Abstract: An image stabilizer has a base block, a CCD holder, an intermediate member, a rectangular frame-shaped first sheet metal member, a rectangular frame-shaped second sheet metal member, and voice coil motors (VCMs). The first sheet metal member has a pair of mutually-parallel horizontal leaf springs that is formed by bending upper and lower sides of the first sheet metal member. The second sheet metal member has a pair of mutually-parallel vertical leaf springs that is formed by bending right and left sides of the second sheet metal member. The horizontal leaf springs are flexible along a Y-axis, and the vertical leaf springs are flexible along an X-axis in a plane orthogonal to an optical axis. The VCMs shift a CCD through the CCD holder, while bending the horizontal or vertical leaf springs, to counteract a camera shake in an X-axis or Y-axis direction.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes: a vibration reduction mechanism comprising a vibration reduction lens and a drive device that drives the vibration reduction lens, so as to compensate for image vibration; and a shutter unit for exposure control. The drive device and the shutter unit are arranged so as at least partially to overlap in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis of the lens barrel.

Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an image-blur correction/reduction system miniaturized by arranging support guiding devices of a movable member and a rotation restricting device configured for restricting the rotation of the movable member about the optical axis so as to overlap each other viewed from the optical axial direction, a lens barrel, which can have the image-blur correction/reduction system, and an optical apparatus, which can have the same.

Abstract: Provided are a method and apparatus for correcting a shake of a digital photographing apparatus. The method includes sensing a shake via an inertial sensor comprised in the digital photographing apparatus, and calculating a first shake value; comparing the first shake value with a predetermined threshold value and, when the first shake value is greater than the predetermined threshold value, driving an OIS (optical image stabilizer); detecting an edge component of an image of a target subject, wherein the image is input via an imaging device of the digital photographing apparatus, and calculating a second shake value from a difference value between edge values of sequential frames of the input image; and comparing the second shake value with the first shake value, and according to a result of the comparing, controlling a shake of the target subject to be corrected.

Abstract: An electronic camera includes a shutter button. When the shutter button is half-depressed, a focal level of an object is determined on the basis of an image signal outputted from an imaging device, and a moving start position of a focus lens is settled on the basis of the determination result. More specifically, a correction amount of the moving start position is settled in accordance with the determination result of the focal level, and a position that subtracts the correction amount from a lens position at a time the shutter button being half-depressed is settled as the moving start position. The higher the focal level, the more reduced the correction amount. The focus lens gradually moves toward the imaging device from the settled moving start position, and a focal position is specified on the basis of the image signal outputted from the imaging device at each step.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing having an integrated camera. A panel is positioned in front of at least a portion of the camera and is operable to selectively switch between at least a substantially transparent state and at least a substantially opaque state.

Abstract: There is provided an actuator used in an optical system comprising a housing, a carrier disposed at least partly inside the housing, and a plurality of linear motion transducers coupled to the carrier and substantially evenly spaced around the carrier within the housing. Each linear motion transducer is able to produce linear motion when energized displacing the carrier relative to the housing to produce linear motion, tilting motion, or both of the carrier.

Abstract: A dust removal camera which has an image pickup sensor which converts an optical image into an electric signal, a shutter which opens/closes an optical path to the image pickup sensor, an optical plate provided between the image pickup sensor and the shutter, and rectangularly formed, and a piezoelectric body provided to extend along an end portion of a surface of the optical plate, and to vibrate the optical plate.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical image stabilizer for a camera module using polymer elements which can be moved in a first direction and a second direction in the vicinity of the camera module. The optical image stabilizer includes an upper housing and a lower housing; a printed circuit board having an image sensor; a lens frame having a camera lens retained within the lower housing; first and second drivers disposed in the vicinity of the lens frame for moving the lens frame in first and second directions, respectively; and a movement sensing controller provided within the lower housing for sensing the amount of movement of the lens frame on the basis of the magnitude of a shaking of the camera module, so as to control the lens frame.

Abstract: Systems and method for implementing anti-aliasing with image stabilizing subsystems for cameras are disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment the method may comprise characterizing motion of a camera, characterizing aliasing for an image being photographed by the camera, and moving at least one optical element in the camera during exposure of the image for both stabilizing and anti-aliasing the image.

