Lens Mount Patents (Class 396/529)
  • Publication number: 20100005982
    Abstract: A camera unit for monitoring a spatial region has an electronic image sensor arranged on a component carrier, and a lens having a lens body. The lens body and the component carrier are connected via a first coupling piece to form an integrated structural unit. The first coupling piece has at least one limited first mobility relative to the lens body and at least one limited second mobility relative to the component carrier within the integrated structural unit. The integrated structural unit has at least one first and one second releasable clamping mechanism in order to fix the first coupling piece, the lens body and the component carrier relative to one another. Such a camera unit can advantageously be used as an imaging sensor for safeguarding a machine operating in an automated fashion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Inventor: Andreas VEIT
  • Patent number: 7646539
    Abstract: An optical device includes a substrate, a plurality of optical elements formed in an element formation region of the substrate, a plurality of lenses formed over the element formation region so as to correspond to the plurality of optical elements, and a protective layer formed so as to cover the plurality of lenses. A holding member is formed on the protective layer in a region outside the element formation region. The holding member holds a bottom surface of a transparent member. A gap between the protective layer and the transparent member is filled with an adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kiyokazu Itoi, Tetsushi Nishio, Yutaka Harada, Tomoko Komatsu, Masashi Kuroda
  • Patent number: 7645079
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an eyepiece unit configured to facilitate viewing an optical image of an object, an image pickup element configured to convert the optical image of an object into an electrical signal, an optical member disposed in front of the image pickup element and in an imaging light axis, an piezoelectric element disposed on the side of the optical member close to the eyepiece unit, where the piezoelectric element vibrates the optical member, a biasing member disposed on the side of the optical member opposite the piezoelectric element, a lowpass filter holding member configured to hold the optical member, the piezoelectric element, and the biasing member, and an image-pickup-apparatus body chassis having a flat surface portion perpendicular to the imaging light axis, where the flat surface portion has an opening therein. The lowpass filter holding member is disposed in the opening of the body chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroaki Inukai, Eiri Tsukatani, Kiyokazu Churei, Taro Fuchigami, Takashi Sugie
  • Patent number: 7641403
    Abstract: A camera module includes a holder provided with a lens unit and displaceable along an optical axis; a coil formed from a wound wire having lead wires; a yoke and magnets for providing a magnetic field to the coil; a flexible printed circuit board for supplying an electrical current to the lead wires; and upper and lower leaf springs for supporting the holder displaceably along the optical axis. Each of the upper and lower springs includes an outer annular portion and an inner annular portion, and coupled by bridge portions. Part of the flexible printed circuit board is formed into a tongue part arranged in a space between a bridge portion of the lower leaf spring and the lead wires to prevent contact with the lead wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Ishizawa, Tomohiko Osaka
  • Publication number: 20090324213
    Abstract: An image capture assembly is disclosed. The image capture assembly includes a housing, a lens unit, an image detection unit, three screws, and three elastic members. The housing includes a lens-receiving portion, and three screw-receiving portions on an inner surface of the housing and surrounding the lens-receiving portion, an end surface of each screw-receiving portion defining a threaded hole. The lens unit is received in the lens-receiving portion. The image detection unit includes a substrate and an image sensor. The substrate facing the inner surface of the housing defines three through holes therein aligned with the three screw-receiving portions respectively. The image sensor is fixed to the substrate and faces the lens-receiving portion. The screws extend through the through holes of the substrate and into the threaded holes of the screw-receiving portions respectively. The elastic members surround the screw-receiving portions respectively and are compressed between the housing and the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: SHAO-HUNG WANG
  • Patent number: 7636210
    Abstract: An ocular focus device. An ocular lens tube is movably disposed in an ocular housing and includes a positioning groove. An ocular lens set is disposed in the ocular lens tube. A positioning member is connected to the ocular housing and is disposed in the positioning groove. When the ocular lens tube moves with respect to the ocular housing, the ocular lens set performs a focus operation, and the positioning member moves in the positioning groove, limiting a moving range of the ocular lens tube with respect to the ocular housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Asia Optical Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Shang-Yung Liang
  • Publication number: 20090310959
