| Entries |
| Document | Title | Date |
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| 20080204909 | POLYMER ACTUATOR AND OPTICAL UNIT - An object of the present invention is to provide a polymer actuator that does not need a special member for determining the output direction of the drive force or a support member, and which is simply configured with a small number of parts and is compact and low-cost. The present invention provides a polymer actuator that includes electrodes which are inelastic in a planar direction and sandwich a stretching portion of a dielectric polymer with a gradient in thickness, and also provides an optical system including the polymer actuator. | 08-28-2008 |
| 20080212212 | MAGNETIC COUPLED ACTUATOR - A magnetic coupled actuator includes a lens which is movable in an optical axis direction AX, a lens frame which is coupled with the lens, a lens barrel which seals and accommodates the movable lens and the lens frame to be airtight, a permanent magnet which is disposed at an outer side of the lens barrel, facing the lens frame, and is disposed to be movable in the optical axis AX direction, and a wire of which, one end is coupled with the permanent magnet, and which moves the permanent magnet in the optical axis AX direction. At least one of the lens frame and the permanent magnet is a magnetic field generating means. | 09-04-2008 |
| 20080225415 | Actuated stepper lens camera module - A camera module includes an integral motor for rotating a lens unit of the camera module within a housing of the camera module. The housing includes a plurality of electromagnetic coils that function as a stator of the motor. The lens unit includes a plurality of ferrite elements and functions as a rotor of the motor. Rotation of the lens unit within the housing causes focal adjustment, such that the motor can be used as a component of an auto-focus system. A method for assembling the camera module is also disclosed. | 09-18-2008 |
| 20080231974 | Lens Driving Motor and Elastic Member of the Same - Provided are a lens driving motor and an elastic member of the lens driving motor. The elastic member of a lens driving motor, the elastic member includes a first spring and a second spring. The second spring is different from the first spring and disposed together with the first spring on one side of a carrier to support the carrier. A first lead line of a coil and a first external power source are connected to the first spring, and a second lead line of the coil and a second external power source are connected to the second spring to supply power to the coil. Since the carrier can be assembled to other part after a (+) lead line and a (−) lead line of the coil are connected to the first and second springs, respectively, using solder, a process is simple and convenient. | 09-25-2008 |
| 20080231975 | Voice coil motor type focusing actuator - A voice coil motor type focusing actuator, which includes a fixed unit, the fixed unit comprises a receiving chamber, a slide fitting channel, a first coil, and a magnet. A movable unit, the movable unit is received inside the receiving chamber of the fixed unit, having a first magnetic conducting flange being affected by the first coil and magnet of the fixed unit, a lens receiving means, a slide fitting rail, the movable unit is movable relative to the fixed unit to define an axial line. | 09-25-2008 |
| 20080239524 | POSITIONERS AND MICROSCOPES INCORPORATING THE SAME - In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a positioning device comprises a microscope assembly and a lens positioning assembly. The lens positioning assembly comprises a lens support subassembly and a bi-directional positioning guide. The lens support subassembly comprises a translating rod, while the positioning guide comprises a coiled spring. The coiled spring is canted relative to a longitudinal axis of the rod. The inner periphery of the coiled spring engages in a spring loaded state an outer periphery of the rod such that the coiled spring provides a frictional force about the outer periphery of the rod. This frictional force provided by the coiled spring about the outer periphery of the rod is sufficient to hold the rod within the inner periphery, but permit infinitely variable bi-directional movement of the rod through the inner periphery under an applied force. Additional embodiments are disclosed and claimed. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20080247063 | LENS DRIVING APPARATUS - A lens driving apparatus may include a movable body holding lenses; a support body for supporting said movable body to move in the optical axis direction of said lenses; and a drive mechanism for driving said movable body in the optical axis direction; wherein said movable body is provided with an extension portion that is extended toward the outer periphery, and a moving path and a movement-stopping portion are formed to at least a member of said drive mechanism mounted on the support body or to said support body, said moving path allowing said extension portion to move in the optical axis direction when said movable body is moved in the optical axis direction and said movement-stopping portion regulating the moving range of said movable body as said extension portion makes contact with said movement-stopping portion. | 10-09-2008 |
| 20080253003 | CAMERA LENS ASSEMBLY - A camera lens assembly providing focal length adjustment to permit mounting in a personal portable terminal. The camera lens assembly includes a lens assembly; a driving unit provided in one side of the lens assembly; and a guide section provided between the lens assembly and the driving unit, wherein the lens assembly moves forward and backward in a direction of an optical axis to the driving unit by guidance of the guide section. The guide section enhances an auto-focusing function and simplifies mounting of the camera lens assembly, rendering it possible to secure portability even when a camera is mounted to a miniaturized personal portable device such as a mobile communication terminal, a portable computer or the like. | 10-16-2008 |
| 20080259471 | Variable focus device - A variable focus device is adapted for focusing an image on an image sensing module, and includes a hollow fixing seat, a lens module and a lens coupling unit. The fixing seat is adapted for mounting the image sensing module therein. The lens coupling unit includes a piezoelectric layer and a metal layer disposed on the piezoelectric layer. The piezoelectric and metal layers are respectively formed with aligned lens mounting holes to permit mounting of the lens module to the lens coupling unit. The lens coupling unit is disposed relative to the fixing seat such that the lens module corresponds in position to the fixing seat. The piezoelectric layer deforms in response to application of a control signal thereto to move the lens module relative to the fixing seat, thereby varying a focal position of the lens module relative to the image sensing module in the fixing seat. | 10-23-2008 |
| 20080266681 | Auto-focus lens module - An auto-focus lens module that uses electromagnetic force as well as spring force as driving force to drive the lens for auto-focusing is formed by a rectangular base, two copper plates, an insulation spacer, four magnets, a lens holder, a lens, a coiled spring, a coil, and a rectangular top cover. The lens holder, the lens and the coil form a lens set that moves synchronously. The coiled spring is between the coil and the lens and is elastically supporting between a circular slot of the lens holder and the top cover while the four magnets are respectively located outside the coil symmetrically and equidistantly, on four corners of the rectangular base so that the structure and volume of the lens module are simplified and minimized. Moreover, the distance between the coil and the magnets is shortened so that the electromagnetic force therebetween is increased. Furthermore, the diameter of the coiled spring is reduced for improving stability of the spring force. | 10-30-2008 |
| 20080266682 | CAMERA MODULE - A camera module includes upper and lower leaf springs having a stable load characteristic and a holder displaceably held by the leaf springs so that the holder can be stably displaced within a magnetic circuit. The upper spring | 10-30-2008 |
| 20080297922 | MOBILE LENS UNIT WITH DETECTION DEVICE - A lens unit including a lens barrel for receiving at least one lens, a motor arranged to displace the lens barrel between an initial position and a maximum displacement, wherein the displacement of a lens barrel is proportional to the level of an electrical signal applied to the motor when the electrical signal is between first and second levels, the first level corresponding to a level for starting movement of the lens barrel from the initial position and the second level corresponding to a level for bringing the lens barrel to the maximum displacement; a first conductor fixed to the lens barrel and arranged to make electrical contact with a second conductor when said lens barrel is at one of said initial position and said maximum displacement; and a processor arranged to detect a change in the contact situation between the first and second conductive surfaces, to determine one of said first and second levels based on level of the electrical signal at the time of the change and to generate, based on said determined level, a level of said electrical signal for a desired displacement. | 12-04-2008 |
| 20080297923 | Piezoelectric actuator and lens driving device - There are provided a piezoelectric actuator and a lens driving apparatus having the piezoelectric actuator. The lens driving device includes: a lens barrel having a lens hole where at least one lens is disposed, and having a tip friction member on an outer surface thereof; a base having a guiding part guiding the lens barrel to move along an optical axis direction; a piezoelectric actuator having a piezoelectric body disposed at an edge of the base to apply a driving force when a power is applied, the piezoelectric body having at least one friction member at one side thereof to be in contact with the tip friction member; and a preload member applying an elastic force for elastically supporting the piezoelectric actuator against the lens barrel to keep the tip friction member and the friction member in contact with each other. | 12-04-2008 |
| 20080304169 | Lens actuating apparatus - A lens actuating apparatus includes a fixed part, a moving part and at least one flexible part. The moving part is movably located on the fixed part. The flexible part has four contacting portions that form a hollow enclosed body. Two contacting portions that are located at the diagonal direction fasten the fixing part, and the other two contacting portions that are located at another diagonal direction contact the moving part. When the moving part has a movement related to the fixed part, the contacting portions of the flexible part contacted the moving part move far away from the fixed part. Thereby, the moved contacting portions exert a flexible recovery force to the moving part. The flexible part can be fully utilized in a limited space and does not affect the allocation of the other elements. | 12-11-2008 |
| 20080316625 | LENS MODULE WITH FOCUSING FUNCTION - An exemplary lens module with focusing function includes a lens group, a lead screw, a transmission member, an actuator, and two stop portions. The lens group is slidable along the optical axis thereof. The lead screw is set so that the longitudinal direction thereof is essentially parallel to the optical axis. The transmission member is secured to the lens group, and includes a deformable screw-engaging portion. The deformable screw-engaging portion is disengageably engaged with the lead screw. The actuator is configured for driving the lead screw to rotate to force the transmission member to move along the lead screw. The two stop portions are configured for delimiting a movable boundary of the transmission member along the lead screw. The surrounding portion will disengage from the lead screw when the surrounding portion abuts against the stop portion and the lead screw continues rotating. | 12-25-2008 |
| 20090009893 | PROTECTING STRUCTURE FOR MOVABLE MECHANISM IN A MINIATURE LENS - A protecting structure for movable mechanism in a miniature lens is mounted in a housing of a focusing mechanism of the miniature lens and includes an upper cover defining a central opening and fixed in the housing; a lens holder for holding a lens therein; at least one elastic member connecting the lens holder to the upper cover, so that the lens holder is suspended in the housing and axially displaceable forward and rearward to achieve the purpose of focusing; and at least one protective member being received in the central opening of the upper cover to locate outside the elastic member relative to the lens holder for restricting the lens holder from moving laterally, and limiting a torsion force produced at the time of screwing the lens into the lens holder, so as to protect the elastic member against deformation due to the torsion force. | 01-08-2009 |
| 20090015948 | LENS DRIVE DEVICE - A lens drive device may include a movable lens body provided with a lens, a support body which movably supports the movable lens body through a plate spring in an optical axis direction, and a magnetic drive mechanism for driving the movable lens body in the optical axis direction. The plate spring may include an outer side connecting part connected with the support body, an inner side connecting part connected with the movable lens body, and an arm part which is connected with the inner side connecting part and the outer side connecting part through an inner connecting portion and an outer connecting portion. The arm part may include a meandering part which comprises a plurality of extending parts which is extended in a radial direction is serially connected through inner side turning portions and outer side turning portions. | 01-15-2009 |
| 20090015949 | INERTIAL DRIVE ACTUATOR - To provide an inertial drive actuator that is easy to assemble and achieves high accuracy in position detection, the actuator has a fixed member, a vibration substrate, a piezoelectric element (movement unit), first and second moving bodies that moves relative to the vibration substrate by inertia, a first electrode provided on the surface of each of the first and second moving bodies, a second electrode provided on a surface of the vibration substrate, an insulating film provided between the first electrode and the second electrode, a drive unit, and a position detection unit that detects the position of the moving body with respect to the vibration substrate based on capacitance of the portion in which the first electrode and the second electrode are opposed to each other. | 01-15-2009 |
| 20090021848 | APPARATUS AND METHOD OF DRIVING PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATOR FOR AUTO-FOCUS - There is provided an apparatus for driving a piezoelectric actuator moving a lens for auto-focus, the apparatus including: a lens position sensing unit sensing a position of the lens and generating a sensed lens position value; a lens control unit comparing the sensed lens position value with a target lens position value for auto-focus to determine a moving direction of the lens; and an actuator driving unit generating an actuator driving signal for driving the piezoelectric actuator to move the lens in the moving direction determined by the lens control unit, wherein the lens control unit temporarily stops the operation of the actuator driving unit, and receives the sensed lens position value corresponding to the lens position sensed by the lens position sensing unit and compares the sensed lens position value with the target lens position value while the operation of the actuator driving unit is temporarily stopped. | 01-22-2009 |
| 20090021849 | Drive unit and method for making the drive unit - Disclosed is a drive unit including an element for mechano-electric transduction; a driving member for causing a driven member to perform a predetermined motion according to a displacement of the element; and a housing for housing the driving member; wherein the housing includes an electrical terminal, and a loading section for loading the element, the electrical terminal being configured to be connectable with the element when the element is attached to the loading section. | 01-22-2009 |
| 20090027784 | FOCUSING DEVICE FOR DIGITAL CAMERA MODULE - A focusing device ( | 01-29-2009 |
| 20090027785 | POSITION DETECTING DEVICE CAPABLE OF IMPROVING DETECTION ACCURACY - A position detecting device includes an optical position detecting element and a position information portion which are disposed so as to be opposed to each other. The position information portion has a binary pattern where a high light efficient portion and a low light efficient portion are alternately repeated when the movable portion moves in a predetermined direction. The position detecting device includes a loose position detecting portion for detecting a loose position of the movable portion by counting a pulse signal obtained by the optical position detecting element, a close position detecting portion for detecting a close position of the movable portion by counting pulse number of driving pulses which are applied to an electromechanical transducer from a position where the loose position detection is carried out, and a combining arrangement for combining the loose position with the close position to calculate a current position of the movable portion. | 01-29-2009 |
| 20090040633 | Imaging Unit and Electronic Device Using the Same - An imaging unit, including: a lens housing section to accommodate a lens; a lens driving section, including: a moving member which supports the lens and moves the lens in an optical axial direction, and an electro-mechanical transduction element to drive the moving member in the optical axial direction; a camera-shake preventing section which drives the lens housing section to prevent camera-shake; and a rotation regulating section to prevent the lens from rotating around an optical axis. | 02-12-2009 |
| 20090067069 | Lens Barrel Device and Image Capture Device - The present invention relates to a lens barrel device including supporting means for supporting at least two optical parts holding frames holding optical parts so that the at least two optical parts holding frames can linearly move in the optical axis directions, respectively, and an image capture device. | 03-12-2009 |
| 20090067070 | Engaging member, lens driving mechanism, imaging apparatus, and manufacturing method of engaging member - In an engaging member | 03-12-2009 |
| 20090073585 | LENS DRIVING DEVICE - A lens driving device is provided with a holder that holds a lens, a supporting portion that supports the holder displaceably along an optical axis of the lens, and at least one magnet that is arranged symmetrically with respect to the optical axis on side surfaces of the holder. The supporting portion is provided with a coil so as to face toward the magnet. The supporting portion is also provided with a magnetic member so as to face toward the magnet. | 03-19-2009 |
| 20090086344 | LENS DRIVE DEVICE - A lens drive device may include a movable body having a lens and a coil, a support body movably supporting the movable body, a magnetic drive mechanism having a magnet for driving the movable body together with the coil, a restricting member for restricting movement of the movable body due to an electromagnetic force generated when an electric current is supplied to the coil, a magnetic member disposed in the movable body to be magnetically attracted by the magnet. In a non-energized state where the coil is not energized, following relationships are satisfied:
| 04-02-2009 |
| 20090097140 | VARIFOCAL OPTICAL DEVICE - A varifocal optical device is provided. The varifocal optical device includes an optical lens, an actuator unit connected with the optical lens and having two areas that are bending-deformed in opposite directions to each other when a voltage is applied thereto, and a supporting unit to support the actuator unit, so that a focus of the optical lens is varied by the bending deformation when the voltage is applied to the actuator unit. Thereby, a driving displacement of the varifocal optical lens can be maximized. | 04-16-2009 |
| 20090097141 | LENS BARREL - The present invention includes: a taking lens including a lens group; a distance ring that is operated to rotate around the taking lens; an LD roller capable of rotating in conjunction with the rotational operation of the distance ring; a transducer that is in contact with the LD roller and capable of moving around the taking lens relative to the LD roller; and a rotatable frame member that is capable of moving around the taking lens within a predetermined angle range and supports the transducer, upon the distance ring being rotated manually, the rotatable frame member being rotated via the LD roller and the transducer, and upon the transducer being driven by a drive signal, the transducer moving relative to the LD roller, thereby the rotatable frame member being rotated around the taking lens to move a focusing lens in the taking lens to move in an optical axis direction. | 04-16-2009 |
| 20090103195 | LENS MODULE - An exemplary lens module includes a barrel, a holder, an optical assembly, an image sensor, at least one permanent-magnet, a number of electromagnets, and a control unit. The barrel is threadedly engaged in the holder. The barrel is capable of being linearly movable relative to the holder. The optical assembly is received in the barrel. The image sensor is received in the holder and is configured for capturing images. The at least one permanent magnet is mounted on the barrel. The electromagnets are mounted on the holder and surround the barrel therein for magnetical interaction with the permanent magnet. The control unit electrically is connected to the electromagnets and is configured for changing the magnetic polarities of the electromagnets adjacent to the permanent magnet to create a combined magnetic torsional force applied onto the permanent magnet, thereby rotating the barrel relative to the holder. | 04-23-2009 |
| 20090109556 | Lens barrel and imaging apparatus - A lens barrel includes: a plurality of lenses disposed in an outer enclosure; an imaging device that converts image light introduced through the plurality of lenses into an image signal; a movable unit including a movable lens and a lens holder that holds the movable lens; a lead screw rotated by a drive motor; a nut member made of a metal material threadably engaging the lead screw and connected to the lens holder, the nut member moved by the rotation of the lead screw in the optical axis direction moving the movable unit in the optical axis direction; a guide shaft that guides the movable unit in the optical axis direction, both axial ends of the guide shaft held by the outer enclosure; and an urging spring that presses part of the lens holder against the nut member when the movable unit moves in the optical axis direction. | 04-30-2009 |
| 20090128933 | Driving device - A driving device includes a piezoelectric element that expands and contracts by the application of voltage, a driving shaft fixed to one end of the piezoelectric element in a direction of the optical axis, a lens holder fixed to the other end of the piezoelectric element in the direction of the optical axis, a friction portion frictionally engaged with the driving shaft, and a base that supports the driving shaft such that the driving shaft is capable of moving along the optical axis. The friction portion includes a receiving portion and a leaf spring that are arranged in a manner such that the driving shaft extending along the optical axis is clamped therebetween in the radial direction. | 05-21-2009 |
| 20090141374 | Lens Unit - A lens unit, despite its having a lens driving device that drives a lens and an optical path control device that controls an optical path, providing stable lens drive and reduction in size. The lens unit ( | 06-04-2009 |
| 20090141375 | LENS MODULE AND CAMERA MODULE HAVING SAME - A lens module includes a lens barrel, a first lens, a number of elastic members, first and magnetic field generators, and a holder threadedly engaged with the lens barrel. The first lens is attached within the lens barrel by the elastic members. The first magnetic field generators are arranged on the lens and configured for generating a first magnetic field in a direction along a central axis of the first lens. The holder has a number of receiving holes therein. The second magnetic field generators are received in the respective receiving holes of the holder and are configured for generating a second magnetic field in a direction essentially the same as or opposite to that of the first magnetic field, such that the first magnetic field generators together with the first lens are movable along the direction of the central axis of the first lens. | 06-04-2009 |
| 20090147384 | LENS MODULE AND CAMERA MODULE HAVING SAME - An exemplary lens module includes a barrel, a lens received in the barrel, a movable coil unit, and a magnet. The movable coil unit includes a first coil and a plurality of resilient elements. The first coil is wound around a peripheral sidewall of the lens in a first winding direction. The first coil is mounted in the barrel. A first end of each of the resilient elements is connected to the first coil, and a second end of each of the resilient elements is mounted to an inner surface of the barrel. The first coil is movable along the optical axis, thus driving the lens to move along the optical axis. The magnet is received in the barrel and faces the first coil. | 06-11-2009 |
| 20090161239 | CAMERA DIAPHRAGM AND LENS POSITIONING SYSTEM EMPLOYING A DIELECTRICAL POLYMER ACTUATOR - An electroactive polymer actuator ( | 06-25-2009 |
| 20090161240 | ROTATABLE CAMERA MODULE - A camera module includes a lens barrel, an image sensor, a holder and a driving member. The lens barrel and the image sensor are received in the holder. At least one magnet is arranged on the outer wall of the holder. The driving member includes a spherical casing, a plurality of induction coils and a control unit. The casing has an opening for entry of the holder. The plurality of induction coils is mounted on the inner wall of the spherical casing. The control unit is received in the spherical casing. The control unit is electrically connected with the induction coils. The control unit is configured for controlling the electric current through the induction coils to form an electromagnetic field, thus a magnetism is generated between the at least magnet and the electromagnetism. | 06-25-2009 |
| 20090195898 | Lens Barrel and Imaging Apparatus - A lens barrel includes a lens frame movable in optical axis directions of a lens, a cam barrel rotated around outside the lens frame to move the lens frame in the optical axis directions, a base supporting the cam barrel to be rotatable and to be immovable in axial directions, and a hollow motor including a rotor and a stator and rotating the cam barrel. The stator supported by the base surrounds the rotor provided outside the cam barrel to be movable in the axial directions and rotate integrally with the cam barrel. As the rotor moves in one of the axial directions, a second locking portion of the base engages with a first locking portion of the rotor to prevent rotation of the rotor. A movement mechanism moves the rotor in the axial directions between a locking position and an unlocking position of the first and second locking portions. | 08-06-2009 |
| 20090207512 | VIBRATION ACTUATOR, LENS BARREL AND CAMERA - To provide a vibration actuator having-good driving performance even when miniaturized, and a lens barrel and camera provided with the same. A first aspect of the present invention is to provide a vibration actuator comprising, an electromechanical conversion element, having a first joining face, and which is subject to excitation, an elastic body having a second joining face which is joined to the first joining face, and a driving face which gives rise to vibration waves as a result of said excitation, and a relative moving member, having a contact face which is in pressure contact with the driving face, which is driven by the vibration waves, and which moves relative to the elastic body, wherein an outer shape of said first joining face has a shape which differs from an outer shape of said contact face. | 08-20-2009 |
| 20090237818 | VIBRATING ELEMENT MANUFACTURING METHOD, VIBRATING ELEMENT, VIBRATING ACTUATOR, LENS BARREL AND CAMERA SYSTEM - A vibrating element manufacturing method by which adhesion is stabilized and yield is improved, a vibrating element, a vibrating actuator, a lens barrel and a camera system. A vibrating element manufacturing method is provided with a first step of arranging an elastic body on a holding member, a second step of forming an electromechanical transducing element by injection molding on the surface of the elastic body, and a third step of sintering the electromechanical transducing element by heating and bonding the elastic body with the electromechanical transducer element. | 09-24-2009 |
| 20090244731 | Apparatus for driving a lens by electromagnetic force - An apparatus for driving a lens by electromagnetic driving force includes a frame, a barrel, a lens holder, a lens, a kicker, electromagnets and a resilient element. The barrel rotably mounted in the frame includes a first linkage structure. The lens holder includes a second linkage structure and is mounted on the barrel through the first and second linkage structures. The lens is coupled into the lens holder, and the kicker is mounted on an external wall of the barrel, and the electromagnets are mounted at the frame and the kicker respectively. The resilient element is connected to the barrel and the frame. The barrel can be pushed by a repulsion or attraction of a magnetic field produced by electrically conducting the electromagnets, and the first and second linking structures drive the lens holder to move from a first position to a second position. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090244732 | Lens Driving Unit and Lens Driving Device - Object of the present invention is to provide a lens driving unit in small size and perform a high ratio optical zooming and a lens driving device. To achieve the object, the lens driving unit in which the lens group holding frame supported to be able to slide by connecting to a guide pole arranged in parallel with the optical axis; and a drive transmission unit consisting of a pinion mounted on the output shaft of the motor and a rack formed in the lens group holding frame is adopted, and a driving force of the motor is transmitted to the lens group holding frame by gearing the pinion with the rack to make the lens group holding frame slide along the guide pole, and a lens driving device comprising the lens driving unit is adopted. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090251809 | Linear micro motor - The present invention relates to a linear micro motor having an forward and backward reciprocating motion. The linear micro motor includes at least two actuators which can be a scratch drive actuator (SDA), a bounce drive actuator (BDA) or a combination thereof. To achieve the reciprocating motion, the linear micro motor is arranged in a way that at least two SDAs are disposed in an opposite manner, at least two BDAs are disposed in an opposite manner, or at least a SDA and at least a BDA are disposed in an identical manner. The linear micro motor of the present invention in accordance with the arrangement of the actuators can be realized to be applicable to a digital camera or camera phone by the advancing and receding linear motion caused by the motion of the actuators to achieve a focus-adjustable liquid crystal lens. | 10-08-2009 |
| 20090251810 | Lens Drive Unit Installation Structure and Lens Drive Unit - The present invention aims to provide a lens drive unit installation structure which enhances dust resistance to improve reliability and realizes miniaturization and easiness to assemble. For achieving the purposes, the lens drive unit installation structure for installing a lens drive unit including: a lens holding frame for holding a lens, and a lens moving mechanism for slidingly move the lens holding frame in the direction of an optical axis using a drive source, wherein the drive source to be linked with the lens moving mechanism is arranged on the side of the lens holding frame view from the direction of the optical axis, and a partition is set between the lens holding frame and the drive source, thereby the lens and the drive source are arranged separately from each other. | 10-08-2009 |
| 20090257139 | Lens Driving Mechanism and Image Pickup Apparatus Using the Same - A lens driving mechanism for an image pickup apparatus capable of being reduced in size, and having excellent driving accuracy and tranquility is provided. The lens driving mechanism is characterized in that vibration of a piezoelectric vibration motor is used as a driving source, and the vibration is transmitted to a motor power transmission ring directly or via a gear structure, to rotationally drive a lens driving ring. In a first lens driving mechanism, the motor power transmission ring is rotated by rotating the first transmission gear by use of the vibration of the piezoelectric vibration motor. In a second lens driving mechanism, a thrust bearing is provided on a gear side for rotating the motor power transmission ring, and the gear is rotated by vertically pressing a vibrator of the piezoelectric vibration motor in an urged state against a plane of the gear. In a third lens driving mechanism, the lens driving ring is rotationally driven by directly pressing a vibrator of each of one or more piezoelectric vibration motors in an urged state against the outer periphery of the lens driving ring. | 10-15-2009 |
| 20090262440 | LENS ACTUATOR - A lens actuator includes a lens barrel for accommodating the lens, a coil wrapped around the lens barrel, a plurality of magnets, a bracket, and a resilient plate. The bracket is configured for mounting the magnets thereon and accommodating the lens barrel therein. The resilient plate is connected between the bracket and the lens barrel to hold the lens barrel on the bracket. The bracket includes two ring shaped members parallel to each other, a plurality of supporting rods, and a plurality of magnet mounting holes. The supporting rods are interconnected between the two ring-shaped members. Each two neighboring supporting rods have one of the magnets mounted therebetween. | 10-22-2009 |
| 20090268318 | Lens driving module - Provided is a lens driving module including a housing that has a lens barrel housing portion provided in the central portion thereof, the lens barrel housing portion having a bearing coupling portion and a guide coupling portion provided therein, and a through-hole formed in one corner thereof where the guide coupling portion is formed; a lens barrel that has a bearing contact portion and a guide portion formed on the outer circumferential surface thereof and is mounted in the lens barrel housing portion of the housing such that the bearing contact portion and the guide portion correspond to the bearing coupling portion and the guide coupling portion of the lens barrel housing portion, respectively; a piezoelectric motor that is mounted in the through-hole formed in one outer corner of the housing, which corresponds to the guide portion of the lens barrel, among the outer corners of the housing; a power connection member that is attached on the outer surface of the piezoelectric motor and of which only a predetermined portion connected to a power supply exhibits conductivity; and a power connection member that surrounds the outer surface of the housing and includes a corner-bent surface having a cross-shaped pad formation portion and a pair of through-holes formed in both sides of the pad formation portion, the through-holes reducing tension. | 10-29-2009 |
| 20090268319 | Lens driving module - Provided is a lens driving module including a housing that has a lens barrel housing portion provided therein; a lens barrel that has a bearing contact portion and a guide portion formed on the outer circumferential surface thereof and is mounted in the lens barrel housing portion of the housing; a piezoelectric motor that is mounted in one outer corner of the housing, which corresponds to the guide portion of the lens barrel, among the outer corners of the housing, and provides a driving force to the lens barrel; and a power connection member that is bent so as to cover the piezoelectric motor and the outer circumferential surface of the housing and is coupled to the housing. | 10-29-2009 |
| 20090284853 | LENS POSITIONING ASSEMBLY - A microscope objective lens positioning assembly comprises a lens mounting member to which a microscope objective lens defining an optical axis is mounted; a support member; and a pair of leaf springs. Each leaf spring has first and second ends, the first ends of the leaf springs being secured to upper and lower aligned locations respectively on the support member, and the second ends of the leaf springs being secured to corresponding upper and lower locations respectively on the lens mounting member whereby the two leaf springs, the optical axis of the objective lens, and a line between the upper and lower aligned locations on the support member define a parallelogram, the leaf springs flexing in use in response to movement of the lens mounting member. | 11-19-2009 |
| 20090284854 | LENS ACTUATOR - A lens actuator includes a lens barrel for accommodating the lens, a coil wrapped around the lens barrel, at least one magnet, a bracket, and a resilient plate. The bracket is configured for mounting the magnets thereon and accommodating the lens barrel therein. The resilient plate is connected between the bracket and the lens barrel to hold the lens barrel on the bracket. The bracket includes an outer wall and an inner wall. At least one slit is defined between the outer wall and the inner wall. At least one opening is defined in the inner wall spatially corresponding to the at least one slit. The at least one magnet received in the at least one slit and exposed to an inside of the bracket through the at least one opening. | 11-19-2009 |
| 20090284855 | LENS BARREL DRIVER - A switching gear | 11-19-2009 |
| 20090284856 | OPTICAL PICKUP DEVICE, AND OPTICAL DISC DEVICE - A guide shaft and a guide portion movably guide a lens holder for holding a collimator lens (i.e. correction lens) in an optical axis direction. A stepping motor rotates a screw shaft arranged in parallel to the optical axis direction. A nut member converts a rotating movement of the screw shaft into a rectilinear movement of the optical axis direction. An urging spring urges the lens holder against the guide shaft and the guide portion. The lens holder is driven in the optical axis direction along the guide shaft by the stepping motor, with a first contact portion and a second contact portion of the lens holder being contacted with the guide shaft, and a third contact portion of the lens holder being contacted with the guide portion by an urging force of the urging spring. The optical pickup device having the above arrangement allows for stable driving of a correction lens. | 11-19-2009 |
| 20090290241 | LENS UNIT - A lens unit includes a moveable section and an elastic element. The moveable section includes a lens barrel, a lens received in the lens barrel and a magnet fixedly mounted around the lens barrel. The moveable section is configured to telescopically move along an optical axis direction of the lens. The elastic element includes an attachment portion connecting with the moveable section, a holding portion for holding the movable section, and a plurality of elastic ribs capable of being elastically deformed during the telescopic movement of the moveable section. The elastic ribs of the elastic element are configured to restrain a movement of the moveable section, whereby the moveable section can stop at a focal position when an elastic force generated by the deformation of the at least one elastic rib is equal to a force for causing the moveable section to have the telescopic movement. | 11-26-2009 |
| 20090290242 | Lens actuation device, optical system and camera - A lens actuation device for an optical system includes a housing, a carrier at least partially installed in the housing, and a plurality of transducers arranged around the carrier in the housing. All the transducers are coupled with the mount, and at least one transducer includes at least one magnet and at least one coil. At least one transducer includes at least one yoke. All the transducers when powered on may generate independent or consistent movement to cause the mount to make linear movement, rotation, or both relative to the housing. An optical system adopting the lens actuation device and a camera using the same are also presented. The device of the present invention uses the transducers to drive the carrier, such that the lens set is driven to make linear movement, rotation, or both, thereby achieving the flexible manipulation of the lens. | 11-26-2009 |
| 20090290243 | Lens transfer device and camera module having the same - Provided is a lens transfer device including a housing; a coil that is installed on the circumference of the housing; a lens barrel that is installed inside the housing and has a lens group embedded therein; and an actuator that is installed in one side of a direction where the lens barrel is linearly transferred, and of which the shape is recovered by a magnetic field generated through the coil so as to linearly transfer the lens barrel. | 11-26-2009 |
| 20090296241 | LENS DRIVE APPARATUS AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS INCLUDING LENS DRIVE APPARATUS - A lens drive apparatus that can prevent a propulsion force generated in a direction other than an optical axis direction without a second yoke, reduce a size of the entire apparatus, and high-accurately drive a lens holding frame in the optical axis direction. The apparatus including: a member to be driven that holds a lens, is movable in the optical axis direction, and is guided and supported in a lens barrel; a movable coil wound with at least two sides in parallel to the optical axis direction, and mounted to a part of the member to be driven; and a magnet placed to face the movable coil in parallel to the optical axis direction, and provided in the lens barrel, wherein the movable coil is configured so that at least one side of the two sides and one side other than the two sides face surfaces of the magnet. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20090303621 | LENS DRIVING APPARATUS - A lens driving apparatus is disclosed. The lends driving apparatus may include a movable body holding lenses, a fixed body in which the movable body is mounted and movably along the lens optical axis direction, and a drive mechanism that moves the movable body in the lens optical axis direction. The drive mechanism may be equipped with a coil that is held by the movable body or the fixed body, a magnet that is held by the other body of the movable body and the fixed body, and a regulatory means that regulates the movement of the movable body which is induced by an electromagnetic force generated when current is passed through the coil. The coil may be opposed to the magnet in the lens optical direction. | 12-10-2009 |
| 20090303622 | VIBRATING ELEMENT, VIBRATION ACTUATOR, LENS BARREL, CAMERA SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DRIVING VIBRATION ACTUATOR - To provide a vibrating element which can be driven by a low voltage, a vibration actuator, a lens barrel, a camera system and a method for driving a vibration actuator. A vibrating element ( | 12-10-2009 |
| 20090303623 | LENS MODULE WITH DRIVING MECHANISM FOR LENSES - An exemplary lens module includes one or more lenses, a hollow stationary assembly, a hollow elastic member, and a hollow movable assembly. The one or more lenses are received in the hollow movable assembly. The stationary assembly includes a first magnetic field generator, and two spaced guiding rods defined on the first magnetic field generator. The hollow elastic member is attached onto the first magnetic field generator. The hollow elastic member has two engaging holes and two flexible portions. The movable assembly includes a second magnetic field generator and two guiding holes. The flexible portions are attached to the second magnetic field generator, and the guiding rods extend through the engaging holes and the guiding holes. | 12-10-2009 |
| 20090316284 | IMAGE CAPTURING MODULE - An image capturing module is provided. The image capturing module includes: a lens assembly supporting at least one lens, moving along an optical axis of light indicating an image of a subject, and comprising guiding protrusions for guiding the moving the optical axis; a module supporting unit comprising guiding holes to which the guiding protrusions are inserted to guide the lens assembly; a lens driving unit comprising a winding vibration type piezoelectric motor and a piezoelectric motor supporting member, wherein the winding vibration type piezoelectric motor is disposed on the module supporting unit and moves the lens assembly along the optical axis and the piezoelectric motor supporting member supports the winding vibration type piezoelectric motor; a pressurizing member interposed between the piezoelectric motor supporting member and the module supporting unit; and a plurality of ball assemblies interposed between the module supporting unit and the lens assembly. | 12-24-2009 |
| 20090323208 | ROTARY ACTUATOR - A rotary actuator includes a multi-polar magnet, in which north and south poles are alternately arranged in a circumferential direction, the multi-polar magnet being shaped into one of a circular ring and a circular arc member; and a coil body having coils which are provided around the multi-polar magnet to be capable of moving in the circumferential direction of the multi-polar magnet, each of the coils substantially lying on a plane that extends in a radial direction of the multi-polar magnet and orthogonal to the circumferential direction of the multi-polar magnet. The north and south poles of the multi-polar magnet are positioned apart from each other by a predetermined interval in the circumferential direction. Dimensions of each coil are predetermined so that length of each coil in the circumferential direction is associated with the predetermined interval. Predetermined currents are passed through the coils in a properly phased manner. | 12-31-2009 |
| 20100002317 | LENS DRIVING DEVICE COMPRISING MAGNETIC CIRCUIT WITH HIGH MAGNETIC EFFICIENCY - A lens driving device includes a lens holder including a tubular portion for holding a lens assembly, a driving coil fixed to the lens holder so as to position around the tubular portion and a yoke including a permanent magnet opposite to the driving coil. The yoke includes an outer hollow cylindrical portion having a rectangular cylindrical shape, the permanent magnet includes at least four permanent magnet pieces each having a rectangular cross section. Four magnetic circuit auxiliary members are disposed between four corners of the outer hollow cylindrical portion of the yoke and four ones of the permanent magnet pieces that are disposed at the four corners of the outer hollow cylindrical portion of the yoke. | 01-07-2010 |
| 20100007973 | LENS ACTUATOR, LENS UNIT USING THE LENS ACTUATOR AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE LENS UNIT - A lens actuator has a carrier, a cover, a first spring, a second spring, a coil, and a magnet. The carrier with a cylindrical shape is provided with a hollow section formed along a first direction, and has a holding section formed on one side of the first direction. The hollow section has a shape configured to mount a lens barrel therein. The cover, which is disposed on the side having the holding section of the carrier, has a supporting section that meets with the holding section of the carrier. The first spring and the second spring make a resilient contact with each of both surfaces in the first direction of the carrier. The coil is circumferentially disposed on the carrier so as to face the magnet. Of the coil and the magnet, one is mounted on the carrier and the other is disposed on the outer or the inner periphery of the carrier. | 01-14-2010 |
| 20100027140 | DRIVING UNIT AND OPTICAL PICK-UP DEVICE INCLUDING THE SAME - The present invention relates to a driving unit capable of implementing a long stroke drive while achieving height reduction of the driving unit. The driving unit is provided with a driving mechanism for driving a driven body. The driving mechanism includes: a bendable displaceable member that is fixated at one end and, through electric control, bent and displaced at the other end; a driving direction-changing member changing a direction of the bending and displacement of the bendable displaceable member to a driving direction of the driven body, the driving direction of the driven body being perpendicular to the direction of the bendable displaceable member; a contact member frictionally engaged with the driving direction-changing member and driving the driven body; and a precompression member mounted in the driven body and precompressing the contact member towards the driving direction-changing member. | 02-04-2010 |
| 20100027141 | LENS MOVING DEVICE AND INSTALLATION UNIT - Disclosed is a lens moving device and a lens installation unit within which at least one lens is installed and at least one guiding protrusion is formed, a driving means that moves the lens installation unit, and a frame which includes a guiding slot into which the guiding protrusion is arranged and houses the lens installation unit. | 02-04-2010 |
| 20100033852 | LENS ACTUATOR - A lens actuator includes a housing, a plurality of magnets, a base, and a coil-wrapped lens barrel. The housing includes a top panel, and a plurality of side panels cooperatively defining an accommodating space. The top panel defines a light passage. Each of the magnets is attached to an inner surface of each side panel. The base is fixed to an end of the housing and is opposite to the top panel. The lens barrel is resiliently mounted on the base, and is accommodated in the accommodating space. | 02-11-2010 |
| 20100033853 | LENS MODULE WITH MAGNETIC FIELD BARRIER - An exemplary lens module includes an electromagnetic shutter, an electromagnetic motor and a magnetic field barrier sandwiched between the electromagnetic shutter and the electromagnetic motor. The electromagnetic shutter is configured for generating a first magnetic field. The electromagnetic motor is configured for generating a second magnetic field. The magnetic field barrier is configured for preventing the first magnetic field and the second magnetic field from penetrating therethrough. | 02-11-2010 |
| 20100039718 | LENS MODULE - In order to provide a lens module having a simply structured lens drive mechanism that is capable of stabilizing the moving speed of an optical lens system, the lens module has a structure wherein a lens holder (to which no illustrated optical lens system is mounted) ( | 02-18-2010 |
| 20100039719 | LENS DRIVING APPARATUS - Disclosed is a lens driving apparatus. The lens driving apparatus includes a base formed at a center thereof with a first opening; a housing coupled with the base and having a second opening corresponding to the first opening; a yoke installed on the base and including a horizontal plate having a third opening corresponding to the first opening and a vertical plate protruding upward from the horizontal plate; a bobbin movably installed in the yoke and coupled with a lens module; a coil fixedly disposed around the bobbin; a plurality of magnets provided at the vertical plate of the yoke to face the coil; and a spring installed on at least one of upper and lower portions of the yoke to return the bobbin, which has moved up due to interaction between the magnet and the coil, to its initial position. | 02-18-2010 |
| 20100046099 | LENS ACTUATOR - An exemplary lens actuator includes a lens barrel, a coil wrapped around the lens barrel, a plurality of magnets, a bracket, and a first resilient plate. The lens barrel includes a main body and a plurality of first positioning pins protruding out from the main body. The first resilient plate includes an outer frame, an inner frame substantially coaxial with the outer frame, and a plurality of spring portions interconnected between the outer frame and the inner frame. A fixed panel is mounted on the first side of the bracket. The outer frame of the first resilient plate is fixed on one portion of the fixed panel. The inner frame of the first resilient plate is fixed on the lens barrel. The first positioning pins extend through the inner frame of the first resilient plate and resist on another portion of the fixed panel. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100046100 | DRIVING DEVICE AND OPTICAL APPARATUS - A driving device is provided and includes: an actuator that includes a driving shaft attached to a piezoelectric element; and a driving signal control unit. The piezoelectric element is expanded and contracted in response to a driving signal. The driving shaft is reciprocated by the expansion and contraction operation of the piezoelectric element to move a driven member that is frictionally engaged with the driving shaft. The driving signal control unit outputs to the piezoelectric element a second driving signal that increases a driving force applied to the driven member and reduces the movement speed of the driven member during a period from the start of the expansion and contraction operation of the piezoelectric element to a predetermined time, as compared to a first driving signal output when the driven member is moved after the period has elapsed. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100046101 | OPTICAL APPARATUS - An optical apparatus includes a second member | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100053784 | Camera module - A camera module according to an aspect of the invention may include: a housing; a fixed unit fixed to the inside of the housing; a lens barrel provided in the housing and having at least one lens; and a moving unit moved and supported by the fixed unit by a predetermined magnetic force, and moving the lens barrel along an optical axis, such that driving accuracy and reliability can be increased when performing auto focus or zoom. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100061000 | LENS DRIVE DEVICE - A lens drive device may include a support body, a movable body having a lens, a magnetic drive mechanism for magnetically driving the movable body in a lens optical axis direction, and a spring member connected between the support body and the movable body. The magnetic drive mechanism includes a coil held by the movable body and both end parts of the coil are electrically connected to different spring pieces of the spring member through terminals. The support body includes an insulation member which holds the terminals, and each of the terminals includes an outside connecting terminal part which is located on an outer side of the insulation member, and a long elongated connecting part which is extended along an inner wall of the insulation member from the outside connecting terminal part and connected with the spring piece of the spring member. | 03-11-2010 |
| 20100067130 | LENS MODULE AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS - A lens module includes: an optical element focusing a subject on an imaging device; a driver moving the optical element forward and backward along the optical axis direction when electric power is applied; and a holding section holding the optical element in at least two positions along the optical axis direction when the driver moves the optical element forward and backward. | 03-18-2010 |
| 20100073785 | Motor for Driving Lenses - Disclosed is a motor for driving lenses. The motor includes a case, a yoke fixed in the case, a magnet fixed in the yoke, a carrier equipped with lenses and installed in the magnet such that the carrier moves up and down within the magnet, a coil coupled with the carrier, in which the coil cooperates with the magnet to move up and down the carrier, a spring unit including first and second springs having arc shapes and being separated from each other while forming a ring shape as a whole, in which an outer peripheral surface of the spring unit is fixed to the case, an inner peripheral surface of the spring unit is fixed to the carrier to elastically support the carrier, and a lead wire of the coil is connected to the spring unit so that external power is supplied to the coil, a spacer supporting the outer peripheral surface of the spring unit, and a terminal provided on the spacer, in which one side of the terminal protrudes downward by passing through a bottom of the case to make connection with the spring unit and a main PCB of a product. | 03-25-2010 |
| 20100073786 | Optical Mounting and Optical Component Comprising Said Type of Optical Mounting - The invention relates to an optical mounting comprising a stationary outer mounting and an inner mounting part embodied to receive an optical element. The aim of the invention is to enlarge the adjustment path in the direction of the optical axis of the optical element that is to be mounted, and as a result, obtaining high stability and rigidity that is perpendicular to the optical axis. Also, the invention aims at keeping the space requirements and the manufacturing and mounting costs as low as possible. | 03-25-2010 |
| 20100073787 | PIEZOELECTRIC-DRIVING OPTICAL LENS - A piezoelectric-driving optical lens is disclosed, which comprises: a lens, having a barrel with a friction ring annularly mounted on the outer wall of the barrel as the outer diameter of the friction ring is larger than that of the barrel; a plurality of piezoelectric stators, arranged surrounding the lens and abutted against the friction ring, for providing a rotation driving force to the lens for focusing or zooming function; and a seat, for receiving the lens and the plural piezoelectric stators; wherein, the plural piezoelectric stators can actuate simultaneously to output a maximum driving torque. | 03-25-2010 |
| 20100091392 | LENS DRIVING UNIT AND CAMERA MODULE COMPRISING THE SAME - Provided are a lens driving unit that generates a precise linear motion in a spatially limited structure by using a bending vibration piezoelectric motor having a new structure, and a camera module comprising the lens driving unit. The lens driving unit includes: a lens carrier supporting a lens and comprising a guide axis exposed at least partially to the outside and extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the lens; and a piezoelectric driving unit having a center portion contacting the guide axis according to a bending motion of a piezoelectric element and moving the lens carrier in a direction in which the guide axis extends. | 04-15-2010 |
| 20100097712 | LENS DRIVING DEVICE COMPRISING A DRIVING COIL DISPOSED CLOSE TO EXPOSED LENSES - In a lens driving device including a movable portion including a lens barrel having a plurality of lenses and a driving coil, a fixed portion including a magnetic field generating portion including a permanent magnet opposite to the driving coil, and an elastic member mounted to the movable portion and the fixed portion and supporting the movable portion in a direction of an optical axis shiftably so as to position the movable portion in a radial direction, the plurality of lenses are connected with the plurality of lenses fixed to each other. The lens holder holds only an uppermost one among the plurality of lenses and remaining ones in the plurality of lenses except for the uppermost one are put into an exposed state. The driving coil is disposed close to outer edges of the exposed lenses. | 04-22-2010 |
| 20100097713 | LENS DRIVING DEVICE COMPRISING A LENS BARREL HAVING A LOWER END PORTION MAKING CONTACT WITH A BASE - In a lens driving device including a lens barrel having an outer wall in which a male screw thread is cut, a tubular lens holder having an inner wall in which a female screw thread is cut, a driving coil fixed to the lens holder so as to position around the lens holder, a fixed portion including a magnetic field generating portion including a permanent magnet opposite to the driving coil, and an elastic member mounted to the lens holder and the fixed portion and supporting the lens holder in a direction of an optical axis shiftably so as to position the lens holder in a radial direction, the lens barrel has a lower end portion which makes contact with a base of the fixed portion in a state where the driving coil is not energized. | 04-22-2010 |
| 20100103542 | FOCUSING DEVICE AND IMAGING DEVICE - A focusing device of simple construction that is miniaturizable, and an imaging device utilizing the same, are provided. A focusing device ( | 04-29-2010 |
| 20100110570 | X-Y ADJUSTABLE OPTICAL MOUNT - An optical element mount has an inner member suspended within an outer member by a plurality of flexures. A first and a second translational adjustment apparatus are disposed to translate the inner member within a translation plane that is orthogonal to an optical axis, wherein each translational adjustment apparatus has an actuator movable within the outer member along a linear travel path that is parallel to the translation plane and a shaft extending between the outer and inner members, the shaft coupled to the actuator with a first ball-and-socket joint and coupled to the inner member with a second ball-and-socket joint. The linear travel path of the actuator for the first translational adjustment apparatus is substantially orthogonal to the linear travel path of the actuator for the second translational adjustment apparatus. | 05-06-2010 |
| 20100110571 | LENS HOLDER DRIVING DEVICE AND IMAGE PICKUP UNIT EMPLOYING PLANARY-DRIVEN POLYMER ACTUATOR - There are provided a lens holder being capable of holding a lens and having flange portions at opposite end portions thereof along an optical axis, a planary-driven actuator including driving arm portions having lens holder support points for holding the outer surface of the lens holder at a plurality of opposing positions and having free-end side contact portions, a lens-holder retaining plate having spring-characteristic portions, and fixing frames which form the outer surfaces of a lens holder driving device and fix the respective components. | 05-06-2010 |
| 20100123960 | VOICE COIL MOTOR HAVING HOLES AND SOCKETS FOR RECEIVING POSITIONING MEMBERS - An exemplary voice coil motor includes a housing and a movable unit. A top panel of the housing has two positioning through holes. The movable unit includes a barrel holder, and a coil wrapped around the barrel holder. The barrel holder has two positioning sockets corresponding to the two positioning through holes. Each of two positioning members is fittingly received through one positioning hole and in the corresponding positioning socket, such that the barrel holder is fixed relative to the housing while the positioning members are engaged in the positioning through holes and the positioning sockets. | 05-20-2010 |
| 20100128369 | Optical Package Comprising an Adjustable Lens Component Coupled to a Multi-Directional Lens Flexure - An optical package is provided comprising a lens system, the lens system comprising an adjustable lens component, a plurality of magnetic elements, and a multi-directional lens flexure. The adjustable lens component is mechanically coupled to a lens mounting portion of the multi-directional lens flexure. The magnetic elements comprise at least one fixed magnetic element and at least one motive magnetic element. The arrangement of the fixed and motive magnetic elements relative to each other forms a first fixed/motive element pair and a second fixed/motive element pair. The motive magnetic element of each fixed/motive element pair is mechanically coupled to a motive portion of the multi-directional lens flexure. The structure of the multi-directional lens flexure and the arrangement of the fixed/motive element pairs is such that non-orthogonal repulsive or attractive magnetic force vectors generated between magnetic elements of the respective fixed/motive element pairs generate movement of the adjustable lens component through orthogonal components x, y along X and Y axes of the X-Y optical reference frame. | 05-27-2010 |
| 20100128370 | LENS MODULE - A lens module includes an upper coupling element, a spring, a magnet yoke, a plurality of magnets, a coil, a lens holder and a lower coupling element. The magnet yoke is disposed under the spring and has a cylindrical inner wall, multiple extension slices and a top wall. The top wall is outwardly extended from an upper edge of the cylindrical inner wall. The extension slices are downwardly and axially extended from a periphery of the top wall and circumferentially arranged on the top wall at regular intervals. The magnets are attached on inner surfaces of respective extension slices of the magnet yoke. At least two raised structures are circumferentially arranged on the lower periphery of the lens holder. The lower coupling element includes at least two concave structures mating with the raised structures. | 05-27-2010 |
| 20100128371 | ACTUATOR, METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME, AND CAMERA MODULE INCLUDING THE ACTUATOR - An actuator used for a camera module and controlling a lens assembly to move along an optical axis, includes a magnet disposed on a side of the lens assembly, a coil part disposed within a magnetic field of the magnet and controlling an up-and-down movement of the lens assembly when an electric power is applied, and a yoke part disposed to horizontally move the magnet disposed on the side of the lens assembly. The lens assembly is provided with a friction-generating member generating a frictional force to the lens assembly in an opposite direction to a direction in which the lens assembly moves to the yoke part. | 05-27-2010 |
| 20100128372 | LENS ACTUATOR - An exemplary lens actuator includes a lens barrel, a plurality of convex stages and a plurality of stop mechanisms protruding out from a first end surface of the lens barrel, a coil wrapped around the lens barrel, a plurality of magnets, a bracket, and a resilient plate. The resilient plate includes an outer frame, an inner frame substantially coaxial with the outer frame, and a plurality of spring portions interconnected between the outer frame and the inner frame. The outer frame of the resilient plate is fixed on the first side of the bracket. The inner frame of the resilient plate is fixed on the plurality of convex stages. The plurality of stop mechanisms faces a surface of the outer frame and is configured for limiting a maximum travel of the lens barrel. | 05-27-2010 |
