Patents by Inventor Tadanori Okada

Tadanori Okada 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).

  • Publication number: 20230296859
    Abstract: A lens apparatus includes a first holder holding a first lens unit and moving, manually or by an external driver, in an optical axis direction, a second holder holding a second lens unit and being electrically driven in the direction, a transmission member supported by the second holder to be movable in a first range in the direction relative to the second holder, a driving unit moving the second holder in the direction via the transmission member, a biasing member biasing the transmission member toward an end of the first range opposite to the first lens unit, and a controller controlling the driving unit. Movable ranges of the first and second holders in the direction overlap each other. The controller determines a relative position between the driving unit and the second holder in the direction, and changes a control of the driving unit based on the relative position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: SHU ITO, TOSHIHIRO OKUDA, KUNIHIKO SASAKI, TADANORI OKADA, TAKEHIKO SATO, TOSHIMUNE NAGANO
  • Publication number: 20230266562
    Abstract: A lens barrel including: a base lens barrel; and a lens holding frame configured to hold a lens and be movably held in an optical axis direction relative to the base lens barrel, in which the base lens barrel has a first contact surface, and the lens holding frame has a second contact surface, in which the first contact surface and the second contact surface abut on each other in an image pickup state and separate from each other in the optical axis direction in a retracted state, in which the lens barrel includes a biasing member configured to bias the base lens barrel and the lens holding frame in a different direction from the optical axis direction such that the first contact surface and the second contact surface abut on each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Inventor: TADANORI OKADA
  • Publication number: 20230016323
    Abstract: An optical apparatus capable of detecting an origin or the like even in a retracted state is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Hyochoru Tanaka, Toshihiro Ogawa, Tadanori Okada
  • Patent number: 11513313
    Abstract: The lens apparatus includes an optical system, a voltage transformation unit, and an actuator. A first lens unit of the optical system is moved toward the object side during zooming from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end. The voltage transformation unit includes coils. The actuator is configured to be driven by a voltage output from the voltage transformation unit and to move a part of the lens units in the optical system during focusing. The coil is disposed at a position that is separated from a position of a most object-side surface of the optical system at the wide-angle end, toward the image side by a maximum or more moving amount of the first lens unit, and is closer to the object side than a most image-side surface of the optical system at the wide-angle end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideki Sakai, Tadanori Okada, Shunji Iwamoto
  • Publication number: 20220350222
    Abstract: A lens apparatus is provided with movable first and second units, first and second holders for holding the first and second units, a driving unit for electrically driving the second holder, a transmission member movable relative to the second holder in the optical axis direction and transmits driving force to the second holder, a biasing member for biasing the second holder toward the first holder side relative to the transmission member, a controller for controlling the driving unit, and first and second detectors for detecting the positions of the first and second holders, wherein movable ranges of the first and second holders have interference region which interfere with each other, and controller changes a control of driving unit between the interference region where the first and the second holding members interfere each other and an interference-free region based on detection results of the first and second detectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2022
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Kunihiko Sasaki, Toshihiro Okuda, Takehiko Sato, Tadanori Okada, Shu Ito, Toshimune Nagano
  • Publication number: 20220350106
    Abstract: Provided is a lens barrel including: a fifth lens unit barrel; a fourth lens unit barrel; a linear ultrasonic motor configured to electrically drive the fourth lens unit barrel in an optical axis direction; a rack configured to transfer a driving force of the linear ultrasonic motor to the fourth lens unit barrel; a rack spring configured to bias the rack so that the rack is brought into contact with the fourth lens unit barrel; and a rack guide shaft. The rack guide shaft is fixed to the fourth lens unit barrel. The fourth lens unit barrel and the rack move together in the optical axis direction. When the fifth lens unit barrel is brought into contact with the fourth lens unit barrel, a relative position of the fourth lens unit barrel and the rack in the optical axis direction changes against a biasing force of the rack spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Tadanori Okada, Toshihiro Okuda, Takehiko Sato, Kunihiko Sasaki, Shu Ito, Toshimune Nagano
  • Publication number: 20220308311
