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. 08, 2007
Filed:
Apr. 13, 2006
Shigeo Nakashima, Utsunomiya, JP;
Takehiko Sato, Utsunomiya, JP;
Shigeo Nakashima, Utsunomiya, JP;
Takehiko Sato, Utsunomiya, JP;
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An optical apparatus is disclosed which can well maintain a surface contact state between a vibrator and a contact member of a vibration type linear actuator to perform a stable lens drive. The optical apparatus comprises a vibration type linear actuator driving a lens in an optical axis direction. The vibration type linear actuator includes a vibrator on which vibration is produced through an electromechanical energy conversion action and a contact member which is in press contact with the vibrator. The apparatus comprises a holding mechanism which holds one member of the vibrator and the contact member so as to change at least one of the position and inclination of the one member in response to a force smaller than a press contact force between the vibrator and the contact member.