Optical apparatus

• US 5,847,887 A
• Filed: 10/24/1997
• Issued: 12/08/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ohtsuka Patent Office
• Original Assignee: Ohtsuka Patent Office
• Inventors: Yanai, Toshikazu, Kimura, Kenichi, Takeda, Nobuhiro, Uchino, Yoshihiro, Ogura, Shigeo, Kurihashi, Toshiya
• Primary Examiner(s): Ben, Loha
• Application Number:
  US08/957,118
• Time in Patent Office: 410 Days
• Field of Search: 359/822, 359/823, 359/818, 359/831, 359/381, 356/400, 250/201.2, 250/201.7, 396/87, 396/98
• US Class Current: 359/822
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/00 Mountings, adjusting means, or light-tight connections, for optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/102 controlled by a microcomputer cameras with interchangeable lenses G03B17/14
• 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 23/54 Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof

Abstract

There is provided an optical apparatus which has excellent assembly performance, can suppress an increase in cost, and attain a decrease in thickness. The optical apparatus includes a board (1) having a photographing optical system and a mechanical system mounted on its surface. A plurality of opening portions (1a, 1b, 1c) are formed in the board (1). The opening portion (1a) is sealed with a sealing member such as a glass member to allow a light beam to pass and prevent dust and the like from entering the storage space for parts between the board (1) and a shield case (49). The photographing optical system mounted on the board (1) includes a stop unit (30) for adjusting the light amount of an object image guided through the opening portion (1a), and prism-like optical members (G1, G2, G3, G4), each consisting of, e.g., a glass or plastic material and having a sculptured surface as a reflecting surface. Light emerging from the optical member (G4) is received by a solid-state image sensing element (2) mounted on the lower surface of the board (1) through the opening portion (1c).

Claims

1. A flat camera comprising,

(a) a prism optical system having plural optical members;

(b) an image sensing device for sensing an image formed by said prism optical system, and for outputting an image signal corresponding to the image; and

(c) moving means for moving said optical members, and for adjusting the optical members to predetermined optical positions.

2. A flat camera according to claim 1, wherein said moving means moves a first optical member for focusing.

3. A flat camera according to claim 2, further comprising a detection circuit for detecting an in-focus state of the first optical member by using predetermined components of the image signal,

wherein said moving means moves the first optical member on the basis of the in-focus state detected by said detection circuit.

4. A flat camera according to claim 1, wherein said moving means moves a second optical member for zooming.

5. A flat camera according to claim 4, further comprising a control circuit for compensating the position of the second optical member to a predetermined zooming position.

6. A flat camera comprising,

(a) a prism optical system having plural optical members supported on one surface of a board;

and

(b) an image sensor arranged to the other surface of the board, for sensing a light which emerges from said prism optical system via opening formed on the board, and for changing the light to an image signal.

7. A flat camera according to claim 6, further comprising support means for supporting said optical members to be movable, and drive means for driving said optical members, said support means and drive means arranged on the one surface of the board.

8. A flat camera according to claim 7, further comprising a drive circuit for driving said image sensor;

a signal processing circuit for processing an image signal output from said image sensor; and

a control circuit for controlling said driving means, said drive circuit, signal processing circuit and control circuit arranged on the other surface of the board.

9. A flat camera according to claim 8, wherein said optical members are prisms, and wherein said control circuit drives the prisms for focusing by said drive means.

10. A flat camera according to claim 9, wherein said control circuit drives the prisms for zooming by said drive means.