Position-detecting apparatus

• US 20050190267A1
• Filed: 02/25/2005
• Published: 09/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PENTAX RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD.
• Original Assignee: Pentax Corporation (Hoya Corporation)
• Inventors: Uenaka, Yukio, Seo, Shuzo
• Granted Patent: US 7,405,750 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/208.99
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2217/005 Blur detection
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 5/00 Adjustment of optical system relative to image or object surface other than for focusing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/68 for stable pick-up of the scene, e.g. compensating for camera body vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/687 by shifting the lens or sensor position

Abstract

An anti-shake apparatus of a photographing apparatus comprises a movable-unit and a fixed-unit. The movable-unit has an imaging-device and is movable in first and second directions. The fixed-unit slidably supports the movable-unit in both the first and second directions. The movable-unit has a horizontal hall-element for detecting a first location in the first direction of the movable-unit, and a vertical hall-element for detecting a second location in the second direction of the movable-unit. The fixed-unit has a magnet unit which is used for detecting the first and second locations, and which has first and second horizontal magnets and first and second vertical magnets. The polarities of the first and second horizontal magnets are arranged in opposite directions, in the third direction. N-pole of the first horizontal magnet and S-pole of the second horizontal magnet are separated in the first direction by a first distance, and face the horizontal hall-element.

Claims

1. An anti-shake apparatus of a photographing apparatus, comprising:

a movable unit that has one of an imaging device and a hand-shake correcting lens, and that can be moved in first and second directions, said first direction being perpendicular to an optical axis of a photographing lens of said photographing apparatus, and said second direction being perpendicular to said optical axis and said first direction; and

a fixed unit that slidably supports said movable unit in both said first and second directions;

one of said movable unit and said fixed unit having a magnetic-field change-detecting unit which has a horizontal magnetic-field change-detecting element for detecting a first location in said first direction of said movable unit, and a vertical magnetic-field change-detecting element for detecting a second location in said second direction of said movable unit;

another of said movable unit and said fixed unit having a position-detecting magnet unit which is used for detecting said first and second locations, and which faces said magnetic-field change-detecting unit, and which has first and second horizontal position-detecting magnets and first and second vertical position-detecting magnets;

the N pole and S pole of said first horizontal position-detecting magnet being arranged in a third direction which is parallel to said optical axis and is perpendicular to said first and second directions;

the N pole and S pole of said second horizontal position-detecting magnet being arranged in said third direction;

the polarities of said first and second horizontal position-detecting magnets being arranged in opposite directions, in said third direction;

said N pole of said first horizontal position-detecting magnet and said S pole of said second horizontal position-detecting magnet being separated in said first direction by a first distance, and facing said horizontal magnetic-field change-detecting element;

said first and second horizontal position-detecting magnets being used for detecting said first location;

the N pole and S pole of said first vertical position-detecting magnet being arranged in said third direction;

the N pole and S pole of said second vertical position-detecting magnet being arranged in said third direction;

the polarities of said first and second vertical position-detecting magnets being arranged in opposite directions, in said third direction;

said N pole of said first vertical position-detecting magnet and said S pole of said second vertical position-detecting magnet being separated in said second direction by a second distance, and facing said vertical magnetic-field change-detecting element; and

said first and second vertical position-detecting magnets being used for detecting said second location.

2. The anti-shake apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said position-detecting magnet unit has a first spacer between said first and second horizontal position-detecting magnets, for spacing at said first distance, and a second spacer between said first and second vertical position-detecting magnets, for spacing at said second distance;

and

said first and second spacers are made of a non-magnetic material.

3. The anti-shake apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said horizontal magnetic-field change-detecting element is located at a place on said magnetic-field change-detecting unit which faces an intermediate area between said first and second horizontal position-detecting magnets in said first direction, and said vertical magnetic-field change-detecting element is located at a place on said magnetic-field change-detecting unit which faces an intermediate area between said first and second vertical position-detecting magnets in said second direction, when a center of one of said imaging device and said hand-shake correcting lens which is included in said movable unit, passes through said optical axis.

4. The anti-shake apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a value of a first predetermined voltage which is applied to the input terminals of said horizontal magnetic-field change-detecting element, is increased in comparison with when said first and second horizontal position-detecting magnets are in contact with each other;

and

a value of a second predetermined voltage which is applied to the input terminals of said vertical magnetic-field change-detecting element, is increased in comparison with when said first and second vertical position-detecting magnets are in contact with each other.

5. The anti-shake apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a value of a first amplification rate which amplifies a horizontal potential-difference between the output terminals of said horizontal magnetic-field change-detecting element for detecting said first location, is increased in comparison with when said first and second horizontal position-detecting magnets are in contact with each other;

and

a value of a second amplification rate which amplifies a vertical potential-difference between the output terminals of said vertical magnetic-field change-detecting element for detecting said second location, is increased in comparison with when said first and second vertical position-detecting magnets are in contact with each other.

