Abstract: A rotor may be provided with a rotor core that is fixed to a shaft and includes a plurality of through holes along an axial direction of the shaft. The rotor may be provided with a permanent magnet disposed in each of the plurality of through holes. The rotor may be provided with a functional fluid having a magneto rheological effect of fixing the permanent magnet in each of the plurality of through holes.

Abstract: A coil module is provided, including a second coil mechanism. The second coil mechanism includes a third coil assembly and a second base corresponding to the third coil assembly. The second base has a positioning assembly corresponding to a first coil mechanism.

Abstract: An embodiment comprises: a housing; a bobbin disposed in the housing; a first coil disposed on the bobbin; a magnet disposed at the housing; an elastic part coupled to the bobbin and the housing; a circuit board disposed under the housing and comprising a pad part; a base disposed under the circuit board; a terminal disposed on the base; and a support part, one end of which is coupled to the elastic part and the other end of which is coupled to the terminal, wherein the pad part comprises: a first pad disposed beneath the circuit board; a second pad on the circuit board; and a third pad connecting the first pad and the second pad.

Abstract: A lens driving module includes a base, a frame fixedly connected to the base, and a holder configured to connect an optical lens. The holder is movable relative to the base. The lens driving module also includes a reflecting element configured to reflect light from a light incident direction to a first direction. The first direction is perpendicular to the light incident direction, and the first direction is parallel to an optical axis of the optical lens. The lens driving module further includes a first electromagnetic driving assembly configured to force the holder to move along the first direction relative to the base. The lens driving module has multiple recesses formed on the base and arranged along the first direction. The lens driving module includes multiple the rolling elements disposed on the recesses, and the holder is moved relative to the base via the rolling elements.

Abstract: An automatic focus apparatus for a camera module includes a voice coil motor and a driving unit. The voice coil motor includes a frame, a moving member with a lens, and a magnetic member. The magnetic member is positioned at a side wall of the moving member, the driving unit is positioned at a side plate of the frame. A magnetic field is generated by the driving unit and the magnetic member, the magnetic field drives the moving member with the lens to move, to achieve automatic focus.

Abstract: A folded camera may include folded optics arrangement positioned optically in front of an image sensor. The folded optics arrangement may include one or more light-folding elements and a lens group having one or more lens elements. Light may pass through the folded optics arrangement, within which the light be folded or redirected by the light-folding element, to focus on an image plane on the image sensor. The folded camera may include a shape-memory actuator having one or more shape-memory elements, whose lengths and/or shapes may be controlled by regulating individual temperatures of the shape-memory elements. The shape-memory actuator may move the lens group relative to the image sensor to implement various autofocus (AF) functions. The folded camera may include a voice coil motor (VCM) which may be controlled to move the image sensor relative to the lens group to perform various optical image stabilization (OIS) functions.

Abstract: In order to provide a pan or tilt head and the like capable of reducing rattling or vibration when a rotation is suddenly changed while reducing the unevenness in rotational speed for smooth rotational drive, there is provided a pan or tilt head including a drive unit which rotates a camera unit in a predetermined direction, first and second gears which rotate around a predetermined rotation axis in the predetermined direction and are coaxial with the predetermined rotation axis, a third gear which meshes with the first and second gears and transmits a driving force from the drive unit, and a biasing unit which biases the second gear in the rotation axis direction, the first gear, the second gear, and the third gear includes helical gears, and the second gear is disposed to be movable in the rotation axis direction with respect to the first gear.

Abstract: A camera module includes an optical lens, a light-sensitive chip and an electrical support. The electrical support includes a circuit module embedded in a support body to form an integral structure, a connecting member provided on the support body to electrically connect with the circuit module, and a camera component coupled at the support body and electrically connected to the connecting member. Therefore, the electrical support not only forms a circuit board to electrically connect with the camera component but only serves as a base to support the camera component.

Abstract: An embodiment comprises: a base including a body having an opening, and a first post portion, a second post portion, a third post portion, and a fourth post portion which protrude from the body; a bobbin disposed on the body; a coil disposed around the bobbin; a first magnet disposed between the first post portion and the second post portion; a second magnet disposed between the third post portion and the fourth post portion; a lower elastic member coupled to the lower portion of the bobbin and the base; and an upper elastic member coupled to the upper portion of the bobbin and the first to fourth post portions, wherein the lower elastic member is disposed inside the first to fourth post portions of the base, and the lower elastic member is coupled to the base between the first post portion and the fourth post portion adjacent to the first post portion.

Abstract: An imaging system for producing images for display apparatus. Imaging system includes at least one imaging unit arranged to face real-world scene including camera, optical element including first optical portion and second optical portion having different focal lengths, first focal length of first optical portion is smaller than second focal length of second optical portion, and means for adjusting optical focus; and processor. Processor is configured to obtain gaze direction of user; determine region of interest within real-world scene; and control means for adjusting optical focus of imaging unit, based on focal lengths of first and second optical portions, to capture warped image of real-world scene, the warped image having spatially-uniform angular resolution.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus and a lens device which are capable of preventing an unnatural image from being photographed when both of an image pickup apparatus body and an interchangeable lens are each equipped with an image blur correction function. A system controller of a camera body sets an image blur correction mode of an image processor of the camera body. When a lens device including a lens driving section which optically performs image blur correction by driving a lens is attached to the camera body, the system controller changes the image blur correction mode of the image processor according to an image blur correction mode of the lens device.

Abstract: The present embodiment relates to a lens driving device, a camera module and an optical device. The lens driving device comprising: a cover; a housing arranged inside the cover; a bobbin arranged inside the housing; a magnet arranged in the housing; a first coil arranged in the bobbin and facing the magnet; a first substrate arranged below the housing and including a second coil facing the magnet; a second substrate arranged below the first substrate; and a base arranged below the second substrate, wherein the base includes a body and a protrusion upwardly protruding from the body, the outer side of the second substrate is arranged to face the inner side of the protrusion, and the upper surface of the protrusion is in a location which is the same as or lower than that of the upper surface of the first substrate.

Abstract: An operation apparatus for remotely operating a lens apparatus includes an operation member that rotates, a holder that holds the operation member, and a display supported by the holder, wherein the display displays information where an upward orientation of the displayed information is towards the operation member.

Abstract: A module having an input configured to connect a sensor and having an indicator configured to optically indicate a physical state of the sensor. The module is configured to transmit a logical signal associated with the physical state or an inverted logical signal of the sensor to a higher-level unit and to receive a control value from the higher-level unit. The module is configured to evaluate the control value and to determine, on the basis of the control value, whether the value of the logical sensor signal or the inverted logical sensor signal is to be used for the optical indication of the physical state of the sensor.

Abstract: An electronic device may have a display with an array of pixels for displaying images. The display may have a window region. During operation, a component such as an optical component may operate through the window region. The window region may overlap a movable portion of the display. The window region may be operated in open and closed states. In the closed state, the movable portion of the display overlaps the window region and pixels in the movable display portion emit light through the window region. In the open state, the movable portion of the display is moved away from the window region so that light for the optical component may pass through the window region. The optical component may be a camera or other component that receives light through the window region or may be an optical component that emits light through the window region.

Abstract: A vibrator which is constructed by bonding a piezoelectric element and an elastic body together via a bonding layer. The piezoelectric element has a piezoelectric ceramic and electrodes. The bonding layer has an unbonded region that is located close to a nodal line of a vibration in a primary out-of-plane vibration mode when the vibration is excited in the vibrator, and in the unbonded region, the piezoelectric element and the elastic body are not bonded together.

Abstract: The present technology relates to an imaging apparatus and an electronic apparatus that are capable of adjusting a focal position with high accuracy. There are provided a lens that collects subject light, an image sensor that photoelectrically converts the subject light from the lens, a circuit substrate including a circuit that outputs a signal from the image sensor to the outside, an actuator that drives the lens with a pulse width modulation (PWM) waveform, and a detection unit that detects a magnetic field generated by a coil included in the actuator. The detection unit detects an induced electromotive force generated by the magnetic field. In addition, the detection unit detects a position of the lens from the induced electromotive force. The present technology can be applied to an imaging apparatus.

Abstract: An optical image capturing module includes a lens assembly and a circuit assembly including a circuit substrate, a sensor holder, and an image sensing component connected to the circuit substrate. The circuit substrate has multiple circuit contacts. The sensor holder is disposed on the circuit substrate and on the image sensing component. The image sensing component has a sensing surface and multiple image contacts. Each image contact is electrically connected to one of the circuit contacts via multiple signal transmission elements embedded in the sensor holder. The lens assembly includes a fixed base, a movable base, and a lens group. The movable base has a receiving hole and is disposed in the fixed base. The lens group includes at least two lenses and is disposed on the movable base and is located in the receiving hole, thereby light could pass through the lens group and project onto the image sensing component.

Abstract: A camera driving module includes a base, a casing, a lens unit, a magnetic element, a coil, a spring and a damper agent. The base includes an opening. The casing is disposed on the base and includes a through hole and a broadwise notch structure. The broadwise notch structure is located nearby a periphery of the through hole. The lens unit is movably disposed on the casing and includes a protruding structure. The protruding structure is located at a periphery of the lens unit. The magnetic element is fixed to the casing and located at an inside the casing. The coil is fixed to the lens unit and located at an outside of the lens unit. The coil faces toward the magnetic element. The spring is disposed on the lens unit. The damper agent is disposed between the broadwise notch structure and the protruding structure.

Abstract: An optical image capturing module includes a lens assembly and a circuit assembly including a circuit substrate, a sensor holder, and an image sensing component electrically connected to the circuit substrate via signal transmission elements. The lens assembly includes a fixed base disposed on the sensor holder, a movable base, and a lens group. The fixed base made of an opaque material has a focusing hole penetrating through two ends of the fixed base, thereby the fixed base is hollow, and the image sensing component is located in the focusing hole. The movable base is disposed in the focusing hole, and could move relative to the fixed base. The lens group includes at least two lenses having refractive power, and is disposed in a receiving hole of the movable base, thereby light could pass through the lens group and the through hole and project onto the image sensing component.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present technology may comprise a method and apparatus for autofocus. In various embodiments, the methods and apparatus may decrease a settling time of a lens by increasing the target position gradually, varying the gain of a PID controller, and adding a kick pulse to a position signal.

Abstract: A shutter apparatus includes a motor, a cam gear, a driving member, and a blade group. A cam part includes a blade maintaining section configured to maintain one of an open state and a closed state of the blade group when a cam follower slides, and a blade driving section. Where the cam follower slides in the blade maintaining section and the blade driving section in this order, the motor is driven in the micro step driving mode when the cam follower slides in the blade maintaining section, and the motor is driven in the full step driving mode when the cam follower slides in the blade driving section.

Abstract: An endoscope device having one or more processors configured to perform a control process including: processing an imaging signal to generate image data of a display image of a subject, wherein the image signal is generated by an image sensor, wherein the image sensor is arranged at a distal end of an insertion portion, and wherein a bending actuator is configured to bend the distal end; setting a first measurement point and a second measurement point on the display image; calculating a first subject distance from the first measurement point to a reference point of the image sensor, and a second subject distance from the second measurement point to the reference point; calculating a difference value between the first subject distance and the second subject distance; and controlling the bending actuator to bend the distal end of the insertion portion such that the difference value is decreased.

Abstract: A camera module includes a housing; a first lens module and a second lens module accommodated in the housing; a printed circuit board attached to the housing; an actuator disposed between the first and second lens modules and the housing and configured to move the first and second lens modules in an optical axis direction; and a single integrated circuit disposed on the printed circuit board and configured to control movements of the first and second lens modules.

Abstract: A lens driving module includes a reflecting element, a base, a frame, a holder, an optical lens, a first electromagnetic driving assembly, and a second electromagnetic driving assembly. The frame is connected to the base, and the holder holds the optical lens and movably connects to the base. The reflecting element reflects light from the outside along a light incident direction to an optical lens along a first direction, wherein the light incident direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction. The first and second electromagnetic driving assemblies are configured to force the holder and the optical lens to move relative to the base, wherein the first and second electromagnetic driving assemblies are situated in different positions in the light incident direction.

Abstract: A lens drive device is provided with: an AF drive unit that has an AF coil unit and an AF magnet unit and automatically carries out focusing by moving an AF movable unit with respect to an AF fixed unit, making use of drive force from a voice coil motor; and a base unit disposed with an intervening space on the image formation side of the AF drive unit in the direction of the optical axis. The AF drive unit has elastic support units connecting the AF movable unit and the AF fixed unit. The AF movable unit is affixed to the AF fixed unit by being pressed upward to the light receiving side in the direction of the optical axis by the AF magnet unit and urged toward the image formation side in the direction of the optical axis by the elastic support units.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present technology may comprise a method and apparatus for autofocus. In various embodiments, the methods and apparatus may decrease a settling time of a lens by increasing the target position gradually, varying the gain of a PID controller, and adding a kick pulse to a position signal.

Abstract: A spring plate of a lens driving module is provided, including an outer frame, an inner frame, an inner string and a hollow. The outer frame is configured to connect with a fixed part of the lens driving module. The inner frame is configured to connect with a movable part of the lens driving module. The inner string is extended from the outer frame and the inner frame and connected therebetween. The hollow is disposed on the inner string for dispersing stress.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a control method for a camera module. The camera module comprises an imaging module, a sleeve module, a lens module which is mounted in the sleeve module and can move along an optical axis direction relative to the sleeve module, at least one coil, at least one magnetic component, and elastic components disposed between the lens module and the sleeve module.

Abstract: A method and circuit for testing an acoustic sensor are disclosed. In a first aspect, the method comprises using electro-mechanical features of the acoustic sensor to measure characteristic of the acoustic sensor. In a second aspect, the method comprises utilizing an actuation signal to evaluate mechanical characteristics of the acoustic sensor. In a third aspect, the method comprises using a feedthrough cancellation system to measure a capacitance of the acoustic sensor. In the fourth aspect, the circuit comprises a mechanism for driving an electrical signal into a signal path of the acoustic sensor to cancel an electrical feedthrough signal provided to the signal path, wherein any of the electrical signal and the electrical feedthrough signal are within or above an audio range.

Abstract: Provided is an image pickup apparatus including a lens apparatus and a focus operating apparatus. The lens apparatus includes a focus lens unit, a focus driving unit for driving the focus lens unit, and a drive control unit controlling to drive the focus driving unit and having a autofocus function. The focus operating apparatus includes a manual focus (MF) operating unit for manual focus adjustment and an MF command unit for outputting a command value based on an operation amount of the MF operating unit. When the MF operating unit is in operation, the drive control unit controls the focus driving unit based on the command value from the MF command unit. When the MF operating unit is not in operation, the drive control unit controls the focus driving unit to perform autofocus adjustment.

Abstract: A camera module including a fixing unit including a hole formed therein a moving unit including at least one lens, and configured to linearly move in the hole of the fixing unit; and a driving unit configured to drive the moving unit. Further, the driving unit includes a corresponding magnet arranged in the inner surface of the hole of the fixing unit; a moving coil surrounding the outer surface of the moving unit; and a fixed coil arranged in the fixing unit and configured to receive from the moving coil a current or voltage variable based on a distance with the moving coil.

Abstract: A system for compensating for image blur, the system including: a movement detector which an appearance of a subject moving in a surveillance range in order to calculate a movement distance and speed determines movement characteristics of a subject on a display of a camera which obtains an image of the object; a calculator which determines moving characteristics of an image sensor based on the movement characteristics of the subject; and a moving unit which moves the image sensor for an exposure time of at least one predetermined frame based on the moving characteristics of the image sensor.

