Adjusting Mechanism Patents (Class 359/694)
  • Patent number: 8482871
    Abstract: Provided is a lens barrel including a subject-side lens guided by guide bars, comprising a first guide shaft that is disposed within a cylindrical fixed cylinder and oriented along an axial direction of the fixed cylinder; a second guide shaft that is disposed outside the fixed cylinder and oriented along the axial direction, and arranged such that at least a portion thereof overlaps with the first guide shaft in a longitudinal direction of the first guide shaft; a first holding member that holds a first lens, includes a first engaging member that engages with the first guide shaft, and moves along the first guide shaft; and a second holding member that holds a second lens positioned on a subject side of the first lens, includes a second engaging member that engages with the second guide shaft, and moves along the second guide shaft, wherein at least a portion of movement range of the first engaging member on the first guide shaft overlaps in the axial direction with at least a portion of movement range of th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Kunihiro Fukino
  • Patent number: 8482868
    Abstract: Adjustable mounts for optical elements or the like that may include absolute position information feedback. For some embodiments, position data may be generated independent of displacement measurement. Position data feedback may be provided to driver embodiments, such as piezoelectric inertia drivers, by a controller and used to achieve a desired position setting for an adjustable mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Newport Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick J. Thomas, Daniel Gvero, Roger Desailly
  • Publication number: 20130170022
    Abstract: Exemplary methods, systems and components enable an enhanced direct-viewing optical device to make customized adjustments that accommodate various optical aberrations of a current user. In some instances a real-time adjustment of the transformable optical elements is based on known corrective optical parameters associated with a current user. In some implementations a control module may process currently updated wavefront measurements as a basis for determining appropriate real-time adjustment of the transformable optical elements to produce a specified change in optical wavefront at an exit pupil of the direct-viewing device. Possible transformable optical elements may have refractive and/or reflective and/or diffractive and/or transmissive characteristics that are adjusted based on current performance viewing factors for a given field of view of the direct-viewing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Inventors: Kenneth G. Caldeira, Peter L. Hagelstein, Roderick A. Hyde, Edward K.Y. Jung, Jordin T. Kare, Nathan P. Myhrvold, John Brian Pendry, David Schurig, Clarence T. Tegreene, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, JR.
  • Patent number: 8477430
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes a lens barrel. The lens barrel is configured to move first and second optical units in an optical axis direction for zooming. The lens barrel includes a linear movement cylinder that includes a key configured to guide the first optical unit, a rotation cylinder that includes an outer circumferential cam and an inner circumferential cam, the rotation cylinder being configured to rotate around an optical axis so as to move the first optical unit in the optical axis direction through the outer circumferential cam and so as to move the second optical unit in the optical axis direction through the inner circumferential cam, and a guide bar held by the linear movement cylinder and configured to guide the second optical unit in the optical axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuichiro Kato
  • Patent number: 8467136
    Abstract: There is provided a device for transferring an optical element including: a differential transmitter including an intermediate ring rotatably with respect to a housing and having a plurality of openings on its circumference, first decelerating members rotatably inserted into ones of the openings, a first transmitting ring disposed on one side of the intermediate ring to contact the first decelerating members, and a second transmitting ring disposed on an opposite side of the intermediate ring; a driving element generating a driving force to rotate the first transmitting ring; a manual manipulation ring transmitting a rotation force generated due to manual manipulation to the second transmitting ring; a moving portion that supports the optical element and moving along the direction of an optical axis; and a cam rotating due to connection with the intermediate ring and having a cam groove connected with the moving portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidemasa Ozawa, Shi-hong Park
  • Patent number: 8467139
    Abstract: An optical device includes: a holding frame holding an optical system; a tubular member provided at an outer circumferential surface with a first concave groove and at an inner circumferential surface with a second concave groove, and holding the holding frame; and an eccentric pin penetrating through the first and second concave grooves, including one end attached to the holding frame, and eccentrically rotating against the first and second concave grooves in response to a force applied to the other end of the eccentric pin. A length, in a first direction intersecting a penetrating direction through which the eccentric pin penetrates, of the first concave groove is greater than a length, in a second direction intersecting the first direction and the penetrating direction, of the first concave groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Kentaro Terao
