Abstract: The lens barrel includes a lens frame and a cam frame. The lens frame has a body supporting a lens element in the optical system, at least three through-holes formed in the lens frame body, at least three cam members arranged on the lens frame body and at least one protruding member that protrude from the lens frame body. The cam frame has a body, at least three projection members extending from the cam frame body and inserted through the through-holes, at least three cam grooves formed in the cam frame body and the projection members to guide the cam members and to movably support the lens frame with respect to the cam frame body. The cam frame also has at least one auxiliary groove to guide the protruding member. One end of the auxiliary groove is disposed in the circumferential direction between two adjacent projection members.

Abstract: A lens position calculator is provided that determines a phase of a driving signal as a reference position of an imaging lens when an output value of a position detection sensor reaches a threshold value. The lens position calculator determines a position obtained by performing addition or subtraction on the reference position read out from a reference position storage as a judgment position, detects an output value of the position detection sensor at a timing in synchronization with the driving signal that drives a driver and at the judgment position, and judges whether the output value of the position detection sensor at the judgment position reaches the threshold value or not, so as to determine the reference position again.

Abstract: A camera is provided with which a small size can be achieved while ensuring good image blur correction performance. The camera (1) has an optical system (O), a housing (2), a second drive unit (12) serving as part of an image blur corrector, an imaging element (17), a first angular velocity sensor (4), an acceleration sensor (7), a sensor drive unit (240), and a drive controller (22). The first angular velocity sensor (4) is configured to acquire the rotational angle of the housing (2). The acceleration sensor (7) is configured to acquire the amount of displacement of the housing (2). A correction computer (21) calculates the amount of drive of a correcting lens (9) from the displacement amount acquired by the acceleration sensor (7), and calculates the amount of drive of the correcting lens (9) from the rotational angle acquired by the first angular velocity sensor (4) using the position of the acceleration sensor (7) as a reference.

Abstract: An image stabilizer of the present invention is provided with a lens module 101 that holds a lens and an imaging element, an inner frame that turnably supports the lens module 101, and driving portion that turns the lens module 101 relative to the inner frame 11, with the driving portion including a bimorph 14. An image stabilizer thereby can be provided that allows the overall size and profile of an imaging apparatus to be reduced.

Abstract: An ultrasonic actuator may be provided in which generation of a stress is prevented in the connection face of the piezoelectric element between the electrodes and the conductive members. The ultrasonic actuator includes a piezoelectric element (P1) and flexible cables (F1). The piezoelectric element (P1) includes: a piezoelectric layer (1); a power supply electrode (2) provided on a principal surface of the piezoelectric layer (1); a counter electrode (3) provided to face the power supply electrode (2) with the piezoelectric layer (1) interposed therebetween; a power supply external electrode (4) which is provided on a short-side surface of the piezoelectric element (P1), and is electrically coupled to the power supply electrode (2); and a counter external electrode (5) which is provided on a short-side surface of the piezoelectric element (P1), and is electrically coupled to the counter electrode (3).

Abstract: A camera includes an optical system, a housing, an image blur corrector, a displacement acquisition section, a rotary driver, a correction computer, and a drive controller. The displacement acquisition section is configured to acquire the amount of displacement of the housing. The rotary driver is configured to rotationally drive the displacement acquisition section with respect to the housing. The correction computer is configured to calculate a first correction amount at the image blur corrector from the displacement amount acquired by the displacement acquisition section. The drive controller is configured to control the operation of the rotary driver, and also controls the operation of the image blur corrector on the basis of the first correction amount.

Abstract: Lens barrel 3 includes a stationary frame 20, a drive frame 30, a rotation cam frame 70, and a first lens frame 60. The drive frame 30 is supported by the stationary frame 20 to be movable in a Y axis direction along an optical axis of an imaging optical system O and rotatable around the optical axis in response to a drive force. The rotation cam frame 70 is supported by the drive frame 30 to be movable in the Y axis direction relative to the drive frame 30 in response to the drive force. The first lens frame 60 supports a first lens group G1 included in the imaging optical system O, and is supported by the rotation cam frame 70 to be movable in the Y axis direction relative to the rotation cam frame 70 in response to the drive force.

Abstract: Lens barrel 3 includes a stationary frame 20, a drive frame 30, a rotation cam frame 70, and a first lens frame 60. The drive frame 30 is supported by the stationary frame 20 to be movable in a Y axis direction along an optical axis of an imaging optical system O and rotatable around the optical axis in response to a drive force. The rotation cam frame 70 is supported by the drive frame 30 to be movable in the Y axis direction relative to the drive frame 30 in response to the drive force. The first lens frame 60 supports a first lens group G1 included in the imaging optical system O, and is supported by the rotation cam frame 70 to be movable in the Y axis direction relative to the rotation cam frame 70 in response to the drive force.

Abstract: A lens position calculator is provided that determines a phase of a driving signal as a reference position of an imaging lens when an output value of a position detection sensor reaches a threshold value. The lens position calculator determines a position obtained by performing addition or subtraction on the reference position read out from a reference position storage as a judgment position, detects an output value of the position detection sensor at a timing in synchronization with the driving signal that drives a driver and at the judgment position, and judges whether the output value of the position detection sensor at the judgment position reaches the threshold value or not, so as to determine the reference position again.

