Patents by Inventor Yoshito Iwasawa

Yoshito Iwasawa 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).

  • Patent number: 7408583
    Abstract: A taking lens apparatus includes a zoom lens system that is composed of a plurality of lens units and that achieves zooming by varying the distances between the lens units and an image sensor that converts the optical image formed by the zoom lens system into an electrical signal. The zoom lens system has, from the object side,: a first lens unit having a negative optical power, a second lens unit disposed on the image side of the first lens unit and having a negative optical power, a third lens unit disposed on the image side of the second lens unit and having a positive optical power, a fourth lens unit disposed on the image side of the third lens unit and having a positive optical power, and a fifth lens unit disposed on the image side of the fourth lens unit and having a positive optical power. During zooming, the first lens unit remains stationary relative to the image sensor, and the second and third lens units move.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Camera, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshito Iwasawa, Takashi Okada, Tetsuo Kohno
  • Patent number: 7405887
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a zoom lens used for image pick-up optical system of digital still camera, or video camera, and is composed, in order from the object side, of a first group GR1 including a reflection member for bending or folding the optical axis and having negative refractive power, a second group GR2 having negative refractive power, a third group GR3 having positive refractive power, and a fourth group GR4 having positive refractive power, wherein a light quantity adjustment member ST1 for adjusting light quantity is fixed during zooming operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshito Iwasawa
  • Publication number: 20080144189
    Abstract: There is provided a zoom lens, including, in an order from an object side to an image side, a first lens group having a negative refractive power; a second lens group having a positive refractive power; a third lens group having a negative refractive power; and a fourth lens group having a positive refractive power. During power variation from a wide angle end to a telephoto end, each group is moved in an optical axis direction, and a following conditional expression (1) is satisfied: ?5<f4/f1<?2.6, where: ??(1) f1 is a focal length of the first lens group; and f4 is a focal length of the fourth lens group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshito Iwasawa, Yasushi Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20080094709
    Abstract: Disclosed is a zoom lens which is composed of a plurality of groups of lenses and which varies the power thereof by changing inter-group spacings. The zoom lens is configured such that: the last group of lenses that is located at the end of an image space and is negatively refractive is held stationary in optical-axis directions during variation of the power of the zoom lens, and includes a front group of negative lenses and a rear group of positive lenses; and the rear group of positive lenses or part of the rear group of positive lenses (hereinafter, referred to as a group of blur compensation lenses) is movable in directions orthogonal to the optical axis of the zoom lens. In this configuration, the group of blur compensation lenses is moved in the directions orthogonal to the optical axis in order to shift an image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshito Iwasawa
  • Patent number: 7342727
    Abstract: A zoom lens includes, in the following order from an object side: a first lens group including negative refractive power; a second lens group including negative refractive power; and a third lens group. At least the second and third lens groups are movable along an optical axis to perform a zooming action. The second lens group is movable in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis to shift an image in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis. The following (1) and (2) are satisfied: 0.5<(1???)×?b<1.0, and ??(1) 0.1<|f1/f2|<1.25, where ??(2) ?? is the magnification of the second lens group at a telephoto end of the zoom lens; ?b is the magnification of a lens group on an image side relative to the second lens group; and f1, f2 are focal lengths of the first, second lens group, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshito Iwasawa
  • Patent number: 7312934
    Abstract: Disclosed is a zoom lens which is composed of a plurality of groups of lenses and which varies the power thereof by changing inter-group spacings. The zoom lens is configured such that: the last group of lenses that is located at the end of an image space and is negatively refractive is held stationary in optical-axis directions during variation of the power of the zoom lens, and includes a front group of negative lenses and a rear group of positive lenses; and the rear group of positive lenses or part of the rear group of positive lenses (hereinafter, referred to as a group of blur compensation lenses) is movable in directions orthogonal to the optical axis of the zoom lens. In this configuration, the group of blur compensation lenses is moved in the directions orthogonal to the optical axis in order to shift an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshito Iwasawa
