JP5882750B2 - IMAGING DEVICE, LENS DEVICE, IMAGING DEVICE CONTROL METHOD, LENS DEVICE CONTROL METHOD, COMPUTER PROGRAM, IMAGING SYSTEM - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic focusing technique suitable for an imaging apparatus such as a video camera whose lens unit can be exchanged.

In recent years, an AF (automatic focus adjustment) device of a video camera detects the sharpness of an image from an image pickup signal, obtains an AF evaluation value, moves the focus lens to a position where the value is maximum, and performs focus adjustment. The method is mainstream. Hereinafter, this method is referred to as a TVAF method. As the TVAF evaluation value, generally, the level of the high frequency component of the video signal extracted by a band pass filter in a predetermined frequency band is used. When a subject is photographed, as shown in FIG. 2A, the TVAF evaluation value increases as the subject comes into focus, and becomes maximum at the focal point. That is, FIG. 2A shows that the degree of focusing decreases as the distance from the focal point increases. FIG. 2B shows an operation (hereinafter referred to as a wobbling operation) for determining the in-focus direction based on a change in the TVAF evaluation value when the focus lens is vibrated with a minute width. In the wobbling operation, the influence of the lens movement is inconspicuous on the shooting screen.
On the other hand, in the case of an interchangeable lens system, depending on the lens unit used, a change in image magnification is large when performing a wobbling operation, and the influence of the movement of the focus lens may be conspicuous on the shooting screen. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 discloses an apparatus that restricts vibration amplitude during a wobbling operation by transferring information on image magnification change from a lens unit to a camera unit in an autofocus video camera that can replace a lens unit.

JP 2010-271697 A

The conventional interchangeable lens type imaging apparatus has the following problems regarding the AF operation.
In Patent Document 1, since the vibration amplitude is limited in accordance with the change in image magnification, the difference between TVAF evaluation values obtained by the wobbling operation is reduced, and the S / N (signal-to-noise) ratio relating to generation of the TVAF evaluation values is reduced. In the case of a decrease in direction, the direction detection accuracy decreases.
An object of the present invention is to realize control of an automatic focus adjustment operation in which the influence of a change in image magnification is not conspicuous on a screen in an interchangeable lens type imaging apparatus and the performance is less deteriorated.

In order to solve the above-described problems, an apparatus according to the present invention is an imaging apparatus capable of communicating with a lens apparatus including a focus lens, and a signal processing unit that generates an evaluation value for focus adjustment from an imaging signal from an imaging element; Transmitting means for transmitting information corresponding to a vibration center and vibration amplitude to the lens device in order to vibrate the focus lens, and the focus lens at a position corresponding to a focal point detected using the evaluation value. Camera control means for transmitting a drive command for movement to the lens apparatus, camera control means capable of instructing control of a wobbling operation for vibrating the focus lens in the optical axis direction with a predetermined amplitude, and the lens apparatus. Acquisition means for acquiring data corresponding to an image magnification change amount with respect to a movement amount of the focus lens. The camera control unit determines a first direction in which the evaluation value increases due to the wobbling operation, and moves the focus lens vibration center in the determined first direction with respect to a movement amount of the focus lens. When the image magnification change amount is larger than the second change amount and less than or equal to the first change amount, the vibration center is moved in the first direction in the first mode, and when less than the second change amount. Control is performed to move the vibration center in the first direction in the second mode, and further, control is performed so as to limit the movement of the vibration center when larger than the first change amount. In the first mode, the amount of movement when the focus lens moves in the direction opposite to the first direction is smaller than the predetermined amplitude. In the second mode, the focus lens is moved to the first mode. The amount of movement when moving in the direction corresponding to the direction of 1 is larger than the predetermined amplitude.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to control the automatic focus adjustment operation in which the influence of the image magnification change is not noticeable on the screen and the performance is hardly deteriorated.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a video camera in order to explain the first embodiment of the present invention in conjunction with FIGS. FIG. 4A is a diagram for explaining a TVAF evaluation value, and FIG. 4B is a diagram for explaining a wobbling operation. It is a flowchart which shows the process example which concerns on TVAF control. It is a flowchart explaining the example of a switching process of a micro drive system. It is a flowchart explaining the process example which concerns on the micro drive of a subtraction method. It is a flowchart explaining the process example concerning the micro drive of an addition system. It is a figure explaining a micro drive. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the first half of the process in order to explain hill-climbing driving with FIG. 9. It is a flowchart which shows the second half part of the process following FIG. It is explanatory drawing of hill-climbing drive. FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an example of switching processing of a minute driving method in order to explain the second embodiment of the present invention together with FIGS. It is a flowchart explaining the processing example of a micro drive. It is explanatory drawing of micro drive operation | movement. FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the first half of a processing example related to TVAF control in order to explain the third embodiment of the present invention together with FIGS. It is a flowchart which shows the second half part of the process following FIG. It is a flowchart explaining the process example which concerns on a micro drive.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a video camera as an imaging apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The imaging apparatus includes a detachable lens unit 117 and a camera unit 118 as a main body unit that is used by being mounted. In other words, the lens unit 117 is detachable from the camera unit 118, and constitutes a so-called interchangeable lens system.
Light from the subject passes through a fixed first group lens 101, a movable second group lens 102, a diaphragm 103, a fixed third group lens 104, and a movable fourth group lens 105 in the lens unit 117. The image is formed on the image sensor 106. The second group lens 102 performs a zooming operation. The fourth group lens (hereinafter referred to as a focus lens) 105 has both a focus adjustment function and a compensation function for correcting movement of the focal plane due to zooming.

The imaging element 106 is a photoelectric conversion element configured by a CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) sensor or the like. The image signal photoelectrically converted by the image sensor 106 is amplified to an optimum level by the amplifier 107 and then output to the camera signal processing unit 108. The camera signal processing unit 108 performs various image processing on the output signal of the amplifier 107 to generate a video signal. The display unit 109 is configured by a liquid crystal display device (LCD) or the like, and displays an image according to the video signal from the camera signal processing unit 108. The recording unit 110 records the video signal from the camera signal processing unit 108 on a recording medium such as a semiconductor memory.
The TVAF gate 113 has a function of passing only signals in a region used for focus detection out of output signals of all pixels from the amplifier 107. The TVAF signal processing unit 114 is an evaluation value generating unit that extracts a high-frequency component from a signal passed through the TVAF gate 113 as a signal necessary for automatic focus adjustment control, generates a TVAF evaluation value signal, and outputs the TVAF evaluation value signal to the camera control unit 116. is there. The TVAF evaluation value signal represents the sharpness (contrast state) of an image generated based on the output signal of the image sensor 106. Since the sharpness changes depending on the focus state of the imaging optical system, the value (TVAF evaluation value) indicated by the TVAF evaluation value signal is focus adjustment information indicating the focus state of the imaging optical system. FIG. 2A is a graph illustrating the relationship between the position of the focus lens 105 on the horizontal axis and the TVAF evaluation value on the vertical axis. The position of the focus lens 105 when the TVAF evaluation value reaches a peak (hereinafter referred to as the peak position) corresponds to the focal point.
A camera control unit 116 as a control unit controls the operation of the entire video camera. The camera control unit 116 controls the TVAF gate 113 so as to set the TVAF frame at a predetermined ratio with respect to the imaging screen, and performs TVAF control based on the TVAF evaluation value acquired from the TVAF signal processing unit 114. A driving command for the focus lens 105 by the camera control unit 116 is transmitted to the lens control unit 115.

FIG. 1 shows a driving unit and its control unit in the lens unit 117.
The zoom drive unit 111 drives the second group lens 102, and the focus drive unit 112 drives the focus lens 105. The zoom drive unit 111 and the focus drive unit 112 are configured using an actuator such as a stepping motor, a DC motor, a vibration motor, or a voice coil motor. The lens control unit 115 receives a drive command for the focus lens 105 from the camera control unit 116, controls the focus drive unit 112, and adjusts the focus by moving the focus lens 105 in the optical axis direction. In addition, the lens control unit 115 transmits the position information of the focus lens 105 acquired from the focus driving unit 112 to the camera control unit 116.

Next, TVAF control by the camera control unit 116 will be described with reference to FIGS. This TVAF control is executed according to a computer program stored in the camera control unit 116.
In FIG. 3, the process starts in S401, and in S402, a minute driving operation for driving the focus lens 105 at a minute interval is performed. The minute driving operation corresponds to a first mode in which the camera control unit 116 performs center movement for moving the vibration center of the focus lens in the in-focus direction detected from the change in the TVAF evaluation value. With this operation, it is possible to determine the in-focus state, that is, whether or not it is in the in-focus state, and in which direction the in-focus point is when it is not in the in-focus state. Details of the operation description will be described later with reference to FIG. S403 is a determination process for determining whether or not the focus has been determined. If the focus has been determined, the process proceeds to S408. On the other hand, if the in-focus determination has not been made, the process proceeds to S404. S404 is a determination process for determining whether or not the direction can be determined. If the direction can be determined, the process proceeds to S405 and hill-climbing driving is performed. When the direction cannot be determined, the process returns to S402.
In S405, the hill-climbing drive of the focus lens 105 is executed at a predetermined speed along the determined direction. The hill-climbing drive corresponds to a second mode in which the camera control unit 116 moves the focus lens to search for the peak value of the evaluation value and moves the focus lens to a position corresponding to the in-focus point. A process of searching for the peak position of the focus lens 105 is performed by associating the TVAF evaluation value with the focus lens position acquired from the lens control unit 115, and details thereof will be described later with reference to FIG. In step S <b> 406, the camera control unit 116 communicates with the lens control unit 115 to return the focus lens 105 to the focus lens position (peak position) where the TVAF evaluation value during the hill-climbing driving operation shows a peak value. In step S407, the camera control unit 116 communicates with the lens control unit 115 to acquire position information of the focus lens 105, and determines whether the focus lens 105 has returned to the peak position. When it is determined that the focus lens 105 has returned to the peak position, the process returns to S402 and the minute driving operation is performed again. If it is determined that the focus lens 105 has not returned to the peak position, the process returns to S406 and the operation of returning to the peak position is continued.

Next, the focus stop / restart determination process after S408 will be described.
In step S408, the camera control unit 116 acquires a TVAF evaluation value, and in step S409, the camera control unit 116 communicates with the lens control unit 115 to move the focus lens 105 to the focus lens position determined to be in focus. In S410, the camera control unit 116 acquires the position information of the focus lens 105 from the lens control unit 115, and determines whether or not the focus lens 105 has moved to the peak position corresponding to the focal point of TVAF control. If the focus lens 105 has moved to the peak position corresponding to the focal point, the process proceeds to S411, and if not, the process returns to S408. In step S411, the camera control unit 116 stops the focus lens at the peak position corresponding to the focal point, holds the TVAF evaluation value at the focal point, and acquires a new TVAF evaluation value from the TVAF signal processing unit 114 in step S412. In S413, by comparing the TVAF evaluation value held in S411 with the latest TVAF evaluation value acquired in S412, it is determined whether or not the variation range of the TVAF evaluation value is larger than the threshold value. If the variation range of the TVAF evaluation value is larger than the threshold value, the camera control unit 116 determines that the subject has been changed, and returns to S402 to restart the minute driving operation. If the fluctuation range of the TVAF evaluation value is equal to or smaller than the threshold value, the process returns to S412.

Next, the minute driving operation will be described with reference to FIG.
In step S501, the process starts. In step S502, the camera control unit 116 calculates the vibration amplitude and center movement amplitude of the minute drive according to the depth of focus determined by the diaphragm, the zoom position, and the like. The vibration amplitude is a vibration amplitude when driving control is performed by vibrating the focus lens 105 during the wobbling operation. The center movement amplitude is the movement width of the vibration center when the vibration center of the focus lens 105 is changed. When the change in image magnification is large, the following control switching process is performed so that the appearance on the screen due to the influence of minute driving does not matter. In step S <b> 503, the camera control unit 116 transmits allowable confusion circle diameter data determined by the pixel pitch of the image sensor 106 to the lens control unit 115, and receives image magnification change data per depth of focus from the lens control unit 115. . In S512, when the TVAF evaluation value is small, the camera control unit 116 increases the predetermined threshold value th of the image magnification change amount. The reason is that when the subject image is largely blurred (the degree of focus is low), the change in the image magnification is not a problem. In step S504, the camera control unit 116 determines the minute driving method according to the vibration amplitude and the center movement amplitude determined in step S502 and the image magnification change data per depth of focus acquired in step S503. Here, FIG. 7 shows a state where the wobbling operation is performed in the vicinity of the focal point. Although detailed description of control will be given later, in the wobbling operation, the focus lens is constantly vibrated in the direction of the optical axis and the center of vibration is moved in the in-focus direction to repeat the operation of returning too far from the focal point. . The amount of change in image magnification caused by the difference between the lens position when the focus lens is at the closest position and the infinite position in the vibration near the focal point is the ratio of the difference of the focus lens position to the focal depth. Can be obtained. The region between the closest dotted line and the infinity dotted line shown in FIG. 7 corresponds to the difference in lens position between when the focus lens is at the closest position and when it is at the most infinite position. To do.

  In S504 of FIG. 4, three types of branching processes are executed according to the determination result. The first threshold value used for the determination process below is called threshold value 1, the second threshold value is called threshold value 2, and threshold value 1 <threshold value 2. The amount of change in image magnification with respect to the difference in position between when the focus lens is closest and when it is infinite in vibration near the focal point is larger than the threshold 1, and the appearance of the captured image due to the influence of minute driving is a problem. If so (see “(> Threshold 1)”), the process proceeds to S505. In step S <b> 505, the camera control unit 116 performs minute driving using the first driving method (hereinafter referred to as a subtraction method). Details of the minute driving by the subtraction method will be described later. Further, the amount of change in image magnification with respect to the difference between the position when the focus lens is closest and the position when it is infinite in vibration near the in-focus point is compared with the threshold 2. When the change amount of the image magnification is larger than the threshold value 2 and the appearance of the captured image due to the influence of minute driving becomes more problematic (see “(> Threshold value 2)”), the process proceeds to S513, and the camera control unit 116 determines the center movement amplitude. The process proceeds to step S505, and minute driving is performed by a subtraction method. On the other hand, the amount of change in image magnification with respect to the difference in position between when the focus lens is closest and infinite when vibration occurs in the vicinity of the in-focus point is less than or equal to the threshold 1, and how the captured image appears due to the influence of minute driving If there is no problem, the process proceeds to S506. The camera control unit 116 performs minute driving by a second driving method (hereinafter referred to as an addition method). Details of the minute driving by the addition method will be described later. As described above, in the present embodiment, the subtraction method is used when the change in the image magnification with respect to the difference in position between the closest focus lens and the most infinite lens in the vibration near the focal point is large. On the other hand, when the change in the image magnification with respect to the difference in position between when the focus lens is closest to the infinite point in vibration near the in-focus point is small, the addition method is used. Thereby, when the image magnification change is large, it is possible to suppress the influence on the appearance of the photographed image due to the difference in position between when the focus lens is closest and infinite when vibration occurs near the focal point.