    Abstract: A lens apparatus includes: a first holder holding a first lens unit and being moved in optical axis direction manually or by an external driver; a second holder holding a second lens unit and being electrically moved in optical axis direction; a first and second detectors respectively detecting positions of the first and second holders; a driving unit configured to move the second holder in optical axis direction; and a controller controlling the driving unit, in which movable ranges of the first and second holders overlap each other in optical axis direction; in which a position of the second holder in optical axis direction corresponds to a position of a movable portion of the driving unit; and wherein the controller changes a control of the driving unit based on a detection of the first and second detectors before the second holder interferes with the first holder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Toshihiro Okuda, Kunihiko Sasaki, Shu Ito, Tadanori Okada, Takehiko Sato, Toshimune Nagano
  • Publication number: 20210294065
    Abstract: Provided is a lens including: a circumferential groove formed in an outer periphery of the lens; and a light-shielding ring, which is provided in the circumferential groove, and is configured to shield light, the light-shielding ring having a ring shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2021
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventor: Tadanori Okada
  • Patent number: 10976515
    Abstract: A rotational force transmitting apparatus includes a cylindrical fixed member, a rotating member configured to rotate around the cylindrical fixed member, a first bearing member held by the cylindrical fixed member and configured to rotate around an axis parallel to a rotation axis of the rotating member, and a second bearing member held by the cylindrical fixed member and configured to rotate around a radial direction of the rotating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tadanori Okada
  • Patent number: 10634828
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, the diaphragm apparatus includes: a plurality of diaphragm blades which define an aperture diameter; a driving member which includes a protrusion protruding in an optical axis direction, rotates around an optical axis, and drives the diaphragm blades to change the aperture diameter; and a base plate which includes a rail part with which the protrusion contacts to be movable in a direction of a rotation of the driving member. The plurality of diaphragm blades are disposed in a gap between the driving member and the base plate, the gap being defined when the protrusion and the rail part contact with each other. A size of the gap changes in accordance with the rotation of the driving member in the optical axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tadanori Okada
  • Publication number: 20200073082
    Abstract: The lens apparatus includes an optical system, a voltage transformation unit, and an actuator. A first lens unit of the optical system is moved toward the object side during zooming from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end. The voltage transformation unit includes coils. The actuator is configured to be driven by a voltage output from the voltage transformation unit and to move a part of the lens units in the optical system during focusing. The coil is disposed at a position that is separated from a position of a most object-side surface of the optical system at the wide-angle end, toward the image side by a maximum or more moving amount of the first lens unit, and is closer to the object side than a most image-side surface of the optical system at the wide-angle end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Hideki Sakai, Tadanori Okada, Shunji Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 10466438
    Abstract: The lens barrel includes an image-capturing lens unit, a mount portion including a mount member connectable to an image-capturing apparatus, and protrusion portions provided in the mount portion at multiple positions in a circumferential direction of the lens barrel. Each protrusion portion protrudes to an image side further than an image-side lens surface of a final lens disposed at a most image-side position in the image-capturing lens unit. The mount portion includes, inside the protrusion portions in a radial direction of the lens barrel, light-shielding portions capable of shielding light passing though the image-side lens surface toward inner circumferential surfaces of the protrusion portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tadanori Okada
  • Publication number: 20190285831
    Abstract: A rotational force transmitting apparatus includes a cylindrical fixed member, a rotating member configured to rotate around the cylindrical fixed member, a first bearing member held by the cylindrical fixed member and configured to rotate around an axis parallel to a rotation axis of the rotating member, and a second bearing member held by the cylindrical fixed member and configured to rotate around a radial direction of the rotating member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventor: Tadanori Okada
  • Publication number: 20190146125
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, the diaphragm apparatus includes: a plurality of diaphragm blades which define an aperture diameter; a driving member which includes a protrusion protruding in an optical axis direction, rotates around an optical axis, and drives the diaphragm blades to change the aperture diameter; and a base plate which includes a rail part with which the protrusion contacts to be movable in a direction of a rotation of the driving member. The plurality of diaphragm blades are disposed in a gap between the driving member and the base plate, the gap being defined when the protrusion and the rail part contact with each other. A size of the gap changes in accordance with the rotation of the driving member in the optical axis direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Inventor: Tadanori Okada
