Electromagnetic Motive Power Patents (Class 359/814)
  • Patent number: 9736592
    Abstract: Embodiments are provided for components configured for audio playback. According to certain aspects, a transducer includes dual voice coils disposed in a magnet section, whereby the magnet section generates an electromagnetic field that causes the dual voice coils to actuate in response to an applied audio signal. The transducer further includes a diaphragm coupled to the dual voice coils that actuates according to the dual voice coils and produces audio output. In some implementations, the transducer may be disposed within a cutout area of an electronic device, whereby the transducer is secured to the electronic device via a roll-surround suspension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventors: Michael J. Daley, Timothy Whitwell
  • Patent number: 9729793
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a camera module including an auto focusing module vertically moving a lens, a handshake compensation module wrapping the auto focusing module, and tilting the auto focusing module to compensate handshake, a circuit board electrically connected to the handshake compensation module, a bottom case supporting the circuit board and coupled to the auto focusing module, a main circuit board fixed to bottom case and electrically connected to an image sensor module and the circuit board, and a spring unit arranged at a periphery of the main circuit board and having a symmetrical opening having thereinside a gap spaced apart at a predetermined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Eun Mi Kim
  • Patent number: 9659700
    Abstract: A device is disclosed, comprising a camera comprising an optical image stabilization module, at least one magnetic component, at least one ferromagnetic component, wherein the at least one ferromagnetic component is disposed at a position so as to develop a magnetic force between the optical image stabilization module of the camera and the ferromagnetic component which acts in a direction opposite to a magnetic force exerted on the optical image stabilization module by the at least one magnetic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Juha Suomela, Mika Viitikko
  • Patent number: 9632280
    Abstract: A lens actuator, according to the present invention, includes: a carrier in which a lens is accommodated, and which has a plurality of first sides; magnets including first magnets respectively arranged on the outer side of the plurality of first sides of the carrier, and second magnets arranged to be spaced from the first magnets; a housing having a plurality of second sides facing the first sides; a plurality of correction coils formed at positions corresponding to the first and second magnets; and a gap-adjusting coil arranged on the lower part of the first magnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: In Jae Yeo
  • Patent number: 9551881
    Abstract: A retention mechanism includes a fixed part including a magnet, and a movable part opposed to the fixed part. A plurality of rolling elements are provided between the fixed part and the movable part, and the movable part is movable in a plane direction. A magnetic material which forms, in combination with the magnet, a magnetic spring is provided on the movable part. The magnetic spring generates a magnetic attraction force which attracts the movable part to the fixed part. The magnetic material is extended along a direction in which magnetic poles of the magnet are arrayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shuichi Yoshida, Naoyuki Shibata, Takashi Okamura
  • Patent number: 9490975
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for information assurance for networked systems. The system and method involve a quantum key distribution (QKD) source, a gimbaling device, a receiver, and a sender. The QKD source is mounted on the gimbaling device, and the QKD source propagates energy into an oversized spot beam. The receiver and the sender are within optical communication of each other. The gimbaling device performs pointing acquisition tracking only as necessary to keep the receiver located within the oversized spot beam. When the receiver is located within the oversized spot beam, the QKD source performs a QKD function. In one or more embodiments, the gimbaling device is mounted on a mobile platform. In some embodiments, the mobile platform is mounted on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). In other embodiments, the mobile platform is mounted on a small ground vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. Hunt, Paul S. Idell
  • Patent number: 9395510
    Abstract: A lens holding device includes a movable part having a coil attached to a lens holder holding a lens and includes a magnet part arranged around an outer peripheral side of the movable part so as to face the coil. The lens holding device includes a support part which supports the movable part so as to move relatively and a spring which connects the movable part and the support part resiliently. The magnet part includes a resin and has an alignment part which positions the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaru Uno, Kazutomo Imi, Noriyuki Kawano, Kazuhiko Inoue, Masashi Gotoh, Osamu Ohhata, Shintarou Koike, Yasuhide Yamashita
