IP Library Granted Patent US 7,375,905
Granted Patent B2
US 7,375,905 · App. 11/439,339 · Granted May 20, 2008

Optical unit and image pickup apparatus having the same

Assignee: Konica Minolta Photo Imaging, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,375,905
App. No.
11/439,339
Granted
May 20, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

An optical unit for forming an object image according to the present invention includes: a reflection member for bending an optical axis of the optical unit; a front lens group arranged closer to an object side of the optical unit than the reflection member; a rear lens group arranged closer to an image forming side of the optical unit than the reflection member; and a driver for driving the optical unit. The driver drives the reflection member and the front lens group in a predefined first direction and in a predefined second direction.

Claims (56)

1. An optical unit for forming an object image, comprising:

a reflection member for bending an optical axis of the optical unit;

a front lens group arranged closer to an object side of the optical unit than the reflection member;

a rear lens group arranged closer to an image forming side of the optical unit than the reflection member; and

a driver for driving the optical unit,

wherein the driver drives the reflection member and the front lens group

in a first direction changing an angle formed between an optical axis of the front lens group and an optical axis of the rear lens group and

in a second direction not changing the angle formed between the optical axis of the front lens group and the optical axis of the rear lens group.

2. The optical unit of claim 1 ,

wherein the first direction is a pitch direction, and

the second direction is a yaw direction.

3. The optical unit of claim 2 ,

wherein the driver integrally drives the front lens group and the reflection member.

4. The optical unit of claim 3 ,

wherein the driver rotates the front lens group and the reflection member in the pitch direction around a rotation axis positioned at a periphery of an intersection point of a reflection surface of the reflection member and an optical axis of the front lens group or the rear lens group, and

a rotation amount of the front lens group in the pitch direction is equal to or larger than a rotation amount of the reflection member in the pitch direction.

5. The lens unit of claim 3 ,

wherein the driver rotates the front lens group and the reflection member in the yaw direction around a rotation axis which is positioned at a periphery of an intersection point of a reflection surface of the reflection member and an optical axis of the front lens group or the rear lens group, and

a rotation amount of the front lens group in the yaw direction is equal to a rotation amount of the reflection member in the yaw direction.

6. The optical unit of claim 1 ,

wherein the driver comprises a piezoelectric element.

7. The optical unit of claim 1 ,

wherein the optical unit comprises a variable magnification optical system.

8. The optical unit of claim 1 ,

wherein the front lens group is a lens group closest to the object side of the optical unit.

9. The optical unit of claim 1 ,

wherein the front lens group comprises a plurality of lens groups.

10. An image pickup apparatus comprising an optical unit for forming an object image, comprising:

a reflection member for bending an optical axis of the optical unit;

a front lens group arranged closer to an object side of the optical unit than the reflection member;

a rear lens group arranged closer to an image forming side of the optical unit than the reflection member; and

a driver for driving the optical unit,

wherein the driver drives the reflection member and the front lens group

in a first direction changing an angle formed between an optical axis of the front lens group and an optical axis of the rear lens group and

in a second direction not changing the angle formed between the optical axis of the front lens group and the optical axis of the rear lens group.

11. The image pickup apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising:

an image pickup element for converting an object image formed by the optical unit into electrical signal.

12. The image pickup apparatus of claim 10 ,

wherein the first direction is a pitch direction, and

the second direction is a yaw direction.

13. The image pickup apparatus of claim 12 ,

wherein the driver integrally drives the front lens group and the reflection member.

14. The image pickup apparatus of claim 13 ,

wherein the driver rotates the front lens group and the reflection member in the pitch direction around a rotation axis positioned at a periphery of an intersection point of a reflection surface of the reflection member and an optical axis of the front lens group or the rear lens group, and

a rotation amount of the front lens group in the pitch direction is equal to or larger than a rotation amount of the reflection member in the pitch direction.

15. The image pickup apparatus of claim 13 ,

wherein the driver rotates the front lens group and the reflection member in the yaw direction around a rotation axis which is positioned at a periphery of an intersection point of a reflection surface of the reflection member and an optical axis of the front lens group or the rear lens group, and

a rotation amount of the front lens group in the yaw direction is equal to a rotation amount of the reflection member in the yaw direction.

16. The image pickup apparatus of claim 10 ,

wherein the driver comprises a piezoelectric element.

17. The image pickup apparatus of claim 10 ,

wherein the optical unit comprises a variable magnification optical system.

18. The image pickup apparatus of claim 10 ,

wherein the front lens group is a lens group closest to the object side of the optical unit.

19. The image pickup apparatus of claim 10 ,

wherein the front lens group comprises a plurality of lens groups.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 23, 2006
From: JIN, MAKOTO
To: KONICA MINOLTA PHOTO IMAGING, INC.
Reel/Frame 017924/0375 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2005-155150 · May 27, 2005 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20060268431A1 · Nov 30, 2006