| 20100134906 | Actuator for lens driving mechanism - An actuator includes: a rotary shaft allowed to axially and including a threaded portion at a protruding portion thereof and two idle regions disposed respectively at both ends of the threaded portion; a movable structure adapted to travel along the rotary shaft; a stopper means facing the end of the protruding portion of the rotary shaft and configured to restrict the axial movement of the movable structure located at the idle region; an open space disposed between the stopper means and the end of the rotary shaft and configured to allow the rotary shaft to axially move; an urging means for urging the movable structure toward the motor; and a recovery means for urging the movable structure toward the threaded portion by a magnetic thrust force exerted by cutting off power supply to the motor when the movable structure is in contact with the stopper means. | 06-03-2010 |
| 20100142063 | MINIATURE ACTUATOR AND OPTICAL APPARATUS - The subject matter disclosed herein relates to an actuator to adjust a position of a lens. | 06-10-2010 |
| 20100142064 | VIBRATION ACTUATOR, LENS BARREL AND CAMERA - A vibration actuator comprising: an electromechanical conversion element excited by a driving signal; an elastic body to which the conversion element is jointed and on a driving face of which vibration waves are generated by the excitation; and a relative moving element pressure-contacted with the driving face of the elastic body, and which is driven by the vibration waves, and wherein: a joining face of the conversion element which is joined to the elastic body has an electrode portion, and a joining strength improving portion which improves the joining strength between the elastic body and the conversion element; and the electrode portion is formed on at least one of two edge portions of the joining face, through the edge portions, an imaginary straight line pass, the line pass the improving portion and is orthogonal to a relative moving direction of the elastic body and the moving element. | 06-10-2010 |
| 20100142065 | LENS ACTUATOR - An exemplary lens actuator includes a movable unit, and a fixed unit. The movable unit includes a hollow body, and a plurality of first guiding members formed on the hollow body. The fixed unit includes a hollow cubic main body, and a plate body disposed on the top end of the hollow cubic main body. The hollow cubic main body and the plate body cooperatively define a receiving cavity for receiving the movable unit therein. The plate body faces the movable unit, and includes a through hole defined in the center of the plate body for allowing light to pass therethrough, and a plurality of second guiding members formed on the plate body. The second guiding members are coupled to the respective first guiding members for constraining the movable unit to move along the central axis of the through hole. | 06-10-2010 |
| 20100142066 | CAMERA MODULE - A lens holding member ( | 06-10-2010 |
| 20100149665 | DRIVING DEVICE, IMAGING DEVICE INCLUDING THE SAME, AND IMAGING APPARATUS - In order to achieve a low-profile driving device, the driving device includes: a bending displacement member ( | 06-17-2010 |
| 20100149666 | CAMERA MODULE - A camera module includes a barrel unit, an image sensing unit, and a voice coil motor. The image sensing unit has an image sensing surface. The barrel unit defines an optical axis. A first projection boundary is formed on the projection plane by projecting a boundary of the image sensing surface along the optical axis. A second projection boundary is formed on the projection plane by projecting a boundary of the receiving space of the movable part along the optical axis. The voice coil motor includes a hollow fixed part, a movable part, and a base. The base includes a shielding part and a through hole defined in the shielding part. A third projection boundary is formed on the projection plane by projecting a boundary of the through hole of the shielding part along the optical axis. The third projection boundary lies between the first and the second boundaries. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20100149667 | LENS DRIVING DEVICE - A lens driving device may include a movable lens body which holds a lens, and a driving mechanism for moving the movable lens body in an optical axis direction. The driving mechanism includes coils attached to the movable lens body, and a magnet opposed to the coils. When a gap between the coils and the magnet is expressed as A, and the width of the coil is expressed as B, a conditional expression of 0.3B≦A≦B is satisfied. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20100149668 | LENS DRIVE DEVICE - A lens drive device may include a movable body provided with a lens and a drive mechanism for driving the movable body in the optical axis direction. The drive mechanism may include a substantially triangular prism-shaped drive magnet part disposed in at least one of four corners of the lens drive device, and a drive coil wound around a substantially triangular tube shape and whose inner peripheral face is oppositely disposed to an outer peripheral face of the drive magnet part through a gap space. In at least another embodiment, a lens drive device may include a flat spring provided with a plurality of arm parts which connect a movable body fixed part with a fixed body fixed part. The arm part is formed with a low spring constant part whose spring constant is smaller than a spring constant of other portion of the arm part. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20100172040 | FOCUS MODULE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SAME - The present disclosure provides a focus module including a substrate, a holder, at lease one second magnet, a frame and an elastic element. The substrate includes at least one first magnet and an aperture. The frame is fixed on the substrate and defining a hole receiving the holder. The second magnet is fixed on the holder. At least one of the first magnet and the second magnet is an electromagnet. The elastic element includes a first end, a second end, and at least one U-shape bend connected the first and second ends. The first end is fixed on the side surface of the holder. The second end is fixed on the inner surface of the hole. The two sides of the U-shape bend are parallel to the side surface of the holder and the inner surface of the hole. The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing the focus module. | 07-08-2010 |
| 20100172041 | LENS ACTIVATING DEVICE - A lens activating device includes at least one elastic piece, at least one stationary piece and a movable piece. At least one elastic piece has at least four sheet portions and four sets of elastic portions. Each set of the elastic portions are serpentine and connected between two sheet portions in order to make the at least one elastic piece form a closed ring. The stationary piece is connected to two sheet portions, and the movable portion is connected to the other two sheet portions. The elastic force generated by the four sets of elastic portions exerts a restoring force on the movable piece. Via this arrangement, the slight rotation of the movable piece within the lens activating device can be reduced. Further, the problem that the elastic piece may scrape the neighboring elements can be prevented. | 07-08-2010 |
| 20100188760 | LENS DRIVE DEVICE - A lens drive device may include a movable body holding a lens and a drive mechanism for driving the movable body in the optical axis direction. The drive mechanism may include a drive magnet part formed in a substantially triangular prism shape which is disposed at least one of four corners of the lens drive device, a drive coil wound around in a substantially triangular tube shape so that its inner peripheral face is oppositely disposed to an outer peripheral face of the drive magnet part through a gap space, and a magnetic member which is disposed on an object side with respect to the drive coil. The magnetic member is attracted toward an intermediate position of the drive magnet part in the optical axis direction. | 07-29-2010 |
| 20100188761 | LENS DRIVE DEVICE - A lens drive device may include a movable body holding a lens, a fixed body movably holding the movable body, and a drive mechanism for driving the movable body in the optical axis direction. The drive mechanism may include a drive magnet part formed in a substantially triangular prism shape and disposed at least in one of four corners of the lens drive device, a drive coil wound around in a substantially triangular tube shape and attached to the movable body, and a coil protection member attached to at least one of an object side and an opposite-to-object side of the drive coil. The coil protection member may include a first coil protection end part and a second coil protection end part which are superposed on an outer side end of the drive coil or protruded toward an outer side from the outer side end of the drive coil to prevent the drive coil from contacting with the fixed body such as a case body. | 07-29-2010 |
| 20100195223 | Miniature magnetic-levitated lens driving device - A miniature magnetic-levitated lens driving device includes a lid, a casing, a lens module, a plate spring, and a magnetic-levitated module. The lid has a hollow structure and is coupled to the casing. The casing is formed therein with a receiving space. The lens module is provided in the receiving space. The plate spring is fixed between the lid and the casing and configured to resiliently confine the lens module to the receiving space. The magnetic-levitated module is provided in the receiving space and corresponds in position to the lens module. A magnetic repulsive force is produced by and between the magnetic-levitated module and the lens module, and in consequence the lens module is magnetically suspended in the receiving space formed by the lid and the casing, so as to save power, and minimize friction and microparticles. | 08-05-2010 |
| 20100202069 | Control Techniques for Motor Driven Systems - A drive signal for a motor-driven mechanical system has zero (or near zero) energy at an expected resonant frequency of the mechanical system. The drive signal may be provided in a series of steps according to a selected row of Pascal's triangle, wherein the number of steps equals the number of entries from the selected row of Pascal's triangle, each step has a step size corresponding to a respective entry of the selected row of Pascal's triangle, and the steps are spaced from each other according to a time constant determined by an expected resonant frequency of the mechanical system. Alternatively, the stepped drive signal may be provided as a series of uniform steps according to a selected row of Pascal's triangle, in which the steps are provided in a number of spaced intervals corresponding to the number of entries from the selected row of Pascal's triangle, each interval includes a number of steps corresponding to a respective entry from the selected row of Pascal's triangle and the intervals are spaced in time according to a time constant determined from the expected resonant frequency of the mechanical system. These techniques not only generate a drive signal with substantially no energy at the expected resonant frequency, they provide a zero-energy “notch” of sufficient width to tolerate systems in which the actual resonant frequency differs from the expected resonant frequencies. | 08-12-2010 |
| 20100208371 | STRUCTURE FOR CONTROLLING OPTICAL ZOOM DISTANCE VIA MAGNETIC LINES OF FORCE - A structure for controlling optical zoom distance via magnetic lines of force, which is applied in electric torches, lighting lamps and so on, includes a closed shell, a controlled member, a controlling member, a zoom device, a first magnetic element and a second magnetic element. The controlled member is movably disposed in the closed shell. The controlling member is movable disposed outside the closed shell. The zoom device is disposed on the controlled member. The first magnetic element is disposed on the controlled member and the second magnetic element is disposed on the controlling member. Based on the structure, the present invention can achieve optical zoom. | 08-19-2010 |
| 20100220404 | PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATOR DEVICE, IMAGE PICKUP UNIT AND MOBILE TERMINAL APPARATUS - An object of the invention is to provide an actuator device that realizes improvements in impact resistance as well as size reduction and thickness reduction of the device. | 09-02-2010 |
| 20100220405 | DRIVING METHOD OF LENS ACTUATOR - (Problem) To suppress vibration generated while rising of a reciprocating lens actuator using a piezoelectric element or the like as a driving source and to shorten a rising speed. | 09-02-2010 |
| 20100226024 | BARREL MODULE AND IMAGING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - A barrel module and an imaging apparatus including the same. The barrel module includes: a base having a surface on which an image pickup device is disposed; a lens barrel disposed on the base; a driver for providing driving power to move the lens barrel up and down over the base; a clip connected to the driver to be disposed between the driver and the lens barrel; and an elastic member for providing elasticity between the lens barrel and the clip, wherein the lens barrel moves from an original position toward the base according to an external force is applied, and when the external force is removed, the lens barrel goes back to the original location due to the elasticity of the elastic member. | 09-09-2010 |
| 20100232042 | Lens driving device - In the present invention, a lens driving device has appropriate offset for miniaturization, excellent linearity of driving current versus displacement, and good displacement sensitivity. A casing holding a yoke with at least one permanent magnet mounted on an inner circumference thereof is connected with a lens holder having a driving coil installed on an outer sidewall thereof between an upper spring member and a lower spring member. When the driving coil is not powered, the lens holder props against the casing at a side opposite to an imaged object. When the lens holder props against the casing, the position of the driving coil along Z axis causing a magnitude of driving magnetic field intersecting with the driving coil is 50%˜90% of a maximum value of the driving magnetic field intersecting with the driving coil while the lens holder moves toward the imaged object. | 09-16-2010 |
| 20100232043 | OPTICAL MODULE, METHOD FOR PRODUCTION THEREOF, AND IMAGING APPARATUS - An optical module includes a substrate, an optical element directly built in a predetermined area of the substrate, and a piezoelectric element directly formed on the substrate along the circumference of the optical element. The piezoelectric element drives the optical element, by displacing the predetermined area of the substrate, in such a manner to displace the optical element in the direction of the optical axis of the optical element or to incline the optical axis of the optical element. | 09-16-2010 |
| 20100238569 | CAMERA LENS MODULE - A lens module includes a lens barrel, a lens holder, a base, a plurality of elastic guiding members secured on the base and a plurality of electromagnetic devices arranged on the base. The lens barrel has a plurality of optical components received therein, and outer screw threads formed on an outer wall thereof. The lens holder has inner screw threads formed on an inner wall thereof to engage with the outer screw threads of the lens barrel. A plurality of supporting bars and magnetic elements are secured on an outer wall of the lens barrel. The guiding members each is formed on the base and configured for inserting of the respective supporting bar therein to guide a movement of the lens holder. The electromagnetic devices each locates at opposite sides of the respective magnetic element of the lens holder to provide a force to drive the lens holder. | 09-23-2010 |
| 20100246034 | Lens Unit and Lens Driving Apparatus - First to third guide members have first to third axis lines, and the first to third axis lines are arranged in parallel with each other. A first lens holder has a first lens held by a first lens holding portion with a first main sliding portion guided by sliding on the first guide member, and a first sub sliding portion guided by sliding on the third guide member. A second lens holder has a second lens held coaxially with the first lens by a second lens holding portion with a second main sliding portion guided by sliding on the second guide member, and a second sub sliding portion guided by the third guide member. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100246035 | LENS DRIVE DEVICE - A lens drive device includes a lens holder for holding a lens; a cabinet to which the lens holder is attached so as to be capable of being displaced in a direction of an optical axis of the lens; and a drive part that uses a magnetic driving force to displace the holder in the direction of the optical axis. The drive part includes a magnet disposed on the lens holder and a coil opposed to the magnet. Here, the cabinet has a shape of an almost square in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis. Further, the drive part is disposed in a region R between an outer edge of the lens holder and a corner of the cabinet. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100254032 | MAGNETIC COUPLING LENS DRIVING ACTUATOR - A magnetic coupling lens driving actuator includes an imaging element; a movable lens that is movable in a direction of an optic axis; a magnetic body that is coupled to the movable lens; a lens tube that encases and airtightly seals the imaging element, the movable lens, and the magnetic body; a magnetic field producing unit that is disposed on an outer surface of the lens tube and that is movable in the direction of the optic axis; and a wire member that has one end thereof attached to the magnetic field producing unit, and that is operative to move the magnetic field producing unit in the direction of the optic axis. The magnetic field producing unit includes two magnetic field producing members disposed with a predetermined gap therebetween in the direction of the optic axis, the magnetic body is disposed opposed to the predetermined gap within the lens tube, and the movable lens is moved by any one of deformation and movement of the wire member. | 10-07-2010 |
| 20100271717 | LENS DRIVING DEVICE - A lens driving device for use with a lens to photograph or image an object to be photographed or imaged may include a moving member holding the lens and made movable in the direction of an optical axis, and a supporting member for supporting the moving member through a spring member, wherein the lens is displaced and driven in the optical axis direction thereby to focus the image of the object. The supporting member may include a yoke having a cover portion having an entrance window for introducing the reflected light from the object into the lens, and a case portion for covering the outer circumference of the moving member. The cover portion and the case portion are formed integrally with each other. | 10-28-2010 |
| 20100284097 | OPTICAL APPARATUS AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS PROVIDED WITH THE OPTICAL APPARATUS - Provided is an optical apparatus including: two magnets which are constituent components of drive member for moving a lens holder ( | 11-11-2010 |
| 20100284098 | PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATOR, LENS BARREL AND CAMERA - A piezoelectric actuator with low susceptibility to friction and rubbing is provided. A piezoelectric actuator of the present invention is provided with protruding portions, first piezoelectric actuators and second piezoelectric actuators. The protruding portions protrude from a first face of a base member toward a moving member, and are capable of supporting the moving member. The first piezoelectric actuators are provided along members other than the protruding portions and are capable of expanding and contracting in an orthogonal direction that is orthogonal to the first face. The second piezoelectric actuators are provided along the members other than the protruding portions and are capable of expanding and contracting in a direction other than the orthogonal direction. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20100290138 | OPTICAL ADJUSTMENT MOUNTS WITH PIEZOELECTRIC INERTIA DRIVER - Embodiments include optic mounts that may be adjustably positioned with a piezoelectric inertia driver. Position data feedback may be provided to embodiments of a piezoelectric inertia driver controller from an encoder, such as an optical encoder. | 11-18-2010 |
| 20100296184 | VIBRATORY DRIVING DEVICE - A vibratory driving device | 11-25-2010 |
| 20100309568 | LENS DRIVE DEVICE - A lens drive device may include a support body, a movable body having a lens, a magnetic drive mechanism having a coil mounted on the movable body and a magnet mounted on the support body for magnetically driving the movable body in a lens optical axis direction, two spring pieces which are connected between the movable body and the support body for supporting the movable body and which is used as a power supply member to the coil, and two binding pins which are provided in the movable body and around which coil ends of winding start and winding end of the coil are wound. Portions of the coil ends which are wound around the binding pins are electrically connected with the spring pieces. | 12-09-2010 |
| 20100315730 | Lens-Driving Unit - Provided is a lens driving device reduced in sizes. In a right side region divided by a virtual center line vertically passing the outer circumference region of both lens group holding frames, including an optical axis, a lens driving device concentratedly has a first guide pole, a second guide pole, a lead screw of a first piezoelectric motor, and a lead screw of a second piezoelectric motor, when viewed from the front. Furthermore, the lead screw of the first piezoelectric motor and the lead screw of the second piezoelectric motor are arranged in an intermediate region between the first guide pole and the second guide pole. | 12-16-2010 |
| 20100321805 | Lens-Driving Unit - Provided is a lens-driving unit reduced in size and improved in durability, A first flexible printed wiring board of the lens-driving unit has a terminal on one side connected to a first piezoelectric motor and lead in parallel to an optical axis, and the other side connected to a unit for power supply and control, in a loop shape gently bent to an opposite direction to the leading direction. A second flexible printed wiring board of it has a terminal on one side connected to a piezoelectric motor and lead in parallel to the optical axis, and the other side connected to a unit for power supply and control, in a loop shape gently bent to the opposite direction to the leading direction. At such reference plane a structure symmetrically having the second and the first flexible printed wiring board with respect to a reference plane, is employed. | 12-23-2010 |
| 20100321806 | VIBRATION WAVE DRIVEN APPARATUS AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS INCLUDING VIBRATION WAVE DRIVEN APPARATUS - A vibration wave driven apparatus includes a vibrator configured to generate vibration, a rotor configured to be in frictional contact with the vibrator and to rotate about an axis of rotation, and a transmitting member configured to rotate about the axis and to transmit rotation of the rotor to an external component. A part of the transmitting member forms a worm portion of a worm gear. | 12-23-2010 |
| 20100328791 | IMAGE PHOTOGRAPHING DEVICE - The present invention relates to an image photographing device, and is invented to absorb vibration of the plate spring when the lens holder is moved, thereby stabilizing rapidly the lens holder. According to one example, the small camera provided with a damper includes a lens holder provided with lens and driven in an optical axial direction, a fixing unit housing the lens holder, a plate spring which is arranged to the upper part or lower part of the lens holder and connects the lens holder to the fixing unit and supports it so that the lens holder is moved in an optical axial direction, a driving unit for driving the lens holder in an optical axial direction, a support unit arranged on the lower parts of the lens holder and the fixing unit, and a damper member attached to the plate spring for absorbing vibrations of the plate spring wherein the damper member is made with polymer chemical having an elastic force and the elastic force of the damper member is smaller than that of the plate spring. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20110002057 | VIBRATION ACTUATOR, LENS BARREL, CAMERA, MANUFACTURING METHOD FOR VIBRATION BODY AND MANUFACTURING METHOD FOR VIBRATION ACTUATOR - To provide a vibration actuator, a lens barrel, a camera, a manufacturing method for a vibration body and a manufacturing method for a vibration actuator, which have a high driving efficiency and can lead to easy manufacture. A vibration actuator of the present invention is provided with an elastic body and an electromechanical transducer element sintered onto the elastic body in the state that the element is divided into a plurality of areas by a groove-shaped border portion. | 01-06-2011 |
| 20110007408 | TORIC MOTOR AND LENS BARREL HAVING THE SAME INCORPORATED THEREIN - A toric motor includes a toric stator, a toric rotor configured to rotate along the stator, and a bearing configured to support the rotor so as to be rotatable relative to the stator, the bearing comprising a single-row four-point-contact angular ball bearing. | 01-13-2011 |
| 20110013298 | Lens Driving Device - A lens driving device comprises an annular magnet carriage acting as the outer frame of the lens driving device. A magnet and a coil are disposed in the annular magnet carriage. A lens holder with a lens is disposed in the central circular hole of the annular magnet carriage. A front spring with front gasket is disposed in front of the lens holder, and a rear springs with rear gasket is disposed in back of the lens holder, and the spring strings of the front and rear spring are located centrosymmetrically to avoid the rotation offsetting caused by the distortion and to prevent the small offsetting of the optical axis when the lens holder is moving. The structure of nested seamless connection between the rear spring and the base can prevent small matter and disturbing optical entering into the lens driving device Four triangular prism-shaped magnets are respectively disposed in the four corners of the cavity of the annular magnet carriage. The annular magnet carriage, the front spring, the rear spring, the front gasket, the rear gasket, the lens holder, and the base are all in the shape of flat plate and nested connect with each other to form a position mechanism. | 01-20-2011 |
| 20110026149 | COMPACT IMAGING DEVICE - The subject matter disclosed herein relates to an imaging device having a small form factor. | 02-03-2011 |
| 20110026150 | COMPACT AUTO FOCUS LENS MODULE WITH PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATOR - A compact auto focus lens module with a piezoelectric actuator revealed includes a piezoelectric actuator, an elastic element, at least two guiding fixtures, and a lens barrel with an optical lens set therein. By elastic force of the elastic element, a friction is generated between the lens barrel and the piezoelectric actuator. While being applied with a voltage, the lens barrel driven by the movement of the piezoelectric actuator moves along the optical axis under the guidance of the guiding fixtures. Due to fewer elements, compact volume, and light weight, the design is applied to miniature auto focus lens modules so as to achieve effects of fast movement, stable focusing and reduced tilting. | 02-03-2011 |
| 20110026151 | AUTO FOCUS LENS MODULE WITH PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATOR - An auto focus lens module with a piezoelectric actuator having a piezoelectric actuator, a tangent thrust element, a sliding fixture, a metal member, a guiding fixture, and a lens barrel is revealed. By a thrust in the tangent direction generated from the tangent thrust element toward the outer edge of the lens barrel, a friction is generated between the lens barrel and the piezoelectric actuator. When the piezoelectric actuator is applied with a voltage, the lens barrel driven by the piezoelectric actuator moves along an optical axis for focusing with the auxiliary of the guiding fixture. Due to fewer elements, light weight and compact volume, the design is applied to miniature auto focus lens modules so as to achieve effects of fast movement, stable focusing and reduced tilting. | 02-03-2011 |
| 20110038066 | VOICE COIL MOTOR TYPE FOCUSING ACTUATOR - A voice coil motor type focusing actuator is disclosed to have a fixed unit, a movable unit and two resilient holding members. The fixed unit has a bracket with two slide shafts and a plurality of magnets mounted in the bracket. The movable unit has a lens holder movably mounted inside the bracket and a coil wound around the lens holder. The lens holder has two lugs. Each lug has a through hole for the slide shaft of the fixed unit to insert thereinto. The resilient holding member is fastened between the bracket of the fixed unit and the lens holder of the movable unit. When a current is supplied to the coil, a magnetic force is produced between the coil and the magnets to move the movable unit. When the current stops, an elastic force due to the resilient holding unit is utilized to pull the movable unit back to its original position. | 02-17-2011 |
| 20110043933 | RENS MOVING MODULE - Disclosed herein is a Lens moving MODULE. The Lens moving MODULE includes a lens barrel having at least one lens which brings an image of a subject into focus. A housing having a space for the lens barrel, and friction member formed in axially. A piezoelectric actuator provided in an outer circumferential surface of the lens barrel, and generating vibration when external voltage is applied to the piezoelectric actuator, with a through hole formed for having the friction member. An elastic member include the friction member, and inserted into the through hole of the piezoelectric actuator, and applying the vibrations to the friction member. | 02-24-2011 |
| 20110043934 | Rotary-Driven Mechanism for Non-Rotational Linear Actuation - Actuation mechanisms driven by rotary motors are described whereby linear movement of a mechanical component, typically a lens barrel, is effected without rotating the linear moving component. For mechanisms driven by miniature piezoelectric motors, this is accomplished by driving a rotor which in turn causes linear, and only linear, movement of a lens barrel according to structures described in different embodiments. A preferred embodiment includes a threaded rotor moving both rotationally and axially that drives a two-piece lens barrel assembly. Another embodiment includes a rotor having a grooved split ring on its outer surface that does not move axially and drives a lens barrel through a threaded interface. Another embodiment includes a two-piece rotor that does not move axially and drives a lens barrel through a threaded interface. Typically, anti-rotation pins and corresponding grooves in a fixed structure are used to prevent the lens barrel from rotating. | 02-24-2011 |
| 20110043935 | LENS ACTIVATING DEVICE - A lens activating device includes at least one elastic piece, at least one stationary piece and a movable piece. At least one elastic piece has at least four sheet portions and four sets of elastic portions. Each set of the elastic portions are serpentine and connected between two sheet portions in order to make the at least one elastic piece form a closed ring. The stationary piece is connected to two sheet portions, and the movable portion is connected to the other two sheet portions. The elastic force generated by the four sets of elastic portions exerts a restoring force on the movable piece. Via this arrangement, the slight rotation of the movable piece within the lens activating device can be reduced. Further, the problem that the elastic piece may scrape the neighboring elements can be prevented. | 02-24-2011 |
| 20110051265 | Lens Drive Device - According to one embodiment, a lens drive device comprises: a housing; a yoke provided on the inside of the housing; a magnet secured to the yoke; a carrier which is located on the inside of the yoke and which is provided with a lens; a coil which is connected to the carrier and which interacts with the magnet; a spring for resiliently supporting the carrier; and a magnetic member connected to the carrier. | 03-03-2011 |
| 20110058268 | Lens driving device - This invention provides a lens driving device with a driving coil connected thereto that can avoid possible damages on the ends of the driving coil and any adverse effect on the spring members or the lens holder. When the ends of the driving coil are connected to the electric terminals mounted on a casing respectively, the coiling pull start section of the driving coil which begins from the beginning end of the driving coil to the electric terminal and the coiling pull finish section of the driving coil which begins from the finish end of the driving coil to the electric terminal are made into L-shaped structures. Such L-shaped structure comprises a lens holder lateral section extending horizontally and a terminal lateral section extending vertically. | 03-10-2011 |
| 20110063743 | PIEZO ACTUATOR AND LENS ACTUATING MODULE USING THE SAME - Disclosed herein are a piezo actuator and a lens actuating module using the piezo actuator. The lens actuating module includes a housing having an accommodating space. A lens barrel is accommodated in the accommodating space. A preload unit includes a locking part locked to the outer circumference of the lens barrel and preload parts extending from both edges of the locking part outwards relative to the lens barrel. A piezo actuator is interposed between the preload parts and supported at a side thereof by force of the preload parts, the side being bent and deformed inwards and outwards, thus applying force for actuating the lens barrel in a direction of an optical axis to the preload unit. The piezo actuator which is simple in structure and assembling process and has improved actuating reliability and the lens actuating module using the piezo actuator are achieved. | 03-17-2011 |
| 20110063744 | FOCUSING DEVICE FOR BEAM PROJECTOR - A focusing device for a beam projector including a casing, a body tube having at least one lens, the body tube being advanced or retracted in a direction of an optical axis in the casing, a movable member provided at a side of the body tube, the movable member moving in parallel with the direction of the optical axis, a bridge fixed to the body tube and coupled with the movable member to cover at least a part of the movable member, and a drive motor fixed in the casing and provided at a side of the body tube, in which the movable member linearly reciprocates as the drive motor operates, whereby the body tube is advanced or retracted. | 03-17-2011 |
| 20110075280 | PIEZOELECTRIC DRIVING MODULE, CAMERA MODULE USING SAME AND PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE USING SAME - An exemplary piezoelectric driving module includes a movable barrel, a fixed barrel receiving the movable barrel, a piezoelectric actuator, and a spring member. The piezoelectric actuator is configured for moving the movable barrel relative to the fixed barrel. The piezoelectric actuator includes a piezoelectric body mounted on the sidewall of the fixed barrel and a friction member mounted on the piezoelectric body. The piezoelectric body is configured for driving the friction member to generate elliptical vibration. The friction member is in frictional contact with the movable barrel. The spring member connects the movable barrel to the fixed barrel. The spring member is configured for providing an resilient force to make the movable barrel be in frictional contact with the friction member such that the friction member can be driven by the piezoelectric body to move the movable barrel along the central axis of the fixed barrel. | 03-31-2011 |
| 20110075281 | AUTOFOCUS LENS MODULE - An autofocus lens module includes a holder defining a space, a barrel positioned in the space of the holder, a first post extended from an outer surface of the barrel, a first spring connecting adjacent ends of the barrel and the holder such that the barrel is maintained in the holder, and a first piezoelectric actuator. The first piezoelectric actuator is fixed on an internal surface of the holder and capable of deforming along a central axis of the holder. The first piezoelectric actuator is coupled with the first post so as to move the barrel along the central axis of the holder. | 03-31-2011 |
| 20110090580 | LENS DRIVING DEVICE, CAMERA, AND CAMERA-EQUIPPED CELLULAR PHONE - A lens driving device | 04-21-2011 |
| 20110096423 | PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATOR, LENS BARREL AND OPTICAL DEVICE - A piezoelectric actuator having reduced sizes, a lens barrel and an optical device. A piezoelectric actuator is provided with: a first actuator including first piezoelectric elements to be displaced in a first direction; a second actuator, which includes second piezoelectric elements to be displaced in a second direction intersecting with the first direction, and is arranged in a direction intersecting with the first direction with respect to the first actuator; and a relative displacement member, which is arranged between the first actuator and the second actuator and can be relatively displaced in the first direction with respect to the first actuator. | 04-28-2011 |
| 20110116180 | CAMERA MODULE WITH AUTOFOCUS FUNCTION - Provided is a camera module that includes a lens section comprising at least one lens, a coil section fixed to the lens section and comprising wiring terminals, a magnet section comprising a permanent magnet, an inner yoke, and an outer yoke, wherein the inner yoke and the outer yoke induce a magnetic force line to pass through the coil section, and a terminal extension section comprising a first terminal and a second terminal that electrically extend from the wiring terminals of the coil section to the outside of the camera module and surround the magnet section so that the first terminal and the second terminal are externally exposed. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110122517 | Camera module and lens driving device - There is provided a camera module. The camera module includes: a lens barrel including at least one lens; a housing receiving the lens barrel and having an opening in one surface thereof; an actuator driving the lens barrel through the opening; and a preload control part receiving the actuator therein and forming one surface of the housing by being coupled to the opening such that preload generated from the lens barrel and the actuator is controlled. | 05-26-2011 |
| 20110122518 | LENS BARREL AND OPTICAL DEVICE INCLUDING THE SAME - A lens barrel includes a first frame configured to hold a first optical element, be movable in an optical-axis direction, and hold a position of the optical element in the optical-axis direction in a nonenergized state; a second frame configured to hold a second optical element, be movable in the optical-axis direction, and not hold a position of the optical element in the optical-axis direction in the nonenergized state; and a shock-absorbing portion provided at least one of the first and second frames. In the nonenergized state, the first frame is positioned within a range of the second frame. | 05-26-2011 |
| 20110122519 | LENS BARREL AND IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS - Provided is a lens barrel comprising a lens holding member that holds a lens; a guide bar that has a magnetic pattern in which a pair of magnetic poles repeat in a longitudinal direction and that has the longitudinal direction thereof oriented in a direction of an optical axis of the lens to guide the lens holding section to move in the direction of the optical axis; a control portion that is disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the lens holding member and that includes a magnetic body generating magnetic force between itself and the magnetic pattern of the guide bar; and a drive coil that is arranged in a manner to not contact the guide bar and that generates magnetic drive force between itself and the guide bar. | 05-26-2011 |
| 20110134549 | BARREL UNIT AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - A barrel unit includes a barrel, a holding member configured to hold an optical element, a cylindrical member configured to support the barrel and the holding member, and a driving unit configured to generate a thrust by electrifying in a magnetic field formed by a magnet and a yoke a coil fixed onto the cylindrical member and to drive the holding member in an optical axis direction of the optical element by using the thrust. The yoke, the magnet, and the coil are located outside of a part of the cylindrical member which supports the barrel. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20110141588 | OPTICAL DEVICE AND LENS COLLISION PREVENTING METHOD THEREOF - An optical device includes a lens, a driving unit, a control unit, a frame, and a boundary detecting unit. The lens has a metal barrel. The control unit is electrically connected to the driving unit, to control a movement thereof. The frame has an inner wall. The frame defines a lens movement area. The boundary detecting unit is disposed on the inner wall. The boundary detecting unit has a plurality of sensors disposed on the inner wall, and surrounds the lens equidistantly. When the metal tube approaches one of the sensors, a capacitance of the sensor will be changed, and the IC sends a position detection signal to the control unit, according to the capacitance variation. The control unit controls the movement of the lens, according to the position detection signal. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110149421 | LENS ACTUATING MODULE - Disclosed herein is a lens actuating module. In the lens actuating module, a housing has an installation space therein. A lens barrel is disposed in the installation space of the housing. The lens barrel includes a lens. An actuating means is provided at a first position in the installation space of the housing in an optical axial direction. The actuating means is connected to the lens barrel to move the lens barrel. A base magnet is provided at a second position in the installation space of the housing. A lens magnet is mounted to the outer surface of the lens barrel at a position facing the base magnet to generate a repulsive force between the lens magnet and the base magnet. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110149422 | LENS BARREL AND CAMERA SYSTEM - A lens barrel includes an oscillatory wave motor which drives a lens; a manual connection ring which is operated manually to cause the lens to move along an optical axis; a slip ring which is in contact with the manual connection ring; a roller which is in contact with the slip ring and with the oscillatory wave motor; and a roller support ring which supports the roller. The slip ring is structured such that frictional resistance on a contact surface between the manual connection ring and the slip ring is smaller than frictional resistance on a contact surface between the roller and the slip ring. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110170204 | Lens Driving Apparatus - Disclosed is a lens driving apparatus. The lens driving apparatus includes a base formed at a center thereof with a first opening; a housing coupled with the base and having a second opening corresponding to the first opening; a yoke installed on the base and including a horizontal plate having a third opening corresponding to the first opening and a vertical plate protruding upward from the horizontal plate; a bobbin movably installed in the yoke and coupled with a lens module; a coil fixedly disposed around the bobbin; a plurality of magnets provided at the vertical plate of the yoke to face the coil; and a spring installed on at least one of upper and lower portions of the yoke to return the bobbin, which has moved up due to interaction between the magnet and the coil, to its initial position. | 07-14-2011 |
| 20110170205 | Lens Driving Motor and Elastic Member of the Same - Provided are a lens driving motor and an elastic member of the lens driving motor. The elastic member of a lens driving motor, the elastic member includes a first spring and a second spring. The second spring is different from the first spring and disposed together with the first spring on one side of a carrier to support the carrier. A first lead line of a coil and a first external power source are connected to the first spring, and a second lead line of the coil and a second external power source are connected to the second spring to supply power to the coil. Since the carrier can be assembled to other part after a (+) lead line and a (−) lead line of the coil are connected to the first and second springs, respectively, using solder, a process is simple and convenient. | 07-14-2011 |
| 20110176229 | MOTOR HAVING PULSE MODE AND BRUSHLESS MODE, AND CONTROL METHOD AND APPARATUS OF THE MOTOR - A motor includes a rotor having a magnet, a stator having two coils, and a controller configured to control excitations of the two coils. The stator includes first and second yokes excited by the coils, and first and second rotor detectors configured to detect a magnetic flux. The first yoke is arranged for each electric angle of 360°, and the second yoke shifts from the first yoke by an electric angle of 90°. The first rotor position detector is arranged at the same position as the first yoke. The controller generates an excitation switching signal for each coil based on detection signals from the first and second rotor position detectors, and excites a corresponding coil, and obtains first and second delay angles. | 07-21-2011 |
| 20110176230 | FOCUS CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR A BEAM PROJECTOR - A focus controlling device of a beam projector for use in a portable terminal. The focus controlling device includes a drive motor, a cam including a helical groove on an outer circumferential surface thereof, connected to the drive motor, and a projection lens barrel including a shaft that interworks with the helical groove to control focus by linearly sliding according to revolution of the cam. | 07-21-2011 |
| 20110188137 | LENS BARREL AND PHOTOGRAPHING APPARATUS INLCUDING THE SAME - A lens barrel and a photographing apparatus including the lens barrel include a clutch assembly disposed on a plane orthogonal to an optical axis between a manual adjustment ring and a distance adjustment ring. The clutch assembly rotates on a fixing part of the lens barrel and includes first, second, and third clutch wheels and one or more rollers, wherein the first clutch wheel includes an operator disposed on an end thereof and that receives a rotation force of the manual adjustment ring, the second clutch wheel is disposed on an inner surface of the first clutch wheel, the third clutch wheel is disposed on an inner surface of the second clutch wheel and fixed to the distance adjustment ring, and the rollers are radially disposed with respect to the optical axis and comprise surfaces contacting the operator and other surfaces contacting an outer surface of the third clutch wheel, wherein the first and second clutch wheels are elastically fixed to each other by first elastic members, a second elastic member is disposed between the second clutch wheel and the fixing part, and a third elastic member is disposed at both ends of the second clutch wheel, supports ends of circumferential surfaces of the rollers, and controls positions of the rollers. | 08-04-2011 |
| 20110194199 | TWO-AXIS STAGE AND CAMERA MODULE HAVING THE SAME - A camera module in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes a housing, a first shaft, which is disposed in a first axis direction and coupled to the housing in such a way that the other end part can be tilted against one end part, a moving guide, which is mounted on the first shaft in such a way that the moving guide can slide in the first axis direction, a second shaft, which is disposed in a second axis direction and supported by the housing in such a way that the second shaft can be tilted against the housing, a lens module, which is mounted on the second shaft in such a way that the lens module can slide in the second axis direction, and a driver, which moves the lens module in the first axis direction and the second axis direction. | 08-11-2011 |
| 20110199696 | PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY AND OPTICAL SYSTEM INCLUDING THE SAME - An optical system includes a housing, a lens assembly, and a piezoelectric actuator assembly. The lens assembly includes a lens unit having at least one lens, and a lens frame that supports the lens unit and moves in the housing. The piezoelectric actuator assembly includes a base plate coupled to the housing, an elastic plate coupled to the base plate and including a protrusion protruding from a first surface of the elastic plate, a piezoelectric element coupled to a second surface of the elastic plate wherein the piezoelectric element vibrates when receiving electricity and transmits the vibration to the elastic plate, and a moving portion that supports the lens frame. The moving portion has a first end supported by the protrusion of the elastic plate and a second end slidably coupled to the base plate. | 08-18-2011 |
| 20110205646 | LEAF SPRING WITH HIGH VICKERS HARDNESS - A leaf spring supports a pillar shaped movable portion disposed in a center portion with respect to a cylindrical fixed portion disposed around the movable portion in the direction of a center axis shiftably so as to position the movable portion in a radial direction. The leaf spring is made of a material having Vickers hardness which is not less than 500 (HV). | 08-25-2011 |
| 20110205647 | LEAF SPRING WITH HIGH THRUST - A leaf spring supports a pillar shaped movable portion disposed in a center portion with respect to a cylindrical fixed portion disposed around the movable portion in the direction of a center axis shiftably so as to position the movable portion in a radial direction. The leaf spring is made of stainless steel having relative magnetic permeability which is not less than 1.1. | 08-25-2011 |
| 20110205648 | LENS DRIVE DEVICE - A lens drive device formed in a substantially quadrangular shape may include a movable body holding a lens, a fixed body movably holding the movable body, and a drive mechanism for driving the movable body in the optical axis direction. The drive mechanism may include first drive magnets respectively disposed on four side faces of the lens drive device, a second drive magnet for restraining inclination which is disposed on at least one of four corners of the lens drive device, and a drive coil which is wound around in a substantially octagonal shape. Magnetic flux passing through the drive coil at one of the four corners of the lens drive device is different from magnetic fluxes passing through the drive coil at the other three corners, or magnetic fluxes passing through the drive coil at two corners adjacent to each other of the four corners of the lens drive device are different from magnetic fluxes passing through the drive coil at the other two corners. | 08-25-2011 |
| 20110235195 | VOICE COIL MOTOR AND CAMERA MODULE USING SAME - A voice coil motor includes an outer shell, magnetic members, a base, first and second elastic members, and a movable assembly. The outer shell has a top wall and sidewalls. The magnetic members are mounted on the inside of the sidewalls. The first elastic member is sandwiched between the top wall and the magnetic members, and has a ring-shaped first elastic portion. The second elastic member is fixed on the base, and has a ring-shaped second elastic portion. The movable assembly comprises a ring-shaped retainer wrapped in a coil of wire. The retainer is connected to the first elastic portion and the second elastic portion. The magnetic members and the coil of wire are configured for cooperating to drive the movable assembly to move in the outer shell. A camera module using the voice coil motor is also provided. | 09-29-2011 |
| 20110235196 | VOICE COIL MOTOR AND CAMERA MODULE WITH SAME - A voice coil motor includes an outer shell, a fastening member, magnetic members, a base, first and second elastic members, and a movable assembly. The outer shell has a through hole defined therein and includes sidewalls surrounding the through hole. The first elastic member includes a ring-shaped first elastic portion. The fastening member fastens the first elastic member on the outer shell. The magnetic members are mounted on the inside of the sidewalls, respectively. The second elastic member is fixed on the base and includes a ring-shaped second elastic portion. The movable assembly includes a retainer wrapped in a coil of wire, the retainer is connected to the first and second elastic portions, and is movable in the outer shell under an interaction between the magnetic members and the coil of wire. A camera module using the voice coil motor is also provided. | 09-29-2011 |
| 20110235197 | LENS DRIVE DEVICE - A lens drive device for use with at least one lens may include a movable body holding a lens, a fixed body movably holding the movable body, and a drive mechanism for driving the movable body in the optical axis direction. The drive mechanism may include a drive coil fixed to the movable body and a plurality of drive magnets which is fixed to the fixed body and magnetized so that magnetic poles are different from each other in the optical axis direction. The fixed body may include an outer peripheral side magnetic member and an end face side magnetic member and an inner peripheral face of the outer peripheral side magnetic member and a side face of the drive magnet are faced each other through a predetermined space. The drive coil is disposed between the drive magnet and the inner peripheral face of the outer peripheral side magnetic member. | 09-29-2011 |
| 20110235198 | LENS DRIVE DEVICE - A lens drive device may include a support body, a movable body which holds a lens, a magnetic drive mechanism which drives the movable body, a spring member provided with an arm part whose both ends are connected with the movable body and the support body. Only one piece of the spring member may be disposed between an end part on one side in a lens optical axis direction of the movable body and the support body. A displacement prevention mechanism may be structured at an end part on the other side in the lens optical axis direction of the movable body. The displacement prevention mechanism may include a protruded part and a recessed part. | 09-29-2011 |
| 20110249352 | SPRING PLATE, LENS ACTUATOR HAVING SAME, AND RELATED CAMERA MODULE - A spring plate includes a plate body having a through hole defined at the center thereof, and a terminal perpendicularly extending from the plate body. The plate body includes an outer closed-loop frame, an inner closed-loop frame, and spring parts interconnected between the outer closed-loop frame and the inner closed-loop frame. The terminal has an end portion distal from the plate body with at least one of a through hole and a recess therein. | 10-13-2011 |
| 20110255185 | DRIVE UNIT - A drive unit includes a lens frame configured to support a lens, a movable body located outside the lens and configured to be movable with the lens frame, and a vibratory actuator configured to drive the movable body. The vibratory actuator includes an actuator main body contacting the movable body, an opposite member provided at a position which is opposite to the actuator main body so that the movable body is sandwiched between the actuator main body and the opposite member, and a connecting member configured to connect the actuator main body and the opposite member and to bias them toward the movable body. The connecting member is not provided at a side of the movable body where the lens frame is provided, but is provided at an opposite side of the movable body to the side where the lens frame is provided, as viewed in the optical direction. | 10-20-2011 |
| 20110273789 | Linear motor with integral position sensor - Systems and methods for a linear motor having an integrated position sensing of the anchor of the motor are disclosed. An integrated position sensing of the anchor is achieved by sensing the inductance of one or more coils driving the anchor. The anchor comprises at least one permanent magnet. The inductance is dependent on a current position of the anchor. The anchor is driven by PWM pulses. A control unit controls the duration of driving the anchor and the duration of sensing the inductance. In normal operation during about 80% of a motor control period the anchor is driven and during a remaining time the inductance is sensed. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the linear motors invented are used in a camera module driving a lens barrel and a shutter. | 11-10-2011 |
| 20110292527 | X-Y ADJUSTABLE OPTICAL MOUNT WITH Z ROTATION - An optical element mount has an inner member suspended within an outer member by a number of flexures. A first translational actuator is movable within the outer member and coupled to the inner member by a first shaft and is actuable to translate the inner member along a first substantially linear travel path within a translation plane that is orthogonal to an optical axis. A second translational actuator is movable within the outer member and coupled to the inner member by a second shaft and is actuable to translate the inner member along a second substantially linear travel path within the translation plane. A rotational actuator is movable within the outer member and coupled to the inner member by a third shaft and actuable to rotate the inner member about an instant point of rotation that is defined at the intersection of the first and second linear travel paths. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20110292528 | VIBRATION ACTUATOR, METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING VIBRATION ACTUATOR, LENS BARREL AND CAMERA - A vibration actuator having excellent driving performance, a method for manufacturing the vibration actuator, a lens barrel and a camera. The vibration actuator is provided with: an electromechanical conversion element which converts an electric energy into a mechanical energy; an elastic body which generates vibration waves by oscillation of the electromechanical conversion element; a resin layer, which is formed of a conductive thermoplastic resin and bonds the electromechanical conversion element and the elastic body with each other; and a relatively moving member which is brought into contact with the elastic body with a pressure and is relatively moved to the elastic body by vibration waves. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20110299181 | COMPACT IMAGING DEVICE - The subject matter disclosed herein relates to an imaging device having a small form factor. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20110304933 | CONTROL APPARATUS AND ADJUSTMENT METHOD FOR VIBRATORY ACTUATOR USING A PLURALITY OF VIBRATORS, VIBRATORY ACTUATOR, AND LENS UNIT AND OPTICAL APPARATUS USING THE VIBRATORY ACTUATOR - A control apparatus is configured to control an actuator, which moves one driven member by a plurality of vibrators, by supplying two alternating-current signals to each vibrator of the actuator. The control apparatus includes a controller configured to acquire a speed characteristic of the driven member corresponding to the frequency of the alternating-current signal with respect to the vibrator(s) based on the acquired speed and the frequency of the alternating-current signal supplied to the vibrator(s) at the time of the acquisition of the speed, and reduce a difference in the characteristic among the plurality of vibrators by adjusting at least one of an amplitude of an alternating-current signal to be supplied to the vibrator, a frequency of an alternating-current signal to be supplied to the vibrator, and a phase difference between two alternating-current signals to be supplied to the vibrator, based on the acquired characteristic. | 12-15-2011 |
| 20110310500 | LENS DRIVING DEVICE CAPABLE OF SUPPRESSING A REDUCTION OF MAGNETIC EFFICIENCY OF A MAGNETIC CIRCUIT - A lens driving device includes a ring-shaped driving coil fixed to a lens holder so as to position around a tubular portion thereof and a rectangular hollow cylindrical yoke including a plurality of flat-shaped permanent magnets opposite to the driving coil. Each flat-shaped permanent magnet has both ends in a horizontal direction which extend in the proximity of opposed two sides of the yoke. The driving coil is disposed so as to extend up to the vicinity of the both ends in the horizontal direction of each flat-shaped permanent magnet. | 12-22-2011 |
| 20110310501 | Motor For Driving Lens - A motor for driving a lens is disclosed, wherein through holes through which a carrier passes are formed at an inner surface of a spring buried by an outer surface of the carrier, whereby the spring is not disengaged from the carrier to improve the reliability of the product. | 12-22-2011 |
| 20110317292 | PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATOR AND LENS BARREL - A piezoelectric actuator includes: a plurality of first piezoelectric elements; a first member that is interposed between opposing faces of the plurality of the first piezoelectric elements and that is driven in a first direction by the plurality of the first piezoelectric elements; a second piezoelectric element that is disposed in the first member; a second member that is disposed in contact with the second piezoelectric element and that is driven in a second direction intersecting the first direction by the second piezoelectric element; and a third member that comes in contact with the second member and that is moved relative to the first member by driving the second member. | 12-29-2011 |
| 20110317293 | Oscillation Motor Unit, Oscillation Motor, and Lens Driving Device Using Oscillation Motor - The object of the present invention is to provide a driving mechanism which is a higher powered motor that can be used even when an installation space is limited by reducing a space required for installation of the motor as a motive power of a driving mechanism, and which prevents the influences of vibration and heat generation in the operation. To achieve the object, an oscillation motor unit, an oscillation motor and a lens driving device are employed in which the vibrator, a push mechanism pushing the vibrator in a specific direction to transmit the motive power of the vibrator in which a vibrator is made vibrate and convert the vibration energy to a motive power transmitted are included, wherein a first base member for setting the vibrator and the push mechanism is set at the position where the first base member is sandwiched between the vibrator and the push mechanism. | 12-29-2011 |
| 20120002308 | AUTO-FOCUSING LENS DRIVING DEVICE - This invention provides an auto-focusing lens driving device having a movable member, the movable member comprising: a cylinder-shaped lens carrier whose exterior is wound with a coil and whose interior defines a hollow portion for receiving an optical system; and two separate conductive elastic pieces which are each disposed at one side of the cylinder-shaped lens carrier along an optical axis; wherein each one of the two ends of the coil is micro-welded and joined to a corresponding one of the two conductive elastic pieces by thermal pressing technique, and a thermal pressing region having an area of less than 1 mm | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120002309 | LIGHT ADJUSTING APPARATUS - A light adjusting apparatus according to the present invention includes a first substrate and a second substrate having an optical aperture, a rotating shaft member which has been rotatably installed with respect to the first substrate and the second substrate, a light adjusting unit which is joined to the rotating shaft member, and a driving unit which moves the light adjusting unit by driving to rotate the rotating shaft member. Light which passes through the optical aperture is adjusted by moving the light adjusting unit by rotating the rotating shaft member by the driving unit. The light adjusting unit has a notch, and the rotating shaft member and the light adjusting unit are joined at the notch. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120008221 | VOICE COIL MOTOR - A VCM (voice coil motor) is disclosed, the VCM including: a rotor including a cylindrical bobbin for accommodating a lens and protruded at a bottom end with a boss, and a coil block arranged at a periphery of the bobbin; a stator including a magnet facing the coil block and a yoke fixing the magnet; and an elastic member including a first elastic member formed with a through hole coupled to the boss of the bobbin and a second elastic member coupled to an upper end facing the bottom end of the bobbin; wherein the boss is formed with a disengagement prevention unit preventing the first elastic member from being disengaged from the boss, and the first elastic member is formed with a coupling unit contacting a joint where the disengagement prevention unit and the coupling unit meet. | 01-12-2012 |
| 20120014002 | Voice Coil Motor With Pulse-Width Modulation Driver - An apparatus is provided including a voice coil motor (VCM); a lens connected to the voice coil motor; and a pulse-width modulation (PWM) driver connected to the voice coil motor to at least partially control movement of the lens by the voice coil motor. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120014003 | ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY AND OPTICAL SYSTEM HAVING THE SAME - An actuator assembly including a slider configured to be slidable along a sliding direction; and a driving force applying unit comprising a plurality of contact portions disposed to be spaced apart from each other in a direction crossing the sliding direction of the slider and for applying force to the slider by vibrating the contact portions. An optical system including a lens assembly comprising a lens unit comprising at least one lens and a moveable lens frame supporting the lens unit; and an actuator assembly as disclosed above. A driving force applying unit including a plurality of contact portions configured to contact the base plate and disposed in the slider to be spaced apart from each other in a direction crossing the sliding direction and configured to apply force to the base plate by vibrating the contact portions. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120026611 | Electromagnetic lens driving device - An electromagnetic lens driving device includes a casing, a lens module, a positioning structure, and an electromagnetic driving module. The lens module is provided in a receiving space defined in the casing. The positioning structure, which is connected between the lens module and the casing, is configured to limit the lens module within the receiving space and generate a frictional force. The electromagnetic driving module is provided in the receiving space and corresponds in position to the lens module. When supplied with electricity, the electromagnetic driving module generates a magnetic force that drives the lens module to move along a central axis. Once the electricity is cut off, the lens module is fixed in position and prevented from moving freely by the frictional force of the positioning structure; hence, the electromagnetic lens driving features economical use of electricity. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120026612 | COMPACT IMAGING DEVICE - The subject matter disclosed herein relates to an imaging device having a small form factor. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120026613 | ACTUATOR, DRIVE DEVICE, LENS UNIT, IMAGE-CAPTURING DEVICE - It is an objective of the present invention to provide an actuator that can efficiently enlarge a displacement amount of a moving element. Provided is an actuator that moves a moving element, comprising a drive element that contacts the moving element; a drive unit that moves the moving element in a movement direction by moving a contact portion of the drive element contacting the moving element in the movement direction and in an opposite direction that is opposite the movement direction, such that movement speed in the opposite direction is greater than movement speed in the movement direction; and a displacement enlarging section that joins the drive unit and the drive element to each other, and transmits enlarged displacement of the drive unit to the drive element. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120057252 | CAPACITIVE TYPE HUMIDITY SENSOR AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF - A lens drive apparatus includes a lens holder configured to hold a lens body, a translating mechanism having a magnet, a coil, and a yoke and configured to translate the lens holder along the direction of an optical axis, and a base member formed of a resin material and including an insert-molded metal plate member in a state of being partly exposed, in which the part of the metal plate member exposed from the base member has a structure thicker than other parts, and part of the yoke is fixed to the metal plate member exposed from the base member. | 03-08-2012 |
