Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a front lens group having a front lens element and a reflector, in that order from an object side. The reflector includes a reflection surface which reflects light rays, from the front lens element, toward a different direction; a rear lens group positioned closer to an image plane than the front lens group, the imaging apparatus performs an image-stabilizing operation by driving the front lens element, a movable frame holding the front lens element; a support member supporting the reflector and is immovable relative to an optical axis of the front lens element, in a reference state; and a support mechanism which supports the movable frame to spherically swing about a spherical-swinging center, positioned on an extension of the optical axis of the front lens element extending behind an underside of the reflection surface of the reflector.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a front lens group having a front lens element and a prism, in that order from an object side, light rays exiting from the front lens element along a first optical axis being reflected by the prism to travel along a second optical axis nonparallel to the first optical axis, a rear lens group, and an anti-shake system. The anti-shake system includes a base member supporting the prism, a movable frame supporting the front lens element; and opposing guide members on opposite sides of the prism on both sides of a reference plane, respectively, in which the first and second optical axes lie, to support the movable frame to allow the movable frame to move along the plane orthogonal to the first optical axis relative to the base member.

Abstract: A position controller for an optical element includes an advancing/retracting member, an anti-shake moving member, an insertable/removable moving member holding the optical element and supported by the anti-shake moving member to move between insertion and removed positions, an insertion holder holding the insertable/removable moving member in the insertion position in the ready-to-photograph state, a removal drive member supported by the advancing/retracting member between a position allowing the anti-shake moving member to move in a moving range and a forced removing position to move the insertable/removable moving member to the removed position, and an insertion/removal controller which holds the removal drive member in the insertion allowance position in the ready-to-photograph state and moves the removal drive member to the forced removing position in the accommodated state.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a driver which drives a front lens element, on the object side of a reflector, to reduce image shake. The driver includes voice coil motors, each having a coil and a permanent magnet. A coil-and-magnet combination is positioned on each opposite side of a first reference plane. Centers of each permanent magnet and coil are positioned on one side of a second reference plane, including the first optical axis and orthogonal to the first reference plane, a second optical axis extending on the other side of the second reference plane. Magnetic pole boundary lines of the permanent magnets are inclined to approach the first reference plane away from the second reference plane. The magnetic sensors are positioned on opposite sides of the respective coils from the first lens element side.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a front lens group having a front lens element and a reflector; a support member supporting the reflector; a support mechanism supporting the movable frame, supporting the front lens element, to spherically swing about a center positioned on an extension of the front lens element optical axis behind a reflection surface of the reflector; and a permanent magnet and a coil as an actuator which performs image stabilization by driving the movable frame in response to vibrations to spherically swing the movable frame. The permanent magnet and the coil planarly extend parallel to tangent planes, tangent to imaginary spheres centered about the center, respectively. Any normal to the tangent plane of the permanent magnet is inclined to the optical axis of the front lens element such that a distance between the normal and the optical axis increases in a direction toward the object side.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a front lens group having a front lens element and a reflector; a rear lens group, the imaging apparatus performing an image-stabilizing operation by driving the front lens element; a support member supporting the reflector; a support mechanism which supports the movable frame to spherically swing about a spherical-swinging center, positioned on an extension of the optical axis of the front lens element extending behind an underside of a reflection surface of the reflector; and a rotation preventer which prevents rotation of the movable frame about the optical axis of the front lens element while allowing the movable frame to spherically swing about the spherical-swinging center. The rotation preventer includes a projection and a projection insertion portion provided on the movable frame and the support member, respectively, or vice versa, and are engaged with each other.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a front lens group having a front lens element and a reflector; a rear lens group, the imaging apparatus performing an image-stabilizing operation by driving the front lens element; a support member supporting the reflector; a support mechanism which supports the movable frame to spherically swing about a spherical-swinging center, positioned on an extension of the optical axis of the front lens element extending behind an underside of a reflection surface of the reflector; and a rotation preventer which prevents rotation of the movable frame about the optical axis of the front lens element while allowing the movable frame to spherically swing about the spherical-swinging center. The rotation preventer includes a projection and a projection insertion portion provided on the movable frame and the support member, respectively, or vice versa, and are engaged with each other.