Photographing device provided with dust removing mechanism

• US 8,199,200 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2004
• Issued: 06/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OM Digital Solutions Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Kawai, Sumio, Ito, Junichi, Takizawa, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): AGGARWAL, YOGESH K
• Application Number:
  US10/780,440
• Publication Number:
  US 20040169761A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,038 Days
• Field of Search: 348/205, 348/335, 348/340, 348/373, 348/374, 348/351
• US Class Current: 348/205
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 19/02 Still-picture cameras
• 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 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/65 Control of camera operation in relation to power supply
• 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 according to this invention comprises a photographing optical system which forms an optical image of an object, a photoelectric conversion element which converts the optical image into an electric signal, an optical element arranged between the photographing optical system and the photoelectric conversion element, and vibration means which vibrates the optical element first at one of at least two frequencies and then at the other frequency, the frequencies being close to resonance frequencies.

Claims

1. A photographing device provided with a dust removing mechanism comprising:

a photoelectric conversion element which converts an optical image into an electric signal;

an optical element arranged in a light path of the photoelectric conversion element;

a piezoelectric element provided at a peripheral portion of the optical element;

a drive circuit which supplies a drive signal to the piezoelectric element to drive the piezoelectric element; and

a control circuit which causes the piezoelectric element to vibrate via the drive circuit, to thereby cause flexural standing wave vibration in the optical element, the control circuit being configured to cause at least two flexural standing wave vibrations in the optical element at different nodes of vibration sequentially for predetermined time periods which are determined in accordance with characteristics of the optical element by changing control modes with time.

2. The photographing device according to claim 1, wherein the control circuit causes the piezoelectric element to vibrate at a frequency corresponding to a resonance frequency of the optical element, to thereby cause flexural standing wave vibration in the optical element.

3. The photographing device according to claim 2, wherein the control circuit changes a frequency at which the piezoelectric element vibrates, to thereby cause at least two flexural standing wave vibrations in the optical element.

4. The photographing device according to claim 1, wherein the flexural standing wave vibration has an amplitude of vibration in a direction perpendicular to an optical element surface of the optical element.

5. The photographing device of claim 1, wherein the characteristics of the optical element include at least a shape of the optical element.

6. The photographing device of claim 1, wherein the characteristics of the optical element include at least a thickness of the optical element.

7. The photographing device of claim 1, wherein the characteristics of the optical element include at least a material of the optical element.

8. A control method for a photographing device provided with a dust removing mechanism which removes dusts from an optical element arranged in a photographing light path, the method comprising:

generating a first flexural standing wave vibration in the optical element for a first predetermined time period which is determined in accordance with characteristics of the optical element; and

generating a second flexural standing wave vibration different from the first flexural standing wave vibration for a second predetermined time period which is determined in accordance with characteristics of the optical element, to remove dusts from a position corresponding to a node of the first flexural standing wave vibration.

9. The control method according to claim 8, wherein the second flexural standing wave vibration is generated in the position corresponding to the node of the first flexural standing wave vibration.

10. The control method of claim 8, wherein the characteristics of the optical element include at least a shape of the optical element.

11. The control method of claim 8, wherein the characteristics of the optical element include at least a thickness of the optical element.

12. The control method of claim 8, wherein the characteristics of the optical element include at least a material of the optical element.