| 20120063018 | LENS ACTUATOR - A lens actuator includes a box-shaped housing, a prism-shaped carrier, magnets, and coils. The housing accommodates the carrier to be movable along a first direction therein, and the carrier includes a hollow space where a lens can be mounted. The magnets are disposed at one of the carrier or the housing. The coils are disposed at one of the housing or the carrier such that the coils confront the magnets. When the magnets are disposed at the carrier, the coils are disposed at the housing, and when the magnets are disposed at the housing, the coils are disposed at the carrier. The carrier includes first flat guide section formed on a corner of the outer wall, and the housing includes second flat guide section formed on a corner of the inner wall, and the first guide section confront to and slide along the second guide section. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120063019 | CONTROL METHOD FOR A VOICE COIL MOTOR AND LENS FOCUSING SYSTEM USING THE SAME - A control method is provided to reduce the spring resonance of a voice coil motor when the coil current of the voice coil motor is changed. Each time a total variation for the coil current to be changed is identified and divided into a plurality of step variations applied one by one with a time step equal to one half of the spring resonant period of the voice coil motor. Due to reduction of the spring resonance, the control method speed up the voice coil motor to a steady state. With this control method, a lens focusing system has a shorter focusing time. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120069460 | PERMANENT MAGNET ELECTRIC MOTOR - A permanent magnet electric motor includes a rotor and a stator magnetically coupled to the rotor. The rotor includes a shaft, a rotor core fixed to the shaft and having n teeth, n being an integer, a commutator fixed to the shaft adjacent the rotor core and having m segments, m being an even number less than n. Rotor windings are wound about the teeth and connected to the segments. The stator includes a plurality of permanent magnets surrounding the rotor core and brushes in sliding electrical contact with the commutator. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120069461 | LENS DRIVING APPARATUS - Disclosed is a lens driving apparatus. The lens driving apparatus includes a base formed at a center thereof with a first opening; a housing coupled with the base and having a second opening corresponding to the first opening; a yoke installed on the base and including a horizontal plate having a third opening corresponding to the first opening and a vertical plate protruding upward from the horizontal plate; a bobbin movably installed in the yoke and coupled with a lens module; a coil fixedly disposed around the bobbin; a plurality of magnets provided at the vertical plate of the yoke to face the coil; and a spring installed on at least one of upper and lower portions of the yoke to return the bobbin, which has moved up due to interaction between the magnet and the coil, to its initial position. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120075730 | LENS DRIVING DEVICE - An lens driving device is disclosed. The lens driving device includes a base, a lens holder mounted on the base, a movable cover opposite to the a lens holder, a elastic supporting portion received into the lens holder and engaged with the movable cover, a coil and a permanent magnet respectively attached on the lens holder. The permanent magnet interacts with the coil for generating a magnetic force for driving the lens holder to move toward the base along a central axis of the lens holder. The elastic supporting portion defines an elastic force which is more than a weight of the movable cover but not more than the resultant of the weight of the movable cover and the magnetic force. While assembled, the lens driving device further defines a movable distance between an upper surface of the supporting elements and a first surface of the movable cover. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120075731 | GEAR MECHANISM - A gear mechanism having a smaller diameter and achieving an accurate automatic drive includes a central gear supported on a rotational shaft, first and second side gears coaxially positioned on both sides of the central gear, planetary bevel gears supported within side surfaces of the central gear, and sun bevel gears respectively formed on the inner side surfaces of the first and second side gears which are engaged with the planetary bevel gears. At least one of the first and second side gears is provided with a torque adjuster for adjusting the torque of the side gear(s). | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120081802 | PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATOR, LENS BARREL, AND CAMERA - A piezoelectric actuator comprises a first piezoelectric element, a second piezoelectric element, a first set of a first member that is mounted with the first piezoelectric element which is deformed in a first direction with an application of a first voltage, and a second set of a second member that is mounted with the second piezoelectric element which is deformed in the opposite direction of the first direction with the application of the first voltage. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120081803 | PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATOR, LENS BARREL, AND IMAGING DEVICE - A piezoelectric actuator includes a first piezoelectric element that performs thickness-shear vibration in a first direction, a first member that is driven by the first piezoelectric element and that vibrates in the first direction, a second piezoelectric element that is supported by the first member and that performs thickness-shear vibration in a second direction, a second member that is driven by the second piezoelectric element and that vibrates in the second direction, a pressurizing section that generates a pressure between the second member and a driving target member driven by the second member. The pressurizing section includes a third piezoelectric element that changes the pressure between the second member and a driving target member on the basis of a driving state of the driving target member. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120081804 | DRIVING MECHANISM, LENS BARREL, AND CAMERA - A driving mechanism includes a first piezoelectric element that vibrates in a thickness-shear vibration mode in a first direction, a first member that is driven to vibrate in the first direction by the first piezoelectric element, a second piezoelectric element that is supported by the first member and that vibrates in the thickness-shear vibration mode in a second direction, and a second member that is driven to vibrate in the second direction by the second piezoelectric element. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120081805 | DRIVING MECHANISM, LENS BARREL AND CAMERA - A driving mechanism includes a first piezoelectric element and a first driving member that is driven by the first piezoelectric element and that vibrates in a first direction. The first driving member includes a second piezoelectric element and a second driving member that is driven by the second piezoelectric element and that vibrates in a second direction different from the first direction. A difference between the vibration resonance frequency of the first driving member and the vibration resonance frequency of the second driving member is equal to or less than the half-width at a half maximum of a function representing an amplitude frequency characteristic in the vibration of the first driving member. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120087022 | LINEAR MOTOR AND LENS UNIT - Provided is a linear motor comprising a magnet including a first region polarized to have a magnetic pattern for driving and a second region polarized to have a magnetic pattern for position detection, the first and second regions being arranged linearly in a direction of the driving; a drive coil that is provided opposite the first region and generates a drive force exerted on the magnet in the direction of the driving; a magnetic sensor arranged opposite the second region; and a base member that supports the magnet, the drive coil, and the magnetic sensor such that the magnet can be moved relative to the drive coil and the magnetic sensor in the driving direction. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120087023 | PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATOR, LENS BARREL, AND CAMERA - Disclosed is a piezoelectric actuator which has an improved driving force or drive efficiency. Specifically disclosed is a piezoelectric actuator which is provided with: a plurality of piezoelectric members which have a first piezoelectric element capable of being displaced in a first direction and a second piezoelectric element capable of being displaced in a second direction intersecting the first direction, and which are divided into a plurality of groups; a relative movement member which has a contact surface that is in contact with the piezoelectric members, and which moves relatively to the piezoelectric members in the first direction; and a drive unit which, when piezoelectric members of one group among the plurality of groups are in contact with the contact surface, drives the first piezoelectric element of the piezoelectric members. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120087024 | PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATOR, LENS-BARREL, AND CAMERA - A piezoelectric actuator includes: a first piezoelectric device between a base member and a moving member, and that is capable of being expanded and contracted in a direction in which the first piezoelectric device intersects with a first face that opposes the moving member of the base member; a second piezoelectric device between the first piezoelectric device and the moving member, and that is capable of being expanded and contracted in a direction different from the intersecting direction; a transfer member between the first piezoelectric device and the moving member that includes a through hole piercing through in the intersecting direction, receiving amounts of expansion and contraction of the first piezoelectric device and the second piezoelectric device to transfer a driving force to the moving member; and a supporting member that pierces through the through hole, and that can support the moving member. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120099212 | LENS DRIVING DEVICE WITH PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATOR - A lens driving device includes a fixed housing, a movable lens holder movably received in the fixed housing, a base mounted to the fixed housing, a guide rod, and a piezoelectric actuator. The fixed housing has an opening defined at a corner thereof. The lens holder has a through hole formed therein, and the through hole is arranged opposite to the opening, a central axis of the through hole is parallel with an optical axis of the lens. The guide rod extends through the through hole, two ends of the guide rod coupled to the fixed housing and the base. The piezoelectric actuator is fixedly arranged in the opening of the fixed housing and in contact with an outer side surface of the lens holder. The piezoelectric actuator is deformable in itself along the optical axis thereby driving the lens holder to move along the guide rod in the first receiving space. | 04-26-2012 |
| 20120105987 | AUTO-FOCUS LENS MODULE - An auto-focus lens module includes a lens holder, a movable member, and a focusing spring assembly. The lens holder includes an immovable member and an upper plate. The upper plate has a surface facing the immovable member. First recesses are defined in the first surface. The movable member is received in the immovable member, and includes a lens barrel and ring. The lens barrel has a top surface. The ring is protruded from the top surface of the lens barrel. Arc portions equidistantly extend upward from the ring and are received in the recesses correspondingly. The focusing spring assembly contacts the immovable member and confines the movable member in the immovable member. | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120113536 | AUTOFOCUS MODULE - The present invention provides an autofocus module including: a supporting base, an electrical focusing element and an conductive element, wherein the supporting base at least accommodates one lens element, the electrical focusing element is disposed at one end of the supporting base so that the electrical focusing element and the lens element are positioned along a common optical lens, and the conductive element is embedded in the supporting base and connected to the electrical focusing element and an external power source respectively. The electrical focusing element obtains power through the conductive element, and by controlling the power magnitude supplied to the electrical focusing element, the focal length thereof can be changed accordingly, thereby carrying out the autofocus operation. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120120509 | Apparatus Of Auto-Focus Module And Assembly Method Thereof - An apparatus of auto-focus module and the related assembly method are provided. The module includes a focus-driving module and a photo-sensor module. The focus-driving module includes a lens set and a focus-driving device. The outer circumference of the lens is a smooth surface and the inner circumference of the lens holder is also a smooth surface. The assembly method includes the steps of: sheathing the lens into the lens holder of the focus-driving device and fastening the lens to the lens holder to form a focus-driving module; maintaining a gap as the space for adjusting the locations of the focus-driving module and the photo-sensor module, and after adjustment, fastening the focus-driving module and the photo-sensor module. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120120510 | MAGNET HOLDING STRUCTURE OF AUTO-FOCUS MODULE - A magnet holding structure of auto-focus module includes an outer frame for holding four magnets to four inner wall surfaces of the outer frame; a lens holder for holding a lens thereto and being assembled to the outer frame via at least one spring member; and a winding fitted around the lens holder for driving the lens holder to axially move forward or rearward to focus automatically. The outer frame is provided at each of four inner corners with an inverted L-shaped plate extending downward from a top of the outer frame to locate between the lens holder and the winding, so as to face toward four spaces respectively existing between two adjacent magnets outside the winding. With these arrangements, the electromagnetic field produced by the winding can have enhanced magnetic efficiency and increased driving force at the corners of the winding to achieve the purpose of power saving. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120120511 | VOICE COIL MOTOR - A voice coil motor includes a stationary member, a moveable member, a base, and two guide posts. The stationary member includes a stationary frame and a number of magnets fixed on the stationary frame. The stationary frame defines a first receiving room. The moveable member is received in the first receiving room and includes a barrel holder and a coil. The barrel holder defines a second receiving room for receiving a lens barrel. The coil wraps around the barrel holder. Two through holes extend from a top surface to a bottom surface of the barrel holder. The base supports the stationary member and the moveable member. The guide posts are perpendicularly fixed on the base and pass through the through holes of the moveable member. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120120512 | LENS DRIVE DEVICE - A lens drive device may include a front side spring member which is connected between a movable body having a lens and a support body. The front side spring member includes a support body side connecting part, a movable body side connecting part and a arm part connected between the support body side connecting part and the movable body side connecting part. The support body includes a yoke having a yoke front plate part and the yoke front plate part is formed with a yoke opening part which is overlapped with at least a part of the front side spring member. Damper material having viscoelasticity is provided, for example, on a portion extending over the movable body side connecting part and the arm part and overlapped with the yoke opening part in the lens optical axis direction. Therefore, the damper material can be applied to the front side spring member through the yoke opening part in the final stage of assembling steps. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120120513 | Drive module and electronic apparatus - A drive module includes a drive unit having a cylindrical supporting member, a driven member accommodated inside the supporting member, and a driving unit configured to reciprocally move the driven member along the axial direction of the supporting member. A top-covered cylindrical cover is attached to the drive unit and covers the drive unit. The cover includes a metallic exterior packaging member configured to cover at least an outer periphery of the drive unit to shield the drive unit from external electromagnetic fields, and a resin spacer attached to the exterior packaging member, the spacer having engaging portions engageable with the drive unit to achieve positioning of the cover. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120134033 | LENS DRIVING DEVICE - In a lens driving device, magnetic attraction plates that are magnetic bodies are disposed on a fixed frame at both ends of a movement region of a movable unit. Therefore, when the movable unit moves in the fixed frame to one side or to the other side in the fixed frame and reaches a position at either end of the fixed frame, magnets on the movable unit are magnetically attracted to the magnetic attraction plates on the fixed frame continuously. As a result, the movable unit can be retained at the position even when the coil becomes de-energized. | 05-31-2012 |
| 20120134034 | OPTICAL DEVICE AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREFOR - An optical device may include a movable body holding a lens, a fixed body movably holding the movable body, a drive magnet and a drive coil for relatively moving the movable body with respect to the fixed body, and a metal member fixed to the drive magnet. The drive magnet is fixed to one of the movable body and the fixed body and the drive coil is fixed to the other of the movable body and the fixed body. A nickel plating layer containing at least nickel is formed on a surface of the drive magnet and a surface of the metal member, and the drive magnet and the metal member are joined to each other by a joining layer which is made of tin-based metal containing at least tin and is disposed between the drive magnet and the metal member. | 05-31-2012 |
| 20120140344 | FIXING DEVICE AND VOICE COIL MOTOR USING SAME - A fixing device includes a stationary frame and a number of elongated resilient tabs. The stationary frame defines a central axis and includes four sidewalls for receiving a number of magnets. Each sidewall includes a receiving hole and at least one protrusion formed on each sidewall at a lower portion thereof. A slot is defined in each protrusion. The tabs correspond to the magnets. Each tab includes an engagement portion, an angled portion, and a contact portion. The angled portion is interconnected between the engagement portion and the contact portion. The engagement portions engage in the respective slots. The contact portions resiliently abut against the corresponding magnets. Each tab is configured to apply a force on the corresponding magnet in a direction toward the central axis. | 06-07-2012 |
| 20120140345 | PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATOR, CAMERA MODULE HAVING SAME AND PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE HAVING SAME - An exemplary piezoelectric actuator includes a fixed barrel defining a first receiving cavity, a movable barrel in the first receiving cavity for receiving a lens module, a piezoelectric driving module driving the movable barrel to move relative to the fixed barrel along an optical axis of the lens module, and a preloading module. The movable barrel defines a second receiving cavity for receiving the lens module. The piezoelectric driving module includes a piezoelectric member attached on the sidewall of the fixed barrel, and a friction member attached on the sidewall of the movable barrel. The piezoelectric member is opposite to the friction member. The preloading module is arranged between the fixed barrel and the movable barrel. The preloading module is opposite to the piezoelectric driving module for exerting a pressure to the movable barrel, thereby making the friction member resist against the piezoelectric member. | 06-07-2012 |
| 20120140346 | PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATOR, CAMERA MODULE, AND PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE HAVING SAME - An exemplary piezoelectric actuator includes a fixed barrel, a movable barrel in the fixed barrel, a piezoelectric driving module, a flexible circuit board on the fixed barrel, a bracing sheet, and a preloading module. The movable barrel receives a lens module. The driving module drives the movable barrel to move relative to the fixed barrel along an optical axis of the lens module. The driving module includes a piezoelectric member on the fixed barrel, and a friction member on the movable barrel and opposite to the friction member. The flexible circuit board is electrically connected with the piezoelectric member. The sheet is attached around the flexible circuit board. The preloading module is between the fixed barrel and the movable barrel. The preloading module is opposite to the piezoelectric driving module for exerting a pressure on the movable barrel, thereby making the friction member resist against the piezoelectric member. | 06-07-2012 |
| 20120140347 | Oscillation Motor and Lens Driving Mechanism - An oscillation motor is adapted to press an oscillator toward a driven body in a stable state and increasing a drive efficiency. A lens driving mechanism is adapted to move a lens with excellent efficiency by using the oscillation motor. An oscillation motor generates motive power by pressure contact with a driven body to transmit vibration of the oscillator to the driven body. The oscillation motor includes the oscillator having a convex output portion on a side surface at one end side. The output portion of the oscillator is arranged to contact with the driven body. A press mechanism is also provided on a side surface at the other end side of the oscillator. The press mechanism includes a pressure correction device rotatably equipped at a position where the pressure correction device contacts with the oscillator, and the pressure correction device applies a pressure to the oscillator in a predetermined direction. | 06-07-2012 |
| 20120147490 | VIBRATION ACTUATOR, LENS BARREL, AND CAMERA - Disclosed is a vibration actuator which can be arranged in a limited space, and which has excellent drive performance. Also disclosed are a lens barrel and a camera, which are provided therewith. Specifically disclosed is a vibration actuator which includes: a piezoelectric body which has a first surface, and which is excited by an electrical signal; a vibration body which is joined to the first surface, and which has a second surface on which vibration waves are generated by the excitation; and a moving body which is brought into pressure contact with the second surface, and which moves relatively to the vibration body, wherein the thickness of the piezoelectric body is different in the direction of the relative movement of the moving body. | 06-14-2012 |
| 20120154937 | LENS ACUATING MODULE - Disclosed herein is a lens actuating module for realizing focus adjustment and optical zooming. The lens actuating module includes a rod which is disposed on one side of a lens barrel on which at least one lens is mounted, and has an axis direction corresponding to an optical axis direction of the lens barrel, a driving force transmission member which has a conjoining recess to be conjoined with an outside surface of the rod and has magnetism so as to be conjoined with the outside surface of the rod due to a magnetic force, and a piezoelectric actuator which is disposed on one side of the driving force transmission member in the optical axis direction to provide an axis direction driving force to the rod via the driving force transmission member. | 06-21-2012 |
| 20120154938 | LENS DRIVE DEVICE, AND CAMERA MODULE AND PORTABLE TELEPHONE WHICH HAVE THE LENS DRIVE DEVICE MOUNTED THEREIN - A lens driving device suppresses inward deformation of posts when the winding of a conductive wire generates a winding pressure. A lens driving device | 06-21-2012 |
| 20120162790 | VOICE COIL MOTOR, CAMERA MODULE HAVING SAME AND PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE HAVING SAME - An exemplary voice coil motor includes a fixed body, a movable barrel, a number of upper rollers, and a number of lower rollers. The fixed body includes a first receiving cavity, a number of upper recesses, and a number of lower recesses. The upper recesses and lower recesses are respectively arranged at opposite ends of the fixed body, and communicate with the first receiving cavity. The movable barrel is movably received in the first receiving cavity. The upper rollers are engagingly received in the corresponding upper recesses, and engage with the movable barrel for applying first friction forces to the movable barrel. The lower rollers are engagingly received in the lower recesses, and engage with the movable barrel for applying second friction forces to the movable barrel. | 06-28-2012 |
| 20120162791 | VOICE COIL MOTOR HAVING FINE PATTERN COIL - An exemplary voice coil motor includes a movable unit, a fixed unit, and a resilient plate. The movable unit includes a hollow lens barrel for accommodating a number of lenses, and at least one fine pattern coil fixed on a sidewall of the lens barrel and configured for electrical connection to a power source. The fixed unit includes a hollow frame structured bracket and a number of magnets mounted on the bracket. The bracket accommodates the movable unit. The magnets surround and are spaced apart from the at least one fine pattern coil. The resilient plate is resiliently connected between the bracket and the lens barrel to hold the lens barrel on the bracket. | 06-28-2012 |
| 20120162792 | VOICE COIL MOTOR - A voice coil motor includes a stationary member and a moveable member. The stationary member defines a central axis. The stationary member includes a first receiving room, four sidewalls surrounding the first receiving room and four guide rails formed on the respective sidewalls and located in the receiving room. The moveable member is received in the stationary frame. The moveable member includes a moveable frame. The moveable frame includes four side surfaces. A plurality of restricting posts extend from each side surface and are aligned in a line parallel to the corresponding guide rail. The restricting posts slidably engage in the corresponding guide rails. | 06-28-2012 |
| 20120162793 | VOICE COIL MOTOR AND CAMERA MODULE HAVING SAME - A voice coil motor includes a movable barrel and a spring plate. The movable barrel includes a top end and a number of locating members. Each locating member includes a locating post on the top end, and a blocking portion on the locating post. The spring plate includes a top surface, a bottom surface, and an inner frame. The spring plate defines a through hole passing through the top surface and the bottom surface. The inner frame surrounds the through hole. The inner frame defines a number of locating holes. Each locating hole receives a corresponding locating post. The spring plate is positioned between the blocking portions and the top end. The blocking portions lock the inner frame to the movable barrel. The inner surface of each locating hole defines spaced gaps. Each gap passes through the top and the bottom surfaces. | 06-28-2012 |
| 20120162794 | LENS MODULE - There is provided a lens module. The lens module according to the present invention may include a lens unit including one or more lenses, each having a lens function part and a flange part forming a circumference of the lens function part; and a piezoelectric body disposed on the flange part so as to shield unnecessary light incident through the lens unit and performing autofocusing according to an application of voltage thereto. | 06-28-2012 |
| 20120188660 | MICROSCOPE OBJECTIVE WITH AT LEAST ONE LENS GROUP THAT CAN BE MOVED ALONG THE OPTICAL AXIS - The present disclosure relates to a family of microscopes, each with at least one lens group that includes at least one lens and a lens mount and moves along the optical axis via a drive system for The drive system includes a rotary motor and transmission elements to convert the rotary motion to linear motion to transmit the translational movement to the lens group, and, simultaneously, to prevent rotations of the lens group about the optical axis. In an embodiment, the rotating output shaft of the motor is connected with a screw spindle that engages with a threaded hole machined into the lens mount, so that the lens group is directly moved in a translational manner. The engagement of the screw spindle with the lens mount both effects the translational movement of the lens group and secures the lens group against rotation about the optical axis. | 07-26-2012 |
| 20120194929 | LENS UNIT AND IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS - Provided is a lens unit comprising an actuator that is self-supporting when at a stopped position. The lens unit comprises a holding frame that holds a lens; a movement actuator that moves the holding frame, which is connected to a moving member that moves linearly relative to a stator, when drive force is generated, and does not prevent the moving member from moving relative to the stator when the moving member is stopped; and a braking actuator that stops the moving member from moving relative to the stator, using frictional force, when the movement actuator is not generating the drive force, and decreases the frictional force when the movement actuator generates the drive force. | 08-02-2012 |
| 20120206824 | VOICE COIL MOTOR - A voice coil motor is disclosed, the motor including: a rotor including a lens improved in an optical characteristic of an incident light and a coil block arranged at a periphery of the lens; a stator including a magnet opposite to the coil block of the rotor; elastic members respectively coupled to an upper end and a bottom end opposite to the upper end of the lens to elastically support the rotor; and a base fixing the rotor and the stator. | 08-16-2012 |
| 20120212844 | LINEAR ACTUATOR ASSEMBLIES AND METHODS OF MAKING THE SAME - A linear actuator assembly is provided, the assembly including a linear actuator, an elongated guide spaced in parallel alignment with the linear actuator and a movable carriage disposed therebetween. The carriage includes a first notch to receive a rod of the linear actuator and a second notch to receive the guide. The carriage remains in direct and continuous contact with the linear actuator and the guide at the first notch and second notch, respectively, when the carriage moves linearly back and forth along a travel axis. | 08-23-2012 |
