IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,635,229
Granted Patent B2
US 7,635,229 · App. 11/542,925 · Granted Dec 22, 2009

Optical diaphragm apparatus

Assignee: Olympus Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,635,229
App. No.
11/542,925
Granted
Dec 22, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

An ion conducting high-polymer member is formed by an ion containing polymer, and has a circular arc shape. An chord length of the ion conducting high-polymer member is changed. Due to the change in the chord length of the ion conducting high-polymer member, there is change in a relative position of a driving shaft which is coupled with the ion conducting high-polymer member, with respect to a rotating shaft. Due to the change in the relative position of the driving shaft, a circular ring shaped peripheral section is displaced, and due to a rotation of a diaphragm member around the rotating shaft as a center, a part of an aperture is shielded by the circular ring shaped peripheral section, and a diameter of the aperture is changed.

Claims (25)

1. An optical diaphragm apparatus comprising:

a diaphragm ring which includes an optical aperture;

a diaphragm member which includes a rotating shaft, a driving shaft, and a shielding section;

an actuator having a flexible circular arc shape which is coupled with the driving shaft, and which rotates the diaphragm member around the rotating shaft as a center; and

a controlling member which controls the actuator having the circular arc shape, wherein

the controlling member changes a chord length of the actuator due to bending of the circular arc shaped actuator, and

the shielding section is displaced due to a change in a relative rotational operation of the driving shaft with which the actuator is coupled, with respect to the rotating shaft, which is caused due to a change in the chord length of the actuator, and

an aperture diameter of the optical aperture is changed by shielding a part of the optical aperture by the shielding section, due to rotation of the diaphragm member around the rotating axis as the center.

2. The optical diaphragm apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the actuator having the circular arc shape is formed of a high-polymer material which includes ions, and

a pair of electrodes is formed on a first surface on a central side of a circular arc, and on a second surface which faces the first surface, and

the chord length is changed by moving the ions in the high-polymer material by applying a voltage between the electrodes, by the controlling member.

3. The optical diaphragm apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein

one end of the actuator having the circular arc shape is coupled with the driving shaft, and

the other end of the actuator is coupled with a member which is fixed to the diaphragm ring.

4. The optical diaphragm apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein

an end portion of the actuator having the circular arc shape is rotatably coupled with the member which is fixed to the diaphragm ring.

5. The optical diaphragm apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein

an end portion of the actuator having the circular arc shape is rotatably coupled with driving shaft of the diaphragm member.

6. The optical diaphragm apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein

the diaphragm member is formed by disposing a pair of diaphragm members which is made of two members, and

two ends of the actuator having the circular arc shape are coupled with the driving shaft of the diaphragm members respectively.

7. The optical diaphragm apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein

an end portion of the actuator which has the circular arc shape is rotatably coupled with the driving shaft of the diaphragm member.

8. The optical diaphragm apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein an end portion of the actuator having the circular arc shape is rotatably coupled with the driving shaft of the diaphragm member.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Jun 27, 2016
From: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
To: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 039344/0502 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 4, 2006
From: YASUNAGA, SHINJI
To: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 018383/0420 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2005-318307 · Nov 1, 2005 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20070098399A1 · May 3, 2007