  • Patent number: 8462445
    Abstract: A lens control apparatus having a zoom lens includes first and second operation members that give a zoom instruction for moving the zoom lens, and a controller that changes a zoom stop position to a first pattern according to the operation of the first operation member, and changes the zoom stop position to a second pattern, which has an interval wider than that in the first pattern, according to the operation of the second operation member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junichi Maniwa, Eiji Yoshino, Koji Sudo, Yohei Fujitani
  • Patent number: 8462444
    Abstract: A zoom lens including, in a sequence from an object side to an image plane side: a first lens group having a negative refractive power; a second lens group having a positive refractive power; a third lens group having a negative refractive power; and a fourth lens group having a positive refractive power. During zooming from a wide angle position to a telephoto position, an interval between the first lens group and the second lens group decreases, an interval between the second lens group and the third lens group increases, and an interval between the third lens group and the fourth lens group decreases. When the location of an object changes from ? to a close location, the first lens group is moved toward the object to perform focusing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Min Heu, Young-woo Park
  • Patent number: 8462451
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes a first cylinder, a second cylinder configured to rotate around an optical axis relative to the first cylinder and to move a lens holding frame holding a lens in an optical axis direction, a force unit arranged outside of the second cylinder, a force relay member arranged outside of the second cylinder and configured to contact the force unit, a first roller fixed to the force relay unit and configured to contact a first surface of the second cylinder, and to transmit a force to the first surface of the second cylinder, the force being applied by the force unit and relayed by the force relay unit; and a second roller fixed to the first cylinder, and configured to contact a second surface inside of the second cylinder, and to restrict a movement of the second cylinder in the optical axis direction by the force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshihiro Okuda
  • Patent number: 8456753
    Abstract: A lens barrel capable of achieving a smooth zoom operation and reducing a driving load at the time of barrel retraction. The lens barrel includes a rectilinear guide cylinder rectilinearly moving in an optical axis direction, and a movable cam cylinder moving in the optical axis direction while rotating relative to the guide cylinder. The guide cylinder is formed at its inner peripheral surface with a cam groove and a rectilinear guide groove that divides the cam groove at a boundary between a retracted region and a photographing region, and is formed with a penetration cam groove extending from the inner peripheral surface to an outer peripheral surface of the guide cylinder. The movable cam cylinder moves in the photographing region while the first pin engages the cam groove, and moves in the retracted region while the second pin engages the penetration cam groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yosuke Fukai
  • Patent number: 8456752
    Abstract: An interchangeable lens unit comprises a second lens group unit, a focus lens unit, a fourth lens group unit, a zoom ring unit, and a focus motor. The zoom ring unit mechanically transmits operational force inputted to a zoom ring to the second lens group unit and the fourth lens group unit. The focus motor electrically drives the focus lens unit in the Z axis direction with respect to the second lens group unit. When the zoom ring is operated in a state in which no power is being supplied to the focus motor, a gap is always ensured in the Z axis direction between the focus lens unit and the second lens group unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Naoto Yumiki, Hideo Onishi, Yoshiharu Araki, Fumio Muramatsu, Masato Murayama
  • Patent number: 8456756
    Abstract: A zoom lens barrel assembly includes: a zoom ring having a cylindrical shape, and comprising an inlet portion formed in a boundary of one end thereof and a first protrusion; a guide ring disposed around the zoom ring, and comprising a first guide hole through which the first protrusion passes, and movably supporting the zoom ring in an axial direction, and a second guide hole; and a cylinder disposed in the zoom ring, for moving and rotating between a position where the cylinder is accommodated in the zoom ring and a position where the cylinder moves away from the zoom ring in the axial direction, and comprising a second protrusion that passes through the second guide hole, accommodated in the inlet portion at the position where the cylinder is accommodated, and pressing one end of the inlet portion when the cylinder moves away from the zoom ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chan-ho Lee, Young-eun Kim, Hyun-min Oh, Hee-yun Chung, Bong-chan Kim, Jong-jun Kim
  • Patent number: 8449124
