Abstract: Provided is an image blur correction apparatus including a lens unit that configured to include at least one lens, and configured to turnable in a first direction which is a direction about a first supporting axis that is orthogonal to a light axis of the lens with respect to an outer housing, and in a second direction which is a direction about a second supporting axis that is orthogonal to the light axis and the first supporting axis, a fixed member configured to turnably support the lens unit in the first direction and the second direction, a first drive unit configured to turn the lens unit in the first direction, and a second drive unit configured to turn the lens unit in the second direction.

Abstract: An image stabilization apparatus is provided that includes a fixed back-plate 101, a movable barrel 103 that holds a correction lens 102 and is movably supported by the fixed back-plate 101 in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis, a first rotary body 104 that is rotatably supported by the fixed back-plate 101 and moves the movable barrel 103 in a first direction depending on rotation thereof, and a first drive motor 106 that drives the first rotary body 104. The center axis of the first rotary body 104 is arranged within the optical path of an image capturing optical system.

Abstract: There is provided a camera module including: a lens; an image pickup device arranged on an optical axis of the lens; and an actuator section configured to reciprocate the image pickup device in an optical axis direction of the lens, wherein the actuator section includes a movable joint section on which the image pickup device is fixed, a parallel link mechanism section having a movable end section attached to the movable joint section and a mounting end section, and a movable element that is configured to perform displacement motion by a displacement amount depending on a level of a voltage to be applied and that is coupled to a coupling region between the movable joint section and the movable end section of the parallel link mechanism section in such a manner that the displacement motion is transmittable.

Abstract: A motor control apparatus includes a state quantity detector configured to output a detection signal in correspondence with a state quantity of a motor, a vibration detection unit configured to detect a disturbance vibration component of the motor based on a torque instruction and the detection signal and output a vibrational component signal in correspondence with the detection result, a speed signal generator configured to generate a speed signal based on a result of subtracting the vibration component signal from the detection signal, and a speed controller configured to generate the torque instruction based on a deviation between a speed instruction and the speed signal.

Abstract: An image stabilization (IS) apparatus that is capable of preventing change of a field angle due to unnecessary mode transition. A selection unit transfers from a first IS mode to a second IS mode with a larger IS effect when a detected shake amount is maintained below a first threshold beyond first determination time and the shake amount is not maintained below a second threshold that is lower than the first threshold beyond a third determination time that is shorter than a second determination time, and transfers from the first IS mode to a third IS mode with the smallest IS effect when the shake amount is maintained below the second threshold beyond the second determination time that is shorter than the first determination time. A control unit controls an IS unit that corrects an image blur using the shake amount in the selected IS mode.

Abstract: An optical apparatus includes an image stabilizer configured to drive a first optical member in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis and to stabilize an image, a light amount adjuster that includes a plurality of blades, and is configured to change a diameter of an aperture configured to transmit a light flux, by rotating the blades, a driver configured to drive the light amount adjuster in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis, and a controller configured to control a driving amount of the driver in accordance with a driving amount of the image stabilizer. The controller drives the image stabilizer and the light amount adjuster in equal directions.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for compensating hand blur are disclosed. The method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprises receiving an angular velocity by tilt of the camera module, determining a first driving signal for driving the second actuator using the angular velocity, calculating a ratio of effective focal length relative to a lens moving distance using the driving of the first actuator, and determining a second driving signal amplifying the first driving signal, using the ratio of effective focal length relative to the lens moving distance.

Abstract: An image capturing system includes a sensor unit that is worn on an user and includes a first motion sensor that detects motion of the user and a subject tracking apparatus that is integrated with a camera platform on which an imaging apparatus is mounted, includes a second motion sensor that detects motion of the camera platform, and controls the motion of the camera platform by using the second motion sensor based on the motion of the user detected by the first motion sensor to allow the imaging apparatus to track a subject.

Abstract: Users are provided with feedback regarding blurriness of an image in real-time. When an image is received, a blur score is automatically generated in addition to a visual that indicates the extent of blurriness across the picture. The blur score is calculated by aggregating an image_blur_score and optionally a motion_blur_score. A user can also be provided with suggestions on improving image sharpness and help in determining if another image needs to be taken.

