Abstract: A lens unit includes: a first lens group arranged in a first optical axis direction of the lens unit, on which a light flux from an object is incident; a second lens group provided closer to an image side than the first lens group and arranged in a second optical axis direction; a bending section provided between the first and the second lens groups, which bends the first optical axis in the second optical axis direction, wherein the first and second lens groups are movable in the respective optical axes when a zooming operation is carried out; an actuator which drives the first and second lens groups; a first drive mechanism which moves the first lens group; a second drive mechanism which moves the second lens group; and a coupling member which concurrently transmits drive force from the actuator to the first and second drive mechanisms.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lens unit including: a first lens group; a second lens group; an optical-path bending member; a movable frame holding the first lens group; a stationary frame holding the movable frame movably in an direction of the first optical axis, and adopted to telescopically house the movable frame therein; and a bending-member moving mechanism for moving the optical-path bending member. When an image is taken, the movable frame protrudes from the stationary frame and the optical-path bending member is arranged at a position so as to bend the first optical axis in the direction of the second optical axis. When the lens unit retracts, the bending-member moving mechanism moves the optical-path bending member to retreat the optical-path bending member from an area where the first lens group to be housed in the stationary frame.

Abstract: A simply structured zooming movement mechanism for moving a first lens group located in the object side from a bending member. Also provided are a small-sized lens unit by making it collapsible and an image pickup apparatus. The lens unit has: the bending member for bending the light entering from an object along a first optical axis, to the direction of a second optical axis substantially perpendicular to the first optical axis; and a first moving member for moving a first support member, which supports the first lens group, in the direction of the first optical axis to a storage position; a bending member moving member for moving the bending member to an evacuation position in order to create a space for storing the first supporting member; and a first zooming movement member for moving the first supporting member in the direction of the first optical axis in a variable magnification manner.

Abstract: A lens barrel is provided with: a first movable frame and a second movable frame of a plurality of movable frames that are coaxially disposed to be movable back and forth to a stationary main frame and are inserted telescopically into the stationary frame; and two U-shaped support and drive members each having a first engagement portion, wherein each of the support and drive members is constituted of two arm portions, a second engagement portion, and a coupling member which connects the two arm portions. The first movable frame is driven by one of the support and drive members, and the second movable frame and the first movable frame are engaged with each other.

Abstract: A digital still camera switches an image sensor between moving picture shooting and still picture shooting. The digital still camera includes a variable-magnification optical system having a plurality of lens groups of which four are movable. At least one of the movable lens groups travels different movement trails for magnification variation between during zooming in moving picture shooting and during zooming in still picture shooting.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes a first and second movable frames provided coaxially on an optical axis of a lens, and telescopically moved in and out from a stationary main frame; a first support member engaged with the first movable frame as a first pivot orthogonal to the optical axis, and a second support member engaged with the first movable frame as a second pivot orthogonal to the optical axis and the first pivot, a first connection member pivotally supported on or engaged with the second movable frame as a third pivot or the first movable frame as a fourth pivot; and engaged with the second movable frame as a fifth pivot or the first movable frame as a sixth pivot, wherein arm portions of the first support member and the first connection member are engaged with each other.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lens unit including: a first lens group; a second lens group; an optical-path bending member; a movable frame holding the first lens group; a stationary frame holding the movable frame movably in an direction of the first optical axis, and adopted to telescopically house the movable frame therein; and a bending-member moving mechanism for moving the optical-path bending member. When an image is taken, the movable frame protrudes from the stationary frame and the optical-path bending member is arranged at a position so as to bend the first optical axis in the direction of the second optical axis. When the lens unit retracts, the bending-member moving mechanism moves the optical-path bending member to retreat the optical-path bending member from an area where the first lens group to be housed in the stationary frame.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes a first and second movable frames provided coaxially on an optical axis of a lens, and telescopically moved in and out from a stationary main frame; a first support member engaged with the first movable frame as a first pivot orthogonal to the optical axis, and pivotally supported on the stationary main frame at one end; a second support member engaged with the first movable frame as a second pivot orthogonal to the optical axis and the first pivot, and pivotally supported on the stationary main frame at one end; a first connection member pivotally supported on or engaged with the second movable frame as a third pivot or the first movable frame as a fourth pivot; and a second connection member pivotally supported on or engaged with the second movable frame as a fifth pivot or the first movable frame as a sixth pivot, wherein arm portions of the first support member and the first connection member are engaged with each other.

Abstract: A lens barrel is provided with: a first movable frame and a second movable frame of a plurality of movable frames that are coaxially disposed to be movable back and forth to a stationary main frame and are inserted telescopically into the stationary frame; and two U-shaped support and drive members each having a first engagement portion, wherein each of the support and drive members is constituted of two arm portions, a second engagement portion, and a coupling member which connects the two arm portions. The first movable frame is driven by one of the support and drive members, and the second movable frame and the first movable frame are engaged with each other.

Abstract: A lens unit includes: a first lens group arranged in a first optical axis direction of the lens unit, on which a light flux from an object is incident; a second lens group provided closer to an image side than the first lens group and arranged in a second optical axis direction; a bending section provided between the first and the second lens groups, which bends the first optical axis in the second optical axis direction, wherein the first and second lens groups are movable in the respective optical axes when a zooming operation is carried out; an actuator which drives the first and second lens groups; a first drive mechanism which moves the first lens group; a second drive mechanism which moves the second lens group; and a coupling member which concurrently transmits drive force from the actuator to the first and second drive mechanisms.

