Mechanical Mechanism For Displacement Of Exposure Objective Patents (Class 396/144)
  • Patent number: 11745657
    Abstract: A vehicular camera includes a lens assembly and a circuit board having a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The circuit board has a first coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). An imager is disposed at the first side of the circuit board and optically aligned with the lens assembly. A bend-countering element is disposed at the second side of the circuit board. The bend-countering element has a second CTE that is greater than the first CTE of the circuit board. The bend-countering element counters temperature-induced bending of the circuit board. With the camera disposed at the vehicle, temperature-induced bending of the bend-countering element is in an opposite direction from temperature-induced bending of the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Magna Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Yuesheng Lu, Steven V. Byrne
  • Patent number: 11719997
    Abstract: An optical element driving mechanism includes an optical element, a fixed assembly, a movable assembly, and a driving assembly. The optical element has an optical axis. The movable assembly is movably with respect to the fixed assembly and configured to hold the optical element. The driving assembly is configured to drive the movable assembly to move relative to the fixed assembly. When viewed along the optical axis, the optical element driving mechanism with a rectangular structure has a long side and a short side, and a length of the long side is not equal to a length of the short side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: TDK TAIWAN CORP.
    Inventors: Fu-Yuan Wu, Sin-Hong Lin, Che-Hsiang Chiu, Sin-Jhong Song
  • Patent number: 11693213
    Abstract: An optical system includes a fixed module, a movable module and a driving assembly. The movable module moves relative to the fixed module, and the movable module includes a lens unit which includes a first lens, a second lens, a first side wall and a second side wall. The first side wall has a first surface, which directly contacts the second lens, and the second side wall directly contacts the first lens. A portion of the driving assembly is directly disposed on the lens unit, configured to drive the lens unit to move along an optical axis of the first lens. The first side wall further has a second surface opposite to the first surface, and the second surface directly contacts the portion of the driving assembly. The thickness of the first side wall is different from the thickness of the second side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: TDK TAIWAN CORP.
    Inventors: Chih-Wei Weng, Chia-Pin Hsu, Shao-Kuang Huang, Kun-Shih Lin, Shou-Jen Liu, Sin-Jhong Song
  • Patent number: 11635672
    Abstract: A vehicular camera includes a lens barrel accommodating a lens and having at least two radial protrusions protruding radially outward at or near an inner end of the lens barrel. A lens holder includes a passageway for receiving the inner end of the lens barrel and has at least two slots extending longitudinally from a board end of the lens holder. The lens barrel is received in the lens holder and the board end of the lens holder is attached at an imager printed circuit board with the imager facing the lens. The radial protrusions are movable within the slots while the lens barrel is adjusted relative to the imager to align the lens at the imager. After the lens is aligned relative to the imager, the radial protrusions within the slots are welded to the lens holder to secure the lens barrel relative to the imager printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Matthew C. Sesti, Robert A. Devota, Donald W. Mersino, Gavin E. Skrocki
  • Patent number: 11598929
    Abstract: A terminal device includes: a housing; a screen arranged on the housing; a first lens arranged in the housing and disposed on a back of the screen; and a turnover module arranged on the hack of the screen in the housing and configured to change an orientation of the first lens, so that the first lens faces towards a first direction or a second direction of the screen, the second direction being different from the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Changyu Sun
  • Patent number: 11356596
    Abstract: Proposed are a new and improved imaging device, imaging device control unit, and imaging method capable of stably adjusting various parameters of the imaging device without significantly changing the design of the imaging device. Provided is an imaging device including a rotating shaft insertion portion allowed to be attached to and detached from a housing, a rotating shaft having an operation member being inserted into the rotating shaft insertion portion, a rotation amount detector that detects a rotation amount of the rotating shaft, and a controller that controls a control target based on the rotation amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tetsuji Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 11079566
    Abstract: An optical apparatus that is easy to assemble and prevents occurrence of an assembling failure. The optical apparatus includes an operation ring part having at least a focus ring and a zoom ring arranged along an optical axis and are rotatable thereabout. Encoders detect rotations of the focus ring and the zoom ring, respectively. A transmission mechanism is moved in accordance with rotation of the zoom ring and transmits rotation of the zoom ring to the encoder therefor. A regulation member regulates a range of rotation of the zoom ring to a predetermined angle range. When assembling the operation ring part, the encoders are inserted from the same direction, and the encoder for the focus ring is disposed in a range excluding an angle range through which the transmission mechanism is moved when the zoom ring is rotated through the predetermined angle range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuko Iritani
  • Patent number: 10502927
    Abstract: A modular lens system for use with a camera system and connected therewith. The lens system including modular sections configured to include one or more lenses and/or an aperture. The one or more lenses are controlled by one or more motors to enhance focus, softness, and/or size and other optical characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Panavision International, L.P.
