Mechanical Patents (Class 348/208.7)
  • Patent number: 8736690
    Abstract: At the time of occurrence of camera shake, an angular velocity sensor detects an angular velocity. A rotation angle calculator integrates the angular velocity to calculate angle camera shake. A translational acceleration calculator subtracts an internal acceleration caused during operation of a lens unit from a first translational acceleration detected by an acceleration sensor, so as to calculate a second translational acceleration. A translational velocity calculator integrates the second translational acceleration to calculate a translational velocity. A rotation radius calculator calculates a rotation radius based on the angular velocity and the translational velocity. A shake amount calculator calculates a camera shake amount based on the angle camera shake and the rotation radius. An actuator drives a camera shake correction lens in a direction for canceling the camera shake amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kazutaka Imanishi
  • Patent number: 8736693
    Abstract: A digital photographing apparatus may perform a method of correcting hand shake to obtain images of high quality, in which hand shake is corrected completely, by correcting the hand shake using a plurality of successive images having different exposure times, and in particular, by determining whether a short exposure image will be obtained from a time period in which hand shake is weak or in a time period in which hand shake is strong according to photographing conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Myung-kyu Choi, Soon-geun Jang
  • Patent number: 8723968
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus has a camera-shake correction mechanism which performs camera-shake correction by moving an image pickup element with respect to a lens unit. The image pickup apparatus includes a z-plate provided slidably in a z-direction, an actuator for moving the plate in the z-direction, a z-shaft which guides the movement of the z-plate, and a rotating ball sandwiched between a base plate and the z-plate in a rotatable state. In a y-z plan view, an opening portion is provided between the z-shaft and the rotating ball, and the rotating ball is arranged outside the opening portion between one end and the other end of the opening portion in the z-direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: JVC Kenwood Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeru Yokota, Masahiro Yamamoto, Etsuo Shima, Yuki Wada, Yasufumi Nakaaki
  • Patent number: 8717487
    Abstract: An interior housing of a compact camera module is insulated from external shocks in a direction along the optical path to an external housing that is spaced from the interior housing by a compression distance of one or more shock absorbing sponges that are disposed between the outer housing and the interior housing and that are configured to compress to absorb external physical shocks in two or three spatial dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Digitaloptics Corporation
    Inventor: Eddie Azuma
  • Publication number: 20140092265
    Abstract: An integrated substrate for an anti-shake apparatus defined with an optical axis includes: a substrate, a lens module, an anti-shake apparatus and an image-sensing module. The substrate includes a frame having a predetermined thickness. The frame includes a first surface, a second surface, a first circuit layout, and a second circuit layout. The lens module is located above the substrate on the optical axis. The anti-shake apparatus is furnished between the lens module and the substrate. The image-sensing module has an active side and an inactive side, and the inactive side is furnished onto the second surface. The active side is located on the optical axis in a manner of facing the lens module. The anti-shake apparatus is coupled to the first circuit layout, while the image-sensing module is coupled to the second circuit layout. The first and second circuit layouts comprise a plurality of first and second metal leads, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: TDK TAIWAN CORP.