  • Patent number: 7286163
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Hara, Sadanobu Ueda, Yoshito Iwasawa, Kazuaki Matsui, Akira Kosaka, Satoshi Yokota
  • Patent number: 7248293
    Abstract: An image-sensing apparatus has a zoom lens system for forming an optical image of an object with variable magnification, which zoom lens system includes a plurality of lens units and achieves zooming by varying distances between the lens units, and an image sensor for converting the optical image formed by the zoom lens system into an electrical signal. The zoom lens system has, from the object side, a first lens unit that has a positive optical power, includes a reflective member for turning the optical path, and is kept stationary relative to the image sensor during zooming, a second lens unit that is disposed on the image side of the first lens unit and has a negative optical power, an aperture stop that is disposed on the image side of the second lens unit and is kept stationary relative to the image sensor during zooming, and at least one lens unit that is disposed on the image side of the aperture stop and is moved relative to the image sensor during zooming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshito Iwasawa
  • Publication number: 20070139786
    Abstract: Provided is a zoom lens allows size reduction in the depth direction and compactness. The zoom lens includes a plurality of lens groups (GR1 to GR5) and performs zooming by changing an inter-group distance. Of the plurality of lens groups (GR1 to GR5), a first lens group (GR1) on the most object side has a positive refractive power and is fixed. A reflection member for bending an optical axis is provided in the first lens group (GR1) and the reflection member is formed of a rectangular prism (P) having a negative refractive power. In addition, an imaging apparatus using the zoom lens is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Publication date: June 21, 2007
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshito Iwasawa
  • Publication number: 20070127124
    Abstract: A zoom lens includes, in the following order from an object side: a first lens group including negative refractive power; a second lens group including negative refractive power; and a third lens group. At least the second and third lens group are movable along an optical axis to perform a zooming action. The second lens group is movable in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis to shift an image in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis. The following (1) and (2) are satisfied: 0.5<(1???)×?b<1.0, and??(1) 0.1<|f1/f2|<1.25, ??(2) where ?? is magnification of the second lens group at a telephoto end of the zoom lens; ?b is magnification of a lens group on an image side relative to the second lens group; f1, f2 are focal lengths of the first, second lens group, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Publication date: June 7, 2007
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshito Iwasawa
  • Patent number: 7218455
    Abstract: A zoom lens having at least a first lens group including a reflection member for bending an optical axis fixedly during zooming and having a negative refractive power, a second lens group having a negative refractive power, and a third lens group arranged in the order from an object side is provided. In the zoom lens, an image can be shifted into a direction perpendicular to the optical axis by moving either of the second and the third lens groups (“shift lens group”) in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis, and a following conditional expression (1) is satisfied, 0.5<(1???)×?b<3.0,??(1) where: ??: a magnification of the shift lens group in a maximum telephoto state, and ?b: a magnification of a lens group arranged on an image surface side of the shift lens group in the maximum telephoto state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshito Iwasawa
  • Patent number: 7209298
    Abstract: A zoom lens having a first lens group having a negative refractive power, a second lens group having a positive refractive power, and a third lens group having a positive refractive power arranged in the order from an object side, wherein the first lens group includes a negative lens and a positive lens having at least one aspherical surface arranged from the object side and satisfies the following condition: 0.4<D1/fw<0.66 where D1 represents a distance, inside the first lens group, between a lens surface closest to an object and a lens surface closest to an image, and fw represents a focal distance with the zoom lens set to a wide-angle position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshito Iwasawa, Nobuyuki Adachi, Masayuki Murata
  • Patent number: 7180675
    Abstract: A viewfinder of a small size and a small thickness is implemented to achieve a miniaturization and reduction in thickness of an image pickup apparatus. The viewfinder includes an eyepiece system for expanding an image displayed on an image display element so as to be visually observed. The eyepiece includes a first single lens disposed adjacent to the image display element and having a negative refractive power and a second single lens disposed remotely from the image display element and having a positive refractive power. A reflecting member is disposed between the first single lens and the second single lens for diverting an optical axis to a predetermined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masaki Tamura, Yoshito Iwasawa