Abstract: An image stabilizing apparatus for correcting an image which is shaken due to a movement of a camera. The image stabilizing apparatus includes an image adjusting unit that includes: an image analyzing unit which compares an image frame currently input with a reference image, and if the currently input image frame is shaken, extracts a representative direction and a representative magnitude of the shaking; and an image moving unit which moves the currently input image frame by the representative magnitude in a direction opposite to the representative direction.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup section configured by an image pickup optical system, and an image pickup device for a storage section for temporarily storing image data, a display section, a dividing operation section for instructing that a region to be displayed on the display section is to be divided, and a signal processing control section including at least a display control section, and an image processing section, wherein the signal processing control section performs display control of displaying, on the display section, an image based on the image data, dividing a display region of the display section after receiving a division instruction from the dividing operation section, and causing a second image to be displayed in one of regions obtained by the division, and repeatedly updating/displaying a first image in a display region, of the display section, different from an image display region.

Abstract: The invention provides an image pickup apparatus with a blur correcting unit which has a display function of causing a photographer to easily confirm a photographed image. The image pickup apparatus includes photographing lens which forms an object image, a photoelectric conversion unit which is disposed on a predicted image plane of the photographing lens, a display unit which displays a photographed image obtained by the photoelectric conversion unit, an image display control unit which displays the photographed image by the display unit after the photographed image is obtained by the photoelectric conversion unit, a distance information acquiring unit which obtains distance information in the photographed image, and a blur correcting unit which performs blur correction on the photographed image based on the distance information obtained by the distance information acquiring unit. The image display control unit displays the photographed image where plural distances in the photographed image are focused.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a front lens group, which constitutes part of an imaging optical system, at a fixed position with respect to an optical axis direction, wherein the front lens group includes a front lens element and a reflector and the reflector reflects light rays exiting from the front lens element; a movable lens group provided closer to the image plane side than the front lens group and movable along the optical axis; a support member which supports the reflector; a movable frame which supports the front lens element and is supported by the support member to be movable along a plane orthogonal to the optical axis of the front lens element; and a driver which drives the movable frame in the plane, in accordance with vibrations applied to the photographing optical system, to reduce image shake.

Abstract: An image capture apparatus includes: a capturing unit that captures an object image and generates image data; a setting unit that sets an exposure time for the capturing unit; a composition unit that generates composite image data, in which a predetermined number of pieces of image data have been composed, by dividing the exposure time set by the setting unit into multiple exposure time segments and sequentially composing image data obtained from the capturing unit for each of the exposure time segments into which the exposure time has been divided; and a recording control unit that records, into a recording medium, the composite image data generated by the composition unit and history image data generated by sequentially composing the image data, obtained from the capturing unit, that has been sequentially generated up until the composite image data has been generated.

Abstract: There is provided a camera module including: a lens barrel including at least one lens disposed on an optical axis; a housing having the lens barrel disposed therein; and first and second elastic members elastically supporting upper and lower portions of the lens barrel, respectively, wherein the first and second elastic members include a fixed side coupled to the housing and a driving side coupled to the lens barrel, respectively, the fixed side and the driving side being disposed to face each other based on the optical axis.

Abstract: When a shutter speed in shooting by an image capture apparatus using an image stabilization apparatus is higher than a first predetermined value and lower than a second predetermined value which is higher than the first predetermined value, a shake compensation driving unit sets the movable range of a shake compensation lens to be wider than that when it is lower than the first predetermined value or higher than the second predetermined value. While providing an anti-shake capacity necessary for the situation, a phenomenon in which the shake compensation lens stays at a maximum driving position and degradation of the image quality caused by deviation of the shake compensation lens from the center of the optical axis can be suppressed.

Abstract: An image capture system including a camera body and lens unit, a shake detection unit configured to detect a shake, an image stabilization unit arranged in the lens unit to correct a blur of the object image, a correction amount detection unit configured to detect a correction amount of the image stabilization unit, a distortion correction amount calculation unit configured to calculate a distortion correction amount of an image, a motion vector detection unit arranged in the camera body to detect a motion vector from the image captured by the image sensor, and a signal processing unit configured to correct the image based on the motion vector and an output from the distortion correction amount calculation unit.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an apparatus for controlling an actuator in an optical image stabilizer. The apparatus includes a hand-shake frequency determination unit configured to determine a hand-shake frequency based on distance data output from a distance calculator which is configured to calculate a distance based on an output from a motion sensor. The apparatus further includes a proportional-integral-derivative coefficient selection and switching controller configured to apply proportional-integral-derivative coefficients suitable for the determined hand-shake frequency to a PID controller.

