Image stabilizer
First Claim
1. An image stabilizer for use in an optical apparatus having an optical axis, said image stabilizer comprising:
- movable means movable in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis for correcting image blur, said movable means having a first surface perpendicular to the optical axis;
support means for movably supporting said movable means in the plane perpendicular to the optical axis, said support means including a predetermined member having a second surface perpendicular to the optical axis, and a ball arranged between said first surface and said second surface, wherein said support means movably supports said movable means in the plane perpendicular to the optical axis with said ball maintained in rolling contact with said first surface and said second surface; and
rotation restraint means for restraining rotation of said movable means about the optical axis, said rotation restraint means comprising a reference member and an intermediate member positioned between said reference member and said movable means.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An image stabilizer including a movable frame that moves in a plane perpendicular to an optical axis to correct image blurring and has a first surface perpendicular to the optical axis and a support frame for movably supporting the movable frame in the plane perpendicular to the optical axis. The support frame includes a predetermined member having a second surface perpendicular to the optical axis and a ball arranged between the first surface and the second surface. The support frame movably supports the movable frame in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis with the ball kept in rolling contact with the first and second surface. The image stabilizer thus suffers small resistance in the shifting movement.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An image stabilizer for use in an optical apparatus having an optical axis, said image stabilizer comprising:
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movable means movable in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis for correcting image blur, said movable means having a first surface perpendicular to the optical axis; support means for movably supporting said movable means in the plane perpendicular to the optical axis, said support means including a predetermined member having a second surface perpendicular to the optical axis, and a ball arranged between said first surface and said second surface, wherein said support means movably supports said movable means in the plane perpendicular to the optical axis with said ball maintained in rolling contact with said first surface and said second surface; and rotation restraint means for restraining rotation of said movable means about the optical axis, said rotation restraint means comprising a reference member and an intermediate member positioned between said reference member and said movable means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An image stabilizer for use in an optical apparatus having an optical axis, said image stabilizer comprising:
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movable means movable in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis for correcting image blur, said movable means having a first surface perpendicular to the optical axis; support means for movably supporting said movable means in the plane perpendicular to the optical axis, said support means including a predetermined member having a second surface perpendicular to the optical axis, and a ball arranged between said first surface and said second surface, wherein said support means movably supports said movable means in the plane perpendicular to the optical axis with said ball maintained in rolling contact with said first surface and said second surface; and rotation restraint means for restraining rotation of said movable means about the optical axis, said rotation restraint means comprising first urging means for exerting a force at a first location on said movable means and second urging means for exerting a force at a second location, different from said first location, on said movable means. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification