Image stabilizing actuator and camera furnished therewith
First Claim
1. An actuator for moving an imaging lens within a plane perpendicular to its optical axis to prevent image blurring, the actuator comprising:
- a fixed portion;
a movable portion to which the imaging lens is attached;
a plurality of spherical bodies supporting the movable portion in such a way that it can move on a plane parallel to the fixed portion;
a drive means for driving the movable portion with respect to the fixed portion;
a fixed portion spherical body receiving surface disposed on the fixed portion and contacting the spherical bodies;
a movable portion spherical body receiving surface disposed on the movable portion and contacting the spherical bodies;
a biasing means for generating a biasing force to cause the movable portion and the fixed portion to approach one another to sandwich the spherical bodies between the fixed portion spherical body receiving surface and the movable portion spherical body receiving surface; and
a spherical body receiving surface protection means to reduce contact pressure acting on the spherical bodies to sandwich the spherical bodies when the movable portion is moved to a predetermined protected position and not under image stabilization control.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Problem: To provide an actuator capable of preventing damage to spherical bodies and their receiving surfaces when subjected to a shock force.
Solution Means: The present invention is an actuator (10) for stabilizing images by moving an imaging lens, comprising a fixed portion (12), a movable portion (14) to which an imaging lens is attached, a plurality of spherical bodies (18) for supporting the movable portion, a fixed portion spherical body receiving surface (28b) disposed on the fixed portion and contacting the spherical bodies, a movable portion spherical body receiving surface (30b) disposed on the movable portion and contacting the spherical bodies, a biasing means (26) for sandwiching the spherical bodies between the fixed portion spherical body receiving surface and the movable portion spherical body receiving surface, and spherical body receiving surface protection means (29, 30) which, when image stabilization control is not in effect, reduce the contact pressure acting on the spherical bodies so as to sandwich the spherical bodies when the movable portion is moved to a predetermined protected position.
33 Citations
7 Claims
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1. An actuator for moving an imaging lens within a plane perpendicular to its optical axis to prevent image blurring, the actuator comprising:
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a fixed portion; a movable portion to which the imaging lens is attached; a plurality of spherical bodies supporting the movable portion in such a way that it can move on a plane parallel to the fixed portion; a drive means for driving the movable portion with respect to the fixed portion; a fixed portion spherical body receiving surface disposed on the fixed portion and contacting the spherical bodies; a movable portion spherical body receiving surface disposed on the movable portion and contacting the spherical bodies; a biasing means for generating a biasing force to cause the movable portion and the fixed portion to approach one another to sandwich the spherical bodies between the fixed portion spherical body receiving surface and the movable portion spherical body receiving surface; and a spherical body receiving surface protection means to reduce contact pressure acting on the spherical bodies to sandwich the spherical bodies when the movable portion is moved to a predetermined protected position and not under image stabilization control. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification