Abstract: An apparatus and method of manufacturing an apparatus that includes a rectangular frame, a first load bearing conductive support bisecting the rectangular frame lengthwise, and two artificial muscle actuators disposed on the same sides of the rectangular frame as the first load bearing conductive support on opposite sides of the first load bearing conductive support is disclosed. The apparatus includes a non-conductive platform, where the width of the frame is sufficiently wide to prevent the non-conductive platform from touching the sides of the frame when rotated about the axis of the load bearing support. The apparatus includes a device disposed in the center of the non-conductive platform. Individual actuation of the artificial muscle actuators rotates the non-conductive platform about the axis of the first load bearing conductive support.

Abstract: An aperture module includes a rotary plate disposed on a base, an aperture driving unit driving the rotary plate to rotate, and a plurality of blades interlocked with rotation of the rotary plate, and forming an entrance hole having various sizes by combinations thereof, wherein the plurality of blades each have a portion forming the entrance hole in a stepped form.

Abstract: To enable achievement of a reduction in the thickness in a blade driving device that includes a driving member, and to enable a reduction in size of an installation area in a blade driving device that includes a driving member. The blade driving device 1 comprises a base member 2 that has an opening 2A, one or more blade members 3 that operate so as to advance into the opening 2A or withdraw from the opening 2A, and a driving member 4 that is supported on the base member 2 and that moves within a plane that is perpendicular to an optical axis that passes through the opening 2A, for driving the blade member, wherein the driving member 4 is disposed at a position that overlaps the blade member on the periphery of the opening 2A.

Abstract: An electromechanical shutter device comprising a base member and a shutter assembly comprising: an electrical current source member; a shutter member movable between a light beam blocked position and a light beam passed position; a light beam blocking member associated with the shutter member; a shutter coil associated with the shutter member which generates an electromagnetic force when energized; at least one magnet which generates a magnet flux directed towards and intersecting the shutter coil; electrically conductive means connecting the electrical current source member to the shutter member for passing electrical current to energize the shutter coil and to control movement of the shutter member between the light beam blocked and passed positions; wherein when the shutter coil is energized, an electromagnetic force is generated that interacts with the magnetic flux to thereby cause movement of the shutter member between the light beam blocked and light beam passed positions.

Abstract: An electromechanical shutter device comprising a base member and a shutter assembly comprising: an electrical current source member; a shutter member movable between a light beam blocked position and a light beam passed position; a light beam blocking member associated with the shutter member; a shutter coil associated with the shutter member which generates an electromagnetic force when energized; at least one magnet which generates a magnet flux directed towards and intersecting the shutter coil; electrically conductive means connecting the electrical current source member to the shutter member for passing electrical current to energize the shutter coil and to control movement of the shutter member between the light beam blocked and passed positions; wherein when the shutter coil is energized, an electromagnetic force is generated that interacts with the magnetic flux to thereby cause movement of the shutter member between the light beam blocked and light beam passed positions.

Abstract: Provided is a shutter device including a coil layer that includes one or more substrates having a through-hole formed in the center thereof and a coil installed thereon, the coil generating a magnetic field when a current is applied; and a shutter layer that is installed on one surface of the coil layer and includes a shutter case having a shape corresponding to the substrate and a pair of shutter blades which are connected to flexible suspensions formed in the shutter case, respectively. The shutter blades open and close the through-hole of the substrate, while being moved in the reverse direction to each other by an electromagnetic force caused by an interaction with the magnetic field generated by the coil and returning to the original position due to the recovery force of the flexible suspensions when the electromagnetic force is canceled.

Abstract: A shutter unit is equipped with a base plate, a yoke, a coil that is attached in the middle of the yoke to excite the yoke, and a rotor that rotates in a predetermined direction by excitation of the yoke. A lens frame is formed on the base plate. The yoke has a substantially annular shape so as to be disposed on the base plate encircling the circumference of the lens frame. Thus, by forming the yoke in a substantially annular shape, the yoke and the coil can be moved toward an optical axis, and consequently, the shutter unit can be downsized.

Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator includes a rotor rotatable within a predetermined angular range, a magnetizing coil, and a yoke having an arcuate surface facing the rotor, and first and second magnetic-pole parts that have mutually different magnetic poles upon energizing the coil. The rotor includes a magnetized rotor part defining the outer peripheral surface of the rotor and magnetized to have different magnetic poles, a non-magnetized driving pin rotatable with the magnetized rotor part, and a protrusion part protruding radially from the rotor and facing the first or second magnetic-pole part while being magnetized to have the same magnetic pole as the outer peripheral surface of the rotor. The surface of the rotor that faces the yoke and that exerts a magnetic action is increased due to the inclusion of the protrusion part, and hence a desired maintaining force and driving torque can be obtained.

Abstract: A driving assembly of camera shutter and diaphragm comprises a first stator, a second stator, a coil set and a rotor. The coil set is installed between the first stator and second stator. A first wing is axially extended from a round periphery of the first stator and a second wing is axially extended from a round periphery of the second stator. Each of the first stator and second wing is a round cambered sheet. In assembly the first stator and second wing are formed as a space for receiving the rotor; thus the rotor is driven to rotate by the magnetic force of the first wing and second wing so as to drive the diaphragm and shutter. Each of the first wing and second wing has a plurality of parts which are formed around the respective stator and are spaced with an equal spaced.