Abstract: An image blur correction apparatus including a lens unit configured to include at least one lens and configured to be turnable in a first direction which is a direction about a first supporting axis that is orthogonal to a light axis of the lens with respect to an outer housing, and in a second direction which is a direction about a second supporting axis that is orthogonal to the light axis and the first supporting axis, a fixed member configured to be arranged on an outer periphery side of the lens unit and configured to turnably support the lens unit in the first direction and the second direction, a first drive unit configured to turn the lens unit in the first direction, and a second drive unit configured to turn the lens unit in the second direction.

Abstract: An oscillatory wave drive unit includes at least one vibrator having an electromechanical energy converting element, and at least one supporting member configured to support the at least one vibrator. The oscillatory wave drive unit excites oscillation in the at least one vibrator and moves a moving body in contact with the at least one vibrator by frictional force. The oscillatory wave drive unit includes at least one moving mechanism configured to support the at least one vibrator movably in a plane parallel to the plane where the at least one vibrator and the moving body are in contact with each other, in a second direction intersecting with a first direction in which the at least one vibrator drives the moving body.

Abstract: An optical apparatus includes an imaging optical system, an image capturing unit, a focal length detection unit, an object distance detection unit, a walking shooting determination unit, a sensitivity generation unit configured to generate sensitivity of the correction optical system, a correction amount calculation unit configured to calculate a correction amount of the correction optical system based on the shake amount and the sensitivity, and a control unit configured to drive the correction optical system based on the correction amount. The sensitivity generation unit generates the sensitivity by limiting the object distance or the focal length, or a range of the sensitivity when it is determined that the user of an image capturing apparatus is walking.

Abstract: A camera includes a ferromagnetic member, which is formed of a ferromagnetic material into one of a plate shape and a film shape, and arranged between a coil and an imaging element so that a part of a flat surface is opposed to the coil. The ferromagnetic member has a thickness that is less than a skin depth, which is determined by a drive frequency of a coil, magnetic permeability of the ferromagnetic material, and electric conductivity of the ferromagnetic material. Accordingly, with the ferromagnetic member having a smaller thickness than before, an amount of arrival by which magnetic flux generated at the coil arrives at the imaging element may be reduced.

Abstract: A driving device moves a movable lens in a plane direction intersecting at right angles with an optical axis to correct a shake. The driving device includes a movable frame which holds the movable lens, a fixed frame facing the movable frame, three balls held between the movable frame and the fixed frame, a single tension spring which pulls the movable frame toward the fixed frame to press the three balls, and VCMs which move the movable frame relative to the fixed frame. The tension spring is located inside a triangle that connects the centers of the three balls and outside a holding region where the movable frame holds the movable lens.

Abstract: A zoom lens system comprising a plurality of lens units, wherein a lens unit located closest to an object side and a lens unit located closest to an image side are fixed with respect to an image surface in zooming from a wide-angle limit to a telephoto limit at a time of image taking, and at least three lens units among all the lens units are moving lens units that move along an optical axis in the zooming, at least one lens unit among the moving lens units is a focusing lens unit that moves along the optical axis in focusing from an infinity in-focus condition to a close-object in-focus condition, and the following condition: ?(Tn)/H?2.1 (?(Tn): the total of axial thicknesses of all the moving lens units, H: the maximum image height) is satisfied.

Abstract: A lens holder driving device includes a lens holder moving portion, a fixed member, suspension wires, and a damper compound. In the lens holder moving portion, a lens holder moves in an optical axis and in first and second directions which are orthogonal to the optical axis and which are perpendicular to each other. The fixed member is disposed apart from the lens holder moving portion in the direction of the optical axis. The suspension wires have first end portions fixed to the fixed member at outer regions thereof, extending along the optical axis, having second end portions fixed to an elastic member mounted to the lens holder moving portion, and swingably supporting the lens holder moving portion in the first direction and the second direction. The damper compound is disposed so as to enclose at least one suspension wire and suppresses undesired resonance in the lens holder moving portion.

