Abstract: A preparation includes an image sensor, a package, and a transparent plate. The image sensor has an imaging area on a front surface. The package is electrically connected to the image sensor. The transparent plate opposes the front surface of the image sensor with a mounting medium interposed therebetween. On the surface of the transparent plate, first and second grooves are formed. The image sensor is disposed between the first and second grooves.

Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein relates to an imaging module comprising an electromagnetic actuator to provide focus-related and image stabilization-related functionality.

Abstract: An adjustment apparatus (20) for an optical element (12) of an optoelectronic sensor (10) is provided comprising a drive (32), a cam disk (22) rotatable by the drive (32) and a transmission element (26) which is in contact with a periphery of the cam disk (22) and is connected to the optical element (12) in order thus to convert a rotary movement of the cam disk (22) into an adjustment movement of the optical element (12). In this respect, the cam disk (22) is manufactured from metal in an etching technology.

Abstract: A method for driving first and second voice coil motors (VCMs) by generating a first coil current through the first VCM and routing a portion (not all) of the first coil current through the second VCM when a first VCM movement command is commanding greater movement than a second VCM movement command. A second coil current is generated through the second VCM and a portion (not all) of the second coil current is routed through the first VCM, when the first VCM movement command is commanding smaller movement than the second VCM movement command. This may reduce power consumption. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: An example image system may include a lens that produces an image, an image sensor, an image stabilizer, and a controller. This image sensor has a first edge and an opposite second edge. The first edge is placed closer to lens such that it focuses on more distant objects. The image stabilizer provides a time-varying compensation of image motion at the image sensor. The controller operates the image capture system in a repeating cycle where the sensor exposes and reads out an image progressively from one edge to the opposite edge. The controller operates the image stabilizer to provide an image motion compensation that varies in time such that the image motion compensation is greater when exposing and reading the second edge of the sensor than when exposing and reading the first edge of the sensor.

Abstract: An SMA actuation apparatus moves a movable element relative to a support structure in two orthogonal directions using a total of four SMA actuator wires each connected at its ends between the movable element and the support structure and extending perpendicular to the primary axis. None of the SMA actuator wires are collinear, but the SMA actuator wires have an arrangement in which they are capable of being selectively driven to move the movable element relative to the support structure to any position in said range of movement without applying any net torque to the movable element in the plane of the two orthogonal directions around the primary axis. Accordingly, it is possible to drive movement whilst balancing the forces to limit torque around the primary axis.

Abstract: A multifunctional voice coil motor is disclosed, the motor including a rotor including a bobbin and a plurality of magnets arranged at a periphery of the bobbin, a stator including a housing wrapping each magnet and a plurality of coil blocks each arranged at a position corresponding to that of each magnet, a base coupled to the housing, and an elastic member elastically supporting the rotor.

Abstract: An optical image stabilizing device is to be formed on a substrate, and includes an outer frame, an image sensor module, and an actuating module. The outer frame module is disposed on the substrate. The outer frame module and the substrate cooperatively define a receiving space. The image sensor module is suspended in the receiving space. The actuating module connects the outer frame module and the image sensor module, and is configured to drive the image sensor module to move for adjusting a relative position of the image sensor module with respect to the outer frame module.

Abstract: Image stabilization systems and methods include a detector configured to detect images, an actuator coupled to the detector, a sensor coupled to the detector and configured to detect motion of the detector, and an electronic processor in communication with the sensor and the actuator, where the electronic processor is configured to, for example: (a) receive information about motion of the detector from the sensor; (b) determine components of the motion of the detector, and associate a class with each of the determined components; (c) identify components to be compensated from among the determined components based on the associated classes; and (d) generate a control signal that causes the actuator to adjust a position of at least a portion of the detector to compensate for the identified components.

