JP2002107609A - Lens device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lens device capable of attaining quick focusing and the improvement of operability by setting up a condition that a focus evaluation value exceeds a prescribed threshold on the basis of a focus operation member or the manipulated variable of the focus operation member is changed more than a prescribed variable as a switching condition on the basis of the operation of the focus operation member in the case of switching a manual state for operating the focus operation member by an operator to an automatic focusing(AF) state and capable of operating the focus operation member without a feeling of wrongness by gradually switching a manual state to an electric state in the case of switching a clutch for switching the driving of a focusing lens from the manual state to the electric state to an automatic focusing state. SOLUTION: When the start of an AF mode is instructed by an AF mode starting switch S1, a CPU 100 switches the clutch FCL to the manual side and waits for an operator to instruct an AF moving direction by operating a focus ring FR. When the focus evaluation value exceeds the prescribed threshold, the CPU 100 switches the clutch FCL to the electric side to start the AF mode.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a lens device,
In particular, the present invention relates to a lens device having an autofocus function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a lens device used for a television camera or the like, there is known an auto focus in which a focus lens is automatically moved to a focus position based on a high frequency component of a video signal obtained from the television camera. Also,
Conventionally, there has been known a focus adjustment method in which a high-precision focus adjustment using auto-focus is used, and when a cameraman performs focus adjustment using manual focus, high-precision focus adjustment that is difficult to visually check is performed by auto-focus. (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-1)
No. 58881).

[0003]

However, the above-mentioned focus adjustment method is basically based on manual focus, and it is necessary for an operator to visually adjust the focus through a finder until a certain degree of focus is obtained. However, this does not reduce the burden on the photographer for focus adjustment.

On the other hand, in the case of auto focus (auto focus mode) in which the focus adjustment is performed automatically, the burden on the camera operator for the focus adjustment does not occur. However, even if a photographer can easily determine empirically whether the focus is shifted in the infinity direction or the closest direction, autofocusing may not be possible in some cases. In such a case, in the conventional auto focus, for example, the focus lens is moved in a predetermined direction to detect a focus position in that direction, and if the focus position is not detected in that direction, the focus lens After reaching the end, the moving direction is reversed so that the in-focus position is detected in the opposite direction. For this reason, focusing may require time.

Therefore, in the autofocus mode, if the cameraman is instructed only by operating the focus operation member used in the manual focus in the direction in which the autofocus starts moving, the focus can be adjusted without burdening the cameraman with focus adjustment. It is believed that scorching can be performed quickly. In this case, the camera is automatically switched from the state in which the photographer is operating the focus operation member to the auto focus in order to instruct the direction in which the auto focus starts to move,
The condition under which the switching to the auto focus is performed is important in terms of quick focusing and operability. Also, when the operating force of the focus operating member (operating torque when the focus operating member is a focus ring) changes when switching to auto focus, a sudden change in the operating force is prevented to make the cameraman feel uncomfortable. Must not be given.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and when the operator automatically switches from a state in which the focus operation member is being operated to auto focus, the condition for the switch is quickly set. It is another object of the present invention to provide a lens device that is suitable from the viewpoint of proper focusing and operability, and that does not make the operation feeling of the focus operation member uncomfortable when switching to auto focus.

[0007]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a manual focus unit for moving a focus lens based on an operation of a focus operation member by an operator, and a camera image. A focus evaluation value that becomes a maximum value at the in-focus position from the signal, and an auto-focus unit that sets the focus lens to the in-focus position based on the focus evaluation value. A focus control unit configured to acquire the focus evaluation value along with the movement of the focus lens, and to set the focus lens to a focus position by the autofocus unit when the focus evaluation value exceeds a predetermined threshold value. It is characterized by:

[0008] The invention described in claim 2 is the first invention.
The present invention is characterized in that an adjusting means for adjusting the threshold value is provided.

Further, the invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the manual focusing means for moving the focus lens based on the operation of the focus operating member by the operator and the information from the detecting means for detecting the in-focus position. In a lens device including an autofocus unit that sets a focus lens to a focus position, a moving amount of the focus lens by the manual focus unit, or
When the operation amount of the focus operation member changes by a predetermined amount or more, focus control means is provided for setting the focus lens to a focus position by the autofocus means.

