US5289318A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical apparatus provided with a driving unit for moving a lens
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1991-07-29
•
Granted: 1994-02-22
•
Expires: 2011-07-29
Abstract
Abstract This specification discloses an optical apparatus provided with a lens unit movable in the direction of the optical axis thereof, a lens barrel, an electromagnetic coil coupled to one of the lens unit and the lens barrel, a driving unit having a magnetic material coupled to the other of the lens unit and the lens barrel, and a guide for slidably guiding the lens unit relative to the lens barrel.
Inventors
- 👤 Masayoshi Sekine
- 👤 Junichi Murakami
- 👤 Shigeru Ogino
- 👤 Hiroyuki Takahara
- 👤 Masamichi Toyama
- 👤 Sadahiko Tsuji
- 👤 Shigeyuki Suda
- 👤 Jun Tokumitsu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 20:25
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B7/00; G02B7/02; G02B7/04; G02B7/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
An optical apparatus, comprising: a lens unit movable in a direction of optical axis thereof; a lens barrel; a driving means comprising one of (i) a combination of an electromagnetic coil coupled to said lens unit and a magnetic material coupled to said lens barrel, and (ii) a combination of said electromagnetic coil coupled to said lens barrel and said magnetic material coupled to said lens unit; and a guide for slidably guiding the lens unit relative to the lens barrel, wherein said electromagnetic coil is wound on a bobbin, a yoke extends from said magnetic material, and said guide comprises a surface of said yoke which is opposed to said bobbin, and a lubricative sheet between said bobbin and said yoke.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
122 words
An optical apparatus, comprising: a lens unit movable in a direction of optical axis thereof; a lens barrel; a driving means comprising one of (i) a combination of an electromagnetic coil coupled to said lens unit and a magnetic material coupled to said lens barrel, and (ii) a combination of said electromagnetic coil coupled to said lens barrel and said magnetic material coupled to said lens unit; and a guide for slidably guiding the lens unit relative to the lens barrel, wherein said electromagnetic coil is wound on a bobbin, a yoke extends from said magnetic material, and said guide comprises a surface of said yoke which is opposed to said bobbin, and a lubricative sheet between said bobbin and said yoke.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
107 words
An optical apparatus, comprising: a lens unit movable in a direction of optical axis thereof; a lens barrel; a driving means comprising one of (i) a combination of an electromagnetic coil coupled to said lens unit and a magnetic material coupled to said lens barrel, and (ii) a combination of said electromagnetic coil coupled to said lens barrel and said magnetic material coupled to said lens unit; and a guide for slidably guiding the lens unit relative to the lens barrel, said guide comprising a shaft and a journal bearing, said shaft being coupled to said lens barrel, said journal bearing being coupled to said lens unit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
107 words
An optical apparatus, comprising: a lens unit movable in a direction of optical axis thereof; a lens barrel; a driving means comprising one of (i) a combination of an electromagnetic coil coupled to said lens unit and a magnetic material coupled to said lens barrel, and (ii) a combination of said electromagnetic coil coupled to said lens barrel and said magnetic material coupled to said lens unit; and a guide for slidably guiding the lens unit relative to the lens barrel, said guide comprising a shaft and a journal bearing, said shaft being coupled to said lens barrel, said journal bearing being coupled to said lens unit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
127 words
An optical apparatus comprising: a lens barrel; a first lens unit movable in a direction of optical axis thereof; a second lens unit movable in a direction of optical axis thereof; a first driving unit for driving the first lens unit relative to the lens barrel by electromagnetic induction; a second driving unit for driving the second lens unit relative to the lens barrel by electromagnetic induction; a controller for controlling the first and second driving units to move the first lens unit and the second lens unit at the same time, wherein said first lens unit varies focal length of an objective lens, and said second lens unit compensates for the movement of image plane and is held in the lens barrel by a resilient member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
127 words
An optical apparatus comprising: a lens barrel; a first lens unit movable in a direction of optical axis thereof; a second lens unit movable in a direction of optical axis thereof; a first driving unit for driving the first lens unit relative to the lens barrel by electromagnetic induction; a second driving unit for driving the second lens unit relative to the lens barrel by electromagnetic induction; a controller for controlling the first and second driving units to move the first lens unit and the second lens unit at the same time, wherein said first lens unit varies focal length of an objective lens, and said second lens unit compensates for the movement of image plane and is held in the lens barrel by a resilient member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
134 words
An optical apparatus, comprising: a lens barrel; a first lens unit movable in a direction of optical axis thereof; a second lens unit movable in a direction of optical axis thereof; a first driving unit for driving the first lens unit relative to the lens barrel by electromagnetic induction; a second driving unit for driving the second lens unit relative to the lens barrel by electromagnetic induction; a controller for controlling the first and second driving units to move the first lens unit and the second lens unit at the same time, wherein said first lens unit varies focal length of an objective lens, and said second lens unit compensates for the movement of image plane and is held in the lens barrel by a resilient member, said resilient member being a gimbal spring.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
134 words
An optical apparatus, comprising: a lens barrel; a first lens unit movable in a direction of optical axis thereof; a second lens unit movable in a direction of optical axis thereof; a first driving unit for driving the first lens unit relative to the lens barrel by electromagnetic induction; a second driving unit for driving the second lens unit relative to the lens barrel by electromagnetic induction; a controller for controlling the first and second driving units to move the first lens unit and the second lens unit at the same time, wherein said first lens unit varies focal length of an objective lens, and said second lens unit compensates for the movement of image plane and is held in the lens barrel by a resilient member, said resilient member being a gimbal spring.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
70 words
An optical apparatus, comprising: a lens barrel; a lens unit movable in a direction of optical axis thereof; resilient members engaged with the lens barrel and the lens unit, respectively; a driving unit for driving the lens unit relative to the lens barrel; and detecting means coupled to the resilient members to detect strain of the resilient members as a signal, said detecting means comprising sensors which are strain gauges.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
70 words
An optical apparatus, comprising: a lens barrel; a lens unit movable in a direction of optical axis thereof; resilient members engaged with the lens barrel and the lens unit, respectively; a driving unit for driving the lens unit relative to the lens barrel; and detecting means coupled to the resilient members to detect strain of the resilient members as a signal, said detecting means comprising sensors which are strain gauges.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
An optical apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said detecting means outputs a signal indicative of position or amount of movement of the lens unit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
An optical apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said detecting means has a pair of said sensors provided on both surfaces of the resilient member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
125 words
An optical apparatus, comprising: a lens unit movable in a direction of optical axis thereof; a lens barrel; a driving means for producing a driving force in an optical axis direction, said driving means comprising one of (i) a combination of an electromagnetic coil coupled to said lens unit and a magnetic material coupled to said lens barrel, and (ii) a combination of said electromagnetic coil coupled to said lens barrel and said magnetic material coupled to said lens unit; and a guide for slidably guiding the lens unit relative to the lens barrel, wherein said electromagnetic coil is wound on a bobbin, a yoke extends from said magnetic material, and said guide includes a surface of said yoke which is opposed to said bobbin.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
125 words
An optical apparatus, comprising: a lens unit movable in a direction of optical axis thereof; a lens barrel; a driving means for producing a driving force in an optical axis direction, said driving means comprising one of (i) a combination of an electromagnetic coil coupled to said lens unit and a magnetic material coupled to said lens barrel, and (ii) a combination of said electromagnetic coil coupled to said lens barrel and said magnetic material coupled to said lens unit; and a guide for slidably guiding the lens unit relative to the lens barrel, wherein said electromagnetic coil is wound on a bobbin, a yoke extends from said magnetic material, and said guide includes a surface of said yoke which is opposed to said bobbin.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
An optical apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said guide has a ball bearing between said bobbin and said yoke.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
119 words
An optical apparatus, comprising: a lens unit movable in a direction of optical axis thereof; a lens barrel; a driving means for producing a driving force in an optical axis direction, said driving means comprising one of (i) a combination of an electromagnetic coil coupled to said lens unit and a magnetic material coupled to said lens barrel, and (ii) a combination of said electromagnetic coil coupled to said lens barrel and said magnetic material coupled to said lens unit; and a guide for slidably guiding the lens unit relative to the lens barrel, wherein said electromagnetic coil is wound on a bobbin, and said guide comprises a surface of said magnetic material which is opposed to said bobbin.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
119 words
An optical apparatus, comprising: a lens unit movable in a direction of optical axis thereof; a lens barrel; a driving means for producing a driving force in an optical axis direction, said driving means comprising one of (i) a combination of an electromagnetic coil coupled to said lens unit and a magnetic material coupled to said lens barrel, and (ii) a combination of said electromagnetic coil coupled to said lens barrel and said magnetic material coupled to said lens unit; and a guide for slidably guiding the lens unit relative to the lens barrel, wherein said electromagnetic coil is wound on a bobbin, and said guide comprises a surface of said magnetic material which is opposed to said bobbin.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
JPS57108806A
Cited
JPS5816208A
Cited
JPS59198409A
Cited
US4639084A
Cited
JPS60209937A
Cited
US4749269A
Cited
JPS6275409A
Cited
US4862441A
Cited
JPS637525A
Cited
JPS63163312A
Cited
US4785210A
Cited
JPH01188811A
Cited
US5146071A
Cited
EP0458694A2
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-02-21 | 1997-08-23 | 1998-02-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-02-21 | 2001-08-23 | 2002-02-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-02-21 | 2005-08-23 | 2006-02-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |