Abstract: An image capture apparatus comprises: a moving unit configured to move a focus position of a photographing lens relative to an image sensor at a predetermined amplitude by changing a distance in an optical axis direction between the photographing lens and the image sensor; detection unit configured to detect a focus state of an image obtained from the image sensor; and defocus correction unit configured to perform defocus correction on the image obtained from the image sensor during motion performed by the moving unit, based on the focus state detected by the detection unit, so that the focus state of each image for display on the display device at least approaches the focus state for an in-focus image.

Abstract: A photographic device having an optical image stabilization (OIS) module includes a compensation unit, a first position sensor, a second position sensor, a first vibration detection unit, a second vibration detection unit, a first actuator, a second actuator and a central processing unit (CPU). The CPU includes an anti-shake processing unit. The anti-shake processing unit processes vibration signals output by the first vibration detection unit and the second vibration detection unit and position signals output by the first position sensor and the second position sensor, and drives the first actuator and the second actuator to adjust positions of the compensation unit in the first direction and in the second direction and further compensate the shake of the photographic device having the OIS module in the first direction and in the second direction.

Abstract: An image-blur correction device includes a vibration detection unit which detects vibrations of two different detection axes in a plane orthogonal to an optical axis, a correction unit which corrects vibration using a correction optical system which is displaced in directions of at least two correction axes different from the detection axes in the plane, a calculation unit that calculates amounts of displacements used to drive the correction optical system so that image-blur generated due to the vibrations is corrected based on amounts of vibrations obtained using the vibration detection unit, a coordinate conversion unit which rotates amounts of vibrations in the two detection axes relative to the corresponding at least two correction axes for conversion through calculations, and a restriction unit which restricts a driving range of the correction unit based on a displacement-amount restriction value obtained from a performance limitation region of the correction optical system.

Abstract: A vibration reduction device includes: an optical system that comprises a vibration reduction optical system; a first driving unit that moves the vibration reduction optical system in a first direction; a second driving unit that moves the vibration reduction optical system in a second direction that differs from the first direction. An optical axis of the vibration reduction optical system is located between the first driving unit and the second driving unit.

Abstract: In an imaging device including a mechanical image blurring correction and a sensitivity image blurring reduction, a subject-shake amount is calculated based on a motion vector size acquired during a through image process display. Usage percentages of the mechanical image blurring correction and a sensitivity image blurring reduction are sequentially set based on the calculated subject-shake amount. When shooting a still-image, still-image data is recorded after blurring reduction is performed on the still-image data by the mechanical image blurring correction and a sensitivity image blurring reduction, based on the most recently set usage percentages.

Abstract: An interchangeable lens which is removably mounted on a camera body including an image sensor includes a tilt unit configured to move a lens unit in a tilt direction with respect to the image sensor, a shift unit configured to move the lens unit in a shift direction with respect to the image sensor, a changing unit configured to change a relative angle between the shift unit and the tilt unit by relatively rotating the shift unit and the tilt unit, a detection unit configured to detect the relative angle, and a control unit configured to transmit to the camera body a detection result of the relative angle detected by the detection unit.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes a correction lens to move along an optical axis to perform zoom tracking, a correction lens driver to drive the correction lens, a zoom lens, a zoom ring to be turned by a user, a zoom lens driver to mechanically move the zoom lens according to an amount of turn of the zoom ring, a position detector to detect a position of the zoom lens, a rate detector to detect a change rate of the position of the zoom lens, a storage unit to store relational information which associates the position of the zoom lens with a focus position of the correction lens, and a controller to control the correction lens driver. The controller determines a focus position of the correction lens corresponding to a position more distant by a predetermined amount from the position of the zoom lens detected by the position detector, by referring to the relational information, and controls the correction lens driver to drive the correction lens with a target position set to the determined focus position.