  • Patent number: 9304326
    Abstract: A lens actuator is disclosed in the present invention. The lens actuator includes a movable unit including a carrier defining an optical axis, a plurality of focusing coils surrounding the carrier and spaced with each other, each wound around an axis perpendicular to the optical axis, fixed on an outer surface of the carrier, a plurality of magnets each opposite to one of the focusing coils in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction, and a holder fixing the magnets; a plurality of shake correction coils each disposed below one of the magnets and opposite to the magnet in the optical axis direction; a base fixing the shake correction coils; and wires connecting the movable unit to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: AAC Technologies Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Leping Dong
  • Patent number: 9300849
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a camera module, the module including: a PCB; an image sensor mounted on the PCB and formed with an image pickup device; a base mounted on the PCB and including a plated portion formed at a lower center with an opening mounted with an IR filter; a lower spring plate formed with a conductive material; a spacer arranged on an upper surface of the lower spring plate and forming a staircase structure by a rib wrapping a periphery of the lower spring plate to supportively apply a pressure to the lower spring plate; a lens actuator including a bobbin, and a yoke; an upper spring plate coupled to an upper surface of the lens actuator; and a cover attached to an upper surface of the upper spring plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jungsik Lee
  • Patent number: 9256049
    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: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sang Ok Park, Sang Jun Min, Sang Hee Lee
  • Patent number: 9256047
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a lens driving apparatus comprises: a fixed member in which a first long groove is formed; a movable member including a lens and a second long groove; a first ball arranged between the first long groove and the second long groove, and configured to guide the movable member along the groove; a plurality of second balls arranged on a side opposite to a side of the first ball with the lens; a first actuator configured to generate a driving force for moving the movable member along the groove; and a second actuator for pivoting the movable member with respect to the fixed member. A pivoting center around which the movable member is pivoted with respect to the fixed member is a position of the first ball when the movable member is moved along the first long groove and the second long groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hisanori Takano
  • Patent number: 9250415
    Abstract: A VCM (voice coil motor) is disclosed, the VCM including: a rotor including a cylindrical bobbin for accommodating a lens and protruded at a bottom end with a boss, and a coil block arranged at a periphery of the bobbin; a stator including a magnet facing the coil block and a yoke fixing the magnet; and an elastic member including a first elastic member formed with a through hole coupled to the boss of the bobbin and a second elastic member coupled to an upper end facing the bottom end of the bobbin; wherein the boss is formed with a disengagement prevention unit preventing the first elastic member from being disengaged from the boss, and the first elastic member is formed with a coupling unit contacting a joint where the disengagement prevention unit and the coupling unit meet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sangjun Min, Sanghee Lee, Hyuneo Yoo, Seungki Kim, Jinsuk Han
  • Patent number: 9244135
    Abstract: A magnetic sensor device includes a first magnet and a second magnet that are disposed on mutually opposing sides of a conveyance path, and one of poles of the first magnet faces an opposite pole of the second magnet. The first magnet and the second magnet generate a cross magnetic field whose strength in a spacing direction, which is orthogonal to a conveying direction, is within a predetermined range. An AMR element is located in a magnetic field in which the strength of the cross magnetic field in the spacing direction is within a predetermined range, and detects, as change in a resistance value, change in the cross magnetic field caused by an object to be detected. A multilayer board outputs the change in the resistance value detected by the AMR element to a processing circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Tomokazu Ogomi, Hiroyuki Asano, Toshiaki Shoji, Takeshi Musha, Jin Inoue, Masaaki Okada, Miki Kagano, Kazuya Makabe, Kenji Shimohata, Takeshi Kishimoto
  • Patent number: 9058822
