Image blur prevention apparatus

• US 5,974,268 A
• Filed: 08/12/1997
• Issued: 10/26/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Washisu, Koichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Metjahic, Safet
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dalakis, Michael
• Application Number:
  US08/909,625
• Time in Patent Office: 805 Days
• Field of Search: 396/52-55, 348/208
• US Class Current: 396/55
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2205/0007 Movement of one or more optical elements for control of motion blur
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2205/0069 using electromagnetic actuators, e.g. voice coils
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2217/005 Blur detection
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 5/00 Adjustment of optical system relative to image or object surface other than for focusing

Abstract

The relative positional relationship between a movable member which is moved to prevent image blur and a locking device for locking the movable member is shifted by an elastic force using a spring or the like from the relative positional relationship while image blur is being prevented to the relative positional relationship in which the locking device is able to lock the movable member. As a result, since electric power is not required for the above shift, the shift is possible even if a power supply is used up in a state in which the movable member is not locked.

Claims

1. An image blur prevention apparatus comprising:

a movable member for preventing image blur; and

a restricting device which performs a restricting operation for restricting movement of said movable member, said restricting device includes a projecting portion projecting through said movable member and moving in a predetermined direction to move said movable member from a position at which said restricting device does not perform the restricting operation to a position at which said restricting device performs the restricting operation and an elastic force generating portion which generates a positive elastic force for moving said projecting portion in the predetermined direction.

2. An image blur prevention apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said restricting device comprises means for moving said moving portion, by the elastic force, to move said movable member to a position at which said restricting device is able to perform the restricting operation.

3. An image blur prevention apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

means for restricting the action of the elastic force at least when an image blur is prevented.

4. An image blur prevention apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said restricting device comprises means for mechanically restricting movement of said movable member.

5. An image blur prevention apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said movable member comprises an optical member.

6. An image blur prevention apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus comprises means for being provided for an optical apparatus.

7. An image blur prevention apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus comprises means for being provided for a camera.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said restricting device comprises a first member and a second member which slides with respect to said first member, and said movable member is moved by sliding of said second member.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein at least one of said first and second members is arranged with said movable member in a body.

10. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein at least one of said first and second members rotates causing said second member to slide relative to said first member.

11. A camera comprising:

a movable member for preventing image blur; and

a restricting device which performs a restricting operation for restricting movement of said movable member,

said restricting device includes a projecting portion projecting through said movable member and moving in a predetermined direction to move said movable member from a position at which said restricting device does not perform the restricting operation to a position at which said restricting device performs the restricting operation and an elastic force generating portion which generates a positive elastic force for moving said projecting portion in the predetermined direction.

12. An optical apparatus comprising:

a movable member for preventing image blur; and

a restricting device which performs a restricting operation for restricting movement of said movable member,

said restricting device includes a projecting portion projecting through said movable member and moving in a predetermined direction to move said movable member from a position at which said restricting device does not perform the restricting operation to a position at which said restricting device performs the restricting operation and an elastic force generating portion which generates a positive elastic force for moving said projecting portion in the predetermined direction.

13. An image blur prevention apparatus, comprising:

a movable member for preventing image blur;

a driving device which drives said movable member for preventing image blur; and

a restricting device which performs a restricting operation for restricting movement of said movable member, said restricting device comprising a first member which rotates around a predetermined rotation center and a second member which contacts said first member,

wherein, by rotating said first member, said restricting device shifts a position at which said first member contacts said second member from a first position to a second position, a distance of the second position from the rotation center being different from a distance of the first position from the rotation center, and moves said movable member to a position at which said restriction device performs the restricting operation.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein

the distance of the second position from the rotation center is shorter than the distance of the first position from the rotation center, and

said restricting device further comprises means for moving said second member toward the rotation center by rotating said first member.

15. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said restricting device further comprises means for restricting said movable member at a position at which said first member contacts said second member at the second position.

16. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said second member and said movable member move together.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said second member and said movable member are arranged in a body.

18. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said first member comprises an area on which said second member slides, the area including the first and second positions.

19. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said movable member comprises an optical member.

20. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said first member comprises a member surrounding an optical path through which light passes said optical member, said member being able to rotate around the optical path.

21. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said driving device comprises means for moving said movable member in accordance with a state of the image blur.

22. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said driving device comprises means for driving said movable member by an electrical force.

23. An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said driving device comprises a coil and a permanent magnet.

24. A camera comprising:

a movable member for preventing image blur;

a driving device which drives said movable member for preventing image blur; and

a restricting device which performs a restricting operation for restricting movement of said movable member, said restricting device comprising a first member which rotates around a predetermined rotation center and a second member which contacts said first member,

wherein, by rotating said first member, said restricting device shifts a position at which said first member contacts said second member from a first position to a second position, a distance of the second position from the rotation center being different from a distance of the first position from the rotation center, and moves said movable member to a position at which said restriction device performs the restricting operation.

25. An optical apparatus comprising:

a movable member for preventing image blur;

a driving device which drives said movable member for preventing image blur; and

a restricting device which performs a restricting operation for restricting movement of said movable member, said restricting device comprising a first member which rotates around a predetermined rotation center and a second member which contacts said first member,

wherein, by rotating said first member, said restricting device shifts a position at which said first member contacts said second member from a first position to a second position, a distance of the second position from the rotation center being different from a distance of the first position from the rotation center, and moves said movable member to a position at which said restriction device performs the restricting operation.

26. An image blur prevention apparatus, comprising:

a movable member for preventing image blur; and

restricting means for performing a restricting operation for restricting movement of said movable member, said restricting means including a projecting portion projecting perpendicularly relative to said movable member and a receiving portion at least partially surrounding said projecting portion, at least one of said projecting portion and said receiving portion moving relative to the other of said projecting portion and said receiving portion in a predetermined direction thereby moving said restricting device from a position at which said restricting device does not perform the restricting operation to a position at which said restricting device performs the restricting operation, said restricting device further including an elastic force generating portion which generates a positive elastic force for moving said at least one of said projecting portion and said receiving portion in the predetermined direction.

27. An image blur prevention apparatus as recited in claim 26, wherein said movable member includes a frame and said projecting portion rotates relative to said frame.

28. An image blur prevention apparatus as recited in claim 26, wherein said movable member includes a frame and said receiving portion rotates relative to said frame.

29. An image blur prevention apparatus, comprising:

a movable member for preventing image blur; and

a restricting device for restricting movement of said movable member, wherein said restricting device includes (1) a moving portion which moves in a predetermined direction to move said movable member from a position at which said restricting device does not restrict the movable member to a position at which said restricting device restricts the movable member and (2) an elastic force generating portion which generates a positive elastic force for moving said moving portion in the predetermined direction, wherein said moving portion is separated from said movable member by a first predetermined distance when said restricting device does not restrict said movable member, and said moving portion is separated from said movable member by a second predetermined distance shorter than the first predetermined distance when said restricting device restricts said movable member.