Abstract: An image capture apparatus includes an image capture unit configured to capture an image of a subject to obtain image data, an image-capture control unit configured to allow the image capture unit to execute an image capture operation of capturing a plurality of frames of image data having continuity in time so that a frame rate of the image capture unit is changed in accordance with a change of a subject brightness level during the execution of the image capture operation, and a combination processing unit configured to perform a combination process using, as combination-use image data to be combined, the plurality of frames of image data having continuity in time captured by the image capture unit so as to generate combined-image data representing a still image.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a pre-combination processing unit configured to perform a pre-combination process so that a plurality of frames of image data having continuity in time are used as combination-use image data to be combined, an operation detection unit configured to detect operation input information used for a combination process, and a combination processing unit configured to perform a combination process on the combination-use image data of the plurality of frames obtained in the pre-combination process according to the operation input information detected by the operation detection unit so as to generate combined-image data representing a still image.

Abstract: An optical unit is provided to ensures what is called a night shot function and a night framing function, and to achieve considerable reduction in thickness and size of an optical barrel and a collapsible lens without using an infrared cutoff filter nor a drive mechanism for moving the filter in and out. The optical unit, including a fixed ring, a rear barrel, and a solid state image sensor disposed at a rear portion of the fixed ring, is provided with a liquid crystal panel or an electrochromic device placed at a front side portion on an optical axis of the solid state image sensor for adjusting an amount of infrared electromagnetic wave to be transmitted.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes an image-capturing optical system having a movable lens and a drive mechanism with a screw member extending along the optical axis direction and being rotated by a motor, a female threaded member moving along the screw member as it revolves. The screw member includes a male screw, and a shaft having an outside diameter equal or less than an inside diameter of a female threaded member, the shaft extending from an end of the male screw, the end being at an opposite direction to a direction in which the engagement section is in abutment with the end of the female threaded member. The female threaded member is disposed such that the female threaded member can move along the male screw and can move from the male screw to a spot on the shaft in abutment with the male screw.

Abstract: A lens unit includes: a lens barrel; a movable section including a movable lens and configured to be moved in an optical axis direction relative to the lens barrel; a linear actuator configured to move the movable section in the optical axis direction; and a biasing blade spring including a holding portion for holding the movable section, a plurality of spring portions capable of being elastically deformed and biasing the movable section in the optical axis direction, and an attachment portion to be attached to the lens barrel. The plurality of spring portions of the biasing blade spring are configured to restraint a movement force produced at the movable section in a plane orthogonal to the optical axis.

Abstract: A lens driving mechanism is disclosed which can achieve miniaturization of the mechanism by simplification and enhancement of the reliability in position control of a movable block. The lens driving mechanism includes a piezoelectric element deformed when energized for functioning as a driving section for applying driving force to the movable block, a restriction section for restricting the movement of the movable block in the predetermined direction, and a detection section for detecting a predetermined amount regarding the piezoelectric element. The initial position of the movable block is set as a position at an extremity of the movement of the movable block within a movable range based on an inflection point of the predetermined amount detected by the detection section when the movable block moved by the deformation of the piezoelectric element is restricted by the restriction section.

Abstract: An optical apparatus is disclosed. The optical apparatus includes: a first optical element having a first polarizing layer containing a material having a refractive index that changes in accordance with the magnitude of applied voltage and first and second transparent electrodes sandwiching both sides of the first polarizing layer in the direction of thickness and polarizing light passing through the first polarizing layer in the direction of thickness; and a second optical element having a second polarizing layer containing a material having a refractive index that changes in accordance with the magnitude of applied voltage and third and fourth transparent electrodes sandwiching both sides of the second polarizing layer in the direction of thickness and polarizing light passing through the second polarizing layer in the direction of thickness.

Abstract: A collapsible type optical unit is described that is capable of moving its optical system between a working position and a retracted position as well as an image-pickup apparatus including the optical unit. The optical unit and the image-pickup apparatus are capable of acquiring lens-position information by detecting a position of a lens barrel supported to be movable with respect to a fixed barrel. The collapsible type optical unit includes a second group lens frame movable along a direction of its optical axis with respect to a fixed ring and rear barrel, and a solid-state image-pickup device provided behind the second group lens frame, in which on the movable second group lens frame, a position-detecting means for detecting a position of the second group lens frame is provided.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a lens driving mechanism which can achieve simplification of the mechanism and provision of appropriate control relating to a correction against a shake. The lens driving mechanism includes a piezoelectric element that is deformed when energized for applying driving force to the movable block and a charge amount sensor for detecting the amount of charge accumulated in the piezoelectric element. The amount of electric current to be supplied to the piezoelectric element is determined based on the external force, acting upon the movable block, which is estimated based on the difference between the amount of charge injected into or discharged from the piezoelectric element and the amount of charge accumulated in the piezoelectric element and detected by the charge amount sensor when the movable block is moved in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis.

Abstract: A lens holder includes a third group frame that serves as a holding member which holds lenses, a guide shaft that supports the third group frame when the third group frame is moved along the optical axis of the lenses, a rear barrel part perpendicularly to which the guide shaft is locked, a first bearing member that is molded as an integral part of the rear barrel part in order to bear the end of the guide shaft distal to the rear barrel part, and a guide shaft presser that when the first bearing member bears the end of the guide shaft distal to the base, bears the end of the guide shaft proximal to the rear barrel part.