Abstract: A camera accessory comprising a frame 34 having an opening for the lens, a filter holder rotatably attached to the frame, and at least one sunshade 6-8 attached to the frame, whereas the filter holder comprises a ring 13/14 with outer diameter matching the diameter of the frame opening, whereas the ring has an opening of a diameter sufficiently larger than the lens diameter to prevent the ring being visible in the frame when using the accessory, whereas the filter holder has a filter slot 15/16 attached to the ring on one side of the frame, and a lens ring attachment element 14 attached to the ring on the other side of the frame, whereas the frame and sunshade are rotatable around the longitudinal axis of the lens independent of rotating the filter holder around the longitudinal axis of the lens.

Abstract: A thin lens module has a case, in which an optical lens set, an image sensor, a focusing driving device, two position indicators, a zooming driving device, a shutter, and a shutter driving device are provided. An optical axis of the optical lens set has a first optical axis section and a second optical axis section, and the first optical axis section is perpendicular to an object side. The focusing driving device, the position indicators, and the shutter driving device respectively connects to joints for signal transmission, and these joints are provided on a side of the case parallel to the first optical axis section to achieve the thinning purpose.

Abstract: A drive device in which the frequency of a drive waveform applied to a piezoelectric element is easily settable with less obligation to consider resonance in a stationary member. The device includes a piezo element that expands and contracts according to a drive voltage, a transmission shaft that receives vibration produced by the piezo element, a stationary member that holds the transmission shaft in a slidable state along the longitudinal direction of the transmission shaft, and a lens holder that is displaced together with the piezo element and transmission shaft relative to the stationary member according to drive of the piezo element. The piezo element and the transmission shaft move in the moving direction of the lens holder in synchronization with the lens holder according to drive of the piezo element in the state where the piezo element is spaced from the stationary member.

Abstract: A variable length light shield is disclosed for an electro-optical sensor within a nose cone. The light shield includes a base, a telescopic shade supported by the base, and a ring rotatably supported about the base. The light shield also includes a guide tube disposed proximate the ring with an end extending away from the ring about a side of the telescopic shade. The light shield further includes an extension spring supported by the guide tube with an end coupled to the telescopic shade. Additionally, the light shield includes a cable extending through the guide tube and the extension spring, with one end of the cable coupled to the ring and another end of the cable coupled to the telescopic shade. The extension spring is configured to exert a force on the telescopic shade to extend the telescopic shade. Rotation of the ring causes retraction of the telescopic shade.

Abstract: An interchangeable lens that is detachably mounted at a camera body includes: a photographic optical system that includes a first drive target member and a second drive target member, and a drive condition information transmission unit that transmits to the camera body first drive condition information to the drive condition of the first drive target member and second drive condition information to the drive condition of the second optical member. The drive condition information transmission unit transmits the first drive condition information with a first frequency and transmits the second drive condition information with a second frequency lower than the first frequency by attaching the second drive condition information to the first drive condition information.

Abstract: Provided is a lens apparatus which is communicable with a drive unit including: a movable optical member; and a first communication unit which is communicable with the drive unit, wherein the first communication unit receives an electric power supply different from an electric power supply which supplies an electric power to the drive unit, and wherein the first communication unit is configured to send/receive signals to/from the drive unit in an electrically noncontact manner.

Abstract: There is provided a camera module, including: a housing including a lens barrel therein; an actuator including a driving coil wound around an outer surface of the lens barrel and a magnet disposed in the housing to face the driving coil; a substrate disposed on a lower portion of the housing and having an image sensor attached to one surface thereof; and an offset coil provided on the substrate, wherein the driving coil generates a magnetic field in a direction toward the offset coil and the offset coil generates a magnetic field in a direction toward the driving coil.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and method for driving an under damped voice coil motor (VCM) actuator of a camera lens. In one embodiment, the device for driving an under damped VCM actuator comprises a first generator operable to read a first manufacture data from an image signal processor (ISP) and to generate a half natural period, ½ Td, of the VCM actuator by selecting a value approximate to the first data in a first table of the device, a second generator operable to read a second manufacture data from the ISP and to generate the maximum overshoot, K, of the VCM actuator by selecting a value approximate to the second data in a second table of the device, an input shaping signal generator operable to read an input signal corresponding to a desired camera lens moving distance from the ISP and to generate a shaping signal according to the value of the half natural period and the maximum overshoot.