After the processing of S505 and S506, the process proceeds to S507, and the camera control unit 116 determines whether or not the directions determined as the in-focus directions are the same for a predetermined number of times. If it is determined that the in-focus direction is the same for a predetermined number of times or more, the process proceeds to S508. If not, the process proceeds to S509. In step S509, the camera control unit 116 determines whether or not the focus lens 105 has reciprocated in the same area for a predetermined number of times. If the focus lens 105 repeats reciprocation within the same area for a predetermined number of times, the process proceeds to S510, and if not, the process returns to S502.
In step S508, the camera control unit 116 determines that the direction has been determined and proceeds to step S511, ends the processing, and shifts to hill-climbing driving. In step S510, the camera control unit 116 determines that the in-focus determination has been made. The process advances to step S511 to end the process, and the process proceeds to restart determination.
In this embodiment, when the change in image magnification with respect to the difference in position between when the focus lens is at the closest point and when it is at the most infinite in vibration near the in-focus point, the amplitude is subtracted by a subtraction method described later. A minute driving operation for realizing the center movement is performed. Further, when the change in image magnification is small, a minute driving operation for realizing center movement is performed by adding amplitude by an addition method described later. By switching the driving method, when the image magnification change is large, it is possible to reduce the influence of the change in the focus state on the screen due to the minute driving. Also, when the change in image magnification with respect to the difference in position between when the focus lens is closest and infinite is small in vibration in the vicinity of the in-focus point, it is possible to realize AF performance that does not impair responsiveness.

Next, a minute driving operation by the subtraction method will be described with reference to FIG.
In step S601, the process starts. In step S602, the camera control unit 116 determines whether the current value of the variable Mode is zero. Mode is an internal variable that represents the difference in control state from 0 to 3. If the value is zero, the process proceeds to S603, and if it is not zero, the process proceeds to S606.
In step S <b> 603, the camera control unit 116 stores the TVAF evaluation value as the infinity side TVAF evaluation value. As will be described later, this TVAF evaluation value is an evaluation value based on charges accumulated by the image sensor 106 while the focus lens 105 stays on the infinity side when the Mode value is 1. In S604, 1 is added to the Mode value, and the process proceeds to S605 to end the process. When the Mode value becomes 4, it returns to 0.
In step S606, the camera control unit 116 determines whether or not the current Mode value is 1. If it is 1, the process proceeds to step S607, and executes processing for driving the focus lens 105 to the infinity side. If the current Mode value is other than 1, the process proceeds to S612. In S607, the infinity-side TVAF evaluation value when the Mode value is 0 is compared with the close-side TVAF evaluation value when the Mode value is 2. If the near side TVAF evaluation value is larger than the infinity side TVAF evaluation value, the process proceeds to S608, and if the near side TVAF evaluation value is equal to or less than the infinity side TVAF evaluation value, the process proceeds to S609.

In step S <b> 608, the camera control unit 116 sets “drive amplitude = vibration amplitude−center movement amplitude”, and restricts the drive amplitude during center movement to less than the amplitude during vibration. That is, the center movement in the closest direction is performed by reducing the drive amount of the focus lens 105 in the infinity direction. As a result, the drive amplitude at the time of minute driving can be limited, so that focus adjustment control in which a change in focus state due to minute driving does not appear on the screen becomes possible. In step S610, the camera control unit 116 deletes the history information of the TVAF evaluation value, and determines the next center movement using the TVAF evaluation value acquired after the center movement of the minute drive. Then, the process proceeds to S611.
In step S609, the camera control unit 116 sets “drive amplitude = vibration amplitude”, and proceeds to step S611. In step S611, the camera control unit 116 transmits a drive command to the lens control unit 115 to drive the focus lens 105 in the infinity direction according to the drive amplitude determined in step S608 or S609. Then, the process proceeds to S604.
If it is determined in S606 that the current Mode value is not 1, the process proceeds to S612, and the camera control unit 116 determines whether or not the current Mode value is 2. If the current Mode value is 2, the process proceeds to S613. Otherwise, the process proceeds to S614. In step S613, the camera control unit 116 stores the captured TVAF evaluation value as the closest TVAF evaluation value. This TVAF evaluation value is calculated on the basis of a video signal created from charges accumulated in the image sensor 106 while the focus lens 105 stays on the closest side when the Mode value is 3. Next, in S604, 1 is added to the Mode value. At that time, when the Mode value becomes 4, it returns to 0. Then, the process proceeds to S605, and the process ends.

On the other hand, after S614, processing for driving the focus lens 105 in the closest direction is executed. In S614, the infinity-side TVAF evaluation value (see S603) when the Mode value is zero is compared with the close-side TVAF evaluation value (see S613) when the Mode value is 2. If the infinity-side TVAF evaluation value is larger than the close-side TVAF evaluation value, the process proceeds to S615. If the infinity-side TVAF evaluation value is equal to or less than the close-side TVAF evaluation value, the process proceeds to S616.
In S615, the camera control unit 116 sets “drive amplitude = vibration amplitude−center movement amplitude”. That is, the center movement in the infinity direction is performed by reducing the drive amount in the close direction. As a result, the driving amplitude at the time of micro driving can be limited, so that focus adjustment control can be performed so that a change in focus state due to micro driving cannot be seen on the screen at a shallow focus depth. In next step S617, the camera control unit 116 deletes the history information of the TVAF evaluation value, and determines the next center movement according to the TVAF evaluation value acquired after the center movement of the minute driving operation. On the other hand, in S616, the camera control unit 116 sets “drive amplitude = vibration amplitude”. After S616 or S617, the process proceeds to S618, and the camera control unit 116 transmits a drive command to the lens control unit 115 in order to drive the focus lens 105 in the closest direction according to the drive amplitude determined in S615 or S616. Then, the process proceeds to S604.

FIG. 7A illustrates the time passage for the focus lens operation. The horizontal axis represents time, the vertical axis represents the focus lens position, and one period of the vertical synchronization signal of the image sensor 106 is defined as a unit time. Here, EV _A , EV _B and EV _C indicate TVAF evaluation values.
The TVAF evaluation value EV _A for the charge accumulated in the image sensor 106 during the first period (see the hatched ellipse) is taken into the camera control unit 116 at time T _A. Next, the TVAF evaluation value EV _B for the charge accumulated in the image sensor 106 during the second period is taken into the camera control unit 116 at time T _B. Furthermore, the TVAF evaluation value EV _C for the charge accumulated in the image sensor 106 during the third period is taken into the camera control unit 116 at time T _C. Then, after time T _C , the TVAF evaluation values EV _A , EV _B , EV _C are compared. When it is determined that “EV _B > EV _A ” and “EV _B > EV _C ”, the camera control unit 116 performs drive control to move the vibration center. If this condition is not satisfied, the camera control unit 116 moves the vibration center. I won't let you. After moving the vibration center, the camera control unit 116 vibrates the focus lens 105 before and after the new center position, newly acquires the TVAF evaluation value, and determines the center movement. The feature of this method is that the maximum drive amplitude remains at the vibration amplitude, and the center lens movement also vibrates the focus lens 105 back and forth at that position and newly takes in the TVAF evaluation value. is there. In this example, the difference in position between the closest point and the infinite point in vibration near the focal point is 3 · Fδ / 4.

Next, the minute driving operation by the addition method will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Note that the processing from S702 to S705 is the same as S602 to S605 in FIG. 6 is the same as S606 in FIG. 5, and the processing in S711 and S712 in FIG. 6 is the same as S612 and S613 in FIG. Therefore, the processing of S707 to 710 and S713 to 716 that are different from those in FIG. 5 will be mainly described below.
In S701, the process starts. In S702, when it is determined that the current Mode value is not zero, and when it is determined in S706 that the current Mode value is 1, the process proceeds to S707. In S707, the infinity-side TVAF evaluation value (see S703) and the close-side TVAF evaluation value (see S712) are compared. If the infinity-side TVAF evaluation value is larger than the close-side TVAF evaluation value, the process proceeds to S708. If the infinity-side TVAF evaluation value is equal to or less than the close-side TVAF evaluation value, the process proceeds to S709. In step S <b> 708, the camera control unit 116 sets “drive amplitude = vibration amplitude + center movement amplitude”, that is, the drive amplitude at the time of center movement is equal to or greater than the amplitude at the time of vibration, and increases the drive amount in the infinity direction to increase to infinity Move the center in the direction. In step S <b> 709, the camera control unit 116 sets “drive amplitude = vibration amplitude”. Following S708 and S709, the process proceeds to S710, and the camera control unit 116 transmits a drive command to the lens control unit 115 to drive the focus lens 105 in the infinity direction according to the drive amplitude determined in S708 or S709. In step S704, 1 is added to the Mode value.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S706 that the current Mode value is other than 1, the process proceeds to S711. If it is determined that the current Mode value is not 2, the process proceeds to S713. In S713, the infinity side TVAF evaluation value (see S703) and the near side TVAF evaluation value (see S712) are compared. When the near side TVAF evaluation value is larger than the infinity side TVAF evaluation value, the process proceeds to S714, and when the near side TVAF evaluation value is equal to or less than the infinity side TVAF evaluation value, the process proceeds to S715. In step S <b> 714, the camera control unit 116 sets “drive amplitude = vibration amplitude + center movement amplitude”, and performs center movement in the close direction by increasing the drive amount in the close direction. In step S715, the camera control unit 116 sets “drive amplitude = vibration amplitude”. After S714 or S715, in S716, the camera control unit 116 transmits a drive command to the lens control unit 115 to drive the focus lens 105 in the closest direction according to the drive amplitude determined in S714 or S715.

FIG. 7B illustrates the time course of the focus lens operation. The setting of the horizontal axis and the vertical axis is the same as that in FIG. The TVAF evaluation values EV _A , EV _B , EV _C are taken into the camera control unit 116 at times T _A , T _B , T _C , respectively. After time T _C , EV _A , EV _B , EV _C comparison processing is performed. The camera control unit 116 moves the vibration center when “EV _A > EV _B ” and “EV _C > EV _B ”, and does not move the vibration center when this condition is not satisfied. In this method, the maximum drive amplitude is “vibration amplitude + center movement amplitude”, and the center movement is continuously performed. For this reason, when the focus lens 105 is continuously moved in the same direction, the focus can be quickly adjusted. In this example, the difference in position between the closest position and the infinite position in the vicinity of the focal point is Fδ.

Next, the hill-climbing driving operation will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.
In step S901, the process starts. In step S902, the camera control unit 116 acquires a TVAF evaluation value. In step S <b> 903, the camera control unit 116 communicates with the lens control unit 115 and acquires position information of the focus lens 105. In step S904, the camera control unit 116 sets a hill climbing driving speed. Note that a setting process is performed in which the driving speed is reduced when the depth of focus is shallow, and is increased when the depth of focus is deep. As a result, the amount of change in blur becomes substantially constant, and there is no sense of discomfort.
In step S905, the camera control unit 116 compares the TVAF evaluation value captured in step S902 with the previous TVAF evaluation value. It is determined whether or not the difference between the TVAF evaluation value this time and the previous time is smaller than a predetermined amount (threshold value). If the current TVAF evaluation value is smaller by a predetermined amount than the previous time, the process proceeds to S912 in FIG. 9, and if not, the process proceeds to S906. Here, the predetermined amount is a determination reference value determined in consideration of an S / N (signal-to-noise) ratio related to the TVAF evaluation value, and the TVAF evaluation value is obtained under the condition that the subject is fixed and the focus lens position is fixed. It is set to a value greater than the fluctuation range. If this setting is not made, it will be affected by fluctuations in the TVAF evaluation value, and hill-climbing driving cannot be performed in the correct direction.

S906 is processing for determining whether or not the focus lens 105 has reached the infinite end. The infinite end is the end position closest to infinity in the movable range of the focus lens 105 determined by design. If the focus lens 105 has reached the infinite end, the process proceeds to S907, and if not, the process proceeds to S908.
S908 is processing for determining whether or not the focus lens 105 has reached the closest end. The closest end is the end position closest to the movable range of the focus lens 105 determined by design. If the focus lens 105 has reached the close end, the process proceeds to S909, and if not, the process proceeds to S910 in FIG. In S907 and 909, a flag for storing the ends where the driving directions are reversed is set. After the infinite end flag is set in S907 and the closest end flag is set in S909, the process proceeds to S914 in FIG. In S914, the focus lens 105 continues to be hill-climbed with its driving direction reversed in the reverse direction.
In S910, the camera control unit 116 determines to perform hill-climbing driving of the focus lens 105 at the speed determined in S904 in the same forward direction as the previous time. In step S911, the camera control unit 116 transmits the determined drive command to the lens control unit 115, and then returns to step S902 to continue the processing.

S912 is a process for determining whether or not the TVAF evaluation value has decreased beyond the peak. If the TVAF evaluation value has not decreased beyond the peak, the process proceeds to S913. On the other hand, if the focus lens 105 exceeds the peak position and the TVAF evaluation value decreases, the process proceeds to S915 to end the hill-climbing drive. Then, the process proceeds to S916, where a series of processing is terminated, and the process proceeds to a minute driving operation. In S913, it is determined whether or not the TVAF evaluation value continuously decreases over a predetermined number of times. If it is determined that the predetermined number of consecutive decreases, the process proceeds to S914. Otherwise, the process proceeds to S910.
In step S914, the camera control unit 116 determines to perform hill-climbing driving of the focus lens 105 at the speed determined in step S904 in the opposite direction to the previous time. Then, the process proceeds to S911, and the drive command determined in S914 is transmitted to the lens control unit 115.

