Abstract: An image pickup apparatus that can be reduced in weight and size while ensuring gimbal control with high accuracy. The image pickup apparatus comprises an image pickup device through which an optical axis of an optical lens passes, a zoom lens barrel, supported by a connection part, which changes a focal length by moving the optical lens in an optical axis direction, and a first drive device including one end to which the connection part is fixed, which rotates the zoom lens barrel about an axis substantially orthogonal to the optical axis via the connection part, wherein in the optical axis direction with reference to the image pickup device, as a center of gravity of an assembly including all components connected to the one end moves due to the focal length change, the connection part moves to follow a movement of the center of gravity.

Abstract: A drive device compact in size and capable of moving an optical component with a large stroke while ensuring a required thrust. A movable section holds the optical component. A coil is disposed in one of a fixed section and the movable section, and first and second magnet sections are arranged in the other of them with a predetermined spacing in an optical axis direction of the optical component with the coil interposed therebetween. The drive device moves the movable section in a first direction orthogonal to the optical axis direction. When viewed from the optical axis direction, a distance in the first direction from the optical axis of the optical component to the polarization line of the first magnet section is different from a distance in the first direction from the optical axis to the polarization line of the second magnet section.

Abstract: A drive device compact in size and capable of moving an optical component with a large stroke while ensuring a required thrust. A movable section holds the optical component. A coil is disposed in one of a fixed section and the movable section, and first and second magnet sections are arranged in the other of them with a predetermined spacing in an optical axis direction of the optical component with the coil interposed therebetween. The drive device moves the movable section in a first direction orthogonal to the optical axis direction. When viewed from the optical axis direction, a distance in the first direction from the optical axis of the optical component to the polarization line of the first magnet section is different from a distance in the first direction from the optical axis to the polarization line of the second magnet section.

Abstract: A driving apparatus which is capable of detecting a position with a long stroke and ensuring large driving thrust. The driving apparatus has a fixed member, a movable member, a coil, a position detector that detects a position of the movable member, and a first magnet unit and a second magnet unit that are placed with the coil interposed therebetween. The position detector and the coil are placed on one of the fixed member and the movable member, and the first magnet unit and the second magnet unit are placed on the other one. The second magnet unit has a concave portion in a central part of a surface facing the position detector. The position detector is placed closer to the second magnet unit than to the first magnet unit.

Abstract: An image blur correction device includes a base member and a lens holder. The lens holder holds a correction lens and is supported by a rolling ball to be capable of movement to the base member. The base member has a receiving part of the rolling ball and the lens holder has a restricting part of the rolling ball. The restricting part has a concave shape deeper than the diameter of the rolling ball, and a first ball receiving surface part is provided in the concave part. A second ball receiving surface part is provided in the receiving part that faces the restricting part and enters the concave part and the rolling ball is interposed between the first ball receiving surface part and the second ball receiving surface part.

Abstract: A driving apparatus which is capable of detecting a position with a long stroke and ensuring large driving thrust. The driving apparatus has a fixed member, a movable member, a coil, a position detector that detects a position of the movable member, and a first magnet unit and a second magnet unit that are placed with the coil interposed therebetween. The position detector and the coil are placed on one of the fixed member and the movable member, and the first magnet unit and the second magnet unit are placed on the other one. The second magnet unit has a concave portion in a central part of a surface facing the position detector. The position detector is placed closer to the second magnet unit than to the first magnet unit.

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.

Abstract: An image blur correction device includes a base member and a lens holder. The lens holder holds a correction lens and is supported by a rolling ball to be capable of movement to the base member. The base member has a receiving part of the rolling ball and the lens holder has a restricting part of the rolling ball. The restricting part has a concave shape deeper than the diameter of the rolling ball, and a first ball receiving surface part is provided in the concave part. A second ball receiving surface part is provided in the receiving part that faces the restricting part and enters the concave part and the rolling ball is interposed between the first ball receiving surface part and the second ball receiving surface part.

Abstract: An image stabilization apparatus includes a first optical element configured to move in a direction different from an optical axis, a first driver including a first magnet magnetized in a first magnetized direction and a first coil and configured to drive the first optical element by an electromagnetic action, a second optical element configured to move in a direction different from the optical axis, and a second driver including a second magnet magnetized in a second magnetized direction and a second coil and configured to drive the second optical element by an electromagnetic action. The first magnet is disposed outside a second area onto which the second magnet is projected in the second magnetized direction and the second magnet is disposed outside a first area onto which the first magnet is projected in the first magnetized direction.

Abstract: An image stabilization apparatus includes a first optical element configured to move in a direction different from an optical axis, a first driver including a first magnet magnetized in a first magnetized direction and a first coil and configured to drive the first optical element by an electromagnetic action, a second optical element configured to move in a direction different from the optical axis, and a second driver including a second magnet magnetized in a second magnetized direction and a second coil and configured to drive the second optical element by an electromagnetic action. The first magnet is disposed outside a second area onto which the second magnet is projected in the second magnetized direction and the second magnet is disposed outside a first area onto which the second magnet is projected in the first magnetized direction.

