Abstract: An imaging device includes an image sensor that captures an image of a subject, a first substrate on which the image sensor is mounted, a second substrate located frontward from the first substrate in an optical axis direction and having a first opening, and a lens barrel holding a lens. The image sensor receives light passing through the lens and the first opening.

Abstract: A technique reduces images unintended by the user captured with an electronic device by, for example, unauthorized access or an accidental operation performed by the user. An electronic device includes a camera module including a camera drive that activates or deactivates a camera function, a blade that opens or closes a lens aperture in the camera module, a blade drive that drives an actuator to open or close the blade, a controller that controls the camera drive and the blade drive, and a switch that transmits, to the controller, an opening signal or a closing signal for forcibly driving the blade drive independently of the camera drive. The controller activates the camera function in the camera drive in response to the opening signal transmitted from the switch.

Abstract: An imaging device includes an imaging unit that captures an image of a subject, a substrate on which the imaging unit is mounted, a lens barrel holding a lens, a shield plate surrounding the substrate and including a metal, and a case accommodating the substrate, the lens barrel, and the shield plate and including a metal. The shield plate is in contact with the case. The substrate includes a ground potential portion electrically connected to the shield plate and the case.

Abstract: A vibration actuator and a method for driving the vibration actuator can improve the user's tactile sensation. A plurality of tactile devices are attachable at different positions on a surface of a touch panel to vibrate the touch panel. A driver drives, in response to a touch detection signal representing a touch position from the touch panel, the plurality of tactile devices each using a driving signal having a predetermined driving frequency. Of the plurality of tactile devices, a tactile device closest to the touch position is operable as a master device, and a tactile device other than the master device is operable as a slave device. The master device and the slave device are driven using the driving signal having the driving frequency being a resonant frequency of the master device.

Abstract: A lens driving device having a movable frame on which a magnet is secured, supporting the lens; a base member supporting the movable frame movably; and a cover member, equipped with an opening enabling light to be incident into the lens, covering the movable frame and a supporting face of the base member, wherein: either a coil or a position sensor that faces a magnet is provided on the supporting face of the base member. The other, either the position sensor or the coil that faces the magnet, is provided on a supporting face of the cover member, and an interconnection member that is connected to the coil or the position sensor that is provided on the cover member is formed integrally with the cover member.

Abstract: Provided is an electromagnetic actuator for which the wiring structure thereof can be simplified, for which the thickness thereof can be reduced, and with which a desired drive force can be attained. An electromagnetic actuator is provided with: a base member; a drive frame that is supported so as to be movable in relation to the base member; a coil that is fixed to the base member; and a magnet that is fixed to the drive frame. The coil is formed as an injection-molded circuit part, and the base member has formed thereon a circuit that connects to the coil.

Abstract: A technique reduces images unintended by the user captured with an electronic device having a camera function by unauthorized access or an accidental operation performed by the user. A blade open-close device includes a blade that opens or closes a lens aperture in a camera module, an actuator that opens or closes the blade, a drive that drives the actuator, and a switch that inputs an opening signal and a closing signal into the drive. The switch includes a mechanical switch operation member that generates the opening signal and the closing signal in response to a manual operation performed by a user. The drive is independent of a drive output from the camera module.

Abstract: An imaging device includes a first case, a second case joined to the first case, a substrate receiving an electronic component accommodated in an internal space defined by the first and second cases, a lens barrel holding a lens and supported by the first or second case, and a waterproof seal held in a waterproof-seal holding space between the first and second cases. The first case has a first surface substantially perpendicular to an optical axis, a second surface substantially parallel to the optical axis, and an inner surface meeting the first surface and extending in the optical axis direction. The first and second surfaces form the waterproof-seal holding space. The inner surface faces the substrate edge. The second case has a third surface substantially perpendicular to the optical axis and a fourth surface substantially parallel to the optical axis. The third and fourth surfaces form the waterproof-seal holding space.

Abstract: An imaging device, having a substrate on which an imaging portion is mounted, a lens barrel for holding a lens, and a case disposed so as to cover the lens barrel and the substrate, wherein: the lens barrel and the case are fitted radially, and the lens barrel and the case comprise a rotation constraining portion for constraining mutual rotation thereof, in respect to the optical axial direction.

Abstract: A technique prevents leakage of private images and/or images unintended by a user from an imaging device connected to a network, without a troublesome manual operation of opening and closing a cover. A blade operating device includes a blade that opens and closes an optical path of an imaging device connectable to a network, a blade driver that opens and closes the blade, and a controller that controls the blade driver. The controller controls the blade driver to close the blade when the imaging device is turned off.

Abstract: A thrust converting mechanism has a shaft provided with a pair of helical mated portions, formed in mutually opposing directions; a pair of linear motion members having mating portions for engaging, respectively, the pair of mated portions; a case for supporting the pair of linear motion members so as to enable movement along the shaft, and for bearing the shaft rotatably; a rocking member that is borne on one of the linear motion members of the pair, and for engaging with the other linear motion member of the pair, and for rocking through relative motion of the shaft in respect to the case; and a moving member, supported on the case, that engages with the rocking member to move, through rocking of the rocking member, in a direction that crosses the shaft.

