DE10059499A1 - Manual focussing device for image pick-up medium in digital camera drives motor to control lens-sensor separation based on position of two switches - Google Patents

Abstract

When a first switch (150) is in a first position, a lens-sensor separation is fixed. When the switch is in a second position, and a second switch is in a first position, the lens-sensor separation is fixed. When the first switch is in a second position, and the second switch is in the second position, a motor control circuit drives a motor to increase the lens-sensor separation. When the first switch is in the second potion and the second switch is in a third position, the motor control circuit drives the motor to decrease the lens-sensor separation.

Description

The present invention relates generally to digi tal cameras and especially on manual focusing of digital cameras.

Conventional 35 mm single lens reflex (SLR; SLR = Single Lens Reflex) cameras provide a variety of methods for manual focus ready, such as in Chapter 1 of Camera Technology: The Dark Side of the Lens by Norman Goldberg, published by Academic Press, Inc., from San Diego, California. This "Focusing aids" require at least a through-the- Lens (TTL; TTL = through-the-lens) viewfinder (viewfinder) and typically other components, such as. B. a focus screen, deflection prisms, etc. to the user allow to look at the picture and see when the same thing is in focus. While these procedures at Simplify manual focusing can be effective same the cost of the seeker compared to those that with conventional alignment-and-shot 35 mm cameras, such as e.g. B. the Canon SureShot, can be found, which none There are TTL cameras, and they don't show whether the picture is in focus or not, more than double.

Some digital cameras that are currently on the market such as B. the Kodak DC260 and the Olympus D600L different method for manual focusing via a liquid crystal display (LCD) ready. The user can entered a focus distance via a menu on a color LCD ben. Although this process is less expensive than that what has been described above does the same two drawbacks: (1) it is time consuming to enter the menu too get to the selection option for a manual Fo to scroll or move there. Even though  the period of time can be short, in the sizes, at best order a few seconds - is the same in the case kri table where auto focus failed, and the user does not want to miss the recording. (2) The Getting into the menu also means that the user Stop looking at the image while adjusting the focus and can frame.

A similar procedure can be used with conventional SLR cameras be used by the focusing ring on which Fo kus distances are printed, is rotated until the ge desired distance immediately with or in a line with an arrow on the lens barrel. Although the ver drive the need for a focusing disc etc. eliminated, it also means that the user Stop looking at the image while adjusting the focus and can frame.

There is therefore a need for an improved, simplified and less expensive process for obtaining manual focusing for digital cameras and the like devices.

The object of the present invention is a Device for manually focusing an image of a Object on an image acquisition medium with an optical Imaging device to create, so the implementation manual focusing is less expensive.

This object is achieved by a device according to claim 1 solved.

In representative embodiments, this discloses present patent document a device for obtaining manual focusing in digital cameras and similar devices. A user of a digital camera can manual focusing in a simple and convenient way obtained by using a first switch to switch in  to enter a manual focus mode, and by a second switch or a pair of switches are used to the focus distance of the lens of the digital camera increase or decrease. Embodiments of focus system described herein can be found at various devices can be used, especially for Image recording devices, such as. B. digital cameras and Video cameras. The invention disclosed herein is but not for use with only these devices limited. It has general applicability on all imaging devices where the image is ma is now focused.

In a representative embodiment, the di gitale camera a camera body, a liquid crystal show (LCD), an optical viewfinder and a first scarf ter on. The liquid crystal display is referred to herein as the LCD display. The LCD display typically includes se an image display and a mode / status display. The first Switch is used to switch to manual focus to enter and leave the same mode. The Activating the first switch puts the camera in the manual focus mode. Deactivating the first Switch changes the focus mode from manual to automatically.

The LCD display also includes a focus distance indicator shows the distance to which the lens of the digital camera is focused. The second switch could be any a variety of switches for adjusting the focus positions of the lens of the digital camera. With the repr sentative example changes while the focus distance the focus distance indicator is changed by that distance display.

When the digital camera is configured to capture images (i.e. as opposed to a playback or quick return run mode to a snapshot or record mode  is set) and is in an auto focus mode, the camera works as it is typical for digital cameras. In particular, the LCD display in the image display a color video olive preview of the shot that was taken should be displayed. Pressing the lock down the autofocus starts by half. The fully depresses the shutter release then taking a picture. If the camera misses it manages to perform auto focus when the ver the shutter release button is pressed halfway, the camera will don't take a picture. This is the point at which the Be User can choose to focus on manual switch. After the camera on manual focus has been switched over to the focus distance the focus distance at the top of the LCD display displayed.

