Imaging apparatus and imaging unit
OwnerTatsuo Takanashi, Kazuo Mikami +1inventors
InventorsTatsuo Takanashi, Kazuo Mikami, Yoji Watanabe
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Abstract
There is disclosed an imaging apparatus including an image pickup device, a dust proof member provided in front of the image pickup device, and a fluid pump having a piezoelectric element as a drive source to generate a flow of air toward the front surface of the dust proof member. The flow of air is used to remove dust adhering on the surface of the dust proof member. For example, the dust proof member can be configured as a low-pass filter or a transparent glass member arranged on an imaging optical path.
Claims41
An imaging unit provided with a dust reduction device comprising:
- an image pickup device;
- a dust proof member provided in front of the image pickup device;
- and
- a fluid pump having a piezoelectric element as a drive source to generate a flow of air toward the front surface of the dust proof member.
An imaging unit provided with a dust reduction device for an imaging apparatus, comprising:
- an image pickup device;
- a dust proof member provided in front of the image pickup device;
- and
- a fluid pump having a piezoelectric element as a drive source to generate a flow of air toward the front surface of the dust proof member.
An imaging apparatus comprising:
- an image pickup device;
- a dust proof member provided in front of the image pickup device;
- and
- a fluid pump having a piezoelectric element as a drive source to generate a flow of air toward the front surface of the dust proof member.
A dust reduction device comprising:
- a dust proof member through which a light flux passes to form an image;
- a fluid pump having a piezoelectric element as a drive source to generate a flow of air toward the front surface of this optical member;
- and
- a control part for controlling the fluid pump to remove dust adhering on the dust proof member using the flow of air.
An imaging apparatus comprising:
- a lens for forming an image of a subject;
- an image pickup device for photoelectrically converting the image formed through the lens;
- a dust proof member through which a light flux passes to form the image;
- a fluid pump having a piezoelectric element as a drive source to generate a flow of air toward the front surface of the dust proof member;
- and
- a control part for controlling the fluid pump to remove dust adhering on the dust proof member using the flow of air.
An imaging apparatus comprising:
- an image pickup device for acquiring an image signal corresponding to light irradiated on a photoelectric conversion surface thereof;
- a dust proof member arranged to face the image pickup device with a predetermined space therebetween;
- a fluid pump for generating a flow of air toward the surface of the dust proof member;
- a shutter for opening and closing a shooting opening toward the image pickup device;
- and
- a control part for controlling the fluid pump to generate the flow of air at least when the shutter is in a closed state.
An imaging apparatus comprising:
- a dust proof member through which a light flux from a subject incoming through a photographing lens passes to form an image;
- an image pickup device for receiving the subject light flux and photoelectrically converting the subject image;
- a shutter arranged between the photographing lens and the dust proof member;
- a fluid pump arranged between the shutter and the dust proof member to generate a flow of air;
- and
- a control part for controlling the fluid pump to remove dust adhering on the dust proof member using the flow of air.
An imaging unit comprising:
- a dust proof member through which a light flux passes to form an image;
- an image pickup device for receiving the light flux and photoelectrically converting an image formed based on the light flux;
- a shutter for opening and closing an opening through which the light flux enters toward the image pickup device;
- and
- a fluid pump arranged between the shutter and the dust proof member to generate a flow of air.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.