    Abstract: An exemplary camera module includes a lens mount, a lens unit, a magnet unit, a printed circuit board (PCB)-based Rogowski coil and a blade spring. The PCB-based Rogowski coil is fixed around the lens unit. The PCB-based Rogowski coil establishes an induced magnetic field when an electric current is applied thereto. The induced magnetic field interacts with the magnet unit to generate a magnetic force moving the lens unit telescopically. The blade spring includes a plurality of ribs. Each rib includes a moveable end connected with the lens unit and an opposite fixed end. The moveable end moves together with the lens unit with respect to the fixed end to cause the ribs to distort and generate an elastic force. The lens unit stops at a focal position when the magnetic force and the elastic force come to a balance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicants: FU ZHUN PRECISION INDUSTRY (SHEN ZHEN) CO., LTD., FOXCONN TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: WUN-CHANG SHIH, CHING-HSING HUANG, CHENG-FA WENG, JEN-TE WANG, HUAI-CHAO YOU, DA-YI WEN, BIAO WANG, YUN-MING HU
  • Patent number: 7632026
    Abstract: Provided are embodiments of a camera module and a mobile terminal having the same. In embodiments, the manufacturing process may be simplified, a defect ratio may be reduced, and product reliability may be improved. The camera module can include a lens assembly, an image sensor formed below the lens assembly, a lens holder covering the image sensor and coupled to the lens assembly, a substrate having a groove corresponding to a shape of a lower surface of the lens holder to allow the lens holder to be inserted and fixed in the groove, and a curing adhesive for attaching the substrate to the lens holder. In an embodiment, the curing adhesive can be an ultra-violet curing adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jin Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 7632027
    Abstract: An optical apparatus is disclosed which has a minimized protruding portion at a portion where a plurality of barrel-constituting members are connected and which allows easy assembly and disassembly. The optical apparatus includes a first member and a second member which constitute a lens barrel for accommodating lenses and a connecting member which connects the first and second members together. The connecting member is formed of a plate-like member placed along the outer surfaces of the first and second members, is elastically deformed when the connecting member is attached to the first and second members, and pulls the first and second members in and connects them with elastic force caused by the elastic deformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Noguchi
  • Publication number: 20090295940
    Abstract: There are provided a camera body, an interchangeable lens, and an imaging apparatus that enable to perform appropriate exposure control even when the zoom magnification is changed by a user after the camera body sets the diaphragm value of the interchangeable lens. The interchangeable lens, which includes a diaphragm and a movable lens and is mountable to a camera body, have a request signal receiving unit that receives a request signal requesting to send information on brightness of the interchangeable lens, the request signal being sent from the camera body on a frame-by-frame basis; a brightness information calculating unit that calculates information on brightness of the interchangeable lens based on states of the diaphragm and the movable lens when the request signal receiving unit receives the request signal; and a brightness information sending unit that sends the calculated information on brightness of the interchangeable lens to the camera body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koji Shibuno
  • Patent number: 7625144
    Abstract: An interchangeable lens (1) with a locking device (2, 2?) for system cameras is described, wherein an orientation marking (4) for mounting the locking device (2, 2?) on the camera is provided at the end of the lens housing (3) facing the camera, and the contact surface (6) of the locking device (2, 2?) has a latching depression (8) at a distance from the orientation marking (4) counter to the direction (7) of rotation of the locking operation and the contact surface (6) contains at least two, preferably six, surface areas (10) which are situated next to one another in an isolated fashion at a distance from the latching depression (8) counter to the direction (7) of rotation within an angle segment of from 100° to 160°, preferably 110° to 150°, and can be detected individually by optical means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Leica Camera AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Kranz, Oliver Zielberg, Robert Denk, Ulrich Lies
  • Patent number: 7625143
    Abstract: A camera system includes a lens unit and a camera body to which the lens unit is detachably attached. The lens unit has a photographing lens, an imaging device which receives light transmitted through the photographing lens, and a lens-side connecting terminal for electric connection. The camera body has a camera-side connecting terminal which is connectable to the lens-side connecting terminal, and a movable member which is movable between a first position that is close to the camera-side connecting terminal and a second position that is far from the camera-side connecting terminal. The camera-side connecting terminal is shut in the camera body when the movable member is in the first position, and the lens unit can be attached when the movable member is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Matsushita, Toshihiro Hamamura, Masahiro Koinuma, Takashi Enomoto, Masakazu Saori
