US 6,982,750 B1
Digital camera with power supply for piezoelectric element and stroboscope circuit
Akihiro Yoshida, Kanagawa (Japan); and Naoki Koshida, Kanagawa (Japan)
Assigned to Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo (Japan)
Filed on Oct. 03, 2000, as Appl. No. 9/677,880.
Claims priority of application No. 11-307635 (JP), filed on Oct. 28, 1999.
Int. Cl. H04N 5/225 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 348—219.1 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A digital camera for acquiring image data by acquiring a subject image, comprising:
an imaging device configured to acquire said subject image;
a piezoelectric element configured to displace said imaging device;
a detecting circuit configured to detect a representative voltage indicative of a level of voltage presently being applied to the piezoelectric element;
a comparing unit configured to compare a reference voltage corresponding to a predetermined amount of displacement of the imaging device with the representative voltage detected by the detecting circuit and to provide an output indicating that the representative voltage detected by the detecting circuit is less than the reference voltage;
a charging unit including at least one energy accumulating unit configured to power a strobe unit; and
a control element configured to supply electricity from the energy accumulating unit of the charging unit to the piezoelectric element to raise said level of voltage presently being applied to the piezoelectric element responsive to the comparing unit providing the output indicating that the representative voltage being detected by the detecting circuit is less than the reference voltage.