    Abstract: Provided is an objective lens driving unit in which a wire holder is coupled to a circuit board. In a conventional objective lens driving unit, a connection between a wire holder and a circuit board may deteriorate over time due to a deterioration of the connection. According to various aspects, a wire holder may be directly coupled to a circuit board by insert molding, thus improving the connection between the wire holder and the circuit board over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Toshiba Samsung Storage Technology Korea Corporation
    Inventors: Young-bin Lee, Soo-hyun Baek
  • Patent number: 8982464
    Abstract: A tilt-type anti-shake compensation structure for auto-focus module includes an auto-focus module having a lens assembly held thereto and driving the latter to move forward and rearward in a light entering path, i.e. in z-axis direction, so as to focus a captured image; an outer frame enclosing the auto-focus module therein, and having an elastic supporting member provided therein to connect to and between upper ends of the outer frame and the auto-focus module; and a compensation driving unit arranged behind the auto-focus module for driving the auto-focus module to tilt leftward and rightward on x-axis, or forward and rearward on y-axis, within the outer frame, so as to compensate any image deviation due to shake caused by hands. The anti-shake structure is simple and can quickly compensate shake caused by hands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: TDK Taiwan Corporation
    Inventors: Yi-Liang Chan, Chao-Chang Hu, Fu-Yuan Wu
  • Patent number: 8929005
    Abstract: A VCM is disclosed, the motor including a stator including a first driving unit, a rotor arranged inside the stator, including a second driving unit responding to the first driving unit and mounted therein with a lens, a base fixing the stator, and an elastic member coupled to the rotor to float the rotor from the base in a case a driving signal for driving the first and second driving units is not applied to the first and second driving units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang Ok Park, Seong Min Lee
  • Patent number: 8896749
    Abstract: A lens holder driving device includes a lens holder in which a lens assembly is mounted, a driving coil fixed to the lens holder at outside circumference thereof, a magnet opposite to the driving coil, a yoke including the magnet, an elastic member supporting the lens holder in a direction of an optical axis shiftably, and a base disposed at a lower side of the lens holder. The elastic member includes a lower elastic member which is disposed at a lower side of the lens holder and which includes first and second leaf spring pieces. The first and the second leaf spring pieces have first and second side portions which are electrically connected to first and second end portions of the driving coil by soldering, respectively. Each of the first and the second side portions has a side edge forming portion having a surface in which edges are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Norikazu Kudo
  • Patent number: 8891026
    Abstract: Provided is a projection video display device with which a sliding load is minimized while maintaining an adjustment precision in a lens shift mechanism. A lens shift mechanism (32) which moves a projection lens in a direction which is orthogonal to the optical axis of projected light has a configuration in which mobile bases (50, 60), which retain the projection lens, slide using a shaft (52), which is attached on a fixed member (4) side, as a guide member. A further aspect of the configuration is that a correction screw is inserted from the rear face side of the fixed member (4) to make contact with the shaft (52), and optical axis tilt and misalignment of the projection lens are corrected by adjusting the degree of insertion of the correction screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Maxell, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chohei Ono, Shinro Inui, Masayuki Fukui, Kazuomi Kaneko, Nobuki Matsui
  • Patent number: 8873173
    Abstract: In the object lens drive unit including a lens holder with an object lens attached to, a plurality of driving coils attached to the lens holder, connection substrates attached to both sides of the lens holder, and a plurality of suspension wires with end parts thereof connected to the connection substrates for operatively supporting the lens holder, a plurality of sets of wire connection electrodes for connecting the suspension wires and coil connection electrodes electrically connected to the wire connection electrodes for connecting terminal wires of the coils are arranged in line in an optic axis direction of the object lens and the wire connection electrodes and the coil connection electrodes are formed in a symmetric shape to a central axis parallel to the optic axis direction on the connection substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Media Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Kazama, Katsuhiko Kimura, Takahiro Yamaguchi, Souichirou Yamada
  • Patent number: 8867151
    Abstract: A voice coil motor for driving a lens group includes a housing, a first cover, a second cover, a movable member, and a plurality of magnets. The housing is a hollow and includes a top plate and four sidewalls protruding from the top plate. The movable member is movably received in a space defined by the housing and the first and second covers, and includes a barrel for receiving and being connected to the lens group, and a coil arranged around the barrel. The magnets are arranged between the housing and the movable member, stayed in contact with the sidewalls, and drive the movable member and the lens group to move in the housing when a current is supplied to the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yu-Bin Wang
  • Patent number: 8842382
    Abstract: Position sensor assemblies having compact structures and capable of precisely sensing a position change, and optical devices including the same are disclosed. A position sensor assembly is provided that includes: a sensing unit that outputs a signal varying as a magnetic force varies; and a magnet spaced apart from the sensing unit and i movably disposed with respect to the sensing unit, and comprising protrusion units of opposite polarities that protrude from each end portion of the magnet in one surface of the magnet toward the sensing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chi-young Park, Kwang-seok Byon, Jung-soo Kim, Jin-young Bang, Young-jae Hwang
  • Patent number: 8817397
    Abstract: In a lens actuator according to an exemplary embodiment, wires that connect a holder and a base of a movable unit have diameters of 30 ?m or more and less than 70 ?m, and the wires have longitudinal elastic moduli of 100 GPa or more and less than 500 GPa. The wire is flexible even if a small amount of currents are passed through a plurality of OIS coils, and the lens actuator suitable to electric power saving can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kimiya Ikushima, Hidekazu Tanaka, Hiroyuki Togawa, Tatsuya Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 8752985
    Abstract: A gobo support assembly, for a stage lighting fixture, has a disk-shaped gobo; a gobo support having a first seat for housing the gobo; and a gobo carrier wheel rotating about an axis and having a second seat for housing the gobo support; the gobo carrier wheel and the gobo support being connectable in sliding manner in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis, and being locked mutually by a reversible click-on locking mechanism to hold the gobo support in a given position inside the second seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Clay Paky S.p.A.
    Inventor: Pasquale Quadri
  • Patent number: 8736976
    Abstract: An oscillation motor is adapted to press an oscillator toward a driven body in a stable state and increasing a drive efficiency. A lens driving mechanism is adapted to move a lens with excellent efficiency by using the oscillation motor. An oscillation motor generates motive power by pressure contact with a driven body to transmit vibration of the oscillator to the driven body. The oscillation motor includes the oscillator having a convex output portion on a side surface at one end side. The output portion of the oscillator is arranged to contact with the driven body. A press mechanism is also provided on a side surface at the other end side of the oscillator. The press mechanism includes a pressure correction device rotatably equipped at a position where the pressure correction device contacts with the oscillator, and the pressure correction device applies a pressure to the oscillator in a predetermined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Tamron Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoto Shiga
  • Patent number: 8730598
    Abstract: The present invention provides a simple and compact lens driving device with a shake suppression function. In a VCM lens driving device 10, the driving coil 15 mounted on the outer circumference of the lens holder 11 includes a first through third coils 15a-15c, and the permanent magnet 16 mounted on the casing 13 and opposite to the driving coil 15 with spacing includes a first through fourth magnets 161-164. The first magnet 161 and the second magnet 162 are facing the first coil 15a at the middle of the lens holder 11; the third magnet 163 is facing the first coil 15a and the second coil 15b at the imaged-object side of the first coil 15a; the fourth magnet 164 is facing the first coil 15a and the third coil 15c at the opposite side to the imaged-object side of the first coil 15a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignees: Micro Win Tech Inc., Largan Precision Co., Ltd., Xinhongzhou Precision Technology Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Kokichi Terajima
  • Patent number: 8711497
    Abstract: A lens driving device includes a base member, a movable member that is disposed at the base member and moves in a plane that is orthogonal to an optical axis, a first driving portion that moves the movable member in a direction that is orthogonal to the optical axis in accordance with image shake, a lens frame that is mounted to the movable member and moves in a direction of the optical axis, a second driving portion that moves the lens frame in the direction of the optical axis and includes a first magnet that is secured to the movable member and a first coil that is secured to the lens frame, and a Hall element that is disposed so as to oppose the first magnet in the direction of the optical axis and detects a change in a magnetic field of the first magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Nidec Copal Corporation