6. The anti-shake apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a magnetic-field change-detecting signal processing unit which has a horizontal magnetic-field change-detecting signal processing circuit and a vertical magnetic-field change-detecting signal processing circuit;

said horizontal magnetic-field change-detecting signal processing circuit having a horizontal subtracting amplifier circuit which detects a first detected-position signal for specifying said first location, by using a calculation including a multiplication of said horizontal potential-difference by said first amplification rate; and

said vertical magnetic-field change-detecting amplifier circuit which detects a second detected-position signal for specifying said second location, by using a calculation including a multiplication of said vertical potential-difference by said second amplification rate.

7. The anti-shake apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said horizontal magnetic-field change-detecting signal processing circuit has a horizontal differential amplifier circuit which amplifies a first signal difference between said output terminals of said horizontal magnetic-field change-detecting element;

said vertical magnetic-field change-detecting signal processing circuit has a vertical differential amplifier circuit which amplifies a second signal difference between said output terminals of said vertical magnetic-field change-detecting element;

said horizontal subtracting amplifier circuit calculates said horizontal potential-difference on the basis of a difference between said amplified first signal difference and a reference voltage; and

said vertical subtracting amplifier circuit calculates said vertical potential-difference on the basis of a difference between said amplified second signal difference and said reference voltage.

8. The anti-shake apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said horizontal differential amplifier circuit has first and second horizontal operational amplifiers;

said horizontal subtracting amplifier circuit has a third horizontal operational amplifier, and first, second, third, and fourth horizontal resistors;

said vertical differential amplifier circuit has first and second vertical operational amplifiers;

said vertical subtracting amplifier circuit has a third vertical operational amplifier, and first, second, third, and fourth vertical resistors;

an output terminal of said first horizontal operational amplifier is connected with an inverting input terminal of said third horizontal operational amplifier through said first horizontal resistor;

an output terminal of said third horizontal operational amplifier is connected with said inverting input terminal of said third horizontal operational amplifier through said second horizontal resistor;

an output terminal of said second horizontal operational amplifier is connected with a non-inverting input terminal of said third horizontal operational amplifier through said third horizontal resistor;

said non-inverting input terminal of said third horizontal operational amplifier is connected with said reference voltage through said fourth horizontal resistor;

an output terminal of said first vertical operational amplifier is connected with an inverting input terminal of said third vertical operational amplifier through said first vertical resistor;

an output terminal of said third vertical operational amplifier is connected with said inverting input terminal of said third vertical operational amplifier through said second vertical resistor;

an output terminal of said second vertical operational amplifier is connected with a non-inverting input terminal of said third vertical operational amplifier through said third vertical resistor;

said non-inverting input terminal of said third vertical operational amplifier is connected with said reference voltage through said fourth vertical resistor;

said first amplification rate is increased on the basis that the values of said first and third horizontal resistors are the same, and the values of said second and fourth horizontal resistors are the same and larger than those of said first and third horizontal resistors; and

said second amplification rate is increased on the basis that the values of said first and third vertical resistors are the same, and the values of said second and fourth vertical resistors are the same and larger than those of said first and third vertical resistors.

9. The anti-shake apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said movable unit has said magnetic-field change-detecting unit, and said fixed unit has said position-detecting magnet unit.

10. The anti-shake apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said first and second horizontal position-detecting magnets are used for moving said movable unit in said first direction, and said first and second vertical position-detecting magnets are used for moving said movable unit in said second direction.

11. The anti-shake apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said magnetic-field change-detecting unit is a one-axis hall element;

and

said horizontal magnetic-field change-detecting element and said vertical magnetic-field change-detecting element are hall elements.

12. A position-detecting apparatus, comprising:

a movable unit that has can be moved in a first direction; and

a fixed unit that slidably supports said movable unit in said first direction;

one of said movable unit and said fixed unit having a magnetic-field change-detecting unit which has a magnetic-field change-detecting element for detecting a first location in said first direction of said movable unit;

another of said movable unit and said fixed unit having a position-detecting magnet unit which is used for detecting said first location, and which faces said magnetic-field change-detecting unit, and which has first and second position-detecting magnets;

the N pole and S pole of said first position-detecting magnet being arranged in a second direction which is perpendicular to said first direction;

the N pole and S pole of said second position-detecting magnet being arranged in said second direction;

the polarities of said first and second position-detecting magnets being arranged in opposite directions, in said second direction;

said N pole of said first position-detecting magnet and said S pole of said second position-detecting magnet being separated in said first direction by a first distance, and facing said magnetic-field change-detecting element; and

said first and second position-detecting magnets being used for detecting said first location.

13. The position-detecting apparatus according to claim 12, wherein a value of a predetermined voltage which is applied to the input terminals of said magnetic-field change-detecting element, is increased in comparison with when said first and second position-detecting magnets are in contact with each other.

14. The position-detecting apparatus according to claim 12, wherein a value of a amplification rate which amplifies a potential-difference between the output terminals of said magnetic-field change-detecting element for detecting said first location, is increased in comparison with when said first and second position-detecting magnets are in contacted with each other.

15. The position-detecting apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising a magnetic-field change-detecting signal processing unit which has a magnetic-field change-detecting signal processing circuit;

said magnetic-field change-detecting signal processing circuit having a subtracting amplifier circuit which detects a first detected-position signal for specifying said first location, by using a calculation including a multiplication of said potential-difference by said amplification rate.