Image pick-up device unit having a dust-proofing member that is vibrated to remove dust, the dust-proofing member being pressed by a spring pressing member toward a sealing structure that seals an interval between the dust-proofing member and an image pick-up device

• US 7,686,524 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2008
• Issued: 03/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: OM Digital Solutions Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Kawai, Sumio, Takizawa, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Koval; Melissa J
• Application Number:
  US12/255,563
• Publication Number:
  US 20090051803A1
• Time in Patent Office: 525 Days
• Field of Search: 396/439
• US Class Current: 396/439
• 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 23/811 by dust removal, e.g. from surfaces of the image sensor or processing of the image signal output by the electronic image sensor

Abstract

A camera includes a dust-proofing member which has a transparent portion through which a visible light component is transmitted. The transparent portion is opposed to the front of an image pick-up device at a predetermined interval. A vibration member is arranged at a peripheral portion of the dust-proofing member and vibrates the dust-proofing member. A sealing part seals a space between the image pick-up device and the dust-proofing member. And a spring pressing member presses the dust-proofing member at a periphery thereof toward the sealing part.

Claims

1. An image pick-up device unit comprising:

an image pick-up device which comprises a photoelectrically converting surface, and which produces an image signal corresponding to beams irradiated onto the photoelectrically converting surface;

a dust-proofing member which is opposed to a front of the image pick-up device at a predetermined interval;

a vibration member which is arranged at a peripheral portion of the dust-proofing member, and which vibrates the dust-proofing member approximately at a resonance frequency;

a sealing structure which seals the interval between the image pick-up device and the dust-proofing member, and which supports the dust-proofing member at a node of a vibration generated by the vibration member; and

a spring pressing member which presses the dust-proofing member on the node toward the sealing structure.

2. The image pick-up unit according to claim 1, wherein the spring pressing member presses the dust-proofing member at a plurality of points on a periphery thereof.

3. The image pick-up device unit according to claim 1, wherein the dust-proofing member comprises an infrared absorbing glass and an infrared reflection layer is provided on a surface of the infrared absorbing glass.

4. The image pick-up device unit according to claim 1, wherein the dust-proofing member has a low-pass filter function which limits transmission of a high spatial frequency component.

5. The image pick-up device unit according to claim 4, wherein the dust-proofing member comprises an optical low-pass filter.

6. The image pick-up device unit according to claim 4, wherein the dust-proofing member is formed by adhering an infrared absorbing glass and an optical low-pass filter to a glass plate.

7. The image pick-up device unit according to claim 4, wherein the dust-proofing member is formed by adhering an infrared absorbing glass and an optical low-pass filter.

8. The image pick-up device unit according to claim 4, wherein the dust-proofing member is formed by adhering an optical low-pass filter having an infrared reflection layer onto a glass plate.

9. The image pick-up device unit according to claim 1, wherein the vibration member comprises an electromechanical transducer.

10. The image pick-up device unit according to claim 9, wherein the electromechanical transducer comprises a piezoelectric element.

11. The image pick-up device unit according to claim 10, wherein the piezoelectric element is made of piezoelectric ceramics.

12. An image pick-up device unit comprising:

an image pick-up device which comprises a photoelectrically converting surface, and which produces an image signal corresponding to beams irradiated onto the photoelectrically converting surface;

an optical member which is opposed to a front of the image pick-up device at a predetermined interval;

a vibration member which is arranged at a peripheral portion of the optical member, and which vibrates the optical member;

a sealing part which seals a space between the image pick-up device and the optical member; and

a spring pressing member which presses the optical member at a periphery thereof toward the sealing part;

wherein the optical member has a low-pass filter function which limits transmission of a high spatial frequency component.

13. The image pick-up device unit according to claim 12, wherein the optical member comprises an optical low-pass filter.

14. The image pick-up device unit according to claim 12, wherein the optical member is formed by adhering an infrared absorbing glass and an optical low-pass filter to a glass plate.

15. The image pick-up device unit according to claim 12, wherein the optical member is formed by adhering an infrared absorbing glass and an optical low-pass filter.

16. The image pick-up device unit according to claim 12, wherein the optical member is formed by adhering an optical low-pass filter having an infrared reflection layer onto a glass plate.