Abstract: A lens driving device includes a lens barrel supporting a lens; an autofocusing driving unit disposed on one side of a plane perpendicular to an optical axis direction based on the lens barrel to thereby drive the lens barrel in the optical axis direction; and a hand-shake prevention driving unit disposed on sides of the plane perpendicular to the optical axis direction other than the one side on which the autofocusing driving unit is disposed, to thereby drive the lens in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a method and apparatus for calibration of gyro sensors by using magnetic sensor measurements and background computation during normal product operation. In one embodiment, magnetic sensor measurements are used to adjust gyro gain by comparing measured magnetic vector orientation with its expected orientation computed from gyro integration. The background process constantly compares this discrepancy for various values of gyro gain and selects the one that minimizes such error on average. In one embodiment, device orientation obtained by gyro integration is improved by using magnetic sensor measurements.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus having a plurality of executable image blurring correction modes selects an image blurring correction mode to be executed from among the executable image blurring correction modes in accordance with an image capturing situation, and executes the selected image blurring correction mode. The image capturing apparatus has a plurality of display items respectively associated with the image blurring correction modes, and displays the display item corresponding to the image blurring correction mode under execution on a display screen.

Abstract: A User Interface (UI) providing method and a photographing apparatus using the UI providing method are provided. The UI providing method includes capturing an image, calculating a “hand shake” value of the captured image by comparing the captured image with a pre-capture image corresponding to the captured image, and displaying a UI corresponding to the calculated “hand shake” value of the captured image along with the captured image. A user can decide whether to delete or edit a captured image based on “hand shake” information relating to the captured image.

Abstract: A mobile device compensates for a lack of a time stamp when an image frame is captured by estimating the frame time stamp latency. The mobile device captures images frames and time stamps each frame after the frame time stamp latency. A vision based rotation is determined from a pair of frames. A plurality of inertia based rotations is measured using time stamped signals from an inertial sensor in the mobile device based on different possible delays between time stamping each frame and time stamps on the signals from the inertial sensors. The determined rotations may be about the camera's optical axis. The vision based rotation is compared to the plurality of inertia based rotations to determine an estimated frame time stamp latency, which is used to correct the frame time stamp latency when time stamping subsequently captured frames. A median latency determined using different frame pairs may be used.

Abstract: An optical unit may include a fixed body, a movable module which holds an optical element, a swing support point which swingably supports the movable module, and a shake correction drive mechanism structured to swing the movable module with the swing support point as a swing center. The swing support point may be structured of an abutted portion of two members in an optical axis direction between a bottom part of the movable module and a bottom part of the fixed body. At least one of the two members may be made of elastic material.

Abstract: A blur correction apparatus is provided that includes a blur correction mechanism, a locking member, a shift drive processor and an unlocking driver. The blur correction mechanism compensates for camera shake by driving a movable portion provided with one of a correction lens and an imaging device. The locking member restricts movement of the movable portion within a locked range of motion. The shift drive processor moves the movable portion a predetermined distance toward a center of the locked range of motion when locking by the locking member is released and the predetermined distance is shorter than the distance from the movable portion to the center. The unlocking driver moves the locking member to an unlocked position after moving the movable portion the predetermined distance away from the locking member.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes a first retaining member to retain a first driving unit, a second retaining member to retain a second driving unit, a fixing cylinder in which the first retaining member and the second retaining member are disposed adjacent to each other in an optical axis direction, and a cam cylinder disposed about an outer circumference of the fixing cylinder rotatable in a circumferential direction, and the first and the second retaining members are moveable in the fixing cylinder following a same trajectory according to a rotation of the cam cylinder.

Abstract: An image processing method includes a restore step of performing blur restoration for image data, an acquisition step of acquiring image-related information stored together with the image data, and an extraction step of extracting the range of object distances at which the blur restoration is performed, based on the image-related information. In the restore step, blur restoration is performed for the image data in the range of object distances extracted in the extraction step.