[0010] The invention described in claim 4 is the invention according to claim 3.
The present invention is characterized in that an adjusting means for adjusting the predetermined amount is provided.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a clutch for switching between a manual state in which the focus lens is moved manually and an electric state in which the focus lens is moved electrically, and a manual operation of the focus lens by an operation of a focus operation member by an operator. A lens device comprising: a manual focus unit for moving; and an autofocus unit for electrically moving the focus lens based on information from a detection unit for detecting a focus position to set the focus lens to a focus position. A clutch control means for gradually switching the clutch from a manual state to an electric state when switching from the means to the autofocus means.

According to the present invention, when automatically switching from a state in which the operator is operating the focus operation member to auto focus, the condition for the switch is determined by setting the focus evaluation value to a predetermined threshold value. Therefore, autofocus can be started at a focus evaluation value level at which no malfunction of autofocus occurs, and focusing can be performed quickly.

Further, the condition for switching to the auto-focus is that the movement amount of the focus lens which moves based on the operation of the focus operation member or the operation amount of the focus operation member changes by a predetermined amount or more. A dead zone can be provided in the operation member, and a problem that autofocus is started by a slight movement of the focus operation member not intended by the operator is prevented, and operability is improved.

In addition, by gradually switching the switching of the focus lens from the manual state to the electric state for switching the drive of the focus lens from the manual state to the electric state, the operating force of the focus operation member for driving the focus lens manually is reduced by the auto focus. There is no inconvenience that changes abruptly by switching to autofocus, and the operational feeling of the focus operation member when switching to autofocus can be made uncomfortable.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a lens device according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an external view showing an example of a lens device (ENG lens) for a television camera to which the present invention is applied. A lens device 1 shown in FIG. 1 is an inner focus zoom lens used for a broadcast television camera such as an ENG camera, and an operation ring such as a focus ring FR, a zoom ring ZR and an iris ring AR is provided on the lens barrel 2. Is provided. As is well known, a focus lens (group) that is movable in the optical axis direction for focusing and a zoom that is movable in the optical axis direction for zooming in order from the front, as is well known, inside the lens barrel 2. Optical members such as a lens (group), an iris, and a relay lens (group) are provided. When the focus ring FR rotates, the focus lens moves in the optical axis direction. When the zoom ring ZR rotates, the zoom lens moves in the optical axis direction. When the iris ring AR rotates, the iris diaphragm diameter changes. I do.

A drive unit 12 for electrically driving the focus ring FR, the zoom ring ZR and the iris ring AR is provided on the side of the lens barrel 2. The drive unit 12 has a case 14, which is attached to the side of the lens barrel 2 via screws 16. A focus drive motor, a zoom drive motor, and an iris drive motor (not shown) are arranged in the case 14, and these motors are respectively connected to a focus ring FR and a zoom ring ZR is connected to the iris ring AR. Accordingly, when the focus driving motor rotates, the focus ring FR rotates, when the zoom driving motor rotates, the zoom ring ZR rotates, and when the iris driving motor rotates, the iris ring AR rotates.

Each drive motor is connected to a drive unit 12.
, Or based on signals from a camera body or an external controller (focus demand, zoom demand, etc.) connectable to the drive unit 12. Incidentally, the reference numeral 18 in FIG.
A zoom seesaw switch 18 for a cameraman (hereinafter, an operator) to perform a zoom operation electrically.

As will be described later, the respective power transmission mechanisms of the focus driving motor and the focus ring FR, the zoom driving motor and the zoom ring ZR, and the iris driving motor and the iris ring AR are connected or disconnected by a clutch. The operation ring, which is a mechanism and the clutch is off and the power transmission mechanism is disconnected, can be manually operated by the hand holding the operation ring, and the clutch is turned on and the power transmission mechanism The operation ring to which is connected can be electrically operated by the drive motor. The ON / OFF of each clutch is switched by a predetermined switch or the like by appropriate electric control.