  • Publication number: 20090290865
    Abstract: An exemplary zinc oxide nano-wire based actuator includes a first electrode, a second electrode opposite to the first electrode, and a zinc oxide nano-wire layer sandwiched between the first electrode and the second electrode. The zinc oxide nano-wire layer includes two opposite surfaces in contact with the first and the second electrodes respectively, and a plurality of zinc oxide nano-wires substantially parallel to each other. The first electrode and the second electrode are configured for cooperatively creating therebetween an electric field with an electric field direction substantially parallel to the zinc oxide nano-wires so as to adjust a thickness of the zinc oxide nano-wire layer, thereby moving the second electrode relative to the first electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: TSAI-SHIH TUNG, HSIN-CHIN HUNG, CHUAN-DE HUANG
  • Publication number: 20090290862
    Abstract: A camera body is provided, to which an interchangeable lens is mountable, the interchangeable lens including a diaphragm and capable of sending driving speed information of the diaphragm. The camera body has a receiving unit operable to receive the driving speed information of the diaphragm from the interchangeable lens, an imaging unit operable to capture a subject image formed by the interchangeable lens to generate image data, a controller operable to set an imaging condition for the imaging unit, and a sending unit operable to send a control signal for changing brightness information of the interchangeable lens to the interchangeable lens. The controller sets the imaging condition for a period from a start to an end of a driving of the diaphragm according to the received driving speed information of the diaphragm when the sending unit sends the control signal to the interchangeable lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Koji SHIBUNO
  • Patent number: 7621683
    Abstract: A compact camera module (CCM) substantially includes a substrate, a sensor chip and a lens module. The substrate has a surface defining a chip-attached area for attaching the sensor chip and a module-secured area for mounting the lens module. A check point is defined in the chip attached area. The module-secured area surrounds the chip-attached area. The substrate includes a plurality of connecting pads and a plurality of check bars disposed outside the chip-attached area, wherein the perpendicular bisectors of the check bars intersect with each other at a point aligning with the check point. Accordingly, a self-check step can be performed to check the center of the sensor area of the sensor chip in accordance with the intersection point after a chip is attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: She-Hong Cheng, Kuo-Hua Chen
  • Patent number: 7620315
    Abstract: The present invention provides an image taking main unit that prevents entry of foreign matter and has excellent usability even when an image taking lens unit is not attached thereto. The image taking main unit has a concave mount to which the image taking lens unit with an image taking optical system and an imaging device is removably attached and receives image signals from the image taking lens unit attached thereto to record the image signals therein. The image taking main unit also has a barrier and an electronic device disposed on the barrier. The barrier covers an opening of the mount and retracts into the concave portion of the mount by being pressed by the image taking lens unit when the image taking lens unit is attached to the image taking main unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Mikio Watanabe, Eiji Ishiyama
  • Patent number: 7614807
    Abstract: An exemplary camera mechanism (8) includes a lens module (10), an image sensor module (20), an electronic module (30), and a transmission module (40). The image sensor module is mounted under the lens module. The electronic module is mounted to at least one of the lens module and the image sensor module. The transmission module has a main body (41), a first electronic connection end (43) and a second electronic connection end (45). The lens module and the image sensor module are mounted on the main body. The first electronic connection end is formed at a top end of the main body. The second electronic connection end is formed at a bottom end of the main body. The first electronic connection end is electrically connected to the electronic module and to the second electronic connection end, and the second electronic connection end is capable of being electrically connected to a mother board (50).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Altus Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Ching-Lung Jao
  • Patent number: 7611297
    Abstract: An imaging device wherein a camera module is controlled based on a personality file for module (individual control data) which is retrieved from a camera module and is peculiar to the camera module and on a personality file for sensor (type-dependent control data) relating to the type of the camera module stored in a memory section (second memory) in advance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Opto, Inc.
    Inventor: Masaaki Tsuchida
  • Publication number: 20090269049
    Abstract: An intermediate adapter includes a first terminal operable to be electrically connected to a lens detecting terminal provided on the camera body when the intermediate adapter is attached to the camera body, a second terminal operable to be electrically connected to a terminal provided on the interchangeable lens for providing a ground potential when the interchangeable lens is attached to the intermediate adapter, and a first switch interposed between the first terminal and the second terminal. The first switch is operable to electrically connect the first terminal and the second terminal when the first switch is on, and disconnect the electrical connection between the first terminal and the second terminal when the first switch is off. While the intermediate adapter is being attached to the interchangeable lens, the first switch is off to disconnect the electrical connection between the first terminal and the second terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2009
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ueda, Koji Shibuno, Hidekazu Nakajima, Michihiko Ootsuka
  • Patent number: 7609962
    Abstract: A camera socket (100) includes a base (10) and a film (12). The base defines a receiving cavity (14) for receiving a camera module therein. The base has a transparent section (106) aligned with lenses of the camera module. The film is formed on a surface of the base. A portion (120) of the film formed on the transparent section of the base is transparent, the other portion of the film is coated with a metal coating (122). The metal coating is opaque, and the metal coating can be made of aluminum, copper, nickel, and stainless steel. The base is made of transparent plastic such as polycarbonate or polymethyl methacrylate. The present invention also provides a method for making the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: FIH (Hong Kong) Limited
    Inventor: Chia-Hua Chen
  • Publication number: 20090263121
    Abstract: This image capturing device includes a fitting member, a lens attached by adhesive to the fitting member, and a light reception element. The light reception element is disposed so as to face the lens attached to the fitting member, and an image of a photographic subject is projected upon this light reception element by the lens. An image output unit is also provided which outputs this image of the photographic subject projected upon the light reception element by the lens. And an application aperture for adhesive is provided in the fitting member at a position facing a region of the lens which does not contribute to the image of the photographic subject outputted by the image output unit. Desirably, a plurality of such admission apertures are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshimasa Imahori, Takashi Toyoda, Yoshizumi Nakao
  • Patent number: 7604423
    Abstract: An interchangeable-lens camera including a camera body on which a lens unit is capable to mount. The camera body includes a lens mounting unit which is provided to the camera body and on which the lens unit is capable to mount at least one dummy mounting unit which is provided to the camera body and on which a device is capable to mount under the same lens mounting system as the lens mounting unit, and a processing unit for reading information about the lens unit mounted to the lens mounting unit; and the processing unit for reading information about the device mounted to the dummy mounting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Nagata, Minoru Omaki, Hirofumi Tsuchida, Toshiyuki Nagaoka
  • Patent number: 7600932
    Abstract: A camera system is composed of a lens unit and a camera body. The lens unit has a built-in CCD. A magnet is embedded in a protrusion of the lens unit. A case of the camera body is made of a magnetic material. In virtue of this, it is possible to attach the lens unit to any position of the camera body on condition that functions of the camera body are not disturbed by the lens unit. Incidentally, a cable is utilized to perform data transmission and electric-power transfer between the lens unit and the camera body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Takehiko Senba, Atsushi Misawa
  • Patent number: 7603030
    Abstract: An optical apparatus includes a zoom optical system including a focusing lens unit, a first cam member that rotates around the optical axis and moves along the optical axis in a magnification-changing operation, the first cam member including a focus cam portion for driving the focusing lens unit, and a speed-changing mechanism that changes the relative rotational speed between the focusing lens unit and the first cam member in accordance with the focal length of the zoom optical system in the magnification-changing operation. The speed-changing mechanism moves along the optical axis in the magnification-changing operation. In addition, the speed-changing mechanism includes a transmission member that is rotatable around the optical axis with respect to the first cam member and that includes a speed-changing cam portion for changing at least one of the rotational speed and the rotational direction of the focusing lens unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Seiichi Kashiwaba
  • Publication number: 20090252488
