Patents by Inventor Fujio Kanai

Fujio Kanai has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10491825
    Abstract: An imaging unit of the disclosure includes an imaging lens including a first lens group and a second lens group that are disposed in order from object side toward image side, and an imaging device that converts an optical image formed by the imaging lens into an electric signal. The second lens group and the imaging device are rotationally moved integrally to allow the second lens group and the imaging device to be tilted with respect to an optical axis of the first lens group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaki Tamura, Daigo Katsuragi, Yasuhide Nihei, Fujio Kanai, Kazuki Sakae
  • Publication number: 20180131874
    Abstract: An imaging unit of the disclosure includes an imaging lens including a first lens group and a second lens group that are disposed in order from object side toward image side, and an imaging device that converts an optical image formed by the imaging lens into an electric signal. The second lens group and the imaging device are rotationally moved integrally to allow the second lens group and the imaging device to be tilted with respect to an optical axis of the first lens group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: MASAKI TAMURA, DAIGO KATSURAGI, YASUHIDE NIHEI, FUJIO KANAI, KAZUKI SAKAE
  • Patent number: 8265479
    Abstract: A camera module advantageous in simplifying an assembly process is provided. A camera module 22 includes a barrel unit 66 having a housing space S; a lens holding unit 68 which holds an imaging optical system 34, which is housed in the housing space S, and which is supported such that the lens holding unit 68 is movable along an optical axis of the imaging optical system 34; an image pickup element 29 which is disposed in the barrel unit 66 and which picks up an object image guided by the imaging optical system 34; and a driving unit 72 which moves the lens holding unit 68 along the optical axis of the imaging optical system 34. The barrel unit 66 includes an inner barrel 80 in which the housing space S is formed and an outer barrel 78 disposed outside the inner barrel 80. A retaining plate 86 includes a front plate portion 86A and two side plate portions 86B.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Imai, Mitsuru Ichikawa, Fujio Kanai, Atsushi Horidan, Takahiro Okabe
  • Patent number: 8228420
    Abstract: A lens driver includes: an imaging lens; a housing accommodating the lens; a spring member provided between the lens and the housing and holding the lens in the housing movably in the optical axis direction; a coil moving the lens in the optical axis direction; a magnet spaced apart from the coil and moving the lens in the optical axis direction; and a yoke fixed to the magnet and having an L-shaped cross-section when taken along a plane including the optical axis, wherein the yoke is disposed in such a way that an L-shaped corner side is located on the opposite side to the position of the lens where the reaction force of the spring member resulting from the movement of the lens is maximized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Ugawa, Fujio Kanai
  • Patent number: 7978969
    Abstract: A camera module (22) that is advantageous in increasing the endurance and impact resistance is provided. The camera module (22) includes a barrel unit (66), a lens holding unit (68), springs (70), an image pickup element (29), and a driving unit (72). The barrel unit (66) includes a front barrel (78) and a rear barrel (80). The driving unit (72) moves the lens holding unit (68) along an optical axis of an imaging optical system (34), and includes magnets (74) and coils (76). The two magnets (74) are disposed on the lens holding unit (68) at positions having the optical axis therebetween and extend parallel to a single imaginary plane which passes through the optical axis. The coils (76) are respectively disposed on the barrel unit (66) at two positions where the coils (76) face the magnets (74).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Horidan, Satoshi Imai, Mitsuru Ichikawa, Takahiro Okabe, Fujio Kanai
  • Publication number: 20100150545
    Abstract: A camera module advantageous in simplifying an assembly process is provided. A camera module 22 includes a barrel unit 66 having a housing space S; a lens holding unit 68 which holds an imaging optical system 34, which is housed in the housing space S, and which is supported such that the lens holding unit 68 is movable along an optical axis of the imaging optical system 34; an image pickup element 29 which is disposed in the barrel unit 66 and which picks up an object image guided by the imaging optical system 34; and a driving unit 72 which moves the lens holding unit 68 along the optical axis of the imaging optical system 34. The barrel unit 66 includes an inner barrel 80 in which the housing space S is formed and an outer barrel 78 disposed outside the inner barrel 80. A retaining plate 86 includes a front plate portion 86A and two side plate portions 86B.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Imai, Mitsuru Ichikawa, Fujio Kanai, Atsushi Horidan, Takahiro Okabe
  • Publication number: 20100079660
