Dust removal camera

• US 20050280712A1
• Filed: 08/24/2005
• Published: 12/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OM Digital Solutions Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Kawai, Sumio
• Granted Patent: US 7,609,315 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/207.99
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/52 Elements optimising image sensor operation, e.g. for electromagnetic interference [EMI] protection or temperature control by heat transfer or cooling elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/81 for suppressing or minimising disturbance in the image signal generation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/811 by dust removal, e.g. from surfaces of the image sensor or processing of the image signal output by the electronic image sensor

Abstract

A camera provided with a lens assembly, a CCD and a circuit for applying a signal which is disposed between the lens assembly and the CCD, where the circuit for applying a signal is vibrated.

Claims

1. A dust removal camera comprising:

an image pickup optical system which forms an optical image of an object;

a photoelectric converting device which converts the optical image to an electric signal;

a mechanical shutter disposed between the image pickup optical system and the photoelectric converting device;

an optical device provided between the mechanical shutter and the photoelectric converting device so as to cover an image formation face of the photoelectric converting device; and

a vibration applying section which generates a vibrational wave on a surface of the optical device, and includes piezoelectric bodies fixed outside an image formation light ray passing-through area of the optical device, a pair of electric terminals connected to the piezoelectric bodies, and an oscillator applying cyclic voltages to the piezoelectric bodies via the pair of the electric terminals.

2. The dust removal camera according to claim 1, wherein one electric terminal of the pair of electric terminals is disposed between the optical device and the piezoelectric bodies, and is connected to a fixed surface of the piezoelectric bodies.

3. The dust removal camera according to claim 2, wherein said one electric terminal disposed between the optical device and the piezoelectric bodies includes a conductive pattern formed on the optical device.

4. The dust removal camera according to claim 2, wherein said one electric terminal disposed between the optical device and the piezoelectric bodies is connected to a ground of a circuit.

5. The dust removal camera according to claim 1, wherein the photoelectric converting device is held by a holding member having an opening portion which guides lights from the image pickup optical system to the photoelectric converting device, and the optical device covers the opening portion to seal the photoelectric converting device.

6. The dust removal camera according to claim 5, wherein the optical device is attached to the holding member in the vicinity of a node of the vibrational wave.

7. The dust removal camera according to claim 1, wherein the image pickup optical system is exchangeable.

8. The dust removal camera according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical shutter includes a focal-plane shutter.

9. The dust removal camera according to claim 1, wherein said oscillator applies a voltage of a frequency, in which said optical device resonates, to said piezoelectric bodies.

10. The dust removal camera according to claim 9, wherein a voltage of a frequency, which is determined according to a form, material, holding method, and vibrating manner of said optical device, is applied to said piezoelectric bodies.