Patents by Inventor Masahiko Tsuzuki

Masahiko Tsuzuki has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230314619
    Abstract: A lens holding mechanism capable of pressing a peripheral portion of a lens in an optical axis direction while preventing twisting of an elastic member. Wherein the lens holding mechanism includes a lens barrel configured to house a lens, a pressing ring that is movable with respect to the lens barrel in a direction along an optical axis, a rotary ring configured to rotate about the optical axis to move the pressing ring in the direction along the optical axis, and an elastic member disposed between the lens and the pressing ring, wherein the lens barrel has a rotation restricting portion and a movement restricting portion, wherein, the elastic member is biased to a peripheral portion of the lens in the direction along the optical axis by moving the pressing ring in the direction along the optical axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2023
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Inventors: MASAHIKO TSUZUKI, KENTO SAITO, TATSUYA TANAKA
  • Publication number: 20220137213
    Abstract: A light emitting apparatus includes a first holder configured to hold a light source, a second holder configured to hold an optical element that condenses light from the light source, and a screw member screwed with a screw portion formed in the second holder and having an axis along a direction of an optical axis of the optical element. The screw member and the first holder respectively have contact surfaces that are along a plane orthogonal to the optical axis and in contact with each other. A recess is formed in at least one of the contact surfaces. An adhesive adhering the screw member and the first holder to each other is disposed in the recess formed in the at least one of the contact surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventor: Masahiko Tsuzuki
  • Patent number: 9386205
    Abstract: An optical apparatus includes a heat sink radiating the image sensor, a cooling fan unit configured to cool the heat sink, and a first lens barrel including a hollow portion configured to guide light to the image sensor. The first lens barrel holds the cooling fan unit and house the holder unit movably in the hollow portion in an optical axis direction of the image pickup optical system. The holder unit includes a first inlet and a first outlet. The first lens barrel includes a second inlet for taking in external air and a second outlet for exhausting the external air taken in through the second inlet. The first inlet is connected to the second inlet and the first outlet is connected to the second outlet when the holder unit is positioned in the hollow portion of the first lens barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masahiko Tsuzuki
  • Publication number: 20150062409
    Abstract: An optical apparatus includes a heat sink radiating the image sensor, a cooling fan unit configured to cool the heat sink, and a first lens barrel including a hollow portion configured to guide light to the image sensor. The first lens barrel holds the cooling fan unit and house the holder unit movably in the hollow portion in an optical axis direction of the image pickup optical system. The holder unit includes a first inlet and a first outlet. The first lens barrel includes a second inlet for taking in external air and a second outlet for exhausting the external air taken in through the second inlet. The first inlet is connected to the second inlet and the first outlet is connected to the second outlet when the holder unit is positioned in the hollow portion of the first lens barrel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventor: Masahiko TSUZUKI
  • Patent number: 8861103
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a driver configured to rotate a lead screw, a rack unit including a mated portion mated with the lead screw, the rack unit being coupled with the holder and configured to move along the lead screw as the lead screw is rotated by the driver, a first elastic member configured to force the mated portion against the lead screw with a first force F1, an opposed cog arranged opposite to the mated portion with respect to the lead screw and displaceable relative to the mated portion, and a second elastic unit configured force the opposed cog unit with a second force F2 toward the lead screw. F1<F2<F3 is satisfied where a force containing F3 is a component that opposes to F2, at least one of the mated portion and the lead screw getting damaged when F3 is applied between the mated portion and the lead screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahiko Tsuzuki
  • Publication number: 20120314311
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a driver configured to rotate a lead screw, a rack unit including a mated portion mated with the lead screw, the rack unit being coupled with the holder and configured to move along the lead screw as the lead screw is rotated by the driver, a first elastic member configured to force the mated portion against the lead screw with a first force F1, an opposed cog arranged opposite to the mated portion with respect to the lead screw and displaceable relative to the mated portion, and a second elastic unit configured force the opposed cog unit with a second force F2 toward the lead screw. F1<F2<F3 is satisfied where a force containing F3 is a component that opposes to F2, at least one of the mated portion and the lead screw getting damaged when F3 is applied between the mated portion and the lead screw.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masahiko TSUZUKI