FIG. 10 illustrates the movement of the focus lens 105 during the hill-climbing driving operation. In A in the figure, since the TVAF evaluation value decreases beyond the peak value, the camera control unit 116 determines that the lens position has passed the peak position corresponding to the focal point, ends the hill-climbing driving operation, and is minute. Shift to drive operation. On the other hand, in B, the TVAF evaluation value decreases without finding the peak value, so the camera control unit 116 reverses the driving direction and continues the hill-climbing driving operation.
As described above, the focus lens 105 moves while repeating “restart determination → micro drive → mountain climbing drive → micro drive → restart determination”. Then, the imaging apparatus performs focus adjustment control so that the TVAF evaluation value always becomes a peak value, and maintains the in-focus state.
According to the first embodiment, in the interchangeable lens system, the camera unit receives data indicating the amount of change in image magnification from the lens unit, and switches the driving method of minute driving according to the data. Thereby, it is possible to realize an automatic focus adjustment operation in which a change in image magnification is not noticeable and performance degradation is suppressed.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The configuration of the imaging apparatus according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. Therefore, about the component which concerns on 2nd Embodiment, the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted by using the code | symbol used in 1st Embodiment, and a difference is demonstrated below. Note that such a way of omitting the description also applies to another embodiment to be described later.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining the control of the minute driving operation in the AF control performed by the camera control unit 116 according to the second embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. 4 in the case of the first embodiment. Other operations are the same as those described with reference to FIGS.
In step S1101, the process starts. In step S1102, the camera control unit 116 calculates the vibration amplitude and the center movement amplitude according to the depth of focus determined by the aperture, the zoom position, and the like. In step S <b> 1103, the camera control unit 116 communicates with the lens control unit 115, and transmits allowable confusion circle diameter data determined by the pixel pitch of the image sensor 106 to the lens control unit 115. In addition, the camera control unit 116 acquires image magnification change data per depth of focus from the lens control unit 115. In step S <b> 1112, the camera control unit 116 increases the predetermined threshold th for image magnification change when the TVAF evaluation value is small. The reason is that when the subject image is largely blurred (the degree of focus is low), the change in the image magnification is not a problem.

In step S <b> 1104, the camera control unit 116 determines the micro drive method according to the vibration amplitude and the center movement amplitude determined in step S <b> 1102 and the image magnification change data per depth of focus acquired in step S <b> 1103. Here, the state of the wobbling operation in the vicinity of the in-focus state is shown in FIG. The change in image magnification caused by the difference in position between when the focus lens is at the closest position and when it is at the infinite position in the vibration in the vicinity of the focal point in this figure is obtained by the ratio of the difference in the lens position with respect to the focal depth. In the present embodiment, the first drive method (hereinafter referred to as “vibration-less minute drive”) and the second drive method are switched. In other words, if the amount of change in image magnification with respect to the difference in position between when the focus lens is closest and infinite when vibration is in the vicinity of the in-focus point is larger than the threshold value, and the appearance due to micro-drive becomes a problem, go to S1106. The vibrationless micro drive is performed. Details of the vibration-less micro drive will be described later with reference to FIG. On the other hand, if the image magnification change amount with respect to the difference in position between when the focus lens is closest and infinite when vibration is in the vicinity of the in-focus point is equal to or less than the threshold value and the appearance due to minute driving does not matter, S1105. Proceed to In S1105, minute driving is performed by the above-described addition method. In this embodiment, the addition method is adopted as the second drive method, but the subtraction method may be used depending on the specification. As described above, the driving method is switched depending on whether or not the amount of change in image magnification with respect to the difference in position between when the focus lens is closest and when it is infinite in vibration near the in-focus point is larger than a threshold value. . Thereby, when the image magnification change is large, it is possible to suppress the focus state change that affects the screen. However, in this case, since only a change in the TVAF evaluation value due to the movement of the focus lens in one direction can be obtained, the certainty of direction determination is lower than in the case where the focus lens 105 is vibrated in both directions. On the other hand, if the change in image magnification with respect to the difference in position between when the focus lens is closest and infinite is small in vibration near the focal point, the change in TVAF evaluation value in both the front and rear directions is acquired by vibration. Therefore, more reliable AF control can be realized.
It progresses to S1107 after S1105 and S1106. The processing of S1107 to 1111 is the same as the processing described in S507 to 511 of FIG. 4, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

Next, a vibration-less minute driving operation will be described with reference to FIG.
In step S1201, the process starts. In step S1202, the camera control unit 116 controls the TVAF gate 113 to set a TVAF frame, and acquires a TVAF evaluation value from the TVAF signal processing unit 114. In step S1203, the camera control unit 116 compares the TVAF evaluation value captured in step S1202 with the previous TVAF evaluation value. If the current TVAF evaluation value is larger than the previous TVAF evaluation value, the process proceeds to S1204. If the current TVAF evaluation value is less than or equal to the previous TVAF evaluation value, the process proceeds to S1205. In step S1204, the camera control unit 116 transmits a drive command for driving the focus lens 105 by a predetermined amount in the same forward direction as the previous time to the lens control unit 115. On the other hand, in step S <b> 1205, the camera control unit 116 transmits a driving command for driving the focus lens 105 by a predetermined amount in a direction opposite to the previous time to the lens control unit 115. After S1204 and S1205, the process proceeds to the return process of S1206.

FIG. 13 illustrates the time course of the focus lens operation, with the horizontal axis indicating time and the vertical axis indicating the focus lens position. TVAF evaluation values EV _A for electric charge accumulated in the imaging device 106 during a first time period is taken at time _{T A,} TVAF evaluation value EV _B to the charge accumulated in the image pickup device 106 in the second period time It is incorporated in the T _B. After the time T _B , the camera control unit 116 compares the TVAF evaluation values EV _A and EV _B , and if EV _A <EV _B , moves the focus lens 105 in the forward direction, and if EV _A > EV _B For example, the focus lens 105 is moved in the reverse direction. Here, the driving amount of the focus lens 105 is such an amount that an imaging change on the screen cannot be visually recognized due to the movement of the focus in one movement, and is determined based on the depth of focus. In this method, only the change in the TVAF evaluation value when the focus lens 105 is moved in one direction can be obtained without oscillating the focus lens 105. Therefore, the direction determination is more reliable than when the focus lens 105 is oscillated in both directions. Is low. In addition, the difference in position between when the focus lens is closest to the infinite point in vibration near the focal point does not change, but since the focus lens 105 is not vibrated, there is an advantage that change in image magnification is not noticeable. .
In the second embodiment, in addition to the effect of the first embodiment, the image magnification change amount with respect to the difference in position between when the focus lens is closest and infinite when vibration occurs in the vicinity of the in-focus point is more than the threshold value. If it is large, switch to vibration-less micro drive. Thereby, it is possible to realize an AF operation in which the influence of the image magnification change is not noticeable.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.
TVAF control performed by the camera control unit 116 of the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15 correspond to FIG. 3 described in the first embodiment, and FIG. 16 corresponds to FIG. The rest is the same as in the case of the first embodiment.
Processing starts in S1401 of FIG. 14, and in S1402, the camera control unit 116 calculates the vibration amplitude and the center movement amplitude according to the depth of focus determined from the aperture, the zoom position, and the like. In step S <b> 1403, the camera control unit 116 communicates with the lens control unit 115 to transmit allowable confusion circle diameter data determined by the pixel pitch of the image sensor 106 to the lens control unit 115, and the image magnification per focal depth from the lens control unit 115. Receive change data. In S1424, the camera control unit 116 increases the predetermined threshold th of the image magnification change when the TVAF evaluation value is small. The reason is that when the subject image is largely blurred (the degree of focus is low), the change in the image magnification is not a problem.

In step S <b> 1404, the camera control unit 116 determines the driving method according to the vibration amplitude and the center movement amplitude determined in step S <b> 1402 and the image magnification change data per depth of focus acquired in step S <b> 1403. The amount of change in image magnification with respect to the difference in position between when the focus lens is at the closest point and when it is at the infinite point in vibration near the focal point is the difference between when the focus lens is at the closest point and when it is at the infinite point It is determined by the ratio of position differences. If the image magnification change amount with respect to the difference in position between when the focus lens is closest and infinite is greater than the threshold value in the vibration near the in-focus point, the camera control unit 116 advances the processing to S1405. If the image magnification change amount with respect to the difference in position between when the focus lens is closest and infinite when vibration is in the vicinity of the in-focus point is equal to or smaller than the threshold, the process proceeds to S1408.
In S1405, the minute driving operation as the first mode is performed. Next, an in-focus determination is performed, and a determination process is executed as to whether or not the in-focus state is in effect, and in which direction the in-focus is in the in-focus state. That is, in S1406, the camera control unit 116 determines whether or not the focus determination has been made. If the focus determination has been made, the process proceeds to S1414. If it is determined that the in-focus determination has not been made, the process advances to step S1407. In step S1407, the camera control unit 116 determines whether the direction has been determined. If the direction can be determined, the process proceeds to S1408, and the camera control unit 116 performs hill-climbing driving as the second mode. If the direction cannot be determined in S1407, the process returns to S1405. In S1408, the camera control unit 116 performs drive control to move the focus lens 105 by hill-climbing driving at a predetermined speed in the direction determined in S1405. At that time, the TVAF evaluation value and the focus lens position acquired from the lens control unit 115 are related to search for a focus lens position (peak position) at which the TVAF evaluation value reaches a peak.

In S1409 of FIG. 15, the camera control unit 116 transmits a drive command for moving the focus lens 105 to the peak position during the hill-climbing drive operation to the lens control unit 115. In step S <b> 1410, the camera control unit 116 communicates with the lens control unit 115 and acquires position information of the focus lens 105. The camera control unit 116 determines whether or not the focus lens 105 has returned to the peak position. If the focus lens 105 has returned to the peak position, the process proceeds to S1411. Otherwise, the process returns to S1409. In step S <b> 1411, the camera control unit 116 calculates the vibration amplitude and the center movement amplitude according to the depth of focus determined from the diaphragm, the zoom position, and the like.
In the next S1412, the camera control unit 116 communicates with the lens control unit 115 to transmit allowable confusion circle diameter data determined by the pixel pitch of the image sensor 106, and the image magnification change data per depth of focus from the lens control unit 115. Receive. In step S1425, when the TVAF evaluation value is small, the camera control unit 116 increases the predetermined threshold th for changing the image magnification. The reason is that when the TVAF evaluation value is small and the subject image is largely blurred (the degree of focus is low), the change in image magnification is not a problem. In step S <b> 1413, the camera control unit 116 determines whether the image magnification change is larger than the threshold value from the vibration amplitude, the center movement amount, and the image magnification change data per depth of focus. When the amount of change in image magnification caused by the difference in position between the closest focus lens and the most infinite focus vibration is less than or equal to the threshold value in the vicinity of the focal point, the process returns to S1405 in FIG. Is called. If the amount of change in image magnification caused by the difference in position between the closest focus lens and the most infinite lens in the vicinity of the focal point exceeds the threshold, the process proceeds to S1417, and the camera control unit 116 determines that the focus lens 105 Stop. That is, in the case of vibration near the in-focus point, minute driving is prohibited when the amount of change in image magnification caused by the difference in position between when the focus lens is closest and when it is infinite is greater than the threshold.

Next, focusing stop and restart determination processing when the process proceeds from S1406 to S1414 in FIG. 14 will be described.
In step S <b> 1414, the camera control unit 116 acquires the TVAF evaluation value, and in step S <b> 1415, transmits a drive command to the lens control unit 115 to move the focus lens 105 to the focus lens position determined to be in focus. In S1416, the camera control unit 116 receives the position information of the focus lens 105 from the lens control unit 115, and determines whether or not the focus lens 105 has moved to the peak position corresponding to the in-focus point based on the TVAF evaluation value. If it is determined that the focus lens 105 has moved to the peak position, the process proceeds to S1417 in FIG. 15, but if not, the process returns to S1414. In S1417, the camera control unit 116 stops the focus lens at the peak position corresponding to the focal point, holds the TVAF evaluation value at the focal point, and acquires a new TVAF evaluation value in S1418. In step S <b> 1419, the camera control unit 116 calculates the vibration amplitude and the center movement amplitude according to the depth of focus determined by the diaphragm, the zoom position, and the like.
In step S <b> 1420, the camera control unit 116 transmits allowable confusion circle diameter data determined based on the pixel pitch of the image sensor 106 to the lens control unit 115, and receives image magnification change data per depth of focus from the lens control unit 115. In step S1426, when the TVAF evaluation value is small, the camera control unit 116 increases the predetermined threshold th for changing the image magnification. The reason is that when the TVAF evaluation value is small and the subject image is largely blurred (the degree of focus is low), the change in image magnification is not a problem. S1421 is a process of determining whether or not the image magnification change is large from the vibration amplitude, the center movement amount, and the image magnification change data per depth of focus. If the change in image magnification caused by the difference in position between when the focus lens is closest and infinite when vibration is in the vicinity of the in-focus point is greater than the threshold, the process proceeds to S1422. If the change in image magnification caused by the difference in position between the closest focus lens and the most infinite focus lens is less than or equal to the threshold in vibration near the in-focus point, the process advances to step S1423.

In step S <b> 1422, the camera control unit 116 compares the TVAF evaluation value held in step S <b> 1417 with the latest TVAF evaluation value acquired in step S <b> 1418, calculates a difference amount between the two, and obtains a change amount of the TVAF evaluation value. It is determined whether it is larger than th1. If the change amount of the TVAF evaluation value is larger than the first threshold th1 (predetermined value), the camera control unit 116 determines that the subject has been changed, returns to S1408 in FIG. 14, and performs a hill-climbing drive operation. If the change amount of the TVAF evaluation value is equal to or smaller than the first threshold value, the process returns to S1418.
In step S <b> 1423, the camera control unit 116 compares the TVAF evaluation value held in step S <b> 1417 with the latest TVAF evaluation value acquired in step S <b> 1418, calculates a difference amount between the two, and obtains a change amount of the TVAF evaluation value. It is determined whether it is larger than th2. When the change amount of the TVAF evaluation value is larger than the second threshold th2 (predetermined value), the camera control unit 116 determines that the subject has been changed, and returns to S1405 in FIG. 14 to perform a minute driving operation. If the change amount of the TVAF evaluation value is equal to or smaller than the second threshold value, the process returns to S1418. Here, the first threshold value and the second threshold value are set to have a relationship of “th1> th2”. In other words, when the image magnification change is large, the hill-climbing drive operation is performed only when the subject surely changes, whereas when the image magnification change is small, the minute drive operation is performed when there is a possibility that the subject has changed even a little. Done. As a result, when the change in image magnification is large, minute driving can be prohibited and the frequency of restart can be reduced, and the focus lens 105 can be moved carelessly so that the change in image magnification is not noticeable.