Abstract: An optical device includes a lens holding member that holds a lens and that is movable in a direction along a plane that is orthogonal to an optical axis of the lens, and an actuator that moves the lens holding member in the direction along the plane. In the optical device, the actuator includes an actuator element, formed of electroactive polymer, and a connecting member that connects the lens holding member to the actuator element.

Abstract: A zoom lens system is provided that includes a compactly constructed focusing lens unit and that has a suppressed change in the image magnification at the time of movement of a focusing lens unit and further that can compensate an image blur caused by vibration applied to the entire system. The zoom lens system according to the present invention comprises a plurality of lens units and an aperture diaphragm arranged in the lens unit.

Abstract: An image pickup device is provided which includes: an auto focus control unit sampling contrast values as a function of a relative distance from an object by detecting a contrast of an image of the object while driving a lens in an optical axis direction, calculating a focused focal position on the basis of the contrast values, and driving the lens to the focused focal position; a shake detecting unit detecting at least an amount of shake in the optical axis direction of the lens; and a selection judging unit judging selection and non-selection of the sampled contrast values depending on the amount of shake in the optical axis direction of the lens at the time of the sampling. Here, the auto focus control unit calculates the focused focal position on the basis of the contrast value judged as being selected by the selection judging unit among the sampled contrast values.

Abstract: Subject matter disclosed herein may relate to lens actuators used, for example, in auto-focus and/or vibration compensation systems of digital cameras.

Abstract: An optical image stabilizer includes a lens-holding member, first and second actuators driving the lens-holding member in first and second directions, a first guide member fixed to a base member, a second guide member placed between the first guide member and the lens-holding member, and a first ball placed between the base member and the lens-holding member and rolling in association with movement of the lens-holding member. Relative movement of the first and second guide members in a third direction accompanied by rolling of a second ball is allowed and relative movement thereof in a direction different from the third direction is limited by the second ball. Relative movement of the second guide member and the lens-holding member in a fourth direction accompanied by rolling of the third ball is allowed and relative movement thereof in a direction different from the fourth direction is limited by the third ball.

Abstract: A filming device includes a filming unit which imports a plurality of frames configuring a moving image at a prescribed sampling rate, a shake amount detection unit which detects a shake amount of each of the frames, a frame position calculation unit which calculates a frame position of each frame based on the shake amount, a reference frame position determination unit which determines a reference frame position to be a reference of a display subject frame, and a frame selection and transmission unit which selects and sequentially transmits frames positioned within a prescribed range centered on the reference frame position.

Abstract: A miniaturized anti-vibration image pickup device is provided, including a fixing base, a moving plane disposed on the fixing base that moves along a first direction and a second direction opposite to the fixing base, an image pickup member disposed on the moving plane, and a driving member. The driving member includes a first magnet and a second magnet disposed on the fixing base. A circuit board is disposed on the fixing base, wherein a first precision coil pattern and a second precision coil pattern are printed on the circuit board. The first precision coil pattern and the second precision coil pattern are formed by a electronic signal and move opposite to the first magnet and the second magnet disposed on the fixing base, so that the anti-vibration image pickup devices moved forward to restrain and compensate for blurred images. The coil on the circuit board designed by printed, reduces thickness of the whole device effectively.

Abstract: An image stabilizer that stabilizes images by moving a correcting lens for stabilizing images formed by a lens system in a first direction and a second direction which are perpendicular to an optical axis of said lens system and which are perpendicular to each other, includes a driver which is provided at one side of the correcting lens and which moves the correcting lens in the first direction and the second direction.

Abstract: In an image sensing system having an image sensing optical system, and an image sensing element for photoelectrically converting incoming light from the image sensing optical system, a predetermined pattern image for adjustment, which is specified in advance, is read by the image sensing element, and the image sensing element is driven to adjust its position on the basis of an output from said image sensing element, thereby adjusting the relative position of the image sensing element with respect to the image sensing optical system prior to an image sensing operation.