Abstract: In order to appropriately detect abnormalities for the purpose of surveillance with it being possible to prevent an unnecessary increase in data amount of the monitoring images, a monitoring system includes an image capturing section that captures a moving image of a monitored area, a variation reduced image generating section that generates a variation reduced image by reducing a temporal variation in an image, based on a plurality of moving-image making-up images included in the moving image captured by the image capturing section, a condition storing section that stores thereon a condition which is required to be satisfied by a variation reduced image which is generated by using a plurality of moving-image making-up images included in a moving image which is judged to show an abnormality, a satisfaction judging section that judges whether the variation reduced image generated by the variation reduced image generating section satisfies the condition, an output moving image generating section that, when the

Abstract: The accuracy of servo control of a corrective lens in an image stabilization control circuit is prevented from decreasing due to non-linear characteristics of a position-detecting element. A signal representing a component of vibration of an image pickup apparatus is generated based on an angular velocity signal from a vibration-detecting element. A microcomputer corrects the vibration component signal according to a predetermined correction function and generates a target position signal representing a target position of the lens. A position-detection signal based on an output from the position-detecting element is compared with the target position signal, and the position of the lens is servo-controlled. The correction function is set so that the characteristics of variation of the target position signal relative to the target position will be the same as the characteristics of variation of the position-detection signal relative to the actual position of the lens.

Abstract: An optical unit with shake correcting function may include a movable module having a lens, a fixed body supporting the movable module, a shake detection sensor for detecting shake of the movable module, and at least one pair of magnetic drive mechanism for shake correction which is structured on both sides of the movable module so that the movable module is swung with respect to the fixed body on the basis of detection result of the shake detection sensor to correct the shake of the movable module. The magnetic drive mechanism for shake correction is disposed so that a shake correction magnet is held by the fixed body and a shake correction coil is held by the movable module.

Abstract: In an image pickup apparatus in which image stabilization is performed based on shake sensor and movement-vector-obtaining method which can perform accurate blur correction since shake components difficult to be detected by shake sensor can be detected by the movement-vector-obtaining method, the image blur due to high frequency vibration such as vehicle vibration cannot be corrected by the movement vector in low-frame-rate shooting since the detectable frequency band narrows in high frequency. Therefore, it is necessary to optimize the combination of blur information from the angular velocity sensor and from the movement vector, according to the frequency band detectable by the movement vector depending on change in frame rate. The combination ratio of blur correction based on blur information from angular velocity sensor, acceleration sensor and blur correction based on movement vector is determined depending on frequency detectable by the movement vector which inevitably changes depending on frame rate.

Abstract: A lens barrel comprises a fixed optical system though which a subject image enters into the lens barrel along with an optical axis, a retreatable blur correction optical system that corrects an image blur by moving within a plane ranging perpendicular to the optical axis in an operating position and that retreats to a storage position from the operating position, a blur correction optical system drive unit that drives the retreatable blur correction optical system within the plane ranging perpendicular to the optical axis, and a correction information recording unit at which reference position correction information is recorded, the correction information indicating a reference position for the retreatable blur correction optical system within the plane ranging perpendicular to the optical axis.

Abstract: An image stabilization driving assembly that corrects a shake of a digital camera includes a driving plate in which a correction lens is mounted and that operates in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis; a base plate that supports the driving plate at a rear of the driving plate; a tilt correction plate fastened at a rear of the base plate and that adjusts the fastening degree and corrects tilting of the driving plate; and a plurality of suspension wires having one end fixed to the driving plate, another end fixed to the tilt correction plate, and extending through the base plate. The plurality of suspension wires may be formed of an elastic material.

Abstract: An optical element driving device includes an optical element holder, first and second magnets, first and second magnetic bodies each having a cross section including a vertex and first and second legs forming an opening therebetween, first and second piezoelectric elements that move the optical element holder in directions perpendicular to each other by slidingly moving the first and second magnetic bodies by vibrating the first and second magnets, and first and second magnetic sensors that detect a position of the optical element holder, wherein the first and second piezoelectric elements are driven in a state in which the first and second magnets are coupled to the first and second legs from the opening side, wherein the first and second magnets are each magnetized in directions perpendicular to a magnetization line, and wherein the second magnetic sensor is disposed at a position that is not on the magnetization line.