Next, the minute driving operation will be described with reference to FIG.
In step S1501, the process starts, and in step S1502, the camera control unit 116 calculates the vibration amplitude and the center movement amplitude according to the depth of focus determined by the aperture, the zoom position, and the like. In step S1503, the camera control unit 116 performs minute driving using the addition method. Note that, depending on the specifications, fine driving by a subtraction method may be adopted. The processing from S1504 to S1508 is the same as the processing from S507 to S511 in FIG. 4, and thus the description thereof is omitted.
According to the third embodiment, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, when the image magnification change is large, the minute drive is prohibited and the frequency of restart is reduced, so that the influence of the image magnification change is not noticeable. Operation can be realized.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 105 Focus lens 106 Image pick-up element 112 Focus drive part 114 TVAF signal processing part 115 Lens control part 116 Camera control part 117 Lens unit 118 Camera unit

Claims (23)

An imaging device capable of communicating with a lens device having a focus lens,
Signal processing means for generating an evaluation value for focus adjustment from an image pickup signal by the image pickup device;
Transmitting means for transmitting information corresponding to the vibration center and vibration amplitude to the lens device to vibrate the focus lens;
Camera control means for transmitting a drive command for moving the focus lens to a position corresponding to a focal point detected using the evaluation value to the lens device, wherein the focus lens has a predetermined amplitude in the optical axis direction. Camera control means capable of instructing control of a wobbling operation that vibrates,
Acquisition means for acquiring data corresponding to the amount of change in image magnification with respect to the amount of movement of the focus lens from the lens device;
The camera control unit determines a first direction in which the evaluation value increases due to the wobbling operation, and moves the focus lens vibration center in the determined first direction with respect to a movement amount of the focus lens. When the image magnification change amount is larger than the second change amount and less than or equal to the first change amount, the vibration center is moved in the first direction in the first mode, and when less than the second change amount. Control to move the vibration center in the first direction in the second mode, and further control to limit the movement of the vibration center when larger than the first change amount,
In the first mode, the amount of movement when the focus lens moves in the direction opposite to the first direction is smaller than the predetermined amplitude. In the second mode, the focus lens is moved to the first mode. An image pickup apparatus, wherein an amount of movement when moving in a direction corresponding to one direction is greater than the predetermined amplitude.   The second change amount indicates a threshold value, and the camera control unit increases the amplitude of the vibration when an image magnification change amount with respect to a movement amount of the focus lens is equal to or less than the threshold value. The imaging device described in 1.   When the camera control means determines that the amount of change in image magnification relative to the amount of movement of the focus lens near the focal point is greater than the second amount of change, the drive amplitude during center movement is limited to less than the amplitude during vibration. The first drive method is changed to the first drive method, and when it is determined that the change amount is equal to or smaller than the second change amount, the second drive method is set such that the drive amplitude at the time of center movement is set to be equal to or larger than the amplitude at the time of vibration. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.   When the camera control means is changed to the first drive system, the camera movement means subtracts the center movement amplitude, which is the movement width of the vibration center, from the amplitude at the time of vibration, and when changed to the second drive system, the camera control means The imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a process of adding the center movement amplitude to a time amplitude is performed.   When the camera control unit determines that the amount of change in image magnification with respect to the amount of movement of the focus lens in the vicinity of the in-focus point is greater than a threshold value, the driving direction is determined by comparing the previous evaluation value with the current evaluation value. The imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the focus lens is moved by a predetermined amount in the determined direction. When the camera control unit determines that the image magnification change amount with respect to the movement amount of the focus lens in the vicinity of the in-focus point is larger than a threshold value, the camera control unit moves the focus lens without vibrating in the optical axis direction. The focus direction is detected from the change in the evaluation value, the drive direction of the focus lens is determined, and drive control is performed.
When it is determined that the image magnification change amount with respect to the movement amount of the focus lens in the vicinity of the in-focus point is equal to or less than the threshold value, the in-focus direction is determined from the change in the evaluation value when the focus lens is vibrated in the optical axis direction. 6. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a drive control is performed to move the vibration center of the focus lens in the detected in-focus direction.   The camera control means performs control to move the focus lens to a position corresponding to the in-focus position after the focus determination when the image magnification change amount with respect to the focus lens movement amount in the vicinity of the in-focus position is larger than a threshold value. When the evaluation value is acquired from the signal processing means and the difference between the evaluation value and the previously acquired evaluation value is determined to be less than or equal to a threshold value, vibration or movement of the focus lens is prohibited. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the image pickup apparatus is an image pickup apparatus.   The camera control means transmits allowable confusion circle data to the lens device, and receives data indicating an image magnification change amount per depth of focus calculated from the allowable confusion circle data from the lens device. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein Signal processing means for generating an evaluation value for focus adjustment from an image pickup signal from the image pickup device, and a drive command for moving the focus lens to a position corresponding to the in-focus point detected using the evaluation value are transmitted to the lens apparatus. A camera control unit that is capable of communicating with an imaging apparatus having a camera control unit capable of instructing control of a wobbling operation that vibrates the focus lens in a direction of an optical axis with a predetermined amplitude;
Transmission means for periodically transmitting data corresponding to an image magnification change amount with respect to a movement amount of the focus lens to the imaging device;
Lens control for periodically receiving information corresponding to the vibration center and vibration amplitude of the focus lens from the camera control means, and causing the focus lens to vibrate based on the received information corresponding to the vibration center and vibration amplitude Means and
When the camera control unit determines a first direction in which the evaluation value increases due to the wobbling operation, and the lens control unit moves the vibration center of the focus lens in the determined first direction, the focus control unit When the image magnification change amount with respect to the lens movement amount is larger than the second change amount and not more than the first change amount, the vibration center is moved in the first direction in the first mode, and the second change is performed. Control is made so that the vibration center is moved in the first direction in the second mode when the amount is less than the amount , and further, movement of the vibration center is restricted when the amount is larger than the first change amount. Control
In the first mode, the amount of movement when the focus lens moves in the direction opposite to the first direction is smaller than the predetermined amplitude. In the second mode, the focus lens is moved to the first mode. A lens apparatus, wherein a movement amount when moving in a direction corresponding to the direction of 1 is larger than the predetermined amplitude.   The lens apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the second change amount indicates a threshold value, and the amplitude of the vibration increases when an image magnification change amount with respect to a movement amount of the focus lens is equal to or less than the threshold value. .   The lens control unit receives data of allowable circle of confusion from the camera control unit, calculates data indicating an image magnification change amount per depth of focus based on the data of the allowable circle of confusion, and transmits the data to the camera control unit The lens device according to claim 9 or 10, wherein:   The transmission cycle of the image magnification change amount by the lens control unit and the reception cycle of information corresponding to the vibration center and the amplitude of vibration are the same as any one of claims 9 to 11. The lens device described.   When the camera control means determines that the amount of change in image magnification relative to the amount of movement of the focus lens near the focal point is greater than the second amount of change, the drive amplitude during center movement is limited to less than the amplitude during vibration. The first drive method is changed to the first drive method, and when it is determined that the change amount is equal to or smaller than the second change amount, the second drive method is set such that the drive amplitude at the time of center movement is set to be equal to or larger than the amplitude at the time of vibration. The lens device according to any one of claims 9 to 12.   