Image Stabilization Patents (Class 359/554)
  • Patent number: 9739988
    Abstract: A zoom lens including, in order from an object side: a positive first lens unit that does not move for zooming; a negative second lens unit that moves during the zooming; a negative third lens unit that moves along a locus convex to the object side during the zooming; an aperture stop; and a positive fourth lens unit that does not move for the zooming. The third lens unit includes a cemented lens formed by cementing a single negative lens and a single positive lens and a single negative lens. A focal length (fn1) of the single negative lens included in the cemented lens, a focal length (fp) of the single positive lens included in the cemented lens, and a lateral magnification (?3w) of the third lens unit at a wide angle end are each appropriately set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masaru Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 9726869
    Abstract: Comprising, in order from an object side: a first lens group G1 having positive refractive power; a second lens group G2 having negative refractive power; a third lens group G3 having positive refractive power; and a fourth lens group G4 having positive refractive power; upon zooming from a wide-angle end state to a telephoto end state, the first lens group G1 being fixed in the position in the direction of the optical axis, at least the second lens group G2 and the third lens group G3 being moved in the direction of the optical axis such that a distance between the first lens group G1 and the second lens group G2 is increased and a distance between the second lens group G2 and the third lens group G3 is decreased; and a predetermined conditional expression being satisfied, thereby providing a variable magnification optical system which can suppress variations in aberrations upon zooming and having excellent optical performance from a wide angle end state to a telephoto end state, an optical apparatus, and a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Yamaguchi, Issei Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9715126
    Abstract: An image blur correction device includes: a lens unit that has at least one lens and is rotatable at least in a first direction, which is an axial rotation direction of a first fulcrum axis orthogonal to an optical axis of the lens, and a second direction which is an axial rotation direction of a second fulcrum axis orthogonal to the first fulcrum axis; a fixing member that rotatably supports the lens unit in the first and second directions; a first actuator that has a first driving portion movable in a predetermined direction so as to rotate the lens unit in the first direction; and a second actuator that has a second driving portion movable in a predetermined direction so as to rotate the lens unit in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tatsuyuki Nakayama
  • Patent number: 9706124
    Abstract: There is provided a stabilizer for an optical device that forms part of an electronic device and an electronic device including the stabilizer. The stabilizer includes two first actuators, each of which includes a first coil assembly and a first block of ferromagnetic material, each of the two first coil assemblies being configured to generate, in response to a first electrical signal applied thereto, a first attraction force toward a respective first block of ferromagnetic material, the first blocks of ferromagnetic material being attached to a socket for the optical device; and a rotating device configured to rotate the socket around an optical axis of the optical device in response to the first attraction force. The image stabilization solution according to the present invention is both applicable to AF camera modules and to fix focus camera modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Yiping You, Rongli Fan, Depeng Shan, Lei Yang
  • Patent number: 9690113
    Abstract: An optical apparatus includes an image pickup optical system, a base member, a holder holding an optical element, and a moving member including a magnetic member and configured to move in a plane perpendicular to an optical axis. The moving member moves in a predetermined straight line between the optical axis and a center of the magnetic member in a surface perpendicular to a center of the optical element. The base member includes a first restricting portion restricting moving amounts of the moving member in one direction of the predetermined straight line, and a second restricting portion restricting moving amounts of the moving member in other direction of the predetermined straight line. The first restricting portion and the second restricting portion are arranged so that the magnetic member is sandwiched between the first restricting portion and the second restricting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 9678305
    Abstract: An inner focus lens includes sequentially from an object side, a first lens group having a positive refractive power; a second lens group having a negative refractive power; and a third lens group having a negative refractive power. The second lens group is moved along the optical axis, whereby focusing from a focus state for an object at infinity to a focus state for a minimum object distance is performed. The inner focus lens satisfies a conditional expression (1) ?29.0?f3/f??5.4, where f3 is a focal length of the third lens group at the focus state for an object at infinity and f is a focal length of the optical system overall at the focus state for an object at infinity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: TAMRON CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takahiko Sakai
  • Patent number: 9656439
