US 7,573,662 B2
Movement preventing structure for color separation prism
Noriaki Sakata, Tokyo (Japan); Kazuyoshi Kiga, Tokyo (Japan); and Tadasu Kobayashi, Saitama (Japan)
Assigned to Sony Corporation, Tokyo (Japan); and Fujinon Corporation, Saitama (Japan)
Filed on May 29, 2008, as Appl. No. 12/129,488.
Claims priority of application No. 2007-143375 (JP), filed on May 30, 2007.
Prior Publication US 2008/0297926 A1, Dec. 04, 2008
Int. Cl. G02B 5/04 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 359—833 2 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A movement preventing structure for a color separation prism, in which the movement in an optical axis direction of the color separation prism is prevented, the color separation prism being arranged between a mount part, on which a lens apparatus is detachably mounted, and a solid-state image sensing element of a camera apparatus having the mount part and the solid-state image sensing element, comprising:
a color separation prism supporting member supports the color separation prism so that the color separation prism is movable in an optical axis direction; and
a color separation prism movement preventing member being formed of a thermally-expanding material, having a first fixing part fixed to the color separation prism and a second fixing part fixed to the color separation prism supporting member, and the length in an optical axis direction thereof being changed by thermal expansion or contraction;
wherein the length in an optical axis direction of the color separation prism movement preventing member is changed by thermal expansion or contraction, and the color separation prism movement preventing member applies a force to the color separation prism fixed in the first fixing part, so that the color separation prism is moved in the direction reverse to the direction of the movement of the color separation prism caused by the thermal expansion or contraction of the color separation prism supporting member.