    Abstract: A lens-adjusting module includes a base, a lens device, a second tray, and an adjusting device. The lens device includes a first tray and a lens being fixed to and contacting the first tray. The first and the second trays are movably disposed on and contact the base. The first tray is movably disposed on the second tray and located between the second tray and the base. The adjusting device includes a first lever and a second lever pivoted to the base. A part of the first lever and a part of the second lever are slidingly disposed on the first tray. The first lever rotates to drive the first and the second trays to move relatively to the base along a first axis. The second lever rotates to drive the first tray to move relatively to the second tray and the base along a second axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventor: Yung-Chuan Tseng
  • Patent number: 8446681
    Abstract: An optical apparatus includes a cam barrel configured to hold an optical member, which is movable back and forth along a first optical axis, on an inner periphery of the cam barrel, a bending member configured to bend a light flux from an object from the first optical axis towards a second optical axis, and a guiding member extending in a direction parallel with the second optical axis and configured to support and hold the bending member to be movable back and forth in the direction parallel with the second optical axis, wherein the guiding member is configured to enter into a notch, which is provided to the cam barrel, when the optical member is stored into a space along the first optical axis into which the bending member has retracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shuichi Terada
  • Patent number: 8444548
    Abstract: An insertion unit has a channel through which a treatment tool can be inserted. A distal end of the insertion unit has a single-focus objective optical system or a focal-point-variable objective optical system to focus the optical image on a light receiving surface of an image capturing element. At a short object distance from the distal end, an image signal with a sufficient resolution is obtained from the image capturing element. In this state, a treatment tool projected by a reduced amount from a distal end opening of the channel is captured on a light receiving surface of the image capturing element. A required resolution is also provided for a far side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Kumei
  • Patent number: 8441741
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes a first drive unit, a first lens unit configured to be driven by the first drive unit to perform a magnification-varying operation, a second drive unit, a second lens unit configured to be driven by the second drive unit, and a controller configured to control the first drive unit and the second drive unit so as to drive the second lens unit with reference to a position of the first lens unit in performing the magnification-varying operation. The controller controls the second lens unit so as to move only in a first direction in performing the magnification-varying operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hisao Yagi
  • Patent number: 8437096
    Abstract: An optical device comprises: a first holding frame holding an optical system; a second holding frame holding the first holding frame and having a groove provided on a face opposing the first holding frame; an elastic member provided between the first holding frame and the second holding frame; a position determining portion capable of determining a position of the first holding frame towards the elastic member, and provided to sandwich, with the elastic member, the first holding frame; a fixing portion is capable of fixing the first holding frame towards the position determining portion so that the first holding frame is fixed, and which is provided to sandwich, with the position determining portion, the first holding frame; and a protruding portion which has a first end fixed to the first holding frame, and another end which differs from the first end and which is inserted into the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Ishigami
  • Patent number: 8432627
    Abstract: A vibration actuator having excellent driving performance, a method for manufacturing the vibration actuator, a lens barrel and a camera. The vibration actuator is provided with: an electromechanical conversion element which converts an electric energy into a mechanical energy; an elastic body which generates vibration waves by oscillation of the electromechanical conversion element; a resin layer, which is formed of a conductive thermoplastic resin and bonds the electromechanical conversion element and the elastic body with each other; and a relatively moving member which is brought into contact with the elastic body with a pressure and is relatively moved to the elastic body by vibration waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Satoshi Kariya
  • Patent number: 8425057
    Abstract: A projection module adapted to be disposed in an electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a main body and the projection module disposed in the main body. The projection module includes a chassis, a light source, a light valve, a first lens group, and a second lens group. The light source and the light valve are disposed on the chassis. The first lens group is fixed on the chassis. The second lens group is slidably assembled on the chassis and is disposed between the light valve and the first lens group. The light source is capable of providing a light beam, and the light beam is capable of emitting through the light valve, the second lens group, and the first lens group in sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Young Optics Inc.