    Inventors: David William Macintosh, Daniel Keith Sasaki
  • Patent number: 10302179
    Abstract: A switching apparatus for a driving system includes a motor, a first function unit, a second function unit and a power switching unit. The power switching unit includes a planetary gear set connected to the motor and driven by the motor and a swinging mechanism connected to the planetary gear set and driven by the planetary gear set. The power switching unit is switchable between a first position, where the power switching unit is drivingly connected to the first function unit, and a second position, where the power switching unit is drivingly connected to the second function unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignees: HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kao-Hung Lin, Ping-Yi Chen
  • Patent number: 10302899
    Abstract: A lens barrel which is miniaturized without complicating control over a drive unit which moves a plurality of optical members in a direction of an optical axis. A cam member is cam-engaged with each of a first optical member and a second optical member which move in the direction of the optical axis. The cam member is rotated about an axis parallel to the optical axis by a cam action of the cam member and the first optical member, which is driven to move in the direction of the optical axis by a linear actuator. Rotation of the cam member causes the second optical member to move in the direction of the optical axis due to a cam action of the second optical member and the cam member. The axis is arranged at an opposite position to the linear actuator with the optical axis as a center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kaori Miyoshi
  • Patent number: 10254506
    Abstract: A lens apparatus of the present invention includes an optical unit that moves integrally in a direction of an optical axis and a biasing unit that applies a first force and a second force to the optical unit at different positions around the optical axis. In the lens apparatus, a direction of a component of the first force in the optical axis direction and a direction of a component of the second force in the optical axis direction are opposite to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuhei Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9791660
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a camera body of which a manual focus mode can be easily switched. A lens barrel includes an imaging optical system, a first operation ring, a second operation ring, and first and second sensors. The first sensor detects the rotation of the first operation ring and the rotation angle and the rotational direction of the first operation ring. The second sensor detects the angular position of the second operation ring. The imaging optical system includes a focus lens. A camera body includes a body control unit. The body control unit selectively executes a first manual focus mode in which the focus lens is moved according to the rotational direction and the rotation angle detected by the first sensor and a second manual focus mode in which the focus lens is moved according to the angular position detected by the second sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Yukitaka Takeshita, Mitsuhiko Oka, Yuichi Kawanabe, Yi Pan, Shinji Otsuka, Kazuyoshi Azegami
  • Patent number: 9678411
    Abstract: Devices and methods disclosed here can include a floating action camera mount. The floating action camera mount can include a vessel having an exterior surface. The vessel can be floatable in a liquid. A camera mount can be coupled to the exterior surface of the vessel for attaching an action camera to the floating action camera mount. At least one positioning weight can be coupled along the vessel. For instance, the positioning weight can be adjustably positionable along the exterior surface of the vessel between a first weight location and a second weight location. In the first weight location, the vessel, and correspondingly the camera mount, can be positioned in a first orientation with respect to a surface of the liquid. In the second weight location, the vessel, and correspondingly the camera mount, can be positioned in a second orientation with respect to the surface of the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: BBY SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Kenneth Harden
  • Patent number: 9366945
    Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a float capable of mounting a camera device including an antenna to enable underwater photography with less limitation to the arrangement of the antenna. The float includes a recess 3 acting as a first camera device mounting section at a side to be immersed in water. The first camera device mounting section is provided for mounting a first camera device 101. The float has buoyancy to provide a protruding section 5 protruding upwardly from water's surface A when the float is floating on the water's surface A in a state of mounting the first camera device 101 in the recess 3. The float, including the protruding section 5, between the protruding section 5 and an antenna 104 equipped on the first camera device 101 mounted in the recess 3 is composed of a material capable of transmitting a radio wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignees: SINTAI OPTICAL (SHENZHEN) CO., LTD., ASIA OPTICAL CO., INC.
