US 7,564,498 B2
Camera with positioning device used to capture magnified and demagnified images
Masao Yamamoto, Tokyo (Japan)
Assigned to Scalar Corporation, Tokyo (Japan)
Filed on Jun. 21, 2007, as Appl. No. 11/766,563.
Application 11/766563 is a division of application No. 10/276161, filed on Nov. 13, 2002, granted, now 7,330,213.
Claims priority of application No. 2001-107770 (JP), filed on May 04, 2001; application No. 2002-27708 (JP), filed on May 02, 2002; application No. 2002-27709 (JP), filed on May 02, 2002; and application No. PCT/JP02/03432 (JP), filed on May 04, 2002.
Prior Publication US 2007/0248343 A1, Oct. 25, 2007
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H04N 5/232 (2006.01); G03B 13/00 (2006.01); G03B 11/00 (2006.01); G02B 27/02 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 348—357  [396/544; 359/804] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A camera comprising an objective lens; image pickup means for building up an image using the light from an object, the light from the object being adapted to be directed to the image pickup means through said objective lens; and a housing for holding them in, wherein:
said objective lens is movable along the optical axis of said light from the object at least between a first range span within which an image built up by the image pickup means is a demagnified image and a second range span within which an image built up by the image pickup means is a magnified image; and that
the camera further comprises positioning assistance means adapted to be used with an end thereof abutted against said object when said objective lens is located in said second range span, the positioning assistance means contributing to maintaining the distance between said object and said objective lens within the extent to which a focal point of said objective lens falls on the part of said object to be photographed, the positioning assistance means being fitted to said housing in such a manner that the positioning assistance means is located outside the field of view of the objective lens in said first range span;
wherein said objective lens is fitted to said positioning assistance means and said positioning assistance means is movable in the direction of said optical axis.