam groove 20. Other euitable actuating structure could also be used.
. . .: .

, _ ~:c: ~,.*~ r r ~ ~ rh i (~' ~29~8~
P5713Sol - 57 -With such an arrangement of the barrier mechanism, barriers 31 serve to open the photographing aperture when the restriction projection 40 does not engage operational lever 141. Specifically, barriers 31 open when roller 17 is located within any of the sections of the zooming cam groove other than opening and closing groove section 20a. To the contrary, when roller 17 is moved to engage the opening and closing section 20a, after it has been positioned within lens collapsible section 20b of zooming cam groove 20 ~via rotation o~ actuating cam ring 14 effected by zooming motor 5), projection 40 will push the opening and closing pin 138 in a radially inward direction, via operational lever 141, in order to rotate barriers 31, via driving arms 136 and operational pins 133, so that barrier plate portions 31a will be brought into the optical path o~ the lens system.
In this condition, the photographic opening will be closed 80 as to protect the Sront lens element group Ll. Namely, after Sront lens group support ~rame 22 ls collapsed ~rom the most extreme rearward position i.e., the extreme wide angle posltion, in which a picture can be taken, the photographic aperture will then be closed by barriers 31.
When a picture is taXen, zooming motor 5 will be - reversed to rotate cam ring 14 Srom a position in which opening and closing section 20a is engaged by roller l7 to a po~ition in which lens collapsible section 20b is so engaged, in order to open barriers 31, 80 that the ~ront lens element group ~1 will move into a position in which a picture can be taken.
F. Liaht Interce~tion pssemblv and Mechanism S0 The light interception mechanisms are best illustrated in Fig~. 6 and 35~38 oS the present application.
In a len~ ~hutter type oS camera as described herein, th~ Sront and rear len~ element groups can be independently mov-d along the photographing optical axis direction in order to e~ect a lens zooming operatlon. Since a gap exists between the Sront lens group ~rame 16 and the rear .
'.' P5713S01 - 58 - 1 3 2 ~ ~ 8 i~

lens group frame 18, and since cam ring 14, which includes through cam grooves 20 and 21 for actuating movement of lens frames 16 and 18, is located about the outer peripheries of the lens frames, the possibility exists that undesirable light rays would otherwise penetrate into the photographic optical system of the camera through the gap between the front and rear lens group frames and through the cam grooves 20 and 21. Further, since front lens group frame 22 moves through opening 201 of front cover 200 (see Fig. 6), rays of light can also enter the camera via opening 201. The front cover 200 covers the front face of lens barrel block 1 and supports lenses L3 and L6 of the finder as well as strobe block 2. Opening 201 is formed along and defined by an inner flange 202 o~ front cover 200, so that the movable decoratlve ~rame 22, i.e., which includes the front group lens ~rame 16, will move through opening 201 when the camera i~ in its zooming operation. An annular space 203 having a relatively small width W is provided between inner ~lange 202 and ~ront stationary plate 13. ~he front stationary plate is substantially annular in con~iguration.
In order to prevent rays o~ light ~rom penetrating into the camera, as noted above, a light intercepting mechanism has been provided. Speci~icilly, a light ihtercepting assembly 210 which comprises a plurality o~ sections is 2S provided about the outer periphery o~ cam ring 14 and is adapted to cover through or continuous cam grooves 20 and 21 in order to intercept rays o~ light and prevent them from entering the interior o~ lens barrel block 1. In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 35, intercepting assembly 210 comprises a gear ring 15, a rlexible code plate 9o which is ad~acent to gear member 15 along one side o~ the gear member, and a light lnterceptlng tape 211 which extend~ on th~ oppo~ite ~ide o~ the gear member 15. In other words, the annular gear member is located between the ~lexible code plate 90 which i~ wrapped about lens barrel block 1 over cam grooVes 20 and 21, and the light tape 211, which is also :

