Adjustable Patents (Class 359/822)
  • Patent number: 7414801
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes a fixed barrel having an approximately cylindrical shape; a lens frame 132 disposed inside of the fixed barrel for holding the lens group; at least one shaft 135A engaging in the lens frame 132 for guiding the lens frame 132 in a direction parallel to the optical axis of the lens group; and a guide shaft 135B provided to a perimeter of the lens frame for regulating a rotation of the lens frame about the shaft. The lens frame 132 is disposed in the fixed barrel so that a center axis 102 of the fixed barrel and an optical axis 101 of the lens group do not coincide with each other, but are deflected in parallel, The shaft 135A and the guide shaft 135B are disposed so that a central angle ?1 formed with respect to the center axis 102 of the fixed barrel is less than 180 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hironori Honsho
  • Patent number: 7414802
    Abstract: A lens apparatus capable of realizing better optical performance by suppressing an inclination of each lens unit more reliably while shortening the overall length in a collapsed position to the smallest possible level is disclosed. The lens apparatus comprises a fixed member which makes up the body of the apparatus, first and second lens holding members which hold their respective lens units and are movable in the direction of the optical axis with respect to the fixed member and a driving member which engages the first and second lens holding members and drives these first and second lens holding members in the direction of the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Noguchi
  • Patent number: 7411750
    Abstract: An optical sight includes: an outer barrel having opposite ends; ocular and objective lens units mounted respectively to the ends of the outer barrel; a magnification unit disposed tiltably in the outer barrel, and extending between the ocular and objective lens units; an adjustment units mounted on the outer barrel, and operable independently and respectively to adjust position of the magnification unit inside the outer barrel in first and second directions that are perpendicular to each other; a biasing member interposed between the magnification unit and the outer barrel to provide an urging force on the magnification unit to abut against the adjustment units; and a force-adjusting unit disposed to connect the biasing member to the outer barrel, and operable to adjust the urging force exerted by the biasing member on the magnification unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Asia Optical Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Shih-Yu Pai
  • Patent number: 7411749
    Abstract: A dustproof lens assembly includes a holder and a barrel. The holder has an inner space, in which an image sensor is received. The holder and the barrel have connecting portions for engagement and a block portion is provided between the inner space and the connecting portions to block dust between the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion out of the inner space of the holder and give the image sensor a clean environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Ether Precision, Inc.
    Inventor: ChunXi Liu
  • Publication number: 20080180812
    Abstract: Lens barrel 3 includes a stationary frame 20, a drive frame 30, a rotation cam frame 70, and a first lens frame 60. The drive frame 30 is supported by the stationary frame 20 to be movable in a Y axis direction along an optical axis of an imaging optical system O and rotatable around the optical axis in response to a drive force. The rotation cam frame 70 is supported by the drive frame 30 to be movable in the Y axis direction relative to the drive frame 30 in response to the drive force. The first lens frame 60 supports a first lens group G1 included in the imaging optical system O, and is supported by the rotation cam frame 70 to be movable in the Y axis direction relative to the rotation cam frame 70 in response to the drive force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Inventors: Hironori HONSHO, Tetsuya UNO, Keishi IWASAKI, Keiji SAKAMOTO, Hideyuki HASHI, Shinichi IWASAKI
  • Publication number: 20080180819
    Abstract: A highly precision, super stable, structure compact and fully lockable ball joint mechanism optical mounts are presented. Both stationary plate and movable plate have a partial-spherical hole or conical hole. Facing spacing aligns the bases of the partial-spherical holes or conical holes; a space adjustable cavity is formed. An external-spherical circumference shape optical element carrier plate fits and mates in the space adjustable combined cavity forms a ball joint mechanism, or an external-column circumference and edges chamfered optical element carrier plate fits and mates in the space adjustable combined internal-spherical shaped cavity forms an angle tilt-able and around axis swivel-able joint pair mechanism. A removable tooling for exporting a tilting and rotating movement to the optical element carrier plate are presented. Locking ring pushes the movable plate to adjust the combined cavity and locking the optical element carrier plate and to lock optical element that is carried thereby.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Inventor: Xiwen Wang