When the camera control means is changed to the first drive system, the camera movement means subtracts the center movement amplitude, which is the movement width of the vibration center, from the amplitude at the time of vibration, and when changed to the second drive system, the camera control means The lens apparatus according to claim 13, wherein a process of adding the center movement amplitude to a time amplitude is performed.   When the camera control unit determines that the amount of change in image magnification with respect to the amount of movement of the focus lens in the vicinity of the in-focus point is greater than a threshold value, the driving direction is determined by comparing the previous evaluation value with the current evaluation value. The lens apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the lens control unit moves the focus lens by a predetermined amount in a determined direction. When the camera control unit determines that the image magnification change amount with respect to the movement amount of the focus lens in the vicinity of the in-focus point is larger than a threshold value, the camera control unit moves the focus lens without vibrating in the optical axis direction. The focus direction is detected from the change in the evaluation value, the drive direction of the focus lens is determined, and drive control is performed.
When it is determined that the image magnification change amount with respect to the movement amount of the focus lens in the vicinity of the in-focus point is equal to or less than the threshold value, the in-focus direction is determined from the change in the evaluation value when the focus lens is vibrated in the optical axis direction. The lens apparatus according to claim 13, wherein a drive control for moving the vibration center of the focus lens in the detected in-focus direction is performed.   The camera control means performs control to move the focus lens to a position corresponding to the in-focus position after the focus determination when the image magnification change amount with respect to the focus lens movement amount in the vicinity of the in-focus position is larger than a threshold value. When the evaluation value is acquired from the signal processing means and the difference between the evaluation value and the previously acquired evaluation value is determined to be less than or equal to a threshold value, vibration or movement of the focus lens is prohibited. The lens device according to claim 13, wherein the lens device is a lens device.   The camera control means transmits allowable confusion circle data to the lens device, and receives data indicating an image magnification change amount per depth of focus calculated from the allowable confusion circle data from the lens device. The lens device according to claim 9, wherein the lens device is a lens device. A control method executed by an imaging device capable of communicating with a lens device including a focus lens,
An evaluation value generating step of generating an evaluation value for focus adjustment from an image pickup signal by an image pickup device by a signal processing means provided in the image pickup apparatus;
Camera control means provided in the imaging device, wherein the lens is used to vibrate the focus lens by camera control means capable of instructing control of a wobbling operation for vibrating the focus lens in the optical axis direction with a predetermined amplitude. A transmission step of transmitting information corresponding to the vibration center and vibration amplitude to the device;
A camera control step of transmitting, to the lens apparatus, a drive command for moving the focus lens to a position corresponding to a focal point detected using the evaluation value by a camera control unit provided in the imaging apparatus;
An acquisition step of acquiring data corresponding to an image magnification change amount with respect to a movement amount of the focus lens from the lens device by a camera control unit provided in the imaging device;
Have
The camera control step further includes a step of determining a first direction in which the evaluation value increases due to the wobbling operation, and when moving the vibration center of the focus lens in the determined first direction, When the amount of change in image magnification relative to the amount of movement is greater than the second amount of change and less than or equal to the first amount of change, the vibration center is moved in the first direction in the first mode and less than or equal to the second amount of change. In this case, control is performed to move the vibration center in the first direction in the second mode, and further control is performed to limit the movement of the vibration center when the change is larger than the first change amount. Has steps,
In the first mode, the amount of movement when the focus lens moves in the direction opposite to the first direction is smaller than the predetermined amplitude. In the second mode, the focus lens is moved to the first mode. A method for controlling an imaging apparatus, characterized in that a movement amount when moving in a direction corresponding to a direction of 1 is larger than the predetermined amplitude. A control method executed by an imaging device capable of communicating with a lens device including a focus lens,
A signal processing step of generating an evaluation value for focus adjustment from an image pickup signal by an image pickup device by a signal processing unit provided in the image pickup apparatus;
A transmission step of transmitting information corresponding to the vibration center and vibration amplitude to the lens device in order to vibrate the focus lens by the camera control means provided in the imaging device;
A camera control step of transmitting, to the lens apparatus, a drive command for moving the focus lens to a position corresponding to a focal point detected using the evaluation value by a camera control unit provided in the imaging apparatus;
An acquisition step of acquiring data indicating an image magnification change amount from the lens device by a camera control unit provided in the imaging device;
Have
The camera control step further includes an acquisition step of acquiring data indicating an image magnification change amount from the lens device;
Whether the image magnification change amount with respect to the focus lens movement amount in the vicinity of the in-focus point is larger than a threshold value using the data indicating the image magnification change amount, the vibration amplitude for vibrating the focus lens, and the center movement amount. A determination step for determining;
If it is determined in the determination step that the image magnification change amount with respect to the vibration amplitude is larger than a threshold value, the focus direction is determined from the change in the evaluation value when the focus lens is moved without vibrating in the optical axis direction. Detecting and determining the drive direction of the focus lens to perform drive control;
When it is determined in the determination step that the image magnification change amount with respect to the vibration amplitude is equal to or less than a threshold value, the in-focus direction is detected from the change in the evaluation value when the focus lens is vibrated in the optical axis direction. A control method for an image pickup apparatus, comprising a step of performing drive control for moving the vibration center of the focus lens in the detected in-focus direction. Signal processing means for generating an evaluation value for focus adjustment from an image pickup signal from the image pickup device, and a drive command for moving the focus lens to a position corresponding to the in-focus point detected using the evaluation value are transmitted to the lens apparatus. A camera control means, comprising: a camera control means capable of instructing control of a wobbling operation that vibrates the focus lens in a direction of an optical axis with a predetermined amplitude.
A transmission step of periodically transmitting data corresponding to an image magnification change amount with respect to a movement amount of the focus lens to the camera control unit by a transmission unit provided in the lens apparatus;
The lens control means provided in the lens apparatus periodically receives information corresponding to the vibration center and vibration amplitude of the focus lens from the camera control means, and corresponds to the received vibration center and vibration amplitude. A lens control step of vibrating the focus lens based on the information;
Have
In the lens control step, the camera control means determines a first direction in which the evaluation value increases due to the wobbling operation, and the lens control means determines the vibration center of the focus lens in the determined first direction. When moving, if the amount of change in image magnification relative to the amount of movement of the focus lens is greater than the second change amount and less than or equal to the first change amount, the vibration center is moved in the first direction in the first mode. The vibration center is controlled to move in the first direction in the second mode when the change amount is less than or equal to the second change amount , and when the change amount is greater than the first change amount, the vibration center is controlled. Having a step of controlling to limit movement;
In the first mode, the amount of movement when the focus lens moves in the direction opposite to the first direction is smaller than the predetermined amplitude. In the second mode, the focus lens is moved to the first mode. A method of controlling a lens device, wherein a movement amount when moving in a direction corresponding to a direction of 1 is larger than the predetermined amplitude.   A computer program executed by a computer to cause an imaging device to execute the method according to claim 19 or 20, or to cause a lens device to execute the method according to claim 21. An imaging system comprising the imaging device according to claim 1 and the lens device according to claim 9.

Images