    Inventors: Takuya Machida, Kazuo Shikama, Haruhiko Mandai, Yusuke Ehara, Nobuaki Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20140111877
    Abstract: A lens drive device comprises a base, a lens holder, a piezoelectric actuator having a pair of frictional parts, and a pressing piece. The lens holder has a barrel, a projection projecting from the barrel, a support separated from the barrel, and a joint joining the projection and the support to each other. The pressing piece presses the piezoelectric actuator against the barrel so as to keep such a state that at least one of the pair of frictional parts is in contact with the barrel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaru UNO, Kazutomo IMI
  • Patent number: 8670195
    Abstract: A lens actuator includes a carrier that is configured to retain a lens; a first AF coil that is disposed in the carrier while wound about an axis perpendicular to a lens retaining surface; first to fourth magnets that are disposed opposite the first AF coil in four directions parallel to the lens retaining surface; a first OIS coil that is disposed opposite the first magnet; and a second OIS coil that is disposed opposite the second magnet. A current is passed through the first AF coil to move the carrier in a vertical direction along an axis. The currents are passed through the first and second OIS coils to a movable unit in front-back and left-right directions. Therefore, weight reduction of the movable unit can be achieved to provide a lens actuator, in which electric power saving can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kimiya Ikushima, Hidekazu Tanaka, Hiroyuki Togawa, Norifumi Sata, Takuo Osaki, Takatoshi Ono
  • Publication number: 20140063331
    Abstract: Electromagnetic actuators for digital cameras, in particular miniature cell-phone and tablet cameras, include an electromagnet with a first elongated ferromagnetic member surrounded coaxially in part by a conductive coil along a first longitudinal axis, and a elongated second ferromagnetic member with a second longitudinal axis. The first and second ferromagnetic members have respective first and second operative surfaces and are aligned such that their longitudinal axes are parallel and such that respective operative surfaces overlap each other across a gap. The two members are mechanically coupled to respective frames. A frame hinge connects the frames and enables a relative tilt motion between the ferromagnetic members when current passes through the coil. The tilt motion is convertible into a linear displacement along an optical axis of an optical element coupled to the actuator. Two actuators can be combined into an assembly capable of providing double-axis tilt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Corephotonics Ltd.
    Inventors: Ephraim Goldenberg, Gal Shabtay, Eliezer Mendlovic, Eran Kali
  • Patent number: 8643964
    Abstract: A lens driving device, which movably supports a lens assembly along a direction of an optical axis of a lens, includes an actuator base disposed to a lower side of the direction of the optical axis, a lens holder made of a ferromagnet that is disposed to an upper side of the actuator base and which has a tubular portion for holding the lens assembly, a ring-shaped driving coil fixed to the lens holder so as to be positioned around the tubular portion, a yoke covering the lens holder so as to be apart from the driving coil and to oppose to the lens holder in a state where the driving coil is sandwiched therebetween, and a guide arrangement guiding the lens holder along the direction of the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomohiko Osaka
  • Patent number: 8638510
    Abstract: A VCM (voice coil motor) is disclosed, the VCM including: a rotor including a lens-fixing hollow holed bobbin including a coil discharge unit formed from a peripheral upper end to a peripheral bottom end facing the peripheral upper end, and a coil block arranged at a periphery of the bobbin and including a cylindrically wound coil; a stator including a magnet facing the coil block and a yoke fixing the magnet; a case including a bottom case arrange with the bobbin and an upper case coupled to the bottom case and having an opening at a portion corresponding the bobbin; and an elastic member elastically supporting an upper end of the bobbin and a bottom end facing the upper end of the bobbin, wherein a distal end of the coil arranged at an upper end of the coil block employs the coil discharge unit to be discharged to a bottom end of the bobbin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seongmin Lee, Sangok Park, Sangjun Min, Taejin Jung
  • Patent number: 8625212