  • Patent number: 7401987
    Abstract: A photographing lens includes an eccentricity adjusting frame which holds an eccentricity adjusting lens group serving as a part of a photographing optical system of the photographing lens; a lens support frame, an axis of which is coincident with a predetermined optical axis of the photographing optical system, supporting the eccentricity adjusting frame in a manner to allow the eccentricity adjusting frame to move in a plane orthogonal to the predetermined optical axis during an assembly-stage of the photographing lens; and a fixed aperture member having a circular aperture, the fixed aperture member being integrally formed with the lens support frame so that a center of the circular aperture coincides with the axis of the lens support frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventor: Norio Sato
  • Patent number: 7400462
    Abstract: An optical system (10) operatively associated with lenses (120) with adjustable focal length is provided. The optical system includes a first lens assembly (12), at least one heat control device (122) and a first barrel (14). The at least one heat control device is configured for regulating a temperature of the at least one lens so as to finely change a refractive index of the at least one lens, whereby the focal length associated with the first lens assembly is adjusted. The first barrel is configured for receiving the first lens assembly therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ga-Lane Chen
  • Publication number: 20080165439
    Abstract: A mobile communication device includes a main body, a cover body, a first lens module, at least one positioning hole, a second lens module, at least one resilient positioning member and an image sensor. The cover body is slidably mounted on the main body between a first position and a second position. The through hole is defined in the main body and configured for receiving the first lens module. The at least one positioning hole is defined in the first lens module. The second lens module and the image sensor are received in the cover body. The at least one resilient positioning member is defined in the cover body and engaging in the positioning hole at the first position. The image sensor is configured for detecting light from the first and second lens module at the first position and light from the second lens module at the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jen-Tsorng Chang
  • Patent number: 7388722
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes an imaging optical system including a plurality of lens groups located on an optical axis; an insertable/rotatable optical element which produces a specific photographic effect when rotated on the optical axis; and a drive mechanism including a motor which moves the insertable/rotatable optical element between an inserted position, in which the insertable/rotatable optical element is positioned on the optical axis, and a removed position, in which the insertable/rotatable optical element is removed from the optical axis by forward and reverse rotations of the motor, respectively. The drive mechanism rotates the insertable/rotatable optical element on the optical axis by the forward rotation of the motor when the insertable/rotatable optical element is in the inserted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: HOYA Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nomura, Kiyoshi Kawano
  • Patent number: 7379113
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an image sensor module having an auto-aligned lens includes: a substrate on which an image sensor chip is mounted; a housing which has an opening to expose an upper surface of the image sensor chip, and which is attached onto the substrate; a lens holder which extends the opening vertically and upwardly; and a lens unit incorporating spacers which is fixed to an inner sidewall of the lens holder and is aligned automatically. Friction-caused particles are not produced, and focal alignment is readily automated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yung-Cheol Kong, Tai-Hyun Eum, Ji-Sun Hong, Sung-Woo Park
  • Patent number: 7379253
