JP2001086400A - Image-pickup unit, lens device, iris control device, gain control device, control methods for the devices, and medium for supplying control programs of the device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the temporary disturbance of exposure, when an ND filter is put into and taken out of the optical path of a lens, and also to shorten the time that is required for securing the proper re-exposure. SOLUTION: A luminance signal, that is obtained by detecting the video signal photographed by a CCD 504 via a luminance signal detection circuit 507, is sent to an iris control signal airthmetic circuit 511 and is compared with its reference value to calculate an iris control signal, with which a fixed luminance signal is obtained. In such a case, two control signals which operate an iris 503 at a high speed and a low speed respectively are produced, and the slow control signal is used normally. When a user turns on and off an ND filter 502, a fast iris control mode part 512 is selected to increase the response speed of iris control and to shorten the time required for securing the proper exposure. Thus, the luminance change of the video signal is reduced, and the proper exposure is secured again quickly.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image pickup device such as a video camera using an ND filter for dimming subject light, a lens device, an iris control device, a gain control device, and the like.
The present invention relates to an ND filter control device, a control method thereof, and a medium that provides a control program thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing a first conventional imaging apparatus such as a video camera.

In FIG. 21, reference numeral 501 denotes an imaging lens;
502, an ND filter for dimming; 503, an iris for adjusting the amount of light; 504, an image sensor such as a CCD; 505, a CDS / AGC circuit (double correlation sampling / automatic gain control circuit); This is a path to a video signal processing circuit for generating a John signal.

[0004] Reference numeral 507 denotes a luminance signal detection circuit for detecting a luminance signal from the video signal output from the CDS / AGC circuit 505, and 508 controls the iris 503 in accordance with the luminance information output from the luminance signal detection circuit 507. Control signal operation circuit for generating a control signal for
9 is a driver for driving the iris 503, and 510 is ND
An ND switching lever for switching the filter 502 in and out.

Next, the operation will be described.

A luminance signal used when controlling exposure is
A luminance signal containing a high-frequency component in the video signal output from the CDS / AGC circuit 505 is used. The luminance signal is detected by a luminance signal detection circuit 507 and sent to an iris control signal calculation circuit 508. Iris control signal operation circuit 5
In step 08, the iris control signal is calculated by comparing it with a predetermined reference value (appropriate exposure level) so that the luminance signal detected by the luminance signal detection circuit 507 is always constant.

For example, the luminance signal detected by the luminance signal detection circuit 507 is compared with the reference value, and when luminance signal ≧ reference value, a control signal for operating the iris 503 in the closing direction is generated, and In the case of the reference value, a control signal for operating the iris 503 in the opening direction is generated. The generated control signal is output to the iris 503 via the driver 509. The responsiveness (the amount of change in exposure per unit time) when controlling the exposure with the iris 503 is always set to a constant value, and if the responsiveness is too fast or too slow, the user feels unnatural. It is also difficult to tune because it will be done.

Next, the operation of the iris control will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, a luminance signal containing a high-frequency component in the video signal output from the CDS / AGC circuit 505 is detected (step S601, hereinafter abbreviated to step). Next, the detected luminance signal is compared with a predetermined reference value (appropriate exposure level). When the luminance signal is equal to or more than the reference value, a signal for controlling the iris 503 in the closing direction is calculated, and when the luminance signal is smaller than the reference value,
A signal for controlling the iris 503 in the opening direction is calculated (S602). Next, the calculated signal is output to the iris 503 via the driver 509 (S60).
3).

Next, the ND filter 502 will be described.

By operating the ND switching lever 510, the user can put the ND filter 502 in and out of the optical path and select whether to use it or not. The basic method of using the ND filter 502 is to prevent the small aperture diffraction phenomenon caused by the iris 503 by inserting the ND filter 502 when the luminance of the subject is high, and to reduce the ND filter when the luminance of the subject is low. Filter 5
Excluding 02 can increase the sensitivity.

Next, a second conventional example will be described.

Conventionally, various proposals have been made for white balance control in an imaging device such as a video camera. Hereinafter, regarding the white balance control, in particular, the outdoor mode (5600K mode) and the indoor mode (3
Second for preset functions (like 200K mode)
Will be described.

FIG. 23 is a block diagram showing a second conventional interchangeable lens type imaging system. Note that FIG.
Has substantially the same configuration as a third embodiment of the present invention described later.

In FIG. 23, reference numeral 113 denotes a lens device,
Reference numeral 14 denotes a camera body to which the lens device 113 is detachably mounted.

In the lens device 113, 101 is an imaging lens, 102 is an ND filter for dimming, 1
03 is an iris for adjusting the amount of light, 112 is an ND switching lever for putting the ND filter 102 in and out, and 111 is a lens microcomputer.

In the camera body 114, reference numeral 104 denotes CC
An image sensor such as D; 105, a CDS / AGC circuit;
Is an A / D that converts analog video signals into digital signals
A converter 107, a camera signal processing circuit 107; a television signal 108 generated by the camera signal processing circuit 107;
09 is a camera microcomputer, 110 is a camera microcomputer 109
A communication line 115 for communication between the camera and the lens microcomputer 111 is provided. Reference numeral 115 denotes a WB mode selection switch for the user to select a WB (white balance) mode such as an outdoor mode or an indoor mode.

Next, in the camera signal processing circuit 107, a digital video signal 120 converted by the A / D converter 106 is converted into high-frequency and low-frequency luminance signals YH and YL and chromaticity signals R and B. Luminance / chromaticity signal generation circuit 12
1 is a gain control circuit for the red signal R, 122 is a gain control circuit for the blue signal B, and 123 is each gain control circuit 1.
A chrominance signal generation circuit for generating chrominance signals RY and BY from the chromaticity signals R 'and B' and the luminance signal YL, the gains of which are controlled by 21 and 122, and 124 is a chrominance signal generation circuit from RY, BY and YH. An encoder that generates a television signal.

Next, the operation will be described.

When the lens device 113 is mounted on the camera body 114, power is supplied from the camera body 114 to the lens device 113. By operating the ND switching lever 112, the user can put the ND filter 102 in and out of the optical path and select whether to use or not.

An optical image from a subject passes through a lens 101 and is attenuated by an ND filter 102.
At 3, the exposure is controlled to an appropriate value, and an image is formed on the image sensor 104. The video signal photoelectrically converted by the image sensor 104 is a CD
After noise removal and gain control are performed by the S / AGC circuit 105, the signal is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 106 and sent to the luminance / chromaticity signal generation circuit 120 inside the camera signal processing circuit 107.

The luminance and chromaticity signal generation circuit 120 generates a high frequency component YH, a low frequency component YL, a red signal R, and a blue signal B of the luminance signal. The generated red signal R and blue signal B are input to gain control circuits 121 and 122, respectively, where they are amplified by a white balance control signal from a gain control signal output circuit 125, and are respectively converted into chromaticity signals R 'and B'. Is output.

These chromaticity signals R 'and B' are input to the color difference signal generation circuit 123 together with the low frequency component YL of the luminance signal, where the color difference signals RY and BY are generated. The color difference signals RY and BY are input to the encoder circuit 124 together with the high frequency component YH of the luminance signal, where a standard television signal is generated and output.

The camera microcomputer 109 reads the switch state of the WB mode selection switch 115, and determines whether the switch 115 is in the outdoor mode (5600K mode), the indoor mode (3200K mode) or the auto mode. The camera microcomputer 109 calculates the R gain and the B gain stored in the camera microcomputer 109 in advance according to each mode.
A gain control signal for the gain is generated and input to the gain control signal output circuit 125.

Next, the above operation will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

In FIG. 23, the lens microcomputer 111 detects the ON / OFF state of the ND switching lever 112 to determine whether the ND filter 102 is ON or OFF (S801). If the ND filter 102 is ON,
The NDON status is set (S802), and this status is transmitted to the camera microcomputer 109 (S80).
4). When the ND filter 102 is OFF, N
The status of DON is cleared (S803), and this status is transmitted to the camera microcomputer 109 (S80).
4).

Next, referring to FIG.
09 receives the NDON status from the lens microcomputer 111 (S901). Then, the state of the WB mode selection switch 115 is read, and it is determined whether the WB mode is the outdoor mode (5600K mode) (S).
902). If YES in S902, an R gain and a B gain predetermined as the outdoor mode are generated (S90
3) R gain for the gain control signal output circuit 125;
A B gain control signal is output (907).

If NO in S902, the state of the WB mode selection switch 115 is read, and
It is determined whether the B mode is the indoor mode (3200K mode) (S904). In the case of YES, an R gain and a B gain predetermined as the indoor mode are generated (S9).
05), and outputs the R gain and B gain gain control signals to the gain control signal output circuit 125 (S907).

If NO in S904, it is determined that the WB mode selection switch 115 is in the auto mode,
The R gain and the B gain are calculated (S906), and the calculation result is sent to the gain control signal output circuit 125 for the R gain,
A B gain gain control signal is output (S907).

Next, the WB mode will be briefly described with reference to FIG.

[Outdoor Mode] The outdoor mode is a WB mode recommended to be used outdoors. In general, sunlight outdoors has a high color temperature and a strong bluish hue. Therefore,
By controlling the R gain to be high and controlling the B gain to be low in the camera signal processing circuit 107,
This makes it possible to reproduce colors that look good even outdoors.

When this is confirmed using a vector scope, the result is as shown in FIG. This is 560
The light box with the color temperature of 0K is completely white, and 560
This is a case where an image is captured in the 0K mode. As can be understood from this figure, there is a color at the center on the vector scope, which means that the subject can be recognized as white.

[Indoor Mode] The indoor mode is a WB mode recommended to be used indoors. Indoor illumination light generally has a low color temperature and a strong reddish color. Therefore,
By controlling the R gain low and controlling the B gain high in the camera signal processing circuit 107,
This makes it possible to reproduce colors that look good even indoors.

When this is confirmed using a vector scope, the result is as shown in FIG. This is 320
The light box with a color temperature of 0K is completely white and 320
This is a case where an image is captured in the 0K mode. As you can see from the figure, there is a color at the center on the vector scope,
This means that the subject can be recognized as white.

[ND Filter 102] The ND filter 102 is preferably colorless.
When the D filter 102 is mass-produced, the spectral characteristics vary, and ND filters with various colors such as reddish ones and bluish ones are mass-produced.

When an ND filter having such a tint is used, the ND filter 102 is placed in a so-called white state in which a bright spot exists at the center on a vector scope as shown in FIG. 26, for example. When turned on, the imaging result is tinted due to the coloring of the ND filter 102 as shown in FIG. As can be understood from this figure, the position of the luminescent spot on the vector scope is deviated from the center, and in this case, it indicates that it has an orange tint.

FIG. 26 is also similar to FIG.
By turning on the filter 102, the imaging result is colored and the position of the luminescent spot on the vector scope is not the center,
It shows that it shifts in the orange direction in the same way as.

Means that the ND filter has an orange tint as an example, and this tint becomes reddish or bluish by the filter.

Next, a third conventional example will be described.

A third conventional example of a conventional image pickup apparatus such as a video camera will be described with reference to FIGS. 27 and 28. FIG.

In FIG. 28, 1 is a photographing lens, 2 is an aperture blade, 3 is an image sensor, 4 is a CDS / AGC circuit, 5 is an A / D converter, 6 is a digital signal processing circuit, 7 is D / A
A converter, 8 is a microcomputer for performing a logical operation, 9 is an IG meter, 10 is a Hall element, 11 is an iris encoder, 1
Reference numeral 2 denotes an iris drive circuit.

Next, the operation will be described.

The subject image projected by the taking lens 1 is photoelectrically converted by the image pickup device 3 and converted into an electric signal. This signal is correlated double-sampled by the CDS / AGC circuit 4 and amplified to an appropriate level. This signal is converted to a digital signal by the A / D converter 5, converted to a standardized video signal such as NTSC by the digital signal processing circuit 6, converted to an analog signal by the D / A converter 7, and output. You.

On the other hand, the rotation position of the IG meter 9 that opens and closes the aperture blade 2 is magnetically detected by the Hall element 10. The detection result is amplified / offset-controlled to an appropriate level by the iris encoder 11, and then A / D converted by the microcomputer 8 and taken in as data.

In this process, the microcomputer 8 reads the information on the video signal level from the digital signal processing circuit 7 and the information on the open / closed state of the diaphragm blade 2 from the iris encoder 11, and becomes smaller when the video signal level is too high. As described above, the control signal is calculated and output to the iris drive circuit 12 so that the control signal is increased when the signal is too small. The iris drive circuit 12 drives the IG meter 9 according to the control signal.

In the above process, the aperture blade 2 and the IG are adjusted so that the brightness of the subject image projected on the image sensor 3 becomes constant.
An aperture mechanism including the meter 9 and the Hall element 10 operates. When the brightness of the subject is extremely bright, the aperture blade 2 has a very small aperture diameter. In this case, the sharpness of the subject image projected on the image sensor 4 is impaired due to the light diffraction phenomenon. Sometimes.

In order to prevent this, in a general video camera, an ND filter is inserted between the lens 1 and the aperture blade 2 as an achromatic color neutralization filter so that the aperture diameter does not become smaller than a certain value.

In the case of a general two-blade diaphragm, the ND filter is integrated with the diaphragm blade 2, and the ND filter is often configured to be attached to a part of the small diaphragm blade.

FIG. 28 shows an example of a diaphragm mechanism using an ND filter.

In FIGS. 28A and 28B, reference numerals 21 and 22 denote aperture blades, reference numeral 23 denotes an ND filter attached to a part of the aperture blade 21, reference numeral 9 denotes an IG meter, and reference numeral 91 denotes a rotating shaft of the IG meter 10. The rotor is attached to the rotor.

The open / closed state of the aperture blade 2 is initially set in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2A, when the IG meter 10 is driven and the rotor 91 rotates about the rotation axis of the IG meter 10 when the IG meter 10 is driven and starts to close, as shown in FIG.
The shape shown in FIG. 8 (b) is obtained, and the shape shown in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 28 (a), (b) and (c),
When the diameter of the diaphragm becomes smaller, the N occupying the aperture shape of the diaphragm becomes smaller.
When the area ratio of the D filter 23 is increased and the diameter of the aperture is reduced to some extent, the ND filter 23 covers the entire aperture shape of the aperture.

However, such an aperture mechanism in which the ND filter 23 is present in a part of the aperture shape of the aperture from the beginning is good when the subject image on the imaging surface is in focus, When the object is in focus, or a projected image other than the intended subject, for example, a projected image such as a background, the focus state is often inconsistent, so that the confusion circle shape is very irregular. I will.

In general, when the subject is out of focus, or in the case of a subject image which must be always out of focus, such as the background, the confusion circle shape is preferably close to a perfect circle from the viewpoint of appreciation. The shape gives the result that the so-called "blur taste" is not good.

In a low-cost popular video camera,
This poor bokeh is hardly a problem in nature. However, in high-end models that emphasize image quality to some extent,
Improving the blurring becomes a relatively important issue.
In order to improve this, a video camera of this type is provided with a mechanism for inserting an ND filter from the outside without integrating the ND filter with a diaphragm mechanism, and will be described in the first and second conventional examples described above. In some cameras, an external switch such as a switching lever is provided in such a camera body so that a photographer can insert and remove an ND filter as necessary.

[0056]

In the imaging apparatus according to the first conventional example as shown in FIG. 21, the ND filter greatly reduces the transmittance of the light amount in the imaging optical system.
When the D filter is switched from ON to OFF,
When switching from F to ON, the amount of light input to the image sensor greatly changes before and after the switching, and the exposure level fluctuates, and it takes time for the exposure to become appropriate and stable, and during that time the image is cumbersome. However, there is a first problem that a photograph is taken.

Further, in the imaging system including the lens device and the camera body according to the second conventional example as shown in FIG. 23, since the ND filter is colored, the WB mode is set to the 5600K mode or 3200K mode. There is a second problem that if the ND filter is moved in and out while the selection is made, the color reproduction of the subject image changes before and after that.

Further, since the lens is of an interchangeable type, when the lens is exchanged, the ND filter is also replaced. That is, the unevenness of the influence of the coloring of the ND filter makes it difficult to control the white balance mode on the camera body side.

Further, in the imaging apparatus according to the third conventional example as shown in FIG. 27, since the ND filter is mechanically turned on, if the ND filter is turned on during shooting, the screen is momentarily darkened at this point. After a while, the operation of the camera's iris control mechanism and AGC control mechanism is activated, and if the same subject is continuously photographed, the recorded image becomes uncomfortable and becomes unfavorable in photographing. There was the same problem as the first problem.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image pickup apparatus, a lens apparatus, and a camera which can make the fluctuation of the subject light accordingly when the operation state of the ND filter for dimming the subject light is switched. It is an object to provide an iris control device, a gain control device, an ND filter control device, a control method thereof, and a medium for providing a control program thereof.

[0061]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an image pickup apparatus according to the present invention is provided so as to reduce the amount of light transmitted through an image pickup optical system and to be able to enter and exit the optical path of the image pickup optical system. An ND filter, first switching means for switching the ND filter into and out of the optical path, iris means for controlling the amount of transmitted light, and an image signal obtained by photoelectrically converting the transmitted light controlled by the iris means. Imaging means for outputting a signal, a detecting means for detecting a luminance signal from the image signal, a high-speed control means for controlling the iris means at high speed based on the detected luminance signal,
Low-speed control means for controlling the iris means at a low speed based on the detected luminance signal; and second switching means for switching between the high-speed control means and the low-speed control means in response to switching of the first switching means. It has.

In another image pickup apparatus according to the present invention, there is provided an ND filter provided to reduce the amount of light transmitted through the image pickup optical system and to be able to enter and exit the optical path of the image pickup optical system.
First switching means for switching the ND filter into and out of the optical path; imaging means for photoelectrically converting the transmitted light to output an image signal; detection means for detecting a luminance signal from the image signal; High-speed control means for controlling the gain of the image signal at a high speed based on the detected luminance signal; low-speed control means for controlling the gain of the image signal at a low speed based on the detected luminance signal;
Second switching means for switching between the high-speed control means and the low-speed control means in accordance with the switching of the switching means.

In the lens apparatus according to the present invention, the lens, an ND filter arranged in the optical path of the lens for reducing the amount of light, and information indicating the amount of color of the ND filter are transmitted to the imaging device. Communication means.

In another image pickup apparatus according to the present invention, an image pickup means for photoelectrically converting an optical image of a subject obtained from a lens device and outputting an image signal, and information indicating the coloration amount of an ND filter from the lens device. And correction means for correcting the white balance of the image signal based on the received information indicating the coloration amount of the ND filter.

In the imaging system according to the present invention, a lens for obtaining an optical image of a subject, an ND filter arranged in the optical path of the lens to reduce the amount of light, and information indicating the amount of color of the ND filter A lens device having a communication unit for transmitting an image signal; an imaging unit for photoelectrically converting the optical image of the subject to output an image signal; a communication unit for receiving information indicating an amount of coloring of the ND filter; An image pickup apparatus having a correction unit for correcting the white balance of the image signal based on information indicating the amount of coloring of the ND filter.

In another imaging apparatus according to the present invention, there is provided a lens for obtaining an optical image of a subject, an ND filter provided to reduce the amount of light transmitted through the lens and to be inserted into and removed from the optical path of the lens. Switching means for switching the ND filter into and out of the optical path; diaphragm means for controlling the amount of transmitted light; imaging means for photoelectrically converting the transmitted light controlled by the diaphragm means to output an image signal; Gain control means for controlling the gain of the image signal, and controlling the aperture amount of the aperture means so that the level of the gain-controlled image signal is constant, and when the ND filter is inserted into the optical path, Aperture control means for controlling the aperture amount of the aperture means in advance in accordance with the predicted light amount change of the transmitted light to the imaging means.

In another imaging apparatus according to the present invention, there is provided a lens for obtaining an optical image of a subject, an ND filter provided to reduce the amount of light transmitted through the lens and to be inserted into and removed from the optical path of the lens. Aperture means for controlling the amount of transmitted light; imaging means for photoelectrically converting the transmitted light controlled by the aperture means to output an image signal; gain control means for controlling the gain of the image signal; Aperture control means for controlling the aperture amount of the aperture means so that the level of the image signal becomes constant, and ND filter control for controlling the entrance and exit of the ND filter into and from the optical path according to the controlled aperture amount. Means are provided.