Abstract: A shutter device includes a stationary plate having a plurality of driving electrodes movable element opposes the stationary plate and including a sheet subjected to an electret-forming process. A drive control unit for moving the movable element using variation in electrostatic force, thereby shielding light. The electrostatic force is generated between constant charges held in the movable element as a result of the electret-forming process, and charges generated in each of the driving electrodes when a voltage is applied to each driving electrode. The generated electrostatic force is varied by varying the voltage applied to each driving electrode.

Abstract: A shutter unit is equipped with a base plate, a yoke, a coil that is attached in the middle of the yoke to excite the yoke, and a rotor that rotates in a predetermined direction by excitation of the yoke. A lens frame is formed on the base plate. The yoke has a substantially annular shape so as to be disposed on the base plate encircling the circumference of the lens frame. Thus, by forming the yoke in a substantially annular shape, the yoke and the coil can be moved toward an optical axis, and consequently, the shutter unit can be downsized.

Abstract: An actuator maintains high efficiency, can react to an increase in pole, has a high part fit, and can be manufactured at low cost while it is thinned. The actuator includes a magnet which is formed in a ring shape, in which at least one surface perpendicular to a central axis thereof is divided in a peripheral direction and alternately plane-magnetized in different poles; a stator including a plurality of magnetic pole teeth opposed to the magnetized surface of the magnet; a rotor, which is held to be rotatable about a rotational axis as a center, includes a disk portion whose surface perpendicular to the rotational axis is bonded to the magnet, and is made of a soft magnetic material; and a coil, which is located on substantially the same surface as that of the magnet, is fixed to the stator, and excites the stator and the disk portion.

Abstract: A shutter device includes a stationary plate having a plurality of driving electrodes movable element opposes the stationary plate and including a sheet subjected to an electret-forming process. A drive control unit for moving the movable element using variation in electrostatic force, thereby shielding light. The electrostatic force is generated between constant charges held in the movable element as a result of the electret-forming process, and charges generated in each of the driving electrodes when a voltage is applied to each driving electrode. The generated electrostatic force is varied by varying the voltage applied to each driving electrode.

Abstract: A motor includes a cylindrical magnet, first outer magnetic pole portions which are formed by gapping part of a cylinder from the distal end in the axial direction of the motor, and which oppose the outer circumferential surface of the magnet, second outer magnetic pole portions which are formed by gapping part of a cylinder from the distal end in the axial direction, and which oppose the outer circumferential surface of the magnet, first inner magnetic pole portions opposing the inner circumferential surface of the magnet, second inner magnetic pole portions opposing the inner circumferential surface of the magnet, a first coil which is located at a position between the first outer magnetic pole portions and the first inner magnetic pole portions in the axial direction of the magnet, and which excites the first outer magnetic pole portions, a second coil which is located between the second outer magnetic pole portions and the second inner magnetic pole portions on the side opposite the first coil in the axia

Abstract: A shutter for a camera has a sector driven by a movable board having plural spiral-shaped coil patterns concentrically arranged thereon for generating a repulsive or attractive magnetic field with respect to fixed permanent magnets or coils confronting the movable board. A desired generated magnetic force can be obtained by setting the number and winding direction of the coils and combining coils in a desired manner. A drive circuit is connected to the coils for controlling the supply of electricity thereto such that repulsive magnetic forces are generated while opening the shutter and attractive magnetic forces are generated while closing the shutter.

Abstract: A shutter for a camera having a small size is driven by coil patterns formed in a spiral shape on at least one of a fixed printed board and a movable printed board. On faces of a shutter base plate and a sector ring opposed to each other, a cam mechanism for making the sector ring progress and regress in an optical axis direction is provided. The cam mechanism comprises end face cams arranged in a concentric shape and cam followers corresponding thereto to facilitate pivoting of the sector ring in closing the shutter by moving the cam followers along downwardly inclined faces of the cams.

Abstract: A hybrid, micro-electromagnetic light shutter includes a silicon body having a top surface with an arcuate groove formed on the top surface. A recess and a light aperture are formed in the top surface of the silicon body proximate to the arcuate groove. A shutter assemblage generally comprising metallic elements is provided with a rotatable shutter blade fixedly attached to a means for rotating. The means for rotating has a micro-magnetic element that interacts magnetically with an electromagnet for producing rotational movement. The shutter assemblage is arranged in the recess of the silicon body so that the means for rotating can be supported during rotation by the arcuate groove and be activated for rotational movement by the electromagnet.

Abstract: A method of making a microceramic electromagnetic light shutter, includes forming a micromolded bottom ceramic portion in the green state with a sacrificial fiber having a first and second end portion and being shaped in the form of a coil, mounted on its surface; forming a micromolded top ceramic portion in the green state having surface features that include a pair of bearing structures, at least one stop structure, and a first and second through-hole; assembling the top and bottom micromolded ceramic portions with the first and second ends of the sacrificial fiber being drawn through the first and second through-holes, respectively, and sintering such assembled structure to form a unitary ceramic body; etching through the first and second through-holes to etch away the sacrificial fiber to thereby provide an embedded coil receiving cavity.

Abstract: A microceramic electromagnetic light shutter is disclosed including a unitary ceramic body having an internal cavity. A conductive coil is formed in the internal cavity. The unitary ceramic body defines a first and second bearing structure on it's surface. The unitary ceramic body has a light aperture and first and second recesses. The microceramic electromagnetic light shutter further includes a shutter drive mechanism including a shutter blade and a ferromagnetic element inserted into the first recess and operative to the shutter drive mechanism for applying a torque to the shutter drive mechanism which causes the shutter drive mechanism to move so that the shutter blade is in it's light blocking position. The shutter drive mechanism is mounted in the second recess an in an operative relationship to the coil and ferromagnetic element.