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus of the present invention includes: a lens holding frame 10 that holds a lens 30, on the periphery of which a first pair of restricting members composed of convex members 101 and 102 are provided at at least two places; and a circuit board 20 that connects the lens holding frame 10 with a camera main body electrically. The circuit board 20 includes a flexible substrate 21 with wiring that establishes electrical connection, and a reinforcing plate 22 fixed to a part of the flexible substrate 21. The circuit board 20 is fixed to the lens holding frame 10, such that at least a part of the reinforcing plate 22 is disposed between the first pair of restricting members, and that both ends of the part of the reinforcing plate 22 disposed between the first pair of restricting members are restricted by the first pair of restricting members. Consequently, it is possible to provide a camera that is easy to manufacture or to provide a camera that causes little flare.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Kawamura, Kenji Sasaki, Fumio Shinano, Naoto Yumiki
  • Patent number: 7369334
    Abstract: An optical device is provided which includes a plurality of optical modules and an alignment compensation module. Each optical module includes an optical component fixedly coupled to a relative reference mount. The relative reference mount is configured to attach to a substrate. A plurality of optical modules mount on the substrate to form the optical device. The alignment compensation module removes residual alignment errors of the optical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Cyberoptics Corporation
    Inventors: Steven K. Case, Timothy A. Skunes, Michael Knipfer, Gregory S. Mowry
  • Patent number: 7365924
    Abstract: An improved aiming tube pivot assembly for use in a sighting and/or aiming apparatus which comprises an aiming tube axially mounted within an outer tube (or housing). A support ring supports the aiming tube within the outer tube in a gimbal-like arrangement by means of ball bearings and set screws. The ball bearings are secured intermediate the aiming tube and the support ring via apertures in the outer tube. The set screws are threadedly mounted in the support ring and engage the outer surface of the outer tube. A movable cover tube can be mounted on the outer tube and substantially encloses the end of the outer tube and the support ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Millett Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: James A. Millett
  • Patent number: 7365925
    Abstract: A method of aligning an optomechanical assembly and an optomechanical assembly are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Wayne, Vijaya N. V. Raghavan
  • Patent number: 7365826
    Abstract: A projection optical system includes an optical element that includes and locally uses a reflective or refractive area that is substantially axially symmetrical around an optical axis, the optical element being rotatable around the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuhei Sumiyoshi, Masayuki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7362521
    Abstract: A lens module includes a frame, a guide bar, a lever, a first lens and a second lens. The frame is for carrying an image sensor with a photosensitive surface. The guide bar is disposed on one side of the frame and parallel to a normal of the photosensitive surface. The lever includes a pivot part coupled with the frame and an extended part capable of rotating around the pivot part. The first lens and the second lens coupled with the guide bar are leaned against the extended part. When the extended part rotates around the pivot part, the extended part drives the first lens and the second lens to slide along the guide bar, for changing a first distance between the first lens and the photosensitive surface and changing a second distance between the second lens and the photosensitive surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: ASUSTek Computer Inc.
    Inventor: Dah-Prong Lai
  • Patent number: 7362519
    Abstract: To overcoming any inconvenience in an optical unit, caused by a protrusion (burr) formed on a plastic lens when the plastic lens is molded, an optical unit is provided and has an injection molded plastic lens and a lens barrel. The injection molded plastic lens is fitted in a lens housing groove of the lens barrel so that a protrusion on one side of a flange of the injection molded plastic lens is located outside the lens housing groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Fujinon Corporation
    Inventor: Takeshi Sakaki
  • Patent number: 7362522
    Abstract: A lens barrel, including plural lens units for zooming and focusing a subject, an actuating section for moving at least one of the plural lens units, and a housing section for house the plural lens units and the actuating section, wherein the actuating section includes, a vibrating member including plural piezoelectric elements assembled to cross each other at a predetermined angle, and the vibrating member vibrates based on applied high frequency electrical signals, a rail member assembled facing the vibrating member, and a rotatable supporting member for sandwiching the rail member with the vibrating member, and wherein the rail member is assembled on the housing section, while the vibrating member and the rotatable supporting member are assembled on the lens unit which moves for zooming and focusing the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Opto, Inc.
