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 housing comprising a channel and an optical path opening;   a filter bracket slidably disposed within said channel of said filter bracket housing, said filter bracket comprising at least one optical lens filter, said filter bracket further comprising a rack;   a gearbox housing comprising a case and a cover, said case comprising one integral gearbox axle, said cover comprising a motor housing, said gearbox housing further comprising an axle opening;   a motor comprising a drive axle, said drive axle having a drive gear, said motor disposed within said motor housing of said cover of said gearbox housing;   a first gear rotatably disposed on said integral gearbox axle of said case of said gearbox housing, said first gear having outer cogs and inner cogs, said outer cogs of said first gear engaging said drive gear;   a second gear engaging said inner cogs of said first gear;   a pinion gear comprising radially projecting cogs engaging said rack of said filter bracket; and   an axle extending through said axle opening of said gearbox housing, said axle engaging with said second gear and said pinion gear.   
     
     
         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 rotational motion applied to said pinion gear is converted to linear motion of said filter bracket. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said gearbox housing is directly or indirectly joined to said filter bracket housing. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said first gear or said second gear or both further comprise a spur gear. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said pinion gear is disposed in said filter bracket housing. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6  wherein said pinion gear is disposed in a pinion gear recess of said filter bracket housing. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1  wherein a terminal end of said axle opposing said pinion gear is rotatably journaled to said case of said gearbox housing. 
     
     
         9 . A filter switching device, comprising:
 a filter bracket having a rack and at least one optical lens filter;   a motor having a drive axle, said drive axle having a drive gear;   a pinion gear engaging said rack; and   a plurality of gears disposed intermediate of and engaging said drive gear and said pinion gear;   wherein at least one of said gears and said pinion gear are axially spaced and coaxially aligned along an axle;   wherein said gears transmit rotational motion from said drive gear to said pinion gear; and   wherein said rotational motion applied to said pinion gear is converted to linear motion of said filter bracket.   
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9  further comprising a lens filter housing having an optical path opening, and said filter bracket slidably disposed within said lens filter housing. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 9  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. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 9  wherein said rack further comprises a linear series of projecting teeth disposed longitudinally along said outer terminal edge of said filter bracket. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 9  further comprising a gearbox housing having a case and a cover. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13  wherein said gearbox housing further comprises an integrated, fixed gearbox shaft and an axle opening. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 13  wherein said gearbox housing further comprises a motor housing. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 14  further comprising an axle extending through said axle opening of said gearbox housing, and said axle engaging with one of said gears and said pinion gear. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16  wherein said gear and said pinion gear are axially spaced and coaxially aligned along said axle. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 13  wherein a terminal end of said axle opposing said pinion gear is rotatably journaled to said case of said gearbox housing. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 9  wherein said plurality of gears further comprises a plurality of spur gears. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 9  wherein said plurality of gears further comprises a first gear engaging with a second gear. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 20  wherein said first gear or said second gear or both further comprise a spur gear. 
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 20  further comprising said first gear having outer cogs and inner cogs, said outer cogs of said first gear engaging said drive gear, said inner cogs of said first gear engaging said second gear, and said second gear engaging said pinion gear. 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 20  wherein said second gear and said pinion gear are axially spaced and coaxially aligned along a rotatable axle. 
     
     
         24 . A digital game scouting camera, comprising:
 a plurality of gears disposed in a gearbox housing;   a motor comprising a drive axle, said drive axle having a drive gear engaging a first of said gears, said motor disposed in said gearbox housing;   a filter bracket housing comprising an optical path opening, said filter bracket housing joined directly or indirectly to said gearbox housing;   a pinion gear disposed in said filter bracket housing, said pinion gear and a second of said gears rotatably engaged with an axle; and   a filter bracket slidably disposed within said filter bracket housing, said filter bracket comprising at least one optical lens filter, said filter bracket further comprising a rack, said rack engaging said pinion gear;   wherein said gears transmit rotational motion from said drive gear to said pinion gear; and   wherein said rotational motion applied to said pinion gear is converted to linear motion of said rack.   
     
     
         25 . The camera of  claim 24  wherein said first of said gears is rotatably disposed on a gearbox axle integrated into said gearbox housing, said first of said gears having an outer set of cogs and an inner set of cogs, said outer set of cogs engaging said drive gear, said second of said gears engaging said inner set of cogs of said first of said gears. 
     
     
         26 . The camera of  claim 24  further comprising said axle engaging said pinion gear and said second of said gears extending out of said gearbox housing through an axle opening and into said filter bracket housing. 
     
     
         27 . The camera of  claim 24  wherein said rack further comprises a linear series of projecting teeth disposed along a longitudinally terminal edge of said filter bracket. 
     
     
         28 . The camera of  claim 24  wherein said gearbox housing includes a case and a cover. 
     
     
         29 . The camera of  claim 28  wherein said motor is disposed within a motor housing of said gearbox housing. 
     
     
         30 . The camera of  claim 24  wherein said second of said gears and said pinion gear are axially spaced and coaxially aligned along said axle.