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a front lens group having a front lens element and a reflector; a support member supporting the reflector; a support mechanism supporting the movable frame, supporting the front lens element, to spherically swing about a center positioned on an extension of the front lens element optical axis behind a reflection surface of the reflector; and a permanent magnet and a coil as an actuator which performs image stabilization by driving the movable frame in response to vibrations to spherically swing the movable frame. The permanent magnet and the coil planarly extend parallel to tangent planes, tangent to imaginary spheres centered about the center, respectively. Any normal to the tangent plane of the permanent magnet is inclined to the optical axis of the front lens element such that a distance between the normal and the optical axis increases in a direction toward the object side.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a front lens group having a front lens element and a reflector, in that order from an object side. The reflector includes a reflection surface which reflects light rays, from the front lens element, toward a different direction; a rear lens group positioned closer to an image plane than the front lens group, the imaging apparatus performs an image-stabilizing operation by driving the front lens element, a movable frame holding the front lens element; a support member supporting the reflector and is immovable relative to an optical axis of the front lens element, in a reference state; and a support mechanism which supports the movable frame to spherically swing about a spherical-swinging center, positioned on an extension of the optical axis of the front lens element extending behind an underside of the reflection surface of the reflector.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an anti-shake system provided with a guide portion which guides a movable frame, supporting a front lens element, to linearly move and rotate about a rotational axis, in a plane orthogonal to an optical axis of the front lens element, relative to a base member, which supports a reflector element; first and second actuators which generate driving forces to move the movable frame in two mutually-intersecting directions; and first and second sensors for detecting the position of the movable member in the two mutually-intersecting directions. The distance from the rotational axis of the guide portion to the point of intersection of first and second planes, which respectively pass through centers of the first and second sensors and extend in the two mutually-intersecting directions, is greater than a distance from the rotational axis of the guide portion to the optical axis of the front lens element.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an anti-shake system provided with a first guide portion supporting a movable frame, supporting a front lens element, at three support points to allow the movable frame to move relative to a base member, which supports a reflector element; a second guide portion which allows the movable frame to move, relative to the base member, in a linear direction and rotate; a limit portion defining a range of movement thereof; and two actuators. The rotational axis of the second guide portion is positioned outside a support intra-region defined by three sides connecting the three support points; a point of intersection between two planes passing through the centers of the actuators and extending in the intersecting driving-force directions of the actuators is positioned inside the support intra-region; and the limit portion and the center of gravity of the movable frame are positioned inside the support intra-region.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a front lens group including a front lens element and a reflector, a movable frame supporting the front lens element, and a driver driving the movable frame to reduce image shake. The driver includes first and second voice coil motors, each including a coil and a magnet. The magnets are positioned orthogonal to each other in a plane orthogonal to a first optical axis that passes through the front lens element. The first and second voice coil motors are positioned on opposite sides of a first plane, including the first optical axis and a second optical axis that extends from the reflector. Centers of each magnet and coil are on one side of a second plane, including the first optical axis and is orthogonal to the first plane. The magnets are inclined and approach the first plane in a direction away from the second plane.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an anti-shake system provided with a guide portion which guides a movable frame, supporting a front lens element, to linearly move and rotate about a rotational axis, in a plane orthogonal to an optical axis of the front lens element, relative to a base member, which supports a reflector element; and first and second actuators which generate driving forces to move the movable frame in two mutually-intersecting directions. The distance from the rotational axis of the guide portion to the point of intersection of first and second planes, which respectively pass through centers of the first and second actuators and extend in the two mutually-intersecting directions, is greater than a distance from the rotational axis of the guide portion to the optical axis of the front lens element.