    Inventors: Chih Chien Hsu, Choa Chang Hu, Wen Chang Lin
  • Publication number: 20140085496
    Abstract: An apparatus, method and computer program wherein the apparatus includes an optical arrangement configured to provide an incident light beam to an image sensor; a first actuator mechanism configured to move the optical arrangement relative to the image sensor in a direction perpendicular to the image sensor; a second actuator mechanism configured to move the optical arrangement relative to the image sensor in a direction parallel to the image sensor; and wherein the first and second actuator mechanisms are configured so that actuation of the second actuator mechanism does not cause movement of the first actuator mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: Nokia Corporation
    Inventor: Marko Eromaki
  • Patent number: 8681231
    Abstract: A camera according to the present invention is equipped with an image sensor; an A/D converter that converts analog image-pixel signals read from the image sensor to digital image-pixel signals; an image stabilizer that comprises a coil and a movable member configured to move in a given direction while supporting the image sensor; an image stabilization controller that controls a position of the movable member at given time intervals by sending pulse drive signals through the coil; and a timing adjustment processor that shifts at least one of a rise timing and fall timing of the pulse drive signals from a signal-processing interval associated with an A/D conversion process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Pentax Ricoh Imaging Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoto Asakura, Shigeru Iwamoto, Yoshio Wakui, Taizo Matsumasa
  • Patent number: 8681229
    Abstract: An image pickup device includes: an image pickup optical system configured to form a subject image; an image pickup element configured to generate a picked-up image from the subject image formed by the image pickup optical system; an image blur detecting section configured to output an image blur signal using a motion detecting sensor; an arithmetic section configured to calculate an amount of image blur correction including an amount of optical correction and an amount of electronic correction on a basis of the image blur signal; an optical image blur correcting section configured to move at least one of an optical element forming a part of the image pickup optical system and the image pickup element in accordance with the amount of optical correction; and an electronic image blur correcting section configured to correct electronically an image blur of the picked-up image by image processing based on the amount of electronic correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hirofumi Nomura
  • Patent number: 8665338
    Abstract: Techniques are described for identifying blurred images and recognizing text. One or more images of text may be captured. A change of movement associated with each image of the one or more images may be calculated. The change of movement associated with an image of the one or more images represents a change in an amount of acceleration of the device used to capture the image while the image was being captured. A steady image may be selected from the one or more images to use for text recognition. The steady image can be selected using the variances of acceleration associated with each image of the one or more images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Hyung-Il Koo, Taesu Kim, Ki-Hyun Kim, Te-Won Lee
  • Patent number: 8665362
    Abstract: A positionable mechanism includes a frame unit, an OIS unit, and a positioning unit that are mounted on a base unit. The frame unit is retractable with respect to the base unit between a storage position and a working position. The positioning unit is movable with respect to the OIS unit between an abutting position and a releasing position, and is subjected to a restoring force. When the frame unit is at the storage position, a pressing part of the frame unit presses the positioning unit to the abutting position where the positioning unit abuts against a movable carrier of the OIS unit. When the frame unit is at the working position, the positioning unit is restored to the releasing position and releases the movable carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Asia Optical International, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chun-Yu Hsueh, Tsung-Tse Chen
  • Patent number: 8665339
    Abstract: An optical image stabilizer for a camera lens module, including a housing fixed to a case of the camera lens module, at least one piezoelectric actuator fixed to the housing, and an image sensor assembly housed in the housing. A driving tip of the piezoelectric actuator is curved in shape and makes a point contact with the image sensor assembly. If the piezoelectric actuator is driven, the image sensor assembly freely moves on a plane perpendicular to a photographing direction as the driving tip rubs against the image sensor assembly. This optical image stabilizer is simple in structure and easy to control, so it can be mounted in devices in which installation spaces are limited, like small digital cameras and mobile terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Doo-Sik Shin, Jong-Suk Ro
  • Patent number: 8654204
    Abstract: A digital photographing apparatus includes a handshake correction module and a method of controlling the digital photographing apparatus. As a first image and a second image that is input by minutely adjusting a photographing direction from the first image are captured by using a pre-mounted handshake correction module, the second image that is accurately continuous from the first image may be obtained. As such, highly reliable panorama shooting may be enabled and an ultra-wide-angle image having a viewing angle greater than that of a currently mounted lens may be obtained without exchanging the currently mounted lens for an expensive lens used in wide-angle shooting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Young-soo Jang
  • Publication number: 20140043496
    Abstract: An interior housing of a compact camera module is insulated from external shocks in a direction along the optical path to an external housing that is spaced from the interior housing by a compression distance of one or more shock absorbing sponges that are disposed between the outer housing and the interior housing and that are configured to compress to absorb external physical shocks in two or three spatial dimensions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Inventor: Eddie Azuma
  • Patent number: 8648920
    Abstract: This invention provides an electromagnetically driven device applicable to a lens driving device with an anti-shake function by a simple structure that enables the movable member to swing around an axis thereof. A flat spring for swinging connects to a stationary frame body provided with a permanent magnet set and a coil set for swinging is mounted on an outer circumference of a movable frame body. When an axial direction of the movable frame body is designated as the Z axis, the coil set for swinging including a first through fourth coils arranged around the Z axis and spaced at uniform intervals with each winding around an axis perpendicular to the Z axis and opposite to the permanent magnet set respectively. The permanent magnet set includes a first through fourth magnets, wherein each magnet is arranged between two adjacent coils among the first through fourth coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignees: Micro Win Tech Inc., Largan Precision Co., Ltd., Xinhongzhou Precision Technology Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Kokichi Terajima
