Abstract: A small-sized and highly efficient drive apparatus, an image pickup unit and an image pickup apparatus are provided, by using a polymer actuator that is small in size and has high speed of response and has high degree of freedom for arrangement, and by realizing an actuator having excellent assembly simplicity. By being provided with a polymer actuator and by moving objects to be driven such as an image pickup device, a lens, an image pickup optical system and a lens barrel unit by the use of the actuator, an actuator that is small in size and has the high speed of response, a high degree of freedom for arrangement and excellent assembly simplicity can be provided, which makes it possible to provide a small-sized and highly efficient drive apparatus, an image pickup unit and an image pickup apparatus.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a polymer actuator that does not need a special member for determining the output direction of the drive force or a support member, and which is simply configured with a small number of parts and is compact and low-cost. The present invention provides a polymer actuator that includes electrodes which are inelastic in a planar direction and sandwich a stretching portion of a dielectric polymer with a gradient in thickness, and also provides an optical system including the polymer actuator.

Abstract: First, a position control mechanism having a fixed part and a movable part, and a driver that changes position of the movable part relative to the fixed part is prepared. Next, a manufacturing unit having first and second holders and a coupler that couples the first and second holders is prepared. A conductive actuator is held in tension between the first and second holders. Further, the first holder is attached to the movable part and the second holder is attached to the fixed part. After that, the coupler is cut from the manufacturing unit, the first and second holders are separated from each other.

Abstract: An arrangement of the invention includes a base block 16, a cylindrical cam 14, as a rotary member, which is rotatably supported on the base block 16, and includes a contact portion on an outer periphery thereof for outputting a rotating force, a drive gear 21, as an oscillatory ring, which includes a contact portion on an inner periphery thereof, and is oscillated on a plane perpendicular to a rotation axis of the cylindrical cam 14 in contact with the contact portion of the cylindrical cam 14, parallel springs 23 through 26, as a position retainer, for retaining the position of the drive gear 21, and three or more shape metal alloy actuators (SMA) wires 35 through 38, as expandable and contractible actuators, with both ends of the each SMA wire being fixed to the base block 16 for contact with the drive gear 21.

Abstract: A drive apparatus having: a shape memory alloy having a property such that a temperature transformation sensitivity in a temperature range from a starting point of austenite transformation (As) at a predetermined stress to an end point of austenite (Af) is higher than a temperature transformation sensitivity in other temperature range, and a temperature transformation sensitivity in a temperature range from a starting point of martensite transformation (Ms) at a predetermined stress to an end point of martensite transformation (Mf) is higher than a temperature transformation sensitivity in other temperature range; and a driven member which is moved by a transformation of the shape memory alloy; wherein the driven member is moved in a temperature range of higher temperature transformation sensitivity.

Abstract: A shake correction mechanism 1 has an elastic support member 2 for elastically and oscillatingly supporting a lens barrel 10 at one point, and first and second actuators 3a and 3b for applying oscillating forces to the lens barrel 10. When a moment is applied to the lens barrel 10 by the first and second actuators 3a and 3b, the elastic support member 2 is subjected to elastic deformation. Thereby, the lens barrel 10 is oscillated to tilt the optical axis thereof in a desires direction. Thus, the lens barrel 10 is oscillatingly driven without use of a rotary joint or the like as employed in the conventional gimbal mechanism. This arrangement enables to miniaturize the shake correction mechanism.

Abstract: A drive apparatus having: a shape memory alloy having a property such that a temperature transformation sensitivity in a temperature range from a starting point of austenite transformation (As) at a predetermined stress to an end point of austenite (Af) is higher than a temperature transformation sensitivity in other temperature range, and a temperature transformation sensitivity in a temperature range from a starting point of martensite transformation (Ms) at a predetermined stress to an end point of martensite transformation (Mf) is higher than a temperature transformation sensitivity in other temperature range; and a driven member which is moved by a transformation of the shape memory alloy; wherein the driven member is moved in a temperature range of higher temperature transformation sensitivity.

Abstract: A driving device and driving device manufacturing method that ensure stable fixing of an SMA, without causing difficulties in downsizing the device, and without adversely affecting the performance of the SMA. A driving device equipped with a string-shaped shape memory alloy as a drive source includes a base member constituting a basis of the driving device, and a rod-like member which penetrates the base member and is made of the metal fixed onto this base member. The rod-like member is caulked on one end of this rod-like member so that the aforementioned shape memory alloy is pinch-held in-between, whereas power-feeding members to apply current to the shape memory alloy are arranged on the other end of the rod-like member.

Abstract: A compensator for correcting a possible blur of image caused by a shake of an image pickup apparatus in which the compensator is arranged, and in which a downsize circuit board having a diminished area thereof and holding an image taking component is swung or moved. The compensator includes the circuit board with the diminished area for holding the image taking component, in which the circuit board is moved together with the image taking component. On the circuit board, there are arranged the image taking component and at least one other component. The at least one other component can be a component which is associated with reading of the signal(s) of the image outputted from the image taking element, and/or can be a component which is associated with the control to correct the possible blur of the image caused by the shake of the image pickup apparatus.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a polymer actuator that does not need a special member for determining the output direction of the drive force or a support member, and which is simply configured with a small number of parts and is compact and low-cost. The present invention provides a polymer actuator that includes electrodes which are inelastic in a planar direction and sandwich a stretching portion of a dielectric polymer with a gradient in thickness, and also provides an optical system including the polymer actuator.