    Inventors: Kunihiko Kanai, Kentaro Hara
  • Patent number: 9291800
    Abstract: A lens apparatus includes, in order from an object side: a first lens unit; an aperture stop; and a positive second lens unit. The first lens unit includes, in order from the object side, a first negative lens, a second negative lens having at least one aspheric surface, and a positive lens. The second lens unit includes at least one negative lens and at least two positive lenses. The first and second negative lenses of the first lens unit are meniscus lenses having a surface convex toward the object side. The focal length of the optical system, the focal lengths of the first and second lens units, the mean values of Abbe constants of the positive lens and the negative lenses of the first lens unit, and the mean values of Abbe constants of the positive lenses and the negative lenses of the second lens unit are appropriately configured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yu Inomoto, Yosuke Eguchi, Yotaro Sanjo
  • Patent number: 9280035
    Abstract: A photographic flash attachment apparatus. The apparatus includes a sleeve configured to be fixed to a photographic flash, a ring configured to engage with the sleeve, and one or more attachment mechanisms coupled with the ring adapted to receive one or more photographic attachment elements. Upon attachment of one or more photographic attachment elements to the ring via the one or more attachment mechanisms, rotation of the ring provides rotation of the one or more photographic attachment elements relative to the photographic flash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Inventor: Yishai Shapir
  • Patent number: 9207425
    Abstract: An exemplary lens barrel includes a hollow main body and an abutting portion formed on an outer wall of the hollow main body. The hollow main body includes a first upper end at an object side, and a first lower end at an image side. The hollow main body also includes a central axis passing through the first upper end and the first lower end. The hollow main body further includes an outer screw thread. The outer screw thread is located between the first upper end and the abutting portion. The outer screw thread is spaced apart from the abutting portion. The abutting portion is a closed ring-shaped protrusion extending outwardly from the outer wall along a circumstance of the hollow main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chien-Nan Lai
  • Patent number: 9204023
    Abstract: A motor is provided, the motor including a PCB supplying a control signal and an electric power, a housing arranged at an upper surface of the PCB and mounted therein with at least one lens, an actuator arranged on the housing, first and second electronic circuit patterns formed on a surface opposite to the PCB and on an external wall, where the PCB and the first electronic circuit pattern are directly coupled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hack Ho Kim, HyunKyu Park
  • Patent number: 8976461
    Abstract: The lens barrel includes a first frame, a second frame configured to be rotatably supported by the first frame, a drive actuator that is disposed on the inside of the second frame, and a transmission mechanism disposed on the inside of the second frame and configured to transmit the drive force of the drive actuator to the second frame. The imaging device includes the above-mentioned lens barrel and an imaging element that converts an optical image formed by this lens barrel into image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Koga
  • Patent number: 8952579
    Abstract: Provided are a lens driving motor and an elastic member of the lens driving motor. The elastic member of a lens driving motor, the elastic member includes a first spring and a second spring. The second spring is different from the first spring and disposed together with the first spring on one side of a carrier to support the carrier. A first lead line of a coil and a first external power source are connected to the first spring, and a second lead line of the coil and a second external power source are connected to the second spring to supply power to the coil. Since the carrier can be assembled to other part after a (+) lead line and a (?) lead line of the coil are connected to the first and second springs, respectively, using solder, a process is simple and convenient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Soo Jin Jung
  • Patent number: 8903234
    Abstract: A novel micro camera module that is manually adjustable between a close-up mode and an infinite mode includes a lens assembly adjustably mounted within a sleeve that is adjustably mounted into a housing. In a particular embodiment the sleeve includes a channel (cam groove) that is engaged by a plurality of pins fixed to the housing. Further, a biasing member is disposed between the sleeve and the housing such that an upward force will enable the pins to firmly engage the lower portion of the channel. In a more particular embodiment, the channel defines two detents that secure the sleeve into predetermined positions with respect to the housing. In an even more particular embodiment, the channel is sloped such that upon rotation of the sleeve, the distance between the lens assembly and an image capture device is changed. In another particular embodiment, the camera module includes an electrical mode detecting switch that is indicative of the position of the camera module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation
    Inventors: John W. Toor, Elaine B. Bogue, Ellen B. Cargill, Kraig S. Clark
