Image taking device having image-blur compensator

• US 7,436,435 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2002
• Issued: 10/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Minolta Corporation Limited (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Minolta Corporation Limited (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Wada, Shigeru
• Primary Examiner(s): Ye; Lin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jerabek; Kelly
• Application Number:
  US10/260,503
• Publication Number:
  US 20030067544A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,206 Days
• Field of Search: 348/219.1, 348/208.99, 348/208.2, 348/208.4, 348/342, 348/374
• US Class Current: 348/208.4
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2205/0015 by displacing one or more optical elements normal to the optical axis
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2205/0061 using piezoelectric actuators
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 5/00 Adjustment of optical system relative to image or object surface other than for focusing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/54 Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/68 for stable pick-up of the scene, e.g. compensating for camera body vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/6812 based on additional sensors, e.g. acceleration sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/687 by shifting the lens or sensor position

Abstract

A compensator for correcting a possible blur of image caused by a shake of an image pickup apparatus in which the compensator is arranged, and in which a downsize circuit board having a diminished area thereof and holding an image taking component is swung or moved. The compensator includes the circuit board with the diminished area for holding the image taking component, in which the circuit board is moved together with the image taking component. On the circuit board, there are arranged the image taking component and at least one other component. The at least one other component can be a component which is associated with reading of the signal(s) of the image outputted from the image taking element, and/or can be a component which is associated with the control to correct the possible blur of the image caused by the shake of the image pickup apparatus.

Claims

1. An image taking device comprising:

an image taking element which is provided movably in parallel with a light receiving surface of the image taking element, the image taking element being provided with a transparent cover over an effective image taking surface of the image taking element; and

a cover which is provided with respect to the image taking element so as to hermetically cover at least a part of the transparent cover of the image taking element, in which a part, corresponding to the effective image taking surface, of the cover, is made of a transparent member;

a biasing device for elastically biasing the cover against the image taking element,

wherein the cover is moved together with the image taking element.

2. The image taking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transparent member functions as a filter to cut infrared rays.

3. An image taking device comprising:

an image taking element which is provided movably in parallel with a light receiving surface of the image taking element;

a cover which is provided with respect to the image taking element so as to hermetically cover at least an effective image taking surface of the image taking element, in which a part, corresponding to the effective image taking surface, of the cover, is made of a transparent member; and

a biasing device for elastically biasing the cover against the image taking element,

wherein the cover is moved together with the image taking element, and

wherein the cover is closely provided on an image taking surface, including the effective image taking surface, of the image taking element.

4. An image taking device comprising:

a lens barrel;

an image taking element;

a circuit board on which the image taking element is mounted;

a driver for moving the image taking element and the circuit board with respect to the lens barrel, the driver including;

a base plate for supporting a first actuator which extends in a first direction, in which the base plate is fixed to the end of the lens barrel;

a first slider which slidably engages with the first actuator, in which the first slider is movable in the first direction with respect to the base plate; and

a second slider for supporting a second actuator which extends in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, in which the first slider slidably engages with the second actuator, and in which the second slider is movable in the second direction with respect to the first slider, the image taking element being fixed to the second slider;

wherein the image taking element and the circuit board are provided on an end of the lens barrel, in which the image taking element and the circuit board are movable within a surface which is perpendicular to an optical axis, and

wherein the driver is provided around the image taking element and is provided in a space between the circuit board and the end of the lens barrel.

5. The image taking device as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of the base plate, the first slider and the second slider is annular in shape, and

wherein the second slider is provided in a central space of the first slider and in a central space of the base plate.

6. The image taking device as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of the first actuator and the second actuator is an actuator employing at least one piezoelectric element.

7. The image taking device as claimed in claim 4, further comprising at least one component which is physically separated from the image taking element, the at least one component being held by the circuit board, the at least one component adapted to execute signal processing.

8. An image taking device comprising:

a lens barrel;

an image taking element;

a circuit board on which the image taking element is mounted;

a driver for moving the image taking element and the circuit board with respect to the lens barrel, the driver including;

a base plate for supporting a first actuator which extends in a first direction, in which the base plate is fixed to the end of the lens barrel;

a first slider which slidably engages with the first actuator, in which the first slider is movable in the first direction with respect to the base plate;

a second slider for supporting a second actuator which extends in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, in which the first slider slidably engages with the second actuator, and in which the second slider is movable in the second direction with respect to the first slider, the image taking element being fixed to the second slider;

wherein the image taking element and the circuit board are located in said image taking device at a location at an image side of an end of the lens barrel, in which the image taking element and the circuit board are movable within a surface which is perpendicular to an optical axis, and

wherein the driver is provided around the image taking element with the driver being arranged in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the image taking element and is provided in a space between the circuit board and the end of the lens barrel.

9. The image taking device as claimed in claim 8, wherein each of the base plate, the first slider and the second slider is annular in shape, and

wherein the second slider is provided in a central space of the first slider and in a central space of the base plate.

10. The image taking device as claimed in claim 8, wherein each of the first actuator and the second actuator is an actuator employing at least one piezoelectric element.

11. The image taking device as claimed in claim 8, further comprising at least one component which is physically separated from the image taking element, the at least one component being held by the circuit board, the at least one component adapted to execute signal processing.

12. An image taking device comprising:

a lens barrel;

an image taking element;

a circuit board on which the image taking element is mounted, the image taking element and the circuit board being located in the image taking device at a location at an image side of an end of the lens barrel; and

a driver adapted to move the image taking element and the circuit board with respect to the lens barrel within a surface that is perpendicular to an optical axis of the image taking element, the driver being provided around the image taking element, the driver being provided in a space between the circuit board and the end of the lens barrel, the driver being arranged in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the image taking element, the driver including;

an actuator, an entirety of the actuator being provided in the space between the circuit board and the end of the lens barrel.