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus. The apparatus includes a housing, a first magnet member, a lens holder, and a second magnet member. The first magnet member is connected to the housing. The first magnet member includes a first surface. The lens holder is in the housing. The lens holder includes a lens. The second magnet member is connected to the lens holder. The second magnet member includes a second surface. The second surface is opposite the first surface of the first magnet member. The second magnet member is configured to move in a direction substantially normal to the first surface of the first magnet member when a magnetic force is generated between the first magnet member and the second magnet member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2008
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Inventors: Marko Eromaki, Mikko Ollila
  • Publication number: 20090252489
    Abstract: A camera module includes a lens unit (30) and a stator (20). The lens unit includes a lens barrel (310), a lens (312) received in the lens barrel and a permanent magnet (32) fixedly mounted around the lens barrel. The stator is for receiving the lens unit therein. The stator includes a coil seat (21b) and a coil (22b) wound therearound. The coil seat includes a base (211b) and at least a connector (24) fixed on one side of the base. The at least a connector is electrically connected with the coil and includes a connecting pin (246) extending towards a bottom surface of the base. The connecting pin is made of an electrically conductive material and adapted for electrically connecting to a printed circuit board arranged under the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Applicants: FU ZHUN PRECISION INDUSTRY (SHEN ZHEN) CO., LTD., FOXCONN TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: CHING-HSING HUANG, CHENG-FA WENG, JEN-TE WANG, HUAI-CHAO YOU, DA-YI WEN
  • Patent number: 7599617
    Abstract: A camera comprises a lens unit and a camera body to which the lens unit is attached by a rotational operation. The camera body is provided with terminals including a specific terminal. Arrangement of the specific terminal is different from that of the other terminals. In detaching the lens unit from the camera body, the specific terminal is adapted to be disconnected earlier relative to the other terminals while the other terminals are connected. After the disconnection of the specific terminal has been detected, the other terminals are set to high impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Kentaro Tokiwa, Takashi Machida
  • Publication number: 20090238553
    Abstract: An interchangeable lens type camera system includes a camera body and an interchangeable lens mountable to the camera body. An error detector detects whether a communication error occurs between a communication unit of the camera body and a communication unit of the interchangeable lens. A display unit displays a first error handling message when the error detector detects the communication error at a time of activation of the interchangeable lens, and displays a second error handling message when the error detector detects the communication error after activation of the interchangeable lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akihiro Tamura
  • Patent number: 7591599
    Abstract: A digital camera system is composed of a camera body and a lens unit removably attached to the camera body. The lens unit has a timing generator (TG) for controlling drive timing of each part of the lens unit. The camera body also has a TG for controlling drive timing of each part of the camera body. When a still image capture mode or a movie capture mode is selected by a mode selection dial, a camera controller switches to a first mode for operating the camera body side TG in synchronization with the lens side TG. When a playback mode is selected, the camera controller switches to a second mode for operating the camera body side TG without synchronizing with the lens side TG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20090231736
    Abstract: A lens barrel capable of preventing reflection of rays of light from a rectilinear motion-causing restriction member on the inner surface of the lens barrel. In a photographic lens unit, to drive an actuator provided on a third lens unit, a flexible wiring board as a current carrying member is connected thereto. This flexible wiring board is disposed in a manner covering the inner surface of a rectilinear motion-causing restriction portion to prevent the same from being exposed toward the optical axis. Further, the flexible wiring board has a surface thereof toward the optical axis subjected to antireflection processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Kudoh
  • Patent number: 7587803
    Abstract: A process for assembling a camera module comprises the following steps:—placing the substrate (10) on a positioning die (70);—irradiating the lens assembly (30) with parallel rays of light (90);—displacing a lens assembly (30) comprising the convex lens (33) in an axial direction;—measuring the light intensity of light passing through a spot hole (75) by means of a light sensor (80) being accommodated in the positioning die (70);—determining an optimal axial position of the lens assembly (30) on the basis of an obtained light intensity curve;—bringing the lens assembly (30) to the optimal axial position;—removing the positioning die (70); and—attaching an image sensor chip to a bottom surface (12) of the substrate (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: TPO Displays Corp.
