Image pickup apparatus, camera module and image pickup method having a transmission member which is selectively engageable with a shutter gear or a gear formed on the outer periphery of the lens frame
AssigneeCasio Computer Co., Ltd.
InventorToshikazu Sawai
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
When half depression of a camera key is detected, a narrow pulse voltage is applied to a piezoelectric element such that the AF gear meshes with a gear provided on the lens frame. Then, a wide pulse voltage opposite in polarity is applied to the piezoelectric element such that the AF gear moves away from the gear provided on the lens frame with the AF gear meshing with a drive gear of the AF motor, and then meshes with a shutter gear. Rotation of the drive gear of the AF motor is transmitted to the AF gear and the gear provided on the lens frame while turning the shutter blade.
Claims6
An image pickup apparatus comprising:
- an image pickup element;
- a lens for focusing an image of an object onto the image pickup element;
- a lens moving member for moving the lens;
- a lens covering member for covering the lens;
- a covering-member moving member for moving the lens covering member;
- a driver;
- a transmission member provided between the lens and the driver for engaging one of the lens moving member and the covering-member moving member to transmit power from the driver to the lens moving member or the covering-member moving member;
- and
- a switching unit for controlling the transmission member to selectively engage one of the lens moving member and the covering-member moving member,
- wherein the lens moving member comprises a first gear provided around a periphery thereof;
- wherein the covering-member moving member comprises a second gear that is rotatable around an axis parallel to a rotational shaft of the first gear;
- wherein the transmission member comprises a third gear for engaging one of the first gear and the second gear;
- and
- wherein the switching unit controls the third gear to selectively engage one of the first gear and the second gear.
A camera module comprising:
- an image pickup element;
- a lens for focusing an image of an object onto the image pickup element;
- a lens moving member for moving the lens;
- a lens covering member for covering the lens;
- a covering-member moving member for moving the lens covering member;
- a driver;
- a transmission member provided between the lens and the driver for engaging one of the lens moving member and the covering-member moving member to transmit power from the driver to the lens moving member or the covering-member moving member;
- and
- a switching unit for controlling the transmission member to selectively engage one of the lens moving member and the covering-member moving member,
- wherein the lens moving member comprises a first gear provided around a periphery thereof;
- wherein the covering-member moving member comprises a second gear that is rotatable around an axis parallel to a rotational shaft of the first gear;
- wherein the transmission member comprises a third gear for engaging one of the first gear and the second gear;
- and
- wherein the switching unit controls the third gear to selectively engage one of the first gear and the second gear.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.