Zoom lens drive system for lens shutter type of camera

Abstract

A zoom lens for a camera having a between-the-lens shutter includes a motor for moving the lens along an optical axis in forward and rearward directions. A switch is operable by an operator to control operation of the motor for moving the lens from an initial position on the axis to a final stationary position that establishes the focal length of the lens. Control apparatus is responsive to the setting of the switch for operating the motor such that movement of the lens from its initial position to its final position always ends after the lens travels to its final position in a predetermined direction.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A still compact zoom lens shutter camera, comprising: 
 a finder optical assembly including at least one finder lens which is movable along a first optical axis, said finder optical assembly also including at least one finder pin;    a picture-taking non-interchangeable zoom optical assembly having a plurality of lenses movable along a second optical axis;    a shutter block mounted about at least a portion of one of said plurality of lenses;    a motor;    at least one zoom switch operably connected to said motor;    a CPU operably connected to said motor and said zoom switch;    a flexible printed circuit board operably connected to said shutter block and said CPU for operational communication with said CPU;    a code sheet;    a plurality of brushes contacting said code sheet, at least one of said code sheet and said plurality of brushes being movable relative to each other, and at least one of said code sheet and said plurality of brushes providing zoom lens operational signals to said CPU;    a barrel, concentrically positioned about said second optical axis;    a gear mounted about at least a portion of said barrel, said motor configured to impart motion to said gear, and said barrel configured to rotate about the second optical axis, in response to the movement of said gear, to change a focal length of said zoom optical assembly;    a member having at least one groove, said member moving in response to operation of said motor;    said at least one finder pin engaging said at least one groove, said at least one finder pin moving said at least one finder lens along the first optical axis, in response to movement of said member; and    said finder optical assembly being movable in response to operation of said motor, via at least said gear and said member, in association with movement of said barrel, to change the focal length of said finder optical assembly over substantially all of the range of movement of said finder optical assembly;    wherein changes in said focal length of said picture taking optical assembly comprise a zooming operation.    
     
     
         2 . The camera according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said zoom optical assembly is movable along the second optical axis over a zoom range defined by and between a telephoto position and a wide angle position;    said at least one zoom switch is selectively positionable in a first zoom switch position which operates to move said motor in a first direction, and said zoom switch is further selectively positionable in a second zoom switch position which operates to move said motor in a second direction;    said zoom optical assembly is movable in a direction toward the telephoto position in response to rotation of said motor in the first direction, and said zoom optical assembly is movable in a direction toward the wide angle position in response to rotation of said motor in the second direction;    said zoom optical assembly is movable from an initial position to a final position in accordance with rotation of said motor in one of the first direction and the second direction; and    said zoom assembly always arrives at said final position moving in a direction which is independent of said selected one of said first zoom switch position and said second zoom switch position.