  • Patent number: 8643732
    Abstract: An image blur compensation device detects the shake of an apparatus and compensates image blur by means of a mechanism for rotating an image sensor about an axis perpendicular to the imaging plane of the image sensor. A rotary member for holding the image sensor is rotatably held by a base member. The rotary member and the base member are urged by a tension spring in a direction closer to each other, and a ball provided between the rotary member and the base member rotatably supports the rotary member in a state where the ball abuts against both the rotary member and the base member. The ball is arranged within a ball-receiving groove formed in the base member. The ball is brought into abutment against the abutment surface provided on the rotary member by an urging force of a tension spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kaori Miyoshi
  • Patent number: 8643733
    Abstract: A direction instructing operation unit instructs a control unit to change a direction of a change in the photographic screen range. First motor drives a compensation optical system and second motor drives a compensation optical system in accordance with the control command given by the control unit. When the direction along which framing adjustment has been instructed by the direction instructing operation unit matches neither the drive direction of the first motor nor the drive direction of the second motor for driving the compensation optical system, the control unit matches a drive start time and a drive end time of both the first motor and the second motor, and then controls the ratio of the speed of the second drive unit to the speed of the first drive unit at a constant level to thereby control the moving direction of the photographic screen range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenichi Miyasako
  • Patent number: 8625979
    Abstract: A lens barrel and a photographing apparatus comprising the lens barrel include: a lens module that comprises at least one lens and moves along an optical axis of the at least one lens; a shake correction module arranged near the lens module; at least one fixing member that is disposed between the lens module and the shake correction module and fixes the shake correction module in response to being pressed by the lens module; a frame on which the at least one fixing member is installed; and at least one elastic member that elastically mounts the at least one fixing member on the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-jae Hwang, Kwang-seok Byon, Jung-soo Kim, Chi-young Park
  • Patent number: 8619145
    Abstract: A position controller for an image-stabilizing optical element in a optical system includes an advancing/retracting member; an anti shake frame supported by the advancing/retracting member and movable along a plane orthogonal to the optical axis; an insertable/removable frame holding the optical element and supported by the anti-shake frame to be movable between insertion and removed positions; an anti shake drive mechanism which drives the anti shake frame to perform an image-stabilizing operation; and a removal drive mechanism which imposes no movement limitations on the anti shake frame and the insertable/removable frame in a ready-to-photograph state, and which imparts a component force that moves the insertable/removable frame to the removed position in association with the insertable/removable frame when the advancing/retracting member moves to an accommodated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventor: Shinya Suzuka
  • Patent number: 8605160
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a camera shake correction device includes a substrate, a fixed part, a linking part, a movable part, a first spring part, a second spring part, a first damper, and a second damper. The fixed part is provided on the substrate and fixed to the substrate. The linking part is provided around the fixed part on the substrate that can move in a first direction within a plane of the substrate with respect to the fixed part. The movable part is provided on the substrate and arranged around the fixed part and the linking part that can move in a second direction that intersects with the first direction within the plane of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Honam Kwon, Kazuhiro Suzuki, Risako Ueno, Hideyuki Funaki
  • Patent number: 8593743
    Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein relates to electromagnetic force generation for an imaging device having a small form factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kin Ming Fan, Kwok Sing Cheng, Kai Cheong Kwan
  • Patent number: 8587673
    Abstract: A method of motion compensation in a camera may include deriving a motion signal representative of a motion of the camera, processing video frames of a video signal from an image sensor of the camera during a viewfinder mode to derive motion vectors between pairs of frames, and processing the motion signal with a number of combinations of gain and offset factors during the viewfinder mode. The method may also include determining combinations for producing threshold motion vectors, and applying the combination producing the threshold motion vectors for processing the motion signal during a still capture mode to produce a control signal for a motion compensating element for optics of the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: Stuart McLeod
  • Patent number: 8587675
    Abstract: An actuator includes a stationary member defining a first receiving room and a center axis, a moveable member received in the first receiving room and being apart from the stationary member, a driving member, and a resilient spring assembly. The moveable member is coaxial with the stationary member. The driving member comprises a first magnetic assembly fixed to the stationary member and a second magnetic assembly fixed to the moveable member. The first magnetic assembly faces the second magnetic assembly. The driving member is configured for driving the moveable member to move along a first axis and a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. The first axis and the second axis are perpendicular to the central axis. The spring assembly is positioned between the stationary member and the moveable member and connects the moveable member to the stationary member. The spring assembly elastically deforms when the moveable member moves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shun-Fan Chiang
  • Patent number: 8587676
    Abstract: A digital image processing apparatus and a method of controlling the digital image processing apparatus, the method including: generating a live view image; performing a preprocessing operation on the live view image; driving a vibration mode of a handshake correction module in response to a result of the preprocessing operation; and if a photographing signal is input, generating a photographing image after terminating the vibration mode of the handshake correction module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung-min Kim, Jin-gi Lee
  • Patent number: 8576291
    Abstract: To provide a drive unit and a drive module which include a shape memory alloy as a drive source to move a driven member and are capable of the high-precision movement of the driven member to a reference position. A drive unit and a drive module can be provided by controlling, in the drive unit and the drive module which include the shape memory alloy as the drive source to move the driven member, the shape memory alloy so that the resistance of the shape memory alloy is equal to the resistance when the driven member is located at the reference position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Opto, Inc.