P5713S01 _ 59 ~ 6 flexible and which is wrapped about the lens barrel block so that it covers cam grooves 20 and 21.
Code plate so is provided to detect the angular position of cam ring 14 in order to automatically detect a change in the focal length of the zoom lens, a change of the F number which will vary in accordance with the changing ~ocal length o~ the zoom lens, the extreme wide angle position of the zoom lens, the extreme telephoto position of the zoom lens, the collapsed position of the zoom lens, the extreme macro position o~ the zoom len~, e.g., in order to e~ect a variety o~ controls which are disclosed in detail hereina~ter with respect to the mechanism for detecting the position o~ the zoom lens and for deciphering information relating to the position o~ the zoom lens.
15Code plate 90 is ~ormed ~rom a ~lexible mat~rial having a light intercepting property. Intercepting tape 211 comprlses a ~lexible material also having such a property, e.g., a dull-~inish black paper. The code plate and the intercepting (paper) tape are applied to the cylindrical outer sur~ace o~ cam ring 14, along opposite sides o~ gear member 15, in order to cover the ma~or portions o~ zooming cam grooves 20 and 21. Gear 15 is pre~erably superimpo~ed or overlapped over the side edges o~ the code plate and the intercepting tape in order to en~ure the interception o~
rays o~ light, as illustrated in Fig. 6.
An annular light intercepting member 220 which ~orms an additional portlon o~ the light interaepting assembly is provided in annular space 203, which is de~ined by the space between ~ront stationary plate 13, which rotatably supports tho ~ront portion o~ cam ring 14, and ~ront cover 200, as best ~-en in Fig. 6.
, . . ..
Annular light intercepting member 220 which is po~itioned within annular ~pace 203 comprises an elastic annular body 221, e.g., rubber, and an annular rein~orclng - 35 plate 222, 80 that the light intercepting member 220 will be have the overall con~iguratlon o~ a sub~tantially ~lat , ;, , .
'""' P5713S01 - 60 - 1 3 2 ~ 8 ~ 6 annular ring, as best illustrated in Figs. 36 and 37. The thickness w of light intercepting member 220 is slightly less than the width W of annular space 203, so that the light intercepting member 220 can move over a small distance within space 203, along the direction of the photographing optical axis.
Elastic body 221 of light intercepting member 220 is provided, along its inner periphery, with a light intercepting lip 223 having a small width which slidably contacts the outer periphery of decorative ~rame 220.
Rein~orcing plate 222 can be secured to elastic body 221, e.g., by partially imbedding the elastic body 221 into connecting recesses, holes or aperture~ 224 formed in reinforcing plate 222, which plate is made, e.g., of metal or synthetic resin. The inner lip 223 is extremely flexible and is capable o~ moving in either direction axially o~ a len~ barrier block about which it is positioned. The lip can thu~ play a minor role in reducing rebound of the barrier block a~ter it ceases movement in a ~irst axial direction.
Fig, 38 illustrates a second embodiment o~ the annular ring illustrated in Figs. 36 and 37, in which two spaced light intercepting lips 223 ~rather than merely one) are ~ormed on the inner periphery o~ annular light intercepting member 220 in order to increase the light interception e~ect o~ the apparatus. Thsse lips are spaced from each other in a parallel ~ashion and ~orm a generally annular U-shaped, inwardly directed annular ~lange for the light intercepting member. Elastic body 221 is used to cover the outer periphery o~ xein~orclng plate 222 in such structure.
Alternately, lt would be possible to replace annular light lnter¢eptlng member 220 with a conventlonal 0-ring ~tructure, which would be the simplest manner o~
lnter~eptinq llght and preventing it ~rom reaching undesired area~ withln the camera.
Wlth such a llght intercepting mechanism, undesirable P5713Sol - 61 - ~ 3 2 9 8 ~