Abstract: An electronic element supporting base and an electronic device applying the same are provided. The electronic element supporting base comprises a fixing portion and a carrying part. The fixing portion is suitable for being fixed to a frame of the electronic device as a fulcrum for the electronic element supporting base. The carrying part is suitable for carrying a plurality of electronic elements, wherein a gap exists between the carrying part and the frame, and a gap exists between the carrying part and the circuit board. When the electronic device receives an impact, the suspended design of the electronic element supporting base allows the carrying part to oscillate through the gaps, and the electronic element supporting base will not be squeezed, which prevents the electronic elements on the electronic element supporting base from being shifted.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a dust removal system, an image capture device and a dust removal vibration method thereof. The dust removal system includes a vibration generation module having a vibration unit which is arranged on a transparent object of an image capture device, and is driven to generate a vibration for dust removal, a vibration detection unit arranged on the transparent object and transform a vibration amplitude into a corresponding electrical signal so as to output a feedback signal continually, a compare unit outputting a control signal when the compare unit determines the feedback signal exceeds the threshold value, and a control unit controlling the vibration generation module based on the control signal to generate the corresponding vibration for dust removal. Thereby, an amplitude of the transparent object can be precisely obtained and the vibration can be precisely adjusted.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein provides a small-format image-shake correction apparatus and an imaging apparatus incorporating the same.

Abstract: An imaging device includes an objective lens that includes a movable lens that is configured so that an in-focus object plane position is changed along with a change in angle of view, an image sensor that acquire an image, a focus control section that implements an autofocus (AF) operation by controlling a position of the movable lens, a reference lens position setting section that sets a reference lens position based on a moving range of the movable lens during a wobbling operation, the wobbling operation being performed every given cycle during the AF operation, and a magnification correction section that performs a magnification correction process that reduces a change in the angle of view of the image due to a change in the position of the movable lens during the wobbling operation relative to the reference lens position.

Abstract: In a camera apparatus, two SMA actuator subsystems each comprise two SMA wires connected between a camera unit and a support structure, hooked over a pivot element defining pivot axes that lie in a common plane along the optical axis. Differential contraction of the SMA wires drives rotation. The SMA actuator subsystems are opposed, but the SMA wires of each subsystem are fixed respectively to the camera unit and the support structure, reducing the height. A non-conductive substrate supporting conductive tracks electrically connected to the SMA actuator system is configured as a flexure arrangement between the camera unit and the support structure. The flexure arrangement is connected to the camera unit at a position in the common plane reducing lateral resistance to tilt. Use of an intermediate connector element allows the circuit board to be arranged in front of the intermediate connector inside the height of the lens system.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: a setting processor which sets an image area including a tracking shooting object image in a pan-blur shooting as a tracking object image as a tracking image area, with respect to a specific frame image; a searching processor, by respectively setting a scanning area for a plurality of frame images following the frame image used to set the tracking image area, and respectively moving the scanning area on each corresponding frame image of the frame images, and makes a comparison of a characteristic amount of an image between the tracking image area and the scanning area, which respectively obtains a scanning area where the characteristic amount of the image is similar to the image in the tracking image area as a tracking object existing area including the tracking object image, with respect to the frame images; a measuring processor, by dividing a difference between a coordinate of the tracking object existing area obtained with respect to one frame image of the frame images and t

Abstract: Provided in an image pickup apparatus are an imaging optical system (12), an image pickup element (22), a fixed member (22) whose position relative to the imaging optical axis OA is fixed, a plurality of movable supporting balls (62), each movably supported with attraction of magnetic force, a movable member (41) in which the image pickup element is provided and which is movably supported by the fixed member with magnetic force through each movable supporting ball (62), a driving mechanism (44, 46, 54, 55, 56, 57) to generate driving force to relatively move the movable member with respect to the fixed member, a display unit (18), a mounting plate to mount the display unit in the casing (11), wherein the mounting plate (70) is provided with a protruding arm portion (74) protruding toward the movable member.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include a first board mounted with an image sensor, a first holder coupled to an upper surface of the first board, a second holder arranged at an upper surface of the first holder and mounted at a periphery with a plurality of magnets, a first elastic member supporting the second holder, and a ball guide unit interposed between the first holder and the second holder.

Abstract: A pan-tilt mechanism for a video conferencing camera may be provided. The pan-tilt mechanism may comprise a base, a bracket, a tilt motor, and a pan motor. The tilt motor may be fixed to the base and may be configured to cause the bracket to tilt along a horizontal axis. The pan motor may be fixed to the base and may be configured to cause the bracket to pan about a vertical axis without affecting the tilt of the bracket.

Abstract: An integrated substrate for an anti-shake apparatus defined with an optical axis includes: a substrate, a lens module, an anti-shake apparatus and an image-sensing module. The substrate includes a frame having a predetermined thickness. The frame includes a first surface, a second surface, a first circuit layout, and a second circuit layout. The lens module is located above the substrate on the optical axis. The anti-shake apparatus is furnished between the lens module and the substrate. The image-sensing module has an active side and an inactive side, and the inactive side is furnished onto the second surface. The active side is located on the optical axis in a manner of facing the lens module. The anti-shake apparatus is coupled to the first circuit layout, while the image-sensing module is coupled to the second circuit layout. The first and second circuit layouts comprise a plurality of first and second metal leads, respectively.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for correcting digital image blur caused by motion of imaging device or subject. A method comprising displaying an image in a viewfinder, designating by a processor or by the user a main subject in the displayed image, capturing multiple images of the main subject, combining multiple images. Combining the multiple images may include calculating pixel values for the corrected image based on pixel values in the combined multiple images. Method may include shifting the multiple images to align the main subject in each of the images.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lens device, a drive method, a recording medium, and an image capturing device. According to an aspect of the present invention, in an one-sided drive mode which allows the lens to move beyond a target position, and then to move in a reverse direction and stop at the target position, the control part controls the lens on the basis of the brake ON/OFF information so that when the lens is temporarily stopped, braking by the brake part is not applied, and only when the lens is stopped at a final target position, braking by the brake part is applied.

Abstract: A image stabilization apparatus includes a support member, a holder where a lens is movable between a retraction position and a vibration-prevention-and-correction region, an urging member that urges the holder in a direction of the vibration-prevention-and-correction region, and a drive member that causes the lens in the vibration-prevention-and-correction region to move to the retraction position when the drive member is in a first positional relation relative to the holder, and allows movement of the lens located in the retraction position to the vibration-prevention-and-correction region direction when the drive member is in a second positional relation relative to the holder, wherein when the holder and the drive member are in the second positional relation, the urging member causes the lens to move to the vibration-prevention-and-correction region from the retraction position, and in the position, enables movement of the holder within a plane perpendicular to the optical axis.

Abstract: A positionable mechanism includes a base unit, a frame unit, an optical image stabilizing (OIS) unit and a positioning unit. The frame unit and the OIS unit are mounted on the base unit. The frame unit is retractable with respect to the base unit between a storage position and a working position, and has a first surface. The OIS unit includes a movable carrier that has a second surface facing the first surface, an optical element that is mounted on the movable carrier, and a driving element that is operable to drive the movable carrier to move with respect to the base unit. The positioning unit is disposed between the first surface and the second surface, and is configured to position the movable carrier with respect to the frame unit when the frame unit is at the storage position.

Abstract: A rotational shake compensation calculation unit in an image capturing apparatus calculates rotational shake produced by apparatus rotation about an axis orthogonal to an optical axis of an imaging optical system, thereby calculating a compensation amount for image shake. A translational shake compensation calculation unit calculates a compensation amount for image shake resulting from translational shake produced in a travel direction of the apparatus along a direction orthogonal to an optical axis of the optical system. An estimating device estimates translational shake using a vibration model. A translational shake compensation amount calculation unit calculates a translation shake compensation amount based on the estimation amount and varies the translation shake compensation amount in response to the compensation range of the shake compensation unit of the focal distance of the optical system.

Abstract: A three dimensional camera device and a method of controlling the same are provided. The three dimensional camera device and the method enable a user to photograph a three dimensional image suitable for a photographing angle. Since a swing hinge rotates a left camera element and a right camera element about a mid-point between the left camera element and the right camera element, a user may photograph a three dimensional image suitable for a photographing angle.

Abstract: Disclosed is a camera module including a substrate which is provided with an electrode pad and an image sensor; a housing which is stacked on the substrate and of which an upper portion is opened so that light is incident to the image sensor; a MEMS actuator which is installed at the housing and has an electrode terminal at one side thereof, and a conductive pattern which is formed at the housing, wherein a lower end of the conductive pattern is connected with the electrode pad of the substrate, and an upper end thereof is connected with the electrode terminal of the MEMS actuator, whereby it is possible to improve electrical reliability between the electrode terminal of the MEMS actuator and the electrode pad of the substrate and facilely form the electrical connection therebetween, thereby reducing the number of processes.