    Inventors: Yasutaka Tanimura, Takeshi Aoi, Yoshihiro Hara, Natsuko Shiota
  • Publication number: 20130286233
    Abstract: A stabilized camera system has a roll frame formed as a parallelogram linkage and pivotably attached to a pan frame. A tilt frame is pivotably attached to the roll frame. Control circuits are provided to compensate for drift, to allow manual aiming of the camera during stabilized camera operation, and for providing rapid leveling. The stabilized camera system is compact with low moments of inertia to allow rapid movements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventors: Vladimir V. Kozlov, Lev N. Yevstratov, Leonard T. Chapman
  • Patent number: 8564675
    Abstract: A yoke of an actuator for driving a shift moving frame in a pitch direction is shaped such that when the shift moving frame is moved in the pitch direction, a magnetic attractive force for reducing a moment acting on the shift moving frame due to a magnetic attractive force generated between the magnet and the yoke of an actuator for driving the shift moving frame in a yaw direction is generated between the yoke and the magnet of the actuator for driving in the pitch direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takehiko Sato
  • Patent number: 8558902
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes: an image pickup element; a shake detection device configured to detect a vibration applied to a main body of the image pickup apparatus; and an image blur correction device configured to perform a correction of removing an image blur of the image due to the vibration, the image blur correction device including: a holding member configured to hold the image pickup element; a first driving device configured to move the holding member between a first position where the center of the image pickup element substantially corresponds to the optical axis and a second position; a heat exhausting member arranged to be in contact with the holding member when the holding member is located at the second position; and a control device configured to drive the first driving device based on the vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Kouhei Awazu, Hayato Yamashita
  • Patent number: 8553098
    Abstract: A semiconductor device with an “anti-shake” function includes a logic chip having a digital circuit which obtains a value indicating the amount of vibration of device such as an imaging apparatus based on a vibration detection signal supplied from a vibration detection element to generate a correction signal. The logic chip includes a correction signal processing unit which generates the correction signal, and a control signal output unit which outputs a vibration control signal in accordance with the correction signal to a vibration correction control unit which executes vibration correction control for an optical component. The control signal output unit includes a plurality of types of signal output sections and outputs a vibration control signal corresponding to a driving unit from one signal output section selected from among the plurality of types of signal output sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignees: Sanyo Semiconductor Co., Ltd., Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventor: Tomofumi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8554066
    Abstract: To provide a driving mechanism with which a reduction in size is possible. A driving mechanism comprising: an optical component that is provided to be movable; a first driving member that is movable in a first direction; a second driving member that is movable in the first direction independently of the first driving member; and an abutting portion that is provided at the optical component and abuts against the first driving member and the second driving member, wherein, the optical component is moved by driving force of the first driving member and the second driving member abutting against the abutting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Masao Owashi
  • Patent number: 8537226
    Abstract: A voice coil motor includes an outer shell, a moveable frame, a coil of wire, a number of magnetic members and a first elastic member. The outer shell includes a number of sidewalls connected to each other end-to-end. The moveable frame is moveably received in the outer shell. The coil of wire is wrapped around the moveable frame and is received in the outer shell. Each of the magnetic members is attached to a corner formed by two inner surfaces of two adjacent sidewalls. The magnetic members and the coil of wire are configured for cooperating to drive the movable frame to move in the outer shell. The first elastic member is attached to the moveable frame and received in the outer shell. The first elastic member is configured for providing an elastic restoring force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chau-Yuan Ke
  • Publication number: 20130215284
    Abstract: An optical unit may include a fixed body; a movable module which holds an optical element; and a shake correction drive mechanism which is structured to generate a drive force for swinging the movable module with respect to the fixed body. The shake correction drive mechanism may include a plurality of permanent magnets which are provided on an outer peripheral face of the movable module at positions separated in a circumferential direction around an optical axis of the optical element; and a sheet-shaped coil which is extended in a circumferential direction in the fixed body and is integrally provided with a plurality of coil parts facing the permanent magnets and a terminal part electrically connected with the coil parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tatsuki Wade, Shinroku Asakawa, Shinji Minamisawa, Katsushige Yanagisawa, Yoshihiro Hamada
  • Patent number: 8514288
    Abstract: An apparatus capable of capturing a still image in a moving image capturing mode includes an instruction unit configured to instruct still image capturing, a vibration detection unit configured to detect vibration applied to the apparatus, a control unit configured to control driving of a correction member in a driving range according to whether still image capturing or moving image capturing is performed, based on an output from the vibration detection unit, a position detection unit configured to detect a position of the correction member, and a determination unit configured to determine a reference position of a range in which the correction member is driven, wherein, if the instruction unit instructs image capturing in the moving image capturing mode, the detected position is set as the reference position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaaki Noguchi
  • Patent number: 8508600
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus with an image sensor and a correction optical system movable in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis includes a vibration detection unit configured to detect a vibration applied to the imaging apparatus, a vibration correction unit configured to drive the correction optical system to correct an image vibration according to an output from the vibration detection unit, a motion vector detection unit configured to detect a motion vector based on an image signal output from the image sensor, an amplifier unit configured to amplify the output from the vibration detection unit, a gain setting unit configured to set a gain of the amplifier unit based on the motion vector; and a gain control unit configured to allow or inhibit the setting of the gain of the amplifier unit set based on the motion vector, according to a change of an imaging condition of the imaging apparatus, wherein the vibration correction unit performs a vibration correction based on the output from the vibration detecti
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshio Ibi
  • Patent number: 8508601
    Abstract: An image sensing device includes two, left- and right-eye image sensors, and detects the rotation amount around the optical axis of the image sensing device, and the displacement amounts of the two image sensors in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis. The image sensing device performs control such that two pixels on the two image sensors having output the centers of the images to be cropped from the sensed images exist in the same position in the vertical direction in the plane perpendicular to the optical axis. The image sensing device also performs control such that the horizontal distance, in the plane perpendicular to the optical axis, between the two pixels of the two image sensors having output the centers of the images to be cropped from the sensed images is equal to the spacing between the two image sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Suguru Kusanagi
  • Publication number: 20130194442
    Abstract: A stage apparatus includes a stationary support plate, magnetic force generators immovable relative to the stationary support plate, a stage member, an image sensor fixed to the stage member, a control circuit board connected to a side of the stage member, and coils which produce a driving force upon a supply of electric current thereto, the coils being fixed to the stage member at an opposite side of the center of the stage member with respect to the control circuit board, and a FPC board between the stationary support plate and the stage member. The stationary support plate is recessed, from a lateral edge of the stationary support plate at which the control circuit board is provided, in a direction toward the coils and includes an FPC board escape recess, in which said FPC board is partially positioned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: PENTAX RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: PENTAX RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD.
  • Patent number: 8488008
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes a lens barrel unit having a photographing optical system, an image pickup unit that is displaced two-dimensionally to correct camera shake, a FPC that has a first extending section connected to the image pickup device and extending on a surface of the lens barrel unit and a second extending section that is bent at an end of the first extending section and fixed to the surface of the lens barrel unit, and a guide plate that guides the first extending section on the surface of the lens barrel unit, wherein when the image pickup unit moves in an X direction, a bent section is bent to absorb an amount of movement in the X direction, and when the image pickup unit moves in a Y direction, the first extending section bends to absorb an amount of movement in the Y direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Olympus Imaging Corp.