    Inventors: Vincent Johannes Jacobus Montfort, Fransiscus Gerardus Coenradus Verweg
  • Patent number: 7590342
    Abstract: A lens focusing structure includes a movable mechanism having at least one base, which has a camera lens centered therein and a winding externally wound therearound; an immovable mechanism having at least a frame with magnetic members mounted to four sides thereof, a front cover, and a rear cover, and the movable mechanism being centered in the frame; and at least one shock-absorbing element connected to and between the movable and the immovable mechanism for absorbing jitters produced by the movable mechanism when the latter is displaced to a focused point and then stopped, so as to suppress dynamic response time of the movable mechanism for going from a moving state back to a still state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: TDK Taiwan Corp.
    Inventors: Fu-Yuan Wu, Chao-Ting Fan
  • Publication number: 20090190919
    Abstract: A camera module includes a barrel for receiving at least a first lens, an actuator, and a holder. The actuator includes an annular stator and a carrying member. The stator is connected to the barrel and defines a plurality of spaced parallel inner branches in an inner side thereof. The carrying member is received in the stator and defines a through hole therein for receiving at least a second lens. The carry member defines a plurality of spaced parallel outer branches in the outer sidewall thereof. The outer branches are alternately interleaved between the inner branches and have a voltage thereacross for driving the carrying member to move forward and backward. The holder is connected to the barrel and configured for receiving the barrel and the actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: PEI-CHING KUO
  • Patent number: 7567290
    Abstract: A camera with a removable imaging lens unit is a small and reliable camera which can prevent electrostatic discharge from causing breakdown or malfunctions. Electrical contact points on a camera body are covered and protected by a mount barrier. When mounting the imaging lens unit on the camera body, a push head is placed in contact with the mount barrier and pushes the mount barrier. After the push head pushes down the mount barrier against the urging force of the spring, electrical contact points on the lens unit are connected with the electrical contact points on the camera body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Kentaro Tokiwa, Takehiko Senba, Satoshi Nakamura, Mikio Watanabe, Hiroshi Tanaka, Kazuhiro Tokuda, Kazukiyo Tamada
  • Patent number: 7556443
    Abstract: A shock and/or vibration damped optical lens assembly for electronic equipment. The optical lens assembly of the present invention is particularly useful for electronic equipment such as mobile phones, PDA's, etc. incorporating cameras. By providing a shock and/or vibration damped optical lens assembly allows such devices to more reliably implement auto-focusing and/or zoom lens packages. Accordingly, the present invention facilitates the use of more advanced lens packages in hand-held electronic equipment such as cell phones, PDA's etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
    Inventor: Mats Kleverman
  • Patent number: 7556442
    Abstract: In an optical image acquisition and information transmission system, the system components can be fabricated, according to a first implementation, in a stack positioned on a circuit board. According to a second implementation, the system components are fabricated on a single substrate using the same semiconductor processes for each component. Both implementations result in better performance parameters. These systems are particularly useful as control devices wherein information resulting from processing the acquired image rather than the image itself is transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Gene A. Frantz, Pascal Dorster
  • Publication number: 20090169198
    Abstract: A lens module includes a lens, a lens module and a base. The lens barrel receives the lens therein. The lens barrel includes a hollow cylindrical body, a beveled distal end and a flange. The hollow cylindrical body includes a smooth peripheral side surface free of thread formed thereon. The flange extends outwardly from the cylindrical body. The flange defines an annular groove in a peripheral surface thereof. The base includes a hollow cylindrical holding body coaxially receiving the cylindrical body therein. The holding body has a first distal end, a second distal end and an inner smooth surface. The beveled distal end is configured for facilitating insertion of the cylindrical body in the cylindrical holding body. The flange is configured for being clamped by a tool and being moved toward or away from the base using the tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: KENG-MING CHANG
  • Patent number: 7555211
    Abstract: A nonadjustable focusing type camera module includes a lens assembly having at least one lens, a lens accommodating part mounted on an upper surface of a substrate, and a barrel having an inner space in which the lens assembly is arranged along an optical axis. An upper cap having an incident hole formed in a front center thereof is fixed to the upper side of the barrel to apply pressure to the lens assembly along the optical axis. The camera module further includes an image sensor having an image forming plane on which a light passed through the lens is focused. The sensor is electrically connected to the substrate to transmit the focused image, and a filter is disposed between the lens assembly and the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Min Chul Go