Abstract: An image stabilization mechanism moves a movable lens or an imager in first and second directions perpendicular to each other and perpendicular to a light axis of the lens or an incident light axis of the imager. The mechanism includes a support member for supporting the movable lens or imager, a base member, a guide shaft secured to the base member and extending in the first direction, where the guide shaft is disposed in an elongate hole formed in the support member in a slidable manner in the first and second directions, an anti-rolling member fitted into the guide shaft in a slidable manner in its axis direction and engaged with the support member in a slidable manner in the second direction so as to prevent rolling of the support member about the light axis, and two drivers for moving the support member independently in the first and second directions.

Abstract: A collapsible lens mount optical unit comprises a fixed lens mount, a lens mount movable along the optical axis with respect to the fixed lens mount, an infrared ray intercepting filter interposed between the fixed lens mount and the lens mount. The collapsible lens mount optical unit further comprises a move-aside mechanism. When the lens mount is retracted and made to approach the infrared ray intercepting filter, the move-aside mechanism moves aside the infrared intercepting filter out of the optical axis in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis. The lens can be accommodated in a position on the optical axis after the infrared intercepting filter is moved.

Abstract: An optical apparatus is disclosed. The optical apparatus includes: a first optical element having a first polarizing layer containing a material having a refractive index that changes in accordance with the magnitude of applied voltage and first and second transparent electrodes sandwiching both sides of the first polarizing layer in the direction of thickness and polarizing light passing through the first polarizing layer in the direction of thickness; and a second optical element having a second polarizing layer containing a material having a refractive index that changes in accordance with the magnitude of applied voltage and third and fourth transparent electrodes sandwiching both sides of the second polarizing layer in the direction of thickness and polarizing light passing through the second polarizing layer in the direction of thickness.

Abstract: There are provided a lens barrel assembly and an image capturing apparatus which are advantageous to increase the feeding accuracy for a movable lens and to reduce the size of a lens barrel. Second group position detecting means 34 is provided for generating positional data corresponding to the position of a second group lens 12. The angular displacement of a second group motor 2804 is controlled in order to equalize the position of the second group lens 12 along the optical axis to a target position based on the positional data supplied from the second group position detecting means 34. If the positional data remains unchanged for a certain period of time while the second group motor 2804 is in rotation, then it is judged that the second group lens 12 is forcibly stopped against movement and the second group motor 2804 is immediately de-energized.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lens holder comprising a third group frame that serves as a holding member which holds lenses, a guide shaft that supports the third group frame when the third group frame is moved along the optical axis of the lenses, a rear barrel part perpendicularly to which the guide shaft is locked, a first bearing member that is molded as an integral part of the rear barrel part in order to bear the end of the guide shaft distal to the rear barrel part, and a guide shaft presser that when the first bearing member bears the end of the guide shaft distal to the base, bears the end of the guide shaft proximal to the rear barrel part. Moreover, the present invention provides a lens barrel and an imaging apparatus that employ the lens holder. Consequently, the structure of a bearing that bears a shaft which supports the lens holding member when the lens holding member is moved along the optical axis of the lenses is downsized. Moreover, the bearing bears the shaft highly precisely.

Abstract: There is provided a shifting mechanism involving use of a linear actuator having a driving magnet and a driving coil as drive means for shifting a driven unit, or a movable lens contained in the driven unit, or an imaging device in a prescribed direction, which includes a piezoelectric device deformable with a drive voltage applied thereto and adapted to control shifting of the driven unit at the time when the piezoelectric device is deformed. There is also provided an image capturing apparatus having the shifting mechanism.

Abstract: An optical apparatus includes: an optical imaging system having an image stabilizing lens, the image stabilizing lens being shifted in directions orthogonal to an optical axis for camera shake correction; image correcting means for making image correction for image information captured through the optical imaging system; an imager device configured to convert the image information obtained through the optical imaging system into an electric signal; camera shake detecting means for detecting camera shake occurring at the optical imaging system; and lens drive means for shifting the image stabilizing lens in the directions orthogonal to the optical axis based on a detection result obtained by the camera shake detecting means. A center of correction to be used in the image correcting means is shifted with respect to a read image center on the imager device depending on a distance and a direction of the shifting of the image stabilizing lens.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a lens driving mechanism which can achieve simplification of the mechanism and provision of appropriate control relating to correction against a shake. The lens driving mechanism includes a piezoelectric element deformed when energized for applying driving force to the movable block, and a charge amount sensor for detecting the amount of charge accumulated in the piezoelectric element. The amount of electric current to be supplied to the piezoelectric element is determined based on external force, acting upon the movable block, estimated based on a difference between the amount of charge injected into or discharged from the piezoelectric element and the amount of charge accumulated in the piezoelectric element and detected by the charge amount sensor when the movable block is moved in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis.

Abstract: A lens driving mechanism is disclosed which can achieve miniaturization of the mechanism by simplification and enhancement of the reliability in position control of a movable block. The lens driving mechanism includes a piezoelectric element deformed when energized for functioning as a driving section for applying driving force to the movable block, a restriction section for restricting the movement of the movable block in the predetermined direction, and a detection section for detecting a predetermined amount regarding the piezoelectric element. The initial position of the movable block is set as a position at an extremity of the movement of the movable block within a movable range based on an inflection point of the predetermined amount detected by the detection section when the movable block moved by the deformation of the piezoelectric element is restricted by the restriction section.

Abstract: A lens unit includes: a lens barrel; a movable section including a movable lens and configured to be moved in an optical axis direction relative to the lens barrel; a linear actuator including a drive magnet and a drive coil and configured to move the movable section in the optical axis direction by supplying a current to the drive coil; and a pair of biasing blade springs including holding portions for holding the movable section, a plurality of spring portions biasing the movable section in the optical axis direction, and attachment portions to be attached to the lens barrel. One of the biasing blade springs is formed with two spring members through which the current is supplied to the drive coil.