    Inventor: Masayoshi Ohsato
  • Patent number: 7362520
    Abstract: A low-deformation mounting device of a rotationally asymmetric optical element, particularly an optical element in a projection lens used in semiconductor lithography. Said optical element is mounted in a frame and is provided with at least three connection surfaces that are positioned perpendicular to each other. Frame-connecting members are disposed in such a way that at least one but no more than two degrees of translational freedom and at least one but no more than two degrees of rotational freedom are obtained by means of said connecting members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Inventor: Ulrich Weber
  • Patent number: 7359130
    Abstract: An improved lens mount and related alignment methods are provided. In one example, a lens mount includes a ring member and a base member connected with the ring member. The base member has a bottom surface. First and second coplanar mounting pads are provided on the bottom surface of the base member. In another example, a method of aligning a lens mount relative to a stage includes providing a lens mount comprising: a ring member and a base member connected with the ring member. A stage having a top surface is provided. A plurality of alignment members on a bottom surface of the base member are aligned with a corresponding plurality of apertures in the stage. The alignment members are inserted into the apertures, and first, second, and third mounting pads on the bottom surface of the base member are contacted with the top surface of the stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Siimpel Corporation
    Inventor: Robert J. Calvet
  • Patent number: 7352515
    Abstract: A linear mechanical drive has an outer housing, a drive sleeve that is conformably and slidably received within the outer housing, a mount sleeve conformably and slidably received within the drive sleeve, and a guide extending between the outer housing and the mount sleeve to prevent the mount sleeve from rotating relative to the outer housing. A linearly driven structure is affixed to the mount sleeve. There is a first helical engagement between the outer housing and the drive sleeve, and a second helical engagement between the mount sleeve and the drive sleeve. A motor is positioned to actuate the drive sleeve engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Gabor Devenyi
  • Patent number: 7352962
    Abstract: An apparatus for a camera with a lens barrel and a barrel driving unit. The apparatus includes an eye-shaped lens barrel, a vertical driving unit, a horizontal driving unit, a rotation-position sensing unit, a coordinate input unit, and a controller. The vertical driving unit rotates the eye-shaped lens barrel about a vertical axis in response to a vertical rotation control signal. The horizontal driving unit rotates the eye-shaped lens barrel about a horizontal axis in response to a horizontal rotation control signal. The rotation-position sensing unit generates a rotation-position data in response to the rotation of the eye-shaped lens barrel. The coordinate input unit generates an input coordinate data according to a manipulating action of a user. The controller generates the vertical rotation control signal and the horizontal rotation control signal according to the input coordinate data and the rotation-position data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Techwin Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seung-bong Lee
  • Patent number: 7349166
    Abstract: A device for holding a laser diode (LD) and a collimate lens. A laser unit includes an LD supporting section supporting the LD, and a lens supporting section supporting the lens positioned opposite to the LD, A connecting portion connects the lens supporting section to the LD supporting section. An adjustment section for adjusting a relative position between the LD and the lens is provided in association with the LD supporting section. The adjustment section allows the LD supporting section to be movable and position-fixable with respect to the lens supporting section as if the LD supporting section serves as a leverage about the connecting portion functioning as a fulcrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshio Sakai, Yasuo Tamaru
  • Patent number: 7349165
    Abstract: A clamping apparatus for clamping optical elements (100) includes a first fixture (10), a second fixture (20) and two mounting members (30). The first fixture defines a plurality of holding holes (11). The second fixture defines a plurality of holding grooves (210) corresponding to the holding holes. The holding grooves and holding holes are configured for cooperatively positioning the optical elements. At least one mounting member is configured for adjustably mounting the first fixture and the second fixture so that the first fixture and the second fixture are movable so as to position the optical elements in different positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yang-Chang Chien
  • Patent number: 7345834
    Abstract: A holding system for holding an optical element. The holding system includes a ring-like inner holding member disposed at an outer periphery of the optical element, for supporting the optical element by use of at least a pair of pieces, and a ring-like outer holding member disposed at an outer periphery of the inner holding member and connected to the inner holding member at plural points. The inner holding member has at least a pair of driving units with an actuator, for supporting the optical element through the actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naoki Murasato
  • Patent number: 7345836
