Image capturing device

Abstract

An image capturing device, including an rectangular image capturing element having long sides and short sides; an image capturing optical system forming an image of a subject on the rectangular image capturing element; a first driving device which moves the rectangular image capturing element in a first direction slanted by a predetermined angle from the long side and the short side of an outer shape of the rectangular image capturing element in a plane perpendicular to an optical axis of the image capturing optical system; and a second driving device which moves the rectangular image capturing element in a second direction slanted by a predetermine angle from the long side and the short side of the outer shape of the rectangular image capturing element in the plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the image capturing optical system, but the second direction differs from the first direction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1( a) and 1(b) are schematic views of a digital camera as an example of the image capturing device of the present invention.

FIGS. 2( a), 2(b) and 2(c) are schematic views showing an example of the structure of the camera-shake compensating device of the present invention.

FIGS. 3( a) and 3(b) are schematic views showing the advantage of the camera-shake compensating device of the present invention compared with a conventional camera-shake compensating device.

FIGS. 4( a) and 4(b) are views in which a circuit board is added on FIG. 2(b).

FIGS. 5( a), 5(b) and 5(c) are schematic views showing examples of pull-out directions and bending shapes of the flexible circuit board.

FIGS. 6( a) and 6(b) are schematic views showing examples of the structure of the conventional camera-shake compensating device.

FIGS. 7( a), 7(b), 7(c), 7(d) and 7(e) are schematic views explaining the driving principle of a linear actuator employing a piezo element.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing an example of the camera-shake compensating device employing a linear actuator driven by a stepping motor.

Claims

1. An image capturing device, comprising an rectangular image capturing element which has long sides and short sides;an image capturing optical system which forms an image of a subject on the rectangular image capturing element;a first driving device which moves the rectangular image capturing element in a first direction which is slanted by a predetermined angle from the long side and the short side of an outer shape of the rectangular image capturing element in a plane perpendicular to an optical axis of the image capturing optical system; anda second driving device which moves the rectangular image capturing element in a second direction which is slanted by a predetermine angle from the long side and the short side of the outer shape of the rectangular image capturing element in the plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the image capturing optical system, but the second direction differs from the first direction.

2. The image capturing device in claim 1, wherein the first direction is not orthogonal to the second direction.

3. The image capturing device in claim 1, wherein both an angle between the first direction and the long side of the outer shape of the rectangular image capturing element and an angle between the second direction and the long side of the outer shape of the rectangular image capturing element are equal to or less than an angle between the long side of the outer shape of the image capturing element and a diagonal line of the outer shape of the rectangular image capturing element.

4. The image capturing device in claim 1, wherein the first and second driving devices include a guide section which is structured of a driving shaft of an impact actuator or a stepping motor.

5. The image capturing device in claim 4, the guide section is provided at a back side of the rectangular image capturing element.

6. An image capturing device, comprising: an rectangular image capturing element which has long sides and short sides;an image capturing optical system which forms an image of a subject on the rectangular image capturing element;a flexible circuit board which is connected to the rectangular image capturing element, and pulled out in a predetermined pull-out direction, and sends electrical signals generated in the rectangular image capturing element;a first driving device which moves the rectangular image capturing element in a first direction which is slanted by a predetermined angle from the predetermined pull-out direction in a plane perpendicular to an optical axis of the image capturing optical system; anda second driving device which moves the rectangular image capturing element in a second direction which is slanted by a predetermine angle from the predetermined pull-out direction in a plane perpendicular to an optical axis of the image capturing optical system, but the second direction differs from the first direction.

7. The image capturing device in claim 6, wherein the first direction is not orthogonal to the second direction.

8. The image capturing device in claim 6, wherein both an angle between the first direction and the long side of the outer shape of the image capturing element and an angle between the second direction and the long side of the outer shape of the image capturing element are equal to or less than an angle between the long side of the outer shape of the rectangular image capturing element and a diagonal line of the outer shape of the rectangular image capturing element.

9. The image capturing device in claim 6, wherein the first and second driving devices include a guide section which is structured of a driving shaft of an impact actuator or a stepping motor.

10. The image capturing device in claim 9, wherein the guide section is provided at a back side of the rectangular image capturing element.

11. The image capturing device in claim 1, wherein when a camera shake is compensated, the rectangular image capturing element is moved by the first and second devices in a plane perpendicular to an optical axis of the image capturing optical system.