  • Patent number: 8830602
    Abstract: Provided is a focusing apparatus for an optical device, the focusing apparatus including a lead screw rotatably installed in the optical device, a carriage screw-coupled to the lead screw to move in a longitudinal direction of the lead screw in response to rotation of the lead screw, a lens barrel receiving at least one lenses and moving along the longitudinal direction of the lead screw, and a bridge extending from an outer circumferential surface of the lens barrel to enclose the carriage, in which the bridge moves the lens barrel in response to movement of the carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Joong-Wan Park
  • Patent number: 8731389
    Abstract: This invention provides an electro-mechanical auto-focus function for a smaller-diameter lens type that nests, and is removably mounted, within the mounting space and thread arrangement of a larger-diameter lens base of a vision camera assembly housing. In an illustrative embodiment, the camera assembly includes a threaded base having a first diameter, which illustratively defines a C-mount base. A motor-driven gear-reduction drive assembly is mounted internally, and includes teeth that engage corresponding teeth on the outer diameter of a cylindrical focus gear, which has an internal lead screw. The focus gear is freely rotatable, and removably captured, within the threaded C-mount base in a nested, coaxial relationship. The internal lead screw of the focus gear threadingly engages the external threads of a coaxial lens holder. This converts the drive gear rotation into linear/axial lens holder motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Cognex Corporation
    Inventor: Robert Gainer
  • Patent number: 8712230
    Abstract: The lens barrel includes a first frame, a second frame, a drive actuator, and a transmission mechanism. The second frame includes a substantially cylindrical main body and a gear portion. The gear portion is disposed on the inner peripheral part of the main body. The gear portion transmits the drive force of the drive actuator via the transmission mechanism. The transmission mechanism includes a first transmission gear portion that engages with the gear portion, and a second transmission gear portion that is provided coaxially with the first transmission gear portion. The transmission mechanism includes a clutch. The clutch can temporarily disengage the transmission of the drive force between the first transmission gear portion and the second transmission gear portion. The imaging device includes the above-mentioned lens barrel and an imaging element that converts an optical image formed by the above-mentioned lens barrel into image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Koga
  • Patent number: 8693861
    Abstract: The lens barrel includes a first frame, a second frame, a drive actuator, and a transmission mechanism that transmits the drive force of the drive actuator. The second frame includes a substantially cylindrical main body, a gear portion, and cam grooves that include an inflection point in the range in which the zoom ratio of the optical system is varied. The transmission mechanism includes a first transmission gear portion that engages with a gear, a second transmission gear portion that is provided coaxially with the first transmission gear portion, and a clutch between the first transmission gear portion and the second transmission gear portion. The clutch temporarily disengages the drive force of the drive actuator transmitted to the first transmission gear portion, only with respect to rotation in one direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Koga
  • Patent number: 8665534
    Abstract: The lens barrel includes a first frame, a second frame configured to be rotatably supported by the first frame, a drive actuator that is disposed on the inside of the second frame, and a transmission mechanism disposed on the inside of the second frame and configured to transmit the drive force of the drive actuator to the second frame. The imaging device includes the above-mentioned lens barrel and an imaging element that converts an optical image formed by this lens barrel into image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Koga
  • Patent number: 8654461
    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: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang Hyun Park, In Bae Jang
  • Patent number: 8649110
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes a fixed frame, a rotary frame provided inside the fixed frame, a first frame provided inside the rotary frame, an electronic component provided inside the first frame, and a flexible printed circuit board connected, at one end thereof, to the electronic component and connected, at the other end thereof, to the fixed frame. A gear part is provided at an outer circumferential surface of the rotary frame. In the first frame, a first protrusion outwardly protruding beyond the gear part in a radial direction about the optical axis is provided at a position corresponding to the flexible printed circuit board in a circumferential direction about the optical axis on a side of the gear part opposite to the object in the optical axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Manabu Kobayashi, Atsushi Hasegawa, Toshiyuki Nakada
  • Publication number: 20140016920