    Inventors: Shuhei Kaneko, Keita Takahashi, Masaki Higashiyama
  • Patent number: 8488005
    Abstract: Disclosed is an optical image stabilizer for a camera module using polymer elements which can be moved in a first direction and a second direction in the vicinity of the camera module. The optical image stabilizer includes an upper housing and a lower housing; a printed circuit board having an image sensor; a lens frame having a camera lens retained within the lower housing; first and second drivers disposed in the vicinity of the lens frame for moving the lens frame in first and second directions, respectively; and a movement sensing controller provided within the lower housing for sensing the amount of movement of the lens frame on the basis of the magnitude of a shaking of the camera module, so as to control the lens frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Doo-Sik Shin
  • Publication number: 20130147978
    Abstract: An oscillatory wave drive unit includes at least one vibrator having an electromechanical energy converting element, and at least one supporting member configured to support the at least one vibrator. The oscillatory wave drive unit excites oscillation in the at least one vibrator and moves a moving body in contact with the at least one vibrator by frictional force. The oscillatory wave drive unit includes at least one moving mechanism configured to support the at least one vibrator movably in a plane parallel to the plane where the at least one vibrator and the moving body are in contact with each other, in a second direction intersecting with a first direction in which the at least one vibrator drives the moving body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kaishi Ohashi, Hiroyuki Seki, Takayuki Tsukimoto, Shinji Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8446478
    Abstract: An optical device with an imaging device for forming an image of a subject with a lens device, including a lens unit, a movable member making the lens unit movable within a plane orthogonal to the optical axis of the lens unit, an image pickup device imaging the subject image formed by the lens device, a fixed member limiting the movement of the movable member in the optical axis direction, at least three balls rolling between the movable and fixed member, a vibration detecting unit, and a pitch and yaw direction drive units for driving the movable member in the pitch and yaw directions within the optical axis orthogonal plane, respectively. The pitch and yaw direction drive units press the movable member toward the fixed member side by means of magnetic pressing forces caused by magnetic attractive action between drive magnets and yokes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Noguchi
  • Patent number: 8436908
    Abstract: An optical image stabilization (OIS) system may be used in a camera having an optical system which includes a motion compensating optical element driven by an actuator. The system may include a motion sensor providing a motion signal, a frequency detector for detecting a dominant frequency being that frequency within the motion signal which may produce the most significant motion blurring in the image produced by the camera, and a tunable high-pass filter for filtering the motion signal and supplying the filtered motion signal as an actuator control signal. The tunable high pass filter may be tuned based upon the dominant frequency to a filter characteristic which provides a phase lead substantially canceling a phase lag of the actuator at that frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: Stuart McLeod, Ewan Findlay
  • Publication number: 20130088609
    Abstract: A blur correction device includes: a base body; a holder that holds an optical element; a drive section that moves the holder with respect to the base body in two directions that are orthogonal to a direction of an optical axis of the optical element and that are orthogonal to each other; and a plate spring that couples the base body and the holder to each other and that urges the holder in the optical axis direction to position the optical element with respect to the base body, the plate spring being elastically deformed when the holder is moved with respect to the base body in the two directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hironori Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8416277
    Abstract: A handheld communication device is used to capture a video and stabilize the video during a video chat session. The device has a camera to capture a video during a video chat session that is conducted between a user of the device and a far-end user. The video includes images frames, each of the image frames containing an image of a face of the user. The device detects the position of the face in each image frame. Based on the detected position of the face, a boundary area of each image frame is cropped to produce an output video while the video is being captured. The image of the face stays substantially stationary in the output video. The output video is transmitted to the far-end user during the video chat session. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Michael V. Yeh
  • Patent number: 8416307
    Abstract: A method of motion compensation in a camera may include deriving a motion signal representative of a motion of the camera, processing video frames of a video signal from an image sensor of the camera during a viewfinder mode to derive motion vectors between pairs of frames, and processing the motion signal with a number of combinations of gain and offset factors during the viewfinder mode. The method may also include determining combinations for producing threshold motion vectors, and applying the combination producing the threshold motion vectors for processing the motion signal during a still capture mode to produce a control signal for a motion compensating element for optics of the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: Stuart McLeod
  • Publication number: 20130076923
