Adjustable Patents (Class 359/822)
  • Patent number: 8362974
    Abstract: Inclination of an image display unit is prevented at the time of using a wearable display unit in which the image display unit can move between a projection position where the image display unit comes in front of a user's eye and a retracted position where the image display unit has been retracted from the front of the user's eye. A display support member 27 is prevented from rotating in relation to a display support member housing part 31 in a direction included in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the display support member 27, even in a state that the display support member can move. To that end, grooves 28a, 28b extending in the longitudinal direction are formed in the display support member 27, while guide rollers 34a, 34a in contact with these grooves are provided within the display support member housing part 31.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Miyake, Shigeru Kato, Masaki Ootsuki
  • Patent number: 8363343
    Abstract: A lens barrel having an eccentricity adjusting mechanism, the lens barrel includes a first lens frame, a second lens frame, an engaging part, a plate spring, a circumferential direction groove, a guiding groove, a screw hole, a set screw, a tool insertion hole. The first lens frame is disposed in an fixed barrel of the lens barrel, integrally holds a plurality of lenses, and has openings on front and rear end of the first lens frame in an optical axis direction. The second lens frame that holds a part of the plurality of lenses to be subjected to eccentricity adjustment and is inserted from one of the openings to be disposed and held in the first lens frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Satoshi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8363341
    Abstract: A fixed-focus lens module includes an outer lens barrel, an inner lens, a first lens, and a second lens group. The outer lens barrel includes a first open end, a first cavity, and a second open end arranged in the order from the object side to the image side of the outer lens barrel. The inner lens barrel is received in the outer lens barrel adjacent to the first open end. The first lens is received in the inner lens barrel. The second lens group is received in the outer lens barrel adjacent to the second open end. An gap is defined between an outer wall of the inner lens barrel and an inner wall of the outer lens barrel at the first open end, and the center axis of the inner lens barrel is adjustable relative to the outer lens barrel for adjusting the alignment between the first lens and the second lens group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chia-Chun Chang, Hou-Yao Lin, Sheng-Jung Yu
  • Patent number: 8358477
    Abstract: A barrel unit includes a barrel, a holding member configured to hold an optical element, a cylindrical member configured to support the barrel and the holding member, and a driving unit configured to generate a thrust by electrifying in a magnetic field formed by a magnet and a yoke a coil fixed onto the cylindrical member and to drive the holding member in an optical axis direction of the optical element by using the thrust. The yoke, the magnet, and the coil are located outside of a part of the cylindrical member which supports the barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Hase
  • Patent number: 8355218
    Abstract: The optical element position adjusting mechanism includes a holding member for holding an outer periphery of an optical element, a fixing portion for pivotally fixing the holding member to adjust the position of the optical element, a clamping portion capable of fixing or releasing the holding member against the fixing portion, a driving section for driving the holding member fixed to the fixing portion by the clamping portion in a pivot direction, and a flexure that is interposed between the clamping portion and the holding member and elastically deforms to guide the holding member driven by the driving section in the pivot direction about the clamping portion. The holding member positioned by the pivot is released from the fixing portion by the clamping portion to restore the flexure to the state prior to being elastically deformed, whereby it is again fixed to the fixing portion by the clamping portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenichi Imanishi
  • Patent number: 8351138
    Abstract: A lens displacement device includes a flexible piece, a fixed element and a mobile element. The flexible piece has a support, a flexible part and an oscillation absorber. The flexible part connects to the support and at least one gap exists between the flexible part and the support. The oscillation absorber is installed in the gap between the flexible part and the support. Moreover, the fixed element couples to the support of the flexible piece, and the mobile element couples to the flexible part of the flexible piece. Furthermore, the flexible part of the flexible piece is deformed in shape for providing a restoration force with the mobile element. A manufacturing process of the flexible piece is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Wah Hong Industrial Corp.
