Lens Movable In Its Plane Patents (Class 359/813)
  • Patent number: 8169722
    Abstract: A flexible printed circuit according to the present invention is anchored to a holding member disposed within electronic equipment, and comprises: a main body portion 70 that includes electrical lines; a first connection portion 71 disposed in the main body portion 70 and to which an electric component or another flexible printed circuit is connected; and a first cover portion 72 formed as part of the main body portion 70 and disposed so as to cover the first connection portion. Part of the first cover portion is held by a lens holder 6. According to this configuration, an insulated state can be reliably maintained by using a configuration in which soldered connection portions are covered by part of the FPC and the covering portion is held by the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Hasegawa, Takumi Kuwahara, Manabu Kobayashi, Fumio Shinano
  • Publication number: 20120087006
    Abstract: An objective lens assembly 316 to be attached to a surgical microscope includes an objective lens 328, a roll section 318, a pitch section 320, and an attachment mechanism 330. The roll section 318 allows the objective lens 328 to be rotated sideways without causing a pair of eyepieces 324 to move. The pitch section 320 allows the objective lens 328 to be rotated towards and away from the pair of eyepieces 324 without causing the pair of eyepieces to move. A surgical microscope 300 including the objective lens assembly 316 also includes a microscope body 308 and support structure 302, 304, 306, and 310.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2010
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Inventor: Bryan T. Signaigo
  • Patent number: 8152327
    Abstract: A lens for a flashlight or other lighting unit provides for focusing light from a source, such as an LED, to provide a light beam adjustable between a spot beam and a wide beam. The lens includes a lens body with a front face, a rear LED-receiving well, and a side surface extending between the front face and the rear well. The front face includes a central surface surrounded by an annular concave surface. The rear well includes a space for the LED to be adjusted in position. The rear well space is defined by a concavely-curved sidewall and a concavely-curved base. The concave curvature of the sidewall and base may be Bezier curves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Coast Cutlery Company
    Inventors: David C. Brands, R. Stephen Mulder, David Lewin
  • Patent number: 8149521
    Abstract: A lens apparatus includes a first lens unit and a second lens unit that can respectively move in an optical axis direction, a first cam tube, a linearly moving guide tube that is arranged on an inner circumferential side of the first cam tube and configured to guide the second lens unit in the optical axis direction, a guide member that is configured to guide the linearly moving guide tube in the optical axis direction, a cylindrical member that is provided on an outer circumferential side of the first lens unit, and a second cam tube. The first lens unit includes a guide part configured to guide the cylindrical member in the optical axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Kudoh
  • Patent number: 8144408
    Abstract: An exemplary lens module includes a holder, a lens barrel, a cover having a through hole, a restricting member having a slit, a handle extending from the lens barrel and a resilient. The lens barrel is accommodated in the holder capable of moving along a central axis of the holder. The cover covers the lens barrel and is detachably fixed on the holder. The restricting member is over the cover. The handle penetrates the through hole and the slit. The resilient member is sandwiched between the cover and the lens barrel, capable of changing the length thereof under an external force and recovering the original length with the external force withdrawn, such that a focal length of the lens module is adjustable by moving the handle in and along the slit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hou-Yao Lin, Sheng-Jung Yu
  • Publication number: 20120063014
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes a lens group including a fixed lens including one or more lenses and an adjustment lens including one or more lenses, and a lens frame to hold the lens group, including an adjustment lens frame to hold the adjustment lens and an aligning mechanism to hold the adjustment lens frame movably in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis of the lens group relative to the lens frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventors: Daisuke TERAHARA, Takehide Ohno
  • Patent number: 8120694
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes: a plurality of lenses disposed in an outer enclosure; and an imaging device that converts image light introduced as an image capturing signal through the plurality of lenses into an image signal. The outer enclosure has a unit assembling portion in which an imaging unit is disposed. The imaging unit includes a centering lens disposed in the bottom portion of the unit assembling portion, a pressing plate that presses the centering lens from the side opposite the bottom portion, a packing disposed on the opposite side of the pressing plate, and an imaging module having the imaging device and disposed on the opposite side of the packing to the pressing plate and pressing the packing against the pressing plate. A working hole through which an adjustment jig is inserted is formed in the peripheral side portion of the unit assembling portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Takatsuka, Naoyuki Ohno, Hironori Shimizu, Hiroshi Mashima
  • 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: 8107176
    Abstract: A lens drive device may include a support body, a movable body having a lens, a magnetic drive mechanism having a coil mounted on the movable body and a magnet mounted on the support body for magnetically driving the movable body in a lens optical axis direction, two spring pieces which are connected between the movable body and the support body for supporting the movable body and which is used as a power supply member to the coil, and two binding pins which are provided in the movable body and around which coil ends of winding start and winding end of the coil are wound. Portions of the coil ends which are wound around the binding pins are electrically connected with the spring pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Nidec Sankyo Corporation
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Takei, Tatsuya Nagayoshi
  • Patent number: 8102609
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a lens barrel including: a plurality of lenses arranged in a state of being separated from each other in a direction of an optical axis; and a lens retaining body for retaining the lenses; wherein a print pattern that has a light shielding function and is partly in contact with the lens retaining body to adjust an interval between the lenses in the direction of the optical axis is formed on at least one of the plurality of lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Tsuchiya, So Miyasaka
  • Publication number: 20120002306
    Abstract: A screw-mount lens barrel includes a screw mount cylinder which is screw-engaged with a screw mount of a camera body, a shift ring which is rotatably supported by the screw mount cylinder to be coaxial therewith, a lens barrel body which supports an optical system and is adjustable relative to the shift ring in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis, and a shift adjustment mechanism for adjusting a position of the lens barrel body relative to the shift ring in directions orthogonal to the optical axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: HOYA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazunori TAKAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20120002275
    Abstract: An optical element switching apparatus is provided that includes: a connecting portion connecting a transmitting portion with a traveling body portion via a predetermined elastic body and displacing the traveling body portion in each of first and second directions in a range of an elastic displacement width greater than a unit travel distance; a holding portion applying a force greater than an elastic force occurring in the connecting portion to the traveling body portion shifted to the travel limit position, in a direction opposite to the direction where the elastic force acts, so as to hold the traveling body portion at a travel limit position; and a control portion adapted to control a drive force generating portion to supply a drive force capable of shifting the traveling body portion farther than the travel limit position when the traveling body portion is to be shifted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kunihiko Hayashi, Yu Hirono
  • Publication number: 20110317288
    Abstract: The invention relates to a monolithic optical mount, which is divided by a plurality of cutouts into a stationary outer mount ring, a laterally adjustable inner mount ring, and manipulator units that are arranged with uniform offset from each other and formed by the remaining material connections. The cutouts have a uniform constant width and can therefore advantageously be produced by milling. The manipulator units have a simple geometrical design in the form of T- or L-shaped webs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Inventor: Marco Bornschein
  • Publication number: 20110317287
    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: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: HITACHI MAXELL, LTD.
    Inventors: Susumu Aoki, Hitoshi Kawamura, Takashi Hasuda, Eiji Takahashi, Ikuo Shinta
  • Patent number: 8077408
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes a plurality of lens groups each having at least one lens; a plurality of lens retaining frames which retain a corresponding one of the plurality of lens groups; a telescopic cylinder containing therein the plurality of lens groups and the plurality of lens retaining frames; a lens retaining frame driving device configured to drive at least one of the lens retaining frames; a moving member which moves in a direction along the photographing optical axis; and a position detector configured to detect a change in a position of the moving member, wherein the plurality of lens retaining frames including a retractable lens retaining frame configured to retract the at least another one of the plurality of lens groups from the photographing optical axis to a retracted position out of the telescopic cylinder in the collapsed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsuhiko Nuno
  • Patent number: 8053714
    Abstract: An image sensor module may include an image sensor, a variable thickness member and a lens member. The image sensor may include a light receiver configured to receive a light. Further, a driving voltage may be applied to the image sensor. The variable thickness member may be arranged on the image sensor adjacent to the light receiver. Further, the variable thickness member may have a variable thickness along an optical axis of the light in accordance with the driving voltage through the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yung-Cheol Kong
  • Publication number: 20110255181
    Abstract: A replacement apparatus for an optical element mounted between two adjacent optical elements in a lithography objective has a holder for the optical element to be replaced, which holder can be moved into the lithography objective through a lateral opening in a housing of the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: CARL ZEISS SMT GMBH
    Inventors: Jens Kugler, Franz Sorg, Andreas Wurmbrand, Thomas Schletterer, Thomas Ittner
  • Publication number: 20110255182