    Abstract: An additional knurled ring for an optical lens is composed of an annular portion and teeth distributed in a radial direction around the outside of the annular portion. The inner diameter and shape of the additional knurled ring match the outer diameter and shape of an adjusting ring of the optical lens. The additional knurled ring is movably connected with the outside of the adjusting ring of the optical lens. Since the additional knurled ring for the optical lens can be extended towards the front of the lens and beyond the front end of the optical lens, the interference of stray light with the imaging of the optical lens is blocked. Digital scale designations are engraved or printed on the outside of the additional knurled ring for optical lens, the position of the scale and the values of the designations are corresponding to the focal length, aperture, and focal range information of the optical lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: Shenzhen Pchood Technology Co.,Ltd
    Inventor: Jin Luo
  • Patent number: 8629582
    Abstract: Provided are a lens driving motor and an elastic member of the lens driving motor. The elastic member of a lens driving motor, the elastic member includes a first spring and a second spring. The second spring is different from the first spring and disposed together with the first spring on one side of a carrier to support the carrier. A first lead line of a coil and a first external power source are connected to the first spring, and a second lead line of the coil and a second external power source are connected to the second spring to supply power to the coil. Since the carrier can be assembled to other part after a (+) lead line and a (?) lead line of the coil are connected to the first and second springs, respectively, using solder, a process is simple and convenient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Soo Jin Jung
  • Patent number: 8606096
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes a lens holding frame that holds a lens unit that is movable in an optical axis direction, a first guide member that guides the lens holding frame in the optical axis direction, a drive shaft that extends in the optical axis direction, a slider that includes a pressure contact portion that slidably contacts the drive shaft in a longitudinal direction and a coupling portion that is coupled to the lens holding frame, a second guide member that guides the slider in the optical axis direction, a vibration element that is provided on one of the drive shaft and the slider, a drive case that holds the drive shaft and the second guide member, and a cover member that is fixed on the drive case to cover the pressure contact portion of the slider and protrude the coupling portion to an outside of the cover member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kaori Hiruta
  • Patent number: 8588602
    Abstract: An auto focus module of an image capture device is provided. The auto focus module comprises at least one gear, a nut, a lead screw and a driver. The gear has at least one first extension and a first through hole. The nut has at least one second extension and a second through hole. The lead screw penetrates the first through hole and the second through hole. The driver drives the lead screw and the gear so that the lead screw and the gear move relatively along the axis of the lead screw. The nut and the gear terminate approaching toward each other after the first extension and the second extension lean against each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Ability Enterprise Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Cheng-Nan Chiang
  • Publication number: 20130287383
    Abstract: In a camera module, a lens for forming an image on an imaging element having a rectangular light receiving surface is formed in a shape obtained by removing a peripheral portion of a circular lens, such as a generally oval shape, and a cylindrical lens barrel coaxially holding the lens is formed in a shape conforming to that of the lens. A part of a focal adjustment actuator is disposed in a space created on a side of the lens barrel in correspondence with the removed portion of the lens, whereby reduction in size of the entirety of the camera module is promoted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi HARUGUCHI, Hiroshi GOTOH
  • Patent number: 8565592
    Abstract: A novel micro camera module includes a lens assembly adjustably mounted within a graduated receiver portion of a housing. The lens assembly slidably contacts the graduated receiver portion when the lens assembly is moved a distance along an axis perpendicular to the sensor array of an image capture device of the camera module. Further, a resilient ring-shaped member can be coupled between the lens assembly and the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation
    Inventors: John W. Toor, Elaine B. Bogue, Ellen B. Cargill, Kraig S. Clark
  • Patent number: 8559807
    Abstract: A lens barrel of the present invention includes: a first barrel; a second barrel capable of relative rotation around an optical axis with respect to the first barrel; a focusing lens; a drive portion that drives the focusing lens; a rotational operation member that can move in the optical axis direction to a first position, and a second position; and an engagement portion that, when the rotational operation member is at the second position, causes the second barrel and the rotational operation member to engage with each other and rotates the second barrel accompanying rotation of the rotational operation member, and when the rotational operation member is at the first position, disengages the second barrel and the rotational operation member from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Olympus Imaging Corp.
