Optical apparatus

• US 20060238902A1
• Filed: 04/12/2006
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Sato, Takehiko, Nakashima, Shigeo
• Granted Patent: US 7,525,235 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/824
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/022 lens and mount having complementary engagement means, e.g. screw/thread
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/023 permitting adjustment

Abstract

An optical apparatus is disclosed in which a press contact force for bringing a vibrator and a contact member into press contact with each other is generated between them, and thereby the reaction force of the press contact force is difficult to transmit outward. The optical apparatus comprises a lens holding member which holds a lens, and a vibration type linear actuator which drives the lens holding member in an optical axis direction. The vibration type linear actuator includes a vibrator on which vibration is produced through an electromechanical energy conversion action and a contact member which is in press contact with the vibrator. The vibrator and the contact member is in press contact with each other by a magnetic force acting between them.

Claims

1. An optical apparatus comprising:

a lens holding member which holds a lens; and

a vibration type linear actuator which drives the lens holding member in an optical axis direction, the vibration type linear actuator including a vibrator on which vibration is produced through an electromechanical energy conversion action and a contact member which is in press contact with the vibrator,

wherein the vibrator and the contact member are in press contact with each other by a magnetic force acting between them.

2. The optical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the contact member is formed of a magnet, and the magnet attracts the vibrator.

3. The optical apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the vibrator includes an electromechanical energy conversion element and an elastic member on which vibration is produced by the electromechanical energy conversion element, and

the elastic member is made of ferromagnet.

4. The optical apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a guide member which engages with the lens holding member to guide the lens holding member in the axis direction.