    Inventors: Bo-Cheng Huang, Chih-Chien Lin, Wei-Szu Lin
  • Patent number: 8427767
    Abstract: An auto focusing lens module is provided, which includes a casing, a photo interrupter and a lens holder. The casing has a containing space. The photo interrupter is fixedly disposed on the casing and has a light-emitting surface and a light-sensing surface opposite to the light-emitting surface. The lens holder is disposed in the containing space and has a first obstacle and a second obstacle. The space between the first obstacle and the second obstacle keeps a calibrating interval. The lens holder is capable of moving to-and-fro along an axial direction to bring the first obstacle, the calibrating interval or the second obstacle to the space between the light-emitting surface and the light-sensing surface. The invention also provides a calibrating method suitable for the above-mentioned auto focusing lens module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Altek Corporation
    Inventor: Hong Bin Koh
  • Patent number: 8416516
    Abstract: An insert (18) for holding an optical system (90, 92), in particular a focusing optics, in a laser machining head (10) for machining a workpiece with a laser beam. The optical system (90, 92) is displaced in the longitudinal direction of the laser beam relative to the insert (18) via adjusting means. The adjusting means includes a linear adjusting device (64, 66, 68) with a synchronous linear motor (68). The laser machining head (10) has a housing (14) in which the insert (18) can be introduced laterally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Precitec KG
    Inventors: Georg Spoerl, Christian Loose
  • Patent number: 8416507
    Abstract: A zoom lens assembly includes a first barrel including a first lens group; a second barrel including a second lens group that is aligned with respect to an optical axis of the first lens group, the second barrel disposed in front of the first lens group so as to be position-adjustable along the optical axis with respect to the first barrel; and a first ray shielding plate disposed in front of the first barrel and between the first barrel and the second barrel, and whose position is varied to be close to a center of the optical axis or to be distant from the center of the optical axis so as to block a portion of incident light that enters into the first barrel according to relative positions of the first barrel and the second barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung-yong Kim, Seon-ho Lee
  • Patent number: 8411381
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes a lens frame which is movable while supporting a lens; and a restriction portion configured to restrict movement of the lens frame by contacting the lens frame. The lens frame and the restriction portion contact each other at a plurality of points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Itaru Doi
  • Patent number: 8400723
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, a lens barrel having an eccentricity adjusting mechanism includes a lens frame, a pressing ring, an engaging part, a tool insertion hole, an engaging face, a non-engaging face. The lens frame holds a lens for an optical system of the lens barrel. The pressing ring is screw-connected to a fixed barrel of the lens barrel. A part of the lens frame is disposed between the pressing ring and the fixed barrel so that the lens frame is supported to be rotatable around the optical axis. The engaging part is formed on an outer circumferential face of the lens frame, protrudes from the outer circumferential face of the lens frame, the engaging part including a plurality of engaging parts formed in the circumferential direction of the outer circumferential face of the lens frame with predetermined intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Satoshi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8395855
    Abstract: A shape memory alloy actuation apparatus comprises a camera lens element supported on the support structure by a plurality of resilient flexures that guide movement of the movable element along the optical axis. A shape memory alloy actuator biassed by the resilient flexures and an additional resilient biassing element is arranged to drive movement of the camera lens element. An end-stop limits movement of the camera lens element at a position where the shape memory alloy actuator has a predetermined length that is above the length corresponding on the local maximum resistance by an amount not greater than 15% of the difference between (i) the length corresponding to the local maximum resistance and (ii) the length corresponding to the local minimum resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Cambridge Mechatronics Limited
    Inventor: Richard Topliss
  • Patent number: 8390930
    Abstract: An optical element and image capture lens structure. The optical element includes a substrate and an optical component with at least one effective area and non-effective area, formed on the substrate, wherein the non-effective area has a rough surface. The image capture lens structure includes a substrate, an optical component formed on the substrate, and a spacer with a micro structure, attached to the substrate by an adhesive, wherein the micro structure is located between the adhesive and the optical component to prevent the overflow of the adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignees: OmniVision Technologies, Inc., VisEra Technologies Company Limited
    Inventors: Min-Chih Liao, Jau-Jan Deng, Wei-Chung Chang