    Inventors: Li-Te Kuo, Chien-Liang Chen, Mei-Ling Lai, Wen-Hsiung Chang
  • Patent number: 8351775
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes a drive ring having a hollow cylindrical shape and a gear by which the drive ring is configured to rotate around an optical axis, and a lens holder configured to move in an optical axis direction relative to the drive ring and to hold a lens and located inside of the drive ring, the lens holder including an arm extending to outside of the drive ring. The drive ring has a notch that extends in a circumferential direction of the drive ring so that the notch cannot overlap the gear. The arm of the lens holder is configured to enter and retreat from the notch of the drive ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryuichi Nagae
  • Patent number: 8351141
    Abstract: A drive device includes a setting unit 12 for setting a control value using a control value-displacement characteristic at a predetermined reference temperature showing a relationship between a control value used to position a movable unit 5 and a displacement of the movable unit 5; a drive unit 20 for supplying drive power corresponding to the control value set by the setting unit 12 to a shape-memory alloy 1 and causing the shape-memory alloy 1 to expand or contract, thereby positioning the movable unit 5; and a correction unit 13 for correcting the control value so as to correct a position shift of the movable unit 5 from a target position resulting from a difference between a control value-displacement characteristic at an ambient temperature and a control value-displacement characteristic at the reference temperature based on the ambient temperature detected by a temperature detection unit 11.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Opto, Inc.
    Inventors: Yasutaka Tanimura, Yasuhiro Honda, Natsuko Shiota, Yoshihiro Hara
  • Publication number: 20130003200
    Abstract: An objective lens assembly is provided, with a sleeve, a first positioning member arranged in the sleeve, which is housed displaceable in longitudinal direction of the sleeve and holds at least one lens, a first adjustment unit which brings the first positioning member into abutment on the inside of the sleeve such that the first positioning member rests against the inside of the sleeve in a first linear contact area and at the same time the displaceability of the first positioning member is maintained. More than one positioning member can be utilized along with multiple lenses and can utilize simple mechanical structures (e.g., blind- and through-holes and pins or shanks) and/or magnetic or magnetisable materials to maintain a desired position of the sleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: CARL ZEISS MICROIMAGING GMBH
    Inventors: Ingo Fahlbusch, Georg Herbst, Dieter Boening
  • Publication number: 20120314310
    Abstract: The lens barrel includes a flexible wire, a first supporting frame and a second supporting frame. The flexible wire has a first end with at least one terminal, a second end with at least one terminal and a bent portion disposed between the first and second ends. The bent portion includes a plurality of part overlapping each other. The first supporting frame supports the first end. The second supporting frame is movably disposed in a first direction with respect to the first supporting frame and supports the bent portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi IWASAKI, Tetsuya Uno
  • Patent number: 8320063
    Abstract: An actuator capable of attaining two-dimensional positioning with a simple configuration includes an electromechanical transducer 11 which makes mechanical displacement in accordance with a voltage applied thereto, a driving shaft 12 which is axially displaced and inclined by the mechanical displacement of the electromechanical transducer 11, a movable member 13 which frictionally engages on the driving shaft 12, and a driving circuit for superposing a direct-current driving voltage leading to an inclination of the driving shaft 12 at a desired angle at a low rate of change preventing slide displacement of the movable member 13 relative to the driving shaft 12 and an alternating driving voltage for causing axial vibrations of the driving shaft 12 so as to cause slide displacement of the movable member 13 relative to the driving shaft 12 and applying the superposed voltages to the electromechanical transducer 11.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Opto, Inc.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Shibatani
  • Patent number: 8314994
    Abstract: A scope having a zoom mechanism that includes a cam tube holding an optical train of lenses whose relative positions change when said cam tube is rotated, causing an image seen through the scope to expand or contract. A gear is in contact to said cam tube and is positioned so as to rotate said cam tube when said gear is rotated. Finally, an actuator is positioned on a side of said scope and operatively connected to said gear so that said actuator causes said gear to turn when a user moves said actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: YT Products, LLC
    Inventors: Mitchell Thomas, Forrest Babcock, Mark A. Thomas
  • Patent number: 8305701
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a connecting arrangement for an optical device, such as in microlithography. The connecting arrangement includes a first body, a second body and a connecting device. The first body contacts the second body in a laminar manner in a contact region. The connecting device is connected to the second body and contacts the first body via at least one contact unit. The connecting device is configured to generate a predefinable contact force in the contact region between the first body and the second body. The contact unit includes a plurality of separate contact elements. Each contact element is connected to the second body via a spring unit which can be elastically deformed to generate a contribution to the contact force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH
    Inventors: Heiko Methe, Willi Heintel, Sascha Licht
  • Patent number: 8305696
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improved inner focusing zoom lens barrel that implements a zoom ratio as high as 15×±? and that ensures a well-balanced cam configuration for the smooth zooming and focusing. The inner focusing zoom lens barrel includes a fixed barrel; a focusing cam barrel, a linear shuttle barrel, and a first cam barrel laid one over another in this order inside the fixed barrel; and a zoom linkage ring, a second cam barrel, and a 1st-lens-group sliding barrel laid one over another in this order outside the fixed barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Tamron Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoshi Todani