    Abstract: A lens driver includes: an imaging lens; a housing accommodating the lens; a spring member provided between the lens and the housing and holding the lens in the housing movably in the optical axis direction; a coil moving the lens in the optical axis direction; a magnet spaced apart from the coil and moving the lens in the optical axis direction; and a yoke fixed to the magnet and having an L-shaped cross-section when taken along a plane including the optical axis, wherein the yoke is disposed in such a way that an L-shaped corner side is located on the opposite side to the position of the lens where the reaction force of the spring member resulting from the movement of the lens is maximized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Ugawa, Fujio Kanai
  • Publication number: 20100046935
    Abstract: A camera module (22) that is advantageous in increasing the endurance and impact resistance is provided. The camera module (22) includes a barrel unit (66), a lens holding unit (68), springs (70), an image pickup element (29), and a driving unit (72). The barrel unit (66) includes a front barrel (78) and a rear barrel (80). The driving unit (72) moves the lens holding unit (68) along an optical axis of an imaging optical system (34), and includes magnets (74) and coils (76). The two magnets (74) are disposed on the lens holding unit (68) at positions having the optical axis therebetween and extend parallel to a single imaginary plane which passes through the optical axis. The coils (76) are respectively disposed on the barrel unit (66) at two positions where the coils (76) face the magnets (74).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Horidan, Satoshi Imai, Mitsuru Ichikawa, Takahiro Okabe, Fujio Kanai
  • Patent number: 7602439
    Abstract: A lens unit includes: a lens barrel; a movable section including a movable lens and configured to be moved in an optical axis direction relative to the lens barrel; a linear actuator including a drive magnet and a drive coil and configured to move the movable section in the optical axis direction by supplying a current to the drive coil; and a pair of biasing blade springs including holding portions for holding the movable section, a plurality of spring portions biasing the movable section in the optical axis direction, and attachment portions to be attached to the lens barrel. One of the biasing blade springs is formed with two spring members through which the current is supplied to the drive coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuo Makii, Motoshige Ito, Hideo Okamoto, Takeshi Takizawa, Takatoshi Uneme, Keishi Iwana, Satoshi Imai, Fujio Kanai
  • Patent number: 7486882
    Abstract: A lens unit includes a lens barrel, an imaging system arranged therein; a movable part having a movable lens, moved in an optical axis with respect to the lens barrel; a linear actuator for moving the movable part in the optical axis direction; and a biasing plate spring having a holding section that holds the movable part, spring sections that can be resiliently deformed and bias the movable part in the optical axis direction, and attached sections that are attached to the lens barrel, the thickness direction of the plate spring coinciding with the optical axis, wherein the holding section of the biasing plate spring is formed into a circular arc; and at least a portion of the spring sections of the plate spring are formed into a shape extending in a direction substantially along the holding section on the outer peripheral side of the holding section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Okita, Mitsuru Ichikawa, Takatoshi Uneme, Fujio Kanai
  • Patent number: 7460781
    Abstract: The invention easily photographs a subject from plural directions collectively. When a picture photographing instruction and a moving picture photographing instruction are inputted in a master digital still camera 3 set as a master of photographing for a subject 2, the invention transmits picture photographing instruction data D13 and moving picture photographing instruction data D18 to slave digital still cameras 4A to 4N, subjects the subject 2 to picture photographing and moving picture photographing according to the picture photographing instruction data D13 and the moving picture photographing instruction data D18 with the slave digital still cameras 4A to 4N, and generates and records slave picture-photographed image data D25 and slave moving-picture-photographed image data D26 corresponding to a photographed image of the subject 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Fujio Kanai, Mitsuru Mura, Toshiaki Ueda
  • Patent number: 7433136
    Abstract: A lens unit includes a lens barrel having an imaging optical system arranged therein and a movable unit having a movable lens, the movable unit being movable in an optical axis direction with respect to the lens barrel. The lens barrel includes a first member and a second member adapted to be coupled together in a coupling direction. Fixing pieces are provided on the first member and the second member, respectively, and fixing means is filled between the fixing pieces when the first member and the second member are coupled together. The respective fixing pieces are provided in positions at which a force is applied in a direction in which the fixing means is compressed by the respective fixing pieces when a force is applied to the first member and the second member in a direction in which the first member is released from the second member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuru Ichikawa, Takatoshi Uneme, Atsushi Okita, Fujio Kanai
