The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 23, 2000
Filed:
Jan. 15, 1999
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A focus adjusting device which includes an imaging unit, such as a lens group, a film, a charge coupled device, a CMOS sensor, etc., and at least one electrostriction unit deforming based on an applied voltage and configured to move the imaging unit from the deforming. Further, positioned between the imaging unit and the at least one electrostriction unit is a mechanism for increasing or accumulating the deforming of the at least one electrostriction unit. The electrostriction unit can take the form of a laminate piezoelectric device. In one specific embodiment, the mechanism provided between the imaging unit and the at least one electrostriction unit is a lever which increases the deforming of the at least one electrostriction unit. In another embodiment, at least two electrostriction units are utilized and the mechanism provided between the at least two electrostriction units and the imaging unit is a coupling between the at least two electrostriction units which accumulates the deforming of each of the at least two electrostriction units. According to a further embodiment, the mechanism provided between the imaging unit and the at least one electrostriction unit is an elastic member with curved portions which increase the deforming of the at least one electrostriction unit in a direction perpendicular to a direction of the deforming of the at least one electrostriction unit.