Abstract: An image capturing module includes a circuit substrate, an image sensing element, an actuator module, a lens assembly and a light transmitting element. The image sensing element is disposed on the circuit substrate. The actuator module includes a holder disposed on the circuit substrate. The lens assembly is movably disposed inside the holder. The light transmitting element is disposed inside the holder and between the lens assembly and the image sensing element. The holder has a plurality of first protrusion portions and first recess portions that are alternately arranged on the inner surface of the holder. The lens assembly has a plurality of second protrusion portions and second recess portions that are respectively corresponding to the first recess portions and the first protrusion portions and alternately arranged on the bottom side of the lens assembly.

Abstract: An image capturing module includes an image sensing unit and an actuator unit. The image sensing unit includes a circuit substrate and an image sensing chip disposed on the circuit substrate. The actuator unit includes a housing frame disposed on the circuit substrate and a movable lens assembly movably disposed inside the housing frame. The image sensing chip includes an image sensing area having a first geometric center line and a first geometric center point, and the movable lens assembly has a second geometric center line and a second geometric center point. Whereby, when the predetermined energy is provided for the actuator unit to shift the movable lens assembly, the second geometric center line (or the second geometric center point) of the movable lens assembly can be accurately aligned with the first geometric center line (or the first geometric center point) of the image sensing area.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a drive control apparatus of a camera module and a method of controlling camera module drive. The drive control apparatus of the camera module according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a lens module movable along an optical axis; a first and a second stoppers defining maximum moving section of the lens module; and a controller for determining an available moving section by applying a first determined correction value to the maximum moving section so as to make the lens module to move between locations spaced from the first and second stoppers with a predetermined distance. According to the present invention, it is advantageously possible to reduce the electric current consumption when performing auto-focusing function.

Abstract: There is provided a drive controller including a determination part that compares a target stop position of a movable body, which is driven by a piezoelectric actuator driven by a piezoelectric element expanded and contracted in response to an applied voltage, with a real position of the movable body acquired on the basis of a position sensor, and determines whether or not the target stop position matches with the real position, and a drive control part that turns off energization of the piezoelectric actuator when the target stop position matches with the real position while the movable body is being driven by the piezoelectric actuator.

Abstract: An image acquisition sensor of a digital image acquisition apparatus is coupled to imaging optics for acquiring a sequence of images. Images acquired by the sensor are stored. A motion detector causes the sensor to cease capture of an image when the degree of movement in acquiring the image exceeds a threshold. A controller selectively transfers acquired images for storage. A motion extractor determines motion parameters of a selected, stored image. An image re-constructor corrects the selected image with associated motion parameters. A selected plurality of images nominally of the same scene are merged and corrected by the image re-constructor to produce a high quality image of the scene.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes an actuator moving a mover including at least one lens receiving an optical image of an object; and an actuator driving unit controlling the actuator to drive the mover to a forward direction or to a reverse direction, wherein a separate direction bit is to drive a first search section and a second search section, in a case a search section driving the mover to the forward direction is defined as the first search section, and a search section driving the mover to the reverse direction is defined as the second search section.

Abstract: A compact camera module is coupled at an image sensor end to a flexible printed circuit (FPC) and an FPC extension segment and is configured such that, upon folding the FPC onto the housing, one or more electrical contact pads disposed on the subject side of the optical train are coupled electrically with contact pads on the FPC extension segment from which MEMS actuator control signals are transmittable directly from the FPC to the MEMS lens actuator.

Abstract: A driver circuit for a camera voice coil motor (VCM) is described. A first power switch selectively conducts current from a VCM node to a power supply node, and a second power switch selectively conducts current from the VCM node to a power return node. A pulse width modulation circuit controls the first and second power switches. In another embodiment, a switch mode current control circuit sources VCM current alternately from the power supply node and the power n node, into the VCM node. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

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.