Image Stabilization Patents (Class 359/554)
  • Publication number: 20120307365
    Abstract: There is providing a lens barrel assembly including a base, a movable module movable along a linear path between a position close to the base and an extended position from the base, and a flexible printed circuit board including a first connection part, a bent part, and a second connection part. An end of the first connection part is connected to the movable module. The bent part is bent from the other end of the first connection part. An end of the second connection part is connected to the base and the other end of the second connection part is connected to the bent part. When the movable module is at a position close to the base, the first and second connection parts are close, and when the movable module is at the extended position, the first and second connection parts spread apart from the bent part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Bum Lee, Won-jun Jeong
  • Patent number: 8325027
    Abstract: A safety light apparatus includes a first light source to emit a first light beam and a first light modulator to modulate the first light beam to project a first light image resembling a left boundary of a bike lane. A second light source emits a second light beam, and a second light modulator modulates the second light beam to project a second light image resembling a right boundary of a bike lane. A housing supports the first and second light sources and the first and second light modulators. A mounting device is provided for mounting the housing to a bicycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Lightlane LLC
    Inventors: Alexander Kirby Tee, Evan Isaac Timerding Gant
  • Patent number: 8305455
    Abstract: An image stabilization control apparatus includes a vibration correction unit configured to correct an image shake occurring due to vibration, a first vibration detection unit configured to detect and output an angular velocity of the vibration, a second vibration detection unit configured to detect and output an acceleration of the vibration, a first extractor configured to extract a signal in a predetermined frequency band based on an output of the first vibration detection unit, a second extractor configured to extract a signal in a predetermined frequency band based on an output of the second vibration detection unit, an output correction unit configured to correct the output of the first vibration detection unit based on the signals extracted by the first and second extractors, and a driving unit configured to drive the vibration correction unit based on the output of the first vibration detection unit as corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichi Washisu, Goro Noto, Junichi Saito
  • Publication number: 20120268642
    Abstract: Provided are a driving apparatus and an imaging device having the driving apparatus mounted thereon, the driving apparatus being capable of performing, with a simple configuration, driving in the Z-axis direction in addition to driving in a direction along the XY plane, reducing friction at the time of driving, and performing precise position holding at the time of stop. A driving apparatus includes: a frame, a contact body supported by the frame; a holder pressed against the contact body to be supported thereby; a VCM for relatively moving the frame in a direction along a support plane formed by the contact body; and a transducer for displacing, relative to the frame, the contact body in the Z-axis direction. When driving, the transducer causes the contact body to vibrate in the Z-axis direction so as to reduce a frictional force between the contact body and the holder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: OLYMPUS IMAGING CORPORATION
    Inventor: Sumio Kawai
  • Publication number: 20120269499
    Abstract: To provide a driving mechanism with which a reduction in size is possible. A driving mechanism comprising: an optical component that is provided to be movable; a first driving member that is movable in a first direction; a second driving member that is movable in the first direction independently of the first driving member; and an abutting portion that is provided at the optical component and abuts against the first driving member and the second driving member, wherein, the optical component is moved by driving force of the first driving member and the second driving member abutting against the abutting portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masao OWASHI
  • Patent number: 8284263
    Abstract: An optical unit and image pickup apparatus capable of performing “auto focus function” and “image shake correction function” and characterized by easy assembling, compact configuration, high performance and reduced costs is provided. The optical unit and image pickup apparatus are provided with a polymer actuator to move an optical device, whereby performing auto focus function and image shake correction function can be performed. The polymer actuator is provided with electric wirings for image pickup device, thereby reducing the number of circuit board used for electric wiring of the image pickup device, with the result that an optical unit and image pickup apparatus characterized by easy assembling, compact configuration, high performance and reduced costs are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Opto, Inc.
    Inventors: Masamichi Oohara, Yoshihiro Tanaka, Shigeru Wada, Yoshihiro Hara
  • Publication number: 20120250155
    Abstract: An image shake correction device capable of reducing a sliding friction force occurring with movement of a movable member, thereby reducing load on a drive unit for driving the movable member and improving the positioning accuracy of the movable member. The movable member of the correction device is supported to be movable in a yaw direction and supported to be pivotable in a pitch direction, and a ball is held between the movable member and a guide groove formed in a stationary member and extending in the yaw direction. When the movable member moves in the yaw direction, the ball rolls along the guide groove. When the movable member pivots in the pitch direction, a contact point where the movable member contacts with the ball functions as a pivotal fulcrum for the movable member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kousuke KIYAMURA
  • Publication number: 20120249814
    Abstract: An image blur compensation device detects the shake of an apparatus and compensates image blur by means of a mechanism for rotating an image sensor about an axis perpendicular to the imaging plane of the image sensor. A rotary member for holding the image sensor is rotatably held by a base member. The rotary member and the base member are urged by a tension spring in a direction closer to each other, and a ball provided between the rotary member and the base member rotatably supports the rotary member in a state where the ball abuts against both the rotary member and the base member. The ball is arranged within a ball-receiving groove formed in the base member. The ball is brought into abutment against the abutment surface provided on the rotary member by an urging force of a tension spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kaori Miyoshi
  • Publication number: 20120250156
    Abstract: An optical unit with a shake correcting function may include a fixed body, a movable body holding an optical element, a swing support point supporting the movable body at a position between a rear end portion of the movable body and the fixed body so that the movable body is swingable, a plate-shaped spring member connected with the fixed body and the movable body on a front side for urging the movable body toward the swing support point, a shake correction drive mechanism for swinging the movable body on the front side, and a stopper mechanism in which a protruded part protruded from one of the fixed body and the movable body is capable of abutting with the other between the shake correction drive mechanism and the swing support point for determining a movable range when the movable body is displaced in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinroku Asakawa, Shinji Minamisawa, Tatsuki Wade
  • Patent number: 8279289
    Abstract: An optical unit with shake correcting function may include a movable module having a lens, a fixed body supporting the movable module, a shake detection sensor for detecting shake of the movable module, and at least one pair of magnetic drive mechanism for shake correction which is structured on both sides of the movable module so that the movable module is swung with respect to the fixed body on the basis of detection result of the shake detection sensor to correct the shake of the movable module. The magnetic drive mechanism for shake correction is disposed so that a shake correction magnet is held by the fixed body and a shake correction coil is held by the movable module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Nidec Sankyo Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Nagata, Toshiyuki Karasawa, Yuichi Takei, Tadashi Takeda, Hisahiro Ishihara, Shinji Minamisawa, Katsushige Yanagisawa, Kiyoshi Miyazaki
  • Publication number: 20120236414
    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: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-jae Hwang, Jin-gi Lee, Kwang-seok Byon
  • Patent number: 8264556
    Abstract: A lens barrel unit includes gyro sensors that detect vibration. The gyro sensors are disposed around a CCD mounting portion within a range over which the lens barrel unit is projected along the optical axis of a photographic optical system. This positional arrangement allows the lens barrel unit to be provided as a compact retractable unit, and ultimately achieves miniaturization of the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Masanori Hasuda
  • Publication number: 20120224840
    Abstract: Disclosed is an optical unit with a shake correction function which is capable of suppressing interference with swinging of a movable module due to the rigidity of a wiring material and a repelling force generated when the wiring material is deformed, even when the wiring material is extended from the movable module. The optical unit uses a flexible wiring board as the wiring material for electrically interconnecting the movable module and outside. In the flexible wiring board, the connecting portion of a movable-side connecting section and an extending unit is provided, in the optical axis direction, on a side where the swing center of the movable module is positioned with respect to the position of the center of supporting a spring member to the movable module. The swing center, the connecting portion, and a fixed-side connecting section are at the same position in the optical axis direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinji Minamisawa, Yoshihiro Hamada, Katsushige Yanagisawa, Shinroku Asakawa, Hisahiro Ishihara, Tadashi Takeda, Kiyoshi Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 8259210
    Abstract: The spherical aberration of an imaging lens changes from an object side of image-plane base position Zo toward the other side thereof as a distance from optical axis Z1 increases, and formulas 0.02<a/f<0.10 and 0.02<b/f are satisfied. In an imaging apparatus to which the imaging lens is applied, a blur is corrected by performing contrast recovery processing on original image data obtained by imaging. In the formulas, a is the magnitude of spherical aberration from the image-plane base position Zo toward the object side thereof affecting a ray passing through a central part of the pupil of the imaging lens, and b is a sum of a maximum spherical aberration from the image plane base position Zo toward the object side thereof and a maximum spherical aberration from the image plane base position Zo toward the other side thereof, and f is the focal length of the imaging lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Yasunobu Kishine, Sumihiro Nishihata
  • Publication number: 20120218635