  • Publication number: 20070097527
    Abstract: A lens unit includes a lens barrel having an imaging optical system arranged therein and a movable unit having a movable lens, the movable unit being movable in an optical axis direction with respect to the lens barrel. The lens barrel includes a first member and a second member adapted to be coupled together in a coupling direction. Fixing pieces are provided on the first member and the second member, respectively, and fixing means is filled between the fixing pieces when the first member and the second member are coupled together. The respective fixing pieces are provided in positions at which a force is applied in a direction in which the fixing means is compressed by the respective fixing pieces when a force is applied to the first member and the second member in a direction in which the first member is released from the second member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Publication date: May 3, 2007
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuru Ichikawa, Takatoshi Uneme, Atsushi Okita, Fujio Kanai
  • Publication number: 20070086770
    Abstract: A lens unit includes a lens barrel, an imaging system arranged therein; a movable part having a movable lens, moved in an optical axis with respect to the lens barrel; a linear actuator for moving the movable part in the optical axis direction; and a biasing plate spring having a holding section that holds the movable part, spring sections that can be resiliently deformed and bias the movable part in the optical axis direction, and attached sections that are attached to the lens barrel, the thickness direction of the plate spring coinciding with the optical axis, wherein the holding section of the biasing plate spring is formed into a circular arc; and at least a portion of the spring sections of the plate spring are formed into a shape extending in a direction substantially along the holding section on the outer peripheral side of the holding section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2006
    Publication date: April 19, 2007
    Inventors: Atsushi Okita, Mitsuru Ichikawa, Takatoshi Uneme, Fujio Kanai
  • Publication number: 20060181632
    Abstract: A lens unit includes: a lens barrel; a movable section including a movable lens and configured to be moved in an optical axis direction relative to the lens barrel; a linear actuator including a drive magnet and a drive coil and configured to move the movable section in the optical axis direction by supplying a current to the drive coil; and a pair of biasing blade springs including holding portions for holding the movable section, a plurality of spring portions biasing the movable section in the optical axis direction, and attachment portions to be attached to the lens barrel. One of the biasing blade springs is formed with two spring members through which the current is supplied to the drive coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Publication date: August 17, 2006
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuo Makii, Motoshige Ito, Hideo Okamoto, Takeshi Takizawa, Takatoshi Uneme, Keishi Iwana, Satoshi Imai, Fujio Kanai
  • Publication number: 20060165405
    Abstract: The invention easily photographs a subject from plural directions collectively. When a picture photographing instruction and a moving picture photographing instruction are inputted in a master digital still camera 3 set as a master of photographing for a subject 2, the invention transmits picture photographing instruction data D13 and moving picture photographing instruction data D18 to slave digital still cameras 4A to 4N, subjects the subject 2 to picture photographing and moving picture photographing according to the picture photographing instruction data D13 and the moving picture photographing instruction data D18 with the slave digital still cameras 4A to 4N, and generates and records slave picture-photographed image data D25 and slave moving-picture-photographed image data D26 corresponding to a photographed image of the subject 2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Publication date: July 27, 2006
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Fujio Kanai, Mitsuru Mura, Toshiaki Ueda
  • Patent number: 6646833
    Abstract: A magnetic head device in which magnetic head elements can follow the signal recording surface of the first or second magnetic disc 6, 23. To this end, the magnetic head device includes a head unit 121 for recording/reproducing information signals for the first or second magnetic disc 6, 23, and a supporting arm 122 having a first portion 131 for supporting said head portion, a second portion 132 mounted on a supporting arm holding portion and a third portion 133 interconnecting said first and second portions 131 and 132. The first to third portions 131 to 133 of the supporting arm 122 are of different shapes so as to have different physical properties to follow the first or second magnetic disc 6, 23 under a desired condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Fujio Kanai, Koji Takahashi, Hitoshi Saito, Yutaka Soda