  • Patent number: 8300334
    Abstract: A variable power lens, having first and second lens groups, includes first and second lens group support frames, a linear guide ring, first and second lens group drive rings which rotate to move the first and second lens group support rings in the optical axis direction relative to the linear guide ring, a drive ring coupler which couples the first and second lens group drive rings with each other to prevent relative rotation therebetween while allowing relative movement therebetween in the optical axis direction; and a drive-ring movement controller which integrally rotates the first and second lens group drive rings via the drive ring coupler without relatively moving in the optical axis direction when a power-variation operating member is operated, and moves one of the first and the second lens group drive rings in the optical axis direction without rotating when a focus operating member is operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Pentax Ricoh Imaging Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazunori Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8300333
    Abstract: A lens barrel and a photographing apparatus including the lens barrel include a clutch assembly disposed on a plane orthogonal to an optical axis between a manual adjustment ring and a distance adjustment ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidemasa Ozawa, Shi-hong Park
  • Patent number: 8295696
    Abstract: A camera module includes a barrel, a movable lens movable in the barrel in an optical axis direction, an imaging device that captures an image of a subject viewed through the movable lens and an actuator that changes the distance between the movable lens and the imaging device. The actuator has a first power feed terminal at one end thereof and a second power feed terminal at the other end thereof. The first terminal is attached on the side where the movable lens is present. The second terminal is attached on the side where the barrel is present. The actuator bends when electric power is fed to each of the first and second terminals and changes the distance between the movable lens and the imaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuomi Murakami, Nobuyuki Nagai
  • Patent number: 8284503
    Abstract: A large optics stand provides a risk free means of safely tilting large optics with ease and a method of safely tilting large optics with ease. The optics are supported in the horizontal position by pads. In the vertical plane the optics are supported by saddles that evenly distribute the optics weight over a large area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Marion Jay Ayers, Shannon Lee Ayers
  • Patent number: 8284504
    Abstract: A lens fixing device includes a lens holder having a lens (lens area) made of a resin, and a mounting portion. The lens holder has two projections. Each of the two projections is formed with a guide surface and a mounted surface. A line of intersection of an extension of the guide surface of the projections and an extension of the mounted surface of the projections in a plane direction is aligned with an optical axis of the lens area. The lens holder is positioned with respect to a plane direction orthogonal to the optical axis by contact of the guide surfaces with receiving surfaces of the mounting portion. The lens holder is fixedly attached by an adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Kano, Kenji Asano, Shigeki Hori
  • Patent number: 8279534
    Abstract: A lens driving device has a motor mounted to a plate, a lead screw connected to the motor for undergoing rotation about an axial line thereof, a nut threadingly engaged with the lead screw, and a casing mounted to the plate for housing the lead screw and the nut. The nut has a convex protruding portion protruding outwardly from an outer peripheral surface of the nut. The casing has a fitting groove linearly formed in the casing in a direction of the axial line for receiving the protruding portion in a state in which the protruding portion is fitted in the fitting groove so as to regulate rotation of the nut, and for movably guiding the protruding portion in the fitted state in the direction of the axial line to move the nut back and forth along the lead screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Tadashi Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 8279398
    Abstract: A deforming mechanism for deforming a transmissive optical element comprises a rotation member configured to hold the optical element and to rotate around an axis parallel to a tangential line of a circumference of the optical element at a portion where the rotation member holds the optical element, so as to deform the optical element by the rotation, a torque generating unit configured to generate a torque to rotate the rotation member around the axis, a holding base, and an elastic member connecting the holding base to the torque generating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Sato
  • Patent number: 8274747
    Abstract: An exemplary piezoelectric actuator includes a fixed barrel, a movable barrel in the fixed barrel, a piezoelectric driving module, a flexible circuit board on the fixed barrel, a bracing sheet, and a preloading module. The movable barrel receives a lens module. The driving module drives the movable barrel to move relative to the fixed barrel along an optical axis of the lens module. The driving module includes a piezoelectric member on the fixed barrel, and a friction member on the movable barrel and opposite to the friction member. The flexible circuit board is electrically connected with the piezoelectric member. The sheet is attached around the flexible circuit board. The preloading module is between the fixed barrel and the movable barrel. The preloading module is opposite to the piezoelectric driving module for exerting a pressure on the movable barrel, thereby making the friction member resist against the piezoelectric member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ting-Yuan Wu, Chi-Wei Chiu
  • Patent number: 8270053