Abstract: A focal-plane shutter for electronic front curtain scanning allows blades to move in two directions across the opening in a balanced manner, rather than in one direction. The focal-plane shutter for electronic front curtain scanning includes a base plate having an opening, a first blade movable in a first direction to close the opening, a second blade movable in a second direction to close the opening and opposite to the first direction in which the first blade is movable, a first urging member that urges the first blade in the first direction to close the opening, and a second urging member that urges the second blade in the second direction to close the opening.

Abstract: A technique enhances security measures in the IoT by reducing leakage of private images and degraded security due to unauthorized image capturing, eliminates the possibility that an unintended image is captured and stored, and also shows people around the user that the camera function of an electronic device is not working. A camera module shielding mechanism for shielding a camera module by retracting the camera module into a housing of an electronic device includes a support member supporting the camera module, a slide support supporting the support member in a slidable manner, an urging member that urges the support member in a direction in which the camera module protrudes from the housing, a locking member that locks the support member with the camera module retracted in the housing, and an actuator that unlocks the locking member.

Abstract: An imaging device used in, for example, a smartphone controls a blade to avoid remaining open after unauthorized external access or a drop impact. The imaging device includes an image sensor, a blade operable to switch between a closed state in which the blade at least partially blocks light incident on the image sensor and an open state in which light is incident on the image sensor, a blade driver that drives the blade, and a blade controller that controls the blade driver. The blade controller determines whether the blade is in the closed state in a non-imaging mode in which imaging is off, and when determining that the blade is in the open state, the blade controller controls the blade driver to close the blade.

Abstract: A driver can axially rotate and axially extend and retract a driving target. A driver includes a body, a shaft including a threaded portion, a motor that rotates the shaft, and a hollow cylinder through which the shaft extends, movable in Z-direction, and restricted from rotating relative to the body, a camera module rotatably supported on the hollow cylinder and movable in Z-direction with the hollow cylinder, a coil spring that urges the hollow cylinder in the positive Z-direction, a nut screwed with the threaded portion of the shaft and movable in Z-direction while restricting movement of the hollow cylinder in Z-direction, and a clutch engageable with the nut to restrict movement of the nut in Z-direction and rotatable with the camera module.

Abstract: A focal-plane shutter that has a shutter base plate that has an opening; a shutter blade that opens/closes the opening; a blade arm that pivotally supports the shutter blade; and a blade drive member that has a drive pin that is connected to the blade arm. The blade drive member rotates the blade arm so as to drive the shutter blade. The blade arm has a connection hole into which the drive pin is inserted; and a restriction member that is between an inner circumferential surface of the connection hole and an outer circumferential surface of the drive pin and that restricts the movement of the drive pin inside the connection hole.

Abstract: An imaging device, having a substrate on which an imaging portion is mounted, a lens barrel for holding a lens, and a case disposed so as to cover the lens barrel and the substrate, wherein: the lens barrel and the case are fitted radially, and the lens barrel and the case comprise a rotation constraining portion for constraining mutual rotation thereof, in respect to the optical axial direction.

Abstract: The housing includes a plate-shaped base; and a cover provided with a bottom plate and a side plate, and covers a main surface of the base. The base has in the main surface, a wall part which extends along the peripheral edge of the main surface, and faces the side plate of the cover. The side plate having an opening exposing a portion of the wall part. An adhesive bonding the base and the cover together is provided in a gap between the wall part and the side plate. The cross-sectional area of the gap in a cross section orthogonal to at least one direction from the direction from the wall part exposed from the opening, to either end of the wall part in the length direction, and the direction from the height-direction end of the wall part exposed from the opening, to the main surface of the base, decreases in said at least one direction.

Abstract: A linear vibration motor comprising a movable element, having an integrated magnet, and a coil wherein winding parts and are caused to cross lines of magnetic force M1 and M2 of the magnet, where the coil is near to the movable element, and wherein the movable element is caused to vibrate along an axial direction through application of power to the coil, wherein: in the magnet, the direction of magnetization is aligned with the axial direction, and the magnet has two magnet pieces and, lined up in a direction that crosses the axial direction, and that have magnetic poles in mutually opposing directions; and other magnet pieces and, having magnetic poles that are magnetized in a crossing direction, where magnetic poles are in contact with, or near to, the identical magnetic poles of the two opposing magnetic poles on the same end sides of the two magnet pieces.

Abstract: A drive assisting device for applying biasing forces that has the versatility to be compatible with a variety of installed states. A drive assisting device has a case from which an output shaft that is driven by an actuator protrudes; a connecting member for connecting the output shaft to that which is to be driven; an assist spring, disposed coiled around the output shaft, with one end thereof secured to the connecting member; and an adjusting member that is assembled together with the case while adjusting the biasing force of the assist spring, having the other end of the assist spring secured thereto.