IP Library Granted Patent US 8,988,594
Granted Patent B2
US 8,988,594 · App. 13/696,992 · Granted Mar 24, 2015

Lens barrel, imaging pickup device, and camera

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,988,594
App. No.
13/696,992
Granted
Mar 24, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A lens barrel comprises a first zoom/focus lens group and a second zoom/focus lens group configured to respectively vary a focal distance and imaging distance by moving in an optical axis, a first actuator configured to drive the first zoom/focus lens group, a second actuator configured to drive the second zoom/focus lens group, and a drive controller configured to independently control the first actuator and the second actuator. The drive controller is configured to wobble the first zoom/focus lens group by reciprocating only the first zoom/focus lens group out of the first and second zoom/focus lens groups in a optical axis direction.

Claims (17)

1. A lens barrel, comprising:

a first zoom/focus lens group and a second zoom/focus lens group configured to respectively vary a focal distance and imaging distance by moving in an optical axis direction;

a first actuator configured to drive the first zoom/focus lens group;

a second actuator configured to drive the second zoom/focus lens group; and

a drive controller configured to independently control the first actuator and the second actuator, and

the drive controller configured to wobble the first zoom/focus lens group by reciprocating only the first zoom/focus lens group out of the first and second zoom/focus lens groups in a optical axis direction, wherein

each of the first zoom/focus lens group and the second zoom/focus lens group zooms and focuses by changing its position in the optical axis direction.

2. The lens barrel according to claim 1 , wherein

the drive controller has a plurality of zoom/focus tracking curves preset for each of the first and second zoom/focus lens groups, and

the drive controller moves the first and second zoom/focus lens groups along the plurality of zoom/focus tracking curves while wobbling the first zoom/focus lens group around a path of a zoom tracking curve out of the plurality of zoom/focus tracking curves, and moves the first zoom/focus lens group and the second zoom/focus lens group based on the plurality of zoom/focus tracking curves during focal distance adjustment.

3. An imaging pickup device capable of outputting an optical image of an object as an electrical image signal, comprising:

the lens barrel according to claim 1 ; and

an imaging element configured to convert an optical image formed by the lens barrel into an electrical image signal.

4. A camera configured to convert an optical image formed by the lens barrel into an electrical image signal, and display and/or storage of the converted image signal, the camera comprising:

an imaging pickup device including the lens barrel according to claim 1 and an imaging element, the imaging element configured to convert an optical image formed by the lens barrel into an electrical image signal.

5. The lens barrel according to claim 1 , wherein

the first zoom/focus lens group which is wobbled is lighter than the second zoom/focus lens group.

Assignments (2)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ERRONEOUSLY FILED APPLICATION NUMBERS 13/384239, 13/498734, 14/116681 AND 14/301144 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 034194 FRAME 0143. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Dec 24, 2020
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 056788/0362 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 10, 2014
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 034194/0143 →