Image stabilizing unit, lens unit, and imaging apparatus, having two drive units at an inclined angle to one another for driving an imaging device a direction perpendicular to the optical axis

• US 8,019,210 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2007
• Issued: 09/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Konica Minolta OPTO Incorporated (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Konica Minolta OPTO Incorporated (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Honda, Tsutomu, Mashima, Hiroshi, Uno, Tetsuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Perkey; W. B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ADAMS, BRET W
• Application Number:
  US11/787,349
• Publication Number:
  US 20070242938A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,611 Days
• Field of Search: 396/55, 348/208.99, 348/208.4, 348/208.5, 348/208.7, 348/208.11, 359/557
• US Class Current: 396/55
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/646 compensating for small deviations, e.g. due to vibration or shake movement of one or more optical elements for control of motion blur in cameras, projectors or printers G03B2205/0007; image stabilisation in cameras peculiar to the presence or use of an electronic image sensor H04N23/68
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/17 with reflectors arranged in beam forming the photographic image, e.g. for reducing dimensions of camera
• 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 5/00 Adjustment of optical system relative to image or object surface other than for focusing

Abstract

There is provided an image stabilizing unit 1 small in size in one direction perpendicular to an optical axis, including, on a base member 2, a movable compensation member 5 which can displace an image forming position by moving in a plane perpendicular to an optical axis Z, and two drive units 6, 7 for displacing the movable compensation member 5 in the directions of R and S which are different from each other for 90 degrees, wherein the directions in which the drive units 6, 7 respectively move the movable compensation member 5 are inclined 45 degrees to a direction X which connects the drive units 6, 7 and the optical axis center Z of the movable compensation member 5.

Claims

1. An image stabilizing unit, comprising:

a base member in which a long side of the base member is at least twice as large as a shorter side of the base member in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis;

a movable compensation member which can displace an image forming position by moving in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis; and

two drive units which respectively move the movable compensation member in different directions, wherein the different directions in which the two drive units respectively move the movable compensation member are inclined to a direction which connects the two drive units and an optical axis center of the movable compensation member and are respectively inclined to the long side of the base member.

2. The image stabilizing unit according to claim 1, wherein the different directions in which the two drive units respectively move the movable compensation member are inclined approximately 45 degrees with respect to a direction which connects the two drive units and an optical axis center of the movable compensation member.

3. The image stabilizing unit according to claim 1, wherein the two drive units are placed on both sides of the movable compensation member across the optical axis.

4. The image stabilizing unit according to claim 1, wherein the two drive units are placed on a straight line which crosses the optical axis at right angles.

5. The image stabilizing unit according to claim 1, wherein each of the two drive units comprises:

an electromechanical transducer expanding and contracting in response to applied voltage;

a drive friction member, one end of which is fixed to the electromechanical transducer and which reciprocates by expansion and contraction of the electromechanical transducer; and

a movable body which engages with the drive friction member by frictional force.

6. The image stabilizing unit according to claim 1, wherein the drive units are constituted of voice coil motors.

7. The image stabilizing unit according to claim 1, wherein the movable compensation member includes a lens.

8. The image stabilizing unit according to claim 1, wherein the movable compensation member includes an imaging device.

9. The image stabilizing unit according to claim 1, wherein one of the two drive units comprises an electromechanical transducer that reciprocates in one of the different directions by expansion and contraction.

10. The image stabilizing unit according to claim 1, wherein centers of masses of the two drive units are present on the direction which connects the two drive units and the optical axis center.

11. The image stabilizing unit according to claim 1, further comprising a hall sensor to measure displacement of the movable compensation member.

12. The image stabilizing unit according to claim 1, wherein the base member has a shape of a rectangular plate.

13. An image stabilizing unit, comprising:

a base member in which a long side of the base member is at least twice as large as a shorter side of the base member in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis;

a movable compensation member which is supported movably in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis along two directions different from each other and can displace an image forming position by moving; and

two drive units which respectively move the movable compensation member along either of the two directions, wherein the base member forms a flat shape in which a long side is twice as large as a shorter side in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis or larger, and wherein the two drive units are respectively placed on both sides of the movable compensation member in a long side direction of the base member across the optical axis and wherein each of the two directions are inclined to the long side of the base member.

14. The image stabilizing unit according to claim 13, wherein each of the two directions are inclined approximately 45 degrees to the long side direction of the base member.

15. The image stabilizing unit according to claim 13, wherein the two drive units are placed on a straight line which crosses the optical axis at right angles.

