Optical system supporting device

Claim 2

An optical system supporting device for supporting an optical system, comprising: (a) a pair of first leaf springs which are in parallel with the optical axis of the optical system, but non-parallel to each other, each one end of which is fixed to a main body, and each other end of which is movable relative to the main body along a direction normal to the optical axis, the distance between said pair of first leaf springs being largest at the ends thereof fixed to the main body and smallest at the other ends thereof, said distance being gradually tapered from the ends fixed to the main body toward the other ends; (b) a pair of second leaf springs which are perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical system and are mutually in parallel, to each one end of which the optical system is fixed; (c) an intermediate supporting member for supporting the other end of each of said first and second leaf springs, said pair of second leaf springs extending from said intermediate supporting member toward said main body; and (d) each of said first and second leaf springs having a cut-out portion at a portion excluding its both ends.

Claim 3

The optical system supporting device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first leaf springs and said intermediate supporting member assume a symmetrical trapezoidal form with the main body as its bottom side, when viewed from the direction of the optical axis.

Claim 4

The optical system supporting device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said intermediate supporting member forms the top side of said trapezoid.

Claim 5

The optical system supporting device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first leaf springs, said second leaf springs and said intermediate supporting member are integrally formed of a single sheet of spring material.

Claim 6

The optical system supporting device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising means for driving the optical system at least in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical system, said means being provided adjacent to the optical system.

Claim 7

An optical system supporting device for supporting an optical system, comprising: (a) a pair of first leaf springs which are in parallel with the optical axis of the optical system, but non-parallel to each other, each one end of which is fixed to a main body, and each the other end of which is movable relative to the main body along a direction normal to the optical axis, the distance between said pair of first leaf springs being largest at the ends thereof fixed to the main body and smallest at the other ends thereof, said distance being gradually tapered from the ends fixed to the main body toward the other ends; (b) a pair of second leaf springs which are perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical system and are mutually in parallel, to each one end of which the optical system is fixed; (c) an intermediate supporting member for supporting the other end of each of said first and second leaf springs, said pair of second leaf springs extending from said intermediate supporting member toward said main body; and (d) each pair of said first and second leaf springs being made of, at least at one part thereof, laminated thin leaf spring materials and a layer of an adhesive agent interposed between said laminated thin leaf spring materials, said adhesive agent having visco-elasticity at a normal temperature.

Claim 8

An optical system supporting device for supporting an optical system, comprising: (a) a pair of first leaf springs which are in parallel with the optical axis of the optical system, but non-parallel to each other, each one end of which is fixed to a main body, and each the other end of which is movable relative to the main body along a direction normal to the optical axis, the distance between said pair of first leaf springs being largest at the ends thereof fixed to the main body and smallest at the other ends thereof, said distance being gradually tapered from the ends fixed to the main body toward the other ends; (b) a pair of second leaf springs which are perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical system and are mutually in parallel, to each one end of which the optical system is fixed; (c) an intermediate supporting member for supporting the other end of each of said first and second leaf springs, said pair of second leaf springs extending from said intermediate supporting member toward said main body; and (d) each pair of said first and second leaf springs being made of, at least at one part thereof, laminated thin leaf spring materials and a layer of an adhesive agent interposed between said laminated thin leaf spring materials, said adhesive agent having visco-elasticity at a normal temperature.

Claim 9

The optical system supporting device as set forth in claim 6, wherein said thin leaf spring material is made of metal material having thickness of from 0.03 mm to 0.1 mm.

Claim 10

The optical system supporting device as set forth in claim 6, wherein said thin leaf spring material is made of high polymeric material having thickness of from 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm.

Claim 11

The optical system supporting device as set forth in claim 6, wherein said adhesive agent has a layer thickness of from 0.01 mm to 0.1 mm.

Claim 12

The optical system supporting device as set forth in claim 6, further comprising means for driving the optical system at least in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical system, said means being provided adjacent to the optical system.