Calibration device, imaging device, calibration method, and method for manufacturing imaging device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016007017-A1
Application number	US-201414770105-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 29, 2014
Priority date	Mar 22, 2013
Publication date	Jan 7, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

In order to provide a calibration device and the like suitable for image stabilization, a calibration device ( 1 ) is provided with a correction lens ( 11 ), an actuator coil ( 13 ), and a control section ( 20 ) for calibrating a center (p) of a movable range (R) of the correction lens ( 11 ) to a center position (pa) between a left rated output position (α) and a right end position (b), the left rated output position (α) being a position closest to a left end position (a) in a range where the correction lens ( 11 ) is movable when a current within a rated current is caused to flow in the actuator coil ( 13 ).

First claim

1 . A calibration device which (i) receives positional information of an optical element detected by a position detection device and (ii) calibrates a movable range of the optical element moving, with driving force provided by a drive device, between a first end and a second end symmetrical to the first end with respect to a reference point, the movable range being calibrated on the basis of positional information of the optical element, the calibration device comprising:
a center position calibration section for calibrating a center of the movable range of the optical element to a center position between a first position and a second position, the first position being a position closest to the first end in a range where the optical element is movable with an output within a rated output of the drive device, the second position being indicated by the positional information detected by the position detection device and being a position at which the optical element came in contact with the second end.

2 . The calibration device as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising:
a calibration instruction information generation section for generating information for instructing the center position calibration section to calibrate the center of the movable range of the optical element; and an interface for connecting the calibration instruction information generation section with the center position calibration section.

3 . An imaging device comprising:
a housing; a vibration measurement device for measuring a vibration which acts on the housing; an image sensor; an optical system for guiding external light onto the image sensor; and the calibration device as set forth in claim 1 or 2 , the optical element being moved so that the vibration measured by the vibration measurement device is cancelled and thereby an optical axis of the optical system is corrected.

4 . A calibration method for calibrating a movable range of an optical element moving, with driving force provided by a drive device, between a first end and a second end symmetrical to the first end with respect to a reference point, the movable range being calibrated on the basis of positional information of the optical element, the positional information being detected at a position detection step, the calibration method comprising the steps of:
(a) receiving the positional information; and (b) calibrating a center of the movable range of the optical element to a center position between a first position and a second position, the first position being a position closest to the first end in a range where the optical element is movable with an output within a rated output of the drive device, the second position being indicated by the positional information detected at the position detection step and being a position at which the optical element came in contact with the second end.

5 . A method for producing an imaging device which (i) receives positional information of an optical element detected at a position detection step and (ii) calibrates a movable range of the optical element moving, with driving force provided by a drive device, between a first end and a second end symmetrical to the first end with respect to a reference point, the method comprising the steps of:
(c) inspecting whether or not a center of the movable range of the optical element coincides with the reference point; and (d) in a case where it is found at the step (c) that the center of the movable range of the optical element does not coincide with the reference point, calibrating the center of the movable range of the optical element to a center position between a first position and a second position, the first position being a position closest to the first end in a range where the optical element is movable with an output within a rated output of the drive device, the second position being indicated by the positional information detected at the position detection step and being a position at which the optical element came in contact with the second end.

Assignees

• Sharp Kk

Inventors

• Nishikawa Masato
• Fujisawa Hidenori

Classifications

• H04N23/60

  Control of cameras or camera modules · CPC title

• H04N23/55

  Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof · CPC title

• H04N23/687

  by shifting the lens or sensor position · CPC title

• H04N23/51

  Housings · CPC title

• H04N23/6812

  based on additional sensors, e.g. acceleration sensors · CPC title