Gyro-sensor mounting structure in a camera having an image-stabilizing function

• US 8,059,949 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2007
• Issued: 11/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PENTAX RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD.
• Original Assignee: Hoya Corporation
• Inventors: Mogamiya, Makoto
• Primary Examiner(s): Fuller; Rodney
• Assistant Examiner(s): SMITH, LINDA B
• Application Number:
  US11/873,533
• Publication Number:
  US 20080181592A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,490 Days
• Field of Search: 396/53, 396/52, 348/208.7, 735/033, 735/040.2, 735/040.8, 74/5.R, 74/52.2, 74/56.A, 74/56.D, 74/56.E, 74/59.5
• US Class Current: 396/53
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/18 Stabilised platforms, e.g. by gyroscope
• 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 2217/005 Blur detection
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 5/00 Adjustment of optical system relative to image or object surface other than for focusing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/12 Gyroscopes

Abstract

A gyro-sensor mounting structure in a camera having an image-stabilizing function, the camera including a first gyro sensor and a second gyro sensor for detecting rotations about two axes, respectively, which are mutually orthogonal to each other and orthogonal to an optical axis of a photographic lens, the gyro-sensor mounting structure including a sensor mounting member supporting the first and second gyro sensors; a stationary member to which the sensor mounting member is fixed, positioned inside the camera; four receiving portions the sensor mounting member or the stationary member to lie in a plane orthogonal to the optical axis and be positioned at four vertexes of an imaginary square, respectively; and two, three or four engaging members supported by the other of the sensor mounting member and the stationary member and engaged with corresponding receiving portions.

Claims

1. A gyro-sensor mounting structure in a camera having an image-stabilizing function, said camera including a first gyro sensor and a second gyro sensor for detecting rotations about two axes, respectively, which are mutually orthogonal to each other and orthogonal to an optical axis of a photographic lens, said gyro-sensor mounting structure comprising:

a sensor mounting member which supports said first gyro sensor and said second gyro sensor;

a stationary member to which said sensor mounting member is fixed and which is positioned inside said camera;

four receiving portions having the same specifications formed on one of said sensor mounting member and said stationary member to lie in a plane orthogonal to said optical axis and to be positioned at four vertexes of an imaginary square, respectively, a side of said imaginary square being parallel to one of said two axes; and

at least two and no more than four engaging members having the same specifications and supported by the other of said sensor mounting member and said stationary member and respectively engaged with corresponding said receiving portions to define an initial installation position,

wherein, upon removal of said engaging members from said receiving portions, said sensor mounting member is configured to be manually rotated relative to said stationary member at a 90°

interval and remounted on said stationary member, through reengagement of said engaging members with said receiving portions, such that said first gyro sensor and said second gyro sensor are reinstalled at a position that is different from said initial installation position.

2. The gyro-sensor mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein each of said four receiving portions comprises a screw hole formed in said stationary member, and

wherein each of said engaging members comprises a set screw including a male screw portion and a head portion, said set screws extending through said sensor mounting member with said male screw portions of said set screws being respectively screwed into said screw holes of said corresponding receiving portions to hold said sensor mounting member between said head portions of said set screws and said stationary member.

3. The gyro-sensor mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein each of said four receiving portions comprises a through hole formed in said sensor mounting member,

wherein each of said engaging members comprises a set screw including a male screw portion and a head portion, and passes through said stationary member and said through hole with said head portions of said set screws being in contact with said stationary member on a surface thereof opposite from said sensor mounting member, and

wherein said gyro-sensor mounting structure further comprises at least two and no more than four nuts, each of which is screwed on an end of said male screw portion of a corresponding set screw that projects from said through hole to hold said sensor mounting member between said nuts and said head portions of said set screws.