    Abstract: A zoom lens driving apparatus achieves the object of driving multiple lens groups by a single motor and low production cost. When a first lens group, which includes a first lens, moves along guide rods, a leading cam of a leading member drives a leading pin of a follower, so that the follower moves a guide pin, and moves a second lens group, which includes a second lens, along the guide rods. The relative distance between the first lens group and the second lens group is controlled by the leading cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Chen-Chin Cheng, Hsiao-Yue Tsao
  • Patent number: 7342732
    Abstract: An optical mount (1) for optical component (2) which has a edge contour (4) relative to extending radially optical axis (A), includes a rigid optical support (3) having an axially oriented stop edge (5), which is suitable for an axial contact with the optical component (2), and at least one flexible spring element which is arranged radially outside the stop edge (5), extends axially on the component side and is curved radially inward. The radial spring element passes at an axial distance from the stop edge into a circumferentially closed jacket sleeve an inner contour (8) of which extends farther radially than the edge contour (4) of the optical component (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Lieu-Kim Dang, Roman Steffen, Mustafa Kücük, Christian Haefele
  • Publication number: 20080055749
    Abstract: A fine adjustment mechanism includes a first frame, a carrying portion and a first connecting portion. The first frame has a first opening. The carrying portion is adapted to assemble outside an optical element for fixing it. The carrying portion has a carrying plate disposed in the first opening and extends from the first opening towards a side of the first frame. The first connecting portion is located in the first opening and connected between the carrying plate and the first frame. The first connecting portion is capable of generating an elastic torsion around the axis in a first direction. By using the theorem of elastic torsion, the present invention makes the carrying portion rotate around the axis of the first connecting portion only and is able to avoid the offset problem occurred at the intersection of the axes of the carrying portion and the first connecting portion during adjusting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Applicant: CORETRONIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kuang-Yao Liu
  • Patent number: 7339751
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes a straight-moving cylinder including a lens group therein, being movable in a direction of an optical axis of the lens group without being rotated, and having a depression on a posterior end portion of the straight-moving cylinder; a guide pin protruding from the outer circumferential surface of the straight-moving cylinder; a rotational-moving cylinder movable in the direction of the optical axis, having a cam groove for engaging with the guide pin); and a reinforcement pin projecting from the inner circumferential surface of the rotational-moving cylinder; wherein the depression includes a contact surface separated from a side portion of the reinforcement pin with a predetermined clearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Akihiro Eto
  • Publication number: 20080037141
    Abstract: A method for fabricating an array of aligned optical elements. In one embodiment, the optical elements include primary and secondary mirrors that are used to concentrate sunlight onto a photovoltaic cell for direct conversion of the sunlight into electricity. The array is formed using a front panel of plate glass or other transmissive material. The glass sheet is registered with a base tool. Subsequent tools are also registered with the base tool to deposit the primary and secondary mirrors for fabrication of the array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2006
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Applicant: Sol Focus, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence Tom, Stephen J. Horne, Mark James Spencer
  • Patent number: 7330308
    Abstract: An alignment method of micro-alignment members includes a first step for moving a reticle, which is movably disposed between a first position and a second position, to face a first microscope in the first position, and for aligning a center of the reticle with an optical axis of the first microscope while observing the reticle by the first microscope, a second step for moving the reticle to the second position to face a second microscope in the second position, and for aligning the center of the reticle with an optical axis of the second microscope while observing the reticle by the second microscope, a third step for disposing a first micro-alignment member such that a center of the first micro-alignment member aligns with the optical axis of the second microscope, and a fourth step for disposing a second micro-alignment member instead of the reticle to face the first micro-alignment member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha TOPCON
    Inventors: Noriyasu Kiryu, Naoto Miki
  • Patent number: 7330633
    Abstract: A precision apparatus (10) includes a constraint joint (256) having a contact (258A) and a contact engager (258B). The contact (258A) includes a contact region (268) that is rounded, and the contact engager (258B) includes a first wall (270A), a second wall (270B), and a third wall (270C). Further, the walls (270A) (270B) (270C) are arranged so that the contact region (268) simultaneously contacts only one location on each wall (270A) (270B) (270C) to create a true three point contact that provides three degrees of constraint. One or more of the walls (270A), (270B), (270C) includes a contact pad (274) that engages the contact (258A). Each contact pad (274) can be made of a hard, relatively low friction material with a low friction surface (273).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Bookham Technology plc
