# US 10,863,892 B2 · Imaging device and endoscope system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,863,892 B2 - Document ID: US10863892B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/956,962 - Filed: 2018-04-19 - Published: 2018-08-23 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2015-10-29 - Assignees: Olympus Corporation - Applicants: Olympus Corporation - Inventors: Kanako Saito - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10863892B2 ## CPC - A61B 1/045: Control thereof - A61B 1/00006: {of control signals} - A61B 1/00009: {of image signals during a use of endoscope} - A61B 1/00096: {Optical elements} - A61B 1/00133: {Drive units for endoscopic tools inserted through or with the endoscope} - A61B 1/00188: {with focusing or zooming features} - A61B 1/05: characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract An imaging device includes: an optical device; a movable frame configured to support and move the optical device in a predetermined direction; a supporting frame configured to support the movable frame; a voice coil motor configured to move the movable frame relative to the supporting frame in the predetermined direction; a position detecting unit configured to detect a position of the movable frame relative to the supporting frame and generate a position signal; a signal processing unit configured to generate a drive signal and determine whether the position signal is normal; an imaging device; an image processing unit; a first drive controller configured to drive the movable frame; a second drive controller configured to drive the movable frame; and a selector configured to select a drive controller that controls driving of the movable frame from the first drive controller and the second drive controller. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An imaging device comprising: an optical lens configured to transmit light; a movable frame configured to support and move the optical lens in a predetermined direction; a supporting frame configured to support the movable frame; a voice coil motor including a magnet and a coil, the voice coil motor being configured to move the movable frame relative to the supporting frame in the predetermined direction: a position detecting sensor configured to detect information about a position of the movable frame relative to the supporting frame and generate a position signal; an imaging sensor configured to conduct photoelectric conversion on light passed through the optical lens to generate an imaging signal; and a controller comprising hardware, the controller being configured to: generate a drive signal including information about a movement distance and a moving direction of the movable frame relative to the supporting frame in accordance with the position signal generated by the position detecting sensor and determine whether the position signal is normal; generate an image signal based on the imaging signal; drive the movable frame with a first drive control by controlling a current flowing through the coil in accordance with the generated drive signal; drive the movable frame with a second drive control by controlling a current flowing through the coil in accordance with the generated image signal; and select a drive control that controls driving of the movable frame from the first drive control and the second drive control in accordance with a determination result of the signal processing unit; wherein the second drive control controls a current flowing through the coil so as to move the movable frame to a position where a representative signal value of the generated image signal becomes a predetermined value; and the predetermined value is a representative signal value of the image signal immediately before it is determined that the position signal is not normal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to select the first drive control when the controller determines that the position signal is normal and select the second drive control when the controller determines that the position signal is not normal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to receive an input of a command signal to designate a move position of the movable frame, wherein the controller is configured to calculate a difference between a signal value of the position signal and a signal value of the command signal and determine whether the position signal is normal in accordance with the difference. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to generate a command value to designate a move position of the movable frame in accordance with the image signal, wherein the controller is configured to calculate a difference between a signal value of the position signal and the command value and determine whether the position signal is normal in accordance with the difference. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to generate the image signal including at least one of a contrast value, a luminance value, and a phase difference. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the second drive control conducts a feedback control on the movable frame in accordance with the generated image signal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the position detecting sensor comprises: a magnetic-field generator provided on one of the movable frame and the supporting frame and configured to generate a position-detection magnetic field; and a magnetic-field detector provided on another one of the movable frame and the supporting frame and configured to detect a magnetic field that is perpendicular to a moving direction of the movable frame. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) An endoscope system comprising the imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the endoscope system is inserted into an inside of a subject to observe the inside of the subject. ### Claim 9 An imaging device comprising: an optical lens configured to transmit light; a movable frame configured to support and move the optical lens in a predetermined direction; a supporting frame configured to support the movable frame; a voice coil motor including a magnet and a coil, the voice coil motor being configured to move the movable frame relative to the supporting frame in the predetermined direction; a position detecting sensor configured to detect information about a position of the movable frame relative to the supporting frame and generate a position signal; an imaging sensor configured to conduct photoelectric conversion on light passed through the optical lens to generate an imaging signal; and a controller comprising hardware, the controller being configured to: generate a drive signal including information about a movement distance and a moving direction of the movable frame relative to the supporting frame in accordance with the position signal generated by the position detecting sensor and determine whether the position signal is normal; generate an image signal based on the imaging signal; drive the movable frame with a first drive control by controlling a current flowing through the coil in accordance with the generated drive signal; drive the movable frame with a second drive control by controlling a current flowing through the coil in accordance with the generated image signal; and select a drive control that controls driving of the movable frame from the first drive control and the second drive control in accordance with a determination result of the signal processing unit; wherein the second drive control controls a current flowing through the coil so as to move the movable frame to a position where a representative signal value of the generated image signal becomes a predetermined value; and the predetermined value is a highest value among representative signal values of the image signals within a predetermined time period. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The imaging device according to claim 9, wherein the predetermined value is a value with which it is determined that a focal point is set by single scan auto focus. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The imaging device according to claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to select the first drive control when the controller determines that the position signal is normal and select the second drive control when the controller determines that the position signal is not normal. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The imaging device according to claim 9, wherein the controller is further configured to receive an input of a command signal to designate a move position of the movable frame, wherein the controller is configured to calculate a difference between a signal value of the position signal and a signal value of the command signal and determine whether the position signal is normal in accordance with the difference. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The imaging device according to claim 9, wherein the controller is further configured to generate a command value to designate a move position of the movable frame in accordance with the image signal, wherein the controller is configured to calculate a difference between a signal value of the position signal and the command value and determine whether the position signal is normal in accordance with the difference. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The imaging device according to claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to generate the image signal including at least one of a contrast value, a luminance value, and a phase difference. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The imaging device according to claim 9, wherein the second drive control conducts a feedback control on the movable frame in accordance with the generated image signal. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The imaging device according to claim 9, wherein the position detecting sensor comprises: a magnetic-field generator provided on one of the movable frame and the supporting frame and configured to generate a position-detection magnetic field; and a magnetic-field detector provided on another one of the movable frame and the supporting frame and configured to detect a magnetic field that is perpendicular to a moving direction of the movable frame. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9) An endoscope system comprising the imaging device according to claim 9, wherein the endoscope system is inserted into an inside of a subject to observe the inside of the subject.