    Abstract: A system for guiding optical elements, in particular lenses, along an optical axis of a microscope, in particular a stereomicroscope, or of a macroscope, guide system including at least one guide rod which extends parallel to the optical axis and is at least partially made from a magnetizable material, and further including a carrier for the optical elements, the carrier being displaceable along the at least one guide rod and providing magnetic attraction between itself and at least one guide rod; for providing magnetic attraction, including at least one magnetizable wheel adapted to roll along the at least one guide rod while rotating about an axis as the carrier is displaced; the at least one guide rod (312, 314) being made of magnetizable material and/or the magnetizable wheel being at least in part permanently magnetic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems (Schweiz) AG
    Inventor: Didier Henry
  • Patent number: 8625022
    Abstract: An image blur correction apparatus includes: a fixed member; a first driven unit pivotally supported by the fixed member around a first support shaft extending in a direction parallel to an optical axis direction; a second driven unit holding a lens or an imaging device and pivotally supported by the first driven unit around a second support shaft extending in the direction parallel to the optical axis direction; a first actuator that pivots the first and second driven units around the first support shaft; and a second actuator that pivots the second driven unit around the second support shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsuyuki Nakayama
  • Publication number: 20140002912
    Abstract: The present invention provides a lens drive device including a base, a lens frame holding a lens and provided to be movable with respect to the base in an optical axis direction of the lens, a light bending portion for bending incident light on the lens, a driving unit for moving the lens frame, and a position detection unit for detecting a position of the lens frame. The position detection unit includes a reflection portion provided to one of the base and the lens frame and including a reflection surface inclined with respect to the optical axis of the lens, and a photoreflector provided to the other of the base and the lens frame and including a light projecting portion applying light to the reflection surface and a light receiving portion receiving light reflected on the reflection surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Inventors: Takuma Ishikawa, Hiroki Ito, Yohsuke Ikeda, Takafumi Ishikawa, Hiroyuki Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20130339987
    Abstract: Provided is an objective lens driving unit that prevents an electrical short circuit between very closely spaced second terminals in the objective lens driving unit. The objective lens driving unit is capable of being used in a slim-type optical disc drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventors: Jae-kuon Yun, Chan-ik LEE, Won-seok CHOI
  • Publication number: 20130336101
    Abstract: Provided are an objective lens driving unit that maintains the electrical connection between suspension wires and winding bosses. The objective lens driving unit includes a plurality of winding bosses disposed at a side of the frame, each having a projection formed at its end and extending in a direction in which a suspension wire extends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventors: Jae-kuon YUN, Chan-ik LEE, Won-seok CHOI
  • Patent number: 8593744
    Abstract: An optical device may include a movable body holding a lens, a fixed body movably holding the movable body, a drive magnet and a drive coil for relatively moving the movable body with respect to the fixed body, and a metal member fixed to the drive magnet. The drive magnet is fixed to one of the movable body and the fixed body and the drive coil is fixed to the other of the movable body and the fixed body. A nickel plating layer containing at least nickel is formed on a surface of the drive magnet and a surface of the metal member, and the drive magnet and the metal member are joined to each other by a joining layer which is made of tin-based metal containing at least tin and is disposed between the drive magnet and the metal member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Nidec Sankyo Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Niwa, Masao Takemura, Hiromitsu Takei, Akira Mori
  • Patent number: 8593743
    Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein relates to electromagnetic force generation for an imaging device having a small form factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kin Ming Fan, Kwok Sing Cheng, Kai Cheong Kwan
  • Patent number: 8587886
    Abstract: Provided are a lens drive device capable of moving with good accuracy a lens in the direction of an optical axis thereof, and a lens module and an image pickup device provided with such a lens drive device. By a pair of polymer actuator elements 441 and 442, a lens holding member 43 is driven via coupling members 451A, 451B, 452A, and 452B. As a result, a lens 48 can be moved with good accuracy in the direction of the optical axis Z1 thereof. In addition, preferably, the coupling members 451A, 451B, 452A, and 452B have the rigidity same as or lower than that of each of the polymer actuator elements 441 and 442.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Nagai, Takehisa Ishida, Yusaku Kato, Yoshiteru Kamatani