    Inventor: David F Arnone
  • Patent number: 7327527
    Abstract: A lens supporting frame is provided and includes a lens holder supporting a lens and a moving frame which is fitted to a cylindrical part of the lens holder to support the same. Ribs are provided at equal intervals in a rotation direction on a rear end face of the lens holder, the ribs having a plurality of inclined surfaces inclined respectively toward the front or rear ends of an optical axis. Abutting parts are provided on a rear end face of the moving frame so as to abut on the ribs. When the lens holder is rotated after mounting it in the moving frame, parts of the lens holder facing the abutting parts are moved in directions along the optical axis as a result of abutment between the inclined surfaces of the ribs and the abutting parts to change the inclination of the lens holder relative to the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Fujinon Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Sakamoto, Tomonari Masuzawa, Takao Araki
  • Patent number: 7327526
    Abstract: A buffer structure is installed at the front end of a contact type lens and includes a flexible sheathing ring, a through hole disposed on the sheathing hole and corresponding to the lens, a circular contact pad portion extended outward from a lower end of the sheathing ring, and a circular sheathing portion formed at an upper end of the sheathing ring and connected to the front end of the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Lumos Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chih-Yi Yang
  • Patent number: 7327499
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a lens unit (4) which has a low-resolution lens (1), a high-resolution lens (2), and a first driving unit (3) for driving them, and a second driving unit (5) for driving the lens unit (4). At a first resolution, the low-resolution lens (1) is placed on the optical axis at a first location and the high-resolution lens (2) is placed off the optical axis. At a second resolution higher than the first resolution, the low-resolution lens (1) is placed off the optical axis and the high-resolution lens (2) is placed on the optical axis at a second location. At a third resolution higher than the second resolution, the low-resolution lens (1) is placed off the optical axis and the high-resolution lens (2) is placed on the optical axis at a third location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: PFU Limited
    Inventors: Masashi Matsumoto, Minoru Masuda, Yasunori Miyauchi
  • Patent number: 7321470
    Abstract: A camera having a lens barrel housed therein includes a reflection optical member for reflecting a light beam incident along a first optical axis (O1) from a subject so as to reflect the light beam toward a second optical axis (O2) intersecting the first optical axis; a light-quantity adjusting member for adjusting the quantity of incident light from the subject; and a drive source for displacing the light-quantity adjusting member, in which by displacing the light-quantity adjusting member, the quantity of the incident light from the subject can be adjusted, and the light-quantity adjusting member is displaced in a direction substantially perpendicular to an optical axial plane inclusive of the first optical axis and the second optical axis so as to adjust the light-quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Matsumoto, Hitoshi Yoshida, Akira Futami, Toshifumi Nakano, Tsuyoshi Kawai
  • Patent number: 7319566
    Abstract: Compact beam manipulators employ one or more Risley prism sets with or without a parallel plate translator. One beam manipulator contains a plate mounted to permit pitch and yaw adjustments and a prism set mounted to permit rotations. The rotations of the prisms adjust a beam direction, and adjustment of the plate adjusts the beam position. Another beam manipulator contains a prism set mounted to permit rotations and pitch and yaw adjustments of the prisms. The rotations and pitch and yaw adjustments provide coupled changes in the position and direction of a beam, and iterative adjustments alternate between rotating prisms to change the beam direction and the adjusting pitch and yaw to change the beam position. The iterative adjustments are complete when the beam has a target position and a target direction to within required tolerances. Gluing elements to optic holders minimizes stress-induced birefringence and temperature and humidity effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James B. Prince, Scott M. Detro
  • Publication number: 20080002266
    Abstract: An optical sight includes: an outer barrel having opposite ends; ocular and objective lens units mounted respectively to the ends of the outer barrel; a magnification unit disposed tiltably in the outer barrel, and extending between the ocular and objective lens units; an adjustment units mounted on the outer barrel, and operable independently and respectively to adjust position of the magnification unit inside the outer barrel in first and second directions that are perpendicular to each other; a biasing member interposed between the magnification unit and the outer barrel to provide an urging force on the magnification unit to abut against the adjustment units; and a force-adjusting unit disposed to connect the biasing member to the outer barrel, and operable to adjust the urging force exerted by the biasing member on the magnification unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2006
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Applicant: ASIA OPTICAL CO., INC.