In the storage medium according to the present invention,
A first switching process for reducing the amount of light transmitted through the imaging optical system and switching the ND filter provided so as to be able to enter and exit the optical path of the imaging optical system into and out of the optical path;
An iris process for controlling the amount of transmitted light by iris means, an imaging process for photoelectrically converting the transmitted light controlled by the iris process to output an image signal, a detection process for detecting a luminance signal from the image signal, High-speed control processing for controlling the iris means at high speed based on the detected luminance signal; low-speed control processing for controlling the iris means at low speed based on the detected luminance signal; and the first switching processing A program for executing a second switching process for switching between the high-speed control process and the low-speed control process in accordance with the switching is stored.

In another storage medium according to the present invention, the amount of light transmitted through the imaging optical system is reduced, and an ND filter provided so as to be able to be inserted into and removed from the optical path of the imaging optical system is moved into and out of the optical path. A first switching process for switching, an imaging process for photoelectrically converting the transmitted light to output an image signal, a detection process for detecting a luminance signal from the image signal, and the image signal based on the detected luminance signal A high-speed control process for controlling the gain of the image signal at a high speed, a low-speed control process for controlling the gain of the image signal at a low speed based on the detected luminance signal, and the high-speed control according to the switching by the first switching process. A program for executing a second switching process for switching between the process and the low-speed control process is stored.

In another storage medium according to the present invention, an ND for reducing the amount of light provided in the optical path of the lens is provided.
A program for executing a communication process of transmitting information indicating the amount of color of the filter to the imaging device is stored.

Further, in another storage medium according to the present invention, an image pickup process of photoelectrically converting an optical image of a subject obtained from a lens device to output an image signal, and information indicating a coloration amount of an ND filter from the lens device. And a correction processing for correcting the white balance of the image signal based on the received information indicating the coloring amount of the ND filter.

Further, in another storage medium according to the present invention, there is provided a switching process for reducing the amount of light transmitted through a lens and switching an ND filter provided so as to be able to enter and exit the optical path of the lens into and out of the optical path. An aperture process for controlling the amount of transmitted light by aperture means; an imaging process for photoelectrically converting the transmitted light controlled by the aperture process to output an image signal; a gain control process for controlling a gain of the image signal; The aperture amount of the aperture means is controlled so that the level of the gain-controlled image signal becomes constant, and when the ND filter is inserted in the optical path, the aperture amount is adjusted according to the predicted light amount change of the transmitted light. A program for executing an aperture control process for controlling the aperture amount of the aperture means is stored in advance.

Further, in another storage medium according to the present invention, an aperture process for controlling the amount of light transmitted through a lens by an aperture unit, and an imaging process for photoelectrically converting the transmitted light controlled by the aperture process to output an image signal. A gain control process for controlling the gain of the image signal; an aperture control process for controlling the aperture amount of the aperture means so that the level of the gain-controlled image signal is constant; and the controlled aperture amount ND for controlling the ND filter provided so as to be able to be inserted into and removed from the optical path of the lens in and out of the optical path according to
A program for executing a filter control process is stored.

Further, in the imaging apparatus, the iris control apparatus, the iris control method, and the medium for providing the iris control program according to the present invention, the iris for adjusting the amount of light of the subject is controlled at the first speed and at the first speed higher than the first speed. 2 and operates in response to the insertion and removal of the ND filter for reducing the subject light into and out of the subject optical path.
And the second speed.

In the medium for providing the imaging apparatus, the gain control apparatus, the gain control method, and the gain control program according to the present invention, the gain of the image signal obtained by the imaging means for converting the subject light into the image signal is set to the first value. The first speed and the second speed in response to a speed and a second speed higher than the first speed, and in response to an ND filter for dimming subject light into and out of the subject optical path. Is performed.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a lens device having an ND filter for reducing subject light, mounted on an image pickup apparatus, a control method therefor, and a medium providing a control program therefor. The information indicating the shift amount is transmitted to the imaging device.

Further, in an image pickup apparatus to which a lens device having an ND filter for reducing subject light according to the present invention is mounted, a method of controlling the same, and a medium for providing a control program, the lens device includes the ND filter. Is received, and the white balance of the image captured via the lens device is corrected based on the received information indicating the amount of color shift by the ND filter.

Further, an imaging system including a lens device having an ND filter for reducing subject light according to the present invention, and an imaging device to which the lens device is mounted, a control method therefor, and a medium providing a control program therefor In, while transmitting information indicating the amount of color shift by the ND filter from the lens device side to the imaging device side, receiving the information indicating the color shift amount by the transmitted ND filter on the imaging device side, The white balance of the image captured via the lens device is corrected based on the received information indicating the amount of color shift by the ND filter.

Further, in the iris control device, the iris control method, and the medium that provides the iris control program according to the present invention, the operation state of the ND filter for dimming the subject light is determined, and according to the determination result, It controls the operation of the iris for adjusting the light quantity of the subject.

Further, in the medium for providing the gain control device, the gain control method, and the gain control program according to the present invention, the operation state of the ND filter for dimming the subject light is determined, and according to the determination result, The gain of the output of the light receiving means for receiving the subject light is controlled.

In the medium for providing the ND filter control device, the ND filter control method, and the ND filter control program according to the present invention, the operation state of the iris for adjusting the light amount of the subject is determined, and the object is determined in accordance with the determination result. It controls the operation of an ND filter that can operate independently of the iris for dimming light.

[0082]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.
It is a block diagram showing an imaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention,
The parts corresponding to those in FIG.
09 and 510 are omitted, and redundant description is omitted.

Hereinafter, FIG. 1 will be described focusing on parts different from FIG.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 511 denotes an iris control signal operation circuit for calculating an iris control signal according to the luminance signal detected by the luminance signal detection circuit 507; 512, an iris high-speed control mode section for operating the iris 503 at high speed;
Reference numeral 513 denotes an iris low-speed control mode unit for operating the iris 503 at a low speed, and 514 denotes an N for detecting that the ND filter 502 is in an ON state or an OFF state.
The D filter ON / OFF detection line 515 indicates that the ND filter 502 is ON or OFF.
Detected via a filter ON / OFF detection line 514, and the iris high-speed control mode unit 512
And an iris control mode selection circuit for selecting one of the iris control mode section 513.

Next, the operation will be described.

As a luminance signal used for controlling the exposure, a luminance signal containing a high-frequency component in the video signal output from the CDS / AGC circuit 505 is used. This luminance signal is obtained by being detected by a luminance signal detection circuit 507,
It is sent to the iris control signal operation circuit 511. The iris control signal calculation circuit 511 calculates the iris control signal by comparing it with a predetermined reference value (appropriate exposure level) so that the detected luminance signal is always constant.

At this time, two types of control signals are generated, a control signal for operating the iris 503 at high speed and a control signal for operating the iris 503 at low speed. Iris 503
Basically, the responsiveness (the amount of change in exposure per unit time) when controlling the exposure is always fixed.
In a normal case, a control signal for operating the iris 503 at a low speed is used.

On the other hand, the user operates the ND switching lever 510.
When the state of the ND filter 502 is changed by switching from ON to OFF or from OFF to ON, the amount of transmitted light greatly changes, and a large change occurs in the video signal input to the image sensor 504. As a result, a large luminance change occurs, and the exposure state is greatly disturbed. In this case, the iris control mode selection circuit 515 selects the iris high-speed control mode unit 512 to make the responsiveness for controlling the exposure by the iris 503 faster than usual (by increasing the amount of change in exposure per unit time). T), control is performed so that the time until proper exposure is minimized.

Next, the effect of the above-described control will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 5 shows the case of the prior art, which is the case of the present invention. In both cases, the vertical axis represents the signal level and the horizontal axis represents time, and immediately after the ND filter 502 is switched from OFF to ON. Is a graph of the change in the signal level of FIG.

As can be seen from FIG. 5, the signal level change time B in the present invention is shorter than the signal level change time A in the conventional example, and the signal level change time in the conventional example. The magnitude D of the signal level change in the present invention is smaller than the magnitude C of the present invention. That is, N
By operating the iris 503 at high speed immediately after the D filter 502 is switched from OFF to ON, it can be seen that the luminance change of the video signal is small and the proper exposure is quickly returned.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, a luminance signal containing a high-frequency component in the video signal output from the CDS / AGC circuit 505 is detected (S201). Next, the detected signal is compared with a predetermined reference value of an appropriate exposure. If the detected signal is equal to or larger than the reference value, a signal for controlling the iris 503 in a closing direction is calculated. If the detected signal is smaller than the reference value, a signal for controlling the iris 503 to open is calculated (S202).

Next, the state of the ND 510 is changed to the ND filter O.
The signal is input to the iris control mode selection circuit 101 via the N / OFF detection line 104 (S203). According to the information, whether the ND filter 502 is stable in the ON state, stable in the OFF state,
A change in the state of the ND filter 502, such as whether the state has shifted to the FF state or the state has shifted from the OFF state to the ON state, is detected (S204).

If the ND filter 502 is stable in the ON state or stable in the OFF state, S204
The control branches from NO to NO to control the iris in the low-speed mode (S206). Also, the ND filter 502 has transitioned from the ON state to the OFF state, or has been switched from the OFF state to the ON state.
If it has shifted to the state, the process branches to YES to control the iris in the high-speed mode (S205). Then, a driver control signal of the iris 503 is output (S207).

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
21 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, and portions corresponding to those in FIG. 21 are denoted by the same reference numerals 501 to 507, 509, and 510, and redundant description is omitted.

Hereinafter, a description will be given focusing on portions different from FIG.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 516 denotes an AGC control signal calculation circuit for calculating and generating an AGC control signal in accordance with the brightness signal output from the brightness signal detection circuit 507;
7, an AGC high-speed control mode unit for operating the AGC gain at high speed; and 518, an AG for operating the AGC gain at low speed.
A C low speed control mode unit 519 is an AGC control mode selection circuit for selecting either the AGC high speed control mode unit 517 or the AGC low speed control mode unit 518.

Next, the operation will be described.

As a luminance signal used for controlling the exposure, a luminance signal containing a high-frequency component in the video signal output from the CDS / AGC circuit 505 is used. This luminance signal is obtained by detection by the luminance signal detection circuit 507, and A
It is sent to the GC control signal operation circuit 516. The AGC control signal calculation circuit 516 calculates the AGC control signal by comparing it with a predetermined reference value (appropriate exposure level) so that the detected luminance signal is always constant. that time,
Control signal and AG for operating AGC gain at high speed
Two types of control signals for operating the C gain at low speed are generated.