light rays will not enter the camera lens system through the circumference of the front lens group frame 16 and/or the rear lens group frame 18, nor throuyh the front annular opening between the lens barrel and camera cover.
G. FPC Board Guide and Anti-Reflection Mechanism The FPC board guide and its associated anti reflection mechanism of the are best illustrated in Figs. 39-43.
In a lens shutter type of camera as in the present invention, it is necessary to provide operational signals to shutter block 23 on lens barrel block 1 ~rom the body of the camera. Shutter block 23 is supported by support frame 22 o~ front lens element group Ll, and accordingly moves together with ~ront len~ element group Ll along the direction of the optical axis. In order to send operational signals ~rom the camera body to the shutter block 23 which moves in such an optical axis direction, in response to outputs o~ the distance mea~uring device, i.e., the range ~inder, and, e.g., the exposure control device on the camera body, a ~lexible printed circuit board ~hereinafter re~erred to as an FPC board) is desirably used. The meahanism ~or guiding movement o~ the FPC board and the anti-re~lection assembly which are used in conjunction with such board are described hereinbelow in detail with more specific reference to Figs. 39-43.
FPC board 160 ~see Figs. 39 and 40) provides operational signals to shutter block 23 ~rom one side Or the camera body. This board i9 made ~rom a ~lexible synthetic resin ~heet having a predetermined printed circult pattern thereon~ in general, such FPC boards are well known.
A9 illustrated in Fig. 39, FPC board 160 has a conneating pattern 161 at a rront end o~ the board to which shutter block 23 can be electrically connected, and a rear connecting pattern 162 to whlch a CPU ~a central processlng unlt whioh i8 not illustrated in the drawings) whlch i8 3S provided in the camera body can be electrically connected.
FPC board guide plate 163, which guldes FPC board 160, is ',.' " .

P5713SOl - 62 - 13~98~6 secured to the camera body at a base or rear portion thereof, and extends into a space between cam ring 14 and decorative frame 22, forwardly of lens barrel block 1.
Securing clips 166 are provided for attaching the FPC board 163 to the gulde plate, and clamping members 167 (see Fig.
41) are provided for attaching the FPC board to the front portion of a camera body frame, e.g., which ls die cast, or to the rear portion of a lens barrel frame (base 6).
A bent guide 165 is provided on the front end of FPC
10 board 163; this bent guide comprises a pair of front and rear guide pins 168 and 169. These guide pins are preferably stationary (although it is conceivable that rollers could be used instead) and are adapted to maintain the curvature o~ the FPC board 163 along an immovable bent 15 portion 160a of the board, at which point the board extends ~orwardly rrom the camera body and is ben' in opposite directions so as to extend towards the camera body. FPC
board 160, which is bent around guide pin 168, extends rearwardly into the gap between guide pin 169 and FPC board 20 gulde plate 163, and is again ~reely bent forwardly by or at a movable bent portion 160b.
It should be appreciated that the reïative positional relationship between guide pins 168 and 169, and FPC board 160, is constant, irrQspective o~ the movement o~ shutter 25 block 23 ~orwardly and rearwardly in an axial direction.
Accordingly, guide pins 168 and 169 are preferably immovable pins whi¢h are not rotatable. Alternately, it is possible to replace these pins with guide rods or shaîts over which the FPC board will be bent in opposite directions.
As shutter block 23 moves ~or~rardly and rearwardly, the movable bent portion 160b o~ the FPC board also moves rorwardly and rearwardly. Although the extension o~ the FPC
board 160 extends rearwardly ~ro~ the board guide plate 163, a~l ~hown in Flg~. 39 ~nd 40, actually the rear extenslon Or 3g FPC board 160 can be bent i~orwardly along, and by, a bent guide 170 o~ gulde plate 163 in order to move the board ''',"'".

.