| 20120218650 | Electromagnetic driving device - An electromagnetic driving device which is defined with an axis and comprises: a casing, a driven unit and an electromagnetic driving module. The casing has an inner compartment. The driven unit is received in the compartment and is guided by a guiding mechanism such that the driven unit is movable alone the axis inside the casing. The electromagnetic driving module comprises: a plurality of permanent magnets inside the casing, at least one magnetic member fixed to an outer surface of the driven unit, and a coil located between the magnetic member and permanent magnets. When no electric power is provided to the coil, the magnetic forcing between the permanent magnets and magnetic member will result in a friction force to the guiding mechanism, so as to keep the driven unit at its current position inside the compartment. | 08-30-2012 |
| 20120218651 | DRIVE MECHANISM AND IMAGING DEVICE USING SAME - A drive mechanism and an imaging device according to the present invention each include: an ultrasonic linear actuator | 08-30-2012 |
| 20120229925 | LENS DRIVING DEVICE - A lens driving device includes a box-shaped yoke, a tubular carrier, a coil, a magnet, and a base. The carrier has a first opening in which a lens can be installed. The carrier is held in the yoke for moving from a top dead point to a bottom dead point. The coil is provided on an outer periphery of the carrier. The magnet is provided facing the coil. The base has a second opening on its bottom, and is provided adjacent to the carrier at a side of the moving direction of the carrier. The base has a tubular protrusion formed protruding upward from an outer periphery of its second opening. The tubular protrusion overlaps with the carrier in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the carrier wherever the carrier moves between the top dead point and the bottom dead point. | 09-13-2012 |
| 20120229926 | LENS DRIVE DEVICE - The lens drive device is equipped with a first supporting body that holds the lens and is movable in the direction of the optical axis, a second supporting body that holds the first supporting body, a fixed body that holds the second supporting body in a manner enabling movement in directions that are roughly orthogonal to the optical axis direction, a first drive mechanism for driving the first supporting body, a second drive mechanism for driving the second supporting body in a first direction, and a third drive mechanism for driving the second supporting body in a second direction. The first supporting body is supported by the second supporting body by means of first supporting members ( | 09-13-2012 |
| 20120250169 | OSCILLATOR, VIBRATION ACTUATOR, LENS BARREL, CAMERA, BONDED PRODUCT AND BONDING METHOD - An oscillator includes an electromechanical energy conversion element and an elastic body. The elastic body is bonded with the electromechanical energy conversion element by metallic bonding and is configured to be driven by deformation of the electromechanical energy conversion element. | 10-04-2012 |
| 20120257293 | AUTO-FOCUSING METHOD - An auto-focusing method includes (1) inputting a current with a predetermined greatest value I | 10-11-2012 |
| 20120287517 | DRIVING DEVICE FOR A LENS ASSEMBLY - The present invention provides a simple and compact lens driving device with a shake suppression function. In a VCM lens driving device | 11-15-2012 |
| 20120300322 | LENS HOLDER DRIVING DEVICE CAPABLE OF INHIBITING DRIVING COIL FROM PEELING FROM LENS HOLDER - A lens holder driving device includes a lens holder for holding a lens assembly and a ring-shaped driving coil fixed to the lens holder. The lens holder has N bonded surfaces for bonding N areas of an inner surface of the driving coil to a tubular portion of the lens holder by means of an adhesive agent. At least one of the N bonded surfaces has a peeling inhibiting arrangement for inhibiting the driving coil from peeling from the lens holder after the N areas of the inner surface of the driving coil are bonded to the N bonded surfaces by means of the adhesive agent. | 11-29-2012 |
| 20120307384 | DEFORMABLE LENS ASSEMBLY - The subject matter disclosed herein relates to an imaging device having a deformable lens. | 12-06-2012 |
| 20120307385 | LENS BARREL AND IMAGING OPTICAL SYSTEM - A lens barrel of the present invention is provided with an electric section having a plurality of sliding portions that slide along the predetermined conductor pattern. The electric section is provided with a thin-sheet electric section body supporting the plurality of sliding portions, and a reinforcing portion is provided at the electric section body. Therefore, in the lens barrel | 12-06-2012 |
| 20120314313 | OBJECT LENS DRIVE UNIT AND OPTICAL PICKUP USING THE SAME - In the object lens drive unit including a lens holder with an object lens attached to, a plurality of driving coils attached to the lens holder, connection substrates attached to both sides of the lens holder, and a plurality of suspension wires with end parts thereof connected to the connection substrates for operatively supporting the lens holder, a plurality of sets of wire connection electrodes for connecting the suspension wires and coil connection electrodes electrically connected to the wire connection electrodes for connecting terminal wires of the coils are arranged in line in an optic axis direction of the object lens and the wire connection electrodes and the coil connection electrodes are formed in a symmetric shape to a central axis parallel to the optic axis direction on the connection substrates. | 12-13-2012 |
| 20120320467 | IMAGE PHOTOGRAPHING DEVICE - Disclosed herein is an image photographing device capable of being auto-focused while moving a lens barrel in an optical axis direction. The image photographing device includes: a lens barrel having at least one lens; a housing receiving the lens barrel therein so that the lens barrel moves in an optical axis direction; and an impact reducing unit elastically supporting the lens barrel in the case in which the lens barrel deviates from a set movement range, thereby primarily damping the lens barrel before the lens barrel deviates from the movement range to collide with other components positioned at an outer side of the lens barrel. | 12-20-2012 |
| 20130010378 | VOICE COIL MOTOR AND CAMERA MODULE USING THE SAME - A voice coil motor for driving a lens group includes a housing, a first cover, a second cover, a movable member, and a plurality of magnets. The housing is a hollow and includes a top plate and four sidewalls protruding from the top plate. The movable member is movably received in a space defined by the housing and the first and second covers, and includes a barrel for receiving and being connected to the lens group, and a coil arranged around the barrel. The magnets are arranged between the housing and the movable member, stayed in contact with the sidewalls, and drive the movable member and the lens group to move in the housing when a current is supplied to the coil. | 01-10-2013 |
| 20130021685 | MAGNETIC STRUCTURE FOR COMPACT IMAGING DEVICE - The subject matter disclosed herein relates to electromagnetic force generation for an imaging device having a small form factor. | 01-24-2013 |
| 20130027790 | POSITION SENSOR ASSEMBLY AND OPTICAL DEVICE INCLUDING THE SAME - Position sensor assemblies having compact structures and capable of precisely sensing a position change, and optical devices including the same are disclosed. A position sensor assembly is provided that includes: a sensing unit that outputs a signal varying as a magnetic force varies; and a magnet spaced apart from the sensing unit and i movably disposed with respect to the sensing unit, and comprising protrusion units of opposite polarities that protrude from each end portion of the magnet in one surface of the magnet toward the sensing unit. | 01-31-2013 |
| 20130027791 | MOTOR DRIVE APPARATUS AND OPTICAL APPARATUS - The motor drive apparatus includes a driven member, a stepping motor to drive the driven member, a driver to produce a drive signal for driving the stepping motor and whose signal value periodically changes, a memory to store data for setting a reference signal value as the signal value and a target movement amount of the driven member for each one-step drive of the stepping motor to be driven according to the drive signal having the reference signal value, and a detector to detect an actual movement amount of the driven member for each one-step drive of the stepping motor actually driven according to the drive signal having the reference signal value. The driver changes the signal value of the drive signal from the reference signal value to another signal value so as to reduce difference between the target movement amount and the actual movement amount. | 01-31-2013 |
| 20130033771 | ULTRASONIC MOTOR AND LENS APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - Provided is an ultrasonic motor, comprising: a vibrator including a piezoelectric element and a contact surface to be brought into contact with a member to be driven, the vibrator driving the member to be driven by an ultrasonic vibration excited by the piezoelectric element; a holding part configured to hold the vibrator; a pressurization unit configured to apply a bias force for biasing the holding part toward the member to be driven so as to impress the contact surface against the member to be driven; and a fixing unit configured to support the pressurization unit, in which the holding part holds the vibrator on both sides of the contact surface in a driving direction of the member to be driven. | 02-07-2013 |
| 20130044382 | CAMERA MODULE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SAME - A method for manufacturing camera modules for use in portable electronic devices, such as mobile phones, is provided. More specifically, in camera modules utilizing lens motion type auto focus actuation, permanent magnets associated with voice coil motors utilized in the auto focus system, generate magnetic flux that can interfere with the process of bonding image sensors to camera modules if the permanent magnets of different voice coil motors are positioned too closely. Incorporating a magnetic shield into the manufacturing process to restrain or control the magnetic flux generated by the permanent magnets permits voice coil motors to be positioned closer together during the manufacturing process. This increases manufacturing throughput and reduces cost. | 02-21-2013 |
| 20130044383 | LENS DRIVING APPARATUS - Disclosed is a lens driving apparatus. The lens driving apparatus includes a base formed at a center thereof with a first opening; a housing coupled with the base and having a second opening corresponding to the first opening; a yoke installed on the base and including a horizontal plate having a third opening corresponding to the first opening and a vertical plate protruding upward from the horizontal plate; a bobbin movably installed in the yoke and coupled with a lens module; a coil fixedly disposed around the bobbin; a plurality of magnets provided at the vertical plate of the yoke to face the coil; and a spring installed on at least one of upper and lower portions of the yoke to return the bobbin, which has moved up due to interaction between the magnet and the coil, to its initial position. | 02-21-2013 |
| 20130057975 | POSITION DETECTING APPARATUS AND LENS BARREL ASSEMBLY INCLUDING THE SAME - Position detecting apparatus that has a high detecting precision and a lens barrel assembly including the same are disclosed. A position detecting apparatus is provided that includes a base; a magnetic scale spaced apart from the base by a first predetermined distance and movable in a first direction; a first adjustment portion coupled to the base to adjust a second distance from the base; and a sensor rotatably coupled to the first adjustment portion and that senses a change in a position of the magnetic scale. | 03-07-2013 |
| 20130077184 | LENS DRIVING DEVICE WITHOUT PERMANENT MAGNET - A lens driving device, which movably supports a lens assembly along a direction of an optical axis of a lens, includes an actuator base disposed to a lower side of the direction of the optical axis, a lens holder made of a ferromagnet that is disposed to an upper side of the actuator base and which has a tubular portion for holding the lens assembly, a ring-shaped driving coil fixed to the lens holder so as to be positioned around the tubular portion, a yoke covering the lens holder so as to be apart from the driving coil and to oppose to the lens holder in a state where the driving coil is sandwiched therebetween, and a guide arrangement guiding the lens holder along the direction of the optical axis. | 03-28-2013 |
| 20130083409 | Voice Coil Motor - Disclosed is a voice coil motor, the motor including a base having an opening, a foreign-substance trapping film provided on an upper surface of the base to trap foreign substances, a mover disposed on the base and including a bobbin supporting a lens and a coil block provided on an outer circumference of the bobbin, a stator supported on the base and having a magnet disposed to face the coil block, and an elastic member connected to the mover and the base to elastically support the mover, wherein a receiving portion is formed on the upper surface of the base along a boundary of the foreign-substance trapping film. | 04-04-2013 |
| 20130107382 | VOICE COIL MOTOR AND LENS MODULE | 05-02-2013 |
| 20130120860 | OPTICAL ELEMENT DRIVING APPARATUS AND OPTICAL APPARATUS - The optical element driving apparatus includes a voice coil motor moving an optical element in a first direction, and a magnetic sensor detecting a position of the optical element. A yoke of the motor includes a first yoke portion having a magnet attaching surface to which the magnet is attached and a second yoke portion disposed away from the first yoke portion in a second direction so as to form a space with magnet, allowing movement of a coil of the motor in the first direction. The second yoke portion is disposed closer to the magnetic sensor than the first yoke portion in a plane orthogonal to the first direction. In a third direction orthogonal to the first and second directions, a magnetic path width A of the second yoke portion and a width C of the magnet have the following relationship of A>C. | 05-16-2013 |
| 20130120861 | VOICE COIL MOTOR - A VCM is disclosed, the motor including a stator including a first driving unit, a rotor arranged inside the stator, including a second driving unit responding to the first driving unit and mounted therein with a lens, a base fixing the stator, and an elastic member coupled to the rotor to float the rotor from the base in a case a driving signal for driving the first and second driving units is not applied to the first and second driving units. | 05-16-2013 |
| 20130120862 | BARREL UNIT AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - A barrel unit includes a barrel, a holding member configured to hold an optical element, a cylindrical member configured to support the barrel and the holding member, and a driving unit configured to generate a thrust by electrifying in a magnetic field formed by a magnet and a yoke a coil fixed onto the cylindrical member and to drive the holding member in an optical axis direction of the optical element by using the thrust. The yoke, the magnet, and the coil are located outside of a part of the cylindrical member which supports the barrel. | 05-16-2013 |
| 20130135762 | VOICE COIL MOTOR - A VCM is disclosed, the VCM including a rotor having a first driving unit and arranged therein with a lens, a stator having a second driving unit wrapping the first driving unit and being opposite to the first driving unit, a base supporting the stator and having an opening formed at a position corresponding to that of the lens, a connection terminal including a pair of first and second connection terminals arranged at an upper surface of the base, and an elastic member including a first elastic member coupled to the rotor and electrically connected the first connection terminal and a second elastic member coupled to the rotor and electrically connected the second connection terminal. | 05-30-2013 |
| 20130163106 | AUTO-FOCUSING LENS MODULE - An auto-focusing lens module includes a substrate, guiding members positioned on the substrate, an actuator unit, a driving plate, and a lens holder holding a lens therein. The driving plate includes an upper surface and first protrusions on the upper surface in a first circle. A height of each first protrusion gradually decreases along a circumferential direction. The lens holder includes a bottom surface and second protrusions on the bottom surface in a second circle. A height of each second protrusion gradually increases along the circumferential direction. Each second protrusion rests on a respective first protrusion. The guiding members guide the lens holder to move along an optical axis of the lens module. The actuator unit drives the driving plate to rotate, such that the driving plate drives the lens holder to move long the optical axis by the engagement of each second protrusion with the respective first protrusion. | 06-27-2013 |
| 20130170055 | LENS MODULE CAPABLE OF ALIGNING VOICE COIL MOTOR WITH IMAGE SENSOR MODULE - A lens module includes an image lens module and a voice coil motor (VCM) supported on the image lens module. The image lens module includes a seat and an elastic element. The seat includes a top surface and a bottom surface opposite to the top surface and defines a notch on the top surface. The elastic element is received in the notch, and part of the elastic element protrudes out of the notch. The VCM includes a lower plate supported on the top surface and the part of the elastic element protruding out of the notch. | 07-04-2013 |
| 20130194684 | LENS DRIVE DEVICE - A lens drive device comprises a lens holder, a piezoelectric actuator, a ball member held rotatably, and an biasing member configured to apply an biasing force to the lens holder toward the piezoelectric actuator through the ball member. The lens holder has a projection projecting outward from an outer peripheral surface and extending in a direction intersecting the projecting direction and optical axis. A side wall face of the projection is formed with a groove extending along the optical axis and engaging the ball member. A position receiving the biasing force from the biasing member and a position receiving the drive force from the actuator in the lens holder oppose each other through the projection interposed therebetween. | 08-01-2013 |
| 20130208369 | APPARATUS AND ACTUATOR FOR CONTROLLING THE INCLINATION OR ROTATION CENTER OF AN OPTICAL SYSTEM - An apparatus for controlling optical-system inclination/rotation center, comprising a housing ( | 08-15-2013 |
| 20130215526 | VOICE COIL MOTOR AND DRIVING METHOD THEREOF - A voice coil motor (VCM) is disclosed, the VCM including: a stator including a magnet generating a first electromagnetic field; a mover including a bobbin formed with a hollow hole through which light passes and a coil formed on a periphery of the bobbin that generates a second electromagnetic field responsive to the first electromagnetic field; a base fixed at the stator and formed with an opening through which the light passes; and at least one elastic member elastically supporting the bobbin and forming a gap between the bobbin and the base when the coil is not applied with a current. | 08-22-2013 |
| 20130222929 | FOCUSING APPARATUS FOR OPTICAL DEVICE - Provided is a focusing apparatus for an optical device, the focusing apparatus including a lead screw rotatably installed in the optical device, a carriage screw-coupled to the lead screw to move in a longitudinal direction of the lead screw in response to rotation of the lead screw, a lens barrel receiving at least one lenses and moving along the longitudinal direction of the lead screw, and a bridge extending from an outer circumferential surface of the lens barrel to enclose the carriage, in which the bridge moves the lens barrel in response to movement of the carriage. | 08-29-2013 |
| 20130222930 | DRIVING BODY AND DRIVING DEVICE FOR COMPACT CAMERA USING PIEZOELECTRIC ELEMENT - The present invention relates to a driving body and a driving device having a piezoelectric element mounted thereon, and more particularly, to a driving body and a driving device having a piezoelectric element mounted thereon for transferring a lens by actuating a lens holder in a vertical direction using the piezoelectric element. | 08-29-2013 |
| 20130229721 | DRIVE UNIT, METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME, LENS MODULE, AND IMAGE PICKUP UNIT - A drive unit capable of reducing size while maintaining drive characteristics, a method of manufacturing the same, a lens module, and an image pickup unit are provided. A drive unit includes: a fixing member; an actuator device having a first end portion directly or indirectly fixed by the fixing member; and a reinforcing member (reinforcing layer) provided on part or all of the actuator device. Mechanical strength of the actuator device is secured even when the width of the actuator device (for example, the width W | 09-05-2013 |
| 20130235483 | MAGNETIC LEIVTATION MOTOR USED IN LENS MODULE - A magnetic levitation motor includes a fastening unit and a moving unit. The fastening unit includes a fixing frame and a first magnet assembly. The fixing frame includes a lower plate and four guiding poles extending upward from corners of the lower plate. The first magnet assembly includes four first magnets supported on the lower plate. Each first magnet is positioned between two adjacent guiding poles. The moving unit includes a moving frame and a second magnet assembly. The moving frame includes an outer surface and defines a receiving recess on the outer surface. The second magnet assembly includes four second magnets received in the receiving recess. The first magnets are positioned above the second magnets along an optical axis of the magnetic levitation motor. | 09-12-2013 |
| 20130242420 | VOICE COIL MOTOR HAVING A BASE WITH PROTRUSIONS AND A SHELL WITH MOUNTING HOLES RECEIVING THE PROTRUSIONS - A voice coil motor includes a base made of plastic or resin, a stator, a moving and a shell. The base includes a mounting surface, assembling surfaces, and protrusions extending from at least one of the assembling surfaces. The stator includes a rack and magnets. The rack is mounted to the mounting surface. The moving unit received in the rack. The shell includes a top plate and side plates extending from the top plate. The shell defines at least one slot. Each slot is positioned at a joint between two neighboring side plates. At least one side plate defines mounting holes. The base, the moving unit, and the stator are accommodated in the shell. Each protrusion passes through a mounting hole and is heated to form a head portion. The head portion is positioned outside the shell and has an outer diameter greater than a diameter of each mounting hole. | 09-19-2013 |
| 20130242421 | POSITION DETECTION DEVICE, IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, AND MAGNET - There are provided a position detection device that makes it possible to enhance the precision of detection, an image pickup apparatus equipped with the position detection device, and a magnet provided in the position detection device. The position detection device includes: a magnet and a magnetic detection device arranged opposite to each other to be relatively movable in a straight-line direction. The magnet has a first surface facing the magnetic detection device, and has periodic projections and recesses arrayed on the first surface in a relative movement direction. | 09-19-2013 |
| 20130242422 | LENS ACTUATING MODULE - A lens actuating module for realizing focus adjustment and optical zooming. The lens actuating module includes a rod which is disposed on one side of a lens barrel on which at least one lens is mounted, and has an axis direction corresponding to an optical axis direction of the lens barrel, a driving force transmission member which has a conjoining recess to be conjoined with an outside surface of the rod and has magnetism so as to be conjoined with the outside surface of the rod due to a magnetic force, and a piezoelectric actuator which is disposed on one side of the driving force transmission member in the optical axis direction to provide an axis direction driving force to the rod via the driving force transmission member. | 09-19-2013 |
| 20130258506 | Electromagnetic Driving Device for Lens having an Anti-Tilt Mechanism - An electromagnetic driving device defined with an X axis, a Y axis and a Z axis includes a casing, a base, a driven object, an anti-tilt mechanism and an electromagnetic driving module. The electromagnetic driving module includes at least one magnetic member and at least one coil. The base connects to the casing so as to form an inner compartment thereinside. The driven object is received and movable along the Z axis inside the inner compartment. The magnetic member fixed to the driven object can be driven by magnetic forcing generated by the respective coil fixed to the casing. With the anti-tilt mechanism to provide lateral pressing forcing to eliminate possible gap between components connecting the driven object and the casing while the driven object is moved along the Z axis inside the inner compartment, possible dynamic tilt of the moving driven object can then be diminished. | 10-03-2013 |
| 20130279031 | VOICE COIL MOTOR - A voice coil motor includes a stationary magnetic field generator with a receiving space, a moveable magnetic field generator received in the receiving space, a lens module, a base, and a lower elastic plate. The moveable magnetic field generator includes a lens retainer. The lens retainer defines a circular hole with internal threads. The lens module forms external threads threadedly engaging with the internal threads. An adhesive is coated between the external and internal threads. The stationary magnetic field generator is supported on the base. The base defines an opening in its center. The lower elastic plate is sandwiched between the base and the stationary magnetic field generator and defines a light passing hole. The lower elastic plate includes an elastic portion surrounding the light passing hole. A cross-sectional area of the elastic portion is less than a cross-sectional area of the opening. | 10-24-2013 |
| 20130321937 | CAMERA MODULE - Disclosed herein is a camera module in which a movement of a magnet is controlled by only magnetic force between the magnet and a yoke without a spring for controlling the movement of the magnet which operates up and down. The camera module includes: a lens module; and a main frame supporting the lens module and allowing the lens module to be driven in an optical axis direction, wherein the lens module includes: a lens assembly including a plurality of lenses; and a magnet fixed to one side of the lens module, and the main frame includes: a coil facing the magnet, fixed to one side within the main frame, and generating an electric field as power is applied thereto; and a yoke disposed to face the magnet with the main frame and the coil interposed therebetween and controlling driving of the lens module by attraction with the magnet. | 12-05-2013 |
| 20130321938 | LENS DRIVER - A lens driver which moves at least one lens relative to a supporter includes a holder provided in the supporter to hold the lens to be movable in an optical axis direction, a driver configured to apply to the holder a driving force in the optical axis direction, and a position detector configured to detect a position of the holder in the optical axis direction relative to the supporter, and the lens driver including a coil provided in one of the holder and the supporter to form a straight electric path orthogonal to the optical axis direction, and a magnetic circuit provided in the other of the holder and the supporter, the magnetic circuit including a rectangular magnetic pole surface having a predetermined width to form a magnetic field orthogonal to the optical axis direction and the electric path, and being provided such that the magnetic pole surface faces the optical path. | 12-05-2013 |
| 20140009846 | VIBRATION-TYPE MOTOR CONTROLLER AND OPTICAL APPARATUS - A vibration-type motor controller controls a driving speed of a vibration-type motor relatively moving a vibrating body in which a vibration is excited by an electromechanical energy conversion element | 01-09-2014 |
| 20140016218 | CAMERA LENS ASSEMBLY - A camera lens assembly includes: a lens holder unit to which a lens module is mounted; a wire member fixed to the lens holder unit and the lens module, and resiliently supporting the lens module such that the lens module is driven in an optical axis direction; and a fixing member mounted to the lens holder unit to fix the wire member and dampen an impact generated in the wire member due to an impact generated in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction. Also, a camera lens assembly can include: a wire module resiliently supporting a lens module such that the lens module is movable in an optical axis direction on a lens holder unit, dampening an impact generated in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction, and transferring a current applied to drive the lens module to a circuit board. | 01-16-2014 |
| 20140022655 | COMPACT IMAGING DEVICE - The subject matter disclosed herein relates to an imaging device including an epoxy reservoir and a number of features to facilitate alignment of components during assembly of the imaging device. | 01-23-2014 |
| 20140022656 | LENS BARREL - A lens barrel includes a flexible printed circuit board, a moving unit, and a support frame. The moving unit is configured to support the flexible printed circuit board. The support frame is configured to allow the moving unit to move in an optical axis direction. The support frame is configured to house the moving unit. The support frame includes a guide groove for guiding the flexible printed circuit board. The moving unit includes a convex portion provided to its outer peripheral portion. At least part of the convex portion is disposed in the guide groove. | 01-23-2014 |
| 20140029120 | CAMERA MODULE - A first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) mounted with an image sensor, a holder member mounted on the PCB, a lens module directly mounted inside the holder member, an actuator arranged at an inside of the holder member, and an electronic circuit pattern formed on a surface of the holder member to conductibly connect the PCB and the actuator, where one end of the electronic circuit pattern is connected to the PCB, and the other end of the electronic circuit pattern is connected to the actuator. | 01-30-2014 |
| 20140049849 | LENS UNIT AND IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS - Provided is a lens unit comprising an actuator that is self-supporting when at a stopped position. The lens unit comprises a holding frame that holds a lens; a movement actuator that moves the holding frame, which is connected to a moving member that moves linearly relative to a stator, when drive force is generated, and does not prevent the moving member from moving relative to the stator when the moving member is stopped; and a braking actuator that stops the moving member from moving relative to the stator, using frictional force, when the movement actuator is not generating the drive force, and decreases the frictional force when the movement actuator generates the drive force. | 02-20-2014 |
| 20140092493 | PIEZOELECTRIC AND MEMS ACTUATOR - A micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) lens actuator having a support fame including a stationary outer portion surrounding an inner receiving portion. A piezoelectric drive member is positioned within the inner receiving portion and attached to the stationary outer portion. A first movable lens support member and a second movable lens support member are frictionally engaged with opposing ends of the piezoelectric drive member at a contact point along each of the opposing ends using a preload force at the contact point. The piezoelectric drive member may have a first actuation mode which drives movement of the first movable lens support member and the second movable lens support member in a same direction and a second actuation mode which drives movement of the first movable lens support member and the second movable lens support member in different directions. | 04-03-2014 |
| 20140092494 | Motor For Driving Lens - A motor for driving a lens is disclosed, wherein a yoke comprises a rotation prevention unit configured to prevent the bobbin from rotating. | 04-03-2014 |
| 20140098434 | LENS ACTUATOR - There is provided a lens actuator, including: a lens barrel in which at least one lens is provided on an optical axis; a magnetic part provided on one surface of the lens barrel; and a printed circuit board in which a coil pattern part generating electromagnetic force is provided, the printed circuit board having one surface facing the magnetic part, wherein magnetic material is provided on the other surface of the printed circuit board. | 04-10-2014 |
| 20140104710 | CAMERA MODULE AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - A camera module including a housing; a lens barrel having a lens and reciprocating in the housing; a magnetic member coupled with the lens barrel; an electromagnetic member coupled with the housing and generating a magnetic field so that the lens barrel moves along an optical axis; and a Hall sensor in the housing and detecting a change in magnetic field according to a position of the magnetic member before electric power is outputted to the electromagnetic member. A control unit sets a current position of the magnetic member as a first target position, setting an initial position for driving auto focusing as a second target position, aligning the lens barrel to the first target position by controlling electric power supplied to the electromagnetic member, and then moving the lens barrel to the second target position by supplying electric power to the electromagnetic member. | 04-17-2014 |