  • Patent number: 8390939
    Abstract: The present invention is related to a lens assembly comprising a flexible lens body (10) inside a cavity bounded by a sidewall (11) and a first transparent cover (13), and a second transparent cover (14), wherein both covers (13,14) are in contact with respective surfaces of the lens body (10). Piezo electric elements (12) shapes the lens body (10) when activated, thereby adjusting the focal length of the lens assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: poLight AS
    Inventors: Lars Henriksen, Morten Eliassen, Vladimir Kartashov, Jon Herman Ulvensoen, Ib-Rune Johansen, Karl Henrik Haugholt, Dag Torstein Wang, Frode Tyholdt, Wilfred Booij
  • Publication number: 20130050568
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes a first zoom/focus lens group and a second zoom/focus lens group configured to respectively vary a focal distance and imaging distance by moving in an optical axis, a first actuator configured to drive the first zoom/focus lens group, and a second actuator configured to drive the second zoom/focus lens group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Inventors: Yusuke Adachi, Norikazu Katsuyama, Fumio Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 8373934
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes a zoom optical system in which a focal distance is changeable; a first group frame moving together with the first lens group; and first and second cam mechanisms transmitting drive force to the first group frame. In a zoom region, each of a first group cam groove and a cam slot includes a first section, a second section which adjoins the first section and has an absolute value of a gradient smaller than that of the first section, and the third section which adjoins the second section and has the absolute value of the gradient larger than that of the second section, and in which a sign of the gradient is the same as that of the first section. A distance from an imaging surface to the first group frame in the optical axis direction has a local minimum in the second section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Fujinaka, Tetsuya Uno
  • Patent number: 8366280
    Abstract: A lens adjusting device including a frame, a lens, a base, at least a positioning structure, and a locking device is provided. The lens is fixed on the frame. The base has a through hole with a predetermined shape formed thereon. The positioning structure is disposed on the base for movably positioning the frame on a plane above the base. The locking device including a screw, a nut, and a fixer is capable of fixing the frame to the base. The screw penetrates the frame and extends to below the base through the through hole of the base. The size of the through hole is greater than the size of a corresponding cross-section of the screw. The nut is disposed below the base and assembled to the screw to position the screw on the base. The fixer is disposed on the frame to constrain the rotation of the nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventor: Yung-Chuan Tseng
  • Patent number: 8369035
    Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting a location of an optical element includes: a first barrel having a hollow cylindrical shape; a second barrel having a hollow cylindrical shape to support the optical element and rotatably coupled to the first barrel; a distance maintaining unit installed between the first barrel and the second barrel in a first region of the first barrel and maintaining a distance between the first barrel and the second barrel in the first region when the second barrel rotates relative to the first barrel; and a guiding unit installed between the first barrel and the second barrel in a second region of the first barrel and guiding a movement of the second barrel to change a relative position of the second barrel with respect to the first barrel in the second region when the second barrel rotates relative to the first barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoon-seok Kang
  • Patent number: 8369037
    Abstract: An actuator assembly including a slider configured to be slidable along a sliding direction; and a driving force applying unit comprising a plurality of contact portions disposed to be spaced apart from each other in a direction crossing the sliding direction of the slider and for applying force to the slider by vibrating the contact portions. An optical system including a lens assembly comprising a lens unit comprising at least one lens and a moveable lens frame supporting the lens unit; and an actuator assembly as disclosed above. A driving force applying unit including a plurality of contact portions configured to contact the base plate and disposed in the slider to be spaced apart from each other in a direction crossing the sliding direction and configured to apply force to the base plate by vibrating the contact portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seung-hwan Lee
  • Patent number: 8363339
    Abstract: An imaging lens (LN) includes at least one lens block (BK), and an aperture stop (ape). The lens block (BK) includes a plane-parallel lens substrate (LS) and a lens (L) formed of different materials. In the imaging lens (LN), a first lens block (BK1) disposed at the most object-side exerts a positive optical power, and said at least one lens block is contiguous only with one of the object-side and image-side substrate surfaces of the lens substrate (LS).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Opto, Inc.