    Abstract: A component assembly includes a first component, such as an optical component, and a second component, such as a support component, having different coefficients of thermal expansion (CTEs). The component assembly also includes a spacer having a CTE matched to that of the first component, disposed between the first component and the second component. When the CTE of the first component is greater than that of the second component, the second component includes a protrusion, and the spacer includes a complementary opening for receiving the protrusion, such that a joint between the protrusion and the complementary opening is under compressive stress. The spacer also includes a mounting area for receiving the first component, and an air gap disposed between the first component and the protrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Lumentum Operations LLC
    Inventor: Abdul Jaleel K. Moidu
  • Patent number: 9658429
    Abstract: A focus adjustment device comprises an image sensor having imaging pixels and focus detection pixels, which subjects light flux that is passed through a photographing lens to photoelectric conversion and outputs an image signal, a first memory which stores information relating to incident angle range of light flux that is incident towards the image sensor, a second memory which stores information relating to characteristics of the image sensor, and a calculation section which calculates information for focus adjustment based on output of the first memory and output of the second memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Kazumi Ito, Keigo Matsuo, Satoru Ito
  • Patent number: 9625697
    Abstract: An optical system for imaging an object includes a objective, an image stabilizing unit, an image plane and a drive unit, which is arranged at the image stabilizing unit and provided for moving the image stabilizing unit. The optical system includes a control unit. A signal from the control unit is forwarded to a first high-pass filter. The control unit has an output line and the high-pass filter has a filter output line. Both the output line and the filter output line are arranged at an addition unit such that an actuation signal from the control unit and an output signal from the high-pass filter are added to produce an addition signal. The addition unit is arranged at the drive unit in such a way that the addition signal is used for actuating the drive unit and for moving the image stabilizing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Sports Optics GmbH
    Inventor: Christian Bach
  • Patent number: 9599836
    Abstract: A compact electromagnetic actuator for driving a lens includes a lens holder used to hold a lens or a lens assembly which defines an optical axis, an image stabilization (IS) actuator provided at one end of the lens holder for producing a linear motion in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis, and an autofocus (AF) actuator provided at an opposite end of the lens holder for producing a linear motion along the optical axis. An AF connection mechanism can be used to connect the autofocus actuator to the lens holder. An IS connection mechanism can be used to connect the image stabilization actuator to the lens holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: SUNMING TECHNOLOGIES (HK) LIMITED
    Inventor: Sio Kuan Lam
  • Patent number: 9599837
    Abstract: An image blur correction device includes: a lens unit that has at least one lens and is rotatable at least in a first direction, which is an axial rotation direction of a first fulcrum axis orthogonal to an optical axis of the lens, and a second direction which is an axial rotation direction of a second fulcrum axis orthogonal to the first fulcrum axis; a fixing member that rotatably supports the lens unit in the first and second directions; a first actuator that has a first driving portion so as to rotate the lens unit in the first direction; and a second actuator that has a second driving portion so as to rotate the lens unit in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tatsuyuki Nakayama
  • Patent number: 9596409
    Abstract: An imaging module (100) includes a lens unit (11) that includes a lens group, and an imaging element unit (13) that is fixed to the lens unit and includes an imaging element. The lens unit (11) includes: a focus drive unit; first and second image blur-correction drive units; a first connecting portion (37A) that is electrically connected to the imaging element unit; a first wiring portion that electrically connects the focus drive unit, the first image blur-correction drive unit, and the second image blur-correction drive unit to the first connecting portion; a second wiring portion that is electrically connected to only a part of a plurality of wires of the first wiring portion; and a plurality of second connecting portions (59) that are electrically connected to the second wiring portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Motokazu Shimizu, Yukihiro Kaneko, Yoshiyuki Takase, Tatsuya Fujinami, Manabu Tobise
  • Patent number: 9575331
    Abstract: A lens driving device is based on a Voice Coil Actuator (VCA) structure and provides the auto-focusing and optical image stabilization (OIS) functions. These two functions can be realized by a common magnet scheme, or a separate magnet scheme. Also, the present invention provides an improved structure for the lens driving device to enhance the function of OIS thereof. By arranging a magnetic enhancement device below the OIS coils in the lens driving device, the magnetic driving force of the OIS coils and magnetic induction of the Hall sensors, if present, can be enhanced, and the magnetic sensitivity thereof may be also improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: TDK TAIWAN CORP.