An image of an object is shown by the Lens attached to the housing of the optical imaging gen is attached, projected onto an image sensor, whereby the object at an object-to-lens distance from a lens of the optical imaging device is positioned. The manual focusing of the digital camera is thereby get that the first switch is activated first, which the digital camera into a manual focus mode transferred. Then the second switch is activated, the an engine control circuit is activated. The engine control circuit activates a motor, which in turn turns the lens drives until the operator perceives a focus has been achieved. Once a focus has been achieved is, the object is positio in the focal plane of the lens kidney.

A major advantage of the manual embodiments Focusing optical imaging devices as in described in this patent document in that switches are used for focusing that can be found on most digital cameras  are available so that no additional hardware and follow no additional costs are required. Different to Current digital cameras can focus manually can also be done quickly since scrolling through different menus is not required. A single Switch, which could be a software switch, can ver be used to switch to manual focus mode reach. The user can also continue to Look at and frame the picture while focusing sets.

Other aspects and advantages of the present invention deriving from the following detailed description in Connected with the accompanying drawings that exemplify the principles of the invention.

The attached drawings provide visual representations, which are used to describe the invention in more detail ben, and can be used by professionals in the field to better understand the invention and its inherent advantages understand. In these drawings, identifying identical Be corresponding elements.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are referred to below with reference to the attached drawing nations explained in more detail. Show it:

Fig. 1 is a drawing of an optical imaging device with an apparatus for entering a manual focus mode, as described in various representative embodiments of the present patent document;

Figure 2 is a drawing of the optical imaging device with a device for manually adjusting the focus, as described in various representative embodiments of the present patent document.

Fig. 3 is another drawing of the optical imaging device with a device for manually adjusting the focus, as described in various representative embodiments of the present patent document; and

Fig. 4 shows another drawing of the optical imaging device, as described in various representative embodiments of the present patent document.

As it is in the drawings for illustration purposes shows, the present patent document discloses at preferred embodiments, a device for Er maintain manual focus on digital cameras and similar devices. With a representative version For example, a user can access a digital camera simple and convenient way of manual focusing hold by using a switch to switch into one manual focus mode, and another Switches or a pair of switches used to switch the Fo increase or decrease the lens lens distance of the digital camera reduce. The following detailed description and the several figures of the drawings have the same elements identified with the same reference numerals.

In representative embodiments described in the foregoing lying patent document provide scarf the device on a housing of a digital camera through which a user can manually focus regarding the camera.

Fig. 1 is a drawing of an optical imaging device 100 with an apparatus for entering a manual focusing mode as described in representative embodiments of the present patent document. In the representative Ausführungsbeispie len, the optical imaging device 100 is an image recording device 100, such as. B. a digital camera 100 or a digital video camera 100 . However, the manual focus device disclosed herein is not limited to use with only these devices. It has general applicability to all devices in which manual focusing of an image is obtained.

In the representative embodiment of FIG. 1, the digital camera 100 includes a camera body 110 , a visual display 130 , an optical viewfinder 140 and a first switch 150 . The visual display 130 could play in a liquid crystal display 130, which is also referred to herein as the LCD display 130, or a light emitting diode display 130 is referred to as the LED display 130 herein. LCD display 130 typically includes an image display 160 and a mode / status display 170 , where image display 160 displays an image of an object. The first switch 150 is used to enter and exit the manual focus mode. The first switch 150 may be for example a switch 150 with two positions, a software switch 150 or Berührbildschirmauswahl 150 on the LCD display 130th Activating the first switch 150 places the digital camera in a manual focusing mode. Disabling the first scarf ters 150, which could for example be effected by again pressing the first switch 150, changes the Fo kussierungsmodus from manual to automatic. The first switch 150 comprises two electrical contact positions, ie a first position 152 and a second position 154 , which are not shown in the figures. Fig. 1 shows the digital camera 100 after the first switch 150 has been deactivated or is in the first position 152 , whereby the digital camera 100 is put into the automatic focusing mode, as it is on the mode / status display 170 is shown. The first switch 150 can typically be described as a switch 150 with two positions, the first position being the deactivated position or the position for an automatic focusing mode and the second position being the activated position or the position for the manual focusing mode.