Abstract: An imaging device is provided that includes an imaging processor, a distance information detector, an outline-component maximum image detector, and a distance information correcting processor. The imaging processor captures a plurality of secondary images of the same object at different lens positions. The distance information detector detects distance information of the objects captured in each area of an image based on the sum of outline components in each of the areas in each of the secondary images. The outline-component maximum image detector calculates the sum of outline components for each of the secondary images and detects an image with the maximum sum. The distance information correcting processor replaces distance information of a target area, where the sum of outline components is less than a threshold value, with distance information of the image with the maximum sum.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a first image shake correcting unit for correcting image shake and moves a correction lens in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis using detection information obtained by an attitude detection sensor. In a second image shake correcting unit, a translational motion detecting unit acquires information about an image captured by an imaging element from a pre-processing unit so as to detect the motion of the image in the translational direction. An in-plane rotational motion detecting unit detects the motion of the image in the rotational direction about the optical axis. A geometric deforming unit acquires detection information from the translational motion detecting unit and the in-plane rotational motion detecting unit so as to correct the image shake of the corrected image, which occurs when the image is subject to rotational correction based on the detection information obtained from the in-plane rotational motion detecting unit.

Abstract: An offset corresponding to an amount of geometric deformation is added to an amount of drive of an optical member due to an optical image shake correction so that the center of a reference area necessary for geometric deformation processing comes closer to the center of an imaging area. Because of this, a possibility is increased that a reference area necessary for geometric deformation processing is fully contained in an imaging area, and blurring of an image due to a motion of an image capture apparatus is effectively corrected by combining an optical image shake correction and a geometric deformation process.

Abstract: An interchangeable lens includes an image stabilizing unit, a position detector configured to detect a position of the correction lens, and a controller configured to set a movable range of the correction lens, when the interchangeable lens is mounted on a first camera body having a function of correcting at least one of a peripheral brightness and an aberration of a picked-up image according to position information of the correction lens, the controller sets the movable range of the correction lens to a first movable range, and when the interchangeable lens is mounted on a second camera body not having a function of correcting the peripheral brightness or the aberration of the picked-up image according to the position information of the correction lens, the controller sets the movable range of the correction lens to a second movable range that is narrower than the first movable range.

Abstract: An imaging device includes an optical system including optical elements, an image sensor, a lens barrel movable relative to a device body to move the optical elements along an optical axis, a fixed element, a movable element on which the image sensor is mounted, a drive mechanism to generate a drive force by flowing an electric current into a magnetic field, to move the movable element relative to the fixed element, and movable connectors each including a bar element and a bearing provided in the fixed element and the movable element provided to movably support the bar element along the axis. The bar elements of the movable connectors are set to move in different directions along the plane orthogonal to the optical axis. At least one of the bearings is disposed outside the lens barrel in the orthogonal direction relative to the optical axis.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus having a camera shake correction function, includes an optical system, a movable member that is movable on a plane perpendicular to an optical axis of the optical system to achieve the camera shake correction function, an angular velocity detector configured to detect an angular velocity of shake of the image capturing apparatus and generate a detection signal, and a controller configured to drive the movable member based on the output from the angular velocity detector. The controller includes a time change rate limiter configured to limit a time rate of change of angular velocity indicated by the detection signal output from the angular velocity detector to be no greater than a predetermined limiting value, and drive the movable member based on the detection signal output through the time change rate limiter.

Abstract: Disclosed is a camera module. The camera module includes: a lens barrel disposed in a housing to receive a lens assembly; an elastic member in at least one of the housing and the lens barrel; a driving unit moving the lens barrel relative to the housing; and a sensor unit fixed to the housing.

Abstract: An imaging unit includes an image sensor, an imaging optical system which includes a prism that is positioned on the object side of the image sensor, wherein the prism bends an optical path of light emanating from an object to lead the light to the image sensor; a housing which accommodates and supports the image sensor and the prism; a light shield frame, which forms a part of the housing, provided on the object side of an incident surface of the prism, wherein the light shield frame shields a part of the light incident on the incident surface of the prism; and a prism positioning surface which is formed on the housing and contacts the prism to position the prism with respect to the housing.