  • Patent number: 7839578
    Abstract: An optical apparatus includes an optical system in which two zoom lens units perform zooming in different ranges in accordance with a zoom position, and a mechanism for driving the two zoom lens units by a single driving portion. An urging force for urging moving members toward an interlocking movement member that is moved along the optical axis by a feed screw is cut off by regulating portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahiko Tsuzuki
  • Publication number: 20100033837
    Abstract: An optical apparatus includes an optical system in which two zoom lens units perform zooming in different ranges in accordance with a zoom position, and a mechanism for driving the two zoom lens units by a single driving portion. An urging force for urging moving members toward an interlocking movement member that is moved along the optical axis by a feed screw is cut off by regulating portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masahiko Tsuzuki
  • Patent number: 7199945
    Abstract: The present invention provides a lens apparatus including a fixed lens barrel, a cam ring that is rotatable relative to the fixed lens barrel, a first lens holding frame adapted to move, upon rotation of the cam ring, relative to the fixed lens barrel along the optical axis direction over the range from a collapsed position in which image taking is not allowed to an extended position in which image taking is allowed, a second lens holding frame disposed on the image side of the first lens holding frame, and a linear driving portion disposed outside the cam ring, for driving the second lens holding frame along the optical axis direction using a coil and a magnet. The length of the lens apparatus is relatively short and it is advantageous in portability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahiko Tsuzuki
  • Patent number: 7038859
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes a fixed cylinder fixed to an imaging device body, a lens-holding frame, and a movable cylinder for supporting the lens-holding frame movably in an optical axial direction, in which the movable cylinder is located at a position collapsed relative to the fixed cylinder in a non-imaging mode while the movable cylinder is extended from the collapsed position to a zooming region in an imaging mode, and then the movable cylinder moves in the optical axial direction within the zooming region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahiko Tsuzuki
  • Publication number: 20050254145
    Abstract: The present invention provides a lens apparatus including a fixed lens barrel, a cam ring that is rotatable relative to the fixed lens barrel, a first lens holding frame adapted to move, upon rotation of the cam ring, relative to the fixed lens barrel along the optical axis direction over the range from a collapsed position in which image taking is not allowed to an extended position in which image taking is allowed, a second lens holding frame disposed on the image side of the first lens holding frame, and a linear driving portion disposed outside the cam ring, for driving the second lens holding frame along the optical axis direction using a coil and a magnet. The length of the lens apparatus is relatively short and it is advantageous in portability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2005
    Publication date: November 17, 2005
    Inventor: Masahiko Tsuzuki
  • Publication number: 20050088757
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes a fixed cylinder fixed to an imaging device body, a lens-holding frame, and a movable cylinder for supporting the lens-holding frame movably in an optical axial direction, in which the movable cylinder is located at a position collapsed relative to the fixed cylinder in a non-imaging mode while the movable cylinder is extended from the collapsed position to a zooming region in an imaging mode, and then the movable cylinder moves in the optical axial direction within the zooming region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Publication date: April 28, 2005
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahiko Tsuzuki
  • Patent number: 6819500
    Abstract: A lens device comprises a movable compensation lens holding member holding a blur compensation lens, two blur compensation actuators for driving the movable compensation lens holding member to move in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis of the lens device to compensate for image blur, a movable lens holding member holding a movable lens, and an axial lens driving actuator for driving the lens holding member to move in the axial direction; an optical equipment comprises an optical system including such optical elements, a light amount adjusting member and an imaging element. The axial lens driving actuator includes a magnet magnetized vertically in the direction of the optical axis, a yoke, and a coil mounted on the movable lens holding member at a predetermined distance from the magnet, where the coil is movable in the direction of the optical axis by application of current in the direction orthogonal to a magnetic flux generated by the magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahiko Tsuzuki
  • Patent number: 6670989
    Abstract: An optical system driving control device includes (a) a photo-taking optical system having a photo-taking optical element which is movable in an optical axis direction thereof and a first driver for moving the photo-taking optical element in the optical axis direction thereof, (b) a viewfinder optical system having a viewfinder optical element which is movable in an optical axis direction thereof and a second driver for moving the viewfinder optical element in the optical axis direction thereof, and (c) a control circuit for causing the first driver and the second driver to set the photo-taking optical element and the viewfinder optical element to respective initial positions thereof and, after that, to move the photo-taking optical element and the viewfinder optical element to respective predetermined positions where a ratio in magnification of the photo-taking optical element to the viewfinder optical element becomes a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiaki Kawanishi, Masahiko Tsuzuki
  • Publication number: 20030184878
    Abstract: A lens device comprises a movable compensation lens holding member holding a blur compensation lens, two blur compensation actuators for driving the movable compensation lens holding member to move in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis of the lens device to compensate for image blur, a movable lens holding member holding a movable lens, and an axial lens driving actuator for driving the lens holding member to move in the axial direction; an optical equipment comprises an optical system including such optical elements, a light amount adjusting member and an imaging element. The axial lens driving actuator includes a magnet magnetized vertically in the direction of the optical axis, a yoke, and a coil mounted on the movable lens holding member at a predetermined distance from the magnet, where the coil is movable in the direction of the optical axis by application of current in the direction orthogonal to a magnetic flux generated by the magnet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2003
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahiko Tsuzuki
  • Publication number: 20030179307
    Abstract: An optical system driving control device includes (a) a photo-taking optical system having a photo-taking optical element which is movable in an optical axis direction thereof and a first driver for moving the photo-taking optical element in the optical axis direction thereof, (b) a viewfinder optical system having a viewfinder optical element which is movable in an optical axis direction thereof and a second driver for moving the viewfinder optical element in the optical axis direction thereof, and (c) a control circuit for causing the first driver and the second driver to set the photo-taking optical element and the viewfinder optical element to respective initial positions thereof and, after that, to move the photo-taking optical element and the viewfinder optical element to respective predetermined positions where a ratio in magnification of the photo-taking optical element to the viewfinder optical element becomes a predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 1998
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventors: TOSHIAKI KAWANISHI, MASAHIKO TSUZUKI
  • Patent number: 6467975
    Abstract: A quantity-of-light adjusting device includes a drive source, a base member having an opening formed therein, and a blade arranged to move by being driven by the drive source and having three openings formed therein side by side in a row in a moving direction of the blade, wherein, among the three openings formed in the blade, the opening situated in the middle of the row is larger than the opening formed in the base member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiko Tsuzuki, Toshiaki Kawanishi, Youichi Iwasaki, Hidetomo Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6350068
    Abstract: A quantity-of-light adjusting device includes a drive source, a base member having an opening formed therein, and a blade arranged to move by being driven by the drive source and having three openings formed therein side by side in a row in a moving direction of the blade, wherein, among the three openings formed in the blade, the opening situated in the middle of the row is larger than the opening formed in the base member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiko Tsuzuki, Toshiaki Kawanishi, Youichi Iwasaki, Hidetomo Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6292308
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes a lens barrel part generally cylindrical about an optical axis, a first driving part arranged to serve as a drive source for executing a focusing action, a second driving part arranged to serve as a drive source for executing a zooming action and a third driving part arranged to serve as a drive source for executing an aperture reducing action. The first, second and third driving parts are disposed externally of the lens barrel part and circumferentially of the optical axis, and may have arcuate outer surfaces which may not extend beyond the perimeter of the lens barrel part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiko Tsuzuki, Kazuya Matsuda, Takashi Watanabe, Katsumi Azusawa
  • Patent number: 6086267
    Abstract: A quantity-of-light adjusting device includes a drive source, a base member having an opening formed therein, and a blade arranged to move by being driven by the drive source and having three openings formed therein side by side in a row in a moving direction of the blade, wherein, among the three openings formed in the blade, the opening situated in the middle of the row is larger than the opening formed in the base member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiko Tsuzuki, Toshiaki Kawanishi, Youichi Iwasaki, Hidetomo Tanaka