    Inventors: Chao-Chang Hu, Fu-Yuan Wu, Shih-Ting Huang, Jyun-Jie Lin, Yi-Ho Chen
  • Patent number: 9575293
    Abstract: A photographic lens and a photographic apparatus including the same are provided. The photographic lens includes a first lens including a convex surface toward an object side and having a positive refractive power, a second lens including a concave surface toward an image side and having a negative refractive power, a third lens having a positive refractive power or a negative refractive power, a fourth lens having a positive refractive power or a negative refractive power, a fifth lens including a convex surface toward the image side and having a positive refractive power, and a sixth lens including a concave aspherical shape with respect to an optical axis toward the image side and having a negative refractive power. The first to sixth lenses may be sequentially arranged from the object side to the image side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tae-youn Lee, Yong-wook Kim
  • Patent number: 9547161
    Abstract: A single focal length lens system includes a front lens unit and a rear lens unit, and does not include any other lens unit. The front lens unit includes a first lens unit having a positive refractive power, a second lens unit having a negative refractive power, and a third lens unit having a negative refractive power. Each of the first lens unit and the second lens unit includes a positive lens and a negative lens, and the first lens unit and the second lens unit do not move all the time. An aperture stop is disposed on the image side of the second lens unit. Any one of the lens units positioned on the image side of the second lens unit is a focusing lens unit, and the following conditional expression (1) is satisfied: 0.06<|fG3/f|<0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Fujikura, Kazuteru Kawamura
  • Patent number: 9547216
    Abstract: One embodiment of a lens moving unit includes a bobbin mounted with at least one sheet of lens and arranged at a periphery with a coil unit, a cover member mounted with a magnet at a position corresponding to that of the coil unit, upper and bottom elastic members respectively coupled at one distal end to upper and bottom surfaces of the bobbin to support movement of the bobbin to an optical axis direction, and a detection unit to detect a movement parallel to an optical axis of the bobbin, wherein the detection unit includes a sensing magnet mounted at a periphery of the bobbin, and a position detection sensor arranged at a lateral wall of the cover member and formed at an inner lateral surface opposite to the sensing magnet, wherein the bobbin includes a correction magnet mounted at a side opposite to that of the sensing magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tae Jin Jung, Sang Jun Min
  • Patent number: 9549474
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for disassembling a set top box is disclosed. The method includes providing the set top box including: a top cover, a base, and cover retention clips, wherein the cover retention clips are V or U shaped for securing the top cover to the base, providing a release fixture including a retention clip release finger, inserting the release fixture into the set top box, disengaging the cover retention clips using the retention clip release finger, and removing the top cover from the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: THOMSON LICENSING
    Inventors: Ying Jie Hu, Kian Choy Kiew, Wen Xin Huang
  • Patent number: 9544481
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) mounted with an image sensor, a holder member mounted at the PCB to support a lens module, movable lens concentrically arranged with the lens module, a first actuator compensating movement of an image captured by the image sensor by moving the movable lens, and a gyro sensor unit integrally formed with the first actuator to detect rotation of trajectory in response to movement of an electronic device mounted with the camera module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hack Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 9541769
    Abstract: A camera lens suspension assembly comprises a support member including a support metal base layer formed as single piece of metal, a moving member including a moving metal base layer formed as a single piece of metal, a plurality of bearings and smart shape memory alloy wires. The bearings are between the support member and the moving member, to enable movement of the moving member with respect to the support member. Each of the shape memory alloy wires is attached to and extends between a static wire attach structure formed in the support metal base layer and a moving wire attach structure formed in the moving metal base layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Peter F. Ladwig, Mark A. Miller, Richard R. Jenneke
  • Patent number: 9527546
    Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicle having a structure in which a handle connecting frame is attached to an upper end of a front fork section in a state in which the front fork section is connected thereto, and a front wheel rotatably supported by the front fork section is able to be steered, characterized in that a main rotary shaft of the front wheel functions as a main body and a support member and is fixed at two places to simultaneously tilt two handles leftward or rightward, the main rotary shaft of the front wheel is mounted on a footrest section, and a high elasticity compound recovery member is connected between the footrest section and a rear wheel rotary shaft in a longitudinal direction to be turned leftward or rightward to correspond to a centrifugal force about the rear wheel rotary shaft when tilting occurs during running.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Inventor: Kook Hwan Lee
  • Patent number: 9479699
    Abstract: An SMA actuation apparatus comprises a support structure, a movable element movably supported on the support structure and an arrangement of three or more SMA actuator wires mechanically connected between the support structure and the movable element. The SMA actuator wires have an interconnection at the movable element that electrically connects the group of SMA actuator wires together. This avoids the need to make a separate electrical connection to the movable element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: CAMBRIDGE MECHATRONICS LIMITED
    Inventors: Andrew Benjamin David Brown, Robert John Leedham, Mark George Easton
  • Patent number: 9423630
    Abstract: A lens driving device that is based on a Voice Coil Actuator (VCA) structure and provides the auto-focusing and optical image stabilization (OIS) functions. These two functions can be realized by a common magnet scheme, or a separate magnet scheme. Also, the present invention provides an improved structure for the lens driving device to enhance the function of OIS thereof. By arranging a magnetic enhancement device below the OIS coils in the lens driving device, the magnetic driving force of the OIS coils and magnetic induction of the Hall sensors, if present, can be enhanced, and the magnetic sensitivity thereof may be also improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: TDK TAIWAN CORP.
    Inventors: Chao-Chang Hu, Fu-Yuan Wu, Shih-Ting Huang, Jyun-Jie Lin, Yi-Ho Chen
  • Patent number: 9411138
    Abstract: Provided are a telephoto zoom lens system and an electronic apparatus including the telephoto zoom lens system. The telephoto zoom lens system includes a first lens group having a positive refractive power and is fixed when zooming and focusing, a second lens group having a negative refractive power, a third lens group having a negative refractive power and performs focusing, a fourth lens group having a positive refractive power, and a rear lens group comprising one or more lens groups located between the fourth lens group and an image side. At least one lens group of the rear lens group is fixed while zooming, and a focal length thereof is unchanged while zooming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jae-myung Ryu
  • Patent number: 9398220
    Abstract: The shake correction unit includes a shake detection unit that detects shake and a first optical correction unit and a second optical correction unit that optically perform shake correction using a shake signal output from the shake detection unit. This allows a sufficient shake-proof range to be secured and allows a stable shake-proof process to be performed under exposure even when a panning operation or large camera shake occurs under recording of a thru-image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masaaki Noguchi
  • Patent number: 9395551
    Abstract: An optical image stabilizer for a telescopic instrument having an objective lens, an erect prism, and an eyepiece lens arranged in this order which is capable of compensating for image deteriorations of an observed image due to external vibrations. The optical image stabilizer has a gimbal device mounted on a telescope housing, an external gimbal frame rotatably mounted on the gimbal casing, and an internal gimbal frame with the erect prism fixed thereto. Voice coil motors are provided for rotating the external and the internal gimbal frames. One of the voice coil motors has a coil disposed on the circuit board and a permanent magnet disposed on either one of the external and the internal gimbal frames oppositely to the coil. The remaining voice coil motor has a coil disposed on the circuit board and a permanent magnet disposed on the other gimbal frame oppositely to the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: KAMAKURA KOKI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kunio Ando, Masashi Kato, Haruo Itoh, Kazuya Miyaji
  • Patent number: 9392179
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a magnifying element. The magnifying element includes a camera module and a lens module. The camera module includes an image sensor and a lens related to the image sensor. The lens module is mounted on the lens and used as back projection to ensure that the light exit aperture of the lens module is opposite to the entrance aperture of the camera module. The power of magnification of the electronic device with a magnifying element is determined by the design features of the lens module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wei-Ming Lan, Tsung-Heng Chang
  • Patent number: 9335526
    Abstract: A zoom lens system having at least five lens units, each lens unit being composed of at least one lens element, the zoom lens system, in order from an object side to an image side, comprising: a positive first lens unit; and a negative second lens unit, and in order from the image side to the object side, comprising: a positive lens unit ?; a negative lens unit ?; and a positive lens unit ?, wherein the first lens unit is composed of only optical elements having optical power, and in zooming from a wide-angle limit to a telephoto limit, at least the positive first lens unit is fixed with respect to an image surface, the positive lens unit ? moves with respect to the image surface separately from an aperture diaphragm, and the negative lens unit ? moves to the object side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Matsumura, Masafumi Sueyoshi
  • Patent number: 9298015
    Abstract: An image blur correction apparatus includes a lens unit configured to include at least one lens, and configured to be turnable in two different directions using, as supporting points, two axes that are orthogonal to an outer housing. The image blur correction apparatus also includes a fixed member configured to turnably support the lens unit in the two directions, a first drive unit configured to be attached to the fixed member, and configured to turn the lens unit in one of the two directions. The image blur correction apparatus further includes a second drive unit configured to be attached to the fixed member, and configured to turn the lens unit in another of the two directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tatsuyuki Nakayama
  • Patent number: 9291832
    Abstract: Provided is an optical unit with shake correction function wherein it is possible to accurately swing the movable module even when a flexible wiring substrate is connected to the fixing element and movable module. In an optical unit with shake correction function, folding portions, the extending direction of which is reversed towards the vicinity of the swinging support point of a movable module, are provided at the midway portion of a flexible wiring substrate that is connected to the movable module and to a fixing element. In the folding portions, the overlapping portions of the flexible wiring substrate are fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinji Minamisawa, Hisahiro Ishihara, Tatsuki Wade, Katsushige Yanagisawa, Shinroku Asakawa, Yoshihiro Hamada, Toshiyuki Karasawa
  • Patent number: 9201248
    Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting a position of an optical element is disclosed. The apparatus includes: a support; a movement unit for supporting an optical element and being movable relative to the support; a magnet unit; a coil unit for generating a magnetic force for moving the movement unit when an electrical signal is applied; a sensor unit disposed in a position corresponding to the magnet unit for detecting a relative position of the movement unit with respect to the support; a locking unit for limiting or allowing movement of the movement unit; and a controlling unit connected to the coil unit for controlling the coil unit and determining whether the movement unit is in a state where movement of the movement unit is limited by the locking unit based on a signal output from the sensor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-jae Hwang, Jin-gi Lee, Kwang-seok Byon
  • Patent number: 9165589
    Abstract: A voice coil motor with a lateral attraction force comprising a magnetic device, a lens carrier, a base, a plurality of guide posts, a set of surface coil and a guiding magnetic plate. The first contact structure and the second contact structure of the magnetic device are contacted the plurality of guide posts respectively. There is at least one contacting point between the first contact structure and one of the plurality of guide posts, and there are at least two contacting point between the second contact structure and the other of the plurality of guide posts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: VASSTEK INTERNATIONAL CORP.
    Inventor: Chih-Ming Huang
  • Patent number: 9081205
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minsoo Kim, Seongcheol Jeong, Taemin Ha, Seonyoung Kim, Junghyun Lee
  • Patent number: 9030566
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises: an image sensor configured to capture an image; a vibration detection unit configured to detect a vibration; a vector detection unit configured to detect a motion vector from images; a first correction unit configured to optically correct an image blur; a second correction unit configured to electrically correct the image blur; a first calculation unit configured to calculate, on the basis of the vibration, a first vibration correction amount for controlling the first correction unit; a second calculation unit configured to calculate, on the basis of the motion vector, a second vibration correction amount for controlling the second correction unit; and a control unit configured to control the first and second calculation units so that the first and second vibration correction amounts are suppressed when a vibration amount is greater than a first threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenichi Miyasako
  • Patent number: 9030741
    Abstract: An image stabilizing apparatus includes a shift member holding a lens, a first driver moving the shift member in a first direction in a plane orthogonal to an optical axis, and a second driver moving the shift member in a second direction in the plane orthogonal to the optical axis. The first driver includes a first magnet, a first coil, and a first yoke in order in an optical axis direction, the second driver includes a second magnet, a second coil, and a second yoke in order in the optical axis direction, the first yoke has a protrusion that protrudes in the first direction at least one of end portions extending in a direction orthogonal to the first direction, and the second yoke has a protrusion that protrudes in the second direction at least one of end portions extending in a direction orthogonal to the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koji Sato
  • Publication number: 20150124321
    Abstract: A display apparatus comprises a display panel; a vibration element configured to vibrate the display panel; a detection unit configured to detect movement of the display apparatus or turn of the display panel; and a correction unit configured to vibrate the vibration element in a case where the detection unit detects the movement of the display apparatus or the turn of the display panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Yoshiki Iwakiri, Tomoyuki Ohno, Daisuke Takayanagi, Tomoki Kuroda
  • Publication number: 20150085363
    Abstract: In one example, a camera is provided that includes: a plurality of MEMS electrostatic comb actuators, each actuator operable to exert a force on at least one lens; and an optical image stabilization (OIS) algorithm module operable to command the plurality of actuators to actuate the at least one lens responsive to motion of the camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Xiaolei Liu, Roman C. Gutierrez, Pat K. Leang, Jose A. Mendez, Corneliu Zaharia, Alexandru F. Drimbarean, Petronel Gheorghe Bigioi
  • Patent number: 8982464
