There is provided a blade drive device including a substrate that has an opening, a front curtain and a rear curtain that are movable along an opening surface of the opening so as to open and close the opening, a front curtain electromagnetic actuator that actuates the front curtain, a rear curtain electromagnetic actuator that actuates the rear curtain, and that is capable of holding the rear curtain at an open position in a state having no power supply, a front curtain locking portion that interlocks with opening and closing operations of the front curtain, a rear curtain locking portion that interlocks with opening and closing operations of the rear curtain, and a blade position holding mechanism that is capable of entry and escape between an entry position which enters each operation trajectory of the front curtain locking portion and the rear curtain locking portion in response to the opening and closing operations of the front curtain and the rear curtain and an escape position escaped from the operation trajectory. At the entry position, the blade position holding mechanism can engage with both the front curtain locking portion and the rear curtain locking portion, thereby regulating the movement of the front curtain and the rear curtain in the closing direction.

There is provided a blade drive device including a substrate that has an opening, a front curtain and a rear curtain that are movable along an opening surface of the opening so as to open and close the opening, a front curtain electromagnetic actuator that actuates the front curtain, a rear curtain electromagnetic actuator that actuates the rear curtain, and that is capable of holding the rear curtain at an open position in a state having no power supply, a front curtain locking portion that interlocks with opening and closing operations of the front curtain, a rear curtain locking portion that interlocks with opening and closing operations of the rear curtain, and a blade position holding mechanism that is capable of entry and escape between an entry position which enters each operation trajectory of the front curtain locking portion and the rear curtain locking portion in response to the opening and closing operations of the front curtain and the rear curtain and an escape position escaped from the operation trajectory. At the entry position, the blade position holding mechanism can engage with both the front curtain locking portion and the rear curtain locking portion, thereby regulating the movement of the front curtain and the rear curtain in the closing direction.

An imaging system includes a digital camera and illuminating devices. The digital camera includes an imaging optical system, a shutter, a shutter driving mechanism, an imaging element, an illumination control unit, and a wireless I/F. The shutter is a focal-plane shutter. In a case in which a main imaging operation is performed in a plural illumination control mode, the shutter driving mechanism drives the shutter to generate a transition period for which a partial exposure region is transferred to the lower side of an imaging area of the imaging element over time. The illumination control unit controls the emission times of the illuminating devices to be different times within the transition period.

An imaging system includes a digital camera and illuminating devices. The digital camera includes an imaging optical system, a shutter, a shutter driving mechanism, an imaging element, an illumination control unit, and a wireless I/F. The shutter is a focal-plane shutter. In a case in which a main imaging operation is performed in a plural illumination control mode, the shutter driving mechanism drives the shutter to generate a transition period for which a partial exposure region is transferred to the lower side of an imaging area of the imaging element over time. The illumination control unit controls the emission times of the illuminating devices to be different times within the transition period.

A focal plane shutter has a base plate with an opening; a leading and trailing blade opening and closing the opening; a leading blade driver; a trailing blade driver; a charging portion; a braking member; and a brake driver. The leading blade driver has a first leading blade driver driving the leading blade through a first biasing force of a first biasing member; and a second leading blade driver driving the leading blade through a second biasing force of a second biasing member. The trailing blade driver has a trailing blade driver portion driving the trailing blade by a third biasing force of a third biasing member. The charging portion applies the second biasing force to the second biasing member and applies the third biasing force to the third biasing member. The braking member brakes the leading blade through friction and the brake driver moves the braking member to the position braking the leading blade, independently of the leading blade driver, the trailing blade driver, and the charging portion.

A focal plane shutter has a base plate with an opening; a leading and trailing blade opening and closing the opening; a leading blade driver; a trailing blade driver; a charging portion; a braking member; and a brake driver. The leading blade driver has a first leading blade driver driving the leading blade through a first biasing force of a first biasing member; and a second leading blade driver driving the leading blade through a second biasing force of a second biasing member. The trailing blade driver has a trailing blade driver portion driving the trailing blade by a third biasing force of a third biasing member. The charging portion applies the second biasing force to the second biasing member and applies the third biasing force to the third biasing member. The braking member brakes the leading blade through friction and the brake driver moves the braking member to the position braking the leading blade, independently of the leading blade driver, the trailing blade driver, and the charging portion.

A driving mechanism for moving a flat optical element is provided. The driving mechanism includes a fixed part, a movable member, and a driving assembly. The movable member is movably disposed on the fixed part and connected to the optical element. The driving assembly is configured to impel the movable member and the optical element to move relative to the fixed part. The driving assembly has a coil disposed on the fixed part.

A driving mechanism for moving a flat optical element is provided. The driving mechanism includes a fixed part, a movable member, and a driving assembly. The movable member is movably disposed on the fixed part and connected to the optical element. The driving assembly is configured to impel the movable member and the optical element to move relative to the fixed part. The driving assembly has a coil disposed on the fixed part.

An imaging apparatus is provided, including a blade-driving device and a driving control unit which drives the front curtain actuator and the rear curtain actuator. The front curtain and the rear curtain are positioned at the open position at a time of start and termination of imaging, in which the front curtain moves from the closing position to the open position, and the rear curtain moves from the open position to the closing position, thereby performing an exposure operation. During consecutive photographing, the front curtain positioned at the closing position is moved once in a direction of the open position and is then returned to the closing position after the rear curtain is moved to the open position after termination of the exposure operation, and before a subsequent exposure operation is performed.

An imaging apparatus is provided, including a blade-driving device and a driving control unit which drives the front curtain actuator and the rear curtain actuator. The front curtain and the rear curtain are positioned at the open position at a time of start and termination of imaging, in which the front curtain moves from the closing position to the open position, and the rear curtain moves from the open position to the closing position, thereby performing an exposure operation. During consecutive photographing, the front curtain positioned at the closing position is moved once in a direction of the open position and is then returned to the closing position after the rear curtain is moved to the open position after termination of the exposure operation, and before a subsequent exposure operation is performed.