Image taking device having image-blur compensator

• US 20030067544A1
• Filed: 09/30/2002
• Published: 04/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd. (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd. (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Wada, Shigeru
• Granted Patent: US 7,436,435 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/208.7
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2205/0015 by displacing one or more optical elements normal to the optical axis
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2205/0061 using piezoelectric actuators
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 5/00 Adjustment of optical system relative to image or object surface other than for focusing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/54 Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/68 for stable pick-up of the scene, e.g. compensating for camera body vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/6812 based on additional sensors, e.g. acceleration sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/687 by shifting the lens or sensor position

Abstract

A compensator for correcting a possible blur of image caused by a shake of an image pickup apparatus in which the compensator is arranged, and in which a downsize circuit board having a diminished area thereof and holding an image taking component is swung or moved. The compensator includes the circuit board with the diminished area for holding the image taking component, in which the circuit board is moved together with the image taking component. On the circuit board, there are arranged the image taking component and at least one other component. The at least one other component can be a component which is associated with reading of the signal(s) of the image outputted from the image taking element, and/or can be a component which is associated with the control to correct the possible blur of the image caused by the shake of the image pickup apparatus.

Claims

1. An image taking device comprising:

a circuit board;

an image taking element which is held by the circuit board; and

at least one component which is held by the circuit board,

wherein the image taking element is moved together with the circuit board so as to compensate a blur of image which is taken by the image taking element, in which the blur of image is caused by a vibration of the image taking device.

2. The image taking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one component is a component for reading a signal of the image which is taken by the image taking element.

3. The image taking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one component is a component for processing a signal of the image which is taken by the image taking element.

4. The image taking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one component is a component for controlling compensation of the blur of the image.

5. The image taking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one component is a component for detecting the amount of the manual shake.

6. An image taking device comprising:

an image taking element which is provided movably in parallel with a light receiving surface of the image taking element; and

a cover which is provided with respect to the image taking element so as to hermetically cover at least an effective image taking surface of the image taking element, in which a part, corresponding to the effective image taking surface, of the cover, is made of a transparent member,

wherein the cover is moved together with the image taking element.

7. The image taking device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the transparent member functions as a filter to cut infrared rays.

8. The image taking device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the cover is closely provided on an image taking surface, including the effective image taking surface, of the image taking element.

9. The image taking device as claimed in claim 8, which further comprises a biasing device for elastically biasing the cover against the image taking surface.

10. The image taking device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the transparent member is kept away from an image taking surface, including the effective image taking surface, of the image taking element by a predetermined distance therebetween.

11. An image taking device comprising:

a lens barrel;

an image taking element;

a circuit board on which the image taking element is mounted;

a driver for moving the image taking element and the circuit board with respect to the lens barrel,

wherein the image taking element and the circuit board are provided on an end of the lens barrel, in which the image taking element and the circuit board are movable within a surface which is perpendicular to an optical axis, and

wherein the driver is provided around the image taking element and is provided in a space between the circuit board and the end of the lens barrel.

12. The image taking device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the driver comprises:

a base plate for supporting a first actuator which extends in a first direction, in which the base plate is fixed to the end of the lens barrel;

a first slider which slidably engages with the first actuator, in which the first slider is movable in the first direction with respect to the base plate;

a second slider for supporting a second actuator which extends in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, in which the first slider slidably engages with the second actuator, and in which the second slider is movable in the second direction with respect to the first slider,

wherein the image taking element is fixed to the second slider.

13. The image taking device as claimed in claim 12, wherein each of the base plate, the first slider and the second slider is annular in shape, and

wherein the second slider is provided in a central space of the first slider and in a central space of the base plate.

14. The image taking device as claimed in claim 12, wherein each of the first actuator and the second actuator is an actuator employing at least one piezoelectric element.