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 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: In a first aspect of a present inventive subject matter, a method of forming a film includes turning a raw material containing at least a first chemical element and a second chemical element into atomized droplets; carrying the atomized droplets containing at least the first chemical element and the second chemical element by use of a carrier gas onto an object; and causing a reaction of the atomized droplets to form a film containing at least the first chemical element and the second chemical element on the object. The first chemical element is selected from among elements of Group 14 and elements of Group 15 of the periodic table. The second chemical element is selected from among d-block elements, elements of Group 13 and elements of Group 14 of the periodic table and different from the first chemical element.

Abstract: An imaging optical apparatus with a thin blade containing member for containing a blade member for limiting an opening, having an insertion portion that has an opening; an actuator for causing a blade member to slide; a containing frame for containing the actuator and the blade containing member, except for the insertion portion, having, on an outer edge, a recessed lens frame retaining portion into which the insertion portion; a lens frame, held in the lens frame retaining portion, having an insertion hole, for insertion of the insertion portion so that the center of the opening will be coaxial with the optical axis; and a clip for holding, in cooperation with the containing frame, a lens frame that is held in the lens frame retaining portion, through joining with the containing frame.

Abstract: To enable continuous operational control of the blade member with high resolution and good accuracy, even when achieving miniaturization and thickness reduction in a blade driving device, through enabling smooth movement of a movable member in a blade driving device. A blade driving device 1 comprises: a base member 2 that has an opening 2A; one or a plurality of blade members 3 that operate so as to advance into the opening 2A or withdraw from the opening 2A; a driving member 4 that moves within a plane that is perpendicular to the optical axis that passes through the opening 2A, to drive the blade member 3; and supporting members 7 that are provided between the base member 2 and the driving member 4, so as to provide sliding support or elastic support of the driving member 4 in a state that is separated from the base member 2.

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: 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: A technique lowers the likelihood that a privacy-related image leaks through a network from a camera for capturing images of an individual or a private space, and enables a subject person to notice that privacy is protected. A camera includes an imaging optical system that captures an image of a subject, an image sensor, a blade that advances into an optical axis of the imaging optical system, and a blade driver that causes the blade to advance into and retract from the optical axis. The blade causes privacy-related information about a subject to be less recognizable.

Abstract: To enable adjustment of a lens frame (lens barrel) independently, and also to enable a reduction in thickness along the optical axial direction. A blade driving device having a driving member for moving on a plane; a frame for containing the driving member; a thin blade supporting unit that protrudes to the outside, along the direction of movement of the driving member, from a portion of the thickness of the frame, and that has an opening, around the optical axis, along the direction of thickness of the frame; and a blade member that is supported on the blade supporting unit, and that is moved by the driving member, to advance into the opening; wherein the outer peripheral edge of the frame has a recessed portion at the position at which the blade supporting unit protrudes.

Abstract: To enable continuous operational control of the blade member with high resolution and good accuracy, even when achieving miniaturization and thickness reduction in a blade driving device, through enabling smooth movement of a movable member in a blade driving device. A blade driving device 1 comprises: a base member 2 that has an opening 2A; one or a plurality of blade members 3 that operate so as to advance into the opening 2A or withdraw from the opening 2A; a driving member 4 that moves within a plane that is perpendicular to the optical axis that passes through the opening 2A, to drive the blade member 3; and supporting members 7 that are provided between the base member 2 and the driving member 4, so as to provide sliding support or elastic support of the driving member 4 in a state that is separated from the base member 2.

Abstract: Because a thin blade is disposed in a space that has a thickness in the optical axial direction, which contains a coil and a magnet, when the blade is driven the blade tends to become unstable, making smooth operation of the thin blade difficult. A blade driving device has a driving member; a frame that is provided with a driving frame chamber that contains the driving member; a blade supporting unit that has an opening and that structures a blade chamber that is separate from the driving frame chamber; and a blade member that is contained in the blade chamber, and that is moved by the driving member to advance into 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: A blade driving device comprising: a driving member; one or more blade members that are caused to undergo sliding motion by the driving member; a blade supporting unit for supporting the blade member slidably; and a frame for containing the driving member and a portion of the blade supporting unit, wherein the blade supporting unit comprises a blade chamber for containing a blade member between opposing thin plate members, along with an insertion portion that has an opening and that protrudes from a frame, wherein the opposing thin plate members are integrated together at least the tip end of the insertion portion.

Abstract: An imaging blade driving device includes a lens frame holding lenses, and a blade driver mounted on the lens frame including a front frame holding a front lens, a rear frame holding a rear lens and including a step with a larger diameter than the front frame, a pair of slits in a side surface of the front frame along the step, and a connector connecting the front and rear frames outside the slits. The blade driver includes a frame body, and an insert protruding from the frame body and placeable into the slits. The insert has an aperture aligned with an optical axis of the lenses and accommodating a blade. The frame body has a contact surface in contact with a surface of the rear frame perpendicular to an optical axis 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: 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 blade driving device comprising: a driving member; one or more blade members that are caused to undergo sliding motion by the driving member; a blade supporting unit for supporting the blade member slidably; and a frame for containing the driving member and a portion of the blade supporting unit, wherein the blade supporting unit comprises a blade chamber for containing a blade member between opposing thin plate members, along with an insertion portion that has an opening and that protrudes from a frame, wherein the opposing thin plate members are integrated together at least the tip end of the insertion portion.

Abstract: To enable achievement of a reduction in the thickness in a blade driving device that includes a driving member, and to enable a reduction in size of an installation area in a blade driving device that includes a driving member. The blade driving device 1 comprises a base member 2 that has an opening 2A, one or more blade members 3 that operate so as to advance into the opening 2A or withdraw from the opening 2A, and a driving member 4 that is supported on the base member 2 and that moves within a plane that is perpendicular to an optical axis that passes through the opening 2A, for driving the blade member, wherein the driving member 4 is disposed at a position that overlaps the blade member on the periphery of the opening 2A.

Abstract: A lens unit comprises a lens barrel, a pair of base plates, and iris blade, and a blade driving portion. The lens barrel holds a plurality of lenses, and has a first slit that extends in the circumferential direction. A pair of base plates each has an opening portion, and are stacked to structure a blade chamber, with a portion thereof protruding from the first slit, and is positioned so that the opening portions thereof are between the lenses. The iris blade is disposed in the blade chamber. A blade driving portion is secured to a portion of the pair of base plates, and drives the iris blade to open and close the opening portions in the iris blade.