Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an electrostatic actuator that can be easily assembled and suitably mass-produced and that can implement requirements of both the steady, smooth and stable operation and the enhanced reliability. The present invention is also directed to a method of activating such an electrostatic actuator, and a camera module used with the same.

Abstract: A method of providing pitch torque compensation for planar motors in which pitch torque is not inherently provided includes calculating and summing a given set of forces ideally required to be applied by each forcer in the planar motor. Correction forces for each forcer are determined such that the net effect of the corrections is equal and opposite to the pitch torques previously determined.

Abstract: An electrostatic actuator includes first and second electrode portions disposed at predetermined intervals, each electrode portion including one or more series of electrodes arranged successively in a predetermined direction; a slider disposed between the first and second electrode portions and having electrode portions at side faces opposed to the first and second electrode portions, the slider being movable in the predetermined direction; an electrostatic capacitance detecting circuit configured to detect electrostatic capacitances between each series of electrodes of the first and second electrode portions and the electrode portions of the slider; and a driving circuit configured to drive the slider in the predetermined direction by applying voltages between selected series of electrodes of one of the first and second electrode portions and the electrode portions of the slider, said selected series of electrodes being selected based on a detected result of the electrostatic capacitance detecting circuit.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an electrostatic actuator that can be easily assembled and suitably mass-produced and that can implement requirements of both the steady, smooth and stable operation and the enhanced reliability. The present invention is also directed to a method of activating such an electrostatic actuator, and a camera module used with the same.

Abstract: A driving apparatus includes a rotor rotatable about a rotational axis and having a cylindrical magnet portion whose outer circumferential surface are divided along a circumferential direction into a plurality of differently magnetized portions, at least an outer magnetic pole portion formed extending in a direction parallel to the rotational axis of the rotor, and facing the outer circumferential surface of the magnet portion, an inner magnetic pole portion formed opposingly to the outer magnetic pole portion, and facing an inner circumferential surface of the magnet portion, and a coil for magnetically exciting the outer and inner magnetic pole portions. The coil is arranged along a direction of the rotational axis of the rotor. The rotor can be selectively held at one of three stop positions, and a condition of −0.3X+0.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an electrostatic actuator that can be easily assembled and suitably mass-produced and that can implement requirements of both the steady, smooth and stable operation and the enhanced reliability. The present invention is also directed to a method of activating such an electrostatic actuator, and a camera module used with the same.

Abstract: An electrostatic actuator comprises first and second movable sections and a stator. The stator has a hollow frame into which the movable sections are arranged independently. Driving electrodes are provided on surfaces of the movable sections and holding electrodes are also provided on the opposite surfaces pf the movable section. A driving electrode section is provided on the inner surface of the stator facing the driving electrodes on the movable section. Also, holding electrode sections are provided on the inner surface of the stator facing the holding electrodes on the movable section. Stripes of the electrodes are arranged in a longitudinal direction and each strip is extended in a lateral direction crossing the longitudinal direction, and the holding electrodes are extended in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A stationary element is provided with side members and electrode plates. The side surfaces of one electrode plate are brought into contact with inner walls surfaces of the side members. In addition, the electrode surface 61 of the other electrode plate is brought into contact with the side surfaces of the side members. One of the electrode plates is adhered to the side members by applying an adhesive to the side surfaces of the electrode plate and the side surfaces of the side members. The other electrode plate is adhered to the side members by applying an adhesive to the side surfaces of the electrode plate and the side surfaces of the side members.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes cam ring which is rotated about an optical axis to move a lens group in the optical axis direction, and a rotational ring which transfers a rotational motion to the cam ring. The rotational ring includes a rotation-transmission arm extending in the optical axis direction. The cam ring includes a bottomed engaging recess which is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the cam ring. The rotation-transmission arm is slidably inserted to be movable in the optical axis direction. The rotation-transmission arm and the engaging recess include a guide groove which extends parallel to the optical axis and a guide projection which is engaged in the guide groove, respectively or vice versa, the rotational ring transferring rotational motion thereof to the cam ring via engagement of the guide groove with the guide projection.

Abstract: An electrostatic actuator comprises first and second stator sections having a first electrode array arranged in a first direction, and a second electrode array of electrodes extending in the first direction, respectively. A movable section having fifth and sixth electrodes arranged to face the first and second electrode arrays, respectively, is arranged between the first and second stator sections. A driving circuit alternately performs a first driving operation in which a DC voltage is applied between the adjacent electrodes of the first electrode array and a second driving operation in which a DC voltage is applied between the electrodes of the second electrode array. The voltage application is successively performed by deviating the positions of the electrodes to which the voltage is applied so as to move the movable section in the first direction while vibrating the movable section between the first and second stator sections.