    Abstract: A position controller for a removable optical element in an optical system includes an advancing/retracting ring; a removable optical element holding member supported by the advancing/retracting ring and rotatable about a first rotational axis between an insertion position on the optical axis and a removed position; an insertion holder which holds the removable optical element holding member at the insertion position; a removal drive member supported by the advancing/retracting ring and rotatable about a second rotational axis between an insertion allowance position and a forced removing position; and an insertion/removal controller. A rotational radius from the second rotational axis to a contact point between the removable optical element holding member and the removal drive member is greater than a rotational radius from the first rotational axis to the contact point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: HOYA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinya SUZUKA
  • Publication number: 20120218636
    Abstract: A lens barrel having an insertable/removable optical element includes an advancing/retracting member, an anti-shake frame supported by the advancing/retracting member, an insertable/removable frame holding the insertable/removable optical element and supported by the anti-shake frame, an anti-shake drive mechanism, and a removal drive mechanism which moves the insertable/removable frame between the insertion and the removed positions. The anti-shake drive mechanism includes first and second anti-shake drive actuators positioned on the opposite side of the insertion position from the removed position and are respectively positioned on opposite sides of a straight line connecting a center of the insertable/removable optical element at the insertion position and at the removed position. Directions of driving forces produced by the first and second anti-shake drive actuators are at right angles to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: HOYA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinya SUZUKA
  • Publication number: 20120206809
    Abstract: An optical device with an imaging device for forming an image of a subject with a lens device, including a lens unit, a movable member making the lens unit movable within a plane orthogonal to the optical axis of the lens unit, an image pickup device imaging the subject image formed by the lens device, a fixed member limiting the movement of the movable member in the optical axis direction, at least three balls rolling between the movable and fixed member, a vibration detecting unit, and a pitch and yaw direction drive units for driving the movable member in the pitch and yaw directions within the optical axis orthogonal plane, respectively. The pitch and yaw direction drive units press the movable member toward the fixed member side by means of magnetic pressing forces caused by magnetic attractive action between drive magnets and yokes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Noguchi
  • Patent number: 8238735
    Abstract: To provide a driving mechanism with which a reduction in size is possible. A driving mechanism comprising: an optical component that is provided to be movable; a first driving member that is movable in a first direction; a second driving member that is movable in the first direction independently of the first driving member; and an abutting portion that is provided at the optical component and abuts against the first driving member and the second driving member, wherein, the optical component is moved by driving force of the first driving member and the second driving member abutting against the abutting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Masao Owashi
  • Patent number: 8238040
    Abstract: A zoom optical system including, in order from an object side: a first group having positive power; a second group having negative power; a third group having positive power; and a fourth group having positive power, at least a portion of lenses within said third group composing a movable group which moves in a direction having a component perpendicular to an optical axis, a distance between said first group and said second group, a distance between said second group and said third group and a distance between said third group and said fourth group being variable upon zooming from a wide-angle end state to a telescopic end state, thereby providing a zoom optical system capable of correcting a camera shake by the movable group with realizing high optical performance, a high zoom ratio, and a small f-number, an optical apparatus equipped therewith, and a method for manufacturing thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Miwa, Takeshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8238039
    Abstract: A variable power optical system ZL is constructed of, in order from the object side, a first lens unit G1 having a positive refractive power, a second lens unit G2 having a negative refractive power, a third lens unit G3 having a positive refractive power, and a fourth lens unit G4 having a positive refractive power. During variation in power from a wide-angle end state to a telephoto end state, a space between the first lens unit G1 and the second lens unit G2 increases, a space between the second lens unit G2 and the third lens unit G3 decreases, and a space between the third lens unit G3 and the fourth lens unit G4 varies, and a part of the third lens unit G3 is configured to move in directions perpendicular to the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Yamagami
  • Publication number: 20120188643
    Abstract: An optical image stabilizer of the present invention is mounted in a camera at an image size of a lens to assist an image capture device. The optical image stabilizer includes a base, a transverse frame, and a longitudinal frame. The base is provided with a pair of transverse rails and longitudinal reference magnets. The transverse frame is engaged with the transverse rails for reciprocation and is provided with a pair of longitudinal rails, transverse reference magnets and longitudinal reference magnets, wherein the longitudinal reference magnets are between the longitudinal rails. The longitudinal frame is engaged with the longitudinal rails for reciprocation and is provided with the image capture device, a transverse drive coil, and a longitudinal drive coil. The longitudinal drive coils are between the longitudinal rails and in association with the longitudinal reference magnets that the longitudinal frame may move smoothly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: ASIA OPTICAL CO., INC.