    Inventor: Shih-Yu Pai
  • Patent number: 7312937
    Abstract: A lens feed mechanism is provided and includes: a lens frame that holds a movable lens and that is supported by a fixed lens barrel so as to be capable of moving in a direction in which the movable lens is to move; a feed screw supported rotatably on an axis extending in a moving direction of the lens frame; and a connecting unit that connects the lens frame with the feed screw, the connecting unit having a rack mechanism supported rotatable on an axis extending in a direction on a plane orthogonal to the moving direction of the lens frame, the connecting unit engaging with the feed screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Fujinon Corporation
    Inventor: Naoki Nishimoto
  • Patent number: 7307803
    Abstract: A cam barrel 19 rotates in one way in varying a power to move four lens holding frames in the same direction by displacements of four cam openings 33 to 36. Cam barrel cam followers 48 are provided on an outer periphery of the cam barrel 19. The cam barrel cam followers 48 are passed through cam barrel cam openings 47 provided to a fixed barrel being arranged on an outer periphery of the cam barrel 19, and engage with a power variation driving ring arranged on an outer periphery of the fixed barrel. The power variation driving ring is used to rotate the cam barrel 19 and move respective lens holding frames. Since the cam barrel cam followers 48 engage with the cam barrel cam openings 47, the cam barrel 19 is moved according to displacements of the cam barrel cam openings 47 while holding respective lens holding frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Fujinon Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Matsumoto, Tetsuo Kamigaki
  • Patent number: 7298562
    Abstract: Lens drive unit is provided with a moving lenticular body (sleeve 15, etc.) equipped with a lens, a driving mechanism to move the moving lenticular body in the optical axis direction of the lens and a fixed body (yoke 16, etc.) that supports the moving lenticular body so as to make it movable in the optical axis direction of the lens. The driving mechanism is provided with magnet 17 magnetized in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction of the lens, and multiple coils (first coil 14 and second coil 14?) arranged so that the magnet is present in the optical axis direction of the lens. Either one of the magnet and the multiple coils is installed in the moving lenticular body, and the other in the fixed body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Nidec Sankyo Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Sue, Noboru Ootsuki
  • Patent number: 7298563
    Abstract: A supporting member for a portable digital video disk player has a rotatable member and a base for accommodating the rotatable member. The rotatable member includes a rotatable seat, at least one elastic member and at least one fastener pressing the at least one elastic member. Each of the rotatable seat and the at least one elastic member has a through hole. The base has at least one protruding element drilling through the through holes of the rotatable seat and the at least one elastic member. The rotatable seat can rotate relative to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Action Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Juen-Tien Peng
  • Patent number: 7295389
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes a lens group that conducts light from a subject, a lens shell that holds the lens group; a string-formed shape memory alloy element that moves the lens shell in a direction of an optical axis, and a pair of guide shafts formed approximately in parallel to the optical axis of the lens group, wherein the lens shell is integrally formed with a cylindrical portion through which one of the guide shafts penetrates, the string-formed shape memory alloy element contacts with a portion of the lens shell at an approximately central portion of the alloy element, and both ends of the alloy element are fixed at respective positions with a line connecting the optical axis of the lens group and a center of the cylindrical portion between the positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Opto, Inc.