Abstract: The apparatus of the invention is characterized by executing first integration operation for time-integrating the first acceleration to calculate a first velocity, second integration operation for time-integrating the first velocity to calculate an amount of movement in the first axial direction, estimation operation for calculating an estimated first velocity in the first axial direction based on a first velocity change found by time integration of the first acceleration from a first timing at which the third angular velocity becomes zero to a second timing at which the third angular velocity again becomes zero, the second angular velocity at the first timing, and the second angular velocity at the second timing, and update operation for updating the first velocity calculated in the first integration operation to the estimated first velocity estimated in the estimation operation.

Abstract: A camera module according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a first Printed Circuit Board (PCB) configured to have an image sensor mounted thereon; a housing unit disposed over the first PCB; a holder module spaced apart from a bottom surface within the housing unit at a specific interval and configured to have first coils wound on its outer circumferential face and to include at least lens therein; a second PCB combined with the bottom surface of the holder module; a third PCB disposed over the holder module; a plurality of wire springs each configured to have one end connected to the second PCB and the other end connected to the third PCB; and buffer units provided at the connection units of the wire springs and the third PCB and configured to surround the connection units of the wire springs and the third PCB.

Abstract: The CPU acquires the output of an angular velocity sensor and performs image shake correction. An angle 1 calculating unit integrates a signal from which an offset component is removed to calculate an angle 1. An angular velocity subtraction amount calculating unit calculates an angular velocity subtraction amount based on a signal obtained by subtracting a first offset from the output of the angular velocity sensor and a signal obtained by subtracting a second offset from the output of the angle 2 calculating unit. An angle 2 calculating unit integrates a signal obtained by subtracting the angular velocity subtraction amount from the output of the angular velocity sensor to calculate an angle 2. The CPU performs image shake correction based on the angle 1 prior to operation of a release SW, whereas the CPU performs image shake correction based on the angle 2 after operation of the release SW.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a camera module including: an auto focusing module upping and downing a lens; a hand-shaking correction module wrapping the auto focusing module to correct a hand-shaking by horizontally tilting the auto focusing module; a circuit substrate electrically connected to the hand-shaking correction module and the auto focusing module; a bottom case supporting the circuit substrate to be coupled to the auto focusing module; and a main circuit substrate secured to the bottom case to be electrically connected to the image sensor module, wherein the main circuit substrate is formed with oblong symmetrical openings along an edge of the main circuit substrate.

Abstract: A method for introducing controlled disturbance into a video being captured by a camera housed by an active stabilization system executing a stabilization process to stabilize a pointing angle of a camera housed by the active stabilization system in accordance with a commanded angle is provided. The method comprises acquiring a measurement associated with a movement of the active stabilization system, determining a noise value based on the acquired measurement, and injecting the noise value into the stabilization process causing the process to adjusting adjust the pointing angle of the camera in a direction away from the a commanded pointing angle of the camera using the noise value.

Abstract: Signal processing techniques are applied to digital image data to remove the distortion caused by motion of the camera, or the movement of the subject being photographed, or defective optics, or optical distortion from other sources. When the image is captured, the effect of relative motion between the camera and the subject is that it transforms the true image into a blurred image according to a 2-dimensional transfer function. The 2-dimensional transfer function representing the motion is derived using blind estimation techniques or by using information from sensors that detect the motion. The transfer function is inverted and used to define a corrective filter. The filter is applied to the image and the blur due to the motion is removed, restoring the correct image. Another embodiment uses the transfer function to avoid blur by combining multiple consecutive images taken at a fast shutter speed.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein provides a small-format image-shake correction apparatus and an imaging apparatus incorporating the same.

Abstract: A vibration correcting device includes a vibration detecting unit, a vibration correcting unit, a storage unit, and a controlling unit. The vibration detecting unit is configured to detect vibration of an image pickup apparatus. The vibration correcting unit is configured to correct blur of an image caused by the vibration. A storage unit is configured to store correction information used for correcting the blur at a predetermined frequency. The controlling unit is configured to, on the basis of the correction information, send a control signal to the vibration correcting unit.

