Canon Kabushiki Kaisha

Francois Vasey

Marcel Arditi

Georges Revillet

Daniel M Gross

This specification discloses an image stabilization apparatus provided with correcting optical means for compensating image vibration, driving means for driving the correcting optical means, and controlling means for controlling the action of the driving means in response to the approach of the driving limit of the correcting optical means.

Image stabilization apparatus

This apparatus includes a lens element (2) associated with first guide means (6, 7) defining a first degree of freedom of this lens element (2) in a plane parallel to the film plane. These first guide means (6, 7) are associated in turn with second guide means (11, 12) defining a second means [sic] of freedom, via a ring (10) parallel to the plane of the lens element (2). These second guide means (11, 12) are hinged to parts (14) that are structurally connected to the body of the camera. Accelerometers (20, 21, 22, 28, 29, 30) measure the acceleration along the two degrees of freedom, and their signals serve to control motors (16, 23) that act via cams (27, 24) on the first and second guide means, respectively, to compensate for the movements recorded by the accelerometers.

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Lausanne, Switzerland

Francois Vasey