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: There is provided a shake correction apparatus having an image pickup optical system that includes a correction lens capable of moving in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis. The shake correction apparatus comprises: a detection unit that detects shake applied to the shake correction apparatus; a determination unit that determines a reference position of the correction lens; and a drive unit that drives the correction lens with the reference position serving as a center position, so as to correct the shake detected by the detection unit. The determination unit determines the reference position, in a range where a condition that a Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) of the image pickup optical system when the correction lens is positioned at the determined reference position is equal to or larger than a threshold is satisfied.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a suspension wire for compensating for hand vibration and an image photographing device having the same. The suspension wire for compensating for hand vibration, which is mounted between an optical unit and a housing so as to have a length thereof in an optical axis direction to float and support the optical unit within the housing, includes: a wire body having both ends thereof each fixed to the optical unit and the housing; and a deformation buffer formed in the wire body to allow the wire body to flexibly receive impact force when external impact is applied to the wire body, thereby preventing permanent deformation or fracture of the wire body.

Abstract: The optical apparatus includes an image pickup optical system including a focus lens, a controller controlling movement of the focus lens in an optical axis direction of the image pickup optical system, a shake detector detecting a shake amount of the optical apparatus in the optical axis direction, and a memory storing plural shake amounts sequentially detected by the shake detector. The controller calculates, in response to a start instruction of exposure for the image pickup and before start of the exposure, a predictive value of the shake amount for a time point of the exposure based on the plural shake amounts stored in the memory and including at least one shake amount detected after the start instruction of exposure. The controller moves the focus lens to a position corresponding to the predictive value before the start of the exposure.

Abstract: The spherical aberration of an imaging lens changes from an object side of image-plane base position Zo toward the other side thereof as a distance from optical axis Z1 increases, and formulas 0.02<a/f<0.10 and 0.02<b/f are satisfied. In an imaging apparatus to which the imaging lens is applied, a blur is corrected by performing contrast recovery processing on original image data obtained by imaging. In the formulas, a is the magnitude of spherical aberration from the image-plane base position Zo toward the object side thereof affecting a ray passing through a central part of the pupil of the imaging lens, and b is a sum of a maximum spherical aberration from the image plane base position Zo toward the object side thereof and a maximum spherical aberration from the image plane base position Zo toward the other side thereof, and f is the focal length of the imaging lens.

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 anti-shake structure for auto-focus module includes an auto-focus module for driving a lens to move forward and rearward in a light entering path, i.e. in z-axis direction, so that the lens focuses light on an image sensor; a frame for holding the auto-focus module therein; a lens suspender with a compensation lens arranged thereon being connected to a plurality of suspension wires while the latter are connected at respective another end to the top cover plate of the frame, so that the compensation lens is correspondingly suspended in the frame in the light entering path and located behind the lens; and a shake compensation driving unit for driving the lens suspender to move horizontally in x-axis or y-axis direction, so as to compensate any image shift caused by hand shaking.

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: Disclosed herein is a solid-state imaging device including a plurality of pixel units configured to be disposed in an imaging area in such a way that a plurality of pixels corresponding to different colors are treated as one unit, wherein the amount of shift of a position of each of the pixels in the pixel unit is so set as to differ depending on distance from a center of the imaging area to the pixel unit and a color.

Abstract: An image stabilizer includes a stationary member defining a first receiving space and a first central axis, a moveable member received in the first receiving space and spaced from the stationary member, a driving assembly including a first magnetic member fixed to the stationary member and a second magnetic member fixed to the moveable member, a resilient assembly interconnecting the stationary member and the moveable member, and a gyro. The moveable member defines a second central axis coinciding with the first central axis. The first magnetic member faces the second magnetic member. The driving assembly drives the moveable member to rotate about a first axis and a second axis relative to the stationary member through magnetic interaction between the first magnetic member and the second magnetic member. The second axis is perpendicular to the first axis; the first axis and the second axis are perpendicular to the first central axis.