Abstract: In an image shake correction device in which a lens holder holding an image shake correcting lens is supported by a ball, the image shake correcting lens is driven in such a manner that the ball does not make sliding contact with the lens holder or does not contact a ball restriction portion during still image capturing. The image shake correction device permits the ball to contact the ball restriction portion during moving image capturing.

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.

Abstract: An image stabilization unit includes a lens holder that holds a correction lens and is relatively movably provided with respect to a base member, first and second drive devices or a drive device group that drive the lens holder, and three supports that support the lens holder relative to the base member.

Abstract: In an image shake correction device in which a lens holder holding an image shake correcting lens is supported by a ball, the image shake correcting lens is driven in such a manner that the ball does not make sliding contact with the lens holder or does not contact a ball restriction portion during still image capturing. The image shake correction device permits the ball to contact the ball restriction portion during moving image capturing.

Abstract: A lens barrel is configured to adjust a position of an adjusted lens in the direction of an optical axis with respect to another lens. The lens barrel includes a lens frame configured to retain the adjustment lens and a base frame configured to adjustably retain the lens frame. The lens frame includes a first adjustment stepped surface including a plurality of adjustment surfaces that are adjacently disposed in the direction of rotation of the lens frame and are provided with different heights, and a second adjustment stepped surface. The second adjustment stepped surface is disposed at a position exhibiting a 180 degree rotational phase from the position of the first adjustment stepped surface. The base frame includes a support surface configured to abut with the first adjustment stepped surface and the second adjustment stepped surface.

Abstract: An image blur compensation device detects the shake of an apparatus and compensates image blur by means of a mechanism for rotating an image sensor about an axis perpendicular to the imaging plane of the image sensor. A rotary member for holding the image sensor is rotatably held by a base member. The rotary member and the base member are urged by a tension spring in a direction closer to each other, and a ball provided between the rotary member and the base member rotatably supports the rotary member in a state where the ball abuts against both the rotary member and the base member. The ball is arranged within a ball-receiving groove formed in the base member. The ball is brought into abutment against the abutment surface provided on the rotary member by an urging force of a tension spring.

Abstract: A barrier device in which excessive relative displacements of barrier blades in an optical axis direction are restricted to ensure a normal opening and closing operation of the barrier blades. The barrier device has second, first, and third barrier blades disposed in this order in the optical axis direction. Restriction portions of the first barrier blades have through portions extending from shielding portions in the optical axis direction and extending through elongated holes of the second barrier blades, and have extension portions extending parallel to the shielding portions from image-plane-side ends of the through portions and positioned on the image plane side of the second barrier blades. During the entire stroke of opening and closing of the barrier blades, the extension portions can be engaged with the shielding portions, whereby the second barrier blades are restricted from moving away from the first barrier blades.

Abstract: An image blur compensation device detects the shake of an apparatus and compensates image blur by means of a mechanism for rotating an image sensor about an axis perpendicular to the imaging plane of the image sensor. A rotary member for holding the image sensor is rotatably held by a base member. The rotary member and the base member are urged by a tension spring in a direction closer to each other, and a ball provided between the rotary member and the base member rotatably supports the rotary member in a state where the ball abuts against both the rotary member and the base member. The ball is arranged within a ball-receiving groove formed in the base member. The ball is brought into abutment against the abutment surface provided on the rotary member by an urging force of a tension spring.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lens barrel that has a first barrel member and a second barrel member, and arranges the first barrel member on an outer circumference of the second barrel member to enable the first barrel member to move in an optical axis direction. The lens barrel includes a plurality of engaging members configured to be held by the first barrel member and engaged with an engagement groove formed in the second barrel member, and to move in the optical axis direction along the engagement groove when the second barrel member rotates, and an annular urging member provided in an outer circumferential portion of the first barrel member and configured to urge the plurality of engaging members to the engagement groove formed in the second barrel member.

Abstract: A barrier device in which excessive relative displacements of barrier blades in an optical axis direction are restricted to ensure a normal opening and closing operation of the barrier blades. The barrier device has second, first, and third barrier blades disposed in this order in the optical axis direction. Restriction portions of the first barrier blades have through portions extending from shielding portions in the optical axis direction and extending through elongated holes of the second barrier blades, and have extension portions extending parallel to the shielding portions from image-plane-side ends of the through portions and positioned on the image plane side of the second barrier blades. During the entire stroke of opening and closing of the barrier blades, the extension portions can be engaged with the shielding portions, whereby the second barrier blades are restricted from moving away from the first barrier blades.