4. The gyro-sensor mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein each of said four receiving portions comprises one of a through hole and a bottomed hole which is formed in one of said stationary member and said sensor mounting member,

wherein each of said engaging members comprises an engaging pin which includes an insertion portion and a head portion, at least said insertion portion being made of a resilient material,

wherein said insertion portion extends through the other of said stationary member and said sensor mounting member and is greater in diameter in a free state than said one of said through hole and said bottomed hole, and

wherein said other of said stationary member and said sensor mounting member is held between said head portions of said engaging members and said one of said stationary member and said sensor mounting member with said insertion portions of said engaging pins being respectively fitted into said through holes or said bottomed holes of corresponding said receiving portions.

5. The gyro-sensor mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein said sensor mounting member comprises:

at least two and no more than four shock absorbing members made of a resilient material which are fixed to said stationary member by corresponding said engaging members; and

a gyro-sensor mounting plate which supports said first gyro sensor and said second gyro sensor and is supported by said shock absorbing members to be spaced from said stationary member.

6. The gyro-sensor mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein said stationary member comprises a frame-shaped projecting portion which projects from a front surface of said stationary member, said four receiving portions being formed on a front surface of said frame-shaped projecting portion.

7. The gyro-sensor mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein said stationary member is fixed to an internal surface of a rear wall of a camera body of said camera.

8. The gyro-sensor mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein said sensor mounting member comprises:

shock absorbing members made of a resilient material which are fixed to said stationary member by corresponding said engaging members; and

a gyro-sensor mounting plate which supports said first gyro sensor and said second gyro sensor and is supported by said shock absorbing members to be spaced from said stationary member.

9. The gyro-sensor mounting structure according to claim 5, wherein said gyro-sensor mounting plate is square in shape as viewed from front of said camera.

10. The gyro-sensor mounting structure according to claim 5, wherein each of said shock absorbing members is formed in a cylinder.

11. A gyro-sensor mounting structure in a camera having an image-stabilizing function, said camera including a first gyro sensor and a second gyro sensor for detecting rotations about two axes, respectively, which are mutually orthogonal to each other and are orthogonal to an optical axis of a photographic lens, said gyro-sensor mounting structure comprising:

a sensor mounting member which supports said first gyro sensor and said second gyro sensor;

a stationary member to which said sensor mounting member is fixed and which is positioned inside said camera;

three receiving portions having the same specifications formed on one of said sensor mounting member and said stationary member to lie in a plane orthogonal to said optical axis and to be positioned at three of four vertexes of an imaginary square, respectively, each side of said imaginary square being parallel to one of said two axes; and

two engaging members having the same specifications and supported by the other of said sensor mounting member and said stationary member and respectively engaged with two of said three receiving portions which are positioned at opposite ends of one of said sides of said imaginary square.

12. The gyro-sensor mounting structure according to claim 11, wherein each of said three receiving portions comprises a screw hole formed in said stationary member, and

wherein each of said engaging members comprises a set screw including a male screw portion and a head portion, said set screws extending through said sensor mounting member with said male screw portions of said set screws being respectively screwed into said screw holes of said corresponding said receiving portions to hold said sensor mounting member between said head portions of said set screws and said stationary member.

13. The gyro-sensor mounting structure according to claim 11, wherein each of said three receiving portions comprises a through hole formed in said sensor mounting member,

wherein each of said engaging members comprises a set screw including a male screw portion and a head portion, and passes through said stationary member and said through hole with said head portions of said set screws being in contact with said stationary member on a surface thereof opposite from said sensor mounting member, and

wherein said gyro-sensor mounting structure further comprises two nuts, each of which is screwed on an end of said male screw portion of a corresponding set screw that projects from said through hole to hold said sensor mounting member between said nuts and said head portions of said set screws.