Abstract: A lens barrel including an image capturing optical system, to be extended for image capturing and to be retracted for carrying, including: a first lens unit for capturing an image of a subject; a light-amount control member to control an amount of light which comes from the subject and passes through the image capturing optical system; and second lens unit including at least two lens units which sandwich the light-amount control member on the optical axis; wherein when the lens barrel is extended for image capturing, the first lens unit and the second lens unit exist on the optical axis, while the light amount control member is sandwiched between the two lens units of the second lens unit on the optical axis, and when the lens barrel is retracted, the second lens unit is shifted to the position out of the optical axis.

Abstract: An optical system comprises an imaging arrangement (1?, 1?) that transmits an image to an image plane; a sensor; and one or more locator elements that locate the imaging arrangement (1?, 1?) to provide the image on the sensor. Tolerances of the locator element(s) allow a lateral translation and a rotation of the imaging arrangement (1?; 1?) around a nominal rotation point. A parameter of the optical system is selected such that a movement, resulting from either the lateral translation or the rotation, of an optical axis (OA) on the sensor is at least partly counteracted by a movement, resulting from either the lateral translation or the rotation, of the image on the sensor with respect to the optical axis (OA). Thereby, the optical system is wholly or partly self-compensating with respect to tolerances affecting the angular position or the lateral position of the imaging arrangement.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes a calculation unit which converts shaking detected by a sensor unit into a shaking cancel amount, a correction/driving unit which drives a correction unit using the shaking cancel amount in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis, and corrects blurring of an image formed on an image capturing unit, a zoom position detection unit which detects the current zoom position of a zoom lens, and a center point change unit which changes a center point serving as a movable center of the correction unit in accordance with the zoom position set at either end of the zoom range, or an arbitrary position therebetween. This enables a position of a correction unit to be set which allows optimal image visibility and image blurring correction irrespective of the zoom state.

Abstract: An image shake correction apparatus of a camera in which an object image is formed on an image sensor that is driven to move in first and second directions, which are orthogonal to each other, in a plane orthogonal to an optical axis to compensate for camera shake. The image shake correction apparatus includes a first table provided in a camera body to be movable in the first direction, and a second table which supports the image sensor and is movable in the second direction on the first table. At least one of the first table and the second table is supported by one guide bar and supported by a linear actuator which moves the one of the first table and the second table along the one guide bar, the one guide bar extending in a corresponding one of the first direction and the second direction.

Abstract: The present invention belongs to the field of an image capturing apparatus such as a camera for mobile phone and the like, and has an object to obtain a three axis lens shifting mechanism capable of achieving size reduction and cost reduction with simple structure and an image capturing apparatus equipped with such three axis lens shifting mechanism. A single magnetic circuit exerts an influence of a magnetic field produced by magnets (20) upon active sides of a focusing coil (14) and active sides of coils (10a), (10b). Therefore, movable parts (11+17) can be driven in the direction of optical axis (Z) only by controlling the direction of energizing the focusing coil (14), and further, a first movable part (11) can be driven in a first direction (X) or second direction (direction of rotation) (Y) only by combination of the directions of energizing the coils (10a), (10b). This allows the sharing of the magnetic circuit and an electromagnetic actuator.

Abstract: A zoom lens including a plurality of lens groups and varying magnification by changing a distance between lens groups, wherein a last lens group positioned on an image side closest thereto with a negative part group having negative refractive power and a positive part group arranged adjacent on the image side thereof and having positive refractive power, wherein the positive part group is shifted in a direction vertical to an optical axis to shift an image, and Equations (1) and (2) are satisfied, ?0.30<fgn/(Ngn·fT)<?0.05??(1) ?gn??gis>30??(2) where, fgn: focal length of the negative part group, Ngn: average refractive index of the negative part group, fT: focal length of the entire system at a telephoto end, ?gn: composite Abbe number of the negative part group, and ?gis: composite Abbe number of the positive part group.

Abstract: An image blur correction apparatus includes a correction lens, a first guide section, a second guide section, a first driving section, a second driving section, and a position detection section. In the image blur correction apparatus, the first and second driving section has first and second coils, a magnet to apply magnetic force to the first and second coils, and a yoke to support the magnet. The two coils are disposed in an intersecting and overlapping relationship with each other such that the direction of propelling force generated by the first coil and the direction of propelling force generated by the second coil are directed to the first direction and the second direction, respectively. The position detection section detects the magnetic force of the magnet to detect the position of the correction lens.