Abstract: An electrostatic actuator includes first and second electrode portions disposed at predetermined intervals, each electrode portion including one or more series of electrodes arranged successively in a predetermined direction; a slider disposed between the first and second electrode portions and having electrode portions at side faces opposed to the first and second electrode portions, the slider being movable in the predetermined direction; an electrostatic capacitance detecting circuit configured to detect electrostatic capacitances between each series of electrodes of the first and second electrode portions and the electrode portions of the slider; and a driving circuit configured to drive the slider in the predetermined direction by applying voltages between selected series of electrodes of one of the first and second electrode portions and the electrode portions of the slider, said selected series of electrodes being selected based on a detected result of the electrostatic capacitance detecting circuit.

Abstract: An electrostatic actuator comprises first and second movable sections and a stator. The stator has a hollow frame into which the movable sections are arranged independently. Driving electrodes are provided on surfaces of the movable sections and holding electrodes are also provided on the opposite surfaces pf the movable section. A driving electrode section is provided on the inner surface of the stator facing the driving electrodes on the movable section. Also, holding electrode sections are provided on the inner surface of the stator facing the holding electrodes on the movable section. Stripes of the electrodes are arranged in a longitudinal direction and each strip is extended in a lateral direction crossing the longitudinal direction, and the holding electrodes are extended in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: An electrostatic actuator comprises first and second stator sections having a first electrode array arranged in a first direction, and a second electrode array of electrodes extending in the first direction, respectively. A movable section having fifth and sixth electrodes arranged to face the first and second electrode arrays, respectively, is arranged between the first and second stator sections. A driving circuit alternately performs a first driving operation in which a DC voltage is applied between the adjacent electrodes of the first electrode array and a second driving operation in which a DC voltage is applied between the electrodes of the second electrode array. The voltage application is successively performed by deviating the positions of the electrodes to which the voltage is applied so as to move the movable section in the first direction while vibrating the movable section between the first and second stator sections.

Abstract: An electrostatic actuator comprises stators a movable section, and a holder. The stator is fixed to the holder and forms a stator frame together with the holder. The stator is mounted to the holder, faces the stator, and is positioned a predetermined distance away from the stator. Stripe-shaped stator electrodes extending in a predetermined direction are formed on the stators. The movable section comprises a support body arranged within a predetermined clearance and movable in a predetermined direction and movable section electrodes formed on the surface of the support body and positioned to face the stator electrodes. The movable section electrodes are arranged deviant in the moving direction, and the movable section electrodes are arranged deviant in the direction opposite to the moving direction. The movable section is attracted by applying voltage at a predetermined timing to each of the stator electrodes so as to move the movable section.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes a shaft member extending in an optical axis direction, the shaft member having a screw part formed thereon and arranged to be driven by a motor to rotate on an axis thereof A moving member has a screw-engaging part engaging the screw part of the shaft member and the moving member is arranged to move in the optical axis direction. A holding member holds a lens and the holding member and the moving member are moved together in the optical axis direction by rotation of the shaft member. An urging member is arranged to urge the holding member and the moving member to move together in the optical axis direction and permits relative movement of the holding member and the moving member. A stopper is arranged to have the holding member to abut thereon when the holding member moves relative to the moving member against an urging force of the urging member.

Abstract: An interchangeable lens camera including a lens barrel and a camera body. The lens barrel is attached to the camera body via a body side mount and a lens side mount. The lens barrel mounting mechanism, including the body side mount and the lens side mount, is capable of moving along the optical axis of the camera so as to move from a position where the lens barrel is completely collapsed within the camera body to a position where the lens barrel is fully extended for zoom photography. The shortest state of the camera is when the lens barrel is detached from the camera. The lens barrel includes a set tube that is movable along the optical axis, lens units for focusing light onto a film in the camera body, and lens protection elements that open or close depending upon the state of the lens barrel, i.e., detached or attached, collapsed or extended.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for moving a lens and adjusting a diaphragm by a driving force supplied by a single drive source, comprising: a transmission mechanism capable of taking a first transmitting condition by which the driving force is transmitted for both adjusting the diaphragm and moving the lens; and a second transmitting condition by which the driving force is transmitted for either adjusting the diaphragm or moving the lens. Both the lens and the diaphragm are driven while the drive source is supplying the driving force to the transmission mechanism taking the first transmitting condition, and either the lens or the diaphragm is driven while the drive source is supplying the driving force to the transmission mechanism taking the second transmitting condition.

Abstract: A digital camera which includes: a photographic lens movable along an optical axis thereof between a retracted position and a photographing position in front of the retracted position; an image pick-up device on which an object image is formed through the photographic lens, the image pick-up device being guided to be movable between a first position where the image pick-up device is positioned in a photographic optical path of the photographic lens behind the photographic lens and a second position where the image pick-up device is positioned out of the photographic optical path; and a mechanism for moving the image pick-up device between the first position and the second position, wherein the moving mechanism moves the image pick-up device to the first position when the photographic lens is moved from the retracted position to the photographing position, and wherein the moving mechanism moves the image pick-up device to the second position when the photographic lens is moved from the photographing position t

Abstract: An optical instrument equipped with a zoom lens installed in a zoom lens barrel having a lens guide arrangement for zooming up and down and focusing which includes a zooming-up guide path for guiding the lens group and positioning it in one of fixed zoom positions during zooming-up, a zooming-down guide for guiding the lens group and positioning it in one of fixed zoom positions during zooming-down, and focusing guide paths arranged parallel to one another and connect the zooming-up and zooming-down guide path in the fixed zoom position for guiding the lens group during focusing after zooming up or down to one of the fixed zoom position.

Abstract: An automatic focussing system including a photographic lens having a memory for storing informations (S0, A) concerning focussing of the photographic lens, a focus detecting unit for detecting a magnitude (d) of focus deviation of the photographic lens, an operation circuit for producing a magnitude of movement required to attain correct focussing of the photographic lens on the basis of the above-mentioned informations and the magnitude of focus deviation, and a driving unit for driving the photographic lens according to an output of said operation circuit, thereby attaining an optimum focussed state in a short time.

Abstract: An autofocus system and photographic lens to convert a residual defocus amount which is corrected on the camera body side into an appropriate residual drive amount on the photographic lens side. The autofocus system includes, on the camera body side, a focus detection device to detect a defocus amount of a photographic lens, a lens movement information acquisition device to acquire lens movement information, a within-camera correction device to determine a residual defocus amount, correcting the lens movement after focus detection based on relational information representing a relationship between the defocus amount and the lens drive amount and movement information, and an information transmission device to transmit the residual defocus amount to the lens side.

Abstract: A digital still camera having an image pickup device which picks up an image formed by a photographing lens includes a photographing lens provided with at least two lens groups of which the rearmost lens group does not move in the optical axis direction and a sealing member which seals a photographing light path defined between the rearmost lens group and the image pickup device.

Abstract: A camera having a camera system which is capable of reducing the influence that vibration generated in conjunction with driving of an actuator has on other component members of the camera system. The camera includes a lens barrel having a fixed cylinder, a focusing lens group moving mechanism, an actuator, such as an ultrasonic motor, to supply a driving force to the lens group moving mechanism, a vibration detection device to detect vibration, and a camera vibration compensation mechanism to compensate for the detected vibration. The camera system includes a component member having multiple reinforcing sections and a characteristic frequency which does not overlap with a drive frequency band of the ultrasonic motor or with the vibration frequency band of the vibration generated in conjunction with the driving of the ultrasonic motor. The component member may be a stator retaining member which supports a stator of the ultrasonic motor, or a sensor fixed cylinder which secures the vibration detection device.

Abstract: A camera with a collapsible barrel zoom lens has a lens barrel collapsing drive mechanism for putting out a lens barrel including a zoom operation member for operating a plurality of lenses for zooming by controlling the positions of the lenses from a collapsed position to a photographing waiting position in front of the camera body, a bayonet member for positioning and retaining the lens barrel on the camera body, the bayonet member being mounted on the camera body so as to be rotatable about an optical axis, a zoom driving force transmission mechanism for transmitting a zoom driving force to the zoom operation member by connecting an input gear for transmitting a driving force to the zoom operation member provided on the lens barrel and an output gear provided on the camera body, an input gear rotation inhibition member capable of engaging with the input gear while the input gear is moved to a position immediately before the position at which is connected to the output gear, the input gear rotating inhibiti

Abstract: In a new retractable lens barrel of a type wherein a movable barrel is mounted protrudably in an optical axis direction from a fixed barrel or a camera body and filming is possible when the movable barrel is in a protruded state and comprising a movable lens of a variable power and/or focusing system, a space formed when the movable barrel is protruded from the fixed barrel or camera body is made a space in which the movable lens is movable during filming and the casing of the iris unit and a lens holder of a fixed lens are formed integrally. Because the space in which the movable lens is movable during filming is used to accommodate the movable barrel when the camera is not being used and the movable barrel is retracted, the length of the retracted lens barrel in the front-rear direction can be made short.

Abstract: A charge to deflect ink jet printer employs a correction signal to ink droplets to afford more accurate placement on a medium. Assessing the deviation of charged ink droplets from intended and actual impact locations, a control unit then determines an adjustable bias voltage for application to each charged droplet to compensate for the deviation and thus achieve improved image enhancement. This system is well suited for multiple nozzles which may be multicolor such as in computer printers. Both a method of operation and an apparatus are attendant to this system.