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:
Apr. 10, 2012
Filed:
Sep. 05, 2008
Natsuko Shiota, Ibaraki, JP;
Yoshihiro Hara, Takatsuki, JP;
Akira Kosaka, Yao, JP;
Yasutaka Tanimura, Nara, JP;
Natsuko Shiota, Ibaraki, JP;
Yoshihiro Hara, Takatsuki, JP;
Akira Kosaka, Yao, JP;
Yasutaka Tanimura, Nara, JP;
Konica Minolta Opto, Inc., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An optical unit is provided which is characterized by compact configuration, high performance and minimized noise, and which has a drive element to drive a lens cone holding an image pickup optical system, and has the same outside diameter as the lens cone, wherein the optical unit drives the image pickup optical system by expanding and contracting the drive element in a direction of an optical axis of the image pickup optical system. An image pickup apparatus is provided which is characterized by compact configuration, high performance and minimized noise, and which has an optical unit coupled to an image pickup unit through a drive element, and has the same outside diameter as the optical unit, wherein the apparatus drives the optical unit by expanding and contracting the drive unit in a direction of an optical axis of the optical unit.