Abstract: Imaging systems with image sensors and image processing circuitry are provided. The image processing circuitry may identify motion and perform autofocus (e.g., continuous autofocus) using images captured by an image sensor. Auto exposure metrics such as average luminance values and autofocus statistics such as sharpness scores may be calculated for each image. The auto exposure metrics may be used to calculate motion scores and identify directional motion between a series of captured images. The motion scores may be used with the sharpness scores to determine when to perform autofocus functions such as when to refocus a lens for a continuous autofocus application. For example, the motion scores may be monitored to identify motion that exceeds a given magnitude and duration. After identification of motion, motion scores and sharpness scores may be used to determine when a given scene has stabilized and when the lens should be refocused.

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 a 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 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 optical imaging device, wherein an imaging unit is displaced to correct the vibrations, and the imaging unit is supported on a stationary object by a total of four suspension wires. A first imaging unit drive mechanism and a second imaging unit drive mechanism are provided as a pair at two positions on either side of the optical axis L. In the imaging unit drive mechanisms, imaging unit drive magnets, are held on the imaging unit side, which is the movable side, and imaging unit drive coils, are held on the stationary object side.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a vehicle-mounted type of camera capable of being reduced in the space required for installation on the windshield of a vehicle. An imaging unit 15 is provided on a substrate 19 and has an optical axis in a direction perpendicular to the substrate surface. The substrate 19 is set up in parallel with respect to the windshield of the vehicle. A lens 14 is disposed on the optical axis. A mirror 16 is also provided on the optical axis of the imaging unit 15, and is adapted to change a direction of the optical axis to a frontward direction of the vehicle, thus guiding frontward visual field information of the vehicle to the imaging unit 15. The mirror 16 is retained in an attachment 11. The attachment 11 can be engaged with and disengaged from an enclosure 12 that holds the lens 14.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an image stabilization mechanism for a camera module. The image stabilization mechanism includes a base, a movable stage receiving a lens barrel therein and having a magnet, and a piezoelectric actuator. The piezoelectric actuator is installed to the base, moves the movable stage in an X-axis or Y-axis direction to remove shake of the lens barrel, and maintains contact with the movable stage because of magnetic attractive force between the piezoelectric actuator and the magnet. The image stabilization mechanism reduces the number of components, thus simplifying the structure and minimizing an increase in height.

Abstract: A digital camera of the invention includes: an image pickup device; a dust-proof filter including an area disposed so as to face an image pickup surface of the image pickup device with a predetermined distance; a piezoelectric device for vibration application for vibrating not only a surface of the dust-proof filter but also inside of the dust-proof filter; and a piezoelectric device for vibration absorption for absorbing a part of vibration of the dust-proof filter in a predetermined cycle. When a wavelength of vibration generated in the dust-proof filter by vibration of the piezoelectic device for vibration application is defined as ?, and an odd number as k, the piezoelectric device for vibration application and the piezoelectric device for vibration absorption are arranged separately from each other at positions on the dust-proof filter such that a distance between centers of the devices is expressed by k×?/4.

Abstract: A driving system is provided. The driving system includes a fixed substrate, a coil unit which generates an electromagnetic force if an electric current applied, a magnet unit formed on the fixed substrate to face the coil unit, and a plurality of driving units which are interconnected with each other on the fixed substrate, and which are moved respectively in parallel direction with respect to a surface of the fixed substrate in accordance with an interaction between the electromagnetic force and a magnetic force of the magnet unit, if the electric current is applied. As a result, a non-contact driving is provided.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: an image-forming element; an optical element including a light-transmitting portion disposed so as to face an image surface of the image-forming element; a vibration-application member arranged at a position other than a position of the light-transmitting portion of the optical element, for vibrating a surface of the optical element and inside of the optical element; and a vibration-absorption member arranged at a position opposed to the vibration-application member, for absorbing a part of vibration of the optical element in a predetermined cycle, wherein when a wavelength of vibration generated in the optical element by vibration of the vibration-application member is defined as ?, and an odd number as k, the vibration-application member and the vibration-absorption member are arranged separately from each other at positions on the optical element such that a distance between centers of the members is expressed by k×?/4.

