Shake correction unit and imaging apparatus

• US 8,078,041 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2010
• Issued: 12/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kudoh, Tomoyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): BLACKMAN, ROCHELLE ANN J
• Application Number:
  US12/688,771
• Publication Number:
  US 20100183288A1
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: 396/55, 396/52, 396/449, 396/452, 396/505, 348/208.99, 348/208.4, 348/208.7, 348/208.11, 348/208.12, 348/363, 359/557, 359738-740
• 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: G02B 7/102 controlled by a microcomputer cameras with interchangeable lenses G03B17/14
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 5/00 Adjustment of optical system relative to image or object surface other than for focusing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/60 Control of cameras or camera modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/68 for stable pick-up of the scene, e.g. compensating for camera body vibrations

Abstract

A shake correction unit comprises a first lens unit that holds a first lens and is movable in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of the first lens during a shake correction operation and a second lens unit that holds a second lens and is attached to the first lens unit and moves in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis together with the first lens unit during the shake correction operation, at least one of a shutter and an iris diaphragm having a changeable opening diameter is disposed between the first lens unit and the second lens unit.

Claims

1. A shake correction unit comprising:

a first lens unit that holds a first lens and is movable in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of the first lens; and

a second lens unit that holds a second lens and is attached to the first lens unit and moves in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis together with the first lens unit,

at least one of a shutter and an iris diaphragm having a changeable opening diameter;

a base member that holds at least one of the shutter and the diaphragm and is disposed between the first lens unit and the second lens unit;

wherein at least one of the shutter and the iris diaphragm is disposed between the first lens unit and the second lens unit,

wherein the second lens unit has three receiving units and three engaging units,

wherein the receiving unit extends through the base member so as to abut the first lens unit, and

wherein the engaging unit extends through the base member so as to engage with the first lens unit.

2. The shake correction unit according to claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of balls that are disposed between the base member and the first lens unit;

an urging unit configured to urge the base member and the first lens unit in a direction toward each other;

a magnet provided on the first lens unit; and

a coil and a position detecting unit that are disposed so as to sandwich the magnet in a direction along the optical axis, while one of the coil and the position detecting unit is provided on the base member.

3. The shake correction unit according to claim 2, wherein the engaging unit engages with the first lens unit with a snap-fit structure.

4. An imaging apparatus comprising:

the shake correction unit according to claim 1; and

an imaging unit that captures an image obtained through the shake correction unit.

5. The shake correction unit according to claim 1;

wherein the first lens unit and the second lens unit are engaged at three positions.

6. The shake correction unit according to claim 1;

wherein the first lens unit and the second lens unit are engaged with each other with extending through the base member.

7. The shake correction unit according to claim 1;

wherein the base member has an aperture through which an imaging light flux passes, and

wherein an interior wall portion of the aperture has a movement range regulating unit which restricts the movement of the first lens unit.

8. The shake correction unit according to claim 1;

wherein the base member has boss-like rotation regulating units, and

wherein each of the first lens unit and the second lens unit has a hole-shaped regulated rotation unit into which the rotation regulating units are inserted.

9. The shake correction unit according to claim 1;

wherein the regulated rotation unit corresponds to the movable range of the first lens unit and the second lens unit.

10. The shake correction unit according to claim 1;

wherein the rotation regulating unit and the regulated rotation unit are provided so that, when an exterior force is applied to the shake correction unit, a rolling of the second lens unit is to be regulated after a rolling of the first lens unit is regulated.

11. A shake correction unit comprising:

a first lens unit that holds a first lens and is movable in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of the first lens; and

a second lens unit that holds a second lens and is attached to the first lens unit and moves in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis together with the first lens unit;

at least one of a shutter and an iris diaphragm having a changeable opening diameter;

a base member that holds at least one of the shutter and the diaphragm and is disposed between the first lens unit and the second lens unit;

wherein at least one of the shutter and the iris diaphragm is disposed between the first lens unit and the second lens unit, and

wherein the first lens unit and the second lens unit are engaged with each other at a circumference of at least one of the shutter and the iris diaphragm, with extending through the base member.

12. The shake correction unit according to claim 11, further comprising:

a plurality of balls that are disposed between the base member and the first lens unit;

an urging unit configured to urge the base member and the first lens unit in a direction toward each other;

a magnet provided on the first lens unit; and

a coil and a position detecting unit that are disposed so as to sandwich the magnet in a direction along the optical axis, while one of the coil and the position detecting unit is provided on the base member.

13. The shake correction unit according to claim 11,

wherein the second lens unit has three receiving units and three engaging units,

wherein the receiving unit extends through the base member so as to abut the first lens unit, and

wherein the engaging unit extends through the base member so as to engage with the first lens unit.

14. The shake correction unit according to claim 13, wherein the engaging unit engages with the first lens unit with a snap-fit structure.

15. An imaging apparatus comprising:

the shake correction unit according to claim 11; and

an imaging unit that captures an image obtained through the shake correction unit.

16. The shake correction unit according to claim 11;

wherein the first lens unit and the second lens unit are engaged at three positions.

17. The shake correction unit according to claim 11;

wherein the base member has an aperture through which an imaging light flux passes, and

wherein an interior wall portion of the aperture has a movement range regulating unit which restricts the movement of the first lens unit.

18. The shake correction unit according to claim 11;

wherein the base member has boss-like rotation regulating units, and

wherein each of the first lens unit and the second lens unit has a hole-shaped regulated rotation unit into which the rotation regulating units are inserted.

19. The shake correction unit according to claim 11;

wherein the regulated rotation unit corresponds to the movable range of the first lens unit and the second lens unit.

20. The shake correction unit according to claim 11;

wherein the rotation regulating unit and the regulated rotation unit are provided so that, when an exterior force is applied to the shake correction unit, a rolling of the second lens unit is to be regulated after a rolling of the first lens unit is regulated.