Imaging device and portable information terminal device

• US 7,708,479 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2006
• Issued: 05/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nidec Copal Corporation (Nidec Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nidec Copal Corporation (Nidec Corporation)
• Inventors: Ohzeki, Yoshiyuki, Hidaka, Mitsutaka, Watanabe, Nobuaki
• Primary Examiner(s): BLACKMAN, ROCHELLE ANN J
• Application Number:
  US11/911,906
• Publication Number:
  US 20090052886A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,468 Days
• Field of Search: 396484-488, 396/490, 396/493, 396/494, 396/497, 396/501, 396/506, 396/510, 348/342, 348/360, 348/363, 359/722, 359/723, 359/738, 359/739, 455/422.1, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/575.1
• US Class Current: 396/488
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof

Abstract

An imaging device and a portable information terminal device of the present invention include: a blade driving unit (20) made up of a base plate (21) having an opening portion (21a) serving as an optical path, an infrared light cut filter blade (23) movably supported by the base plate between a receded position displaced from the opening portion and a position facing the opening portion, and a first electromagnetic driving source (26) that drives the infrared light cut filter blade (23); a lens optical system (32, 33, 34) arranged on the optical path passing through the opening portion; an imaging element (42) that images an object through the lens optical system; and a control unit (51) that drives and controls the blade driving unit (20) and the imaging element (42). The control unit drives and controls the first electromagnetic driving source (26) so as to move the infrared light cut filter blade (23) to the receded position when using an infrared light. In this way, the infrared light cut filter blade is provided so as to be able to recede from the opening portion, so that the normal imaging can be performed, and at the same time, the biometric information (blood vessel image) for authentication can be also imaged.

Claims

1. An imaging device, comprising:

a blade driving unit including a base plate having an opening portion serving as an optical path, a blade member movably supported by the base plate between a receded position displaced from the opening portion and a position facing the opening portion, the blade member including an infrared light cut filter blade that shuts off an infrared light, and an electromagnetic driving source that drives the blade member;

a lens optical system arranged on the optical path passing through the opening portion;

an imaging element that images an object through the lens optical system;

a control unit that drives and controls the blade driving unit and the imaging element and that drives and controls the electromagnetic driving source to move the infrared light cut filter blade to the receded position when using the infrared light;

a storage unit that stores information regarding an operator in advance;

a comparing unit that compares image information on the operator imaged by the imaging element when using the infrared light with information from the storage unit; and

a judgment unit that judges a propriety of the operator based on a comparison result of the comparing unit.

2. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein

the electromagnetic driving source positions and holds the infrared light cut filter blade at the position facing the opening portion in a non-energization state except when using an infrared light.

3. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein

the infrared light cut filer blade is arranged at any of a position close to an object side or to the imaging element side relative to the lens optical system, and a position intervened inside the lens optical system.

4. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein

the blade member includes a shutter blade that opens and closes the opening portion in addition to the infrared light cut filter blade, and

the electromagnetic driving source includes a filter blade electromagnetic driving source that drives the infrared light cut filter blade and a shutter blade electromagnetic driving source that drives the shutter blade.

5. The imaging device according to claim 4, wherein

the infrared light cut filter blade and the shutter blade are arranged at any of a position close to an object side or to the imaging element side relative to the lens optical system, and a position intervened inside the lens optical system.

6. The imaging device according to claim 4, wherein

one of the infrared, light cut filter blade and the shutter blade is arranged close to an object side relative to the lens optical system, and

the other of the infrared light cut filter blade and the shutter blade is arranged close to the imaging element relative to the lens optical system.

7. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein

the blade member includes, in addition to the infrared light cut filter blade, a light quantity adjustment blade that stops down the opening portion to a predetermined aperture or covers the opening portion so as to reduce a light quantity, and

the electromagnetic driving source includes a filter blade electromagnetic driving source that drives the infrared light cut filter blade and a light quantity adjustment blade electromagnetic driving source that drives the light quantity adjustment blade.

8. The imaging device according to claim 7, wherein

the infrared light cut filter blade and the light quantity adjustment blade are arranged at any of a position close to an object side or to the imaging element side relative to the lens optical system, and a position intervened inside the lens optical system.

9. The imaging device according to claim 7, wherein

one of the infrared light cut filter blade and the light quantity adjustment blade is arranged close to an object side relative to the lens optical system, and

the other of the infrared light cut filter blade and the light quantity adjustment blade is arranged close to the imaging element side relative to the lens optical system.

10. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein

the blade member includes, in addition to the infrared light cut filter blade, a shutter blade that opens and closes the opening portion and a light quantity adjustment blade that stops down the opening portion to a predetermined aperture or covers the opening portion so as to reduce a light quantity, and

the electromagnetic driving source includes a filter blade electromagnetic driving source that drives the infrared light cut filter blade, a shutter blade electromagnetic driving source that drives to open or close the shutter blade, and a light quantity adjustment blade electromagnetic driving source that drives the light quantity adjustment blade.

11. The imaging device according to claim 10, wherein

support shafts of the infrared light cut filter blade, the shutter blade, and the light quantity adjustment blade are arranged in a periphery of the opening portion, and

the filter blade electromagnetic driving source, the shutter blade electromagnetic driving source, and the light quantity adjustment blade electromagnetic driving source are arranged in the periphery of the opening portion.

12. The imaging device according to claim 10, wherein

the infrared light cut filter blade, the shutter blade, and the light quantity adjustment blade are arranged at any of a position close to an object side or to the imaging element side relative to the lens optical system, and a position intervened inside the lens optical system.

13. The imaging device according to claim 10, wherein

the infrared light cut filter blade is arranged close to one side of an object side and the imaging element side relative to the lens optical system, and

the shutter blade and the light quantity adjustment blade are arranged close to the other side of the object side and the imaging element side relative to the lens optical system.

14. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein

the infrared light cut filter blade includes a pair of blades defining an opening having a predetermined aperture and an infrared light cut filter sandwiched between and joined to the pair of blades.

15. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein

the infrared light cut filer blade includes a blade defining an opening having a predetermined aperture and a infrared light cut filter joined to a surface of one side of the blade so as to at least cover the opening.

16. A portable information terminal device, comprising:

a blade driving unit including a base plate having an opening portion serving as an optical path, a blade member movably supported by the base plate between a receded position displaced from the opening portion and a position facing the opening portion, the blade member including an infrared light cut filter blade that shuts off an infrared light, and an electromagnetic driving source that drives the blade member;

a lens optical system arranged on the optical path passing through the opening portion;

an imaging element that images an object through the lens optical system;

a control unit that drives and controls the blade driving unit and the imaging element and manages a control of an entirety and that drives and controls the electromagnetic driving source so as to move the infrared light cut filter blade to the receded position when using an infrared light;

a storage unit that stores information regarding an operator in advance;

a comparing unit that compares image information on an operator imaged by the imaging element when using the infrared light with information from the storage unit; and

a judgment unit that judges a propriety of the operator based on a comparison result of the comparing unit.

17. The portable information terminal device according to claim 16, further comprising:

a display unit that displays an information regarding a judgment result of the judgment unit.

18. The portable information terminal device according to claim 16, wherein when the judgment unit judges an operator as inadequate, the control unit sets a subsequent operation by the operator disabled.