  • Patent number: 10054760
    Abstract: A zoom lens barrel comprises: a focus lens frame moves in an optical axis direction (inOAD) during zooming and focusing; a focus cam ring (FCR) rotates to move focus lens frame inOAD; a key member rotates to transmit torque to FCR; a zoom lens frame moves inOAD along with FCR; a zoom cam ring rotates to move zoom lens frame inOAD; a first rotation transmission portion (RTP) provided to FCR; and a second RTP provided to key member to be engaged with first RTP, in which cam grooves formed on zoom cam ring are engaged with rollers provided to zoom lens frame, respectively, focus lens frame moves inOAD when FCR rotates with rotation of key member during focusing, and focus lens frame moves inOAD along with zoom lens frame when FCR rotates with relative position change of first and second RTPs inOAD during zooming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tadanori Okada
  • Publication number: 20180074285
    Abstract: The lens barrel includes an image-capturing lens unit, a mount portion including a mount member connectable to an image-capturing apparatus, and protrusion portions provided in the mount portion at multiple positions in a circumferential direction of the lens barrel. Each protrusion portion protrudes to an image side further than an image-side lens surface of a final lens disposed at a most image-side position in the image-capturing lens unit. The mount portion includes, inside the protrusion portions in a radial direction of the lens barrel, light-shielding portions capable of shielding light passing though the image-side lens surface toward inner circumferential surfaces of the protrusion portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventor: Tadanori OKADA
  • Publication number: 20160202448
    Abstract: A zoom lens barrel comprises: a focus lens frame moves in an optical axis direction (inOAD) during zooming and focusing; a focus cam ring (FCR) rotates to move focus lens frame inOAD; a key member rotates to transmit torque to FCR; a zoom lens frame moves inOAD along with FCR; a zoom cam ring rotates to move zoom lens frame inOAD; a first rotation transmission portion (RTP) provided to FCR; and a second RTP provided to key member to be engaged with first RTP, in which cam grooves formed on zoom cam ring are engaged with rollers provided to zoom lens frame, respectively, focus lens frame moves inOAD when FCR rotates with rotation of key member during focusing, and focus lens frame moves inOAD along with zoom lens frame when FCR rotates with relative position change of first and second RTPs inOAD during zooming.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventor: Tadanori Okada
  • Patent number: 9030765
    Abstract: The optical apparatus includes a first holding member holding an optical element, a second holding member holding the first holding member, and an adjustment mechanism. The adjustment mechanism includes a fulcrum portion provided at one place in a circumferential direction and connecting the first and second holding member so as to allow movements of the first holding member in decentering and tilting correction directions with respect to the second holding member. The adjustment mechanism further includes two decentering adjustment portions arranged in the circumferential direction and each including a first adjusting member, and two tilting adjustment portions arranged in the circumferential direction and each including a second adjusting member. The first and second adjusting members each have an eccentric portion eccentric with respect to its rotation center portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tadanori Okada
  • Publication number: 20130308211
    Abstract: The optical apparatus includes a first holding member holding an optical element, a second holding member holding the first holding member, and an adjustment mechanism. The adjustment mechanism includes a fulcrum portion provided at one place in a circumferential direction and connecting the first and second holding member so as to allow movements of the first holding member in decentering and tilting correction directions with respect to the second holding member. The adjustment mechanism further includes two decentering adjustment portions arranged in the circumferential direction and each including a first adjusting member, and two tilting adjustment portions arranged in the circumferential direction and each including a second adjusting member. The first and second adjusting members each have an eccentric portion eccentric with respect to its rotation center portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tadanori Okada
  • Patent number: 8482598
    Abstract: A stereoscopic image display apparatus which can accurately visually recognize all the regions of a stereoscopic image without using a varifocal lens, and can form a natural three-dimensional image on a retina with a processing load on a computer eased even if an image is viewed by a plurality of viewers from any positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignees: NTT Data Sanyo System Corporation, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichi Hiramatsu, Takao Uchimura, Yasuhito Suuchi, Tadanori Okada, Kazuyuki Hattori, Syunsaku Takeuchi