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P5713S01 - 63 - 132~86 towards the front part of the camera body.
The inner surface of FPC board 160 faces the gap between the front lens group frame 16 (as we;l as decorative frame 22) and rear group lens frame 18, and there is theref~re a possibility that rays o~ light which are incident upon the lens system will be reflected ~y FPC board 160, resulting in undesirable internal reflection. In order to prevent such internal reflection, an anti-reflection material or apparatus can be (and should be) provided on FPC
board 160.
Several alternate solutions can be used to provide anti-re~lection means on the FPC board 160. As one solution, FPC board 160 can be ~ormed from a dull-finish, black synthetic resin material. Alternately, the FPC board 160 can be provided along its inner ~ur~ace, i.e., on its sur~ace which is ad~acent to the optical axis of the camera, with an anti-re~lection sheet 171, as illustrated in Fig.
43. Such a sheet can comprise, e.g., a dull-~inish black paper or the llke, and is adapted to be placed on the FPC
20 board 160. Pre~erably, the anti-re~lection sheet 171 is simply loosely superimposed on the FPC board without being I adhered to the board in order to provide ~lexibility against I derormation due to expansion and shrinkage o~ the material.
¦ Sheet 171 lies on the FPC board in the area between bent 1 25 portions 160a and 160b o~ FPC board 160. A third solution i~ to coat at least the inner surrace o~ FPC board 160 with an anti-rerlective layer.
With the guide mechanism Or the FPC board and with the anti-rerle¢tion mechani~m which are noted above, when the zooming motor 5 15 driven to rotate ln order to rotate cam ring 14, ~ront lens group Prame 16 and rear lens group rrame 18 will be moved in directions along the optical axis in accordance with the cam grooves 20 and 21 on cam ring 14 in order to er~ect a zooming operation, and can be moved into a position in which the camera is in its macro setting or mode. Movement o~ the ~ront lens group frame 16 causes . ' ~;

~: ~r . ~

, 13~98~6 P5713Sol - 64 -shutter block 23 to move in the same direction, so that FPC
board 160 will be extended in accordance with movement of the shutter block 23. Extension of the board is made possible by displacement of movable bent board portion 160b.
Specifically, FPC board 160 is integrally connected to the CPU in the body of the camera at rear end connecting pattern or portion 162 (see Fig. 39) and the intermediate portion of the FPC board is guided by FPC guide plate 163. The immovable bent portion 160a of the FPC board 160 is immovably guided by guide pins 168 and 169; and, accordingly, when the front end connecting pattern 161 of FPC board 160 moves in accordance with or in response to movement o~ shutter block 23, only the movable bent board portion 160b will be displaced ~orwardly and rearwardly in oxder to ab~orb the movement o~ shutter block 23, as illustrated in Figs. 40 and 42. In this fashion, FPC board 160 can be surely guided within the annular space 164 located between cam ring 14 and decorative ~rame 22 (Fig 41).
Since the FPC board 160 has an anti-re~lection structure as disclosed above, internal re~lections which would otherwise cause an undesirable phenomena, e.g., a ~lare or a ghost, will not occur.
H. ~etection Mechanism ~or Detectina In~ormation Relatina to the Position Or ~h~ Zoom ~
As noted previously, in a lens shutter camera ~ormed in ;i accordance wlth the present invention, the photographic optical sy~tem i8 moved along the optical axis by the rotation o~ cam ring 14, ~o that the ~ocal length o~ the photographlc optical system will vary, and so that the optical syotem will move ~rom one extremo angular posltion Or the cam rlng into the macro settlng position, and rrom - the other oxtreme angular posltlon or the cam rlng into a n~ ~totally) collap~ed posltlon. In ~uch a lens shutter j. 35 type o~ camera, which lncludes a zoom lens, it is necessary, e.g., to detect the ~ocal length o~ the photographic optical ", , .
. ' .,~.