Abstract: A digital camera having an image shake correction apparatus and a method of preventing the image shake of an image taken by the digital camera. The digital camera includes optical elements arranged along a bent line for focusing an object image upon a light receiving plane in which the elements include at least one mirror which reflects a light from an object toward the light receiving plane, a driver for moving the mirror so as to turn its light axis having been bent by the mirror, a vibration sensor for sensing a vibration of a camera body, and a processor for making the driver move the mirror based on the sensed vibration. The mirror turns so as to cancel the vibration of the object image focussed on the light receiving plane.

Abstract: A variable magnification optical system includes: a plurality of lens groups for imaging a ray from the object side onto the light-receiving surface of an image sensor; and an optical prism for deflecting the optical path of the ray guided by these lens groups. The variable magnification optical system further includes an anamorphic lens element, which alters a beam of rays so that the beam becomes nonaxisymmetric to the optical axis.

Abstract: A digital still camera switches an image sensor between moving picture shooting and still picture shooting. The digital still camera includes a variable-magnification optical system having a plurality of lens groups of which four are movable. At least one of the movable lens groups travels different movement trails for magnification variation between during zooming in moving picture shooting and during zooming in still picture shooting.

Abstract: Imaging lens device has a zoom lens system and an image sensor. The zoom lens system has a first reflecting surface, a first movable lens unit, an aperture stop, a second reflecting surface, a second movable lens unit. A first reflecting surface bends a first optical axis which is an incident optical axis of the zoom lens system 90 degrees into a second optical axis. A second reflecting surface bends the second optical axis 90 degrees into a third optical axis. The first optical axis, the second optical axis and the third optical axis are mutually perpendicular. The first movable lens unit and the aperture stop are disposed on the second optical axis. The second movable lens unit is disposed on the third optical axis. During zooming, the first and second reflecting surfaces and the aperture stop are stationary; the first and second movable lens units are moved, respectively.

Abstract: A digital camera which allows to make thickness, height and width of its camera body small. The camera has a first optical member for generally perpendicularly bending a first optical axis of light coming from an object through a lens opening part, a second optical member for bending a second optical axis of light coming from the first optical member, and an image taking element having a light receiving surface for receiving a third optical axis of light coming from the second optical member in which the light receiving surface crosses the third optical axis of light. The third optical axis of light is included in a plane which is different from a plane including both of the first optical axis of light and the second optical axis thereof.

Abstract: A camera, as soon as the user finishes using it, quickly assumes a not-in-use appearance that the camera is designed to assume when it is out of operation. The camera incorporates, inside its body, a taking optical system including a turning optical system for turning the optical path of the light from a shooting target substantially at a right angle and a zoom optical system for varying shooting magnification. The body has an opening through which the front face of the taking optical system is exposed, and has a barrier for closing the opening. The camera, when a command to stop operation is given, performs the process of closing the barrier with highest priority, and then performs the process of extinguishing display with second highest priority. The camera, now having assumed an appearance that it is supposed to assume when out of operation, then performs other, internal, processes for stopping operation.

Abstract: A digital camera having an image shake correction apparatus and a method of preventing the image shake of an image taken by the digital camera. The digital camera includes optical elements arranged along a bent line for focusing an object image upon a light receiving plane in which the elements include at least one mirror which reflects a light from an object toward the light receiving plane, a driver for moving the mirror so as to turn its light axis having been bent by the mirror, a vibration sensor for sensing a vibration of a camera body, and a processor for making the driver move the mirror based on the sensed vibration. The mirror turns so as to cancel the vibration of the object image focussed on the light receiving plane.

Abstract: A photographing device having a flexion optical system which prevents a user's finger(s) from interfering with a lens opening portion carelessly or unpreparedly, and which allows constituent parts of the photographing device to be arranged effectually inside a body thereof to make it low-profile and compact. The flexion optical system extends fully in a direction of right and left of the body thereof, or fully in a direction of up and down of the body, as the photographing device in a standard posture, or position, is viewed from a side of an object, the image of which is captured by the photographing device.

Abstract: A digital camera which allows to make thickness, height and width of its camera body small. The camera has a first optical member for generally perpendicularly bending a first optical axis of light coming from an object through a lens opening part, a second optical member for bending a second optical axis of light coming from the first optical member, and an image taking element having a light receiving surface for receiving a third optical axis of light coming from the second optical member in which the light receiving surface crosses the third optical axis of light. The third optical axis of light is included in a plane which is different from a plane including both of the first optical axis of light and the second optical axis thereof.

Abstract: Imaging lens device has a zoom lens system and an image sensor. The zoom lens system has a first reflecting surface, a first movable lens unit, an aperture stop, a second reflecting surface, a second movable lens unit. A first reflecting surface bends a first optical axis which is an incident optical axis of the zoom lens system 90 degrees into a second optical axis. A second reflecting surface bends the second optical axis 90 degrees into a third optical axis. The first optical axis, the second optical axis and the third optical axis are mutually perpendicular. The first movable lens unit and the aperture stop are disposed on the second optical axis. The second movable lens unit is disposed on the third optical axis. During zooming, the first and second reflecting surfaces and the aperture stop are stationary; the first and second movable lens units are moved, respectively.