    Inventors: Ya-Ling Wang, Ting-Rung Hsu
  • Patent number: 8228605
    Abstract: Anti-vibration zoom lens optics of four lens groups where a unit associated with an aperture stop and an anti-vibration unit can be spaced apart from each other without interference between their driving mechanisms. The four groups include a leading, first lens group of positive refractivity, a succeeding second lens group of negative refractivity, a third lens group of positive refractivity, and a trailing, fourth lens group of positive refractivity all arranged in this order from the front end closest to the object to the rearmost. The fourth lens group include three subsets of lens pieces, a leading, first subset, a succeeding, second subset, and a trailing, third subset all arranged in this order from the front end closest to the object to the rearmost, and the second subset of lens pieces are moved perpendicular to the optical axis to compensate for blur in the imaging plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Tamron Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akio Arakawa, Lai Wei
  • Patent number: 8218238
    Abstract: Provided is a zoom lens system includes, in order from an object side to an image side: a first lens unit having a positive refractive power; a second lens unit having a negative refractive power; a third lens unit having a positive refractive power; and a fourth lens unit having a positive refractive power, the second and fourth lens units move on an optical axis during zooming. The third lens unit includes, in order from the object side to the image side: a third A lens unit having a negative refractive power; and a third B lens unit having a positive refractive power, the third B lens unit including a positive lens and a negative lens being joined together. When curvature radii of surfaces of the cemented lens on the object side and the image side are R3A and R3B, respectively, the following condition is satisfied: 5<|(R3A+R3B)/(R3A?R3B)|<30.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuaki Hagiwara
  • Publication number: 20120170919
    Abstract: A position controller for an optical element of an optical system includes a first movable member supported by a support member to be movable relative thereto in a first direction orthogonal to an optical axis, a second movable member holding the optical element and supported by the first movable member to be movable relative thereto in a second direction nonparallel to the first direction, an electromagnetic actuator that produces a driving force for moving at least the second movable member in the second direction, and an insertion/removal drive mechanism for moving the second movable member between an anti-shake driving position, where a position control for the second movable member can be performed using the electromagnetic actuator, and a removed position where the second movable member is positioned outside a range of the position control that uses the electromagnetic actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: HOYA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinya SUZUKA
  • Publication number: 20120154912
    Abstract: A correction optical device includes a rotating member that is disposed between a fixed member and a movable member that supports a compensation lens. By controlling rotation of the rotating member using the movable member, the movable member is locked and unlocked.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Makoto Shihoh
  • Patent number: 8199207
    Abstract: An image recording device includes an obtaining module configured to obtain tilt information indicating a tilt direction and a tilt angle of an image with respect to a horizontal direction for a processing unit including frames, a rotational processing module configured to perform, in accordance with the tilt direction and the tilt angle indicated by the tilt information, a rotational process having a same rotational direction and a same rotational amount for correction of tilting with respect to images of the frames, and a storing module configured to store the images of the frames subjected to the rotational process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Kato
  • Publication number: 20120140326
    Abstract: Provided is an optical unit comprising a shake detecting sensor which is less likely to unnecessarily vibrate even with the optical unit being designed to have a thinner profile. At a first step in the assembly of an optical unit provided with a shake correction mechanism, a module cover is mounted on a fixed body with a spring member therebetween and a movable module driving mechanism is provided between the module cover and the fixed body. At a second step, an image-capturing unit is inserted into the interior of the module cover by way of a fixed-body-side opening portion and a module-cover-side opening portion, and at a third step, a holding member is attached to a module cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadashi Takeda, Kiyoshi Miyazaki, Katsushige Yanagisawa, Jun Yamashita, Hisahiro Ishihara
  • Patent number: 8194317
    Abstract: A zoom lens system is provided that includes a compactly constructed focusing lens unit and that has a suppressed change in the image magnification at the time of movement of a focusing lens unit. The zoom lens system according to the present invention, in order from an object side to an image side, comprises: a first lens unit having positive optical power; a second lens unit having negative optical power; a third lens unit having negative optical power; and at least one subsequent lens unit, wherein at the time of zooming, all lens units move in a direction along the optical axis so that intervals between the lens units vary, and at the time of focusing, a lens unit included in the at least one lens unit moves in a direction along the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Adachi, Tsuneo Uchida
  • Patent number: 8194318
