Image stabilizing device

• US 5,774,266 A
• Filed: 05/19/1995
• Issued: 06/30/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Otani, Tadasu, Washisu, Koichi
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN
• Application Number:
  US08/446,558
• Time in Patent Office: 1,138 Days
• Field of Search: 359/554, 359/555, 359/556, 359/557, 359/811, 359/813, 359/815, 359/189, 354/70
• US Class Current: 359/554
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/64 Imaging systems using optical elements for stabilisation of the lateral and angular position of the image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/687 by shifting the lens or sensor position

Abstract

The present invention relates to a deflecting device for deflecting a flux of passing light rays by causing an optical member to move in a plane perpendicular to or approximately perpendicular to the optical axis of an optical system, such as a photographic optical system, in parallel with the plane and making the optical axis of the movable optical member eccentric with respect to the optical axis of the optical system, or to an optical apparatus, such as an image-shake correcting device, for correcting an image shake by the deflection of a pencil of passing light rays. In such a device, there is provided an adjusting mechanism, such as an eccentric shaft or mechanism for supporting the optical members at a plurality of supporting points, for adjusting an inclination of the optical axis of the movable optical member with respect to the optical axis of the optical system to make both the optical axes parallel to each other. According to the above-described arrangement, it is possible to maintain the optical performance of the device or the apparatus at a high level without increasing the precision of constituent elements of mechanism for supporting the movable optical member.

Claims

1. An image stabilizing device comprising:

image-shake correcting optical means for performing an image-shake prevention operation for deflecting a flux of passing light rays by moving in a plane perpendicular to or approximately perpendicular to an optical axis of an optical system;

connecting means for connecting said image-shake correcting optical means and the optical system; and

adjustment means for performing an adjustment operation for adjusting a relative inclination of an optical axis of said image-shake correcting optical means with respect to the optical axis of the optical system, wherein said adjustment means performs the adjustment operation independently of the image-shake prevention operation;

a holding member being integral with said image-shake correcting optical means and having a projection; and

a supporting member for supporting the projection of said holding member at least three supporting points in such a manner that the projection of said holding member is displaceable in a plane perpendicular to or approximately perpendicular to the optical axis of said optical system.

2. An image stabilizing device according to claim 1, wherein said connecting means includes supporting means for supporting said image-shake correcting optical means in such a manner that said image-shake correcting optical means is movable in said plane.

3. An image stabilizing device according to claim 2, wherein said adjustment means adjusts a relative inclination between said image-shake correcting optical means and said supporting means.

4. An image stabilizing device according to claim 3, wherein said adjustment means includes a groove portion provided in said supporting means and a position-adjustable member provided on a member integral with said image-shake correcting optical means and brought into engagement with said groove portion in a positionally adjustable state.

5. An image stabilizing device according to claim 4, wherein said position-adjustable member is an eccentric shaft.

6. An image stabilizing device according to claim 2, wherein said supporting means supports said image-shake correcting optical means in such a manner that said image-shake correcting optical means is displaceable in said plane in at least two directions.

7. An image stabilizing device according to claim 6, wherein said supporting means includes a first supporting member for supporting said image-shake correcting optical means in such a manner that said image-shake correcting optical means is displaceable in a first direction in said plane.

8. An image stabilizing device according to claim 7, wherein said supporting means includes a second supporting member for supporting said image-shake correcting optical means and said first supporting member in such a manner that said image-shake correcting optical means and said first supporting member are displaceable in a second direction in said plane.

9. An image stabilizing device according to claim 8, wherein said adjustment means adjusts a relative inclination between said image-shake correcting optical means and said first supporting member.

10. An image stabilizing device according to claim 9, wherein said adjustment means includes a groove portion provided in said first supporting member and an eccentric shaft provided on a member integral with said image-shake correcting optical means and brought into engagement with said groove portion at its one end.

11. An image stabilizing device according to claim 8, wherein said adjustment means adjusts a relative inclination between said first supporting member and said second supporting member.

12. An image stabilizing device according to claim 11, wherein said adjustment means includes a groove portion provided in said first supporting member and an eccentric shaft provided on a member integral with said image-shake correcting optical means and brought into engagement with said groove portion at its one end.

13. An image stabilizing device according to claim 2, wherein said adjustment means is means for adjusting an inclination of said image-shake correcting optical means and said supporting means with respect to the optical axis of said optical system.

14. An image stabilizing device according to claim 13, wherein said adjustment means is an eccentric shaft for holding said supporting member on a lens-barrel member.

15. An image stabilizing device according to claim 1, wherein said adjustment means is means for adjusting the optical axis of said image-shake correcting optical means and the optical axis of said optical system to be made parallel or approximately parallel to each other.

16. An image stabilizing device according to claim 1, further comprising a pressure applying member for applying pressure to said image-shake correcting optical means and to said holding member in the direction of the optical axis of said optical system.

17. An image stabilizing device according to claim 16, wherein said pressure applying member is provided on said holding member.

18. An image stabilizing device according to claim 16, wherein said pressure applying member is provided on said supporting member.

19. An image stabilizing device according to claim 1, further comprising rotation limiting means for limiting a rotation of said image-shake correcting optical means about the optical axis thereof.

20. An image stabilizing device according to claim 19, wherein said rotation limiting means includes means for supporting said image-shake correcting optical means in such a manner that said image-shake correcting optical means is displaceable in two directions in a plane perpendicular to or approximately perpendicular to the optical axis of said optical system.