  • Patent number: 7180542
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshito Iwasawa, Kazuaki Matsui, Yoshihiro Hara, Akira Kosaka, Sadanobu Ueda, Satoshi Yokota
  • Patent number: 7177091
    Abstract: Disclosed is a zoom lens having a first lens group having a negative refractive power, a second lens group having a positive refractive power, and a third lens group having a positive refractive power arranged in the mentioned order from an object side, wherein the first lens group includes a negative lens and a positive lens having at least one aspherical surface arranged in the mentioned order from the object side and satisfies a following inequality (1): 0.4<D1/fw<0.66 ??(1) where D1 represents a distance, inside the first lens group, between a lens surface closest to an object and a lens surface closest to an image, and fw represents a focal distance with the zoom lens set to a wide-angle position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshito Iwasawa, Nobuyuki Adachi, Masayuki Murata
  • Publication number: 20070031134
    Abstract: The invention aims to achieve slim design by employing a light path folding optical system, add a hand-shake correction capability, and lower power consumption. An imaging lens device includes a light path folding optical system having a reflector that folds the optical axis incident perpendicular to the gravitational direction toward the gravitational direction, and an imaging element that converts an image formed by the light path folding optical system into an electrical signal. The imaging lens device also includes drive means that moves some of lens groups or one lens (hereinafter referred to as “shake correction lens group”) in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis folded toward the gravitational direction by the reflector (hereinafter referred to as “vertical optical axis”). The shake correction lens group is moved in the direction perpendicular to the vertical optical axis to move the image in the direction perpendicular to the vertical optical axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Publication date: February 8, 2007
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke Kuroda, Yoshito Iwasawa, Makoto Kanai
  • Publication number: 20070024984
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a zoom lens used for image pick-up optical system of digital still camera, or video camera, and is composed, in order from the object side, of a first group GR1 including a reflection member for bending or folding the optical axis and having negative refractive power, a second group GR2 having negative refractive power, a third group GR3 having positive refractive power, and a fourth group GR4 having positive refractive power, wherein a light quantity adjustment member ST1 for adjusting light quantity is fixed during zooming operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2005
    Publication date: February 1, 2007
    Inventor: Yoshito Iwasawa
  • Patent number: 7170558
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Yokota, Akira Kosaka, Toshiyuki Tanaka, Yoshihiro Hara, Kazuaki Matsui, Sadanobu Ueda, Yoshito Iwasawa
  • Publication number: 20070014030
    Abstract: Disclosed is a zoom lens having a first lens group having a negative refractive power, a second lens group having a positive refractive power, and a third lens group having a positive refractive power arranged in the mentioned order from an object side, wherein the first lens group includes a negative lens and a positive lens having at least one aspherical surface arranged in the mentioned order from the object side and satisfies a following inequality (1): 0.4<D1/fw<0.66 ??(1) where D1 represents a distance, inside the first lens group, between a lens surface closest to an object and a lens surface closest to an image, and fw represents a focal distance with the zoom lens set to a wide-angle position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Publication date: January 18, 2007
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshito Iwasawa, Nobuyuki Adachi, Masayuki Murata
  • Publication number: 20070002461
    Abstract: A zoom lens having at least a first lens group including a reflection member for bending an optical axis fixedly during zooming and having a negative refractive power, a second lens group having a negative refractive power, and a third lens group arranged in the order from an object side is provided. In the zoom lens, an image can be shifted into a direction perpendicular to the optical axis by moving either of the second and the third lens groups (“shift lens group”) in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis, and a following conditional expression (1) is satisfied, 0.5<(1???)×?b<3.0,??(1) where: ??: a magnification of the shift lens group in a maximum telephoto state, and ?b: a magnification of a lens group arranged on an image surface side of the shift lens group in the maximum telephoto state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2006
    Publication date: January 4, 2007
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshito Iwasawa