    Abstract: A telescope optical system TL comprising, in order from an object side: an objective lens 1; an erecting prism 2; and an eyepiece 3; the objective lens 1 comprising, in order from the object side, a first lens group G1 having positive refractive power, a second lens group G2 having negative refractive power, and a third lens group G3 having positive refractive power, focusing being carried out by moving the second lens group G2 along an optical axis, and an image position being movable by moving the third lens group G3 in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis, thereby providing a telescope optical system having optimum optical performance for a telescope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Nikon Vision Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Yamada
  • Publication number: 20120127575
    Abstract: A lens apparatus includes: a correction unit moving perpendicularly to an optical axis and including a correction optical system correcting an image blur; a driving unit driving the correction unit; an engaging unit movable between an engaging position where the engaging unit abuts abutting portions of the correction unit to engage the correction unit and a non-engaging position where the engaging unit makes the correction unit movable; a biasing unit biasing the engaging unit from non-engaging position to engaging position; and a non-engaging position maintaining unit maintaining the engaging unit at non-engaging position by being engaged with the engaging unit, wherein the correction unit moves to press the non-engaging position maintaining unit beyond a range driven by the driving unit during image-blur correction to disengage the non-engaging position maintaining unit and the engaging unit, and the biasing unit moves the engaging unit from non-engaging position to engaging position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Jyunpei HONMA
  • Patent number: 8184167
    Abstract: An electromagnetic driving apparatus includes a magnet member having a first face in which first and second magnetic poles are formed in a first direction and a second face in which the first and second magnetic poles are formed in a second direction, a first coil facing the first face, a second coil facing the second face, a first member holding the magnet member, and a second member holding the first and second coils. One of the first and second members holds a driven member. The first and second members are relatively moved in the first direction by the energization of the first coil, and the first and second members are relatively moved in the second direction by the energization of the second coil. The actuator constituted by the first and second coils and the magnet member can be compactly arranged in one region in the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyoshi Inaba
  • Publication number: 20120113514
    Abstract: A handheld projector is provided with an image stabilization system that acts to reduce (or even eliminate) unwanted motion of the projected image due to unintended movement of the projector. In certain preferred embodiments, a solid-state motion sensor provides input to an image stabilization system that computes a corrective signal. In embodiments having optical image stabilization, the corrective signal is supplied to a mechanical actuator that moves one or more optical elements within the projector. Other embodiments have electronic image stabilization. In these embodiments, the corrective signal from the image stabilization system is used by the image generator to shift the image so as to compensate for movement of the projector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: POLYCOM, INC.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Rodman
  • Publication number: 20120105960
    Abstract: An optical device includes an optical element through which light is transmitted, a frame that supports the optical element, magnets in the frame around the optical element, a base unit that movably supports the frame, a cover unit to cover the magnets, and magnetic force generating units in the cover unit in positions corresponding to the magnets and that generate magnetic force when an electrical signal is applied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chi-young Park, Kwang-seok Byon, Jung-soo Kim, Jin-young Bang, Young-jae Hwang
  • Publication number: 20120092511
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Nobushige Wakamatsu
  • Publication number: 20120093493
    Abstract: An image stabilization control apparatus corrects image shake, which is caused by the shake of a camera, using a shake correction unit. An angular velocity sensor detects angular rotational shake in the yaw direction, and an angular velocity sensor detects angular rotational shake in the roll direction. An accelerometer detects acceleration in the horizontal direction. A camera CPU calculates a first correction amount for use in the correction of translational shake in the yaw direction using the outputs of the angular velocity sensor and the accelerometer, and calculates a second correction amount for use in the correction of translational shake in the roll direction using the outputs of the angular velocity sensor and the accelerometer. A driving unit drives a shake correction unit in accordance with the correction amount of translational shake.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Nobushige Wakamatsu
  • Patent number: 8159545
    Abstract: An image stabilization control apparatus includes a vibration correction unit configured to correct an image shake occurring due to vibration, a first vibration detection unit configured to detect and output an angular velocity of the vibration, a second vibration detection unit configured to detect and output an acceleration of the vibration, a first extractor configured to extract a signal in a predetermined frequency band based on an output of the first vibration detection unit, a second extractor configured to extract a signal in a predetermined frequency band based on an output of the second vibration detection unit, an output correction unit configured to correct the output of the first vibration detection unit based on the signals extracted by the first and second extractors, and a driving unit configured to drive the vibration correction unit based on the output of the first vibration detection unit as corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichi Washisu, Goro Noto, Junichi Saito