:: :
1 3 2 ~ 8 ~
P5 7 1 3 S O 1 - 6 5 ~

system, the macro setting position, and the two extreme ~-positions of the cam ring in order to indicate the focal length, to control the exposure which varies in accordance with the F number, and to control the direction of rotation 5 o~ the motor which drives the cam ring. ;~
In the present invention, the above information, i.e., relating to the focal length and the two extreme positions of th zoom lens, can easily be detected by code signals on the single ~lexible code plate go which is provided on cam ring 14. Specifically, code plate 90, as illustrated in Fig. 44, is provided on cam ring 14 (whlch is shown in Fig.
1) and is brought into sliding contact with a brush 92 (Fig.
44) which is secured at its base end to a stationary frame 91 positioned on the outside o~ cam ring 14. This is well illustrated in Fig. 1.
Fig. 44 illustrates the developed code plate 90, in a ~lattened condition, in which the upper hal~ o~ the drawing illustrate~ the ¢am pro~iles o~ zooming cam groove 20 and 21 o~ cam ring 14, and cam grooves 55, 56 and 57 o~ cam plate 53, respectively. ~rush 92 includss a common terminal C and independent ~bristles) terminals T0, Tl, T2, and T3. When sach o~ terminals T0-T3 is electrically connected to the conductive lands 93 o~ code plats 90, a signal "0" is i~ued, and when each o~ ths terminals TO-T3 ars not 2~ electrically connected to conductive lands 93, a signal "1ll i5 i~sued. The angular position o~ cam ring 14 can be detected by the combination o~ signals "0" and "1". A
plurallty o~ dummy terminals 94 are rormed in conductive And~ 93. The purpose o~ the dummy termlnals, which are ~ormod ~rom the ~amo materlal ae conductive land~ 93, i8 that the ~loxible code plate bent about ths cam ring, and in order to improve the physical strength o~ the plate and ~ till provide an area without electrical contact the dummy -~ terminal~ were ~o po~itioned to increase ~lexibility while ?~ ~re8erving strength. Additionally, these dummy terminals provide ~non-conductive) lands upon which the terminals T0-, :,.
.. , , :'.
..
.

'' ' ' `! ~i P5713SOl - 66 - ~ 3 2 ~

T3 of the brush can ride as the cam ring is rotated.
The four bit information received from terminals To-T3 are provided as zoom code data zPo, ZPl, ZP2, and zP3, respectively, of a zoom code encoder, as is clearly illustrated in Fig. 45. This figure comprises a table of combinations of signals "o" and "l", in which the angular position, i.e., PoS, of cam ring 14 is divided into 13 steps between "0" and "9", and "A", "B", and "C", respectively, which are hexadecimal numbers. The number "0" designates a locked position, and the "C" po~ition designates a po~ition in which the camera is ln its macro mode. Between the locked position and the macro position, there are nine focal length positions f0-f7'. The locked position and the macro po6ition correspond to the two extreme an~ular positions of the cam ring 14. Zooming motor 5 is controlled so that the cam ring 14 will not rotate beyond the two extreme positions. These angular or rotational positions are shown on the code plate in Fig. 44.
Rotation o~ cam rlng 14 i9 controlled by the mode changing switch 101 and the zoom switch 102, which ars lllustrated ln Flgs. 47-50, ln accordance with posltional in~ormatlon o~ cam rlng 14 as determined by code plate 90.
~ he arrangement o~ mode changlng swltch 101 and zoom switch 102 on the camera body ls illustrated in Figs. 46-48.
A release button 99 is provided on the upper sur~ace o~ the camera whlch can be pushed by one step to turn a photometry switch into an ON positlon, and whlch can be pushed by two ~tep~ to turn a release swltch lnto an ON position (neither -o~ these two swltche~ are shown ln the drawlngs, however).
jl30 Mod~ changlng ~witch 101 1~ a trans~er switch which can occupy 3 po~itlon~, l.e., a lock posltlon ~LOCK), a zoomlng po~ltlon (l.e., ZOOM), and a macro posltion, l.e. (MACRO).
A~ lllu~trated in Flgs. 49-50, when macro button 101a ls not ~d-pr-~eod, ~wltch lever 101b can move between the LOCK and -~3~ ZOOM posltlons. When macro button 101a ls depressed, ~however, and when swltch lever 101b slides onto the upper 1 . ~ .. .
, - . . .

r;