Abstract: A method for driving a lens and a lens driving apparatus, the lens driving apparatus including a base in which a guide member is disposed; a lens support member comprising an installation unit disposed on one side thereof to slidingly move along the guide member, wherein at least one lens is mounted in the lens support member; a driving structure configured to move the lens support member and comprising a lead screw; a working member having one portion contacting the driving structure and another portion contacting one side of the installation unit; an elastic member for providing the installation unit with an elastic force; and wherein a predetermined space is disposed between the installation unit and the base, and wherein the installation unit is configured to be moved to the base by a means other than the driving structure.

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 lens driving device has a carrier, a coil, an upper spring, a lower spring, a yoke, a magnet, and a lower member. The carrier is cylindrical and has a hollow part along a vertical direction so that a lens can be carried. The coil is fixed to an outer peripheral surface of the carrier. The upper spring is arranged over the carrier, and fixed to the yoke. The lower spring is arranged below the carrier. The yoke is formed into a box shape having a side wall and an opening on the lower side, and arranged around the carrier. The magnet is arranged in the yoke so as to be opposed to the coil. The lower member is arranged below the yoke. The lower member has a projection part connected to the yoke. The projection part is inserted between an inner surface of the side wall of the yoke and an outer surface of the magnet and connected to the yoke. Thus, the yoke and the lower member can be connected such that space for the magnet to be arranged in the yoke is less affected.

Abstract: An optical apparatus capable of detecting an attitude of the apparatus in a state where no interference occurs between apparatus components, thereby preventing an error in the attitude detection. A shift lens drive controller of the optical apparatus detects a shake applied to the apparatus, calculates a movement target position of the shift lens based on a result of the detection, detects an actual position of the shift lens, and performs feedback control such that the actual position of the shift lens is converged to the movement target position. An attitude detector detects the attitude of the optical apparatus by using feedback control information, and an interference prevention controller prevents interference between the shift lens and other members.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided including a voice coil motor (VCM); a lens connected to the voice coil motor; and a pulse-width modulation (PWM) driver connected to the voice coil motor to at least partially control movement of the lens by the voice coil motor.

Abstract: There is provided an image blur correction device including: a correction optical element; a first movable frame; a second movable frame; a fixed frame; a first main guide shaft and a first auxiliary guide shaft; a second main guide shaft and a second auxiliary guide shaft; a first driving part; and a second driving part. The first auxiliary guide shaft is shorter than the first main guide shaft and the second driving part is placed between the first auxiliary guide shaft and the correction optical element. The second auxiliary guide shaft is shorter than the second main guide shaft and the first driving part is placed between the second auxiliary guide shaft and the correction optical element.

Abstract: Provided is an optical image stabilizer for a camera module assembly including at least one or more guide portions for guiding linear movement while preventing friction in first and second drive portions. The optical image stabilizer includes a first drive portion including a tip provided between a housing and a first drive plate to drive the first drive plate in a first direction, a second drive portion including a tip provided between the first drive plate and a second drive plate to drive the second drive plate in a second direction, and first and second guide portions formed in the first and second drive plates in positions corresponding to the tips of the first and second drive portions such that the first and second guide portions guide linear movement of the tips and prevent friction when the first and second drive portions are driven in the first and second directions.

Abstract: An image-shake correction apparatus includes a shake detection unit configured to detect a shake applied to the image-shake correction apparatus, a shake correction unit configured to correct the shake of an image caused by the shake, a drive unit configured to drive the shake correction unit, a filtering unit configured to remove a specific frequency component from the output of the shake detection unit, a characteristic change unit configured to change the frequency characteristic of the filtering unit, and a temperature detection unit configured to detect temperature of the shake detection unit or a vivinity thereof, wherein the characteristic change unit changes the frequency characteristic of the filtering unit according to the change rate in temperature detected by the temperature detection unit.

Abstract: An anti-shake apparatus for image stabilizing comprises a movable unit and a controller. The movable unit is movable for an anti-shake operation. The controller stops the anti-shake operation after an exposure time and moves the movable unit to a first position after the anti-shake operation. The first position is a position of the movable unit before the exposure time and before the anti-shake operation. The controller moves the movable unit at a decelerated, low rate of speed before finishing its movement to the first position.