21. An image stabilizing device according to claim 19, wherein said rotation limiting means includes rotational displacement detecting means for detecting a rotational displacement of said image-shake correcting optical means about the optical axis of said optical system and rotation driving means for rotationally driving said image-shake correcting optical means in accordance with an output of said rotational displacement detecting means.

22. An image stabilizing device according to claim 21, wherein said rotation limiting means is formed by a plurality of driving members having thrust axes different from each other and thrust directions coincident with each other.

23. A light deflecting device comprising:

light deflecting means for performing a light deflection operation for deflecting a flux of passing light rays by moving in a plane perpendicular to or approximately perpendicular to an optical axis of an optical system;

connecting means for connecting said light deflecting means and the optical system; and

adjustment means for performing an adjustment operation for adjusting a relative inclination of an optical axis of said light deflecting means with respect to the optical axis of said optical system,

wherein said adjustment means performs the adjustment operation independently of the light deflection operation.

24. A light deflecting device according to claim 23, wherein said adjusting means includes a groove portion provided in a member for supporting said light deflecting means and an eccentric shaft brought into engagement with said groove portion at its one end.

25. A light deflecting device according to claim 23, wherein said connecting means includes supporting means for supporting said light deflecting means in such a manner that said light deflecting means is movable in said plane.

26. An image-shake preventing apparatus for image stabilizing, comprising:

connecting means for connecting an image forming optical system and a movable member which moves in a first manner for preventing an image-shake of an image formed by the image forming optical system; and

adjustment means for adjusting a relationship between the image forming optical system and the movable member by moving the movable member in a manner different from the first manner.

27. An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the apparatus includes the movable member.

28. An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said connecting means includes arranging means for arranging the movable member such that the image forming optical system moves in an optical path of light used for forming the image.

29. An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the movable member includes an optical member.

30. An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the movable member includes preventing means for preventing image-shake by moving in a first direction, and said adjustment means includes displacing means for performing the adjustment by displacing the movable member in a direction different from the first direction.

31. An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the movable member includes preventing means for preventing image-shake by movement in a direction substantially perpendicular to an optical axis of the image forming optical system, and said adjustment means includes displacing means for adjusting an inclination of the movable member relative to the optical axis.

32. An optical apparatus, comprising:

connecting means for connecting an image forming optical system for image formation and a movable member which moves in a first manner for preventing an image-shake of an image formed by the image forming optical system; and

adjustment means for adjusting a relationship between the image forming optical system and the movable member by moving the movable member in a manner different from the first manner.

33. A camera, comprising:

connecting means for connecting an image forming optical system for image formation and a movable member which moves in a first manner for preventing an image-shake of an image formed by the image forming optical system; and

adjustment means for adjusting a relationship between the image forming optical system and the movable member by moving the movable member in a manner different from the first manner.

34. An image-shake preventing apparatus for image stabilizing, comprising:

connecting means for connecting an image forming optical system for image formation and a movable member of an image-shake preventing portion, which moves for preventing an image-shake of an image formed by the image forming optical system; and

adjustment means for adjusting a relationship between the image forming optical system and the image-shake preventing portion when the image-shake preventing apparatus is constructed.

35. An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the apparatus includes the movable member.

36. An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said connecting means includes arranging means for arranging the movable member such that the image forming optical system moves in an optical path of light used for forming the image.

37. An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the movable member includes an optical member.

38. An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the movable member includes preventing means for preventing image-shake by moving in a predetermined direction, and said adjustment means includes displacing means for performing the adjustment by displacing the movable member in a direction different from the predetermined direction.

39. An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the movable member includes preventing means for preventing image-shake by movement in a direction substantially perpendicular to an optical axis of the image forming optical system, and said adjustment means includes displacing means for adjusting an inclination of the movable member relative to the optical axis.

40. An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said adjustment means includes mechanical means for performing the adjustment mechanically.

41. An optical apparatus, comprising:

connecting means for connecting an image forming optical system and a movable member of an image-shake preventing portion, which moves for preventing an image-shake of an image formed by the image forming optical system; and

adjustment means for adjusting a relationship between the image forming optical system and the image-shake preventing portion when the optical apparatus is constructed.

42. A camera, comprising:

connecting means for connecting an image forming optical system for image formation and a movable member of an image-shake preventing portion, which moves for preventing an image-shake of an image formed by the image forming optical system; and

adjustment means for adjusting a relationship between the image forming optical system and the image-shake preventing portion when the camera is constructed.

43. An apparatus for light deflection, comprising:

connecting means for intersecting a light deflection portion for deflecting a flux of passing light rays with an optical path by moving the light deflection portion in a first manner; and

adjustment means for adjusting a relationship between the optical path and the light deflection portion by moving the light deflection portion in a manner different from the first manner.

44. An apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said connecting means includes an optical member.

45. An apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said connecting means includes preventing means for preventing image-shake by moving in a predetermined direction, and said adjustment means includes displacing means for performing the adjustment by displacing a movable member in a direction different from the first direction.

46. An apparatus for light deflection, comprising:

connecting means for intersecting a light deflection portion for deflecting a flux of passing light rays with an optical path by moving the light deflection portion relative to the optical path; and

adjustment means for adjusting a relationship between the optical path and the light deflection portion when the apparatus is constructed, wherein the relationship adjusted by the adjustment means is maintained in a fixed state after construction of the apparatus.

47. An apparatus according to claim 46, wherein said connecting means includes an optical member.

48. An apparatus according to claim 46, wherein said connecting means includes preventing means for preventing image-shake by moving in a predetermined direction, and said adjustment means includes moving means for performing the adjustment by moving a movable member in a direction different from the first direction.