Nikon Corporation

Hideki Kanbayashi

Yoshio Imura

Shigeyuki Uchiyama

Chiyuki Kuwata

Masamitsu Ozawa

Masanori Hasuda

Kenji Tazaki

A sub-mirror which deflects a focal point detection light flux passing through an area off the optical axis of a photographing optical system toward the optical axis and a second deflection member that deflects the focal point detection light flux deflected by the sub-mirror to allow it to advance roughly parallel to the photographic optical axis are provided. A pair of light fluxes achieved by deflecting the focal point detection light flux twice are guided to an image sensor to form a pair of subject images on the image sensor. The focal adjustment state is detected based upon the extent to which the pair of subject images are offset.

Focal point detection apparatus and focal point detection module

A focal point detection apparatus that includes a sub-mirror constituted of a concave mirror and performs focal point detection in the phase difference detection method is capable of implementing a focal point detection over a wide range. A light flux for focal point detection having passed through a semi-transmissive reflecting member and a reflecting member constituted of the concave mirror described above enters a focal point detection optical system. A correction optical system provided between the semi-transmissive reflecting member and the reflecting member constituted of the concave mirror corrects an offset of the direction along which the light flux for focal point detection advances caused by the reflecting member constituted of the concave mirror, in conformance to the image height at the focal point detection position. By utilizing this correction optical system, it becomes possible to reduce the size of the focal point detection apparatus while assuring a large focal point detection area.

Camera and focal point detection apparatus

A motion compensation device, suitable for an optical system such as a camera, has a blurring motion compensation unit to compensate for blurring motion by driving an image blurring motion compensation optical system in a direction generally perpendicular to the optical axis. The device can lock the image blurring motion compensation optical system by a locking member even if there is no power supply. This is accomplished by using a magnet which attracts an iron piece mounted on a blurring motion compensation lens frame, and lock members which lock the blurring motion compensation lens frame. When an operation mode changeover switch changes over from the ON position to the OFF position, a contact unit of this operation mode changeover switch locks a coupling member of a lock ring. Accordingly, because the magnet attracts the iron piece even when there is no power supply, the blurring motion compensation lens frame can be locked by the lock ring.

Motion compensation device for an optical system and method

A lens driving device is disclosed, whereby it is made unnecessary for a user side to determine focusing when focusing is to be performed by an operation ring in a manual preference automatic focusing mode. The lens driving device includes an operation ring rotated for performing automatic focusing, a rotary encoder for detecting the operation amount of the operation ring, a motor for performing lens driving according to an operation amount detected by the rotary encoder, a body side CPU for detecting a defocusing amount at least during lens driving and a lens side CPU for forcibly stopping the lens driving of the motor when a defocusing amount detected by the body side CPU becomes equal to a preset value or lower.

Lens driving device

A motion compensation device compensates for movement of an optical system of a camera. The motion compensation device includes a motion detection unit to detect motion of the optical system. A drive unit then drives a motion compensation lens in response to the detected motion while a stopping position detection unit detects a stopping position of the motion compensation lens. A centering operation unit moves the motion compensation lens from the stopping position to a first range about the optical axis or a second range greater than the first range about the optical axis. Depending upon whether the camera is in a one-frame photographic mode or a continuous photographic mode, the camera selects between the first or the second range for photographs subsequent to the first photograph.

Motion compensation device to control a centering operation of a motion

A camera lens shutter having separate aperture blades and shutter blades arranged in a manner to provide a shutter unit having decreased thickness. The lens shutter includes a first shading member to expose an exposure aperture when in an open state and to cover the exposure aperture when in a closed state. A first circular cam drives the primary shading member. A second shading member forms a plurality of aperture diameters, and a second circular cam drives the second shading member. The inner diameter of either the first or second cam is made larger than the outer diameter of the other. The lens shutter may also include a shading member to expose an exposure aperture wherein an open state, a first circular cam to drive the first shading member, a second shading member to cover or close the exposure aperture, a second circular cam to drive the second shading member, a third shading member to form a plurality of aperture diameters, and a third circular cam to drive the third shading member. The respective cams of the shutter units are positioned concentrically and may be on approximately the same plane to provide a thinner shutter unit.

Growing community of inventors

Kawasaki, Japan

Hideki Kanbayashi