P5713S01 - 67 - 13298~

surface of macro button 101a, the macro mode of the camera will be set. Figs. 49 and 50 are cross-sections of the macro and zoom-lock switches, respectively. When in the LOCK position, neither the releasing operation nor the zooming operation of the zoom lens can be effected. In the ZOOM position, however, the release operation and the zooming operation can be carried out. In the MACRO
position, the releasing operation can be performed b~t the zooming operation cannot be ef~ected.
Fig. 51 illustrates an alternate arrangement of the zoom switch, in which the zoom lens is moved towards a telephoto position when a telephoto but~on T is pushed and toward~ a wide angle position when a wide angle button W is pushed.
Zoom switch 102 occupies a neutral position, i.e., it is placed into an OFF position, when no external force is applied to the switch; and it can be manually moved into a wlde angle position, i.e., a WIDE position, and into a telephoto position, i.e., a TELE position, which positions are located on opposite sides o~ the neutral "OFF'I position.
Zooming motor 5 can be rotated in both ~orward and reverse directions ~y switching the position o~ zoom switch 102 between the WIDE and TELE positions.
Mode changing switch l01 and zoom switch 102 actuate the camera o~ the present invention as detailed hereinafter.
In actual use, positional inrormation relating to the po8itlon Or cam ring 14 which is indicated by code plate 90 wlll be used.
1. For the LOCK positlon o~ the mode changing swltch 101, zoomlng motor 5 i~ rever~ed to rotate cam ring 14.
Whon the angular po~itlon POS Or cam ring 14 becomes "0"
~ee Flgs. 44 and 45) as detected by code plate 90 and brush 92, zooming motor 5 Will ~top rotating.
- a. For the MACR0 po8ition o~ the mode changing switch 101, zooming motor 5 rotates in the rorward direction and 8top~ rotating when P0S reaches the ~C" po~sition.

: .
~ .
.