    Inventors: Yusuke Hirao, Keiji Matsusaka
  • Patent number: 8363334
    Abstract: A lens barrel capable of increasing the degree of freedom of installation of a detection unit and capable of making the lens barrel compact in size. The lens barrel includes third and fourth lens groups disposed adjacent to each other and movable in a common optical axis direction. In a first movement section, the third lens group moves in unison with the fourth lens group. In a second movement section adjacent to the first movement section, only the third lens group moves. When a photointerrupter fixed to a cover of the third lens group is light-shielded by a light shield plate formed on a lens holder of the fourth lens group, it is detected that a distance between the third and fourth lens groups becomes a predetermined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Taro Murakami
  • Patent number: 8363324
    Abstract: Systems and methods to position most precisely a lens system of an optical device are disclosed. Embodiments of these electrical sensors comprise capacitive sensors, inductive sensors and resistive sensors to measure the actual position of a lens system with a precision of at least 1 ?m. Read-out circuits using double-correlated sampling structures are providing the position signals from the electrical sensors to a controller. The controller compares the actual position signals with a set-signal representing a target position of the lens signal and issues a signal to a motor to get the lens system moved to the target position. A variety of motors/actuators can be used to move a slider carrying the lens system to the position desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Digital Imaging Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Horst Knoedgen
  • Patent number: 8355071
    Abstract: An optical system of the present invention includes a storage unit which stores an operated position of an operation unit and a position of an optical member. When the power supply to the optical system terminates and then restarts, a control unit compares the stored operated position and the operated position detected by a first sensing unit upon restart. If they are different, the control unit controls a driving unit such that the position of the optical member detected by a second sensing unit can be a target position. If they are the same, the control unit controls the driving unit such that the position of the optical member detected by the second sensing unit can be the stored position of the optical member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomoaki Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 8351141
    Abstract: A drive device includes a setting unit 12 for setting a control value using a control value-displacement characteristic at a predetermined reference temperature showing a relationship between a control value used to position a movable unit 5 and a displacement of the movable unit 5; a drive unit 20 for supplying drive power corresponding to the control value set by the setting unit 12 to a shape-memory alloy 1 and causing the shape-memory alloy 1 to expand or contract, thereby positioning the movable unit 5; and a correction unit 13 for correcting the control value so as to correct a position shift of the movable unit 5 from a target position resulting from a difference between a control value-displacement characteristic at an ambient temperature and a control value-displacement characteristic at the reference temperature based on the ambient temperature detected by a temperature detection unit 11.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Opto, Inc.