  • Patent number: 7544005
    Abstract: A digital still camera includes a camera main unit and a lens barrel fitted thereon in a removable manner. First electric contacts in a group are disposed on the camera main unit. Second electric contacts in a group are disposed on the lens barrel, for electric contact with the first electric contacts upon mounting of the lens barrel on the camera main unit, and for communication between those. The camera main unit includes a connector, having the first electric contacts, and coupled with a camera front face in an openable manner. The lens barrel includes a cavity, having the second electric contacts, for receiving insertion of the connector opened in a forward direction. The first electric contacts are disposed on a rear surface positioned internally when the connector is closed. Furthermore, a retaining mechanism retains the connector being inserted in the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Takehiko Senba, Seimei Ushiro
  • Patent number: 7544004
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes a lens mount for holding a lens in a barrel, a guide shaft extending parallel to an optical axis of the lens within the barrel and connected to the lens mount for guiding the lens mount along the optical axis, and a support operable to support opposite ends of the guide shaft in its extending direction within the barrel, the support including a support unit operable to support at least one of the opposite ends of the guide shaft, the support unit including a hole provided in the barrel, and a bearing member attached from the exterior of the barrel into the hole and being removable therefrom, the bearing member being rotatable about a center axis of the hole, wherein the bearing member includes a shaft inserted into the hole and a bearing hole provided in the shaft, with one end of the guide shaft being inserted into the bearing hole and a center axis of the bearing hole being eccentric from a center axis of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kawai, Hideharu Miyagaki
  • Patent number: 7540672
    Abstract: A digital still camera module includes an image sensor package (2) and a lens barrel (30) mounted on the image sensor package. The image sensor package includes a substrate (20), an image sensor chip (22), and a cover (28). The substrate defines a receiving chamber (203) therein. The image sensor chip mounted in the receiving chamber of the substrate. The cover, which is transparent and has a smaller profile than that of the substrate, is secured to the top portion of the substrate thereby sealing the receiving chamber. The top portion of the substrate has an uncovered section (29) at a periphery of the cover. The lens barrel includes at least one lens (31) received therein. The lens barrel is securely attached to the uncovered section of the top portion of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Altus Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Webster, Ying-Cheng Wu, Kun-Hsieh Liu, Po-Chih Hsu
  • Patent number: 7540673
    Abstract: A camera system has an optical unit having an image-taking optical system and a camera main unit to which the optical unit is detachably attached. The camera main unit has a detection section which detects attachment and detachment of the optical unit; a data processing section which has two or more modes including a shooting mode for obtaining image data; a mode setting section which sets a mode according to an operation; and a mode switching section which switches a mode to a mode other than the shooting mode thereby entering a standby state when detachment of the optical unit is detected by the detection section during the shooting mode being set by the mode setting section, and which switches a mode back to the shooting mode when attachment of the optical unit is detected by the detection section during the standby state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7539412
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a camera module and a manufacturing method thereof, in which both front and rear directions can be provided by improving the disadvantage of the existing camera module providing only one direction photographing. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the camera module includes first and second image sensor chips whose rear surfaces are adhered by a nonconductive bonding agent so that image region parts face opposite directions, a substrate that is connected to the first image sensor chip using bumps for signal connection and connected to the second image sensor chip using wires for signal connection, a through-hole being formed in the substrate under a region in which the first image sensor chip is mounted, an infrared-shielding filter installed in the through-hole of the substrate, first and second holders disposed on upper and lower sides of the substrate, and first and second lens disposed in the first and second holders, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Terrasem Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong Hyun Lee, Dong Seok Jeon
  • Patent number: 7534059