The responsiveness (the amount of change in exposure per unit time) when the exposure is controlled by the AGC gain is basically always set to a constant value, and is usually used to operate the AGC gain at a low speed. Use control signals.

On the other hand, the user operates the ND switching lever 510.
Is changed from ON to OFF or from OFF to ON, when the state of insertion / removal of the ND filter 502 is changed, the amount of transmitted light greatly changes and the image sensor 504 is changed.
As a result, a large change occurs in the video signal input to the device, and as a result, a large luminance change occurs, and the exposure state is greatly disturbed.

In this case, control mode selection circuit 519
AGC high-speed control mode section 517 is selected by
The responsiveness for controlling the exposure by the gain is made faster than usual (by increasing the amount of change in the exposure per unit time), and the control is performed such that the time until the proper exposure becomes as short as possible.

As for the effect of the above-described control, similarly to FIG. 5, the present embodiment has a shorter signal level change time and a smaller magnitude than the conventional example. That is, immediately after switching the ND filter 502, A
By operating the GC gain at high speed, it can be seen that the luminance change of the video signal is small and the exposure is quickly returned to the proper exposure.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, a luminance signal containing a high-frequency component in the video signal output from the CDS / AGC circuit 505 is detected (S401). Next, the detected signal is compared with a predetermined reference value for proper exposure, and if the detected signal is equal to or greater than the reference value, a signal for controlling the AGC gain to be reduced is calculated. If the detected signal is smaller than the reference value, a signal for controlling the AGC gain to be increased is calculated (S402).

Next, the state of the ND switching lever 510 is changed via the ND filter ON / OFF detection line 504 to A.
Input to the GC control mode selection circuit 519 (S40
3). According to the information, whether the ND filter 502 is stable in the ON state, stable in the OFF state, transitioning from the ON state to the OFF state,
A change in the state of the ND filter 502 such as whether the state has shifted from the F state to the ON state is detected (S404).

If the ND filter 502 is stable in the ON state or stable in the OFF state, S404
To NO to control the AGC in the low-speed mode (S
406). When the ND filter 502 is turned on from the ON state,
If the state has shifted to the FF state or the state has shifted from the OFF state to the ON state, the process branches to YES to control the AGC gain in the high-speed mode (S405). And AGC
A gain control signal is output to the CDS / AGC circuit 505 (S407).

According to the first and second embodiments, N
Iris control or A according to switching of D filter
By controlling the operation of the GC at high speed, it is possible to reduce the disturbance of the exposure due to the insertion and removal of the ND filter and quickly return the exposure to the proper exposure, thereby solving the first problem described above.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 23 is a block diagram showing an interchangeable lens type imaging system according to a third embodiment of the present invention, which has substantially the same configuration as that of the second conventional example. is there.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

First, in the flowchart showing the processing of the lens microcomputer 111 in FIG. 6, a status is set as information indicating the amount of color shift due to the influence of the ND filter 102 (S701). This status differs depending on the ND filter 102 attached to each lens device 113, and the status is stored in the lens microcomputer 111 when the lens device 113 is adjusted.

The content of the status is, for example, a burst amount from the center position of the vector scope, such as the RY color shift amount 1001 and the BY color shift amount 1002 shown in FIG. It is composed of ratios.

Next, the lens microcomputer 111 detects the ON / OFF state of the ND switching lever 112 to determine whether the ND filter 102 is ON or OFF (S702). , N
The D filter ON status is set (S704),
The status set in S701 and S704 is transmitted to the camera microcomputer 109 (S705).

On the other hand, if the ND filter 102 is OFF, the status of the ND filter ON is cleared (S70).
3) The status set in S701 and S703 is transmitted to the camera microcomputer 109 (S705).

Next, in the flowchart showing the processing of the camera microcomputer 109 in FIG.
Are transmitted from the lens microcomputer 111 to S701 and S70 in FIG.
4 or the status set in S701 and S703 is received (S301). Then, the state of the WB mode selection switch 115 is read, and it is determined whether the WB mode is the 5600K mode (outdoor mode) (S302). In the case of YES, an R gain and a B gain predetermined as the 5600K mode are generated (S3
03).

Next, the ND filter 1 received in S301
When the ND filter 102 is OFF, the R gain and the B gain generated in S303 are output as gain control signals, and a gain control signal output circuit 125 is provided. Is controlled (S311).

When the ND filter 102 is ON, the offset amount is added to the R gain and the B gain generated in S303 from the status indicating the color shift amount received in S301, and as a result, the color shift is eliminated. Thus, an R gain and a B gain are newly generated (S308). Then, the generated R gain and B gain are output as gain control signals, and the gain control signal output circuit 125 is controlled (S3).
11).

If NO in S302, the state of the WB mode selection switch 115 is read, and
It is determined whether the B mode is the 3200K mode (indoor mode) (S304). In the case of YES, an R gain and a B gain predetermined as the 3200K mode are generated (S306).

Next, the ND filter 1 received in S301
If the ND filter 102 is OFF, the R gain and the B gain generated in S306 are output as gain control signals, and the gain control signal output circuit 125 Is controlled (S311).

On the other hand, when the ND filter 102 is ON, the offset amount is added to the R gain and the B gain generated in S306 from the status indicating the color shift amount received in S301, resulting in no color shift. Thus, an R gain and a B gain are newly generated (S310). Then, the generated R gain and B gain are output as gain control signals, and the gain control signal output circuit 125 is controlled (S3).
11).

If NO in S304, it is determined that the state of the WB mode selection switch 115 is the auto mode, and the R gain and the B gain are calculated (S3).
07). Then, the R gain and the B gain generated in S307 are output as gain control signals, and the gain control signal output circuit 125 is controlled (S311).

(Fourth Embodiment) FIG. 8 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
24 is a block diagram showing an interchangeable lens type imaging system according to the embodiment of FIG.
Repetitive description is omitted by attaching 01 to 115.

In the following, description will be made focusing on portions different from FIG.

In FIG. 8, reference numeral 401 denotes an ECD (electrochromic element), and the ND filter 10 shown in FIG.
It is used instead of 2. Reference numeral 402 denotes a color temperature detection circuit for detecting at any time a change in color temperature caused by a change in the density (transmittance) of the ECD 401;
Is a driver that changes the density of the image. Other parts are shown in FIG.
And have substantially the same configuration.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

In the flowchart showing the processing of the lens icon 111 in FIG. 9, a status indicating the amount of color shift due to the influence of the ECD 401 is set (S501). This status indicates the amount of change in color temperature that occurs simultaneously with the change in the density of the ECD 401, and is detected by the color temperature change detection circuit 402.

The contents of the status are, for example, the burst amount from the center position of the vector scope, such as the RY color shift amount 1001 and the BY color shift amount 1002 shown in FIG. It is composed of ratios.

Next, the status set in S501 is transmitted to the camera microcomputer 109 (S502).

In the flowchart showing the processing of the camera microcomputer 109 in FIG. 10, the camera microcomputer 109 receives the status set in S501 from the lens microcomputer 111 (S601). Then, the state of the WB mode selection switch 115 is read to determine whether the WB mode is the 5600K mode (S60).
2). If YES, an R gain and a B gain predetermined as the 5600K mode are generated (S603).

Next, from the status indicating the amount of color shift received in S601, an offset amount is added to the R gain and B gain generated in S603, and a new R gain is set so that the color shift is eliminated. Generate B gain (S
607). Then, the R gain and the B gain generated in S607 are output as gain control signals, and the gain control signal output circuit 125 is controlled (S609).

If NO in S602, the state of the WB mode selection switch 115 is read, and
It is determined whether the B mode is the 3200K mode (S6).
04). In the case of YES, an R gain and a B gain predetermined as the 3200K mode are generated (S60).
5).

Next, an offset amount is added to the R gain and the B gain generated in S605 from the status indicating the color shift amount received in S601, and a new R gain is set so that the color shift is eliminated as a result. And a B gain are generated (S608). Then, the generated R gain and B gain are output as gain control signals, and the gain control signal output circuit 12
5 is controlled (S609).

If NO in S604, it is determined that the state of the WB mode selection switch 115 is the auto mode, and the R gain and the B gain are calculated (S6).
06). Then, the R gain and the B gain generated in S606 are output as gain control signals, and the gain control signal output circuit 125 is controlled (S609).

According to the third and fourth embodiments, N
Since the correction is performed in the WB mode according to the color of the D filter, the color reproducibility does not deteriorate even if the ND filter is used. Also, even if the lens is of an interchangeable type, since information indicating the color of the ND filter is transmitted from the lens device side to the camera body, any type of ND filter can be used.
Appropriate color correction can be performed on the camera body side, and the second problem described above can be solved.

(Fifth Embodiment) FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an image pickup apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. Parts corresponding to FIG. 27 showing the third conventional example are described. The same numbers 1 to 12 are assigned and duplicate explanations are omitted.

In FIG. 11, reference numeral 13 denotes an ND filter,
Reference numeral 4 denotes an IG meter for controlling insertion of the ND filter 13;
5 is an ND drive circuit, 16 is a Hall element for detecting the position of the IG meter, 17 is an ND encoder, and 18 is an aperture switch.

As described above with reference to FIG. 27, the subject image projected by the photographing lens 1 is converted into an electric signal by the image pickup device 3, and this signal is converted into a CDS / AGC circuit 4, A
A video signal such as NTSC is output by being processed by the / D converter 5, the digital signal processing circuit 6, the D / A converter 7, and the like.

The IG meter 9 for opening and closing the aperture blade 2
The rotation position is detected by the Hall element 10, and the detection result is amplified and offset controlled by the iris encoder 11, and then the data is taken into the microcomputer 8.

The microcomputer 8 receives the information of the video signal level from the digital signal processing circuit 7 and the iris encoder 1
The information on the open / close state of the aperture blade 2 is read from 1, and a control signal is generated so as to be reduced when the video signal level is too large, and to be increased when the signal is too small, and output to the iris drive circuit 12. I do. The iris drive circuit 12 drives the IG meter 9 according to the control signal.

