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:
Nov. 16, 2010
Filed:
Apr. 29, 2009
Masato Yamaguchi, Kanagawa, JP;
Masahiro Negita, Aichi, JP;
Kazutaka Tada, Hyogo, JP;
Sony Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A mirror drive apparatus includes a movable unit including a mirror used to switch an optical path in an imaging apparatus, a drive mechanism capable of switching the movable unit between a first and second attitudes by pivoting the movable unit around a predetermined pivotal axis, an elastic member and a locking mechanism provided on one side of the pivotal axis, the elastic member producing an urging force for switching the movable unit from the first attitude to the second attitude, the locking mechanism capable of maintaining the first attitude of the movable unit on which the urging force acts and releasing the movable unit, and a toggle mechanism provided on the other side of the pivotal axis and capable of switching the movable unit between the first attitude and the second attitude by urging the movable unit so that the movable unit takes the first or second attitude.