    Inventors: Katsumi Ohtsuka, Tohru Horiuchi
  • Patent number: 7295382
    Abstract: An image pickup device includes a collapsible lens barrel which is held in a main body of the device in non-picture-taking mode, and a shutter unit which is arranged behind a rearmost one of a plurality of optical lenses that make up the lens barrel and which includes a unit base member having an opening. A plurality of shutter blades are attached to the unit base member, and opened and closed by electromagnetic driving. A first state where when the lens barrel is collapsed, the shutter blades are full-opened and at least part of the optical lenses is located in the opening of the unit base member and a second state where when the lens barrel is projected from the main body of the device, the shutter blades are closed and then opened and closed at required shutter speed are selectively switched to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Taizo Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7295390
    Abstract: Power from a focusing motor (14) is transmitted via a gear (35a) to a focusing lead screw (15) so that a first lens holder (4) is moved in a direction of an optical axis. Power from a zooming motor (10) is transmitted via a gear (35b) to a zooming lead screw (11) so that a second lens holder (8) is moved in the direction of the optical axis. The first and second lens holders (4, 8), the focusing and zooming lead screws (15, 11), the focusing and zooming motors (14, 10), and the gears (35a, 35b) are contained in a housing (30, 31). The focusing motor (14) and the zooming motor (10) may be fixed to a gear case (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Renzaburo Miki
  • Patent number: 7289282
    Abstract: A lens barrel for holding a lens includes a barrel body for containing the lens. A ring shaped receiving wall is formed on the barrel body, for receiving a rear face of a peripheral portion of the lens, to position the lens in an optical axis direction. Three retaining claw portions are disposed to project from the barrel body, for retaining the lens on the ring shaped receiving wall by engagement with the peripheral portion thereof. Three first through holes are formed in the barrel body, and adapted to insertion and pressure of an external adjusting rod for positioning adjustment of the lens. Second through holes are formed in the barrel body, and adapted to introduction of adhesive agent for attaching the lens on the barrel body. The retaining claw portions and the first through holes are arranged at a regular pitch on a circumference of the barrel body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Fujinon Corporation
    Inventor: Teruaki Matsushima
  • Patent number: 7289283
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes a lens moving frame configured to hold an image pickup lens; a barrel member configured to support the lens moving frame for back and forth linear movement along the direction of an optical axis of the image pickup lens; the lens moving frame having a magnetized face magnetized alternately with N poles and S poles along the direction of the back and forth linear movement; and, a magnetic resistance sensor apparatus. The magnetic resistance sensor apparatus has a magnetic resistance sensor, a body, a single screw, and a plurality of resilient pieces. The resilient pieces are formed such that, in a state wherein the resilient pieces are resiliently deformed all by the same amount, the sum of moments by the resilient pieces which act upon the location of the body at which the screw is fitted is zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Hattori
  • Patent number: 7286307
    Abstract: A method for fixing an optical member of an optical unit including the optical member and a holding member is provided. The holding member includes positioning portions for positioning the optical member. The optical member and the holding member are fixed to each other upon laser welding of a plurality of locations of the holding member other than the positioning portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Harushige Yamamoto, Masato Seita
  • Publication number: 20070242371
    Abstract: A lens module includes a frame, a guide bar, a lever, a first lens and a second lens. The frame is for carrying an image sensor with a photosensitive surface. The guide bar is disposed on one side of the frame and parallel to a normal of the photosensitive surface. The lever includes a pivot part coupled with the frame and an extended part capable of rotating around the pivot part. The first lens and the second lens coupled with the guide bar are leaned against the extended part. When the extended part rotates around the pivot part, the extended part drives the first lens and the second lens to slide along the guide bar, for changing a first distance between the first lens and the photosensitive surface and changing a second distance between the second lens and the photosensitive surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Publication date: October 18, 2007
    Applicant: ASUSTEK COMPUTER INC.
    Inventor: Dah-Prong Lai