    Inventors: Yasutaka Tanimura, Yasuhiro Honda, Natsuko Shiota, Yoshihiro Hara
  • Patent number: 8351775
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes a drive ring having a hollow cylindrical shape and a gear by which the drive ring is configured to rotate around an optical axis, and a lens holder configured to move in an optical axis direction relative to the drive ring and to hold a lens and located inside of the drive ring, the lens holder including an arm extending to outside of the drive ring. The drive ring has a notch that extends in a circumferential direction of the drive ring so that the notch cannot overlap the gear. The arm of the lens holder is configured to enter and retreat from the notch of the drive ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryuichi Nagae
  • Patent number: 8345363
    Abstract: A drive device capable of engaging a drive shaft and a part holding the drive shaft with a suitable force without accompanying increase in the size of the drive device. The drive device includes a couple member with a piezoelectric element and a transmission shaft coupled together, a lens holder that holds a lens and to which the couple member is secured, a biasing member that biases the transmission shaft in a direction intersecting a placement direction of the transmission shaft viewed from the lens holder (excluding a lengthwise direction of the transmission shaft), and a link member (link body) that holds the transmission shaft in a slidable manner together with the biasing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Maxell, Ltd.
    Inventors: Susumu Aoki, Hitoshi Kawamura, Takashi Hasuda, Eiji Takahashi, Ikuo Shinta
  • Patent number: 8319886
    Abstract: A voice coil motor includes a movable receiving cylinder having protrusions formed at an end; a wire coil surrounding the receiving cylinder; a hollow fixing frame receiving the receiving cylinder and the wire coil; magnetic members fixedly received in the fixing frame, top and bottom elastic members. The top elastic member includes a peripheral portion and a resilient central portion, the central portion having a central opening and cutouts. The protrusions of the receiving cylinder are engaged in the cutouts. The peripheral portion is fixed at a lower position than the central portion, thereby forming an elastic force applied to the receiving cylinder when no current is applied to the wire coil. The bottom elastic member is connected to the receiving cylinder and the fixing frame, and is in an undeformed state when no current is applied to the wire coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu-Bin Wang, Chau-Yuan Ke
  • Patent number: 8320055
    Abstract: A lens barrel showing a satisfactory property in assembly and a high dust-proof and drip-proof performance includes: a first member; a lens holding frame configured to hold lens units moving in an optical axis direction to either zoom or focus the lens units; and an elastic member held between respective optical-axis-orthogonal surfaces of the first member and the lens holding frame, wherein the elastic member can be compressed in the optical axis direction during a zooming or focusing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takumi Yamanaka
  • Publication number: 20120293873
    Abstract: The invention discloses a lens structure, which includes a first lens barrel, a second lens barrel and a third lens barrel. The first lens barrel has at least one guide groove. The second lens barrel is disposed within the first lens barrel, and has at least one opening having at least one concave groove. The third lens barrel is disposed within the second lens barrel, and includes at least one guide pin and at least one subsidiary structure. The guide pin moves along the guide groove, and the subsidiary structure moves along the concave groove of the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: ABILITY ENTERPRISE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Cheng-Nan Chiang
  • Patent number: 8314997
    Abstract: A zoom lens barrel includes a fixed barrel, a guide barrel received in the fixed barrel, a cam barrel received in the fixed barrel and housing the guide barrel, a zoom barrel sandwiched between the guide barrel and the cam barrel, and a lens cover covering on the zoom barrel. The cam barrel includes a flange radially formed on an end close to the lens cover. The zoom barrel includes a ring portion protruding out from an end close to the fixed barrel. A step surface is formed between the outer side surface of the zoom barrel and that of the ring portion. When the zoom lens barrel is in an unfolded state, the step surface interferingly resists against a bottom surface of the flange, to limit an axial movement between the cam barrel and the zoom barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Long-Liang Zou, Jian-Jun Zhang, Chih-Jung Wu, Sheng-An Wang
  • Patent number: 8314994