    Abstract: A holding mechanism for a long length optical element, which extends in a main scanning direction that is a movement direction of a deflected luminous flux by an optical deflector, and leads the deflected luminous flux to a scanned surface, includes; a holding member which is placed in a sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction and holds the long length optical element in at least two places. The holding member has, an adjusting section which deflects the long length optical element in the sub-scanning direction and controls a tilt of the long length optical element in a sub-scanning cross-section and/or occurrences of a tilt distribution in a longitudinal direction in the sub-scanning cross-section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Taku Amada, Hiromichi Atsuumi
  • Patent number: 8259403
    Abstract: An objective comprises: a first group including a plurality of lens groups arranged at a predetermined interval; a second group composed of a single lens-group; a pressing ring which is screwed in, the pressing ring being for fixing the first group; and an outer frame accommodating the first group, the second group, and the pressing ring, wherein the outer frame includes a first hole at a position facing the second group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Masashi Kuwahara, Noriyuki Sugizaki
  • Patent number: 8254046
    Abstract: Provided is a camera module that includes a lens section comprising at least one lens, a coil section fixed to the lens section and comprising wiring terminals, a magnet section comprising a permanent magnet, an inner yoke, and an outer yoke, wherein the inner yoke and the outer yoke induce a magnetic force line to pass through the coil section, and a terminal extension section comprising a first terminal and a second terminal that electrically extend from the wiring terminals of the coil section to the outside of the camera module and surround the magnet section so that the first terminal and the second terminal are externally exposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: McNex Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jang-Ho Lim
  • Patent number: 8254044
    Abstract: The size of a driving apparatus to be mounted in a mobile terminal is desired to be reduced. In a driving apparatus according to the present invention, an arm member supports a member to be driven in a slidable manner. A first biasing member has a predetermined spring constant and biases the member to be driven via the arm member. A second biasing member has a spring constant that is smaller than the spring constant of the first biasing member and, by biasing the member to be driven in a direction that goes against the first biasing member, supports the member to be driven along with the arm member. A shape-memory alloy swings the arm member against the first biasing member by contracting when a drive current is supplied. The member to be driven is slid, when the arm member swings, by the second biasing member while keeping contact with the arm member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Toki Corporation
    Inventor: Koichi Shibata
  • Patent number: 8254043
    Abstract: A barrel includes a supporting part at one end of the barrel adjacent to an image side, and a plurality of protrusions formed on an inner surface of the barrel. Each protrusion includes a guiding surface and an engaging surface connected with the guiding surface. Each guiding surface is oblique relative to a central axis of the barrel. A distance between the central axis and a portion of the guiding surface adjacent to the image side is larger than that between the central axis and another portion of the guiding surface next to an object side. The engaging surface and the supporting part cooperatively clamp optical components in the barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chien-Feng Huang
  • Patent number: 8248721
    Abstract: A lens driving device includes a fixed housing, a movable lens holder movably received in the fixed housing, a base mounted to the fixed housing, a guide rod, and a piezoelectric actuator. The fixed housing has an opening defined at a corner thereof. The lens holder has a through hole formed therein, and the through hole is arranged opposite to the opening, a central axis of the through hole is parallel with an optical axis of the lens. The guide rod extends through the through hole, two ends of the guide rod coupled to the fixed housing and the base. The piezoelectric actuator is fixedly arranged in the opening of the fixed housing and in contact with an outer side surface of the lens holder. The piezoelectric actuator is deformable in itself along the optical axis thereby driving the lens holder to move along the guide rod in the first receiving space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sung-Ching Wu
  • Patent number: 8243373
    Abstract: When the lens barrel is in the storage state, a part of a lens group and a group cylinder are inserted into an aperture of a diaphragm unit and a shutter blade of a shutter unit is closed for light shielding. With this arrangement, the cylinder length in the storage state is shortened, and the performance degradation of an image sensor and optical components provided on a front side of an image sensor can be prevented as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toru Ishimasa
  • Patent number: 8238048
    Abstract: An exemplary camera module includes a barrel, a holder, and an resilient member. The holder is loosely threadedly coupled to the barrel. The holder has a central axis. The resilient member is positioned between the barrel and the holder. The resilient member is configured for exerting a first elastic force to the barrel and a second elastic force to the holder so that the barrel is fixed with the holder. The first and second elastic forces are in a direction parallel to the central axis of the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chai-Wei Lee, Hou-Yao Lin, Sheng-Jung Yu
  • Publication number: 20120197442
    Abstract: Embodiments of the subject invention relate to a method and apparatus for stabilizing a moveable element of a device. In an embodiment, a device is provided including a base, an element capable of moving relative to the base, and at least one actuator. Each actuator of the at least one actuator is configured such that when the actuator is driven the actuator moves into a hold position, wherein the actuator limits movement of the element. In a particular embodiment, the at least one actuator holds the element, or a portion of the element, at a particular position, angle, and/or attitude. In an embodiment, the at least one actuator is used to limit movement of the element when the device is turned off. The at least one actuator can be positioned to allow greater movement of the element when the device is turned on.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC.