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: a three-dimensional substrate in which a partition wall (11) having an opening (10a) at a central portion is formed so as to cross an inner cavity; an optical filter (5) that is fixed on a first flat surface (12) of both surfaces of the partition wall so as to cover the opening; a semiconductor imaging device (4) that is face-down mounted on a second flat surface (13) of the partition wall with an imaging area (4a) facing the opening; and an optical system for forming images that is installed on a side of the optical filter in the inner cavity of the three-dimensional substrate. The opening of the partition wall is dosed on both sides with the optical filter and the semiconductor imaging device so as to form a cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Nishizawa
  • Publication number: 20090123145
    Abstract: An optical element position control mechanism includes an optical element holding member which holds an optical element of a photographing system and is guided in an optical axis direction; a drive mechanism for moving the optical element holding member in the optical axis direction; and a biasing device including an arm which is swingable about a swing axis, the swing axis being substantially orthogonal to the optical axis, and the arm extending substantially orthogonal to the swing axis and having a free end portion which engages with the optical element holding member to bias the optical element holding member in the optical axis direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: HOYA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi NOMURA
  • Patent number: 7530748
    Abstract: A camera module is composed from a lens unit including at least one lens, a barrel provided with the lens and having a barrel opening, and a lens holder for holding the barrel; and an image pickup device portion provided under the lens unit and having an image pickup device housing space in which an image pickup device is hermetically provided. The barrel opening of the barrel has an annular edge which serves as a diaphragm, and the annular edge of the barrel opening has a lower annular corner portion which is located on the side of the lens, wherein the lower annular corner portion of the annular edge is formed so as to have a rounded cross-sectional shape and staining is formed on the lower annular corner portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisashi Shibata, Toshihiko Sato
  • Patent number: 7530747
    Abstract: A mobile device having a digital camera and an assembling method for a ring is disclosed. The mobile device includes a housing, a digital camera module and the ring, wherein the housing has a through hole which a notch is formed therein. The digital camera module has an arm. The ring is disposed in the through hole. Besides, one side of the ring includes an extended part which is located on the notch and forms a dynamic relationship with the arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Asustek Computer Inc.
    Inventors: Chung-Ming Wang, Kun-Shiang Tsai
  • Patent number: 7532815
    Abstract: A digital camera is constituted of a camera body and a lens unit. The lens unit is removably attached to the camera body. When the lens unit is attached to the camera body, they are electrically connected through connection terminals. A nonvolatile memory in the lens unit previously stores a chart image that is obtained by capturing a resolving power chart representing image resolving power by a CCD. When an attachment detector of the camera body detects that the lens unit is attached to the camera body, the chart image is transferred into the camera body and is displayed on a LCD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Izumi Miyake
  • Patent number: 7527441
    Abstract: The invention relates to a camera module 100. The camera module 100 comprises a holder 102, which provides a light-conducting channel 121. Within the light-conducting channel 121 a lens 112 having an optical axis 106 is present. A solid-state image sensor 113 is present near an end 122 of the light-conducting channel 121. The image sensor 113 is provided with an image pick-up section 114, which is oriented perpendicularly to the optical axis 106. Near the end 122 of the light-conducting channel, forming part of the holder 102, aligning means 131 are present for aligning the image pick-up section 114 with the optical axis 106. In one embodiment of the camera module 100, the inner wall 130 of the holder 102 is substantially rectangular, seen in cross-sectional view in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis 106. Bulges 131 present near the corners of the rectangle form the aligning means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Erik Harold Groot
  • Publication number: 20090097841
    Abstract: A camera module (100), includes a lens holder (120), a lens barrel (110) threaded in the lens holder, a lens (112) received in the lens barrel, and a plurality of resilient elements (148) connecting the lens with the lens barrel. The camera module further includes a plurality of shape memory alloy elements (142) with a preset shape. Each of the shape memory alloy elements includes two ends, one end attached to the lens, and the other attached to the lens holder. The shape memory alloy elements and the resilient elements cooperatively move the lens relative to the lens holder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: JEN-TSORNG CHANG