Fig. 2 is a drawing of the optical imaging device 100 with a device for manually adjusting the focus as described in various representative embodiments of the present patent document. FIG. 2 shows the digital camera 100 after the first switch 150 has been activated, which places the digital camera 100 in manual focus mode, as shown on the mode / status display 170 . As can be seen in FIG. 2 but not in FIG. 1, the LCD display 130 further comprises a focus distance display 280 , which shows the distance at which the lens of the digital camera 100 is focused. In FIG. 2, a second switch 285 is also shown, which could be any of a variety of switches such. B. a selector switch 285 , a two-armed toggle switch 285 , two separate switches or a single switch to adjust the focus distance of the lens of the digital camera 100 . In the exporting approximately example of FIG. 2 285 includes the two-armed rocker switch having a first arm 287 of the two-armed rocker switch and a second arm 288 of the two-armed rocker switch. The second switch 285 can typically be described as a three-position switch 285 , a first position being the "off" or neutral position, while when a second position is activated, it increases the focus distance and when a third position Position is activated, it reduces the focus distance. The positions of the second switch 285 are referred to herein as: first position 296 of the second switch (not shown in the figures), second position 297 of the second switch (not shown in the figures), and third position 298 of the second switch (not shown) in the figures). In another embodiment, the second switch 285 may be described as a two position switch 285 , the first position again being the "off" or neutral position, while when the second position is activated, it decreases the focus distance to a maximum focus level increased and then reset it to a minimum focus distance before the focus distance is increased again. In representative embodiments, as the focus distance is changed, the focus distance indicator 280 changes to indicate this distance.

Fig. 3 is another drawing of the optical imaging device 100 with a device for manually adjusting the focus, as described in various representative embodiments of the present patent document. In Fig. 3, the second switch 285 is shown in FIG. 2 as a two-armed toggle switch 285 has been replaced by a four-armed toggle switch 285. As an example of use, either the horizontal pair of rocker arms or the vertical pair of rocker arms of the four-arm rocker switch 285 could be used to increase / decrease the focus distance of the digital camera 100 . The four arm toggle switch 285 can typically be described as a five position switch 285 , with a first position being the "off" or neutral position. Either a first and a second arm 386 , 387 of the four-arm toggle switch shown horizontally in FIG. 3 or a third and a fourth arm 388 , 389 of the four-arm toggle switch shown vertically in FIG. 3 can be used. when activated to increase and decrease the focus distance.

When the digital camera 100 is configured to take pictures (ie, set to a snapshot or record mode, as opposed to a playback or fast rewind mode) and is in the auto focus mode, the digital camera 100 operates , as is typical for digital cameras 100 . In particular, a color video live preview of the image to be recorded is displayed on the LCD display 130 in the image display 160 . Pressing the shutter release button down by half starts autofocusing. Pressing the shutter release fully down then causes an image to be taken. If the digital camera 100 fails to auto focus when the shutter release button is pressed halfway, the digital camera 100 will not take a picture. This is the point because the user can choose to switch to manual focus. After the digital camera 100 is switched to manual focus, the focus distance display 280 , which shows the focus distance in feet, appears across the top of the LCD 130 . Scroll arrows (left / right or up / down), such as the first, second, third and fourth arms 386 , 387 , 388 , 389 of the four-arm toggle switch on the second switch 285 , and as is the case with almost all digital cameras who found, are then unlocked to allow the user to increase or decrease the focus distance.

Fig. 4 is yet another drawing of the optical image forming apparatus 100 as described in various representative embodiments of the present patent document. In FIG. 4, an image 410 is projected an object 415 through a lens 425, which is attached to the housing 110 of the optical image forming apparatus 100 to an image sensor 420 or other image acquisition medium 420, wherein the object from the lens 425 of the imaging optical device 100 is positioned an object-to-lens distance 417 . The optical imaging device 100 is typically again a digital camera 100 . The image sensor 420 is positioned behind the lens 425 by a lens-to-exposure plane distance 430 . Lens-to-exposure plane distance 430 is also referred to herein as lens-sensor distance 430 . The manual focusing of the digital camera 100 is obtained by first activating the first switch 150 , which puts the digital camera 100 into a manual focusing mode. Then the second switch 285 is activated, which activates a motor control circuit 450 . Motor control circuit 450 activates a motor 460 , which in turn drives lens 425 until the operator perceives that focus has been achieved. As soon as a focus has been achieved, the object 415 is positioned in the focus 470 of the lens 425 .