    Abstract: A flexure system for miniature camera and the like is disclosed. The flexure system can include a frame and a stage that is configured to move with respect to the frame. One or more flexures can interconnect the frame and the stage. Each flexure can have one or more film hinges formed thereon. The film hinges can be widely spaced and/or extended in length so as to substantially mitigate undesirable pitching of the stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: Tessera MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Calvet, Xiaolei Liu, Ankur Jain
  • Patent number: 8041204
    Abstract: An optical element position control mechanism includes an optical element holding member which holds an optical element of a photographing system; an advancing/retracting movement guide member which guides the optical element holding member in an optical axis direction of the photographing system to be movable in the optical axis direction; and a biasing device including an arm, the arm being swingable about a swing axis which is substantially orthogonal to the optical axis and being engaged with the optical element holding member. The biasing device simultaneously exerts via the arm both a biasing force in a direction of movement of the optical element holding member that is guided by the advancing/retracting movement guide member and a biasing force in a direction orthogonal to the direction of movement of the optical element holding member on the optical element holding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Nomura
  • Patent number: 8035905
    Abstract: An optical element positioning apparatus capable of moving an optical element from a storage state to a use state and improving the accuracy of positioning the optical element to a use position on an optical path. A holding member that holds the optical element is guided by guide shafts to be movable between the storage state and the use state. The holding member is provided with guide-supporting and receiving portions through which the guide shafts are slidably inserted. The guide shafts are supported by holding portions. A degree of freedom in positioning the holding member at the use position is provided. Holding-member positioning parts of the guide-supporting and receiving portions are pressed by an urging device against ends of the holding portions, whereby the holding member is positioned and held at the use position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Harushige Yamamoto, Takumi Uehara, Kazushige Ichino
  • Patent number: 8031416
    Abstract: An optical axis restriction surface, which restricts movement of a first lens frame in an optical axis direction, and a fixing slit, which is located in rear of the optical axis restriction surface, are formed on an end portion of a second lens frame. Lens frame hold portions, which restrict rotation of the first lens frame about an optical axis and movement of the first lens frame in a right-and-left direction, are formed on both sides of the fixing slit. The lens frame hold portions are provided with assembly reference surfaces which restrict movement of the first lens frame in an up-and-down direction. An engaging portion, which is engaged with the fixing slit, and two projection portions, which come in contact with the assembly reference surfaces, are formed on the first lens frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventor: Koji Yamaya
  • Patent number: 8020999
    Abstract: A projection type image display apparatus includes an image display element, and a projection optical unit, which is configured to project an image displayed on the image display element, enlargedly, upon a screen. The projection optical unit includes a lens group, which is configured to compensate an distortion on an image surface on the screen, a mirror for compensating a trapezoidal distortion on the screen. The mirror reflects lights emitted from the lens group, so as to project upon the screen obliquely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Hirata, Takanori Hisada, Masahiko Yatsu
  • Patent number: 8023201
    Abstract: A retractable lens barrel that improves shock resistance without obstructing miniaturization. In the retractable lens barrel, pins formed in the lens barrel are engaged with grooves formed in a cam ring, and the lens barrel is caused to move in a direction of an optical axis by rotation of the cam ring. The pins include a cam pin for moving the lens barrel, and a slip-off preventive pin for preventing the cam pin from slipping off the groove. The grooves include a cam groove with which the cam pin is engaged, and a slip-off preventive groove with which the slip-off preventive pin is engaged. In an area close to a retracted position of the lens barrel, the cam groove and the slip-off preventive groove overlap to be shared grooves with which the cam pin and the slip-off preventive pin are engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takahiro Oya
  • Patent number: 8018668
    Abstract: An exemplary lens module includes a barrel, a holder, and an elastic member. The barrel includes a first cylindrical part and a first threaded part. The first threaded part includes external threads. The barrel further includes a bottom surface facing the image side. The holder includes a second cylindrical part and a second threaded part. The second threaded part includes internal threads. The second cylindrical part includes a collar protruding from the inner cylindrical surface. The collar includes a top surface facing the object side. The barrel is coupled to the holder via the internal threads and the external threads. A fit between the internal threads and the external threads is a clearance fit. The elastic member is sandwiched between the bottom surface of the barrel and the top surface of the collar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chai-Wei Lee, Hou-Yao Lin, Sheng-Jung Yu
  • Patent number: 8018661
