Abstract: Two shape memory alloy members d7 and d8 are connected to a movable member. Continuously, one and then the other of the shape memory alloy members d7 is heated alternately by application of a voltage or current thereto so that, by the generated force exerted by one shape memory alloy member d7 deformed by being heated, the other shape memory alloy member d8 is deformed and the movable member is moved. The shape memory alloy members d7 and d8 are made of a Ti—Ni—Cu alloy subjected to heat treatment at 300° C. or higher, and has an operating temperature of 70° C. or higher.

Abstract: An ultrasonic drive apparatus for preventing a slip between an object to be driven and a driving part of the apparatus to drive the object. The driving part includes an elastic member through which vibrations from electrical-mechanical converters are transmitted to the object. The elastic member can deform in a direction in which the object is driven. The driving part makes a predetermined locus to drive the object while the elastic member deforms in the direction so as to absorb the slip between the object and the driving part. The elastic member and the converters are mounted symmetrically relative to an axis which is generally perpendicular to the direction in which the object is driven, so that the object can be driven forward and backward.

Abstract: An actuator using vibration caused by a piezoelectric element. The actuator includes: an driving rod bonded to one of the piezoelectric element; a engaging member for engaging frictionally with the driving rod; and a control circuit for applying the piezoelectric element with a driving voltage. The control circuit is provided with a drive circuit which generates a first set of the driving voltage for driving the engaging member, and with a friction reducing circuit which generates a second set of the driving voltage for reducing a frictional force exerting between the driving rod and the engaging member.

Abstract: A lens-driver for driving a lens for compensating image blur caused by camera shaking has two driving-levers. In each driving-lever, one end is rotatably connected to a lens frame via a holding shaft and the other end is rotatably supported by a rotation shaft. Two driving levers are arranged generally on one straight line, and there is formed a generally perpendicular angle by a line connecting the holding shaft of one driving-lever and an optical center of the lens, and a line connecting the holding shaft of the other driving-lever and the optical center. Another lens-driver has two driving mechanisms. One driving mechanism drives the lens, and the other driving mechanism drives a shutter mechanism or an aperture mechanism. In the lens barrel, one mechanism occupies one half area and the other mechanism occupies the other half area.

Abstract: An actuator using vibration caused by a piezoelectric element. The actuator includes: an driving rod bonded to one of the piezoelectric element; a engaging member for engaging frictionally with the driving rod; and a control circuit for applying the piezoelectric element with a driving voltage. The control circuit is provided with a drive circuit which generates a first set of the driving voltage for driving the engaging member, and with a friction reducing circuit which generates a second set of the driving voltage for reducing a frictional force exerting between the driving rod and the engaging member.

Abstract: Two shape memory alloy members d7 and d8 are connected to a movable member. Continuously, one and then the other of the shape memory alloy members d7 is heated alternately by application of a voltage or current thereto so that, by the generated force exerted by one shape memory alloy member d7 deformed by being heated, the other shape memory alloy member d8 is deformed and the movable member is moved. The shape memory alloy members d7 and d8 are made of a Ti—Ni—Cu alloy subjected to heat treatment at 300° C. or higher, and has an operating temperature of 70° C. or higher.

Abstract: A control device for control an actuator comprises a ‘shape-memory alloy that recovers to prescribed memory dimensions’ and ‘a force application means that applies an external force to the shape-memory alloy and changes its dimensions’ has a pre-heating means that, prior to the control of a driven member by the actuator, pre-heats the shape-memory alloy to a temperature at which the shape-memory alloy begins to change its shape or to a slightly lower temperature relative thereto.

Abstract: A light image shift correcting device is provided with a planar member having a reference surface perpendicular to an optical axis of a focusing optical system, a shift correcting optical member having a flange portion at its periphery, an urger for movably pressing the shift correcting optical member against the reference surface of the planar member at a plurality of parts of the flange portion, a torus type piezoelectric actuator pressed against the flange portion by a part of the urger, and a controller for controlling the torus type piezoelectric actuator. The device can highly precisely control a light image shift correcting optical member despite its simple construction and can be made smaller.

Abstract: An image deviation correcting device and an optical apparatus having such a device. The device includes: a driven part to be driven so as to correct an image deviation; a holder for holding the driven part; a first linkage arranged perpendicular to the optical axis of the driven part, the first linkage having four arms connected in a parallelogram, one of the arms being secured to the holder; a middle part secured to opposite arm thereof; a second linkage overlapped with the first linkage in parallel relation thereto, the second linkage having four arms connected in a parallelogram, one of the arms being secured to the middle part; and a base part secured to opposite arm thereof. The one of the arms of the first linkage is generally perpendicular to the one of the arms of the second linkage.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus is provided with a light sensing unit including a first light sensor including a plurality of light sensing elements provided at specified positions and a second light sensor provided adjacent to the first light sensor and including a group of light sensing elements other than those of the first light sensor; an exposure period setter for setting a first exposure period, and a second and a third exposure periods obtained by dividing the first exposure period; an image generator for generating a first image signal from electric charges accumulated in the respective light sensing elements during the first exposure period in the first light sensor, generating a second image signal from electronic charges accumulated in the respective light sensing elements during the second exposure period in the second light sensor, and generating a third image signal from electric charges accumulated in the respective light sensing elements during the third exposure period in the second light sensor;