Abstract: By regulating movement of first and second arms 231A and 241A only in an optical axis direction using guide members EN1 and EN2, magnetic forces received from a first magnet 243A and a second magnet 233A which expand horizontally with respect to the optical axis can be stably detected by using a first sensor 2341A held in a first arm and a second sensor 2441A held by a second arm.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus capable of easily removing a foreign matter adhering on an optical filter surface is disclosed. A rubber member holding an optical low pass filter seals an imaging sensor and the optical low pass filter, and a piezoelectric element vibrates an edge portion of the optical low pass filter in the direction of an optical axis, and gives the optical low pass filter a rotational force around an axis orthogonal to an imaging optical axis.

Abstract: An image stabilization apparatus is disclosed which can provide enhanced accuracy of image stabilization. The apparatus includes a movable member movable relative to a fixed member of the apparatus, plural flexible members which movably support the movable member at least in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis, a portion of each of the flexible members on one end side in a direction along the optical axis being fixed to the fixed member, a portion of each of the flexible members on the other end side being fixed to the movable member, and an actuator which drives the movable member. The flexural rigidity of at least one of the plural flexible members in the direction orthogonal to the optical axis is different from that of the other at least one flexible member in that direction so as to suppress rotation of the movable member driven by the actuator.

Abstract: An imaging device includes an image stabilizer which detects vibration applied to a photographing optical system and moves at least one optical element of the photographing optical system in a plane orthogonal to a common optical axis of the photographing optical system to counteract image shake in accordance with a direction and a magnitude of the vibration; and a radially-retracting device which moves the optical element between a photographing position, at which the optical element is located on the common optical axis in a photographic state, and a radially-retracted position, at which the optical element is radially retracted away from the common optical axis in a non-photographing state.

Abstract: An optical device with an imaging device for forming an image of a subject with a lens device includes a lens unit, a movable member making the lens unit movable within a plane orthogonal to the optical axis of the lens unit, an image pickup device imaging the subject image formed by the lens device, a fixed member limiting the movement of the movable member in the optical axis direction, at least three balls rolling between the movable and fixed member, a vibration detecting unit, and pitch and yaw direction drive units for driving the movable member in the pitch and yaw directions within the optical axis orthogonal plane, respectively. The pitch and yaw direction drive units press the movable member toward the fixed member side by means of magnetic pressing forces caused by magnetic attractive action between drive magnets and yokes.

Abstract: A shake correction mechanism 1 has an elastic support member 2 for elastically and oscillatingly supporting a lens barrel 10 at one point, and first and second actuators 3a and 3b for applying oscillating forces to the lens barrel 10. When a moment is applied to the lens barrel 10 by the first and second actuators 3a and 3b, the elastic support member 2 is subjected to elastic deformation. Thereby, the lens barrel 10 is oscillated to tilt the optical axis thereof in a desires direction. Thus, the lens barrel 10 is oscillatingly driven without use of a rotary joint or the like as employed in the conventional gimbal mechanism. This arrangement enables to miniaturize the shake correction mechanism.

Abstract: In a digital camera having multiple optical systems, multiple image capturing elements are effectively driven to reduce power consumption. A digital camera has a first image capturing optical system having a lens and a first image sensor and a second image capturing optical system having a lens and a second image sensor. A controller and timing generator selects the image signal from the first image capturing optical system while controlling an operation or power of the second image sensor and a clock driver to be OFF when the zoom position falls within a first zoom range. When the zoom position falls within a second zoom range, the image signal from the second image capturing optical system is selected while an operation or power of the first image sensor and a clock driver is controlled to be OFF. An operation or power of the image capturing optical system which is not selected is stopped so that power consumption is reduced.

Abstract: An optical structure is disposed on a surface of a device substrate, and a lens system for introducing external light into a solid-state image pickup device is placed in the center of the optical structure. The outer shape of the optical structure seen from the light incident side of the lens system is rectangular, and its plane shape forms a rectangular frame section. An intermediate structure is disposed between the device substrate and the optical structure. The intermediate structure has a fitting section for fitting the optical structure in a part of side faces of the frame section.