Abstract: In a vibration correction control circuit mounted on an image pickup apparatus including an image pickup unit, provided with lenses, image pickup devices and vibration detecting element, and a driver element for adjusting the position of the image pickup unit, the equalizer generates a drive signal used to move the image pickup unit in a direction along which to reduce the vibration applied to the image pickup unit, based on the output signal of the vibration detecting element. A verifying-signal input circuit supplies a dummy vibration-component signal to the equalizer.

Abstract: The optical apparatus includes an image stabilizing lens shiftable with respect to an optical axis, a movable lens movable in an optical axis direction, first and second actuators shifting the image stabilizing lens, and a third actuator moving the movable lens. The first, second and third actuators include a magnet and a coil. When viewed in the optical axis direction, the first and second actuators are disposed in a first area and the third actuator is disposed in a second area, the first and second areas being opposite to each other with respect to the optical axis. The first and second actuators are respectively disposed in areas in the first area opposite to each other with respect to a straight line passing the optical axis and the third actuator. This arrangement enables reduction of magnetic interference between the first and second actuators and the third actuator.

Abstract: Foreign substance information about at last including a position of a foreign substance adhered to an optical element disposed in front of an image sensor is detected, and whether the position of the foreign substance overlaps a predetermined area of an object is determined by analyzing an image signal of the object generated by the image sensor. When it is determined that the position of the foreign substance overlaps the predetermined area of the object, a relative position of the image of the object formed on the image sensor and the image sensor is changed.

Abstract: An image stabilization apparatus includes accelerometers, a proximity sensor and a processor. Each accelerometer determines acceleration along an axis of a plane parallel to a focal plane of an image capture device. The accelerometers output respective acceleration data to the processor. The proximity sensor obtains a measurement of the distance between the focal plane of the image capture device and an object plane. The proximity sensor outputs distance data to the processor. The processor processes the distance data and the acceleration data to produce correction data to correct image data captured during motion of the image capture device.

Abstract: A yoke of an actuator for driving a shift moving frame in a pitch direction is shaped such that when the shift moving frame is moved in the pitch direction, a magnetic attractive force for reducing a moment acting on the shift moving frame due to a magnetic attractive force generated between the magnet and the yoke of an actuator for driving the shift moving frame in a yaw direction is generated between the yoke and the magnet of the actuator for driving in the pitch direction.

Abstract: A hand shake correction apparatus and a digital photographing apparatus including the hand shake correction apparatus are provided. The hand shake correction apparatus includes: a correction lens module including a correction lens and a correction lens supporting plate; a base movably supporting the supporting plate; first and second driving units moving the supporting plate; and third and fourth driving units moving the supporting plate. The first and second driving units are arranged such that a driving force action line applied to the supporting plate by the first and second driving units passes through a center of mass of the correction lens module. The third and fourth driving units are arranged such that a driving force action line applied to the supporting plate by the third and fourth driving units passes through a center of mass of the correction lens module.

Abstract: An actuator for moving an imaging lens to prevent blurring of an image includes a fixed portion; a movable portion attached to the imaging lens; a plurality of spherical bodies sandwiched between the movable portion and the fixed portion, supporting the movable portion; a drive means; fixed portion drop prevention walls and movable portion drop prevention walls, erected so as to respectively surround each of the spherical bodies and prevent the spherical bodies from dropping; fixed portion contact walls and moving portion contact walls formed contiguously with these drop prevention walls such that when the movable portion is moved to a predetermined locking position, the spherical bodies contact it; and a controller for moving the movable portion to a locking position by rotating the movable portion around the optical axis, thereby positioning each of the spherical bodies.

Abstract: In a first operational amplifier, an input signal is input to the negative input terminal, a reference voltage is input to the positive input terminal, a feedback path from the output terminal to the negative input terminal is formed, and the input signal is amplified by a predetermined amplification factor. In a second operational amplifier, an output from the first operational amplifier is input to the positive input terminal, the reference voltage is input to the negative input terminal, and a pair of outputs having opposite polarities to each other and used for performing BTL drive of a load are obtained at the output terminal. Using the above arrangement, a low-frequency signal can be amplified.