    Inventors: HUIKAI XIE, Karl R. Zawoy
  • Publication number: 20120182620
    Abstract: A medical device includes an elongate member having a proximal end, a distal end, a body extending between the proximal end and the distal end, and a lumen located within the body, and a rotor rotatably supported in the lumen, the rotor having an opening for allowing light to pass theretherough, wherein the rotor is rotatable about an axis that extends through the opening, wherein the elongate member further has a region for allowing an output light to exit therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: POINCARE SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Anthony Van LE, Nicholas John RICHARDI, Clifford Jeffrey LIN
  • Publication number: 20120182631
    Abstract: A device includes a rotor having a proximal end, a distal end, and a body extending between the proximal and distal ends, wherein the rotor has an opening extending from the proximal end, the rotor being rotatable about an axis that extends through the opening, and wherein the rotor has a port with a port axis that forms an angle relative to the axis, the angle having a value that is larger than zero and less than 180°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: POINCARE SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Anthony Van LE, Nicholas John RICHARDI, Clifford Jeffrey LIN
  • Publication number: 20120182632
    Abstract: A lens device includes a fixed lens, a rotatable lens barrel, and a base. The fixed lens includes at least one cam groove which has an opening portion. The rotatable lens barrel is sleeved within the fixed lens. The rotatable lens barrel includes at least one cam follower. The cam follower enters the cam groove through the opening portion and moves along the cam groove. The base is assembled to the fixed lens. The base includes at least one protruding structure. The protruding structure extends to the cam groove through the opening portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: ABILITY ENTERPRISE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: WEN-CHIEH CHENG
  • Patent number: 8223445
    Abstract: The present invention provides an optical analyzer having illumination optics that include a light source, such as a laser or other source, adapted to emit a collimated, or approximately collimated, light beam, and a focusing lens that focuses the beam onto a focus spot within a detection region, wherein the focusing lens is mounted in a lens positioning apparatus that allows for precise positioning of the focus spot within the detection region. The lens positioning apparatus comprises a lens holder adapted to rotate through a small angle around a pivot axis parallel to the optical path, such that the lens holder rotates in a plane perpendicular to the optical path, and an actuator adapted to provide an angular displacement of the lens holder around the pivot axis. The lens holder holds the focusing lens at a first distance from the pivot axis, and is coupled to the actuator at a second distance from the pivot axis, wherein the second distance is larger than the first distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Cytopeia
    Inventor: Ger van den Engh
  • Patent number: 8213100
    Abstract: A lens drive device may include a movable body holding a lens and a drive mechanism for driving the movable body in the optical axis direction. The drive mechanism may include a drive magnet part formed in a substantially triangular prism shape which is disposed at least one of four corners of the lens drive device, a drive coil wound around in a substantially triangular tube shape so that its inner peripheral face is oppositely disposed to an outer peripheral face of the drive magnet part through a gap space, and a magnetic member which is disposed on an object side with respect to the drive coil. The magnetic member is attracted toward an intermediate position of the drive magnet part in the optical axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Nidec Sankyo Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuki Wade, Akihito Wada
  • Publication number: 20120162789
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a first lens barrel, a second lens barrel disposed side by side with the first lens barrel in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of the first lens barrel, a reference metal sheet including a mounted surface portion mounted on a surface perpendicular to the optical axis of the first lens barrel and a reference surface portion facing an optical axis direction, an adjustment metal sheet including a base surface portion mounted on a surface perpendicular to an optical axis of the second lens barrel and an adjustment surface portion facing an optical axis direction and positioned side by side with the reference surface portion in state of being separated in the optical axis direction, and an adjustment section changing a direction of the adjustment surface portion to reference surface portion and adjusting a direction of optical axis of second lens barrel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuyuki Nakayama, Yu Numabe
  • Patent number: 8208210