Abstract: A taking lens consists of first to third lens groups. The second lens group is held in a lens frame that is coupled through an arm to a supporting shaft, and is able to rotate about the supporting shaft, to move the second lens group in a circular direction in a plane perpendicular to an optical axis of the taking lens. As a movable lens barrel retreats into a camera body, the lens frame rotates to remove the second lens group from an inserted position inserted in an optical path of the taking lens to a removed position set out of the optical path. The arm is provided with an actuator that causes the lens frame to move in a lengthwise direction of the arm. Because the movement in the circular direction includes a component that is perpendicular to the lengthwise movement of the arm, it is possible to move the lens frame and thus the second lens group in any directions in the perpendicular plane to the optical axis, in order to cancel a deviation of an optical image that result from a camera shake.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for the automated correction of optical and digital aberrations in a digital imaging system. The system includes digital filtration and digital system corrections to optical and digital aberrations. The system addresses issues in still and video photography that are presented in the digital imaging environment.

Abstract: A camera provided with a lens assembly, a CCD and a circuit for applying a signal which is disposed between the lens assembly and the CCD, where the circuit for applying a signal is vibrated.

Abstract: A face detector detects a person's face from a through image. When the face is not found, and a shutter button is pressed fully, a correction lens is moved in the direction and at the speed to offset a camera shake detected by an angular velocity sensor and a still image is shot. When the face is found, and the shutter button is pressed halfway, a motion vector detector reads two through images from a SDRAM to detect a subject shake. During the shooting of the still image by full press of the shutter button, the correction lens moves in the direction and at the speed to offset the subject shake.

Abstract: A video camera, having a body which supports a Depth of Field adapter and contains an image recording device comprises imaging optics having a disk shaped ground glass for rendering visible a real image; a rotatable post having a first end coupled to the ground glass at its center and a second end coupled to the body of the Depth of Field adapter; and a motor coupled to rotate the rotatable post to urge the ground glass to rotate, and where the Depth of Field adapter comprises first and second tubes which, when aligned, form a front tube of the Depth of Field adapter; a coupling ring coupled to align and join the first tube with the second tube; and a support member coupled to the first and second tubes to position the first and second tubes to be at the front of the optical path of the camera.

Abstract: An anti-shake apparatus comprises a movable-unit, a fixed-unit, a signal-processor, and a controller. The movable-unit has an imaging-device and is movable in first-and second-directions, supported by the fixed-unit. The fixed-unit has a horizontal-hall-element for detecting a first-location, and a vertical-hall-element for detecting a second-location. The signal-processor outputs a first-signal specifying the first-location, from output signals of the horizontal-hall-element, to a first A/D-converter of the controller, and outputs a second-signal specifying the second-location, from output signals of the vertical-hall-element, to a second A/D-converter of the controller. The controller calculates the first-location in an A/D-converting-operation for the first-signal, and the second-location in an A/D-converting-operation for the second-signal.

Abstract: A photographic apparatus comprises a movable platform and a controller. The movable platform has an imager, and is movable and rotatable in an xy plane. The controller performs a movement control of the movable platform for an inclination correction based on an inclination angle of the photographic apparatus formed by rotation of the photographic apparatus around the optical axis, as measured with respect to a level plane, for a first stabilization for correcting hand shake caused by yaw around the y direction, and for a second stabilization for correcting hand shake caused by pitch around the x direction. The controller performs at least one of a first determination of whether the first stabilization is to be performed and a second determination of whether the second stabilization is to be performed, on the basis of the inclination angle.

Abstract: An optical module, a camera, and a mobile terminal device are provided. The optical module includes a lens unit, a lens driving unit, a driving control unit, and a vibration sensing unit. The vibration sensing unit is configured to detect vibration/shaking of the optical module, the camera, or the mobile terminal device and transmit a detected signal to the driving control unit. The driving control unit generates a corresponding vibration/shaking compensation signal according to the detected signal of the vibration sensor, and performs a vibration/shaking compensation movement by driving the lens with the lens driving unit. The optical module is applied in the camera and the mobile terminal device. The present invention has not only an auto-focusing function, but also an added anti-vibration function, so as to overcome influences on image degradation resulted from vibration/shaking of the optical module, the camera, or the mobile terminal device.