    Abstract: A lens barrel has a first lens group, a second lens group, a third lens group, a first support frame for supporting the first lens group, a second support frame for supporting the second lens group, a third support frame for supporting the third lens group, a first drive unit, and a second drive unit. The first lens group has an overall negative refractive power, and includes a prism. The second support frame is driven along a second optical axis by the first drive unit. The third support frame is driven along the second optical axis by the second drive unit. Part of a first movement region in which the second support frame moves overlaps a second movement region in which the third support frame moves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Daisuke Ito
  • Patent number: 8009373
    Abstract: A lens actuator includes a cylindrical carrier having a hollow for accommodating a lens, the hollow being formed in a first direction; a driving yoke for housing the carrier; a base for holding the yoke thereon; a driving magnet and a driving coil, which are fixed either to the outer periphery of the carrier or the driving yoke; a moving magnet fixed to the driving yoke; and a moving coil fixed to the base. The carrier is movable with respect to the driving yoke in the first direction, and the driving yoke is movable with respect to the base in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The driving magnet and the driving coil face each other in the second direction, and the moving magnet and the moving coil face each other in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Norifumi Sata, Hidekazu Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8009371
    Abstract: A lens driving apparatus is disclosed. The lends driving apparatus may include a movable body holding lenses, a fixed body in which the movable body is mounted and movably along the lens optical axis direction, and a drive mechanism that moves the movable body in the lens optical axis direction. The drive mechanism may be equipped with a coil that is held by the movable body or the fixed body, a magnet that is held by the other body of the movable body and the fixed boy, and a regulatory means that regulates the movement of the movable body which is induced by an electromagnetic force generated when current is passed through the coil. The coil may be opposed to the magnet in the lens optical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Nidec Sankyo Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Sue, Noboru Otsuki, Daisuke Higuchi, Makoto Akabane
  • Patent number: 8002417
    Abstract: A projection-type image display apparatus for projecting an image, enlargedly, onto a projection surface, comprises: an image display element; a lens group, being disposed behind the image display element, comprising therein, a front lens group made up with a plural number of lenses, including, at least, a refractive lens, and a rear lens group made up with a plural number of lenses, including, at least, a lens having a free curved surface configuration and being rotationally asymmetric, thereby emitting an image displayed on the image display element; a reflection mirror for reflecting the light from the lens group, thereby projection onto the projection surface, obliquely; and a movement member for moving the plural number of lenses of the rear lens group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takanori Hisada, Koji Hirata, Masahiko Yatsu
  • Patent number: 8002418
    Abstract: A projection type image display apparatus includes an image display element, a lens group disposed in a direction of propagation of light with respect to the image display element and being formed with a plural number of lenses, a s reflection mirror configured to reflect light emitted from the lens group thereon so as to project the light on a screen, obliquely, and a housing configured to receive the reflection mirror and the lens group therein. The lens group is fixed on a bottom portion of the housing, and a part of the lens group is configured to enable movement of lenses of the lens group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Hirata, Takanori Hisada, Masahiko Yatsu
  • Patent number: 7995296
    Abstract: A replacement apparatus for an optical element mounted between two adjacent optical elements in a lithography objective has a holder for the optical element to be replaced, which holder can be moved into the lithography objective through a lateral opening in a housing of the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Kugler, Franz Sorg, Andreas Wurmbrand, Thomas Schletterer, Thomas Ittner
  • Patent number: 7990631
    Abstract: A lens drive device may include a movable body movable in an optical axis direction, a support body supporting the movable body through a spring member which may include spring pieces electrically separated from each other, formed with a coil connecting part to which one of a winding start part and a winding end part of the coil is electrically connected. The movable body is provided with an accommodating part for accommodating the coil connecting part. The spring member may include a plate spring-shaped arm part connecting a support body side fixing part with a movable body side fixing part and the arm part is provided with a laser cut portion formed by a laser in a part of an edge part of the arm part. An edge part of the arm part except the laser cut portion may be a cut portion formed by press working or etching processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Nidec Sankyo Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Sue, Daisuke Higuchi, Yuichi Takei, Yukio Furuya, Shinji Minamisawa
  • Patent number: 7990635
    Abstract: A lens holding member (30) is molded by filling a molten synthetic resin from a gate of a mold into a product cavity, and a portion corresponding to the gate of the mold for molding remains thereon as a gate portion (72). By mounting a coil (52) on a rear cylindrical face (60), an adhesive filling recess (70) that opens in a direction parallel to an optical axis of an image pickup optical system (28) is defined by a center face (66), side faces (68) standing from both sides of the center face (66), an outer face (58), and an inner peripheral surface of the coil (52). The gate portion (72) is provided on the center face (66) of the adhesive filling recess (70). By filling the adhesive filling recess (74) with adhesive B, an outer peripheral portion of the lens holding member (30) and an inner peripheral portion of the coil (52) are bonded together, and the gate portion (72) is buried in the adhesive B.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Okabe, Yasutaka Takahashi, Noritoshi Eguchi, Mitsuru Ichikawa, Satoshi Imai
