IP Library Granted Patent US 9,134,500
Granted Patent B2
US 9,134,500 · App. 14/262,174 · Granted Sep 15, 2015

Lens barrel and imaging device

Inventors: Keita Kadowaki (Osaka, JP); Tetsuya Hokamura (Osaka, JP)
Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
G02B7/023
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,134,500
App. No.
14/262,174
Granted
Sep 15, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

An object is to realize further size reduction in a lens barrel in which a barrel unit is rotatable in three axis directions. The lens barrel includes a support portion for supporting the barrel unit, a part of the support portion being fixed to an external member, an actuator including a drive base movable in a direction parallel to a surface passing through an optical axis of the barrel unit, and a universal joint mechanism portion for linking the barrel unit and the drive base of the actuator. The support portion supports the barrel unit rotatably about a pitch axis, a roll axis, and a yaw axis with respect to the optical axis direction, and the actuator drives the barrel unit about the pitch axis, the roll axis, and the yaw axis by moving the drive base.

Claims (24)

1. A lens barrel comprising:

a support portion for supporting a barrel unit, a part of the support portion being fixed to an external member;

an actuator including a drive base movable in a direction parallel to a plane including an optical axis of the barrel unit; and

a universal joint mechanism portion for linking the barrel unit and the drive base of the actuator,

wherein the support portion supports the barrel unit rotatably about a pitch axis, a roll axis, and a yaw axis with respect to an optical axis direction, and

wherein the actuator drives the barrel unit about the pitch axis, the roll axis, and the yaw axis by moving the drive base.

2. The lens barrel according to claim 1 ,

wherein the support portion has a pitch axis support portion for holding the barrel unit rotatably about the pitch axis, a roll axis support portion for holding the barrel unit rotatably about the roll axis, and a yaw axis support portion for holding the barrel unit rotatably about the yaw axis.

3. The lens barrel according to claim 1 ,

wherein the universal joint mechanism portion includes a first linking portion linked with the barrel unit, a second linking portion linked with the first linking portion in such a manner that a drive force is transmittable, and a third linking portion linked with the second linking portion in such a manner that the drive force is transmittable, and

wherein the drive base of the actuator is linked with the third linking portion.

4. The lens barrel according to claim 1 ,

wherein the universal joint mechanism portion is linked with a side surface of the barrel unit.

5. The lens barrel according to claim 3 ,

wherein the third linking portion is translated in a pitch axis direction and the barrel unit is rotated about the roll axis, and

wherein the third linking portion is translated in a roll axis direction and the barrel unit is rotated about the pitch axis.

6. The lens barrel according to claim 1 ,

wherein the actuator is rotated about the yaw axis to drive the barrel unit.

7. The lens barrel according to claim 3 ,

wherein the drive base includes a driving magnet.

8. An imaging device formed by accommodating a lens barrel in a casing,

wherein the lens barrel comprises a support portion of which part is fixed to the casing for supporting a barrel unit, an actuator including a drive base movable in a direction parallel to a plane including an optical axis of the barrel unit, and a universal joint mechanism portion for linking the barrel unit and the drive base of the actuator,

wherein the support portion supports the barrel unit rotatably about a pitch axis, a roll axis, and a yaw axis with respect to an optical axis direction, and

wherein the actuator drives the barrel unit about the pitch axis, the roll axis, and the yaw axis by moving the drive base.

Assignments (3)
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 11, 2014
From: KADOWAKI, KEITA; HOKAMURA, TETSUYA
To: PANASONIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 033291/0691 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP 2013-112606 · May 29, 2013 · national
JP 2014-082458 · Apr 14, 2014 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20140355141A1 · Dec 4, 2014