13298~
P5713Sol - 68 -3. For the ZOOM position of the mode changing switch 101, zooming motor 5 reverses when zoom switch 102 is in the WIDE position, and rotates in the forward direction when the zooming switch is in the TELE position. Zooming motor 5 will stop rotating when POS reaches the "A" position, when the zoom switch is in the TELE position. When the zoom -switch is in its WIDE position, zooming motor 5 will continue reversing for a predetermined short span of time a~ter POS reaches the "1" position. After this t~me, zooming motor 5 will begln rotating in a forward direction and will stop rotating when PoS becomes 2.
When zoom switch 102 is turned to the OFF, i.e., neutral, position, during rotation of zooming motor 5, the zooming motor will immediately stop rotating when the zoom ~wltch i8 in the TELE position, and will stop after it rotates in the ~orward direction ~or a predetermined short period o~ tlme when it is in the WIDE position, respectively.
Details o~ ssveral o~ the positions will now be de~cribed.
POS 1: Since the code signals change at the LOCK
positlon and at the extreme WIDE position, these extreme positions are detected. More preci~ely speaking, the LOCK
po~ition i5 not "POS 0", but i~ instead a point which i8 lo¢ated between POS O and POS 1. How~ver, when the camera is in the LOCK position, the brueh i~ in POS 0, in a location very close to POS 1. Similarly, the WIDE extreme position i5 apo~nt between POS 1 and POS 2. However, when the camera i~ in the extreme WIDE position, (which is not a wide zon-), bru8h 92 i8 ln POS 2, which is very close to POS
1. Accordingly, POS 1 denotes a range in which the cam ring 14 move8 ~rom the extreme WIDE position to the LOCg po~ition, and vice versa.
P08 ~7~: This zone is provided ~or absorbing the 3~ ~acklash o~ cam ring 14 ~ie., backlash ~rom movement o~ the len~ system). Speci~ically, as illustrated in Fig. 45, ~ ' `,_5,. ,q P5713SOl - 69 - 1 3 2 ~ ~ ~ 6 during rotation of the cam ring from POS o towards Pos c, the cam ring will stop immediately when a stop signal is given, i.e., when the zoom switch is turned to an off position. To the contrary, rotation of the cam ring from Pos c towards Pos o causes the cam ring 14 to reverse slightly after it overruns its desired position by a predetermined displacement, and then stops the cam ring at a first changing POS point. Pos f7' is the extreme TELE
position, and, accordingly, when cam ring is in its extreme 10 TELE position (with the TELE zone being a zone in which the cam ring operates at the TELE exposure), the brush will be located at position PoS A, which is very close to POS 9.
~he focal length in~ormation or the F number information are ~ed to the ehutter by the code plate and the brush.
Accordingly, the same focal length information is fed at the TELE zone and the TELE extreme positions. This is the reason that POS 9 is represented by f7 and POS A is represented by f7' in order to distinguish it from f7. The zone ~7' 18 quite small, and accordingly the zone ~7' can essentially be aonsidered identical to the extreme TELE
position.
POS B: In a fashion similar to POS 1, this zone is provided to distinguish the extreme MACRO and TELE
positions. Unlike POS 1, ln which the WIDE extreme position i5 a chanqing point between POS 1 and the WIDE extreme position, and POS B 18 an extreme TELE position representing changing points between POS 9 and POS A, respectively.
POS 2 ~ POS A: These are intermediate focal length po~itions which comprise a plurality, e.g., 9 in the illu~trated embodiment, steps.
~ he CPU then check~ the code in~ormation and the ~etting po~ltlons ~or the various switches when they are turn-d into their ON po~ltion~ the mode changing ~witch i~ ln a zoom po~itlon, no zooming will be necessary when the 3~ cam ring i~ ln any po~itlon between and includlng POS 2 and PO8 A. I~, however, the mode changing switch is in a ~ ~3 P5713S01 - 70 - 132~6 position other than the zoom position, i.e., in either the LOCK position, an intermediate position between LOCK and WIDE, an intermediate position between TELE and MACRO, or the MACRO position, zooming operation of the lens will be immediately effected. This is also true when the switch is brought into the zoom position during rotation of the zooming motor in the forward direction and when the switch is brought into the zoom position during reverse rotation of the zooming motor. Specifically, when in the zoom position, whether the zoom code is within the range between and including POS 2 to POS A (within which range zooming is e~fected) will be checked by the CPU. If the zoom code is out o~ the range, no picture can be taken, and, accordingly, the cam ring will be moved into the zooming position. In other words, POS 1 and POS B are areas in which the cam ring is prohibited from stopping and in which a picture cannot be taken.
O~ course, it is clear that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, nor those illustrated in the drawings, and the invention can be modi~ied without departing ~rom the spirit and scope o~ the claimed invention.

Claims (19)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. In a lens shutter type camera comprising a photographic optical system having a zooming function and a macro function, an independent finder optical system comprising a first lens group having a negative refractive index and comprising a positive lens and a negative lens, a second lens group comprising a negative lens, a third lens group having a positive refractive index; and a prism which is adapted to be selectively inserted into the optical path between the lenses of said first lens group, said prism comprising means for deflecting the optical path of said finder optical system towards the optical axis of said photographic optical system when said prism is positioned between the lenses of said first lens group.

2. A finder optical system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first lens group negative lens is movable towards the eye of a photographer, and away from the subject being photographed, said first lens group negative lens thereby comprising means for varying the field of view between a wide field of view, at a relatively low magnification, and a relatively narrow field of view, at a relatively large magnification.

3. A finder optical system in accordance with claim 2, wherein said prism is inserted into the optical path of said finder optical system when said first group negative lens has moved away from said first group positive lens and is closest to the eye of the photographer, and when said photographing optical system is in said macro position.

4. A finder optical system in accordance with claim 3, wherein said second group negative lens comprises a front and rear surface, and wherein said rear surface of said second group negative lens, located away from the subject being photographed, includes a semitransparent surface, said third lens group having at least one lens which includes a surface closest to said subject, said third lens group lens surface including at least one bright frame comprising means for defining a photographic range, said third lens group including a positive lens which comprises means for enlarging a virtual image of said bright frame which is reflected by said semitransparent surface.