  • Publication number: 20130208250
    Abstract: A central position detection section has a detection width in which the central position has a median value along one axial direction. When the direction from a position, which is located at the time at which returning is started toward the central position is defined as a go direction, the control section commands that a drive mechanism should sequentially perform following operations: a first operation of driving a the projection lens assembly in the go direction; a second operation of allowing the projection lens assembly to travel in a return direction at least by the detection width; and a third operation of allowing the projection lens assembly to travel in the detection width in the go direction by ½ of the detection width traveled in the go direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Fujisaki, Taichi Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 8508871
    Abstract: Provided is a lens barrel comprising a lens holding member that holds a lens; a guide bar that has a magnetic pattern in which a pair of magnetic poles repeat in a longitudinal direction and that has the longitudinal direction thereof oriented in a direction of an optical axis of the lens to guide the lens holding section to move in the direction of the optical axis; a control portion that is disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the lens holding member and that includes a magnetic body generating magnetic force between itself and the magnetic pattern of the guide bar; and a drive coil that is arranged in a manner to not contact the guide bar and that generates magnetic drive force between itself and the guide bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Motofusa Kageyama
  • Publication number: 20130194490
    Abstract: A lens holder driving device includes a lens holder in which a lens assembly is mounted, a driving coil fixed to the lens holder at outside circumference thereof, a magnet opposite to the driving coil, a yoke including the magnet, an elastic member supporting the lens holder in a direction of an optical axis shiftably, and a base disposed at a lower side of the lens holder. The yoke includes an outer yoke including the magnet at an inner wall surface thereof. The elastic member includes an upper elastic member disposed at an upper side of the lens holder. The upper elastic member is mounted to the inner wall of the outer yoke in a state where the upper elastic member is positioned and fitted to a spacer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: Mitsumi Electric Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi OKUYAMA, Noriyuki KOBAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20130194491
    Abstract: A lens holder driving device includes a lens holder in which a lens assembly is mounted, a driving coil fixed to the lens holder at outside circumference thereof, a magnet opposite to the driving coil, a yoke including the magnet, an elastic member supporting the lens holder in a direction of an optical axis shiftably, and a base disposed at a lower side of the lens holder. The elastic member includes a lower elastic member which is disposed at a lower side of the lens holder and which includes first and second leaf spring pieces. The first and the second leaf spring pieces have first and second side portions which are electrically connected to first and second end portions of the driving coil by soldering, respectively. Each of the first and the second side portions has a side edge forming portion having a surface in which edges are formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: Mitsumi Electric Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Norikazu KUDO
  • Publication number: 20130194683
    Abstract: A lens driving device includes a base member, a movable member that is disposed at the base member and moves in a plane that is orthogonal to an optical axis, a first driving portion that moves the movable member in a direction that is orthogonal to the optical axis in accordance with image shake, a lens frame that is mounted to the movable member and moves in a direction of the optical axis, a second driving portion that moves the lens frame in the direction of the optical axis and includes a first magnet that is secured to the movable member and a first coil that is secured to the lens frame, and a Hall element that is disposed so as to oppose the first magnet in the direction of the optical axis and detects a change in a magnetic field of the first magnet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: NIDEC COPAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nidec Copal Corporation
  • Patent number: 8493675