At this time, since the IG meter 9 itself is an inductance element, a time response delay occurs with respect to the applied voltage. In order to compensate for this delay, the rotational position of the IG meter 10 detected by the Hall element 11 is fed back to the iris drive circuit 12 via the iris encoder 11 to control the rotational speed.

Here, when the photographer determines that the ND filter 13 is necessary from the brightness of the subject and operates the external ND switch 18, the microcomputer 8 operates as follows according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In FIG. 12, first, the operation of the ND switch 18 is detected by the microcomputer 8 (S101), and the microcomputer 8 sends a drive signal to the ND drive circuit 15 (S102). The ND drive circuit 15 supplies a current to the IG meter 14, and the IG meter 14 inserts the ND filter 13 between the lens 1 and the diaphragm blade 2 by its rotation.

IG controlling insertion of ND filter 13
The meter 14 is an IG meter 9 driving the diaphragm blade 2.
Similarly to the above, the rotational position is magnetically detected by the Hall element 16, amplified and offset controlled to an appropriate level by the ND encoder 17, and fed back to the ND drive circuit 15 to control the rotational speed. At the same time, the detection result of the rotational position is A / D converted by the microcomputer 8 via the ND encoder 17 and is taken in as data (S
103).

After the microcomputer 8 sends a drive signal to the ND drive circuit 15, the ND filter 13 starts to move, and the time required for the ND filter 13 to completely enter the optical path of the lens and the change in the amount of light during that time are determined by the ND drive circuit. It is uniquely determined by the constant of No. 15 and the characteristics of the IG meter 14 and the Hall element 16.

FIG. 13 shows this change in light quantity.
The graph shows the relationship between the rotation angle of the G meter 14 and the change in the amount of incident light from the lens 1 due to the insertion of the ND filter 13 due to the rotation of the IG meter 14.
This characteristic is stored in the microcomputer 8 as data.

FIG. 14 shows the rotation angle of the IG meter 9 and the rotation angle of the IG meter 9.
The relationship between the rotation of the G meter 9 and the driving of the diaphragm blade 2 and the change in the amount of incident light from the lens 1 is shown.
This characteristic is also stored in the microcomputer 8 as data.

When the ND filter 13 is not turned on, the rotation angle of the IG meter 14 is 0 °, and the operation of the switch 18 causes the IG meter 14 to start rotating. With the rotation of the IG meter 14, the ND filter 13 starts to cover the optical path of the lens 1, and finally covers the whole.

As shown in FIG. 13, when the light amount when the IG meter 14 starts moving is L0 and the light amount when the IG meter 14 is rotated by θ1 is L1, the change in the light amount is ΔL. The microcomputer 8 reads the result of detecting the rotation angle of the IG meter 14 with the Hall element 16 via the ND encoder 17,
Similarly, the rotation angle θ2 of the IG meter 9 at that point is read from the iris encoder 11 (S10).
4), ND at this point from data stored in advance
The rotation angle △ θ of the IG meter 9 is calculated so as to cancel the light amount change △ L of the filter 13 (S105).

The microcomputer 9 rotates the IG meter 9 by Δθ via the iris drive circuit 12 based on the correction value to set it at the position of θ3 (S106), and the ND filter 13
Is corrected by changing the aperture value from L2 to L3 with respect to the change in light amount ΔL due to the input of. These series of operations are repeated at regular time intervals until the ND filter 13 is completely turned on (S107).

(Sixth Embodiment) FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing an image pickup apparatus according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention, and portions corresponding to those in FIG. Duplicate description will be omitted.

FIG. 15 differs from FIG. 11 in that the microcomputer 8 controls the gain of the CDS / AGC circuit 4.

The process until the diaphragm mechanism including the diaphragm blade 2, the IG meter 9, and the Hall element 10 operates so that the brightness of the subject image projected on the image pickup device 3 becomes constant is the fifth embodiment. Is the same as

When the photographer determines that the ND filter 13 is necessary from the brightness of the subject and operates the external ND switch 18, the microcomputer 8 operates as follows in accordance with the flowchart shown in FIG.

In FIG. 16, the operation of the ND switch 18 is detected by the microcomputer 8 (S111), and the microcomputer 8 sends a drive signal to the ND drive circuit 15 (S11).
2).

The ND drive circuit 15 supplies a current to the IG meter 14, and the IG meter 14 inserts the ND filter 13 between the lens 1 and the diaphragm blade 2 by its rotation. ND
As in the fifth embodiment, the rotation speed of the IG meter 14 that controls the insertion of the filter 13 is controlled by the ND encoder 17, and the detection result of the rotation position is A / D converted by the microcomputer 8. The data is captured as data (S113).

As in the fifth embodiment, the characteristic of the change in the amount of light until the ND filter 18 starts operating and the ND filter 13 starts to move completely into the optical path of the lens is transmitted to the microcomputer 8 in the same manner as in the fifth embodiment. It is stored as data.

In FIG. 13, when the light amount when the IG meter 14 starts to move is L0 and the light amount when the IG meter 14 is rotated by θ1 is L1, the change in the light amount is ΔL. The microcomputer 8 reads the result of detecting the rotation angle of the IG meter 14 by the Hall element 16 via the ND encoder 17, and calculates the gain of the CDS / AGC circuit 4 for canceling the light amount change ΔL (S114). ).

The microcomputer 9 determines the CD based on the correction value.
The gain of the S / AGC circuit 4 is controlled (S115), and ND
The change in light amount caused by the filter 13 is compensated for by changing the AGC gain. These series of operations are performed by N
This is repeated at regular time intervals until the D filter 13 is completely turned on (S116).

According to the fifth and sixth embodiments, the fluctuation of the video signal is minimized.
It is possible to solve the problem that a sense of incongruity occurs in a recorded image when the ND filter described in the third conventional example is turned on.

(Seventh Embodiment) FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing an image pickup apparatus according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention, and portions corresponding to those in FIG. Duplicate description will be omitted.

In FIG. 17, the ND switch 18 in FIG. 11 is omitted.

Next, the operation will be described.

As described above, the subject image projected by the photographing lens 1 is photoelectrically converted by the image pickup device 3 and then output from the D / A converter 7 as a video signal of NTSC or the like, and the aperture blade 2 is opened and closed. The rotation position of the IG meter 9 is detected by the Hall element 10, and the detection result is taken into the microcomputer 8 as data via the iris encoder 11.

In the above process, the microcomputer 8 reads the information on the video signal level and the information on the open / closed state of the diaphragm blade 2 and calculates a control signal according to the video signal level.
The iris drive circuit 12 drives the IG meter 9 according to the control signal. At this time, since the IG meter 9 is an inductance element, a time response delay occurs with respect to the applied voltage, so that the rotation position of the IG meter 9 detected by the Hall element 10 is changed via the iris encoder 11 to an iris drive circuit. 12 to control the rotation speed.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing the contents of the program of microcomputer 8 according to the present embodiment.

The microcomputer 8 periodically reads the opening state of the diaphragm blade 2 by the Hall element 10 and the iris encoder 11 (S11). However, the brightness of the subject becomes extremely bright without the ND filter 13 inserted. When the aperture diameter of the aperture blade 2 becomes smaller to some extent (S12, S12
13), the microcomputer 8 supplies a drive signal to the ND drive circuit 15, and the ND drive circuit 15 supplies a current to the IG meter 14,
The IG meter 14 inserts the ND filter 13 between the lens 1 and the diaphragm blade 2 by the rotation (S14).

IG controlling insertion of ND filter 13
The meter 14 is an IG meter 9 driving the diaphragm blade 2.
Similarly to the above, the rotational position is magnetically detected by the Hall element 16, amplified and offset controlled to an appropriate level by the ND encoder 17, and fed back to the ND drive circuit 15 to control the rotational speed. At the same time, the detection result of the rotational position is A / D converted by the microcomputer 8 via the ND encoder 17 and is taken in as data.

The time from when the ND filter 13 starts to move and when the ND filter 13 is completely thrown into the optical path of the lens and the change in the amount of light during that time are determined by the constant of the ND drive circuit and the IG meter 1
4. It is uniquely determined by the characteristics of the Hall element 16.

FIG. 13 shows this change in light quantity.
The relationship between the rotation angle of the G meter 14 and the change in the amount of incident light from the lens 1 due to the insertion of the ND filter 13 due to the rotation of the IG meter 14 is shown. These characteristics are stored in the microcomputer 8 as data.

FIG. 14 shows the rotation angle of the IG meter 9 and
The rotation of the IG meter 9 drives the diaphragm blade 2, and shows the relationship of the change in the amount of incident light from the lens 1 with the rotation. This characteristic is also stored in the microcomputer 8 as data.

When the ND filter 13 is not turned on, the rotation angle of the IG meter 14 is 0 °. When the IG meter 14 starts rotating, the ND filter 13 starts to cover the optical path of the lens 1 and finally the entirety. Will be covered.

As shown in FIG. 13, when the light amount when the IG meter 14 starts to move is L0 and the light amount when the IG meter 14 is rotated by θ1 is L1, the change in the light amount is ΔL. The microcomputer 8 reads the result of detecting the rotation angle of the IG meter 14 with the Hall element 16 via the ND encoder 17,
Similarly, the rotation angle θ2 of the IG meter 9 at that time is read from the iris encoder 11, and an IG that cancels the light amount change ΔL of the ND filter 13 at this time from the data stored in advance. The rotation angle △ θ of the meter 9 is calculated.

Based on the correction value, the microcomputer 8 rotates the IG meter 9 by △ θ via the iris drive circuit 12 and corrects the change in the amount of light due to the input of the ND filter 13 by changing the aperture value. . These series of operations are repeated at regular time intervals until the ND filter 13 is completely turned on (S15 to S19).

On the other hand, the brightness of the subject becomes dark, the aperture diameter of the aperture blade 2 becomes large to some extent, and the ND filter 1
When the microcomputer 8 determines that 3 is unnecessary, the microcomputer 8 supplies an ND release signal to the ND drive circuit 15 and
Reduces the current of the IG meter 14, the IG meter 14 returns its rotation, and the ND filter 13 includes the lens 1 and the aperture blade 2.
(S20, S21).

The time from when the ND filter 13 starts to escape and when the ND filter 13 completely escapes from the optical path of the lens 1 and the change in the amount of light during that time are the same as the time when the ND filter is turned on. Element 16
Are uniquely determined by the characteristics described above, and the characteristics shown in FIG. 13 are applied as they are. That is, this time, on the contrary, NDO
A locus from N to OFF.