    Abstract: A tilt-type anti-shake compensation structure for auto-focus module includes an auto-focus module having a lens assembly held thereto and driving the latter to move forward and rearward in a light entering path, i.e. in z-axis direction, so as to focus a captured image; an outer frame enclosing the auto-focus module therein, and having an elastic supporting member provided therein to connect to and between upper ends of the outer frame and the auto-focus module; and a compensation driving unit arranged behind the auto-focus module for driving the auto-focus module to tilt leftward and rightward on x-axis, or forward and rearward on y-axis, within the outer frame, so as to compensate any image deviation due to shake caused by hands. The anti-shake structure is simple and can quickly compensate shake caused by hands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: TDK Taiwan Corporation
    Inventors: Yi-Liang Chan, Chao-Chang Hu, Fu-Yuan Wu
  • Publication number: 20150062706
    Abstract: There is provided a lens driving device, including: an auto-focusing driving unit disposed between a first frame supporting a lens in an optical axis direction and a second frame having a first gap with respect to the first frame; a camera shake stabilizing unit disposed between the second frame and an outer portion having a second gap with respect to the second frame; a leaf spring connected to the first and second frames to maintain the lens on a plane perpendicular to the optical axis direction, the leaf spring having a free-bent edge portion; and a suspension wire disposed in the optical axis direction, wherein one end of the suspension wire is fixed to the edge portion and the other end is fixed to the outer portion so that the second frame is floated from the outer portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Soo Cheol Lim, Sung Ryung Park, Chul Jin Kim, Byung Woo Kang, Sang Min On
  • Patent number: 8971696
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobushige Wakamatsu
  • Patent number: 8965188
    Abstract: A shake correction apparatus comprises a shake detection unit which detects a shake of an image capture apparatus, a calculation unit which calculates a shake correction amount for correcting an image blur based on an output from the shake detection unit, a shake correction unit which corrects the image blur based on the shake correction amount, a shake level determination unit which determines a shake level of the image capture apparatus based on an output from the shake detection unit, an offset determination unit which determines an offset value based on the shake correction amount and the shake level, and a subtraction unit which subtracts the offset value from the output from the shake detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobushige Wakamatsu
  • Patent number: 8937665
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an OIS (Optical Image Stabilizer) actuator and a camera module having the OIS actuator, the OIS actuator including: a horizontal driving unit; a vertical driving unit; and a support unit positioned at a periphery of the vertical driving unit and formed with a fourth electrode, wherein any one of the horizontal driving unit and the vertical driving unit is driven to compensate a warping of an optical path of an OIS lens unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hohwan Kim
  • Publication number: 20150002938
    Abstract: A method for adjusting a position of a first image stabilization unit and/or a second image stabilization unit of an optical system is provided. The method comprises the steps of detecting a movement of the optical system by means of an angle-of-rotation sensor and determining a bending angle of a first hinge part relative to a second hinge part of a folding bridge of the optical system. Furthermore, a correction angle is determined based on the bending angle. The first image stabilization unit is rotated about the correction angle relative to a first housing and/or the second image stabilization unit is rotated about the correction angle relative to a second housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventor: Christian Bach
  • Publication number: 20140368911
    Abstract: A long-range optical device has at least one optical channel, which has a housing and an arrangement of optical elements, wherein at least one of the optical elements is movable relative to the housing for image stabilization in the event of perturbing movements of the housing. The device further has a first passive stabilization system based on mass inertia for the at least one movable optical element, which, in the event of displacement of the at least one optical element relative to the housing, generates a first restoring force proportional to the displacement and a second restoring force proportional to the displacement velocity. The first stabilization system is designed for image stabilization in the event of perturbing movements in a first frequency range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Kurt Becker, Christian Bach, Georg Guenther, Dirk Dobermann
  • Publication number: 20140362441
    Abstract: An integrated lens barrel for a miniature camera is disclosed. The lens barrel can include components such as a shutter, an autofocus mechanism, a zoom mechanism, and/or an image stabilization mechanism. These and/or components can define a portion of the lens barrel that increases the length of the lens barrel. An electrostatic MEMS actuator can be used to effect movement of the autofocus mechanism, zoom mechanism, and/or image stabilization mechanism. Integrating the shutter, autofocus mechanism, zoom mechanism, and/or image stabilization mechanism into the lens barrel facilitates the construction of a substantially smaller camera that is suitable for use in personal electronic devices, such as cellular telephones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Roman C. Gutierrez, Robert J. Calvet
  • Patent number: 8908272
    Abstract: Provided is an image blur correcting device, including: an image pickup element (42); an image pickup element holder (41) movable in an X direction and in a Y direction orthogonal to the optical axis, and has the image pickup element placed thereon in such a manner that two mutually orthogonal sides extend along the X direction and the Y direction; a frame-like base (31) for supporting the image pickup element holder (41) in a movable manner in the X direction and in the Y direction; and first and second electromagnetic drive means, each arranged on sides extending along Y direction of the image pickup element (41), formed of coils (45a, 45b, 46a, 46b)and magnets (47a, 47b, 48a, 48b) for driving the image pickup element holder (41), with respect to the base (31), in the X direction and in the Y direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Olympus Imaging Corp.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Ezawa
  • Publication number: 20140354860
    Abstract: A blur correction apparatus includes a first fixing member, a moveable member and a second fixing member. A coil for generating a magnetic flux is arranged on the first fixing member. The movable member includes (1) a first magnet facing the coil, (2) a second magnet arranged adjacent to the first magnet, such that the first magnet is arranged between the second magnet and the coil arranged in the first fixing member, and (3) an optical element. The movable member can move in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of the optical element relative to the first fixing member. The second fixing member includes a hall element that is arranged adjacent to the second magnet in the movable member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicants: Olympus Imaging Corp., Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Kazunori YUGE, Masaya OTA, Yoshiaki SUEOKA
  • Patent number: 8896711
    Abstract: The present invention is an anti-vibration actuator (10) for moving an image stabilizing lens (16), having: a fixed portion (12); a movable portion (14) to which an image stabilizing lens is attached; a movable support member (18) for supporting this movable portion so that it is movable within a plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the image stabilizing lens; drive coils (20) attached to one of either the fixed portion or the movable portion; drive magnets (22) attached to the other of either the fixed portion or the movable portion so as to respectively face these drive coils; and at least one yoke (26) disposed on the side of the drive coils not facing the drive magnets; whereby magnetic force suppressing cutouts (26a) are provided on the yoke in a position overlapping the drive coils in order to suppress magnetic force received from the drive coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Tamron Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshinori Akutsu, Atsushi Shimane, Shouko Koeda
  • Patent number: 8861085
    Abstract: A fixed focal length lens has a focal length of a whole system shorter than a back focus. The fixed focal length lens includes an aperture stop, and an image-stabilizing lens unit that moves in a direction including a component of a direction orthogonal to an optical axis to reduce an image blur. The conditions of 0.1<f/|fis|<0.5 and ?0.35<Dis/DL<0.25 are met, where f is the focal length of the whole system, fis is a focal length of the image-stabilizing lens unit, Dis is a distance from the aperture stop to a surface farthest from the aperture stop of the image-stabilizing lens unit, and DL is a distance from a first surface closest to an object side to a final surface closest to an image side of the fixed focal length lens. A sign of the distance is positive in a direction from the object side to the image side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Makoto Nakahara
  • Patent number: 8848291
    Abstract: A fixed focus lens includes an M group that is disposed at a center of the optical system and has a positive refractive power; an F group that is disposed farther on the image plane side than the M group, has a negative refractive power, and is moved along the optical axis during focusing; a V group that is disposed farther on the object side than the M group, has a negative refractive index, and is moved in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis during vibration control; and an FC group that is disposed farther on the object side than the V group and has a positive refractive power. The V group is configured by a single lens element, and during focusing, at least the FC group and the M group are fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Tamron Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Adachi
  • Publication number: 20140268339
    Abstract: A multi-axis motor includes a first elongate magnet member disposed in a first orientation and a second elongate magnet member disposed in a second orientation orthogonal to the first orientation and mechanically coupled to the first elongate magnet member. The first elongate magnet member is operable to adjust a first axis of a fine axis structure. The second elongate magnet member is operable to adjust a second axis of the fine axis structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: DRS RSTA, INC.
    Inventors: Brian R. Pekarek, Milton A. Woodall, Jim Royalty