Abstract: Multi-mode video event indexing includes determining a quality of object distinctiveness with respect to images from a video stream input. A high-quality analytic mode is selected from multiple modes and applied to video input images via a hardware device to determine object activity within the video input images if the determined level of detected quality of object distinctiveness meets a threshold level of quality, else a low-quality analytic mode is selected and applied to the video input images via a hardware device to determine object activity within the video input images, wherein the low-quality analytic mode is different from the high-quality analytic mode.

Abstract: An image shake correcting device includes a movable unit for holding a correction lens, a rotation preventing plate that rotatably supports the movable unit about a first rotation axis orthogonal to the optical axis, and a fixed base plate that rotatably supports the rotation preventing plate about a second rotation axis orthogonal to the optical axis. The first rotation axis and the second rotation axis intersect at point O on the optical axis of the correction lens. An urging spring urges in a direction where both the movable unit and the fixed base plate are brought closer to each other. A first rolling ball is located on a first hypothetical spherical surface formed between the movable unit and the rotation preventing plate, and a second rolling ball is located on a second hypothetical spherical surface formed between the rotation preventing plate and the fixed base plate.

Abstract: An image shake correction apparatus includes a fixed member; a movable member configured to hold a correcting member that corrects image shake and configured to have a first connecting unit and a second connecting unit; a first moving member connected to the first connecting unit, and configured to move the movable member in a first direction via the first connecting unit; a second moving member connected to the second connecting unit, and configured to move the movable member in a second direction different from the first direction via the second connecting unit; a first drive unit configured to drive the first moving member; and a second drive unit configured to drive the second moving member independently of driving of the first moving member. The first drive unit and the second drive unit share a constituent component.

Abstract: A device can comprise an outer frame, a platform, and a motion control mechanism. The motion control mechanism can be adapted to permit movement of the platform in a desired direction with respect to the outer frame and inhibit rotation of the platform with respect to the outer frame. An actuator can be contained at least partially within the motion control mechanism.

Abstract: A lens holder driving device includes an auto-focusing lens holder driving portion moving a lens holder holding a lens barrel along an optical axis, and an image stabilizer portion stabilizing image blurred by moving the auto-focusing lens holder driving portion in first and second directions which are orthogonal to the optical axis and which are perpendicular to each other. The image stabilizer portion includes: a fixed portion disposed apart from the auto-focusing lens holder driving portion in the direction of the optical axis; a plurality of suspension wires having first end portions fixed to the fixed portion at outer regions thereof, extending along the optical axis, having second end portions fixed to the auto-focusing lens holder driving portion, and swingably supporting the auto-focusing lens holder driving portion in the first direction and the second direction; and a fracture preventing member preventing the suspension wires from fracturing.

Abstract: An AF unit of a lens holder driving device includes a lens holder, a focusing coil, a permanent magnet having a plurality of permanent magnet pieces having first surfaces opposed to the focusing coil, a magnet holder holding the permanent magnet, and first and second leaf springs supporting the lens holder in a direction of an optical axis shiftably. An image stabilizer portion includes a fixed portion disposed near the second leaf spring, a supporting member swingably supporting the AF unit with respect to the fixed portion, an image stabilizer coil having a plurality of image stabilizer coil portions disposed so as to oppose to second surfaces of the plurality of permanent magnet pieces that are perpendicular to the first surfaces, and a plurality of Hall elements. Each Hall element is disposed at a position where the image stabilizer coil portion is separated into a plurality of coil parts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a moving member control apparatus that makes sure unerring control of a moving member having an ill-balanced structure and an imaging apparatus that incorporates that control apparatus.

Abstract: The CPU acquires the output of an angular velocity sensor and performs image shake correction. An angle 1 calculating unit integrates a signal from which an offset component is removed to calculate an angle 1. An angular velocity subtraction amount calculating unit calculates an angular velocity subtraction amount based on a signal obtained by subtracting a first offset from the output of the angular velocity sensor and a signal obtained by subtracting a second offset from the output of the angle 2 calculating unit. An angle 2 calculating unit integrates a signal obtained by subtracting the angular velocity subtraction amount from the output of the angular velocity sensor to calculate an angle 2. The CPU performs image shake correction based on the angle 1 prior to operation of a release SW, whereas the CPU performs image shake correction based on the angle 2 after operation of the release SW.