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an anti-shake system provided with a guide portion which guides a movable frame, supporting a front lens element, to linearly move and rotate about a rotational axis, in a plane orthogonal to an optical axis of the front lens element, relative to a base member, which supports a reflector element; and first and second actuators which generate driving forces to move the movable frame in two mutually-intersecting directions. The distance from the rotational axis of the guide portion to the point of intersection of first and second planes, which respectively pass through centers of the first and second actuators and extend in the two mutually-intersecting directions, is greater than a distance from the rotational axis of the guide portion to the optical axis of the front lens element.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an anti-shake system provided with a guide portion which guides a movable frame, supporting a front lens element, to linearly move and rotate about a rotational axis, in a plane orthogonal to an optical axis of the front lens element, relative to a base member, which supports a reflector element; first and second actuators which generate driving forces to move the movable frame in two mutually-intersecting directions; and first and second sensors for detecting the position of the movable member in the two mutually-intersecting directions. The distance from the rotational axis of the guide portion to the point of intersection of first and second planes, which respectively pass through centers of the first and second sensors and extend in the two mutually-intersecting directions, is greater than a distance from the rotational axis of the guide portion to the optical axis of the front lens element.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an anti-shake system provided with a first guide portion supporting a movable frame, supporting a front lens element, at three support points to allow the movable frame to move relative to a base member, which supports a reflector element; a second guide portion which allows the movable frame to move, relative to the base member, in a linear direction and rotate; a limit portion defining a range of movement thereof; and two actuators. The rotational axis of the second guide portion is positioned outside a support intra-region defined by three sides connecting the three support points; a point of intersection between two planes passing through the centers of the actuators and extending in the intersecting driving-force directions of the actuators is positioned inside the support intra-region; and the limit portion and the center of gravity of the movable frame are positioned inside the support intra-region.

Abstract: An electrical drive device for a bending photographing optical system, the bending photographing optical system including a movable optical element that is movable in an optical axis direction and a reflection optical element positioned on the optical axis, the electrical drive device includes a motor provided with a leadscrew which extends therefrom in a direction parallel to the optical axis and drives the movable optical element to move in a direction of the optical axis. The leadscrew includes a threaded portion which screw-engages with a nut member provided on the movable optical element, and a small-diameter portion having a smaller diameter than that of the threaded portion, the small-diameter portion being positioned beside a side surface of the reflection optical element.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a front lens group including a front lens element and a prism, a prism holder which supports the prism, a movable frame which supports the front lens element and is supported by the prism holder to be movable along a plane orthogonal to the optical axis, and a driver which drives the movable frame to reduce image shake. The driver includes a permanent magnet and a coil positioned in a magnetic field of the permanent magnet, wherein one of the permanent magnet and the coil is a movable element which is fixed to the movable frame to move with the movable frame, the other of the permanent magnet and the coil is a fixed element, which does not move with the movable frame, and a position of the fixed element is determined by the prism holder.

Abstract: A position controller for a removable optical element in an optical system includes an advancing/retracting ring; a removable optical element holding member supported by the advancing/retracting ring and rotatable about a first rotational axis between an insertion position on the optical axis and a removed position; an insertion holder which holds the removable optical element holding member at the insertion position; a removal drive member supported by the advancing/retracting ring and rotatable about a second rotational axis between an insertion allowance position and a forced removing position; and an insertion/removal controller. A rotational radius from the second rotational axis to a contact point between the removable optical element holding member and the removal drive member is greater than a rotational radius from the first rotational axis to the contact point.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a front lens group having a front lens element and a prism, in that order from an object side, light rays exiting from the front lens element along a first optical axis being reflected by the prism to travel along a second optical axis nonparallel to the first optical axis, a rear lens group, and an anti-shake system. The anti-shake system includes a base member supporting the prism, a movable frame supporting the front lens element; and opposing guide members on opposite sides of the prism on both sides of a reference plane, respectively, in which the first and second optical axes lie, to support the movable frame to allow the movable frame to move along the plane orthogonal to the first optical axis relative to the base member.