  • Publication number: 20110176051
    Abstract: In an apparatus and system for focusing optics an objective lens is configured to collect light from a region of an object to be imaged, said region having a feature with a known geometric characteristic, wherein the geometric characteristic is known before the feature is imaged by the optical device. A focusing sensor is configured to observe a shape of the feature and a splitter is configured to split the collected light into a first portion and a second portion, and directing said first portion through a weak cylindrical lens to the focusing sensor. A processor is configured to analyze the observed shape and determine whether the observed shape of the feature has a predetermined relationship to the known geometric characteristic and a mechanism is configured to autofocus the optical device by moving at least one of the objective lens and the object to be imaged in response to the analysis and determination of the processor. In some embodiments, the feature can be a fluorescent bead.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
    Inventors: Gerhard Randers-Pehrson, Guy Garty, David J. Brenner
  • Patent number: 7978264
    Abstract: A digital camera of the present invention has: a lens group reflecting photographic object light entering along a first optical axis to a second optical axis direction perpendicular to the first optical axis and forming an image of light flux thereof on an image pickup device located on the second optical axis; and a driving force generating member blocking or allowing entering light flux along the first optical axis by driving a barrier member, and has a camera body having an optical housing, a containing portion containing the optical housing and the barrier member, and having a transmitting member transmitting driving force of the driving force generating member to the barrier member, wherein the coupling relation between the driving force generating member and the driving force transmitting member is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Olympus Imaging Corp.
    Inventor: Keita Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7969666
    Abstract: A lens module includes a barrel and at least one lens. The barrel includes a cover with a hole defined therein and a hollow cylinder extending from the cover. The barrel comprises a cover with a hole defined therein and a hollow cylinder extending from the cover, and the cover comprises a roughened inside surface facing towards the hollow cylinder. The at least one optical lens is received in the barrel and comprises an optically active part and a peripheral optically non-active part around the optically active part, the optically non-active part comprises two opposite roughened surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ga-Lane Chen
  • Patent number: 7969662
    Abstract: A lens barrel unit including a lens barrel which has a plurality of lens groups and is set to a photographing state by moving at least a part of the lens groups to an object side and to a collapsed state by moving the at least the part of the lens groups to an image plane side and storing the lens groups, the lens barrel unit includes: a first supporting frame which retains at least one lens group of the lens groups; a second supporting frame which retains the first supporting frame movably in an optical axis direction of the lens barrel; a first supporting frame moving section which moves the first supporting frame in the optical axis direction of the lens barrel; and a fixed cylinder in which a main shaft which is capable of moving the second supporting frame in the optical axis direction of the lens barrel is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuya Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 7969665
    Abstract: A lens adjusting device of a projector is provided. The lens adjusting device has a base, a frame, and at least one positioning structure. A lens is fixed on the frame. The positioning structure is utilized for movably setting the frame on the base. The positioning structure has a groove, a slider, and a positioning unit. The groove is disposed on the frame. The slider is disposed in the groove and has a guiding hole defined therein. The extending direction of the guiding hole is substantially perpendicular to the extending direction of the groove. The positioning unit is slidably disposed in the guiding hole and penetrates the guiding hole to set the frame and the slider on the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventor: Yung-Chuan Tseng
  • Patent number: 7965933
    Abstract: An optical element position control mechanism includes an optical element holding member which holds an optical element of a photographing system and is guided in an optical axis direction; a drive mechanism for moving the optical element holding member in the optical axis direction; and a biasing device including an arm which is swingable about a swing axis, the swing axis being substantially orthogonal to the optical axis, and the arm extending substantially orthogonal to the swing axis and having a free end portion which engages with the optical element holding member to bias the optical element holding member in the optical axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Nomura
  • Publication number: 20110141586
