An image sensor includes an imaging device, an optical system including a liquid lens to form an image of a subject on an imaging surface of the imaging device, and a controller that performs a refractive power control process of adjusting an application voltage applicable to the liquid lens to control a refractive power of the liquid lens, and a recognition process of analyzing image data from the imaging device to recognize predetermined information about the subject. The controller is operable in a plurality of operation modes each with a different wait period from a change in the application voltage to the liquid lens in response to the refractive power control process to a start of the recognition process.

An image sensor includes a body module including a refractive power controller that adjusts an application voltage applicable to a liquid lens in a lens module to control a refractive power of the liquid lens, a recognition processor that analyzes, after a preset period elapses from when the refractive power controller changes the application voltage to the liquid lens, image data from an imaging device in an imaging module, and an adjuster that reads first information from a memory in the lens module and second information from a memory in the imaging module and adjusts, based on the first and second information, the preset period to a period corresponding to a combination of the lens module and the imaging device. The first information indicates a specification for or a type of the lens module. The second information indicates a specification for or a type of the imaging device.

A camera module includes a liquid lens unit; a lens holder in which the liquid lens unit is disposed; a main board configured to supply a driving signal to drive the liquid lens unit; and a base disposed on the main board, the base having an inner space in which the liquid lens unit is disposed, wherein the liquid lens unit includes: a liquid lens including upper electrodes and a lower electrode; and a lower connection substrate connected to the lower electrode, and wherein the base includes: an upper connection part configured to electrically connect the upper electrodes to the main board, the upper connection part being disposed adjacent to the upper electrodes in a plan view; and a lower connection part configured to electrically connect the lower connection substrate to the main board.

An image stabilization apparatus comprises: a first obtaining unit that obtains orientation information of an image capturing apparatus; a determining unit that, on the basis of the orientation information, determines a reference position of an image sensor included in the image capturing apparatus; and a calculating unit that calculates a correction amount for performing image stabilization by moving a position of the image sensor from the reference position in a plane intersecting with an optical axis. The reference position is different between when the orientation information indicates that the image capturing apparatus is in a first orientation and when the orientation information indicates that the image capturing apparatus is in a second orientation.

A method for camera image stabilization includes a method for detecting blur in an image; measuring vibration in an apparatus which is obtaining said image; syncing the vibration with the camera shutter; and compensating shutter speed based on the blur compensation.

A lens barrel is removeably attachable to an image pickup unit, wherein a large amount of shake can be corrected. This lens barrel includes a mounting part that is removeably attachable to an image pickup unit, including: an image forming optical system that forms a subject image for the image pickup unit; a support unit that supports at least a portion of the image forming optical system; and a fixed unit that is disposed outside of the support unit and that is fixed to the mounting unit. The support part is relatively rotatable and moveable with respect to the fixed unit, about at least two axes which are substantially orthogonal to the light axis of the image forming optical system.

A tiltless OIS circuit includes a first signal processing unit generating a first direction-position detection signal and a tilt detection signal based on a first direction-first sensing signal and a first direction-second sensing signal, a control unit generating a first direction position control signal, a tilt control signal, and a second direction position control signal, based on the first direction-position detection signal, the tilt detection signal, and a second direction sensing signal, respectively, a second signal processing unit generating a first direction-first position control signal and a first direction-second position control signal based on the first direction position control signal and the tilt control signal, and a driving unit generating a first direction-first driving signal, a first direction-second driving signal, and a second direction driving signal, based on the first direction-first position control signal, the first direction-second position control signal, and the second direction position control signal, respectively.

A position detection device includes a first position detector, a second position detector, and a signal generator. The first position detector includes a first magnetic field generation unit, a second magnetic field generation unit, and a first magnetic sensor. The second position detector includes a third magnetic field generation unit, a fourth magnetic field generation unit, and a second magnetic sensor. The positions of the second and fourth magnetic field generation units vary in response to variations in a detection-target position. The signal generator generates a position detection signal, which is the sum of a first detection signal generated by the first magnetic sensor and a second detection signal generated by the second magnetic sensor. Each of the first and second position detectors includes a bias magnetic field generation unit.

The present invention relates to a method for transmitting data in a camera module which transmits data necessary for camera shake correction, and the present invention comprises a first step in which each actuator movement detection element sequentially transmits the axial movement distance detection data detected through a Hall sensor in a two-wire interface manner without correction after each specified time delay, in a first transmission section in which each piece of axial movement distance detection data of the actuator has to be transmitted to a controller module for a shake correction; and a second step in which each actuator movement detection element sets just the variation between previously transmitted axial movement distance data and currently detected axial movement distance detection data as each piece of axial movement distance detection data with respect to each axis and sequentially transmits in the two-wire manner after the same specified time delay, respectively, in a transmission section after the first transmission period.

An imaging camera driving module includes a lens unit, a driving mechanism, a sensing mechanism and an image surface. At least a part of the driving mechanism is coupled to the lens unit to drive the lens unit to move in a direction parallel to the optical axis. The sensing mechanism includes sensing magnets fixed to the lens unit and sensing elements not facing the driving mechanism. The sensing elements are disposed on an image side of the imaging lens assembly of the lens unit and corresponding to the sensing magnets. The sensing elements are configured to detect a relative position of the sensing magnets. The image surface is disposed on the image side of the imaging lens assembly, and the optical axis passes through the image surface. The sensing mechanism is configured to detect a tilt of the optical axis with respect to the central axis.