Blur correction device and imaging apparatus

• US 8,711,236 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2012
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Shimizu, Hironori
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Tuan
• Assistant Examiner(s): GEBRIEL, SELAM T
• Application Number:
  US13/571,598
• Publication Number:
  US 20130088609A1
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 34820899-20805, 396/55
• US Class Current: 348/208.99
• 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: G02B 7/005 Motorised alignment
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2205/0015 by displacing one or more optical elements normal to the optical axis
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/54 Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/6812 based on additional sensors, e.g. acceleration sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/687 by shifting the lens or sensor position

Abstract

A blur correction device includes: a base body; a holder that holds an optical element; a drive section that moves the holder with respect to the base body in two directions that are orthogonal to a direction of an optical axis of the optical element and that are orthogonal to each other; and a plate spring that couples the base body and the holder to each other and that urges the holder in the optical axis direction to position the optical element with respect to the base body, the plate spring being elastically deformed when the holder is moved with respect to the base body in the two directions.

Claims

1. A blur correction device comprising:

a base body;

a holder that holds an optical element and is movably associated with the base body along an optical axis defining an optical axis direction, a x-axis defining a x-axis direction and a y-axis defining a y-axis direction, the optical axis, the x-axis and the y-axis perpendicularly intersecting one another at a common reference point;

a drive section that moves the holder with respect to the base body in the x-axis and y-axis directions and relative to the common reference point; and

a plate spring having an elastically-deformable first urging portion, an elastically-deformable second urging portion and an elastically-deformable third urging portion serially connected together as an integral construction, the plate spring disposed between and coupling the holder and the base body together,

wherein, the elastically-deformable first urging portion urges the holder in the x-axis direction towards the common reference point when the drive section moves the holder relative to the base body in the x-axis direction, the elastically-deformable second urging portion urges the holder relative to the base body in the y-axis direction towards the common reference point when the drive section moves the holder relative to the base body in the y-axis direction and the elastically-deformable third urging portion urges the holder and the base body together along the optical axis when the holder and base body move apart from one another in the optical axis direction.

2. A blur correction device comprising:

a base body;

a holder that holds an optical element;

a drive section that moves the holder with respect to the base body in two directions that are orthogonal to a direction of an optical axis of the optical element and that are orthogonal to each other; and

a plate spring that couples the base body and the holder to each other and that urges the holder in the optical axis direction to position the optical element with respect to the base body, the plate spring being elastically deformed when the holder is moved with respect to the base body in the two directions,

wherein the plate spring includes a first link portion linked to the holder, a second link portion linked to the base body, and a deformable portion that is positioned between the first link portion and the second link portion and that is elastically deformable, and

a portion of the deformable portion is folded to be oriented in a direction different from the optical axis direction.

3. The blur correction device according to claim 2,

wherein an outermost portion of the deformable portion is folded.

4. The blur correction device according to claim 2,

wherein a portion of the deformable portion is folded to be oriented in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis direction.

5. The blur correction device according to claim 2,

wherein the first link portion is formed in a shape of an annulus oriented in the optical axis direction, and

a plurality of the deformable portions are provided in a spaced manner in a circumferential direction of the first link portion to project outward from the first link portion.

6. The blur correction device according to claim 5,

wherein the plurality of deformable portions are provided at point-symmetric positions about the optical axis.

7. The blur correction device according to claim 6,

wherein the deformable portions are provided at equal intervals.

8. The blur correction device according to claim 2,

wherein the deformable portion includes a first urging portion that applies an urging force in a third direction to the holder when the holder is moved in a first direction orthogonal to the optical axis direction, and a second urging portion that applies an urging force in a fourth direction to the holder when the holder is moved in a second direction that is orthogonal to the optical axis direction and that is orthogonal to the first direction, the third direction being opposite the first direction, and the fourth direction being opposite the second direction.

9. The blur correction device according to claim 8,

wherein the first urging portion is shaped to include a pair of straight portions positioned in parallel with each other.

10. The blur correction device according to claim 8,

wherein the second urging portion is shaped to include a pair of straight portions positioned in parallel with each other.

11. The blur correction device according to claim 8,

wherein the deformable portion includes a third urging portion that urges the holder in a direction of bringing the holder closer to the base body in the optical axis direction, and

the third urging portion is shaped to include at least a pair of straight portions positioned in parallel with each other.

12. The blur correction device according to claim 11,

wherein the third urging portions are provided separately between the first link portion and the first urging portion, between the first urging portion and the second urging portion, and between the second urging portion and the second link portion.

13. The blur correction device according to claim 2, further comprising:

a drive coil attached to one of the base body and the holder; and

a drive magnet attached to the other of the base body and the holder and positioned opposite the drive coil,

wherein the drive coil and the drive magnet serve as the drive section.

14. The blur correction device according to claim 13,

wherein two pairs of the drive coils and two pairs of the drive magnets are disposed opposite each other across the optical axis and at the same distance from the optical axis.

15. The blur correction device according to claim 2,

wherein ball members are disposed between the base body and the holder so as to be rollable with respect to the base body and the holder, and

the holder is pressed against the ball members by the plate spring.

16. An imaging apparatus comprising

a blur correction device that moves an optical element in a direction orthogonal to a direction of an optical axis of the optical element to correct blur, the blur correction device including:

a base body;

a holder that holds the optical element;

a drive section that moves the holder with respect to the base body in two directions that are orthogonal to the optical axis direction and that are orthogonal to each other; and

a plate spring that couples the base body and the holder to each other and that urges the holder in the optical axis direction to position the optical element with respect to the base body, the plate spring being elastically deformed when the holder is moved with respect to the base body in the two directions,

wherein the plate spring includes a first link portion linked to the holder, a second link portion linked to the base body, and a deformable portion that is positioned between the first link portion and the second link portion and that is elastically deformable, and

a portion of the deformable portion is folded to be oriented in a direction different from the optical axis direction.