  • Patent number: 8154801
    Abstract: A zoom lens includes, in order from an object side to an image side: a first lens group that has a positive refractive power and remains stationary in a direction of an optical axis; a second lens group that has a negative refractive power and is movable on the optical axis so as to perform a zoom operation; a third lens group that has a positive refractive power and remains stationary in the direction of the optical axis during zooming and focusing; a fourth lens group that has a positive refractive power and is movable on the optical axis so as to correct fluctuation in imaging position and correct change in imaging position caused by change in object distance; and a fifth lens group that has a positive refractive power and remains stationary in the direction of the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Suzaki, Shinichi Arita, Takuya Anzawa
  • Publication number: 20120075700
    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: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Inventor: Hiroshi Ezawa
  • Publication number: 20120063757
    Abstract: An optical device comprises a shake detection unit adapted to detect shaking of the optical device, an amplifying unit adapted to amplify a difference between an output of the shake detection unit and a reference voltage, an offset calculation unit adapted to calculate an offset component based on an output of the amplifying unit, a changing unit adapted to change the reference voltage so as to remove the offset component, a correction unit adapted to correct the output of the amplifying unit so as to cancel out a change made by the changing unit, and a focal length detection unit adapted to detect a focal length of the imaging optical system, wherein the changing unit changes the reference voltage when the offset component exceeds a threshold, and the threshold is higher when the imaging optical system is on a telephoto side than on a wide-angle side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tatsuya Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8125711
    Abstract: An image blur correction apparatus includes first and second lens units, a supporting unit aligning the first and second lens units in an optical axis direction, so that the first and second lens units can independently move in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis, a driving unit driving the first and second lens units in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis, a relative position detection unit detecting a relative position between the first and second lens units, a shake detection unit detecting a shake amount added to the image blur correction apparatus, and a control unit controlling the driving unit based on an output of the shake detection unit. The control unit performs closed-loop control based on an output of the relative position detection unit so that the second lens unit moves in a direction opposite to that of the first lens unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masafumi Kimura
  • Publication number: 20120044369
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: a shift lens driven to be shifted; a uniform aberration correction data storing unit storing uniform aberration correction data for correcting uniform aberration; a shift amount calculating unit calculating an amount of aberration correction shift of the shift lens for correcting uniform aberration using the uniform aberration correction data; a shift lens driving unit driving the shift lens to be shifted according to an amount of driving shift based on the amount of aberration correction shift; a concentric aberration correction amount calculating unit calculating an amount of concentric aberration correction for correcting concentric aberration with respect to a process target pixel of an input image signal; and a pixel value correcting unit correcting a pixel value of the process target pixel on the basis of the calculated amount of concentric aberration correction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gentaro IRISAWA, Atsuo Kikuchi, Takuya Kato, Atsuo Minato, Kenichi Nishio, Hiroyuki Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 8120850
    Abstract: Provided is a zoom lens system including a compact focusing lens unit and having a suppressed change in image magnification at the time of movement of the focusing lens unit. The zoom lens system of the present invention, in order from an object side to an image side, includes a first lens unit G1 having positive optical power, a second lens unit G2 having negative optical power, a third lens unit G3 having negative optical power, and a fourth lens unit G4 having positive optical power. At the time of zooming, at least the first lens unit G1 moves from a wide-angle limit to a telephoto limit. The fourth lens unit G4 includes a first sub lens unit having positive optical power and a second sub lens unit having negative optical power, the second sub lens unit being arranged at the image side relative to the first sub lens unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tsuneo Uchida, Nobuyuki Adachi
  • Publication number: 20120038985
    Abstract: A lens barrel that includes a first rectilinear motion barrel, a second rectilinear motion barrel whose rotation around an optical axis is restricted by the first rectilinear motion barrel, a first flexible printed circuit board whose electrical connection is performed from outside of the barrel, a second flexible printed circuit board whose electrical connection is performed from outside of the barrel, and a connection unit configured to connect the first flexible printed circuit board and the second flexible printed circuit board. The connection unit is placed in a space configured by the first rectilinear motion barrel and the second rectilinear motion barrel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ryuichi Nagae