| 20140104711 | PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATOR AND LENS BARREL - A piezoelectric actuator includes: a plurality of first piezoelectric elements; a first member that is interposed between the plurality of first piezoelectric elements and that is driven in a first direction by the plurality of first piezoelectric elements; a second piezoelectric element that is disposed on the first member; and a second member that is disposed in contact with the second piezoelectric element and that is driven in a second direction intersecting the first direction by the second piezoelectric element. | 04-17-2014 |
| 20140118854 | LENS HOLDER DRIVING DEVICE CAPABLE OF ENSURING LINEARITY OF WIDE RANGE IN DRIVING RESPONSE - A lens holder driving device includes a lens holder in which a lens assembly is mounted, a driving coil fixed to the lens holder at outside circumference thereof, an outer yoke including an outer hollow cylindrical portion and an ring-shaped end portion disposed an upper end of the outer hollow cylindrical portion, a magnet disposed to an inner wall surface of the outer hollow cylindrical portion so as to be opposite to the driving coil, an elastic member supporting the lens holder in a direction of an optical axis shiftably, and a base disposed at a lower side of the lens holder. The lens holder driving device includes a contact area reduction arrangement reducing a contact area between the ring-shaped end portion of the outer yoke and an upper end portion of the lens holder. | 05-01-2014 |
| 20140146406 | Electromagnetic Driving Device for Lens Having an Anti-Tilt Mechanism - An electromagnetic driving device defined with an X axis, a Y axis and a Z axis includes a casing, a frame, a driven object (e.g., a lens module), an anti-tilt mechanism and an electromagnetic driving module. The electromagnetic driving module includes at least one magnetic member, a coil and a circuit board. The frame connects to the casing so as to form an inner compartment therein. The driven object is received and movable along the Z axis inside the inner compartment. One of the magnetic member and the coil is fixed to the driven object while another thereof is fixed to the frame in such a corresponding manner that, when the coil is powered via the circuit board, the driven object would be moved linearly. By means of the anti-tilt mechanism, possible kinetic tilt caused by movements of the driven object upon when the driven object is driven to move along the Z axis can then be eliminated. | 05-29-2014 |
| 20140160583 | DRIVING MECHANISM, LENS BARREL, AND CAMERA - A driving mechanism includes a first piezoelectric element that vibrates in a thickness-shear vibration mode in a first direction, a first member that is driven to vibrate in the first direction by the first piezoelectric element, a second piezoelectric element that is supported by the first member and that vibrates in the thickness-shear vibration mode in a second direction, and a second member that is driven to vibrate in the second direction by the second piezoelectric element. | 06-12-2014 |
| 20140160584 | LENS ACTUATING MODULE - A lens actuating module for realizing focus adjustment and optical zooming. The lens actuating module includes a rod which is disposed on one side of a lens barrel on which at least one lens is mounted, and has an axis direction corresponding to an optical axis direction of the lens barrel, a driving force transmission member which has a conjoining recess to be conjoined with an outside surface of the rod and has magnetism so as to be conjoined with the outside surface of the rod due to a magnetic force, and a piezoelectric actuator which is disposed on one side of the driving force transmission member in the optical axis direction to provide an axis direction driving force to the rod via the driving force transmission member. | 06-12-2014 |
| 20140168799 | ARTIFICIAL MUSCLE CAMERA LENS ACTUATOR - An artificial muscle structure has an electro-active polymer (EAP) layer having a frusto-conical shape and whose tip has an opening formed therein for use as a camera variable aperture. First, second and third electrode segments are formed on a rear face of the EAP layer. The second segment is positioned in a gap between the first and third segments so as to be electrically isolated from the first and third segments. The second segment has an opening formed therein that is aligned with the opening in the EAP layer. A complementary electrode is formed on a front face of the EAP layer. Other embodiments are also described. | 06-19-2014 |
| 20140192427 | Lens System and Method - An optical system includes a first deformable lens having a membrane with a deformable portion. A sensor is configured to receive the light focused by the first deformable lens. An optical path extends through the first deformable lens and to the sensor. The first deformable lens is tuned according to an applied electrical signal in order to directly focus light traversing the optical path onto the sensor. A first volume of a first optical media and a second volume of a second optical media are defined at least in part by the deformable portion of the membrane. The first volume and the second volume are completely enclosed by the housing. The first volume and the second volume remain substantially constant for all configurations of the first deformable lens. | 07-10-2014 |
| 20140192428 | VOICE COIL MOTOR AND DRIVING METHOD THEREOF - A voice coil motor (VCM) is disclosed, the VCM including: a stator including a magnet generating a first electromagnetic field; a mover including a bobbin formed with a hollow hole through which light passes and a coil formed on a periphery of the bobbin that generates a second electromagnetic field responsive to the first electromagnetic field; a base fixed at the stator and formed with an opening through which the light passes; and at least one elastic member elastically supporting the bobbin and forming a gap between the bobbin and the base when the coil is not applied with a current. | 07-10-2014 |
| 20140218815 | VIBRATION ACTUATOR AND OPTICAL APPARATUS - To reduce the length of the lens barrel, a vibration actuator has a vibrating element, a rotor, a pressing portion, a rotor holder that restricts a position of the rotor in the thrust and radial direction, and a bearing of which a rotation axis is coaxial with the axis of the vibrating element. The rotor holder includes an outer flange to receive the pressure force from the rotor portion, and an inner flange to serve as a first track face of the bearing. | 08-07-2014 |
| 20140247511 | LENS BARREL AND CAMERA SYSTEM - A lens barrel includes an oscillatory wave motor which drives a lens; a manual connection ring which is operated manually to cause the lens to move along an optical axis; a slip ring which is in contact with the manual connection ring; a roller which is in contact with the slip ring and with the oscillatory wave motor; and a roller support ring which supports the roller. The slip ring is structured such that frictional resistance on a contact surface between the manual connection ring and the slip ring is smaller than frictional resistance on a contact surface between the roller and the slip ring. | 09-04-2014 |
| 20140285911 | Lens Assembly Apparatus And Method - An optical apparatus includes a housing, a deformable lens, and a lens shaper. The lens shaper defines the shape of the deformable lens. A first mechanism is positioned within the housing to adjust an optical property of the deformable lens. A second mechanism is positioned within the housing to adjust an optical property of the deformable lens. The second mechanism is at least one of an electromechanical actuator or motor. The first mechanism and the second mechanism are different types of mechanisms. | 09-25-2014 |
| 20140293463 | LINEAR ULTRASONIC MOTOR AND LENS APPARATUS AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS USING THE SAME - A linear ultrasonic motor includes a vibrator having a piezoelectric element, a movable part applying a pressurization force to the vibrator and bringing the vibrator into pressurized contact with a base part, a cover part being fixed to the base part, a rolling part being rollably held between a movable guide part of the movable part and a cover guide part of the cover part, and a body to be driven having a transmission member that is pivotably supported and being able to move only in the movable direction. The transmission member includes a bias part that abuts on a transmission part of the movable part and applies a biasing force of biasing the movable part to the rolling part, to the transmission part. The rolling part is held by a resultant force of the pressurization force or a reaction force of the pressurization force, and the biasing force. | 10-02-2014 |
| 20140293464 | Voice Coil Motor - A voice coil motor (VCM) is disclosed, the VCM including: a rotor including a bobbin accommodated by a lens, and a coil block arranged at a periphery of the bobbin, a base formed with an opening for exposing a lens and a first foreign object penetration prevention unit formed along an upper edge, a stator including magnets wrapping the coil block and a housing formed with an opening for fixing the magnets and formed at a bottom surface with lateral surfaces formed with a second foreign object penetration prevention unit coupled to the first foreign object prevention unit, and an elastic member coupled to the bobbin to elastically support the bobbin. | 10-02-2014 |
| 20140300977 | ULTRASONIC MOTOR AND LENS DRIVING APPARATUS - An ultrasonic motor includes a vibrator configured to generate a vibration, a relatively movable member configured to be movable by the vibrator, wherein the relatively movable member is movable relatively according to the vibration of the vibrator, a holding unit configured to hold the vibrator, wherein the holding unit includes a first holding member configured to hold the vibrator and a second holding member; and a damping member provided between the vibrator and the second holding member and configured to reduce a vibration transmitted to the second holding member, a pressure unit configured to press the vibrator against the relatively movable member, wherein the second holding member is configured to press the vibrator against the relatively movable member, and wherein the first holding member is made of a material having a higher damping capability against the vibrator than a material of the second holding member. | 10-09-2014 |
| 20140307341 | LENS HOLDING DEVICE - A lens holding device includes a movable part having a coil attached to a lens holder holding a lens and includes a magnet part arranged around an outer peripheral side of the movable part so as to face the coil. The lens holding device includes a support part which supports the movable part so as to move relatively and a spring which connects the movable part and the support part resiliently. The magnet part includes a resin and has an alignment part which positions the spring. | 10-16-2014 |
| 20140320988 | POLYMER DEVICE, METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME, LENSE MODULE, AND IMAGING UNIT - A polymer device includes: a pair of electrode layers; a polymer layer inserted between the pair of electrode layers; and an expansion-contraction suppression layer arranged between the pair of electrode layers, the expansion-contraction suppression layer being arranged away from the respective electrode layers, and the expansion-contraction suppression layer being configured to suppress expansion and contraction of the polymer layer. | 10-30-2014 |
| 20140320989 | POLYMER DEVICE, METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME, CAMERA MODULE, AND IMAGING UNIT - A polymer device includes: a pair of electrode layers; and a polymer layer provided between the pair of electrode layers and containing an acid substance. | 10-30-2014 |
| 20140327978 | VOICE COIL MOTOR - A VCM (voice coil motor) is disclosed, the VCM including: a rotor including a cylindrical bobbin for accommodating a lens and protruded at a bottom end with a boss, and a coil block arranged at a periphery of the bobbin; a stator including a magnet facing the coil block and a yoke fixing the magnet; and an elastic member including a first elastic member formed with a through hole coupled to the boss of the bobbin and a second elastic member coupled to an upper end facing the bottom end of the bobbin; wherein the boss is formed with a disengagement prevention unit preventing the first elastic member from being disengaged from the boss, and the first elastic member is formed with a coupling unit contacting a joint where the disengagement prevention unit and the coupling unit meet. | 11-06-2014 |
| 20140340775 | LENS HOLDING DEVICE - The present invention provides a lens holding device excellent in an impact resistance. | 11-20-2014 |
| 20140355142 | VOICE COIL MOTOR - A VCM actuator for a lens and driving the lens for focusing includes a fixed module, a mobile module and a spring module. The fixed module includes a case and the magnet module is disposed along the inner side of the case. The mobile module includes a lens holder and a coil looping the lens holder. The lens holder is movably disposed in the case and the coil is fastened to the lens holder positioning to the magnet module. The spring module abuts the fixed module and mobile module. The case has an opening and along the rim of each corner of the opening a magnet guiding tab is formed. The guiding tabs extend between the lens holder and coil and are positioned toward the gaps between the magnet module, and each magnet guiding tab has a backbone and two wing portions extending from the backbone. | 12-04-2014 |
| 20140355143 | VOICE COIL MOTOR AND LENS MODULE - A voice coil motor (VCM) includes a fastening portion, a moving portion, a magnet assembly, a coil, an elastic sheet, and glue. The lower plate seals the fastening portion. The lower plate includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the lower plate defines a through hole penetrating the first surface and the second surface, the low plate defines a first glue recess around the through hole and a second glue recess along an edge of the low plate in the first surface. The fastening portion is positioned on the first surface of the lower plate via glue received in the first glue recess. | 12-04-2014 |
| 20140355144 | VOICE COIL MOTOR AND LENS MODULE - A voice coil motor (VCM) includes a fixing portion, a moving portion, a magnet assembly, a coil, and an elastic sheet. The fixing portion includes an upper plate and a sidewall extending from edges of the upper plate. The moving portion is received in the fixing portion, and includes a top surface and an outer surface connected to the top surface. The moving portion defines a plurality of glue receiving recesses in the top surface and a plurality of second connecting portions each extending from a bottom surface of each glue receiving recess. The magnet assembly is fixed on the inner surface. The coil is circled around the outer surface of the moving portion, and is opposite to the magnet assembly. The elastic sheet is connected between the first connecting portions and the second connecting portions. | 12-04-2014 |
| 20140355145 | VOICE COIL MOTOR - A VCM is disclosed, the motor including a stator including a first driving unit, a rotor arranged inside the stator, including a second driving unit responding to the first driving unit and mounted therein with a lens, a base fixing the stator, and an elastic member coupled to the rotor to float the rotor from the base in a case a driving signal for driving the first and second driving units is not applied to the first and second driving units. | 12-04-2014 |
| 20140362458 | LENS DRIVING MOTOR AND ELASTIC MEMBER OF THE SAME - Provided are a lens driving motor and an elastic member of the lens driving motor. The elastic member of a lens driving motor, the elastic member includes a first spring and a second spring. The second spring is different from the first spring and disposed together with the first spring on one side of a carrier to support the carrier. A first lead line of a coil and a first external power source are connected to the first spring, and a second lead line of the coil and a second external power source are connected to the second spring to supply power to the coil. Since the carrier can be assembled to other part after a (+) lead line and a (−) lead line of the coil are connected to the first and second springs, respectively, using solder, a process is simple and convenient. | 12-11-2014 |
| 20140368935 | LENS MODULE - There is provided a lens module including: an actuator moving a lens barrel in an optical axis direction; and a housing having a mounting part on which the actuator is mounted, wherein the actuator includes a piezoelectric member and a bar member vibrated by the piezoelectric member, and the bar member line-contacts the mounting part. | 12-18-2014 |
| 20140368936 | LENS DRIVING DEVICE WITH AN IMPROVED OIS COIL STRUCTURE - The present invention provides a VCA-based lens driving device. By way of giving an improved OIS coil structure, a magnetic induction element used to sense movement of magnets atop which maybe cause from a user's hand shaking can be placed as far away from OIS coils as possible. The impact of the magnet field of the OIS coil on the magnetic induction element is thus reduced. In one embodiment, the OIS coil is down-sized to reduce the influence of the OIS coil on the magnetic induction element placed beside it. In another embodiment, the OIS coil has a one-sided indention and the magnetic induction element is placed below/or beside the indention of the OIS coil. | 12-18-2014 |
| 20140368937 | DRIVING APPARATUS FOR CAMERA LENS ASSEMBLY - Provided is a driving apparatus for a camera lens assembly, the driving apparatus including a lens assembly portion which includes a magnetic object and a support member, a driving base portion which includes a coil portion for generating a driving force to correspond to the magnetic object, and a position sensor portion positioned in the driving base portion eccentrically to a side from a center of the magnetic object. | 12-18-2014 |
| 20140368938 | MOTOR FOR DRIVING LENSES - Disclosed is a motor for driving lenses. The motor includes a case, a yoke fixed in the case, a magnet fixed in the yoke, a carrier equipped with lenses and installed in the magnet such that the carrier moves up and down within the magnet, a coil coupled with the carrier, in which the coil cooperates with the magnet to move up and down the carrier, a spring unit including first and second springs having arc shapes and being separated from each other while forming a ring shape as a whole, in which an outer peripheral surface of the spring unit is fixed to the case, an inner peripheral surface of the spring unit is fixed to the carrier to elastically support the carrier, and a lead wire of the coil is connected to the spring unit so that external power is supplied to the coil, a spacer supporting the outer peripheral surface of the spring unit, and a terminal provided on the spacer, in which one side of the terminal protrudes downward by passing through a bottom of the case to make connection with the spring unit and a main PCB of a product. | 12-18-2014 |
| 20140376117 | OPTICAL MEMBER DRIVING APPARATUS AND LENS APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - An optical member driving apparatus includes an optical member holder holding an optical member, which is rectilinearly guided and has a rotating member supported rotatably about a rotation shaft extending perpendicularly to a movable direction in which the optical member holder is movable, a fixed member that extends in the movable direction, has two sliding surfaces facing each other with predetermined spacing therebetween, and is arranged in such a way that the rotating member is located between the two sliding surfaces, two movers each of which includes a base and a vibrator connected to the base, and a controller that controls driving of the two vibrators to move the optical member holder in the movable direction. The vibrators of the two movers are in pressure contact with one and the other of the two sliding surfaces respectively. The rotating member is rotatably held between the bases of the two movers. | 12-25-2014 |
| 20150022911 | ROTATION DETECTION APPARATUS, MOTOR CONTROL APPARATUS, MOTOR DRIVEN APPARATUS, METHOD OF CORRECTING ROTATION DETECTION APPARATUS, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM STORING CORRECTION PROGRAM - The rotation detection apparatus includes a rotatable member rotatable with rotation of a motor and having multiple pattern element portions in its rotational direction, a signal outputter to output a detection signal changing in response to rotation of the pattern element portions, and a memory storing correction values each provided for each of the pattern element portions and used to perform correction of an error in a relation between rotational positions of the rotatable member and the change of the detection signal. A corrector performs the correction with reference to a reference position of the rotatable member in an origin state where a driven member driven by the motor is located at its origin position and by using each of the correction values for each change of the detection signal when the rotatable member is rotated from the reference position. | 01-22-2015 |
| 20150029606 | MICRO-ELECTROMECHANICAL SYSTEM (MEMS) CARRIER - A micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) carrier formed by a typical surface micro-machining and bulk micro-machining process on a silicon substrate, having a frame, a movable carrier element, a conductive coil, two return springs and a pair of permanent magnets. The movable carrier element is formed within the frame and movable along a path, the conductive coil is formed on or embedded in the movable carrier element. The two return springs are formed between the movable carrier element and the frame thereby connecting the movable carrier element to the frame and providing a return force to the carrier element, and the pair of permanent magnets are formed a magnetic field for co-acting with the conductive coil for generating an electromagnetic Lorenz force to drive the movable carrier element to move against the return force of the two return springs. | 01-29-2015 |
| 20150036231 | LENS DRIVING DEVICE - The present invention provides a lens driving device includes at least two spring components each of which includes an inner side retaining part, an outer side retaining part, a plurality of wrist parts configured between the inner and outer side retaining parts and prolonged along the circumference direction, inner side connecting parts for connecting one ends of the wrist parts with the inner side connecting part, and outer side connecting parts for connecting the other ends of the wrist parts with the outer side retaining part. Moreover, serpentine necking parts are formed at the roots of the connecting part of the inner side retaining part, straight line-shaped necking parts are formed at the roots of the connecting part of the outer side retaining part, so that stresses acting on the inner side connecting parts and the outer side connecting parts during assembling are absorbed. | 02-05-2015 |
| 20150049397 | SPRINGLESS VOICE COIL ACTUATOR AND PRE-COMPRESSION MAGNETIC FORCE CALIBRATION METHOD THEREOF - A springless voice coil actuator is provided. The springless voice coil includes a base, a coil, a guiding rod, a slidable base, a main magnetic component and a balance magnetic component. The coil is disposed on the base. The guiding rod is disposed on the base. The slidable base is for sliding along the guiding rod to a predetermined direction. The main magnetic component is connected to the slidable base. The balance magnetic component is coupled with the main magnetic component for generating a magnetic induction. | 02-19-2015 |
| 20150055234 | LENS HOLDER, LENS DRIVING DEVICE, CAMERA DEVICE AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A lens driving device in which the lens holder is employed, a camera device and an electronic device are also disclosed. The lens holder includes portions formed as having the respective different outer circumferential diameters between the upper side and the lower side of the vertical direction and provided in predetermined areas located in the circumferential direction of the outer circumferential wall of the lens holder around which a coil is to be wound, and a flanged portion that protrudes from the outer circumferential wall of the lens holder toward the radially outward side, wherein the diametrically larger portion among the portions formed as having the respective different outer circumferential diameters between the upper side and the lower side of the vertical direction and the flanged portion are arranged so that they can be spaced away from each other by a predetermined gap. | 02-26-2015 |
| 20150070790 | LENS DRIVING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME - A lens driving apparatus includes a spring suspension system and an electromagnetic force generator. The spring suspension system may include a pair of leaf springs, a stationary rigid body sandwiched between the pair of springs, and a lens holder suspended by the pair of springs within a central bore of the rigid body. The electromagnetic force generator may include a coil holder holding a coil and a magnet holder holding at least one magnet. The spring suspension system and the electromagnetic force generator are connected to and spatially separated from each other by a spacer. A method for manufacturing a lens driving apparatus is also disclosed. | 03-12-2015 |
| 20150070791 | LENS DRIVING APPARATUS - A lens driving apparatus includes a housing, a lens holder mounted on a base of the housing and moveable along an optical axis, a stationary guide member provided on the base, and a moveable guide member provided on and moveable with the lens holder, wherein the moveable guide member is frictionally engaged with the stationary guide member and slidable therealong when the lens holder is activated. The apparatus further include a plurality of magnets with magnetization direction lying on a plane perpendicular to the optical axis, a coil disposed adjacent and parallel to the magnets, and a position encoder provided on the lens holder or the support for close loop control of the movement of the lens holder. | 03-12-2015 |
| 20150070792 | ACTUATOR UNIT - The present invention aims to provide an actuator unit. When the actuator unit is assembled in a lens driving device and works, a lens support beginning to move cannot be inclined. A spring component ( | 03-12-2015 |
| 20150070793 | MINIATURE MEMS ACTUATOR ASSEMBLIES - In one embodiment, an electrostatic actuator includes a generally planar fixed frame, a generally planar moving frame coupled to the fixed frame by a flexure for substantially coplanar, perpendicular movement relative to the fixed frame, a plurality of interdigitated teeth, a fixed portion of which is attached to the fixed frame and a moving portion of which is attached to the moving frame, and an elongated output shaft having opposite input and output ends, the input end being coupled to the moving frame. | 03-12-2015 |
| 20150103422 | LENS DRIVING DEVICE - A lens driving device can not increase the manufacturing cost, and the lens holder can not tilt when the lens holder moves up due to the coil energized. The inside holding portion ( | 04-16-2015 |
| 20150103423 | DRIVE DEVICE AND IMAGING APPARATUS - There is provided a drive device including a movable body, and a fixing member that supports, with a drive shaft driven by a piezoelectric element expanded and contracted in response to an applied voltage and a sub shaft provided in parallel with the drive shaft, the movable body connected with the drive shaft movably in an axial direction. The movable body includes a rotation regulating member that supports the sub shaft and regulates rotation of the movable body with the drive shaft as a rotation center, and an impact dispersing part that disperses an impact on the piezoelectric element when inclined to the drive shaft. | 04-16-2015 |
| 20150103424 | VIBRATOR OF VIBRATORY DRIVE UNIT, VIBRATORY DRIVE UNIT, INTERCHANGEABLE LENS, IMAGING DEVICE, AND AUTOMATIC STAGE - A vibrator including an electro-mechanical transducer and an elastic body that is fixed to the electro-mechanical transducer and that is provided with a projection, the projection having a hollow structure. The projection includes a contact portion having a first surface at a tip, the first surface being parallel to a first plane, a wall portion projecting towards an opposite side with respect to the electro-mechanical transducer, and a connection portion connecting the wall portion and the contact portion to each other. The connection portion having a spring property, and the contact portion includes a portion of which a cross-sectional area in a second plane that is parallel to the first plane increases as an increase of a distance between the portion and the first surface. | 04-16-2015 |
| 20150131174 | LENS DRIVING DEVICE - The present invention aims to provide a lens driving device. Inclination generated by a lens support can be reduced when a camera shoots towards any direction, so that distortion cannot be generated for a shot image. Each of a front side spring component and a back side spring components includes an inner side retaining part, an outer side retaining part, two wrist parts, two inner side connecting parts and two outer side connecting parts. The two wrist parts extend along the circumferential direction and are used for connecting the inner and outer side retaining parts. The inner side connecting parts connect one ends of the wrist parts with the inner side retaining part. And the outer side connecting parts connect the other ends of the corresponding wrist parts with the outer side retaining part. The extending angle of each wrist part is at least 180 degrees. | 05-14-2015 |
| 20150146313 | LENS DRIVING DEVICE - An lens holding device is disclosed. The lens holding device includes a stationary magnetic field generator having a housing and at least one magnet fixed on the housing, the housing having a receiving chamber; at least one elastic member attached to the stationary magnetic field generator; a movable magnetic field generator suspended in the receiving chamber by the elastic member and separated from the stationary magnetic field, the movable magnetic field generator having a lens holding device received in the housing for receiving at least a lens and a coil attached on the lens holding device and facing the magnet, the lens holding device having a lens barrel and a coil holder directly extending from the lens barrel for holding the coil. Wherein the lens barrel and the coil holder are integrated with each other, in which the pre-wind coil is then subsequently attached. This overcomes the issue of the coil deforming the lens barrel in the winding process. | 05-28-2015 |
| 20150301304 | CAMERA MODULE WITH FOREIGN OBJECTS INHIBITING STRUCTURE - A camera module is disclosed, the camera module including a lens barrel including more than one sheet of lens receiving an optical image of an object, an actuator moving the lens barrel, a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) formed with an image sensor at a bottom surface of the lens barrel for converting the optical image to an electrical signal, and a holder for supporting the lens barrel and the actuator and formed with a terminal electrically connected to the actuator, wherein an electrical contact point between the actuator and the terminal is formed with two or more tiers of coated layers. | 10-22-2015 |
| 20150316743 | Devices and Methods for Providing Optical Element Focus Functionality with Position Retention - Devices and methods for providing low power lens focus functionality with position retention are provided. In one example, a device is provided that comprises an optical element assembly configured to provide a plurality of focus settings based on a change in a position of the optical element assembly. The device also includes a first actuator configured to cause the change in the position. The device also includes a second actuator configured to retain the optical element assembly in the position. The change in the position causes the optical element assembly to be configured in a given focus setting of the plurality of focus settings. | 11-05-2015 |
| 20150316744 | VOICE COIL MOTOR ARRAY MODULE - A voice coil motor array module includes a carrier frame defining a plurality of receiving spaces and a plurality of magnet-mounting spaces disposed in pairs and in symmetry around the receiving spaces. Any two adjacent receiving spaces have only one magnet-mounting space therebetween. A plurality of magnetic components are respectively disposed in the magnet-mounting spaces. Each magnet-mounting space receives only one magnetic component. The magnetic components surrounding a corresponding receiving space have same magnetic poles facing each other. A plurality of displacement components are respectively disposed in the receiving spaces. Each displacement component includes a lens carrier and a coil. | 11-05-2015 |