When the ND filter 13 is completely turned on, the rotation angle of the IG meter 14 is θ0N.
The filter 13 begins to escape from the optical path of the lens 1 and finally escapes completely.

The microcomputer 8 calculates the rotation angle of the IG meter 9 so as to cancel out the change in the amount of light according to the movement of the IG meter 14 in the same manner as when the ND filter is turned on. Based on this correction value, the iris drive is performed. IG meter 9 via circuit 12
Is rotated by the correction amount, and the change in the amount of light due to the ND filter 13 falling out is corrected by changing the aperture value. These series of operations are repeated at regular time intervals until the ND filter 13 is completely removed from the optical path (S22).
To S26).

(Eighth Embodiment) FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing an image pickup apparatus according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 19, parts corresponding to those in FIG. Duplicate description will be omitted.

In FIG. 19, the microcomputer 8 has a CDS
The gain of the AGC circuit 4 is controlled.

The process until the diaphragm mechanism including the diaphragm blade 2, the IG meter 9, and the Hall element 10 operates so that the brightness of the subject image projected on the image pickup device 3 becomes constant is described in the seventh embodiment. Is the same as

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing the program contents of microcomputer 8 according to the present embodiment.

The microcomputer 8 periodically reads the opening state of the aperture blade 2 by the Hall element 10 and the iris encoder 11 (S31). However, when the ND filter 13 is not inserted, the brightness of the subject becomes extremely bright. When the aperture diameter of the aperture blade 2 is reduced to some extent, the microcomputer 8
Gives a drive signal to the ND drive circuit 15 (S32 to S3
4), the ND drive circuit 15 supplies a current to the IG meter 14, and the IG meter 14 rotates the ND filter 13
Is inserted between the lens 1 and the diaphragm blade 2.

IG controlling insertion of ND filter 13
As in the first embodiment, the rotational speed of the meter 14 is controlled by the ND encoder 17, and the result of detecting the rotational position is A / D converted by the microcomputer 8 and taken in as data.

The characteristics of the change in the amount of light from when the ND filter 13 starts to move until the ND filter 13 completely enters the optical path of the lens are stored as data in the microcomputer 8 as in the seventh embodiment. The microcomputer 8 includes a Hall element 16
The result of detecting the rotation angle of the IG meter 14 is read via the ND encoder 17, and the gain of the CDS / AGC circuit 4 for canceling the light amount change ΔL in FIG. 13 is calculated.

The microcomputer 9 determines the CDS based on the correction value.
The gain of the AGC circuit 4 is controlled to compensate for the change in the amount of light generated by the ND filter 13 by changing the gain. These series of operations are repeated at regular time intervals until the ND filter 13 is completely turned on (S35 to S3).
9).

On the other hand, the brightness of the subject becomes dark, and the aperture diameter of the aperture blade 2 becomes large to some extent.
When the microcomputer 8 determines that the signal No. 3 is unnecessary, the microcomputer 8 supplies an ND release signal to the ND drive circuit 15 (S40, S4
1), the ND drive circuit 15 reduces the current of the IG meter 14, the IG meter 14 returns to its rotation, and the ND filter 1
3 escapes from the question of the lens 1 and the diaphragm blade 2.

The time from when the ND filter 13 starts to escape and when the ND filter 13 completely escapes from the optical path of the lens, and the change in the amount of light during that time, are the same as when the ND filter is turned on. The characteristic is uniquely determined by the 16 characteristics, and the characteristic shown in FIG. 13 is applied as it is. That is, NDON
It is a locus from to OFF.

When the ND filter 13 is completely turned on, the rotation angle of the IG meter 14 is θ0N.
The filter 13 begins to escape from the optical path of the lens 1 and finally escapes completely. The microcomputer 8 calculates the gain of the CDS / AGC circuit 4 so as to cancel out the change in the amount of light according to the movement of the IG meter 14, as in the case of turning on the IG meter.

The microcomputer 8 determines the CD based on the correction value.
The gain of the S / AGC circuit 4 is controlled, and the ND filter 13 is controlled.
Is compensated for by changing the AGC gain. These series of operations are repeated at regular time intervals until the ND filter 13 is completely removed from the optical path (S
42 to S46).

According to the seventh and eighth embodiments, the ND filter can be automatically inserted and removed according to the brightness of the subject, that is, the aperture value, so that the photographer does not care about the brightness of the subject. It is not necessary to operate the switching lever, the aperture switch, and the like, and the third problem described above can be solved.

In addition, when the ND filter is automatically taken in and out, the fluctuation of the video signal can be minimized by controlling the aperture and the AGC in advance.

(Ninth Embodiment) Next, a ninth embodiment of the present invention will be described.
A storage medium according to the embodiment will be described.

The systems shown in the figures according to the first to eighth embodiments can be constituted by hardware, but are constituted by computer systems using a camera microcomputer, a lens microcomputer, etc. having a CPU and a memory. You can also. When configuring with a computer system,
The above memory in each microcomputer constitutes a storage medium according to the present invention. The storage medium stores programs for executing the operations and processes described in the above embodiments and the flowcharts in the respective drawings.

The storage medium includes ROM, R
Semiconductor memory such as AM, optical disk, magneto-optical disk,
A magnetic storage medium or the like may be used, and these may be a CD-ROM,
The present invention may be applied to an FD, a magnetic card, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, or the like.

Therefore, when this storage medium is used in a system or apparatus other than the system according to each embodiment, and the system or computer reads out and executes the program code stored in this storage medium, each of the above-described methods can be used. The same functions as those of the embodiment can be realized, the same effects can be obtained, and the object of the present invention can be achieved.

An OS running on a computer
When performing part or all of the processing, or after the program code read from the storage medium is written to a memory provided in an extended function board or an extended function unit connected to the computer, Even when the CPU or the like provided in the above-mentioned extended function board or extended function unit performs a part or all of the processing based on the instruction of the program code, the same functions as those of the above embodiments can be realized and the same functions can be realized. Effect can be obtained,
The object of the present invention can be achieved.

The above is an explanation of the embodiments of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to the structures of these embodiments, and the scope of the claims or the functions of the structures of the embodiments is not limited. Any configuration that can be achieved can be applied.

For example, the software configuration and the hardware configuration of the above embodiment can be replaced as appropriate.

In the present invention, the above embodiments or their technical elements may be combined as needed.

Further, the present invention is directed to a system in which the whole or a part of the configuration of the claims or the embodiment forms one device and is combined with another device. However, it may be an element constituting the device.

Further, the present invention can be applied to various forms of electronic cameras such as video cameras capable of shooting moving images or still images, silver halide cameras using films, single-lens reflex cameras, lens shutter cameras, surveillance cameras, and the like. Camera, further, an imaging device other than a camera, an image reading device, an optical device, and other devices, and further, the camera, an imaging device, an image reading device, an optical device, a device applied to other devices, and The present invention can also be applied to elements constituting these devices, a control method for these devices, and a medium such as a storage medium for providing a control program therefor.

[0204]

As described above, according to the present invention,
An imaging device, a lens device, an iris control device, a gain control device, and an ND that can make the fluctuation of the subject light accompanying the change of the operation state of the ND filter for dimming the subject light appropriate. Filter control device,
It is possible to provide a medium for providing those control methods and control programs.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an imaging device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation of the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an imaging device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a characteristic diagram showing the effects of the first and second embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a lens microcomputer according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a camera microcomputer according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an interchangeable lens type imaging system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a lens microcomputer according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a camera microcomputer according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an imaging device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an operation of the microcomputer according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a characteristic diagram illustrating a relationship between a rotation angle of an IG meter that drives an ND filter and a change in light amount.

FIG. 14 is a characteristic diagram showing a relationship between a rotation angle of an IG meter for driving an aperture blade and a change in light amount.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing an imaging device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an operation of the microcomputer according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing an imaging device according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing an operation of the microcomputer according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing an imaging device according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing an operation of the microcomputer according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing an imaging device according to a first conventional example.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing an operation according to the first conventional example.

FIG. 23 is a block diagram illustrating a lens-interchangeable imaging system according to a third embodiment of the present invention and a second conventional example.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing the operation of the lens microcomputer according to the second conventional example.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing the operation of the camera microcomputer according to the second conventional example.

FIG. 26 is a characteristic diagram showing a vector scope for explaining the influence of the ND filter.

FIG. 27 is a block diagram showing an imaging device according to a third conventional example.

FIG. 28 is a configuration diagram showing an example of mounting a diaphragm blade and an ND filter according to a third conventional example, and a change due to opening and closing thereof.

[Explanation of symbols]

502 ND filter 503 Iris 504 ND filter ON / OFF detection line 505 CDS / AGC circuit 507 Luminance signal detection circuit 510 ND switching lever 511 Iris control signal operation circuit 512 Iris high speed control mode section 513 Iris low speed control mode section 516 AGC control signal operation Circuit 517 AGC high-speed control mode section 518 AGC low-speed control mode section 519 Iris control in control mode 102 ND filter 103 Iris 104 CCD 105 CDS / AGC circuit 107 Camera signal processing circuit 109 Camera microcomputer 110 Communication line 111 Lens microcomputer 112 ND switching lever 113 Lens device 114 Camera body 115 WB mode selection switch 120 Luminance / chrominance signal generation circuit 121, 122 Gain control circuit Reference Signs List 23 color difference signal generation circuit 124 encoder 125 gain control signal output circuit 401 ECD (electrochromic element) 402 color temperature change detection circuit 403 driver 1001 WB5600K mode R-Y color shift amount due to ND filter ON 1002 WB5600K mode ND filter B due to ON −Y color shift amount 1003 RY color shift amount due to WB3200K mode ND filter ON 1004 WB3200K mode ND filter ON due to BY color shift amount 1 lens 2 diaphragm blade 4 CDS / AGC circuit 6 digital signal processing circuit 8 Microcomputer 9 IG meter 10 Hall element 11 Iris encoder 12 Iris drive circuit 13 ND filter 14 IG meter 15 ND drive circuit 16 Hall element 17 ND encoder 18 Aperture switch Ji

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] July 26, 2000 (2007.2
6)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Name of invention

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

An imaging device, a lens device, an iris control device, a gain control device, a control method thereof, and a medium for providing the control program

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Claims]

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0001

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image pickup device such as a video camera using an ND filter for dimming subject light, a lens device, an iris control device, a gain control device, and the like.
The present invention relates to a method for controlling the above and a medium for providing the control program.

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0060

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

An object of the present invention is to provide an image pickup apparatus, a lens apparatus, and a camera which can make the fluctuation of the subject light accordingly when the operation state of the ND filter for dimming the subject light is switched. An object of the present invention is to provide an iris control device, a gain control device, a control method thereof, and a medium for providing a control program thereof.

[Procedure amendment 5]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0067

[Correction method] Deleted

[Procedure amendment 6]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0073

[Correction method] Deleted

[Procedure amendment 7]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0081

[Correction method] Deleted

[Procedure amendment 8]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0204

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0204]

As described above, according to the present invention,
An imaging device, a lens device, an iris control device, a gain control device, and the like that can make the fluctuation of the subject light accompanying the change of the operation state of the ND filter for dimming the subject light appropriate. And a medium for providing such a control program.

Claims (87)

[Claims] An ND filter provided to reduce the amount of light transmitted through an imaging optical system and to be able to enter and exit the optical path of the imaging optical system, and a first switch for switching the ND filter into and out of the optical path. Means, iris means for controlling the amount of transmitted light, imaging means for photoelectrically converting the transmitted light controlled by the iris means to output an image signal, and detection means for detecting a luminance signal from the image signal, High-speed control means for controlling the iris means at high speed based on the detected luminance signal; low-speed control means for controlling the iris means at low speed based on the detected luminance signal; and An imaging apparatus comprising: a second switching unit that switches between the high-speed control unit and the low-speed control unit in response to switching. 2. An ND filter provided to reduce the amount of light transmitted through an imaging optical system and to be able to enter and exit the optical path of the imaging optical system, and a first switch for switching the ND filter into and out of the optical path. Means, an imaging means for photoelectrically converting the transmitted light to output an image signal, a detection means for detecting a luminance signal from the image signal, and a high-speed gain of the image signal based on the detected luminance signal. High-speed control means for controlling; low-speed control means for controlling the gain of the image signal at low speed based on the detected luminance signal; high-speed control means and low-speed control means in response to switching of the first switching means And a second switching means for switching between the two. 3. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second switching unit switches to the high-speed control unit immediately after the switching operation by the first switching unit. 4. A lens, and an ND disposed in an optical path of the lens for reducing the amount of light.
A lens device, comprising: a filter; and communication means for transmitting information indicating a coloration amount of the ND filter to an imaging device. 5. A switching means for moving the ND filter in and out of the optical path, wherein the communication means includes
5. The lens device according to claim 4, wherein the information about the insertion / removal of the filter is transmitted. 6. The lens device according to claim 4, wherein said ND filter is variable in density, and provided with density control means for controlling said density. 7. The lens device according to claim 4, wherein the ND filter is an electrochromic device. 8. An imaging unit for photoelectrically converting an optical image of a subject obtained from a lens device to output an image signal; a communication unit for receiving information indicating an amount of coloring of an ND filter from the lens device; An image pickup apparatus comprising: a correction unit configured to correct a white balance of the image signal based on information indicating a coloring amount of the ND filter. 9. A lens for obtaining an optical image of a subject, an ND filter arranged in an optical path of the lens for reducing the amount of light, and a communication unit for transmitting information indicating the amount of color of the ND filter. A lens device; an imaging unit that photoelectrically converts the optical image of the subject to output an image signal; a communication unit that receives information indicating the amount of coloring of the ND filter; and information indicating the amount of coloring of the received ND filter And a correction unit for correcting the white balance of the image signal based on the image signal. 10. A lens for obtaining an optical image of a subject, an ND filter provided to reduce the amount of light transmitted through the lens and to be able to be inserted into and removed from the optical path of the lens, and to insert and remove the ND filter into and from the optical path. Switching means for switching the transmission light amount, aperture means for controlling the transmitted light amount, imaging means for photoelectrically converting the transmitted light controlled by the aperture means to output an image signal, and gain control means for controlling the gain of the image signal Controlling the aperture amount of the aperture means so that the level of the image signal subjected to the gain control is constant;
Aperture control means for controlling the aperture amount of the aperture means in advance according to the predicted light amount change of the transmitted light to the imaging means when the filter is inserted in the optical path. Imaging device. 11. The gain control means controls the gain of the image signal in accordance with an expected change in light amount of the transmitted light to the imaging means when the ND filter is inserted in the optical path. The imaging device according to claim 10, wherein: 12. A lens for obtaining an optical image of a subject, an ND filter provided to reduce the amount of light transmitted through the lens and to be able to enter and exit the optical path of the lens, and a diaphragm means for controlling the amount of transmitted light; Imaging means for photoelectrically converting the transmitted light controlled by the aperture means to output an image signal; gain control means for controlling a gain of the image signal; and a level of the gain-controlled image signal being constant. Aperture control means for controlling the aperture amount of the aperture means, and ND filter control means for controlling the ND filter to enter and exit the optical path according to the controlled aperture amount. Imaging device. 13. The aperture control means controls the aperture amount of the aperture means in advance in accordance with the predicted light amount change of the transmitted light to the imaging means due to the insertion and removal of the ND filter into and from the optical path. The imaging device according to claim 12, wherein: 14. The gain control means controls the gain of the image signal in accordance with an expected light amount change of the transmitted light to the image pickup means when the ND filter is put in and out of the optical path. The imaging device according to claim 13, wherein: 15. An ND provided to reduce the amount of light transmitted through the imaging optical system and to be able to enter and exit the optical path of the imaging optical system.
A first switching process for switching a filter into and out of the optical path, an iris process for controlling the amount of transmitted light by iris means, and an image pickup for photoelectrically converting the transmitted light controlled by the iris process to output an image signal Processing, detection processing for detecting a luminance signal from the image signal, high-speed control processing for controlling the iris means at high speed based on the detected luminance signal, and the iris means based on the detected luminance signal Computer-readable program storing a program for executing a low-speed control process for controlling the speed at a low speed, and a second switching process for switching between the high-speed control process and the low-speed control process in accordance with the switching by the first switching process. Storage media. 16. An ND provided to reduce the amount of light transmitted through the imaging optical system and to be able to enter and exit the optical path of the imaging optical system.
A first switching process for switching a filter into and out of the optical path; an imaging process for photoelectrically converting the transmitted light to output an image signal; a detection process for detecting a luminance signal from the image signal; High-speed control processing for controlling the gain of the image signal at high speed based on the detected luminance signal; low-speed control processing for controlling the gain of the image signal at low speed based on the detected luminance signal; A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for executing a second switching process for switching between the high-speed control process and the low-speed control process in accordance with the switching by the process. 17. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for executing a communication process for transmitting information indicating a colored amount of an ND filter arranged in an optical path of a lens for reducing the amount of light to an imaging device. . 18. An imaging process of photoelectrically converting an optical image of a subject obtained from a lens device to output an image signal; a communication process of receiving information indicating a coloration amount of an ND filter from the lens device; A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for executing a correction process for correcting the white balance of the image signal based on information indicating an amount of coloring of an ND filter. 19. A switching process for reducing the amount of light transmitted through a lens and switching an ND filter, which is provided to be able to enter and exit the optical path of the lens, into and out of the optical path, and controlling the amount of transmitted light by aperture means. Processing, imaging processing for photoelectrically converting the transmitted light controlled by the aperture processing to output an image signal, gain control processing for controlling the gain of the image signal, and the level of the gain-controlled image signal is constant The amount of aperture of the aperture means is controlled so that
A computer-readable program which stores a program for executing a diaphragm control process for controlling the diaphragm amount of the diaphragm means in advance according to the predicted light amount change of the transmitted light when the filter is put in the optical path. Storage medium. 20. An aperture process for controlling the amount of light transmitted through the lens by aperture means; an imaging process for photoelectrically converting the transmitted light controlled by the aperture process to output an image signal; and controlling a gain of the image signal. Gain control processing; aperture control processing for controlling the aperture amount of the aperture means so that the level of the gain-controlled image signal is constant; and moving the lens into and out of the optical path of the lens according to the controlled aperture amount. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for executing an ND filter control process for controlling an ND filter provided to be able to enter and exit the optical path. 21. An ND filter for reducing the amount of subject light that can enter and exit the subject optical path, an iris for adjusting the amount of subject light, and a first speed and a first speed for the iris.
Control means for operating at a second speed higher than the first speed and switching between the first speed and the second speed in response to the ND filter entering and exiting the optical path. Imaging device. 22. The control unit according to claim 19, wherein the control unit controls the first speed in response to the in-and-out movement of the ND filter.
22. The imaging apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the speed is switched to a speed of the imaging device. 23. An iris for adjusting the amount of light of a subject is a first iris.
Control means for operating at a second speed higher than the first speed and at a second speed higher than the first speed; and the first speed and the second speed in response to the in-and-out movement of an ND filter for reducing subject light into and out of the subject optical path. 2. An iris control device, comprising: switching means for switching between the two speeds. 24. The iris control device according to claim 23, wherein the switching unit switches the first speed to the second speed in response to the ND filter entering and exiting the optical path. 25. An ND filter for reducing subject light that can enter and exit the subject optical path, imaging means for converting the subject light into an image signal, and a gain of the image signal as a first signal.
Control means for controlling the speed of the ND filter and a second speed higher than the first speed, and switching between the first speed and the second speed in response to moving the ND filter into and out of the optical path. An imaging device, comprising: 26. The control device according to claim 27, wherein the control unit controls the first speed in response to the ingress and egress of the ND filter.
26. The imaging device according to claim 25, wherein the speed is switched to the speed of the imaging device. 27. A control means for controlling a gain of an image signal obtained by an imaging means for converting subject light into an image signal at a first speed and a second speed higher than the first speed.