5. A finder optical system in a lens shutter type of camera having a photographing optical system which can occupy a macro photographing mode, said finder optical system being independent of said photographing optical system and comprising at least one lens, and an optical element which is selectively insertable into the finder optical system when said photographing optical system is in said macro mode, said optical element comprising means for correcting parallax by deflecting the optical axis of said finder opitcal system towards the optical axis of said photographic optical system, wherein said optical element is positioned, when in said macro mode, between a stationary lens in a first finder lens group adjacent to a subject being photographed, and at least one second lens group closer to the eye of the photographer than is said first lens group.

6. A camera in accordance with claim 5, wherein said optical element is a prism.

7. A finder optical system in accordance with claim 6, wherein said prism is a double wedged prism having a thicker side wall adjacent the optical axis of the photographic optical system and a wider bottom wall adjacent said photographic optical system axis.

8. A finder optical system in accordance with claim 7, wherein two bright frames of different sizes are located on a surface of a lens of a third finder lens group which is most closely adjacent to a subject being photographed, wherein a rear surface of a lens in said second group which is adjacent to said third group is a semitransmissive concave mirror, said prism being tinted and thereby comprising means for highlighting the smaller of said frames to define a photographic area when the camera is in said macro mode.

9. In a camera having a photographic optical system including a continuously variable focal length lens and a finder optical system, said optical systems having spaced optical axes, said camera further comprising a strobe assembly and a focus distance measurement assembly, means for moving said photographic optical system between plural positions having different focal lengths, moving means connected to said photographic optical system and responsive to focal length changing movement of said photographic optical system to correspondingly move at least one component of said finder optical system into a macro position when said photographic optical assembly is moved into a macro position.

10. The camera of claim 9, wherein said at least one finder component comprises a prism selectively movable into said finder optical system.

11. A camera as in claim 9, wherein said focus distance measurement assembly component comprises an optical wedge.

12. The camera of claim 10, wherein said finder optical system comprises a first lens group having a negative retractive index and comprising a positive lens and a negative lens, a second lens group comprising a negative lens, and a third lens having a positive retractive index.

13. The camera of claim 12, wherein said second group negative lens comprises a front and rear surface, and wherein said rear surface of second group negative lens, located away from the subject being photographed, includes a semi-transparent surface, said third lens group having at least one lens which includes a surface closest to said subject, said third lens group surface including at least one bright frame comprising means for defining a photographic range, said third lens group including a positive lens which comprises means for enlarging a virtual image of said bright frame which is reflected by said semi-transparent surface.

14. A camera as defined in claim 9. wherein said finder optical system component comprises means for correcting parallax by deflecting the optical axis of said finder optical system towards the optical axis of said photographic optical system.

15. A camera as defined in claim 14 wherein said means for correcting parallax is a prism.

16. A camera as defined in claim 15, wherein said prism is a double-wedge prism having a thicker sidewall adjacent the optical axis of the photographic optical system and a wider bottom wall adjacent to photographic optical system axis.

17. A camera as defined in claim 9 wherein said finder optical system component is positioned, via said corresponding movement, between a stationary lens in a first optical lens finder group adjacent to a subject being photographed and at least one second lens group closer to the eye of the photographer than is said first lens group, and wherein two bright frames of different sizes are located on a surface of a lens of a third optical finder lens group which is more closely adjacent to a subject being photographed, wherein a rear surface of a lens in said second group which is adjacent to said third group is a semi-transmissive concave mirror, said finder optical system component being tinted and thereby comprising means for highlighting the smaller of said frames to define a photographic area for said camera.

18. In a camera having a photographic optical system including a continuously variable focal length lens and a finder optical system, said optical system having spaced optical axes, means for moving a photographic optical system between plural positions having different focal lengths, moving means connected to said photographic optical system and responsive to focal length changing movement of said photographic optical system to correspondingly move at least one component of said finder optical system into a macro position when said photographic optical system is moved into a macro position and wherein said one component of said finder optical system comprises a double-wedge prism.

19. The camera according to claim 18, further comprising a strobe assembly and a focus distance measurement assembly.