14. The gyro-sensor mounting structure according to claim 11, wherein each of said three receiving portions comprises one of a through hole and a bottomed hole which is formed in one of said stationary member and said sensor mounting member,

wherein each of said engaging members comprises an engaging pin which includes an insertion portion and a head portion, at least said insertion portion being made of a resilient material,

wherein said insertion portion extends through the other of said stationary member and said sensor mounting member and is greater in diameter in a free state than said one of said through hole and said bottomed hole, and

wherein said other of said stationary member and said sensor mounting member is held between said head portions of said engaging members and said one of said stationary member and said sensor mounting member with said insertion portions of said engaging pins being respectively fitted into said through holes or said bottomed holes of corresponding said receiving portions.

15. A gyro-sensor mounting structure in a camera having an image-stabilizing function, said camera including a first gyro sensor and a second gyro sensor for detecting rotations about two axes, respectively, which are mutually orthogonal to each other and are orthogonal to an optical axis of a photographic lens, said gyro-sensor mounting structure comprising:

a sensor mounting member which supports said first gyro sensor and said second gyro sensor;

a stationary member to which said sensor mounting member is fixed and which is positioned inside said camera;

at least one pair of receiving portions having the same specifications and formed on one of said sensor mounting member and said stationary member to lie in a plane orthogonal to said optical axis; and

at least one pair of engaging members of the same specifications which are supported by the other of said sensor mounting member and said stationary member and respectively engaged with said pair of receiving portions,

wherein one straight line connects two receiving portions of one of two said pairs of receiving portions and another straight line connects two receiving portions of the other of two said pairs of receiving portions, where said one straight line and another straight line are mutually orthogonal to each other,

wherein said pair of engaging members are selectively engageable with said two pairs of receiving portions to define an initial installation position, and

wherein, upon removal of said engaging members from said receiving portions, said sensor mounting member is configured to be manually rotated relative to said stationary member at a 90°

interval and remounted on said stationary member, through reengagement of said engaging members with said receiving portions, such that said first gyro sensor and said second gyro sensor are reinstalled at a position that is different from said initial installation position.

16. The gyro-sensor mounting structure according to claim 15, wherein each of said receiving portions comprises a screw hole formed in said stationary member, and

wherein each of said engaging members comprises a set screw including a male screw portion and a head portion, said set screws extending through said sensor mounting member with said male screw portions of said set screws being respectively screwed into said screw holes of said corresponding said receiving portions to hold said sensor mounting member between said head portions of said set screws and said stationary member.

17. The gyro-sensor mounting structure according to claim 15, wherein each of said receiving portions comprises a through hole formed in said sensor mounting member,

wherein each of said engaging members comprises a set screw including a male screw portion and a head portion, and passes through said stationary member and said through hole with said head portions of said set screws being in contact with said stationary member on a surface thereof opposite from said sensor mounting member, and

wherein said gyro-sensor mounting structure further comprises a pair of nuts, each of which is screwed on an end of said male screw portion of a corresponding set screw that projects from said through hole to hold said sensor mounting member between said nuts and said head portions of said set screws.

18. The gyro-sensor mounting structure according to claim 15, wherein each of said receiving portions comprises one of a through hole and a bottomed hole which is formed in one of said stationary member and said sensor mounting member,

wherein each of said engaging members comprises an engaging pin which includes an insertion portion and a head portion, at least said insertion portion being made of a resilient material,

wherein said insertion portion extends through the other of said stationary member and said sensor mounting member and is greater in diameter in a free state than said one of said through hole and said bottomed hole, and

wherein said other of said stationary member and said sensor mounting member is held between said head portions of said engaging members and said one of said stationary member and said sensor mounting member with said insertion portions of said engaging pins being respectively fitted into said through holes or said bottomed holes of corresponding said receiving portions.

19. The gyro-sensor mounting structure according to claim 15, wherein said sensor mounting member comprises:

a pair of shock absorbing members made of a resilient material which are fixed to said stationary member by corresponding said engaging members; and

a gyro-sensor mounting plate which supports said first gyro sensor and said second gyro sensor and is supported by said shock absorbing members to be spaced from said stationary member.