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes a plurality of lens groups each having at least one lens; a plurality of lens retaining frames which retain a corresponding one of the plurality of lens groups; a telescopic cylinder containing therein the plurality of lens groups and the plurality of lens retaining frames; a lens retaining frame driving device configured to drive at least one of the lens retaining frames; a moving member which moves in a direction along the photographing optical axis; and a position detector configured to detect a change in a position of the moving member, wherein the plurality of lens retaining frames including a retractable lens retaining frame configured to retract the at least another one of the plurality of lens groups from the photographing optical axis to a retracted position out of the telescopic cylinder in the collapsed state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventor: Katsuhiko NUNO
  • Patent number: 7961410
    Abstract: A collapsible lens barrel having a low-profile size and a camera applied with the collapsible lens barrel. The lens barrel includes a first retractable lens-retaining frame and a second retractable lens-retaining frame for retaining at least one of a plurality of lens groups and being retracted to a position outer than an inner radius of a movable lens cone in the collapsed state, respectively; and a first retractable lens-moving member and a second retractable lens-moving member. At least one of the first and second retractable lens-retaining frames is retained movable relative to the respective retractable lens-moving member along an optical axis direction in the collapsed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tohru Yamano
  • Patent number: 7957073
    Abstract: A lens apparatus includes a first lens unit and a second lens unit each of which is configured to move in an optical axis direction, a first cam tube that includes a first cam part and a second cam part respectively on an outer circumferential surface and an inner circumferential surface and moves the first and second lens units respectively in the optical axis direction using the first and second cam parts as the first cam tube rotates around an optical axis, and a linearly moving guide tube that is arranged on an inner circumferential side of the first cam tube and configured to guide the first and second lens units in the optical axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Kudoh
  • Patent number: 7954964
    Abstract: A projector includes: a projection position adjusting device that adjusts a projection position of a projection optical device. The projection position adjusting device includes: adjusting and driving units that move a first moving plate and a second moving plate. The adjusting and driving unit include: a pair of worms that have a columnar shape and have threads on outer circumferences thereof; and a pair of sliders that are screwed in the pair of worms, respectively. The pair of worms are disposed to extend along the first direction or the second direction. One of the sliders engages with one of moving plates. Engaging structures including inclining engaging holes that extend in a direction crossing the direction in the plane orthogonal to the projecting direction and engaging projections inserted through the inclining engaging holes are provided in the other slider and the other moving plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Wataru Kitahara, Kunihisa Nakamura, Toru Kurihara
  • Patent number: 7948695
    Abstract: An optical element is moved in six-degrees-of-freedom. Three first displacement sensors are disposed on a base plate and measure respective displacement amounts of three mutually different points on the optical element in a first direction. A second displacement sensor measures a displacement amount of one point on the optical element in a second direction. Two third displacement sensors measure respective displacement amounts of two mutually different points on the optical element in a third direction. A transformation processor transforms the six measured displacement amounts. A calibration processor calibrates the transformed displacement amounts with a calibration matrix of which coefficients are previously obtained to calibrate the displacement amounts in the six-degrees-of-freedom, which have errors due to measurement errors of the displacement sensors. A controller outputs command values based on differences between the calibrated displacement amounts and target displacement amounts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryo Nawata, Makoto Mizuno, Shigeyuki Uzawa
  • Publication number: 20110109885
    Abstract: A projector includes a casing, a light source disposed in the casing and capable of providing an illumination beam, a light valve disposed in the casing and capable of converting the illumination beam into an image beam, a lens disposed in the casing and adapted to project the image beam, and the lens collar module. The lens collar module includes a fitting part and a lens collar. The fitting part is formed on the casing, and has a fitting opening and a first bump. The lens collar has a fitting periphery and a second bump. The fitting periphery is fitted to the fitting opening, the lens collar is adapted to be rotated and translated relative to the casing along an axial direction. Engagement of the first bump and the second bump limits rotation and translation of the lens collar relative to the casing along the axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: CORETRONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chia-Tien Chen, Li-Pin Hsu
  • Patent number: 7933081
    Abstract: A focusing device of simple construction that is miniaturizable, and an imaging device utilizing the same, are provided. A focusing device (10) comprises an actuator (11), a lens holder (12) that holds lenses (13a) and (13b), and a holder support base (14) upon which the lens holder (12) is installed. The actuator (11) comprises a polymer layer (51), a positive electrode (52) that is formed upon the holder support base (14), and a negative electrode (53) that is formed upon the lens holder (12). When the applied voltage between the positive electrode (52) and the negative electrode (53) rises, the polymer layer (51) deforms radially outward along the positive electrode (52). Along with this deformation of the polymer layer (51), the actuator (11) moves the lens holder (12) along the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Precision Inc.
    Inventors: Akira Yasuda, Takeshi Kinoshita, Toshihiro Hirai
  • Publication number: 20110090471
    Abstract: A lens shift mechanism includes a projection lens drive unit, a vertical-horizontal limit sensor which detects that a projection lens apparatus reaches a limit in a shift range in vertical and horizontal directions, and a vertically-horizontally central sensor which detects that the projection lens apparatus reaches a central position in the shift range. The vertically-horizontally central sensor has a detection width having a central value at the central position. When a microcomputer automatically returns the projection lens apparatus to the central position within the shift range after a shift operation, the microcomputer shifts the projection lens apparatus in a forward direction directed from a position at a time point when automatic return is started toward the central position, and thereafter shifts the projection lens apparatus again in a backward direction by substantially half the detection width of the vertically-horizontally central sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi FUJISAKI, Taichi YOSHIMURA
  • Publication number: 20110085223
    Abstract: A light adjusting apparatus includes a substrate (10, 40) having an aperture, a plurality of incident light adjusting units (20a, 20b, 20c) each moving in a same plane, and a plurality of driving units (50a, 50b, 50c) respectively driving the incident light adjusting units (20a, 20b, 20c), and adjusts an incident light passing through the aperture by mutually moving the incident light adjusting units (20a, 20b, 20c) with the driving units to an aperture position that is center-aligned with the aperture and a retracted position that is retracted from the aperture. An incident light adjusting unit that is moved to the aperture position is positioned by contacting with at least one of other incident light adjusting units that are retracted from the aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayuki IDE, Tomoya UEDA, Shunichi SHINOHARA, Eiji MOCHIZUKI
  • Patent number: 7922343
    Abstract: A lens-shifting device including a base, two fixing rods, a sliding plate, a first and a second gear set is provided. The sliding plate is slidably mounted on the fixing rods via the fixing rods. A lens is fixed on the sliding plate and the sliding plate has a rack disposed on one side thereof. The first gear set has a first gear and a worm gear co-axial therewith. One of the fixing rods passes through the first gear such that the first gear and the worm gear may rotate relative to the fixing rod. The second gear set having a worm wheel and a second gear co-axial therewith is disposed between the fixing rod and the rack. The worm gear is for driving the worm wheel and the second gear is used for driving the rack such that the sliding plate moves relative to the fixing rods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventors: Sea-Huang Lee, Wen-Ching Ho, Fu-Shun Kao
  • Patent number: 7924513
    Abstract: There is provided a lens barrel including: a rear barrel to which an imaging device is attachable, an imaging optical system leading a subject image to the imaging device, and an image blur correcting unit moving a shift lens forming the imaging optical system in a plane perpendicular to an optical axis of the imaging optical system. The image blur correcting unit includes a base supporting the shift lens in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the imaging optical system. The lens barrel includes a support mechanism supporting the base to be movable relative to the rear barrel along a plane perpendicular to the optical axis; and a fixing device fixing the base to the rear barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Tamron Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshimitsu Iwai, Konoha Takeuchi, Akira Kagaya, Takatoshi Ohzeki, Ken Tanaka, Norihisa Kawamura
  • Patent number: 7924512
    Abstract: A lens module includes a lens barrel, a lens holder, and an extension member. The lens barrel is received in the lens holder. The lens holder includes at least one first guiding portion. The extension member defines a receiving through hole and includes at least one second guiding portion corresponding to the at least one first guiding portion. The lens holder is fixedly received in the receiving through hole by engagement between the at least one first guiding portion and the at least one second guiding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jen-Tsorng Chang