Abstract: Disclosed are a micro electro mechanical systems (MEMS) device and an apparatus for compensating for a tremble. The MEMS device includes a substrate; a driven member moving relative to the substrate; an elastic member connected to the driven member and the substrate; a driving member fixed to the substrate for driving the driven member; and a dynamic stopper fixed to the substrate and latched to the driven member.

Abstract: A camera apparatus capable of providing optical image stabilization comprises: a support structure; a camera unit comprising an image sensor and a lens system; a suspension system comprising a plurality of flexure elements supporting the camera unit on the support structure in a manner allowing the camera unit to tilt; and a plurality of SMA actuators. A sensor arrangement, whose output is used as the basis for generating drive signals, is mounted on the camera unit. A control circuit generates drive signals for the SMA actuators, by deriving closed-loop control signals representative of a desired degree of variation in the power of the drive signals from the output signals of the sensor arrangement without dependence on any measurement of the resistance of the SMA actuators, and generating the drive signals with powers that varies from a set-point power in correspondence with the closed-loop control signal.

Abstract: A shake correction module, a camera module including the same, and a method of manufacturing the camera module are provided. The shake correction module includes: a hinge member which supports rotation movement of an optical module based on each of at least two axes at least by using an elastic characteristic of the hinge member, wherein the optical module comprises an image sensor; a base member to which the hinge member is installed; and a driving motor which rotates the hinge member based on the each of the at least two axes with respect to the base member, in order to manufacture a structure for supporting two-axes rotation of the optical module to be simple and reliable with a low manufacturing cost.

Abstract: An optical unit may include a fixed body; a movable module which holds an optical element; and a shake correction drive mechanism which is structured to generate a drive force for swinging the movable module with respect to the fixed body. The shake correction drive mechanism may include a plurality of permanent magnets which are provided on an outer peripheral face of the movable module at positions separated in a circumferential direction around an optical axis of the optical element; and a sheet-shaped coil which is extended in a circumferential direction in the fixed body and is integrally provided with a plurality of coil parts facing the permanent magnets and a terminal part electrically connected with the coil parts.

Abstract: A lens apparatus includes; a magnification-varying lens unit, which moves in an optical axis direction during varying magnification, an image stabilization lens unit movable in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis; an image stabilization driving unit for driving the image stabilization lens unit, and an image stabilization controller for controlling the driving of the image stabilization lens unit by the image stabilization driving unit, in which the image stabilization controller controls the image stabilization driving unit to move the image stabilization lens unit so as to reduce a positional deviation of an object image formed at one predetermined point on an image plane, the positional deviation being caused by a movement of the magnification-varying lens unit.

Abstract: A camera apparatus capable of providing optical image stabilization comprises: a support structure; a camera unit comprising an image sensor and a lens system; a suspension system comprising a plurality of flexure elements supporting the camera unit on the support structure in a manner allowing the camera unit to tilt; and a plurality of SMA actuators each formed as SMA wire connected between the camera unit and the support structure and arranged on contraction to drive tilting of the camera unit. The SMA wire may be fixed to the camera unit at its ends and hooked over an element of the support structure. A vibration sensor, whose output is used as the basis for generating drive signals, may be mounted on the camera unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a camera module, the camera module including a camera body including a handshake correction unit configured to correct an image shake caused by handshake, and an FPCB (Flexible Printed Circuit Board) including a first connection unit connected to the camera body, a second connection unit connected to the first connection unit by being folded, and a third connection unit connected to the second connection unit by being folded.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus detects the angular rotational shake and translational shake generated in the apparatus using an angular velocity sensor and an accelerometer. The camera CPU computes a correction amount for angular rotational and translational shake using the first correction coefficient calculated by an angular rotational shake correction coefficient calculation unit and the second correction coefficient calculated by a translational shake correction coefficient calculation unit, produces both of the correction amounts to thereby calculate an image shake correction amount so as to suppress an increase in an image magnification for controlling image stabilization in a direction of increasing an imaging magnification. A driving unit drives a shake correction unit in accordance with an image shake correction amount, and a shake correction unit corrects image shake generated in the image surface of an imaging optical system.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a receptacle configured to receive a mobile computing device that has an integrated image capture component. Further, the apparatus comprises a plurality of handles such that each handle is operably connected to the receptacle. Another apparatus comprises a receptacle configured to receive a mobile computing device that has an integrated image capture component. Further, the apparatus comprises a handle such that the handle is operably connected to the receptacle.