16. The image stabilizing unit according to claim 13, wherein each of the two drive units comprises:

an electromechanical transducer expanding and contracting in response to applied voltage;

a drive friction member, one end of which is fixed to the electromechanical transducer and which reciprocates by expansion and contraction of the electromechanical transducer; and

a movable body which engages with the drive friction member by frictional force.

17. The image stabilizing unit according to claim 13, wherein the drive units are constituted of voice coil motors.

18. The image stabilizing unit according to claim 13, wherein the movable compensation member includes a lens.

19. The image stabilizing unit according to claim 13, wherein the movable compensation member includes an imaging device.

20. The image stabilizing unit according to claim 13, wherein one of the two drive units comprises an electromechanical transducer that reciprocates in a direction by expansion and contraction.

21. The image stabilizing unit according to claim 15, wherein centers of masses of the two drive units are present on the straight line.

22. The image stabilizing unit according to claim 13, further comprising a hall sensor to measure displacement of the movable compensation member.

23. The image stabilizing unit according to claim 13, wherein the base member has a shape of a rectangular plate.

24. A lens unit, comprising:

an optical system which forms an image with luminous flux incident from a subject; and

an imaging device for receiving the luminous flux with which the optical system formed the image and for converting the luminous flux into an electrical signal;

an image stabilizing unit for stabilizing a position of the image on the imaging device, the imaging stabilizing unit comprising;

a base member in which a long side of the base member is at least twice as large as a shorter side of the base member in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis;

a movable compensation member disposed on the base member which can displace an image forming position by moving in a plane perpendicular to an optical axis; and

two drive units disposed on the base member and which respectively move the movable compensation member in different directions, wherein the different directions in which the two drive units respectively move the movable compensation member are inclined to a direction which connects the two drive units and an optical axis center of the movable compensation member.

25. The lens unit according to claim 24, wherein one of the two drive units comprises an electromechanical transducer that reciprocates in one of the different directions by expansion and contraction.

26. The lens unit according to claim 24, wherein centers of masses of the two drive units are present on the direction which connects the two drive units and the optical axis center.

27. The lens unit according to claim 24, further comprising a hall sensor to measure displacement of the movable compensation member.

32. The lens unit according to claim 24, comprising an optical member which bends luminous flux incident from a subject at an approximately right angle, wherein the image stabilizing unit is placed closer to an image forming side than the optical member.

28. An imaging apparatus comprising:

a main body with a lens opening;

a lens unit that faces the lens opening, the lens unit comprising;

an optical system which forms an image with luminous flux incident from a subject; and

an imaging device for receiving the luminous flux with which the optical system formed an image and for converting the luminous flux into an electrical signal, said imaging device comprising an image stabilizing unit, the imaging stabilizing unit comprises;

a base member;

a movable compensation member disposed on said base member which can displace an image forming position by moving in a plane perpendicular to an optical axis; and

two drive units disposed on the base member and which respectively move the movable compensation member in different directions, wherein the different directions in which the two drive units respectively move the movable compensation member are inclined to a direction which connects the two drive units and an optical axis center of the movable compensation member.

29. The image apparatus according to claim 28, wherein one of the two drive units comprises an electromechanical transducer that reciprocates in one of the different directions by expansion and contraction.

30. The image apparatus according to claim 28, wherein centers of masses of the two drive units are present on the direction which connects the two drive units and the optical axis center.

31. The image apparatus according to claim 28, further comprising a hall sensor to measure displacement of the movable compensation member.

33. An imaging apparatus comprising:

a main body with a lens opening;

a lens unit that faces the lens opening, the lens unit comprising;

an optical system which forms an image with luminous flux incident from a subject; and

an imaging device for receiving the luminous flux with which the optical system formed the image and for converting the luminous flux into an electrical signal;

an image stabilizing unit for stabilizing a position of the image on the imaging device, the imaging stabilizing unit comprising;

a base member in which a long side of the base member is at least twice as large as a shorter side of the base member in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis;

a movable compensation member disposed on the base member which can displace an image forming position by moving in a plane perpendicular to an optical axis; and

two drive units disposed on the base member and which respectively move the movable compensation member in different directions, wherein the different directions in which the two drive units respectively move the movable compensation member are inclined to a direction which connects the two drive units and an optical axis center of the movable compensation member; and

wherein a direction where a size of the base member is shortest is congruous with a thickness direction of the imaging apparatus.

34. The image apparatus according to claim 33, wherein one of the two drive units comprises an electromechanical transducer that reciprocates in one of the different directions by expansion and contraction.

35. The image apparatus according to claim 33, wherein centers of masses of the two drive units are present on the direction which connects the two drive units and the optical axis center.

36. The image apparatus according to claim 33, further comprising a hall sensor to measure displacement of the movable compensation member.