    Inventors: Mitsuru Toyama, Takeshi Ito, Tamotsu Koiwai
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8531788
    Abstract: A lens device includes a main body unit, a guiding shaft unit, a lens unit, a focus adjusting unit and a resilient component. The guiding shaft unit includes three parallel guiding shafts disposed in the main body unit. The lens unit includes a lens frame disposed in the main body unit and having three guiding portions that receive slidably and respectively the guiding shafts, and a lens mounted co-movably in the lens frame. The focus adjusting unit is disposed in the main body unit and includes a driven member abutting against the lens frame and driven by a driving member for driving the lens unit to slide along the guiding shafts. The resilient component is disposed for biasing resiliently the lens frame toward the driven member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Asia Optical Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Chiao-Sen Hsu
  • Patent number: 8519574
    Abstract: Provided are a lens driving motor and an elastic member of the lens driving motor. The elastic member of a lens driving motor, the elastic member includes a first spring and a second spring. The second spring is different from the first spring and disposed together with the first spring on one side of a carrier to support the carrier. A first lead line of a coil and a first external power source are connected to the first spring, and a second lead line of the coil and a second external power source are connected to the second spring to supply power to the coil. Since the carrier can be assembled to other part after a (+) lead line and a (?) lead line of the coil are connected to the first and second springs, respectively, using solder, a process is simple and convenient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Soo Jin Jung
  • Patent number: 8493504
    Abstract: A camera module according to one embodiment of this invention has a sensor substrate, a lens holder, and a shield being fixed to the lens holder. The lens holder is composed of a tubular portion including a lens and a top board having an opening. The lens holder is fixed by a second adhesive provided more inside than an edge of the sensor substrate. The shield has a tubular portion and a top board. The tubular portion is composed of a small-diameter portion, a step portion, and a large-diameter portion. The shield is disposed so that the step portion is in contact with a portion between the edge of the sensor substrate and the second adhesive, and, at the same time, the top board of the lens holder is located in an opening formed in the top board of the shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Masaru Kobayashi, Tatsuhiko Hagihara
  • Publication number: 20130163975
    Abstract: A lens barrel of the present invention includes: a first barrel; a second barrel capable of relative rotation around an optical axis with respect to the first barrel; a focusing lens; a drive portion that drives the focusing lens; a rotational operation member that can move in the optical axis direction to a first position, and a second position; and an engagement portion that, when the rotational operation member is at the second position, causes the second barrel and the rotational operation member to engage with each other and rotates the second barrel accompanying rotation of the rotational operation member, and when the rotational operation member is at the first position, disengages the second barrel and the rotational operation member from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP.
    Inventor: Olympus Imaging Corp.
  • Publication number: 20130136439
    Abstract: This invention discloses a focusing mechanism and an image pickup device using the same. The focusing mechanism comprises a driving barrel and a focusing lens-barrel. The driving barrel is a hollow barrel structure having at least three direction convex dots formed in an opening at an end of the driving barrel and extending towards the axial center of the driving barrel. The focusing lens-barrel is a hollow barrel structure disposed in the driving barrel and having at least three barrel grooves formed on an external wall of the focusing lens-barrel and corresponding to the at least three direction convex dots respectively. Each direction convex dot is inserted into its respective barrel groove. When the driving barrel is rotated, the at least three barrel grooves of the focusing lens-barrel are towed by the at least direction convex dots to axially move the focusing lens-barrel in the driving barrel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Inventor: Hong-Bin KOH
  • Publication number: 20130129335
    Abstract: This invention provides an electro-mechanical auto-focus function for a smaller-diameter lens type that nests, and is removably mounted, within the mounting space and thread arrangement of a larger-diameter lens base of a vision camera assembly housing. In an illustrative embodiment, the camera assembly includes a threaded base having a first diameter, which illustratively defines a C-mount base. A motor-driven gear-reduction drive assembly is mounted internally, and includes teeth that engage corresponding teeth on the outer diameter of a cylindrical focus gear, which has an internal lead screw. The focus gear is freely rotatable, and removably captured, within the threaded C-mount base in a nested, coaxial relationship. The internal lead screw of the focus gear threadingly engages the external threads of a coaxial lens holder. This converts the drive gear rotation into linear/axial lens holder motion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: COGNEX CORPORATION
    Inventor: Robert Gainer
  • Publication number: 20130077949
    Abstract: The lens barrel includes a first frame, a second frame, a drive actuator, and a transmission mechanism. The second frame includes a substantially cylindrical main body and a gear portion. The gear portion is disposed on the inner peripheral part of the main body. The gear portion transmits the drive force of the drive actuator via the transmission mechanism. The transmission mechanism includes a first transmission gear portion that engages with the gear portion, and a second transmission gear portion that is provided coaxially with the first transmission gear portion. The transmission mechanism includes a clutch. The clutch can temporarily disengage the transmission of the drive force between the first transmission gear portion and the second transmission gear portion. The imaging device includes the above-mentioned lens barrel and an imaging element that converts an optical image formed by the above-mentioned lens barrel into image data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Akira KOGA
  • Patent number: 8376555
    Abstract: A projector includes a casing, a light source disposed in the casing and capable of providing an illumination beam, a light valve disposed in the casing and capable of converting the illumination beam into an image beam, a lens disposed in the casing and adapted to project the image beam, and the lens collar module. The lens collar module includes a fitting part and a lens collar. The fitting part is formed on the casing, and has a fitting opening and a first bump. The lens collar has a fitting periphery and a second bump. The fitting periphery is fitted to the fitting opening, the lens collar is adapted to be rotated and translated relative to the casing along an axial direction. Engagement of the first bump and the second bump limits rotation and translation of the lens collar relative to the casing along the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventors: Chia-Tien Chen, Li-Pin Hsu
  • Publication number: 20120321289
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes a lens holding frame that holds a lens unit that is movable in an optical axis direction, a first guide member that guides the lens holding frame in the optical axis direction, a drive shaft that extends in the optical axis direction, a slider that includes a pressure contact portion that slidably contacts the drive shaft in a longitudinal direction and a coupling portion that is coupled to the lens holding frame, a second guide member that guides the slider in the optical axis direction, a vibration element that is provided on one of the drive shaft and the slider, a drive case that holds the drive shaft and the second guide member, and a cover member that is fixed on the drive case to cover the pressure contact portion of the slider and protrude the coupling portion to an outside of the cover member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kaori HIRUTA
  • Patent number: 8320055
    Abstract: A lens barrel showing a satisfactory property in assembly and a high dust-proof and drip-proof performance includes: a first member; a lens holding frame configured to hold lens units moving in an optical axis direction to either zoom or focus the lens units; and an elastic member held between respective optical-axis-orthogonal surfaces of the first member and the lens holding frame, wherein the elastic member can be compressed in the optical axis direction during a zooming or focusing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takumi Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 8314877
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes: at least one lens group which constitutes an imaging optical system; a lens frame which retains the at least one lens group; and a retaining frame which retains the lens frame, the at least one lens group being capable of moving from a collapse position to a photographable position, at least one cam member being arranged between the lens frame and the retaining frame, and tilt of the lens frame relative to the retaining frame being changed by moving the at least one cam member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuya Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 8314520
    Abstract: Provided are a lens driving motor and an elastic member of the lens driving motor. The elastic member of a lens driving motor, the elastic member includes a first spring and a second spring. The second spring is different from the first spring and disposed together with the first spring on one side of a carrier to support the carrier. A first lead line of a coil and a first external power source are connected to the first spring, and a second lead line of the coil and a second external power source are connected to the second spring to supply power to the coil. Since the carrier can be assembled to other part after a (+) lead line and a (?) lead line of the coil are connected to the first and second springs, respectively, using solder, a process is simple and convenient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Soo Jin Jung
  • Patent number: 8289637
    Abstract: A focus adjustment device for adjusting a focus state of a projection lens unit in an image projection apparatus is provided. The focus adjustment device includes a focus adjustment member rectilinearly movable in a first direction; a rotational shaft; a first movement-converting member for converting a rectilinear movement of the focus adjustment member into a rotary movement of the rotational shaft; and a second movement-converting member for converting the rotary movement of the rotational shaft into in a rectilinear movement of the projection lens unit along a focusing direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Boing-jo Kang, Jun-seok Park, Sang-ik Kim
  • 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