Abstract: In an image blur correction apparatus, rotation of a correction lens about an optical axis is regulated without special mechanism or drive unit. When displacing a third lens unit in a pitch and yaw directions, forces Bp, By driving a shift base are generated in the respective directions by Lorentz force, to generate forces Cp, Cy, Dp, Dy returning a magnet to an original position by attraction force. By, Cy and Bp, Dp, respectively, are exerted on the same axes, whereas Cp, Dy are not in the same axes as those of Bp, By, respectively, so that a rotational moment for the shift base is generated and the shift base is stabilized at a first angle. Since the first angle is smaller than a second angle regulated by a restriction portion for a shift movement frame, the shift base does not abut the shift movement frame to deteriorate image stabilization.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a correction unit, a vibration detection unit, a filter passing and outputting frequency of a predetermined band of vibration signals periodically entered from the vibration detection unit: the filter setting, as intermediate value, sum of a value based on a vibration signal of current period and a value based on a vibration signal of last period and setting, as output signal, a value obtained by adding a value based on intermediate value of the current period and a value based on intermediate value of the last period, a calculation unit calculating vibration correction amount, a driving control unit driving the correction unit by using the vibration correction amount, and an offset unit performing feedback control so that an intermediate value is shifted to predetermined value by changing the intermediate value and an offset value added to a signal based on output from the vibration detection unit.

Abstract: An image-taking device is capable of effectively utilizing a shake correcting section and thereby shooting an image with little blur. The image-taking device includes: an angular rate sensor which detects a shake; a shift lens which travels within a predetermined moving range to correct the shake; a shift lens driving section which pulls the shift lens, which has moved to a biased position from a predetermined center, back to the center; a central processing unit which calculates a correction effect for the shake; and a liquid crystal monitor. The central processing unit calculates the correction effect based on a distance between the position of the moved shift lens and the center, and displays the correction effect on the liquid crystal monitor.

Abstract: A digital camera is provided with a photographing lens, an image capturing element, which is configured to capture an optical image of an object formed by the photographing lens, a coarse movement control system configured to control a position of the photographing lens in a direction of an optical axis by a motor, and a fine movement control system configured to control a position of an image receiving area of the image capturing element in the direction of the optical axis is provided.

Abstract: A drive device is provided having a movable part, a first drive part, and a second drive part. The movable part is swingable relative to a fixed part. The first drive part drives the movable part in a first direction. The second drive part drives the movable part in a direction opposite to the first direction. The fixed part has bumpers which are struck by the movable part. The first and second drive parts simultaneously drive said movable part so as to strike the bumpers.

Abstract: A camera module includes a lens unit, a magnet mounted around the lens unit, a stator receiving the lens unit and the magnet therein and an elastic element. The stator includes a coil seat and a coil wound therearound. The coil establishes a magnetic field when an electric current is applied thereto. The magnetic field interacts with a magnetic field of the magnet to generate a magnetic force driving the lens unit into telescopic movement. The elastic element includes at least one rib which has a fixed end connected with the stator and an opposite movable end. The moveable end moves together with the lens unit with respect to the fixed end to generate an elastic force during the telescopic movement of the lens unit. The lens unit stops at a focal position when the magnetic force and the elastic force come to a balance.

Abstract: In bi-directional imaging, such as bi-directional printing, a driving mechanism scans a light beam through a scan path across an imaging window. A controller enables transmission of video data to a modulator when the light beam is positioned for imaging on the imaging window. Video data is transmitted to the modulator when the light beam is traveling in a forward direction or a reverse direction across the imaging window, whereby a modulated light beam is capable of producing an image when traveling in the forward or reverse directions. The controller adjusts scan durations or image rasterization rates to ensure that each scan is properly aligned with the prior and subsequent scan.

Abstract: The optical image stabilizer includes a substrate, a carrier movably disposed on the substrate for carrying an image sensor, an anchor fixed on the substrate, a conducting pad fixed on the anchor for coupling an image processing circuit, a flexible suspension disposed between the conducting pad and the carrier, a conducting line disposed on the flexible suspension coupled to the conducting pad and protruding over the carrier for coupling the image sensor, and a micro actuator disposed between the substrate and the carrier for adjusting the position of the carrier according to control signals from an actuator control circuit.