IP Library › Granted Patent US 12681263
Granted Patent B2
US 12681263 · App. 18/504,623 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Optical device and image pickup apparatus

Inventor: Takeru Yuri (Tochigi, JP)
Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
G02B7/09
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12681263
App. No.
18/504,623
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An optical device can include four lens units and four drive units. The four drive units are configured to move respective lens units of the four lens units. The four lens units each move in a direction along an optical axis. The optical device also includes a stop member that has a variable aperture diameter and is driven by a fifth drive unit. Further, each of the first to fifth drive units is an actuator. One of the drive units is arranged closer to an image than is the stop member that has the longest length in the direction along the optical axis. The one of the drive units and the fifth drive unit are arranged in different ones of four equally divided spaces around the optical axis.

Claims (40)

1 . An optical device comprising:

first to fourth lens units;

first to fourth drive units configured to move the first to fourth lens units in a direction along an optical axis, respectively;

a stop member having a variable aperture diameter; and

a fifth drive unit configured to change the aperture diameter,

wherein one of drive units arranged closer to an image than the stop member among the first to fourth drive units, which has the longest length in the direction along the optical axis, and the fifth drive unit are arranged in different ones of four equally divided spaces around the optical axis, and

wherein each of the first to fifth drive units is an actuator.

2 . The optical device according to claim 1 , further comprising a casing configured to hold the first to fourth lens units, the stop member, and the first to fifth drive units, the casing having a bottom surface, an upper surface, and two side surfaces, the bottom surface and the upper surface being opposed to each other, the two side surfaces being opposed to each other,

wherein the four equally divided spaces around the optical axis are obtained by dividing an internal space around the optical axis by a first plane that contains the optical axis and is orthogonal to the bottom surface and a second plane that contains the optical axis and is orthogonal to the first plane.

3 . The optical device according to claim 1 , wherein two of the first to fourth drive units arranged in different four equally divided spaces around the optical axis are arranged so as to overlap each other in the direction along the optical axis.

4 . The optical device according to claim 1 , wherein the first to fourth drive units are arranged in different four equally divided spaces around the optical axis, respectively.

5 . The optical device according to claim 1 , wherein the fifth drive unit is arranged in the space in which one of the first to fourth drive units is arranged.

6 . The optical device according to claim 5 ,

wherein the first to fourth lens units are arranged in the stated order from an object side to the image side, and

wherein the fourth drive unit is arranged in the space in which the fifth drive unit is arranged.

7 . The optical device according to claim 6 , wherein the fifth drive unit is arranged closer to the optical axis than the fourth drive unit.

8 . The optical device according to claim 1 , wherein, when the optical device is in a normal position, the fifth drive unit is arranged in an upper left one of the spaces.

9 . The optical device according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first to fourth drive units includes a stepping motor, and at least another one of the first to fourth drive units includes a voice coil motor.

10 . The optical device according to claim 1 , wherein the fifth drive unit includes one of a stepping motor or a DC motor.

11 . An image pickup apparatus comprising:

an optical device including:

first to fourth lens units;

first to fourth drive units configured to move the first to fourth lens units in a direction along an optical axis, respectively;

a stop member having a variable aperture diameter; and

a fifth drive unit configured to change the aperture diameter,

wherein one of drive units arranged closer to an image than the stop member among the first to fourth drive units, which has the longest length in the direction along the optical axis, and the fifth drive unit are arranged in different ones of four equally divided spaces around the optical axis; and

an image pickup element configured to pick up an image, which is formed through the optical device, and

wherein each of the first to fifth drive units is an actuator.

12 . The optical device according to claim 1 ,

wherein each of the first to fifth drive units are one of a stepping motor, DC motor or voice coil motor.

13 . The optical device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the fifth drive unit is one or a stepping motor or a DC motor,

wherein each of the first, second and fourth drive units are stepping motors, and

wherein the third drive unit is voice coil motor.

14 . The image pickup apparatus according to claim 11 ,

wherein each of the first to fifth drive units are one of a stepping motor, DC motor or voice coil motor.

15 . The image pickup apparatus according to claim 11 ,

wherein the fifth drive unit is one or a stepping motor or a DC motor,

wherein each of the first, second and fourth drive units are stepping motors, and

wherein the third drive unit is voice coil motor.