IP Library Granted Patent US 7,809,256
Granted Patent B2
US 7,809,256 · App. 11/491,081 · Granted Oct 5, 2010

Imaging lens device and imaging apparatus

Assignee: Sony Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,809,256
App. No.
11/491,081
Granted
Oct 5, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention aims to achieve slim design by employing a light path folding optical system, add a hand-shake correction capability, and lower power consumption. An imaging lens device includes a light path folding optical system having a reflector that folds the optical axis incident perpendicular to the gravitational direction toward the gravitational direction, and an imaging element that converts an image formed by the light path folding optical system into an electrical signal. The imaging lens device also includes drive means that moves some of lens groups or one lens (hereinafter referred to as “shake correction lens group”) in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis folded toward the gravitational direction by the reflector (hereinafter referred to as “vertical optical axis”). The shake correction lens group is moved in the direction perpendicular to the vertical optical axis to move the image in the direction perpendicular to the vertical optical axis.

Claims (45)

1. An imaging lens device comprising:

a light path folding optical system having a reflector that folds the optical axis incident perpendicular to the gravitational direction toward the gravitational direction;

an imaging element that converts an image formed by the light path folding optical system into an electrical signal; and

drive means that moves a shake correction lens group including at least one lens in the direction perpendicular to a vertical optical axis, the vertical optical axis being folded toward the gravitational direction by the reflector,

wherein the shake correction lens group is moved in the direction perpendicular to the vertical optical axis to move the image in the direction perpendicular to the vertical optical axis.

2. The imaging lens device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the drive means mechanically bears the weight of the shake correction lens group in the gravitational direction.

3. The imaging lens device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the shake correction lens group is fixed in the vertical optical axis direction.

4. The imaging lens device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the shake correction lens group is all or part of a lens group located closest to the imaging element and satisfies the condition equation (1) |(1−βa)×βb|<1.8, where βa is the magnification of the shake correction lens group and βb is the magnification of the lens group located next to the shake correction lens group and closer to the image plane.

5. The imaging lens device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the light path folding optical system includes a plurality of lens groups and works as a zoom lens system in which its magnification changes when the respective distances between the lens groups change; and

the reflector is placed in a stationary lens group during zooming.

6. The imaging lens device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the light path folding optical system includes, in order of increasing distance from an object, a first lens group that has positive power and is stationary during zooming, a second lens group having negative power, a third lens group having positive power, a fourth lens group having positive power, and a fifth lens group having negative power;

zooming is performed by moving at least the second and fourth lens groups;

the first lens group includes, in order of increasing distance from an object, a first single lens having negative power, a reflector that folds the optical axis incident perpendicular to the gravitational direction by 90 degrees toward the gravitational direction, and at least one second lens having positive power; and

a positive lens group in the fifth lens group is the shake correction lens group.

7. The imaging lens device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the mechanism of the drive means may not require any holding electrical power for holding the shake correction lens group aligned with the vertical optical axis.

8. An imaging lens device comprising:

a light path folding optical system having a reflector that folds the optical axis incident perpendicular to the gravitational direction toward the gravitational direction;

an imaging element that converts an image formed by the light path folding optical system into an electrical signal; and

drive means that moves the imaging element in the direction perpendicular to a vertical optical axis, the vertical optical axis being folded toward the gravitational direction by the reflector.

9. The imaging lens device according to claim 8 ,

wherein the drive means mechanically bears the weight of the imaging element in the gravitational direction.

10. The imaging lens device according to claim 8 ,

wherein the light path folding optical system includes a plurality of lens groups and works as a zoom lens system in which its magnification changes when the respective distances between the lens groups change; and

the reflector is placed in a stationary lens group during zooming.

11. The imaging lens device according to claim 8 ,

wherein the mechanism of the drive means may not require any holding electrical power for holding the shake correction lens group aligned with the vertical optical axis.

12. An imaging apparatus comprising:

an imaging lens device having a light path folding optical system and an imaging element that converts an image formed by the light path folding optical system into an electrical signal;

hand-shake detection means that detects shake of the imaging lens device; and

hand-shake correction control means that corrects displacement of the imaging position of the object image based on the shake of the imaging lens device detected by the hand-shake detection means,

the imaging lens device including a reflector that folds the optical axis incident perpendicular to the gravitational direction toward the gravitational direction, and drive means that moves a shake correction lens group including at least one lens in the direction perpendicular to a vertical optical axis, the vertical optical axis being folded toward the gravitational direction by the reflector,

wherein the imaging lens device is configured such that the shake correction lens group is moved in the direction perpendicular to the vertical optical axis to move the image in the direction perpendicular to the vertical optical axis; and

the hand-shake correction control means instructs the drive means to move the shake correction lens group by an amount and in a direction based on the shake of the imaging lens device detected by the hand-shake detection means.

13. An imaging apparatus comprising:

an imaging lens device having a light path folding optical system and an imaging element that converts an image formed by the light path folding optical system into an electrical signal;

hand-shake detection means that detects shake of the imaging lens device; and

hand-shake correction control means that corrects displacement of the imaging position of the object image based on the shake of the imaging lens device detected by the hand-shake detection means,

the imaging lens device including a reflector that folds the optical axis incident perpendicular to the gravitational direction toward the gravitational direction, and drive means for moving the imaging element in the direction perpendicular to a vertical optical axis, the vertical optical axis being folded toward the gravitational direction by the reflector,

wherein the hand-shake correction control means instructs the drive means to move the imaging element by an amount and in a direction based on the shake of the imaging lens device detected by the hand-shake detection means.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 17, 2006
From: KURODA, DAISUKE; IWASAWA, YOSHITO; KANAI, MAKOTO
To: SONY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 018423/0094 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2005-217288 · Jul 27, 2005 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20070031134A1 · Feb 8, 2007