Mechanical device for switching an optical lens filter for a camera

Abstract

A camera having a mechanical device for selectively inserting an optical lens filter housed therein. The lens filter may be a day optical filter and a night optical filter selectively inserted into an optical path of the camera in accordance with light intensity and/or a signal from a user or timer. The device for switching an optical lens filter may include a series of gears and a filter bracket slidably disposed within a housing, which moves between a first position and a second position in order to selectively insert at least one optical lens filter into the optical path of the camera.

1 . A device for switching an optical lens filter for a digital camera, said device comprising:
 a filter bracket comprising at least one optical lens filter, said filter bracket comprising a linear series of teeth;   a motor having an axle; and   a plurality of gears engaged with said axle of said motor and said series of teeth of said filter bracket;   wherein the rotational motion provided to said axle by said motor is converted to linear motion of said filter bracket in order to selectively insert said at least one optical lens filter into an optical path of said camera.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said at least one optical lens filter is selected from the group consisting of a clear optical lens filter, an ultraviolet optical lens filter, a color correction optical lens filter, a color subtraction optical lens filter, a contrast enhancement optical lens filter, an infrared optical lens filter, a neutral density optical lens filter, a polarizing optical lens filter, a special effects optical lens filter, a day optical lens filter or a night optical lens filter. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said filter bracket is slidably disposed within a lens filter housing, said gears are disposed within a gear box housing, and said motor is disposed within a motor housing. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said filter bracket is slidably disposed within a recessed sliding channel of said lens filter housing. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a first gear engaged with a drive gear on said axle of said motor, said first gear engaged with a second gear, and said second gear engaged with said series of teeth of said filter bracket. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5  wherein an outer cog of said first gear is engaged with said drive gear, wherein an inner cog of said first gear is engaged with an outer cog of said second gear, and wherein an inner cog of said second gear is engaged with said series of teeth of said filter bracket. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 5  wherein said drive gear, said first gear and said second gear have parallel axis of rotation. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7  wherein said linear motion of said filter bracket is substantially perpendicular to said axis of rotation of said drive gear, said first gear and said second gear. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 5  wherein said drive gear, said first gear and said second gear are disposed within a gear box housing. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a first gear engaged with a drive gear on said axle of said motor, said first gear engaged with a second gear, said second gear engaged with an output gear, said output gear engaged with said series of teeth of said filter bracket. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10  wherein an outer cog of said first gear is engaged with said drive gear, wherein an inner cog of said first gear is engaged with an outer cog of said second gear, wherein said second gear includes an axle having said output gear engaged with said series of projecting teeth of said filter bracket. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 10  wherein said drive gear, said first gear, said second gear and said output gear have parallel axis of rotation. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12  wherein said linear motion of said filter bracket is substantially perpendicular to said axis of rotation of said drive gear, said first gear, said second gear and said output gear. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 10  further comprising a gear box housing, wherein said gear box housing has a gear box case and a gear box cover, wherein said drive gear, said first gear and said second gear are disposed within said gear box case, wherein said motor is disposed within a motor housing in said gear box cover, and wherein said filter bracket is slidably disposed within a lens filter housing. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14  wherein said gear box case further comprises a housing axle about which said first gear rotates. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 14  wherein said gear box case further comprises an opening through which said axle of said second gear extends through to said output gear. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 10  wherein said filter bracket further comprises a rack having said series of teeth. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a control circuit electrically connected to said motor. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18  wherein said control circuit comprises a directional driving circuit and a protection circuit. 
     
     
         20 . A digital game scouting camera, said camera further comprising:
 a device for selectively inserting an optical lens filter into an optical path of said digital camera, said device further comprising a filter bracket having at least one optical lens filter and a series of teeth; a motor having an axle; a transmission engaged with said axle of said motor and said teeth of said filter bracket; and a control circuit electrically connected to said motor; and   wherein the rotational motion provided to said axle by said motor is converted to linear motion of said filter bracket in order to selectively move said at least one optical lens filter.