Abstract: An optical unit and image pickup apparatus capable of performing “auto focus function” and “image shake correction function” and characterized by easy assembling, compact configuration, high performance and reduced costs is provided. The optical unit and image pickup apparatus are provided with a polymer actuator to move an optical device, whereby performing auto focus function and image shake correction function can be performed. The polymer actuator is provided with electric wirings for image pickup device, thereby reducing the number of circuit board used for electric wiring of the image pickup device, with the result that an optical unit and image pickup apparatus characterized by easy assembling, compact configuration, high performance and reduced costs are provided.

Abstract: A small-sized and highly efficient drive apparatus, an image pickup unit and an image pickup apparatus are provided, by using a polymer actuator that is small in size and has high speed of response and has high degree of freedom for arrangement, and by realizing an actuator having excellent assembly simplicity. By being provided with a polymer actuator and by moving objects to be driven such as an image pickup device, a lens, an image pickup optical system and a lens barrel unit by the use of the actuator, an actuator that is small in size and has the high speed of response, a high degree of freedom for arrangement and excellent assembly simplicity can be provided, which makes it possible to provide a small-sized and highly efficient drive apparatus, an image pickup unit and an image pickup apparatus.

Abstract: A driving device is adapted to drive a driven member, and includes a driving member, and a linear shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator. The driving member has a displacement output portion which is movable in a first axis direction, and a displacement input portion for moving the displacement output portion in the first axis direction in response to an application of a moving force in a second axis direction orthogonal to the first axis direction. The driving member is engaged with the driven member at the displacement output portion. The SMA actuator is disposed in contact with the driving member at least at the displacement input portion to apply the moving force to the displacement input portion.

Abstract: An actuator driving device includes: an actuator made of a shape metal alloy having a property that a predetermined shape is memorized in advance, and that the predetermined memorized shape is recovered when the actuator is heated to a predetermined temperature; an applier for applying, to the actuator, a pulse current or a pulse voltage at least having a predetermined current value or a predetermined voltage, and a predetermined duty ratio to heat the actuator; and a determiner for determining the current value or the voltage value, and the duty ratio of the pulse current or the pulse voltage to be applied to the actuator by the applier, wherein the determiner is operative to determine the pulse current or the pulse voltage having: the current value larger than a current value of a constant current required for displacing the actuator by a predetermined targeted displacement amount, or the voltage value corresponding thereto; and the duty ratio of making an applied current amount smaller than an applied curr

Abstract: A container apparatus for an object to be dropped, which contains an object to be dropped functioning as a point marker or a hydrographic conditions measuring device or the like and is dropped by a transport airplane such as an aircraft flying in the air to a water surface of sea, lake or the like, or to land or the like. The container apparatus follows a substantially uniform trajectory after being dropped by the transport airplane, and after being dropped, reduces the flight speed thereof to a fixed speed, to release the object to be dropped housed therein.

Abstract: A container apparatus for an object to be dropped, which contains an object to be dropped functioning as a point marker or a hydrographic conditions measuring device or the like and is dropped by a transport airplane such as an aircraft flying in the air to a water surface of sea, lake or the like, or to land or the like. The container apparatus follows a substantially uniform trajectory after being dropped by the transport airplane, and after being dropped, reduces the flight speed thereof to a fixed speed, to release the object to be dropped housed therein.

Abstract: An art of a driving device for appropriately improving a response of an SMA actuator will be provided. A portable telephone 1 has an image stabilization system 10 for driving an image pickup unit 9 by a pair of driving members 15a and 15b functioning as actuators, thereby performing image stabilization. Driving members 15a and 15b are formed as a wire of shape memory alloy (SMA) and when a voltage is applied to both ends and a current is supplied, driving force is generated in the contraction direction. With respect to the wire diameter of the SMAs, the wire diameter of the SMAs is set between 10 ?m and 80 ?m, thus the mountability and response are improved appropriately.

Abstract: An arrangement of the invention includes a base block 16, a cylindrical cam 14, as a rotary member, which is rotatably supported on the base block 16, and includes a contact portion on an outer periphery thereof for outputting a rotating force, a drive gear 21, as an oscillatory ring, which includes a contact portion on an inner periphery thereof, and is oscillated on a plane perpendicular to a rotation axis of the cylindrical cam 14 in contact with the contact portion of the cylindrical cam 14, parallel springs 23 through 26, as a position retainer, for retaining the position of the drive gear 21, and three or more shape metal alloy actuators (SMA) wires 35 through 38, as expandable and contractible actuators, with both ends of the each SMA wire being fixed to the base block 16 for contact with the drive gear 21.

Abstract: First, a position control mechanism having a fixed part and a movable part, and a driver that changes position of the movable part relative to the fixed part is prepared. Next, a manufacturing unit having first and second holders and a coupler that couples the first and second holders is prepared. A conductive actuator is held in tension between the first and second holders. Further, the first holder is attached to the movable part and the second holder is attached to the fixed part. After that, the coupler is cut from the manufacturing unit, the first and second holders are separated from each other.

Abstract: A shake correction mechanism 1 has an elastic support member 2 for elastically and oscillatingly supporting a lens barrel 10 at one point, and first and second actuators 3a and 3b for applying oscillating forces to the lens barrel 10. When a moment is applied to the lens barrel 10 by the first and second actuators 3a and 3b, the elastic support member 2 is subjected to elastic deformation. Thereby, the lens barrel 10 is oscillated to tilt the optical axis thereof in a desires direction. Thus, the lens barrel 10 is oscillatingly driven without use of a rotary joint or the like as employed in the conventional gimbal mechanism. This arrangement enables to miniaturize the shake correction mechanism.