| 20150316745 | VOICE COIL MOTOR ARRAY MODULE - A voice coil motor array module includes a carrier, and a plurality of voice coil motors disposed on the carrier and arranged side by side in at least one row along an arrangement direction. Each voice coil motor includes a lens holder having a holder body and a coil wound around the holder body, and two magnetic components respectively disposed on two opposite sides of the holder body and having the same magnetic poles facing each other. When the coil is energized, the coil interacts with the magnetic components to drive displacement of the holder body along a direction parallel to a normal direction of a plane of the arrangement direction. | 11-05-2015 |
| 20150323758 | Lens Moving Apparatus - Embodiments provide a lens moving apparatus including housing to support a driving magnet, a bobbin provided at an outer circumferential surface thereof with a coil located inside the driving magnet, the bobbin being moved in a first direction parallel to an optical axis within the housing via electromagnetic interaction between the driving magnet and the coil, a lower elastic member to connect a lower portion of the housing and a lower portion of the bobbin to each other, both ends of the coil being electrically connected to the lower elastic member, the lower elastic member having a first terminal electrically connected to an external power source so as to supply external power to the ends of the coil, and a printed circuit board provided at one side surface of the housing, the printed circuit board having a second terminal electrically connected to the external power source. | 11-12-2015 |
| 20150331220 | Lens Driving Device - A lens driving device includes: a lens frame, a base member, and a supporting portion that supports the lens frame so as to be able to move, relative to the base member, in the direction of the optical axis and in the direction that is perpendicular to the optical axis. The lens driving device also includes a driving unit that drives respectively the lens frame in the direction of the optical axis and in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis. The supporting portion includes a path for supplying power to the driving unit. The base member includes a plurality of connecting terminals wherein the external connecting faces thereof are exposed. The paths for supplying power to the driving unit are connected to the connecting terminals. | 11-19-2015 |
| 20150331251 | TRI-AXIS CLOSED-LOOP ANTI-SHAKE STRUCTURE - Provided is a lens driving device which includes: a lens holder including a coil; a frame for receiving the lens holder; a driving circuit board disposed below the frame; a plurality of first conductive elastic bodies disposed in a manner to keep the lens holder moving in a Z-axis direction; and a plurality of second conductive elastic bodies disposed in a manner to keep the frame moving in a direction perpendicular to the Z-axis direction. The lens driving device further comprises a plurality of electrical contact-oriented Z-axis position sensor. The Z-axis position sensor senses the motion of the lens holder in the Z-axis direction. An electronic circuit between a portion of the plurality of electrical contacts and the coil of the lens holder comprises a Molded Interconnect Device and a portion of the first conductive elastic bodies. The Molded Interconnect Device is disposed on the frame. | 11-19-2015 |
| 20150338603 | CAMERA MODULE AND TITANIUM-COPPER FOIL - A camera module ( | 11-26-2015 |
| 20150340969 | ULTRASONIC MOTOR AND LENS APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - Provided is an ultrasonic motor, comprising: a vibrator including a piezoelectric element and a contact surface to be brought into contact with a member to be driven, the vibrator driving the member to be driven by an ultrasonic vibration excited by the piezoelectric element; a holding part configured to hold the vibrator; a pressurization unit configured to apply a bias force for biasing the holding part toward the member to be driven so as to impress the contact surface against the member to be driven; and a fixing unit configured to support the pressurization unit, in which the holding part holds the vibrator on both sides of the contact surface in a driving direction of the member to be driven. | 11-26-2015 |
| 20150346453 | CAMERA MODULE AND DRIVING CONTROL SYSTEM FOR CAMERA MODULE - A camera module includes a lens barrel, a housing accommodating the lens barrel therein, a ball bearing contacting rolling surfaces, which are respectively provided on the lens barrel and the housing, and a semi-wet lubricant applied to a surface of the ball bearing. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150355432 | LENS DRIVE APPARATUS | 12-10-2015 |
| 20150355524 | VOICE COIL MOTOR - A VCM is disclosed, the motor including a stator including a first driving unit, a rotor arranged inside the stator, including a second driving unit responding to the first driving unit and mounted therein with a lens, a base fixing the stator, and an elastic member coupled to the rotor to float the rotor from the base in a case a driving signal for driving the first and second driving units is not applied to the first and second driving units. | 12-10-2015 |
| 20150362696 | Lens Moving Device, Camera Module and Optical Apparatus - A lens moving device is provided. The lens moving device includes: a bobbin; a first driving unit coupled to the bobbin; a second driving unit configured to move the first driving unit through an electromagnetic interaction with the first driving unit; a sensing magnet disposed on one side of the bobbin; a location detection sensor configured to sense a location of the sensing magnet; and a correction magnet disposed on an opposite side of the bobbin. | 12-17-2015 |
| 20150370031 | LENS DRIVER CIRCUIT WITH RINGING COMPENSATION - A lens driver circuit determines the resonant frequency at a number of positions that a lens can move to so that the lens can move from an old position to a new position in two steps where the second step occurs a delay time after the first step. The delay time can be one-half of the period of the resonant frequency at the new position. | 12-24-2015 |
| 20150370033 | Anti-Tilt Electromagnetic Motor and Lens Device Using The Same - The disclosure provides an anti-tilt electromagnetic motor, including a flame, a support base, a contact assembly, a drive assembly, and an elastic assembly. The support base is arranged movably relative to the frame along an axis. The contact assembly is disposed between the frame and the support base and directly contacts the frame and the support base. The drive assembly is configured to drive the support base to move. The elastic assembly is configured to provide a pre-loading force so as to enable the contact assembly to be compressed by the frame and the support base simultaneously. | 12-24-2015 |
| 20150381079 | ULTRASONIC MOTOR AND LENS APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - A driving motor includes a member having a contact surface, and a vibrator including a contact part that is brought into contact with the contact surface and a piezoelectric element that is fixed on the vibrator. In addition, a retention part retains the vibrator, and a pressurization unit has an elastic member to apply an impressing force on the contact part against the member including the contact surface, a pressurization member that transfers the impressing force from the elastic member, and a fixing member that restricts movement of the pressurization member. The retention part includes an abutting part with a line contact part that receives the impressing force from the elastic member and comes into line contact with the pressurization member, with the abutting part having a shape able to come into line contact with a surface perpendicular to the direction of the impressing force. | 12-31-2015 |
| 20160011490 | VOICE COIL MOTOR | 01-14-2016 |
| 20160018621 | LENS BARREL AND IMAGING DEVICE - A lens barrel and an imaging device utilizing the same includes a fixed cylinder that has a guide groove; a cam cylinder which is rotatably provided to the fixed cylinder and has a cam groove having a tapered section; and a moving lens support member that supports a moving lens and movably supports a cam follower that moves along the guide groove. The cam follower has a tapered contact section, which can be brought into contact with the tapered section of the cam groove, and is impelled radially outward by the cam follower impelling member. | 01-21-2016 |
| 20160018623 | LENS DRIVING DEVICE - A lens driving device includes: a lens frame; a supporting unit that supports the lens frame in driving directions; a driving unit that drives the lens frame in one or both of a direction of an optical axis and a direction intersecting the optical axis; and a sensor that is mounted on the supporting unit and detects a position of the lens frame. The supporting unit includes: a circuit that is connectable to the sensor and integral with the supporting unit; and a recess that receives the sensor. The circuit has terminals exposed to a space inside the recess. | 01-21-2016 |
| 20160018625 | ELECTROMAGNETIC ACTUATOR - An electromagnetic actuator includes an optical element L which is movable with respect to an optical axial direction, an optical-element holder which holds the optical element, a coil which is installed to enclose the optical element L and the optical-element holder, and a coil holder which holds the coil, wherein at least one of the optical-element holder and the coil holder comprises magnetic material which generates a magnetic flux in a radial direction and the optical element L is disposed at an inner side of the magnetic material. | 01-21-2016 |
| 20160018720 | MAGNETIC SHIELDING BETWEEN VOICE COIL MOTORS IN A DUAL-APERTURE CAMERA - A dual-aperture camera with two camera modules that include each a voice coil motor (VCM) actuator coupled to respective lens barrels and a magnetic shield plate positioned tightly between the two camera modules. The shield plate reduces or even prevents magnetic interference during operation of each VCM actuator to move its respective lens barrel. In some embodiments, the magnetic shield plate is rectangular and has a length and a height that are not larger than the length and height of either camera module. The magnetic shield plate may be made of any ferromagnetic material. Exemplarily, it may be made of grey iron or FeCo. | 01-21-2016 |
| 20160020710 | VIBRATION-TYPE ACTUATOR AND OPTICAL DEVICE USING THE SAME - A vibration-type actuator that enables to miniaturize and stabilize pressure state between a driven body and a vibration body. A pressurizing unit applies pressure force between projections on the vibration body and the driven body. A piezoelectric device connected to the vibration body on a surface opposite to the projections moves the driven body by occurring vibration in the vibration body when drive voltage is applied. The pressurizing unit includes an energizing member, its support member, and a transfer member. A length of a contact area between the projections and the driven body is shorter than a length of an area in which the transfer member transfers the pressure force from the energizing member to the vibration body and a length of a contact area between the energizing member and the support member, in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction and to a pressurizing direction by the pressurizing unit. | 01-21-2016 |
| 20160025951 | Lens Moving Apparatus - Embodiments provide a lens moving apparatus including a housing for supporting a first magnet, a bobbin including a coil disposed on an outer surface thereof and inside the first magnet so as to move in the housing in a first direction parallel to an optical axis by electromagnetic interaction between the first magnet and the coil, and upper and lower elastic members, each of which is provided at the bobbin and the housing and includes an inner frame coupled to the bobbin and an outer frame coupled to the housing, wherein at least one of the upper and lower elastic members is constituted by a printed circuit board. | 01-28-2016 |
| 20160028297 | ELECTROMAGNETIC DRIVING MODULE AND LENS DEVICE USING THE SAME - An electromagnetic driving module includes an upper housing, a lower housing, a circuit board, a base, a wiring assembly, and a magnetic element. The upper housing is connected to the lower housing. The circuit board is fixed on the upper housing. The base is disposed in a space defined by the upper housing and the lower housing. The wiring assembly is disposed on the base. The magnetic element corresponds to the wiring assembly and is disposed on the upper housing. | 01-28-2016 |
| 20160033736 | Voice Coil Motor - A VCM (voice coil motor) is disclosed, the VCM including: a rotor including a lens-accommodating, both ends opened cylindrical bobbin and a coil block including a coil wound on a periphery of the bobbin; a stator including a cylindrical yoke formed with a lens-exposing opening, a plurality of magnets disposed inside the yoke and opposite to the coil block, and a housing disposed inside the yoke to fix the plurality of magnets; and an elastic member elastically supporting the bobbin. | 02-04-2016 |
| 20160033737 | LENS DRIVING APPARATUS - A lens driving apparatus includes a holder, a cover, a carrier, a first magnet, a coil, a spring, two second magnets and a hall sensor. The holder includes an opening hole. The cover is made of metal material and coupled to the holder. The carrier is movably disposed in the cover, and for coupling to a lens. The first magnet is connected to an inner side of the cover. The coil is wound around an outer side of the carrier, and adjacent to the first magnet. The spring is coupled to the carrier. The second magnets are disposed on one end of the carrier which is toward the holder. The hall sensor is for detecting a magnetic field of any one of the second magnets, wherein the magnetic field is varied according to a relative displacement between the hall sensor and the second magnet which is detected. | 02-04-2016 |
| 20160041381 | IMAGE PICKUP UNIT AND ENDOSCOPE - An image pickup unit includes: a moving lens holding barrel that holds a moving lens constituting a part of an objective optical system and is disposed so as to freely advance and retract along a shooting optical axis O; a drive unit that generates a driving force for advancing and retracting the moving lens holding barrel along the shooting optical axis O in a fixed barrel; a flexible substrate disposed so as to urge the moving lens holding barrel in one direction orthogonal to the shooting optical axis O and bent so as to press a part of an outer surface of the moving lens holding barrel in the one direction to an inner surface of the fixed barrel; and a magnetism detecting portion detecting a relative position of the moving lens holding barrel from the fixed barrel according to magnetism of a position detecting magnet. | 02-11-2016 |
| 20160054540 | LENS BARREL - A lens barrel includes a lens drive ring which moves a movable lens group along an optical axis, a first inputter including an actuator and generating a first rotational input, a second inputter which generates a second rotational input, a power transmission clutch including a first input member, a second input member and an output member, wherein the first input member is rotatable and is associated with the first inputter, the second input member is rotatable and is associated with the second inputter, and the output member is rotatable and is associated with the lens drive ring; and a load controller. When the second rotational input, which is generated by the second inputter, is applied to the second input member to thereby cause the first input member to rotate, the load controller exerts a rotational load on the actuator. | 02-25-2016 |
| 20160054641 | CAMERA MODULE - Disclosed herein is a camera module in which a movement of a magnet is controlled by only magnetic force between the magnet and a yoke without a spring for controlling the movement of the magnet which operates up and down. The camera module includes: a lens module; and a main frame supporting the lens module and allowing the lens module to be driven in an optical axis direction, wherein the lens module includes: a lens assembly including a plurality of lenses; and a magnet fixed to one side of the lens module, and the main frame includes: a coil facing the magnet, fixed to one side within the main frame, and generating an electric field as power is applied thereto; and a yoke disposed to face the magnet with the main frame and the coil interposed therebetween and controlling driving of the lens module by attraction with the magnet. | 02-25-2016 |
| 20160054728 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE, MOTOR CONTROL DEVICE, LENS UNIT FOR IMAGING APPARATUS, AND IMAGING APPARATUS - In a motor control device, a matrix circuit and logic circuits are arranged between PWM signal generation circuits and output terminals. It is possible to output PWM signals to the output terminals as they are and to synchronize the PWM signals and output a synchronized signal to a desired output terminal/terminals in the output terminals by changing a coupled state of the matrix circuit. Therefore, it is possible to change the kind of the motor to be controlled, the number of motors to be controlled and so forth without changing the motor control device. | 02-25-2016 |
| 20160062074 | High-Strength Titanium Copper Foil and Method for Producing Same - To provide a high-strength titanium-copper foil suitable as a conductive spring material that can be used in an electronic device component such as an autofocus camera module. A titanium copper foil containing Ti in an amount of 2.0 to 4.0 mass %, a remainder being copper and unavoidable impurities, said foil having a 0.2% yield strength of 1200 MPa or more in both directions parallel and perpendicular to a rolling direction, and a spring limit value of 800 MPa or more in both directions parallel and perpendicular to the rolling direction. | 03-03-2016 |
| 20160062076 | MEMS DEVICE - The disclosure provides a MEMS device including: a fixed substrate having a cavity; a driving unit disposed in the cavity and floating above the fixed substrate; and an elastic unit for physically connecting the fixed substrate with the driving unit and varying the height of the driving unit according to a control current, wherein the elastic unit includes a bimorph driving unit connected to the fixed substrate and bent according to the control current, a spring connected to the driving unit, and a frame connecting the bimorph driving unit to the spring. Therefore, in order to overcome the limitations according to the power consumption and the size-reduction due to a coil and a magnet, the MEMS device drives one lens and thus can reduce the power consumption and the size thereof. Further, the MEMS device applies a thermal scheme which performs an automatic focusing function through vertical operation of a lens by a thermal expansion difference of different materials, thereby simplifying the structure thereof and reducing the cost. | 03-03-2016 |
| 20160065092 | LINEAR ULTRASONIC MOTOR AND LENS APPARATUS AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS USING THE SAME - A linear ultrasonic motor includes a vibrator having a piezoelectric element, a movable part applying a pressing force to the vibrator and bringing the vibrator into pressed contact with a base part, a cover part being fixed to the base part, a rolling part being rollably held between a movable guide part of the movable part and a cover guide part of the cover part, and a body to be driven having a transmission member that is pivotably supported and able to move only in the movable direction. The transmission member includes a bias part that abuts on a transmission part of the movable part and applies a biasing force of biasing the movable part to the rolling part to the transmission part. The rolling part is held by a resultant force of the pressing force or a reaction force of the pressing force, and the biasing force. | 03-03-2016 |
| 20160077303 | LEAF SPRING, CAMERA MODULE DRIVE MECHANISM, ELECTRONIC TERMINAL, AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING LEAF SPRING - There is provided a leaf spring which can prevent a reduction in the spring strength and can also prevent a reduction in the electrical conductivity when the thickness of the leaf spring is decreased. The leaf spring includes an outer frame portion an inner frame portion | 03-17-2016 |
| 20160077305 | Lens Moving Apparatus and Camera Module Including the Same - A lens moving apparatus is disclosed. The lens moving apparatus includes a bobbin equipped with at least one lens, a coil and a driving magnet arranged opposite to each other for moving the bobbin in an optical axis direction of the lens through interaction therebetween, a first circuit board for supplying electric current required by the coil, and a cover can and a base coupled to, contacted to, supported at, fixed to, or temporarily fixed to each other for forming a space in which the bobbin, the driving magnet, and the first circuit board are received, wherein the cover can is connected to a second circuit board having an image sensor mounted thereon. | 03-17-2016 |
| 20160097913 | Focus adjustment apparatus for an image detection system - To achieve a compact construction shape with a long service life, a focus adjustment apparatus for an image detection system is provided which comprises an objective having at least one lens and which comprises a motor device for the positional adjustment of the objective, wherein the lens is provided on a movable lens holder, wherein the movable lens holder is connected to a threaded unit of the motor device via a support unit provided in the movable lens holder such that the support unit can be rolled with the lens holder along a main axis of the threaded unit in accordance with a rotation of the threaded unit and such that an axis of rotation of the support unit is directed perpendicular to the main axis of the threaded unit. | 04-07-2016 |
| 20160103296 | DRIVING APPARATUS, LENS APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME, AND IMAGING APPARATUS - A driving apparatus comprises a movable portion having movable side guide portions; a base portion having fixed side guiding portions; a vibrator having a piezoelectric element; a friction member provided at the other of the movable portion and the base portion; a pressing portion, provided at the one of said movable member and the base portion, for applying pressing force to the vibrator; and rolling portions sandwiched between the movable side guide portions and the fixed side guide portions. The movable side guide portions and the fixed side guide portions extend with a predetermined length in a moving direction in which the movable portion is moved with respect to the base portion, and one of movable side guide portions is positioned within spacing in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of a pair of movable side guide portions of the movable side guide portions. | 04-14-2016 |
| 20160103297 | LENS UNIT AND IMAGING DEVICE - First and second lens drive sections of the lens unit are disposed at positions where a center point connecting line, which connects center positions of the lens drive sections on a plane perpendicular to a lens axis, does not pass through the lens axis; and include yokes, voice coils, and plate-like magnets. The width of the magnet in a lens circumferential direction is smaller than the width of the yoke; and the magnets are disposed to be biased to end portions of the yokes, which are positioned in a divided area in which a lens axis center is present, of divided areas divided into two by a center point connecting line, in the lens circumferential direction, respectively. The shortest distance between an operating point connecting line is shorter than the shortest distance between the center point connecting line and the lens axis. | 04-14-2016 |
| 20160109680 | Lens Moving Apparatus - Embodiments provide a lens moving apparatus including a first magnet, a housing, a bobbin, around which a coil is wound and which moves in a first direction in the housing, an upper elastic member disposed on upper surfaces of the bobbin and the housing, a lower elastic member disposed under lower surfaces of the bobbin and the housing, and a damping member disposed between the upper or lower elastic member and the bobbin. | 04-21-2016 |
| 20160109681 | MINIATURE LENS DRIVING APPARATUS - A miniature lens driving apparatus includes plurality of wires, an optical image stabilizing (OIS) mechanism having a lens holder, at least one magnet, and a plurality of coils; and an autofocus (AF) mechanism having an AF moving platform movable along an optical axis, at least one coil, and at least one magnet; wherein the said plurality of coils of the OIS mechanism operatively associates with the said at least one magnet of the OIS mechanism to move the said lens holder of the OIS mechanism along a direction substantially perpendicular to the optical axis; wherein the said at least one coil of the AF mechanism operatively associates with the said at least one magnet of the AF mechanism to move the said AF moving platform along the optical axis. | 04-21-2016 |
| 20160131866 | LENS DRIVING MODULE - A lens driving module includes a first actuator and a second actuator. The first actuator is configured to move a lens unit. The second actuator is configured to move the lens unit. The first and second actuators are connected to be movable relative to each other. | 05-12-2016 |
| 20160139358 | LENS DRIVING APPARATUS - Disclosed is a lens driving apparatus. The lens driving apparatus includes a base formed at a center thereof with a first opening; a housing coupled with the base and having a second opening corresponding to the first opening; a yoke installed on the base and including a horizontal plate having a third opening corresponding to the first opening and a vertical plate protruding upward from the horizontal plate; a bobbin movably installed in the yoke and coupled with a lens module; a coil fixedly disposed around the bobbin; a plurality of magnets provided at the vertical plate of the yoke to face the coil; and a spring installed on at least one of upper and lower portions of the yoke to return the bobbin, which has moved up due to interaction between the magnet and the coil, to its initial position. | 05-19-2016 |
| 20160147035 | Piezoelectric Actuator for Camera Module - In some embodiments, a camera component includes an annular lens holder component having a threaded interior surface for translating rotational motion of an optics barrel component into motion along an optical axis of the optics barrel component. In some embodiments, the threaded interior surface of the lens holder component includes one or more threads complementary to one or more threads of a threaded exterior surface of an optics barrel component. In some embodiments, the optics barrel component is movably mounted on the threads of the threaded interior surface of the lens holder component for rotational motion within the lens holder component. In some embodiments, the optics barrel has a threaded exterior surface with one or more threads complementary to the threads of the threaded interior surface of the lens holder component. Some embodiments include a piezoelectric motor fixedly mounted to a base component. | 05-26-2016 |
| 20160147036 | VOICE COIL MOTOR - A VCM (voice coil motor) is disclosed, the VCM including: a rotor including a cylindrical bobbin for accommodating a lens and protruded at a bottom end with a boss, and a coil block arranged at a periphery of the bobbin; a stator including a magnet facing the coil block and a yoke fixing the magnet; and an elastic member including a first elastic member formed with a through hole coupled to the boss of the bobbin and a second elastic member coupled to an upper end facing the bottom end of the bobbin; wherein the boss is formed with a disengagement prevention unit preventing the first elastic member from being disengaged from the boss, and the first elastic member is formed with a coupling unit contacting a joint where the disengagement prevention unit and the coupling unit meet. | 05-26-2016 |
| 20160149113 | PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATOR AND LENS MODULE INCLUDING THE SAME - A piezoelectric actuator includes a piezoelectric element, a first electrode disposed on a first surface of the piezoelectric element, and a second electrode disposed on a second surface of the piezoelectric element. One or more first grooves extending in a first direction of the piezoelectric element are formed in the first electrode. | 05-26-2016 |
| 20160161828 | CAMERA MODULE - A camera module includes: a lens barrel including one or more lenses; a housing accommodating the lens barrel in an internal space thereof; and a piezoelectric actuator disposed on an inner surface of the housing and coupled to the inner surface of the housing through magnetic force, the piezoelectric actuator being configured to drive the lens barrel in an optical axis direction in the internal space. | 06-09-2016 |
| 20160164436 | DRIVING APPARATUS AND LENS DRIVING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - A driving apparatus has a vibration plate, a vibrator having a piezoelectric element that excites vibration of the vibration plate, and first and second contact parts, and a friction member being in contact with the contact parts. The vibrator and the friction member relatively move with respect to each other, and the contact parts are provided at positions with and interpose an odd number of antinodal lines of vibration generated in a first direction of the vibrator along with excitation, and provided at positions with and interpose an odd number of nodal lines of vibration generated in a second direction of the vibrator along with excitation. | 06-09-2016 |
| 20160178990 | CAMERA LENS ASSEMBLY | 06-23-2016 |
| 20160187612 | Lens Driving Module and Spring Plate Thereof - A spring plate of a lens driving module is provided, including an outer frame, an inner frame, an inner string and a hollow. The outer frame is configured to connect with a fixed part of the lens driving module. The inner frame is configured to connect with a movable part of the lens driving module. The inner string is extended from the outer frame and the inner frame and connected therebetween. The hollow is disposed on the inner string for dispersing stress. | 06-30-2016 |
| 20160202445 | LENS DRIVING APPARATUS AND LENS DRIVING METHOD | 07-14-2016 |
| 20160202447 | Autofocus camera systems and methods | 07-14-2016 |
| 20160202450 | INTERCHANGEABLE LENS, CAMERA BODY AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE | 07-14-2016 |
| 20160252702 | LENS DRIVING APPARATUS | 09-01-2016 |
| 20160252703 | MICRO-ELECTROMECHANICAL SYSTEM (MEMS) CARRIER | 09-01-2016 |
| 20160252704 | Motor For Driving Lens | 09-01-2016 |
| 20160377881 | LENS DRIVING DEVICE AND CAMERA MODULE COMPRISING SAME - A lens driving device according to an embodiment comprises: a bobbin wherein at least one lens is installed inside thereof and a first coil is installed on the outer circumferential surface thereof; a first magnet arranged around the bobbin so as to be opposite to the first coil; a housing for supporting the first magnet; upper and lower elastic members coupled with the bobbin and the housing; a first sensor for sensing displacement of the bobbin in the first direction; a second magnet arranged so as to be opposite to the first sensor; a base arranged to be spaced apart from the housing by a certain distance; a second coil arranged so as to be opposite to the first magnet; a circuit board whereon the second coil is installed; a plurality of support members for supporting the housing so as to be movable in the second and third directions which are orthogonal to the first direction with respect to the base and for connecting at least one of the upper and lower elastic members to the circuit board; and a second sensor for sensing displacement of the housing in the second or third direction with respect to the base. | 12-29-2016 |
| 20170235091 | DRIVING DEVICE | 08-17-2017 |
| 20170235092 | OPTICAL DRIVER APPARATUS, OPTICAL APPARATUS AND IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS | 08-17-2017 |
| 20170235093 | LENS DRIVING DEVICE, CAMERA DEVICE AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS | 08-17-2017 |
| 20170235094 | LENS HOLDER DRIVING DEVICE AND CAMERA-EQUIPPED PORTABLE TERMINAL | 08-17-2017 |
| 20170235095 | CAMERA MODULE | 08-17-2017 |
| 20180026515 | LENS MOVING APPARATUS AND CAMERA MODULE INCLUDING SAME | 01-25-2018 |
| 20190146180 | OPTICAL LENS AND FABRICATION METHOD THEREOF | 05-16-2019 |
| 20190146239 | LENS MOVING APPARATUS | 05-16-2019 |
| 20220137323 | IMAGING LENS DRIVING MODULE AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE - An imaging lens driving module includes an imaging lens set, a carrier element and a driving mechanism. The imaging lens set has an optical axis. The carrier element is configured to dispose the imaging lens set, and includes an assembling structure. The assembling structure is disposed on an outer surface of the carrier element, and extends along a direction away from the optical axis. The driving mechanism is configured to drive the carrier element to move, and includes at least one coil pair and at least two magnets. The coil pair is disposed on the assembling structure, and includes a bottom layer coil and a top layer coil. The bottom layer coil is wound around and directly contacted with the assembling structure. The top layer coil is stacked on and wound around the bottom layer coil. The magnets correspond to the coil pair, respectively. | 05-05-2022 |