    Abstract: A camera module with double barrels, which has an anamorphic lens structure, includes: a first lens barrel containing a plurality of lenses and at least one anamorphic lens for focusing an image of an object at a position inside the camera module; a second lens barrel surrounding a portion of the first lens barrel and separately rotating from the first lens barrel; a housing coupled in a screwed manner to the second lens barrel for focusing of the first lens barrel; and a circuit board on which an image sensor for converting the image received by the first lens barrel to an electrical signal is provided and which is electrically connected to the camera module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Bok Sun An, Moon Do Yi, Oleg Konevsky
  • Publication number: 20120154936
    Abstract: According to example embodiments, a lens positioning unit includes a fixed structure, a monolithic flexure hinge structure, any one of upper and lower portions of which is provided with a lens mount on which a lens is mounted and the other portion of which is secured to the fixed structure, and an input unit rotatably coupled to the fixed structure, the input unit serving to convert rotational motion into vertical translational motion so as to transmit the vertical translational motion to the upper or lower portion of the monolithic flexure hinge structure provided with the lens mount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sang Hyun Park, In Bae Jang
  • Patent number: 8189279
    Abstract: A two-dimensional adjusting structure and a projection apparatus comprising the two-dimensional adjusting structure are provided. The two-dimensional adjusting structure comprises a first base, a second base, and a first slide rod and a second slide rod which extend along a first axis and a second axis respectively. The first slide rod is fixed to the first base. The second slide rod is adapted to move along the first axis with respect to the first slide rod by fitting the first slide rod into a first slide hole of the second slide rod. The second base is adapted to move along the second axis with respect to the second slide rod by receiving the second slide rod within a second slide hole. Thereby, the second base is adapted to move with respect to the first base upon a plane along the first axis and the second axis to adjust the relative position of a second object and a first object disposed on the first base and the second base respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Ching-Ling Chen
  • Patent number: 8189268
    Abstract: A lens unit is equipped with a lens, through which light from an object enters, and a lens barrel for holding the lens. An optical extending member is employed when observing a focal image of the lens with a microscope. A receiving portion having a receiving surface, for receiving a front end facet of the optical path extending member within the lens barrel that faces toward the lens, is formed at a portion of the lens barrel. A mounting portion positioned further rearward from a rear end facet of the optical path extending member, having a guide insertion aperture that extends in a direction perpendicular to the receiving surface and a mounting surface that extends in a direction parallel to the receiving surface is formed at the periphery of the guide insertion aperture is formed at a portion of the lens barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Aoki, Yoichi Iwasaki, Kenji Hoshino, Takayuki Matsuura
  • Publication number: 20120127445
    Abstract: An optical isolation assembly (30) for reducing the transmission of vibration from an optical barrel (25) to an optical element assembly (28) includes an optical mover assembly (256), a first measurement system (258), a second measurement system (260), and a control system (24). The optical mover assembly (256) moves, positions and supports the optical element assembly (28) relative to the optical barrel (25). The first measurement system (258) generates one or more first measurement signals that relate to the relative position between the optical element assembly (28) and the optical barrel (25). The second measurement system (260) generates one or more second measurement signals that relate to the absolute movement of the optical element assembly (28) along the first axis. The control system (24) controls the optical mover assembly (256) utilizing the first measurement signals and the second measurement signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Inventors: Akimitsu Ebihara, Yi-Ping Hsin, Kunitomo Fukai, Hideyuki Hashimoto, Bausan Yuan
  • Patent number: 8184382
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus which makes it possible to achieve reduction of the size in the optical axis direction thereof, and easily maintain the accuracy of rectilinear guidance between lenses. A cam barrel rotatable around an optical axis has a cam for controlling motion of a lens unit along the optical axis. A rectilinear motion guide unit rectilinearly guides the lens unit. The rectilinear motion guide unit has a rectilinear motion barrel fitted in the cam barrel for rectilinearly guiding the lens unit, and a rectilinear motion member that is rectilinearly guided by a rectilinear motion guide member disposed around the rectilinear motion barrel and is connected to the rectilinear motion barrel. The cam barrel is sandwiched from front and rear in a direction along the optical axis by the rectilinear motion guide unit, and is movable together therewith along the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenichi Katano
  • Publication number: 20120120507