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a camera shake correction device includes a substrate, a fixed part, a linking part, a movable part, a first spring part, a second spring part, a first damper, and a second damper. The fixed part is provided on the substrate and fixed to the substrate. The linking part is provided around the fixed part on the substrate that can move in a first direction within a plane of the substrate with respect to the fixed part. The movable part is provided on the substrate and arranged around the fixed part and the linking part that can move in a second direction that intersects with the first direction within the plane of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Honam KWON, Kazuhiro SUZUKI, Risako UENO, Hideyuki FUNAKI
  • Patent number: 8405731
    Abstract: A method for compensating hardware misalignments in a camera is presented. The camera includes a maneuverable part and a fixed part, and the maneuverable part is controlled by a steering motor system. In a first step of the method mechanical coordinates from the steering motor system is received, wherein the mechanical coordinates correspond to a pan and tilt position, the pan and tilt position having a complementary pan and tilt position. Next, pre-determined calibration data corresponding to the received mechanical coordinates is read from a memory wherein the pre-determined calibration data describes a relationship between a pan and tilt position and a complementary pan and tilt position, and then compensated coordinates are determined based upon the received mechanical coordinates and the pre-determined calibration data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Axis AB
    Inventor: Martin Nilsson
  • Patent number: 8400516
    Abstract: A image stabilization control circuit is provided that comprises at least one analog-to-digital converter circuit that converts an output signal of a vibration detection element which detects vibration of an imaging device, and an output signal of a position detection element which detects a position of an optical component or an imaging element, into digital signals, and a logic circuit that generates a control signal which drives the optical component or the imaging element, based on the output signal of the vibration detection element which is digitized by the analog-to-digital converter circuit and the output signal of the position detection element which is digitized by the analog-to-digital converter circuit, wherein an offset value and an amplitude for the output signal of the position detection element are adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignees: Sanyo Semiconductor Co., Ltd., Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Yasuhisa Yamada, Yuuki Tashita
  • Patent number: 8395670
    Abstract: An apparatus capable of capturing a still image in a moving image capturing mode includes an instruction unit configured to instruct still image capturing, a vibration detection unit configured to detect vibration applied to the apparatus, a control unit configured to control driving of a correction member in a driving range according to whether still image capturing or moving image capturing is performed, based on an output from the vibration detection unit, a position detection unit configured to detect a position of the correction member, and a determination unit configured to determine a reference position of a range in which the correction member is driven, wherein, if the instruction unit instructs image capturing in the moving image capturing mode, the detected position is set as the reference position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaaki Noguchi
  • Patent number: 8396357
    Abstract: An optical unit with shake correcting function may include a movable module on which an optical element is mounted, a fixed body which supports the movable module, a shake detection sensor which detects a shake of the movable module, a shake correction magnetic drive mechanism which swings the movable module on the fixed body on a basis of a detection result of the shake detection sensor to correct the shake of the movable module, and a spring member which is connected with the fixed body and the movable module. A stopper mechanism may be structured between the movable module and the fixed body, and the stopper mechanism may moving ranges of the movable module due to the shake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Nidec Sankyo Corporation
    Inventors: Katsushige Yanagisawa, Hisahiro Ishihara, Shinji Minamisawa, Yuichi Takei, Tadashi Takeda, Toshiyuki Karasawa, Akihiro Nagata, Kiyoshi Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 8368807
    Abstract: An imaging device having a housed state in which a plurality of optical members of an imaging optical system is housed and a shooting standby state in which at least a part of the optical members is moved on a subject side includes a stage configured to be movable along a plane orthogonal to an optical axis so as to move an imaging element which obtains a subject image by the shooting optical system in the plane, a plurality of optical member holding frames each of which is configured to hold each of the optical members and a lens holding frame driver configured to drive each of the optical member holding frames, the stage includes an engagement hole facing to the shooting optical system, and one of the optical member holding frames includes an engagement projection which is engageable with the engagement hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Ando
  • Patent number: 8369698
    Abstract: The invention provides an image blur correction apparatus including: a tabular base portion; a movable portion that holds an image pickup device and that is movable with respect to the base portion; and a voice coil motor that has a permanent magnet arranged on a face of the base portion that faces the movable portion, and a coil arranged in a region of the movable portion facing the permanent magnet, and that generates a force that moves the movable portion by an electromagnetic force. The base portion is composed of a magnetic body. A tabular second magnetic body portion composed of a magnetic body that, when viewed from the incident light axis direction, occupies a region surrounding the external shape of the permanent magnet is arranged on the base portion side of the permanent magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Olympus Imaging Corp.
    Inventor: Takashi Okamura