A gain control device comprising: switching means for switching between the first speed and the second speed in response to an ND filter for dimming subject light entering and exiting the subject optical path. 28. The gain control device according to claim 27, wherein the switching unit switches the first speed to the second speed in response to the ND filter entering and exiting the optical path. 29. A lens device mounted on an imaging device, comprising: an ND filter for dimming subject light; and transmission means for transmitting information indicating a color shift amount due to the ND filter to the imaging device. A lens device characterized by the above-mentioned. 30. The apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the ND filter is capable of moving in and out of an optical path of a subject, and the transmitting unit transmits information relating to moving the ND filter in and out of the optical path to the imaging device. Lens device. 31. The lens device according to claim 29, wherein the ND filter is variable in transmittance, and the transmitting unit transmits information on the transmittance of the ND filter to the imaging device. 32. The lens device according to claim 31, wherein the transmittance of the ND filter changes according to the density. 33. The lens device according to claim 31, wherein the ND filter is formed of an electrochromic element. 34. The lens device according to claim 31, wherein the lens device is detachable from the imaging device. 35. An imaging apparatus equipped with a lens device having an ND filter for reducing subject light,
A receiving unit that receives information indicating the amount of color shift by the ND filter from the lens device; and an image captured via the lens device based on the information indicating the amount of color shift by the ND filter received by the receiving unit. An imaging apparatus comprising: a correction unit configured to correct a white balance. 36. The image forming apparatus according to claim 35, further comprising an image pickup unit for converting an optical image captured through the lens device into an image signal, wherein the correction device corrects the image signal. Imaging device. 37. A lens device having an ND filter for dimming subject light, and transmission means for transmitting information indicating a color shift amount by the ND filter; and a color shift amount by the ND filter from the lens device. And a correction unit configured to correct a white balance of an image captured via the lens device based on information indicating a color shift amount by the ND filter received by the reception unit. An imaging system comprising: a device. 38. An ND filter for dimming subject light, an iris for adjusting subject light quantity, and control means for judging an operation state of the ND filter and controlling an operation of the iris according to the judgment result. An iris control device comprising: 39. The iris control device according to claim 38, wherein said control means determines an operation state of said ND filter based on an operation position of said ND filter. 40. The iris control device according to claim 38, wherein the control means controls the operation of the iris such that the change in the amount of light of the subject caused by the ND filter is canceled by the iris. 41. The iris control device according to claim 38, wherein the iris control device is provided in an imaging device. 42. A control device for controlling an operation of an iris for adjusting a light amount of a subject according to a result of the determination by the determining unit, the determining unit determining an operation state of an ND filter for dimming subject light. An iris control device, characterized in that: 43. The iris control device according to claim 42, wherein said determination means determines an operation state of said ND filter based on an operation position of said ND filter. 44. The iris control device according to claim 42, wherein the control means controls the operation of the iris such that the change in the amount of light of the subject caused by the ND filter is canceled by the iris. 45. The iris control device according to claim 32, wherein the subject light amount control device is provided in an imaging device. 46. An ND filter for attenuating subject light, a light receiving means for receiving the subject light, and an operation state of the ND filter are determined, and an output gain of the light receiving means is determined according to the determination result. A gain control device, comprising: control means for controlling. 47. The gain control device according to claim 46, wherein said control means determines an operation state of said ND filter based on an operation position of said ND filter. 48. The control unit according to claim 46, wherein the control unit controls the gain of the output of the light receiving unit so that a change in the amount of light of the subject caused by the ND filter is canceled by the gain of the output of the light receiving unit. 47. The gain control device according to 47. 49. The gain control device according to claim 46, wherein the gain control device is provided in an imaging device. 50. A determination means for determining an operation state of an ND filter for dimming subject light, and a control means for controlling a gain of an output of a light receiving means for receiving a subject in accordance with a determination result of the determination means. A gain control device comprising: 51. The gain control device according to claim 50, wherein said control means determines an operation state of said ND filter based on an operation position of said ND filter. 52. The control unit according to claim 50, wherein the control unit controls an output gain of the light receiving unit so that a change in a light amount of the subject due to the ND filter is canceled by a gain of the output of the light receiving unit. 51. The gain control device according to 51. 53. The gain control device according to claim 50, wherein the gain control device is provided in an imaging device. 54. An iris for adjusting a light quantity of a subject, an ND filter operable independently of the iris for dimming incident light, and an operation state of the iris is determined. Control means for controlling the operation of the ND filter. 55. The ND filter control device according to claim 54, wherein said control means determines an operation state of said iris based on an operation position of said iris. 56. The control device according to claim 54, wherein the control means activates the ND filter in response to determining that the iris is reduced to a predetermined aperture.
55. The ND filter control device according to 55. 57. The control device according to claim 5, wherein the control means disables the ND filter in response to determining that the iris has increased to a predetermined aperture.
The ND filter control device according to any one of Items 4 to 56. 58. The ND filter control device according to claim 54, wherein the ND filter control device is provided in an imaging device. 59. A determining means for determining an operation state of an iris for adjusting a light amount of a subject, and an ND operable independently of the iris for reducing subject light in accordance with a result of the determination by the determining means. An ND filter control device, comprising: control means for controlling a filter. 60. The ND filter control device according to claim 59, wherein said control means determines an operation state of said iris based on an operation position of said iris. 61. The ND filter according to claim 59, wherein the control means activates the ND filter in response to determining that the iris is reduced to a predetermined aperture.
60. The ND filter control device according to 60. 62. The controller according to claim 62, wherein the controller determines that the iris has increased to a predetermined aperture.
60. The D filter is deactivated.
63. The ND filter control device according to any one of items 61 to 61. 63. The ND filter control device according to claim 59, wherein the ND filter control device is provided in an imaging device. 64. An iris for adjusting the amount of light of a subject is a first iris.
And a second speed higher than the first speed, and the first speed and the second speed in response to the ND filter for dimming the subject light in and out of the subject optical path. An iris control method characterized by performing speed switching. 65. A method for controlling a gain of an image signal obtained by an imaging unit for converting subject light into an image signal at a first speed and a second speed higher than the first speed, and reducing the subject light. Switching between the first speed and the second speed in response to an ND filter for moving the ND filter into and out of the optical path of the subject light. 66. A method for controlling a lens device mounted on an imaging device, comprising: an ND filter for reducing subject light, wherein information indicating a color shift amount by the ND filter is transmitted to the imaging device. A method for controlling a lens device, comprising: 67. A control method for an image pickup apparatus equipped with a lens device having an ND filter for reducing subject light, wherein information indicating a color shift amount due to the ND filter is received from the lens device. A method for correcting the white balance of an image captured through the lens device based on information indicating the amount of color shift by the ND filter. 68. A control method for an imaging system including a lens device having an ND filter for reducing subject light and an imaging device to which the lens device is attached, wherein the color from the lens device side by the ND filter is used. Information indicating the shift amount is transmitted to the imaging device side, and the transmitted information indicating the color shift amount by the ND filter is received by the imaging device side, and the received information indicating the color shift amount by the ND filter is received. A method for controlling an imaging system, comprising: correcting a white balance of an image captured through the lens device based on the image data. 69. An iris control method comprising: judging an operation state of an ND filter for dimming subject light, and controlling an operation of an iris for adjusting a subject light amount according to a result of the judgment. 70. A gain control, wherein an operation state of an ND filter for dimming subject light is determined, and a gain of an output of a light receiving means for receiving the subject light is controlled in accordance with a result of the determination. Method. 71. An operation state of an iris for adjusting a light amount of a subject is determined, and an operation of an ND filter operable independently of the iris for dimming the subject light is controlled according to the determination result. ND filter control method characterized by the above-mentioned. 72. An iris for adjusting a light amount of a subject is a first iris.
And a second speed higher than the first speed, and the first speed and the second speed in response to the ingress and egress of the ND filter for reducing the subject light into and out of the subject optical path. A medium for providing an iris control program, having a content for switching speeds. 73. The medium for providing the iris control program is a storage medium.
A medium which provides the iris control program according to the above. 74. A gain of an image signal obtained by an imaging means for converting subject light into an image signal is controlled at a first speed and a second speed higher than the first speed, and the subject light is dimmed. A medium for providing a gain control program, the method comprising: switching between the first speed and the second speed in response to an ND filter for moving the ND filter into and out of the optical path of a subject. 75. The medium for providing a gain control program according to claim 74, wherein the medium for providing the gain control program is a storage medium. 76. A medium having an ND filter for reducing subject light and providing a control program for a lens device mounted on an imaging device, wherein information indicating an amount of color shift by the ND filter is stored in the imaging device. A medium for providing a control program for a lens device, having a content to be transmitted to a lens device. 77. The medium for providing a control program for a lens device according to claim 76, wherein the medium for providing the control program for the lens device is a storage medium. 78. A medium for providing a control program for an image pickup apparatus to which a lens device having an ND filter for reducing subject light is mounted, receives information indicating a color shift amount due to the ND filter from the lens device. A medium for providing a control program for an imaging device, the content having a content for correcting a white balance of an image captured via the lens device based on the received information indicating a color shift amount due to the ND filter. 79. A medium for providing a control program for the image pickup apparatus is a storage medium.
A medium for providing a control program for an imaging device according to claim 8. 80. A medium for providing a control program for an imaging system including a lens device having an ND filter for reducing subject light and an imaging device to which the lens device is attached, wherein Information indicating the amount of color shift by the ND filter is transmitted to the imaging device side, and the transmitted information indicating the amount of color shift by the ND filter is received by the imaging device side, and the received color shift by the ND filter is received. A medium for providing a control program for an imaging system, comprising: a content for correcting a white balance of an image captured via the lens device based on information indicating an amount. 81. A medium for providing a control program for an imaging system according to claim 80, wherein the medium for providing the control program for the imaging system is a storage medium. 82. An iris control characterized by determining an operation state of an ND filter for dimming subject light and controlling an operation of an iris for adjusting a subject light amount according to a result of the determination. A medium that provides programs. 83. The medium for providing the iris control program is a storage medium.
A medium which provides the iris control program according to the above. 84. An operation state of an ND filter for dimming subject light is determined, and a content of controlling an output gain of a light receiving means for receiving the subject light is determined according to the determination result. A medium that provides a gain control program. 85. The medium for providing a gain control program according to claim 84, wherein the medium for providing the gain control program is a storage medium. 86. An operation state of an iris for adjusting a light amount of a subject is determined, and an operation of an ND filter operable independently of the iris for dimming the subject light is controlled according to the determination result. A medium for providing an ND filter control program. 87. The medium for providing an ND filter control program according to claim 86, wherein the medium for providing the ND filter control program is a storage medium.