    Abstract: A device may comprise a flexure formed of a first semiconductor material. A first trench may be formed in the flexure. The first trench may separate the first semiconductor material into a first portion and a second portion thereof. An oxide layer may be formed in the first trench. The oxide layer may extend over a top portion of the first semiconductor material. A second semiconductor material may be formed on the oxide layer. The first trench and the oxide layer may cooperate to electrically isolate the first portion and the second portion from one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: Tessera MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Roman C. Gutierrez, Ankur Jain
  • Patent number: 8179621
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for manipulation of an optical element (7) in up to six degrees of freedom with respect to a structure (8) via at least three actuator devices (9). The actuator devices (9) each have at least two force-controlled actuators, which each produce an effective force along one degree of freedom, with linking points (11) of the actuator devices (9) acting directly on the optical element (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Muehlbeyer, Johannes Lippert
  • Patent number: 8172408
    Abstract: A lens position adjusting mechanism includes a lens, a lens attachment frame that includes a lens holding portion for holding the rim of the lens, and a holding case that sandwiches the lens attachment frame movably in a plane direction perpendicular to an optical axis of the lens. The lens attachment frame includes a shaft portion on the periphery of the lens holding portion, functioning as a fulcrum at a time when the lens attachment frame moves in the plane direction. The holding case includes a shaft supporting portion for supporting the shaft portion and frame guide grooves for sandwiching the lens attachment frame. The position of the lens is adjusted by operating a lug portion by fingers or the like with the shaft portion as a fulcrum. Then the adjusted position is fixed by injecting an adhesive into wedge spaces formed of opposing adhesion grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hiromi Fujiwara, Shigeru Matsumoto, Hiroki Koba
  • Publication number: 20120105985
    Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting a location of an optical element includes: a first barrel having a hollow cylindrical shape; a second barrel having a hollow cylindrical shape to support the optical element and rotatably coupled to the first barrel; a distance maintaining unit installed between the first barrel and the second barrel in a first region of the first barrel and maintaining a distance between the first barrel and the second barrel in the first region when the second barrel rotates relative to the first barrel; and a guiding unit installed between the first barrel and the second barrel in a second region of the first barrel and guiding a movement of the second barrel to change a relative position of the second barrel with respect to the first barrel in the second region when the second barrel rotates relative to the first barrel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoon-seok Kang
  • Patent number: 8154809
    Abstract: A lens apparatus includes a first lens barrel member and a second lens barrel member coupled with the first lens barrel member via a cam mechanism. The first lens barrel member includes a stopper portion and a gear portion. The stopper portion comes into contact with a first contact surface formed in the second lens barrel member, when the first lens barrel member protruding from the second lens barrel member in the optical axis direction receives the external force from a front end side of the first lens barrel member in its protruding direction, to restrict a displacement of the first lens barrel member with respect to the second lens barrel member due to the external force. The gear portion comes into contact with a second contact surface formed in the second lens barrel member to restrict the displacement due to the external force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Kudoh
  • Publication number: 20120069458
    Abstract: A rotation assist assembly is an assembly for assisting the rotation of a rotary adjustment member included in a lens barrel, and includes a base portion and a grip portion. The base portion is configured to be wound around the rotary adjustment member along a rotation direction of the rotary adjustment member. The grip portion is coupled to the base portion in the rotation direction, and a user's finger is placed on this grip portion when rotating the rotary adjustment member. A first maximum dimension from a rotational center of the rotary adjustment member to an outer face of the grip portion in a radial direction of the rotary adjustment member is greater than a second maximum dimension from the rotational center to a radial outer face of the base portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kisaburo KUROBE, Jiro Muratsu, Hidemitsu Suyama
  • Publication number: 20120070118
    Abstract: An optical lens of an optical connector includes alignment features for passive connection alignment. Fiber inserted into the lens is aligned with a fiber groove that restricts motion in at least one direction to align the fiber. The lens includes an alignment feature to passively align the lens with a mating alignment feature of a mating connector. The groove may, for example, be L-, V-, or U-shaped. The alignment feature can be a post with corresponding recess. Alignment can further be secured with a tab that constrains pivoting of the connectors when engaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Inventor: Jamyuen Ko