  • Patent number: 8116583
    Abstract: A light modulation panel is inserted into an optical path of an imaging lens composed of an image-forming optical system to make the imaging lens function as a depth-of-field-extended optical system. The light modulation panel has power that makes a peak position of defocus MTF when the imaging lens is used alone to function as the image-forming optical system and a peak position of defocus MTF when the imaging lens functions as the depth-of-field-extended optical system by insertion of the light modulation panel into the optical path of the imaging lens coincide with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Kenichi Sato
  • Patent number: 8111295
    Abstract: A CCD support mechanism includes a CCD holder for holding a CCD, a first printed circuit board having a first printed coil, a second printed circuit board having a second printed coil, a pair of horizontal leaf springs, and a pair of vertical leaf springs. When a camera shake occurs by hand-held shooting, a VCM composed of the first printed coil and a first stationary magnet shifts the CCD, while bending the horizontal leaf springs, to counteract the camera shake in a Y-axis direction. A VCM composed of the second printed coil and a second stationary magnet shifts the CCD, while bending the vertical leaf springs, to counteract the camera shake in an X-axis direction. Current values of the VCMs are determined by feedback control by using an output signal from a shake detector as a target value and a present position from a position detector as a measurement value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Makimoto, Kentaro Tokiwa
  • Publication number: 20120013753
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus which decreases the number of components to reduce man-hours for assembly. A base plate, which supports a lens holder in such a manner that the lens holder is movable in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis, has an engagement portion having an opening disposed in one direction around the optical axis. Movement of the lens holder in the direction of the optical axis is inhibited by engagement between part of the lens holder and the engagement portion. A rotation inhibition plate, which is provided on a subject side of the lens holder, is movable in a first direction perpendicular to the optical axis integrally with the lens holder and is inhibited from moving in a second direction perpendicular to both the optical axis and the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akihiko KANDA
  • Publication number: 20120008208
    Abstract: An image stabilization device is disclosed. The image stabilization device includes a first linkage assembly and a first flexible element. The first linkage assembly is disposed on a frame. The first linkage assembly includes a first linkage which is disposed in a first direction. The first flexible element is capable of pressing an optical element to the first linkage so as to make the optical element move along the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: ABILITY ENTERPRISE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: MU-YUAN WU, CHIEN-HSIN LU
  • Publication number: 20120002060
    Abstract: An image sensing device includes two, left- and right-eye image sensors, and detects the rotation amount around the optical axis of the image sensing device, and the displacement amounts of the two image sensors in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis. The image sensing device performs control such that two pixels on the two image sensors having output the centers of the images to be cropped from the sensed images exist in the same position in the vertical direction in the plane perpendicular to the optical axis. The image sensing device also performs control such that the horizontal distance, in the plane perpendicular to the optical axis, between the two pixels of the two image sensors having output the centers of the images to be cropped from the sensed images is equal to the spacing between the two image sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABISHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: SUGURU KUSANAGI
  • Patent number: 8089694
    Abstract: A stabilizer for an optical device that forms part of an electronic device may include a platform that has an optical device mounted thereon. A gimbal mount may retain the platform so that the platform is pivotal about a first axis and the gimbal mount being further pivotal about a second axis so that the optical device is pivotal about both the first and second axes. A first actuator may be controlled to manage movement of the optical device about the first axis and a second actuator may be controlled to manage movement of the optical device about the second axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
    Inventor: Mats Göran Henry Wernersson
  • Publication number: 20110310484
    Abstract: An optical device includes a shake detection unit configured to detect shake of the optical device; a correction unit configured to correct image blur in a sensed image; a position detection unit configured to detect position of the correction unit; a correction control unit configured to control driving of a shake correction unit based on the output of the shake detection unit and on the position of the correction unit; a panning detection unit configured to detect whether the optical device is panning and detect a direction of the panning; an eccentricity direction detection unit configured to detect an eccentricity direction based on the output of the position detection unit; and a changing unit configured to change correction characteristics of the correction control unit, wherein the changing unit changes the correction characteristics of the correction control unit based on the eccentricity direction and the panning direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoshi Okamura