It is noted that in FIG. 4 the image 410 is transmitted from the image sensor 420 to the visual display 130 , and further that focus distance information is transmitted from the motor control circuit 450 to the visual display 130 , resulting in that the user in is able to observe both image 410 and the focus distance at the same time.

A major advantage of the embodiments for manually focusing optical imaging devices 100 , as described in the present patent document, is that focus switches that are currently available on most digital cameras 100 can be used, so no additional ones Hardware (and consequently no additional costs) are required. Furthermore, unlike with current digital cameras, manual focusing can be carried out quickly since scrolling through different menus is not necessary. The first switch 150, which could be a software switch 150 can be used to enter a manual focus sierungsmodus. The second switch 285 is then used to adjust the focus of the image 410 to the image sensor 420 . The user can also continue to view and frame the image 410 of the object 415 while adjusting the focus. Because it is often difficult to determine whether the image 410 is in focus or not by simply viewing the visual display 130 , and also because it is difficult to estimate the distance between the object 415 and the camera 100 , representative ones Embodiments have the additional advantage of being able to view the visual display 130 and the focus distance at the same time.

Claims (9)

1. Device for manually focusing an image ( 410 ) of an object ( 415 ) on an image acquisition medium ( 420 ) in an optical image forming device ( 100 ), with
a first switch ( 150 ) having first and second positions ( 152 , 154 );
a second switch ( 285 ) having a first, a second and a third position ( 296 , 297 , 298 ); and
a motor control circuit ( 450 ), the motor control circuit ( 450 ) controlling a motor ( 460 ), the motor ( 460 ) having the ability to change a lens sensor distance ( 430 ), the lens sensor distance ( 430 ) is the distance between a lens ( 420 ) and the image acquisition medium ( 420 ), the lens ( 425 ) projecting the image (410) of the object ( 415 ) onto the image acquisition medium ( 420 ), and wherein,
when the first switch ( 150 ) is in the first position ( 152 ), the lens-sensor distance ( 430 ) is fixed,
when the first switch ( 150 ) is in the second position ( 154 ) and the second switch ( 285 ) is in the first position ( 296 ), the lens-sensor distance ( 430 ) is fixed,
when the first switch ( 150 ) is in the second position ( 154 ) and the second switch ( 285 ) is in the second position ( 297 ), the motor control circuit ( 450 ) drives the motor ( 460 ) around the lens -Sensor distance ( 430 ) increase, and
when the first switch ( 150 ) is in the second position ( 154 ) and the second switch ( 285 ) is in the third position ( 298 ), the motor control circuit ( 450 ) drives the motor ( 460 ) around the lens - Reduce sensor distance ( 430 ). 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optical image forming device (100) is selected from the group consisting of a digital camera ( 100 ) and a video camera ( 100 ). 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first switch ( 150 ) is a switch which is selected from the group consisting of a switch ( 150 ) with two positions, a selector switch ( 150 ), a software switch ( 150 ) and a touch screen selection ( 150 ). 4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second switch ( 285 ) is a switch selected from the group consisting of a switch ( 285 ) with two positions, a switch ( 285 ) with three positions , a selector switch ( 285 ), a two-armed toggle switch ( 285 ) and a four-armed toggle switch ( 285 ). 5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, which also has a visual display ( 130 ). 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the visual display ( 130 ) is a display selected from the group consisting of an LCD display ( 130 ) and an LED display ( 130 ). The apparatus of claim 5 or 6, wherein when the first switch ( 150 ) is in the first position ( 152 ), the visual indicator ( 130 ) indicates that the optical imaging device ( 100 ) is in an automatic focusing mode located. 8. The device according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein when the first switch ( 150 ) is in the second position ( 154 ), the visual indicator ( 130 ) indicates that the optical imaging device ( 100 ) is in one manual focus mode. 9. The device according to one of claims 5 to 8, wherein when the first switch ( 150 ) is in the second position ( 154 ), the visual display ( 130 ) was between the object ( 415 ) and the lens ( 425 ) indicates where a focused image (410) is projected onto the image acquisition medium (420).