    Abstract: A scope having a zoom mechanism that includes a cam tube holding an optical train of lenses whose relative positions change when said cam tube is rotated, causing an image seen through the scope to expand or contract. A gear is in contact to said cam tube and is positioned so as to rotate said cam tube when said gear is rotated. Finally, an actuator is positioned on a side of said scope and operatively connected to said gear so that said actuator causes said gear to turn when a user moves said actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: YT Products, LLC
    Inventors: Mitchell Thomas, Forrest Babcock, Mark A. Thomas
  • Patent number: 8310773
    Abstract: A toric motor includes a toric stator, a toric rotor configured to rotate along the stator, and a bearing configured to support the rotor so as to be rotatable relative to the stator, the bearing comprising a single-row four-point-contact angular ball bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Pentax Ricoh Imaging Company, Ltd
    Inventors: Yuichi Kurosawa, Hiroaki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8305702
    Abstract: An exemplary voice coil motor includes a fixed body, a movable barrel, a number of upper rollers, and a number of lower rollers. The fixed body includes a first receiving cavity, a number of upper recesses, and a number of lower recesses. The upper recesses and lower recesses are respectively arranged at opposite ends of the fixed body, and communicate with the first receiving cavity. The movable barrel is movably received in the first receiving cavity. The upper rollers are engagingly received in the corresponding upper recesses, and engage with the movable barrel for applying first friction forces to the movable barrel. The lower rollers are engagingly received in the lower recesses, and engage with the movable barrel for applying second friction forces to the movable barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shun-Fan Chiang
  • Patent number: 8305696
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improved inner focusing zoom lens barrel that implements a zoom ratio as high as 15×±? and that ensures a well-balanced cam configuration for the smooth zooming and focusing. The inner focusing zoom lens barrel includes a fixed barrel; a focusing cam barrel, a linear shuttle barrel, and a first cam barrel laid one over another in this order inside the fixed barrel; and a zoom linkage ring, a second cam barrel, and a 1st-lens-group sliding barrel laid one over another in this order outside the fixed barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Tamron Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoshi Todani
  • Patent number: 8300330
    Abstract: Disclosed is a lens driving apparatus. The lens driving apparatus includes a base formed at a center thereof with a first opening; a housing coupled with the base and having a second opening corresponding to the first opening; a yoke installed on the base and including a horizontal plate having a third opening corresponding to the first opening and a vertical plate protruding upward from the horizontal plate; a bobbin movably installed in the yoke and coupled with a lens module; a coil fixedly disposed around the bobbin; a plurality of magnets provided at the vertical plate of the yoke to face the coil; and a spring installed on at least one of upper and lower portions of the yoke to return the bobbin, which has moved up due to interaction between the magnet and the coil, to its initial position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang Ok Park, Sang Jun Min, Sang Hee Lee
  • Patent number: 8300333
    Abstract: A lens barrel and a photographing apparatus including the lens barrel include a clutch assembly disposed on a plane orthogonal to an optical axis between a manual adjustment ring and a distance adjustment ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidemasa Ozawa, Shi-hong Park
  • Patent number: RE44117
    Abstract: A lens driving apparatus 1 of the present invention includes a substantially cylindrical yoke 3; a base 5 to which the yoke 3 is attached; a carrier 7 having a lens; a coil 10; and a magnet 13, wherein the carrier 7 is moved in a direction of an optical axis of a lens by electromagnetic force generated by passing current through the coil 10, the base 5 is substantially square-shaped as viewed from a plane, the yoke 3 is placed at an inner position of the base 5, the yoke 3 has an outer peripheral wall 3a and an annular inner peripheral wall 3b to be spaced to each other, each magnet is placed between the outer peripheral wall and the inner peripheral wall and at a position corresponding to a base corner portion of the base 5, and a space between the outer peripheral wall 3a and the inner peripheral wall 3b positioned at a base side portion 3e is made narrower than a space between the outer peripheral wall 3a and the inner peripheral wall 3b positioned at the base corner portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignees: Shicoh Co., Ltd., Shicoh Motor (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Manabu Shiraki, Naoki Sekiguchi