Abstract: A camera module according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a first Printed Circuit Board (PCB) configured to have an image sensor mounted thereon; a housing unit disposed over the first PCB; a holder module spaced apart from a bottom surface within the housing unit at a specific interval and configured to have a first coil wound on its outer circumferential face and to include at least lens therein; a second PCB combined with the bottom surface of the holder module; a third PCB disposed over the holder module; and a plurality of wire springs each configured to have one end connected to the second PCB and the other end connected to the third PCB.

Abstract: A monitoring device with independent heat dissipation for an image capture component is provided. A body module and an image capture module are designed separately. Thus, the image capture component in the image module and the processing circuit board in the body module can dissipate heat separately. The device achieves the goal of improving the image capture component and the processing circuit board in capturing high quality images.

Abstract: A shake correcting system includes an optical imaging system, an image sensor, a movable unit comprising a movable frame in which the image sensor is fixed and a rotation restricting element, a base movably supporting the movable unit in a predetermined plane substantially orthogonal to an optical axis of the optical imaging system, a drive mechanism driving the movable unit relative to the base in directions vertical and orthogonal to the optical axis, a blur correcting function to correct blurs in a subject image due to shakes of the shake correcting system, a rotation restricting mechanism preventing rotation of the movable frame around the optical axis with the rotation restricting element, and a slide mechanism allowing the movable unit to be freely movable in the predetermined plane, and comprising a magnet, a magnetic plate attracted to the magnet, a spherical element supported between the magnetic plate and the magnet.

Abstract: Provided is a photographing apparatus. The photographing apparatus includes: a main body having an image pickup device disposed therein; a middle cover disposed in a back side of the main body and includes a first opening disposed to correspond to a position of the image pickup device; a first connector formed on the middle cover and around the first opening, where the first connector is configured to couple to an external optical component and is disposed so that the an optical axis of the image pickup device coincides with an optical axis of the external optical component, when the external optical component is coupled to the first connector; and a rear cover disposed on the middle cover and includes a second opening disposed to correspond to the position of the image pickup device.

Abstract: A camera driving apparatus according to the present invention includes: a camera portion having an imaging plane; a movable unit incorporating the camera portion, including an attracting magnet, and having an outer shape formed as a convex partial spherical surface; a fixing unit which includes a magnetic body and a concave portion to which the movable unit is loosely fitted, and in which a magnetic attraction force of the attracting magnet with respect to the magnetic body causes the convex partial spherical surface of the movable unit and the concave portion to be held in point contact or linear contact with each other, thereby enabling the movable unit to freely rotate about a spherical center of the first convex partial spherical surface; a panning drive portion; a tilting drive portion; a rolling drive portion; and a detector for detecting a tilt angle of the camera portion in a panning direction with respect to the fixing unit, a tilt angle of the camera portion in a tilting direction with respect to th

Abstract: A camera actuator includes a moveable carrier, a metal tube, an image sensor carrying plate, and a metallic guide pin. The moveable carrier includes a first bushing hole and a second bushing hole. The first bushing hole is aligned with the second bushing hole. The metal tube is a hollow cylinder and arranged in the first bushing hole and the second bushing hole. The image sensor carrying plate comprises a through hole; the metallic guide pin comprises a first end and a second end, the first end is fixed in the through hole, and the second end is inserted into the metal tube.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes a first PCB Printed Circuit Board mounted with an image sensor, a housing unit arranged on an upper portion of the first PCB, a holder module spaced apart from an inner bottom surface of the housing unit at a predetermined distance, wound on a periphery with a first coil and having at least one lens thereinside, a second PCB mounted on an upper portion of the holder module, a plate member coupled to a bottom surface of the holder module, a plurality of wire springs connected at one end to the second PCB and connected at the other end to the plate member, and a coil fixing unit configured to fixedly position the first coil to a periphery of the holder module.