Abstract: An actuator applied with shape memory alloy which can be operated in a wide operating temperature range and has a long life time. At a normal ambient temperature, when the first wire of the acting member made of shape memory alloy in which predetermined shape is memorized in advance, is heated, it is transformed to the memorized shape to enable the acting member to be moved. A relative low stress is generated at the first wire and its life-time is not shortened. In the case that the ambient temperature is increased to exceed a transformation starting temperature of the shape memory alloy, the second wire of shape memory alloy is transformed to the memorized shape to generate a high stress at the first wire and to increase the transformation starting temperature of the first wire. With such an arrangement as above, it is possible to operate the actuator applied with the shape memory alloy in a wide operating temperature range.

Abstract: A warp corrector 201, which corrects warp in which the perspective is exaggerated when an image is captured with the user's face at close range, is included in a cellular phone 1 having an imaging portion 2. The warp corrector 201 performs processing to enlarge the peripheral areas of the image relative to the center, and generates corrected image data 232. As a result, a natural image of the user's face can be displayed on the display 11 of the cellular phone or sent.

Abstract: A controller in which an actuator has a shape memory alloy (SMA), for controlling a position of a member driven by the actuator. The controller includes the SMA, a spring coil connected to the SMA, an operation device for calculating a voltage to be supplied to the SMA on the basis of information upon a target position and an actual position of the member, a voltage supplying device for supplying the voltage to the shape memory alloy on a basis of a result of operation performed by the operation device, only when the member is moved in a direction in which the SMA returns to a predetermined length that is memorized by itself.

Abstract: A driving mechanism is disclosed that utilizes a shape-memory alloy. In particular, mechanical components are movably positioned by a member composed of shape-memory alloy, which changes shape when heated. The present invention reduces the number of mechanical components in a driving mechanism, thereby reducing size and improving performance. One of many applications of the present invention is a camera application.

Abstract: An ultrasonic drive apparatus for preventing a slip between an object to be driven and a driving part of the apparatus to drive the object. The driving part includes an elastic member through which vibrations from electrical-mechanical converters are transmitted to the object. The elastic member can deform in a direction in which the object is driven. The driving part makes a predetermined locus to drive the object while the elastic member deforms in the direction so as to absorb the slip between the object and the driving part. The elastic member and the converters are mounted symmetrically relative to an axis which is generally perpendicular to the direction in which the object is driven, so that the object can be driven forward and backward.

Abstract: A driving mechanism for holding and shifting a part to be driven. The mechanism has at least three carrying elements for carrying the part elastically by exerting force upon the part in directions generally perpendicular to an axis of the part, at least one of the carrying elements being of a actuating type including a frictional actuator, the frictional actuator having a contact face for contacting the part under the pressure, the contact face oscillating at high frequency so as to make the part move in a direction almost rectangular to that of exerting the force upon the part.

Abstract: An image deviation correcting device and an optical apparatus having such a device. The device includes: a driven part to be driven so as to correct an image deviation; a holder for holding the driven part; a first linkage arranged perpendicular to the optical axis of the driven part, the first linkage having four arms connected in a parallelogram, one of the arms being secured to the holder; a middle part secured to opposite arm thereof; a second linkage overlapped with the first linkage in parallel relation thereto, the second linkage having four arms connected in a parallelogram, one of the arms being secured to the middle part; and a base part secured to opposite arm thereof. The one of the arms of the first linkage is generally perpendicular to the one of the arms of the second linkage.

Abstract: A lens drive device that is located inside a camera main body and can drive lenses that are interchangeably mounted to the camera main body, said lens drive device having a coupler that transmits the drive force to the lenses, a drive motor that rotates and drives the coupler, a clutch mechanism that connects and disconnects the coupler and the drive motor, and an encoder that detects the amount of rotation of the coupler while the coupler and the drive motor are disconnected by means of the clutch mechanism.

Abstract: A magnetic recording information reading device for reading information magnetically recorded on a film capable of being used in reading the magnetic recording information on the film in a camera. A magnetic head is attached on a movable support member in a direction reverse to a direction of transferring the film and the magnetic head is arranged at a position opposed to a magnetic recording portion on the film. In reading information recorded on the film, the magnetic head is moved in the direction reverse to the direction of transferring the film. Thereby, the magnetic head is moved at a speed faster than a speed of transferring the film and therefore, the recorded information can firmly be read even when the speed of transferring the film is lowered by lowering power source voltage or the like.

Abstract: The present invention aims at providing a driving mechanism which is capable of selectively driving a plurality of driven members by a single drive source, thus being advantageous for minimization of devices. A transmission changeover unit 32 is provided for selectively transmitting a drive force from a motor 31 to a specific one of driven members 33, 34. Transmission changeover is achieved by utilizing a shape change of a shape-memory alloy 64 by heating.