    Abstract: An oscillator holding mechanism capable of generating a stable vibration in an oscillator and an oscillation motor having the oscillator holding mechanism are disclosed. The oscillator holding mechanism present within an oscillation motor includes an oscillator that has a protruding output section on one end that generates a predetermined movement in the output section by vibration, a holding member that holds and accommodates the oscillator, and a buffer member that is made of an elastic material and is provided between the oscillator and the holding member. The buffer member has a first surface in contact with the holding member having a larger area than a second surface in contact with the oscillator and a cross sectional shape including a center axis that connects a center point of the first surface and a center point of the second surface that is axisymmetric with respect to the center axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Tamron Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoto Shiga
  • Patent number: 8488262
    Abstract: In a lens driving device, magnetic attraction plates that are magnetic bodies are disposed on a fixed frame at both ends of a movement region of a movable unit. Therefore, when the movable unit moves in the fixed frame to one side or to the other side in the fixed frame and reaches a position at either end of the fixed frame, magnets on the movable unit are magnetically attracted to the magnetic attraction plates on the fixed frame continuously. As a result, the movable unit can be retained at the position even when the coil becomes de-energized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Nidec Copal Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Watanabe, Hiroki Ito
  • Publication number: 20130176634
    Abstract: An lens holding device is disclosed. The lens holding device includes a lens barrel defining a closed sidewall, an engaging hole surrounded by the closed sidewall for receiving a lens group, and a coil holder extending from one end of the lens holder. The lens holding device is configured to be one-piece. The disclosure further provides a lens driving device having the lens holding device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicants: AMERICAN AUDIO COMPONENTS INC., AAC ACOUSTIC TECHNOLOGIES (SHENZHEN) CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Palle Geltzer Dinesen
  • Patent number: 8462452
    Abstract: An electromagnetic driving device which is defined with an axis and comprises: a casing, a driven unit and an electromagnetic driving module. The casing has an inner compartment. The driven unit is received in the compartment and is guided by a guiding mechanism such that the driven unit is movable alone the axis inside the casing. The electromagnetic driving module comprises: a plurality of permanent magnets inside the casing, at least one magnetic member fixed to an outer surface of the driven unit, and a coil located between the magnetic member and permanent magnets. When no electric power is provided to the coil, the magnetic forcing between the permanent magnets and magnetic member will result in a friction force to the guiding mechanism, so as to keep the driven unit at its current position inside the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: TDK Taiwan Corp.
    Inventors: Chao Chang Hu, Chih Jumg Hung
  • Patent number: 8456616
    Abstract: An optical system, in particular a projection objective, for microlithography, has an optical axis and at least one optical correction arrangement, which has a first optical correction element and at least one second optical correction element, wherein the first correction element is provided with a first aspherical surface contour, and wherein the second correction element is provided with a second aspherical surface contour, wherein the first surface contour and the second surface contour add up at least approximately to zero, wherein the correction arrangement has at least one drive for movement of at least one of the two correction elements. In this case, at least one of the two correction elements can rotate about a rotation axis which is at least approximately parallel to the optical axis, and the at least one drive is a rotary drive for rotation of one or both of the correction elements about the rotation axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Kraehmer, Wilhelm Ulrich, Matthias Manger, Bernhard Gellrich
  • Patent number: RE44371
    Abstract: A camera module for small-sized electronic apparatuses such as digital cameras and cellular phones includes a lens unit; and a holder which houses the lens unit and is displaceable along an optical axis direction of the lens unit. A coil is provided on the holder of octagon shape in cross section having eight outside surface portions with a yoke having an outer cylindrical wall portion formed to have an octagon shape similar to the octagon shape of the coil and having eight magnet mounting inner surfaces. Eight flat plate-shaped magnets on the mounting surfaces for providing a magnetic field are arranged to face the outside surface portions of the coil through a predetermined constant spacing. Upper and lower leaf springs respectively support the holder so as to be displaceable along the optical axis direction of the lens unit; a base for supporting the yoke and the lower spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshihiko Honma