Abstract: An image stabilizer of the present invention is provided with a lens module 101 that holds a lens and an imaging element, an inner frame that turnably supports the lens module 101, and driving portion that turns the lens module 101 relative to the inner frame 11, with the driving portion including a bimorph 14. An image stabilizer thereby can be provided that allows the overall size and profile of an imaging apparatus to be reduced.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes a fixed barrel having an approximately cylindrical shape; a lens frame 132 disposed inside of the fixed barrel for holding the lens group; at least one shaft 135A engaging in the lens frame 132 for guiding the lens frame 132 in a direction parallel to the optical axis of the lens group; and a guide shaft 135B provided to a perimeter of the lens frame for regulating a rotation of the lens frame about the shaft. The lens frame 132 is disposed in the fixed barrel so that a center axis 102 of the fixed barrel and an optical axis 101 of the lens group do not coincide with each other, but are deflected in parallel, The shaft 135A and the guide shaft 135B are disposed so that a central angle ?1 formed with respect to the center axis 102 of the fixed barrel is less than 180 degrees.

Abstract: Lens barrel 3 includes a stationary frame 20, a drive frame 30, a rotation cam frame 70, and a first lens frame 60. The drive frame 30 is supported by the stationary frame 20 to be movable in a Y axis direction along an optical axis of an imaging optical system O and rotatable around the optical axis in response to a drive force. The rotation cam frame 70 is supported by the drive frame 30 to be movable in the Y axis direction relative to the drive frame 30 in response to the drive force. The first lens frame 60 supports a first lens group G1 included in the imaging optical system O, and is supported by the rotation cam frame 70 to be movable in the Y axis direction relative to the rotation cam frame 70 in response to the drive force.

Abstract: A lens position calculator is provided that determines a phase of a driving signal as a reference position of an imaging lens when an output value of a position detection sensor reaches a threshold value. The lens position calculator determines a position obtained by performing addition or subtraction on the reference position read out from a reference position storage as a judgment position, detects an output value of the position detection sensor at a timing in synchronization with the driving signal that drives a driver and at the judgment position, and judges whether the output value of the position detection sensor at the judgment position reaches the threshold value or not, so as to determine the reference position again.

Abstract: A lens barrel for holding a lens group includes: a holding mechanism for movably holding the lens group in a direction parallel to an optical axis; an electromagnetic motor including a cylindrical stator with an axis parallel to the optical axis being taken as a center axis and a cylindrical rotor that is coaxial with the stator and rotates about the center axis with respect to the stator; a converting mechanism for converting a rotating motion of the rotor to a straight-ahead motion for allowing the holding mechanism to move the lens group in the direction parallel to the optical axis; and force applying means that applies a magnetic force to the rotor in the direction parallel to the optical axis.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes a fixed barrel having an approximately cylindrical shape; a lens frame 132 disposed inside of the fixed barrel for holding the lens group; at least one shaft 135A engaging in the lens frame 132 for guiding the lens frame 132 in a direction parallel to the optical axis of the lens group; and a guide shaft 135B provided to a perimeter of the lens frame for regulating a rotation of the lens frame about the shaft. The lens frame 132 is disposed in the fixed barrel so that a center axis 102 of the fixed barrel and an optical axis 101 of the lens group do not coincide with each other, but are deflected in parallel, The shaft 135A and the guide shaft 135B are disposed so that a central angle ?1 formed with respect to the center axis 102 of the fixed barrel is less than 180 degrees.

Abstract: A lens barrel for holding a lens group includes: a holding mechanism for movably holding the lens group in a direction parallel to an optical axis; an electromagnetic motor including a cylindrical stator with an axis parallel to the optical axis being taken as a center axis and a cylindrical rotor that is coaxial with the stator and rotates about the center axis with respect to the stator; a converting mechanism for converting a rotating motion of the rotor to a straight-ahead motion for allowing the holding mechanism to move the lens group in the direction parallel to the optical axis; and force applying means that applies a magnetic force to the rotor in the direction parallel to the optical axis.

Abstract: A digital signal recording method of the present invention for recording data divided into at least two segments in a recording track on a magnetic tape with a magnetic head mounted onto a rotational drum, includes the steps of: recording a first segment; recording a preamble having a length PR in a recording track direction so that the preamble is adjacent to a front edge of the first segment; recording a postamble having a length PO in the recording track direction so that the postamble is adjacent to a back edge of the first segment; and recording a second segment after the step of recording the first segment, wherein a relation PR=PO=G is substantially satisfied where "G" is a length of a gap in the recording track direction between the first segment and the segment.

Abstract: A digital signal recording method of the present invention for recording data divided into at least two segments in a recording track on a magnetic tape with a magnetic head mounted onto a rotational drum, includes the steps of: recording a first segment; recording a preamble having a length PR in a recording track direction so that the preamble is adjacent to a front edge of the first segment; recording a postamble having a length PO in the recording track direction so that the postamble is adjacent to a back edge of the first segment; and recording a second segment after the step of recording the first segment, wherein a relation PR=PO=G is substantially satisfied where "G" is a length of a gap in the recording track direction between the first segment and the segment.

Abstract: Two or three-dimensional position coordinates of a plurality of objects are measured without contact by installing at least one set of light emitting and receiving optical systems on opposite sides of the plurality of objects. During measurement, the light emitting optical system emits a laser beam towards the plurality of objects from a plurality of different directions, and light boundaries generated by the plurality of objects are detected by the light receiving optical system. A computer and a processor are provided to compute two or three-dimensional position coordinates of and distances between centers of the plurality of objects from outputs of the light receiving optical system. Where three-dimensional position coordinates of the plurality of objects are required, one of the object and the light emitting and receiving optical systems is moved vertically relative to the other.

Abstract: When detaching or attaching a rotary cylinder in a rotary cylinder device having a hydrodynamic bearing, a gap is formed between the end surface of a shaft and a thrust plate and this gap is maintained by inserting an insertion member between opposing surfaces of stronger parts of the device. In this state, the rotary cylinder is removed from or assembled to the device. Accordingly, the force required to remove or fix the cylinder from or to the device acts on the stronger parts of the device and is thus not transmitted to the thrust plate and end surface of the shaft.