In the lens apparatus 1 described above, the focus adjustment can be roughly performed by manual focus (MF) in the "MF mode" and autofocus (AF) in the "AF mode".
The “MF mode” is a mode in which a focus is adjusted by an operator operating a predetermined focus operation member. Is referred to as focus drive) and a mode in which focus drive is performed by electric power. The mode in which the focus drive is performed manually is hereinafter referred to as “manual MF mode”.
The mode in which the focus drive is performed by electric power is hereinafter referred to as “electrically driven MF mode”.

In the "manual MF mode", the focus can be adjusted by directly rotating the focus ring FR with the hand holding the focus ring FR. In the "electric MF mode", the electric focus can be adjusted. By operating the operation member (electrically operated operation member), the focus driving motor is driven, and the focus lens can be moved by the driving force to perform the focus adjustment. The electric operation member is, for example, an operation member of an external controller such as a focus demand connected to the drive unit 12, but is not limited thereto. In addition, manual MF
The focus operation member operated in the mode and the electric MF mode is collectively called an MF operation member, and the operation is called an MF operation.

On the other hand, the AF in the AF mode is an AF generally known in the related art. The AF is driven by electric power, and the focus area (for example, the center of the screen) Section) to extract the high-frequency components and focus evaluation value (described later)
Is obtained, and the focus position is detected based on the focus evaluation value, thereby automatically setting the focus lens to the focus position. However, the AF mode described in the present embodiment is a conventional fully-automated A
Different from F mode. In the conventional AF mode, a moving direction of a focus lens for AF (hereinafter, referred to as an AF moving direction) is automatically determined based on, for example, an increasing tendency of a focus evaluation value, and movement of the focus lens is started in that direction. However, in the AF mode according to the present embodiment, the operator instructs the AF movement start direction by, for example, operating the MF to start moving the focus lens in that direction, and based on the focus evaluation value, the focus lens moves in that direction. Set the focus lens at the in-focus position. By instructing the AF start-up direction by the operator in this way, quick and reliable focusing is enabled.

Note that it is possible to switch between such an AF mode and an AF mode that is fully automated including the AF start-up direction as in the past, but for convenience of explanation, the AF mode in the present embodiment It is assumed that only the AF mode in which the operator instructs the AF movement start direction can be set.

The outline of the AF mode according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 2 based on the operation procedure of the operator.
First, assuming that the manual MF mode is set, the clutch between the focus drive motor and the focus ring FR is turned off, and the operator can manually rotate the focus ring FR to manually drive the focus. It is in a state. Note that the state of the clutch that can be manually driven for focus is referred to as a state in which the clutch is set to the manual side, and the state of the clutch that can be driven for focus electrically is referred to as a state in which the clutch is set to the electric side. At this time, if the operator presses a predetermined AF mode start switch (described later), the mode is switched to the AF mode (start a in FIG. 2).
Point), first, the camera enters the AF standby state. In this AF standby state, the clutch is held in the state set on the manual side.

Next, the operator manually rotates the focus ring FR in the infinity direction or the close direction, and instructs the AF movement start direction. When this operation is performed, the clutch is turned on, and the clutch is switched to the setting on the electric side. Note that the focus lens is moved by operating the focus ring FR while the operator is instructing the AF movement start direction by the focus ring FR (section between points a and b in FIG. 2).

When the clutch is switched to the electric setting,
The drive of the focus drive motor is started, and the focus ring F is moved in the AF movement start direction instructed by the operator.
When R rotates, the focus lens starts moving in the direction in which the AF movement starts. When the focus position (point c in FIG. 2) in that direction is detected by the AF process, the drive of the focus drive motor is stopped, and the focus lens is set to the focus position.

It is to be noted that the instruction of the AF start-up direction can also be made by operating an electric operation member such as a focus demand. Further, the direction of starting the AF movement may be instructed by a dedicated instruction switch. Furthermore, even if the AF mode start switch is not used to switch to the AF mode, if the direction to start the AF operation is instructed by the dedicated instruction switch, the MF
The mode may be switched from the mode to the AF mode, the focus lens may be moved in the designated direction, and the AF process may be started.

According to such an AF mode, an AF movement start direction can be determined in an appropriate direction based on empirical judgment of an operator, so that a desired subject can be quickly and reliably focused. That is, in the fully automatic AF mode as in the related art, when the AF is started from a point where the level of the focus evaluation value based on the high frequency component of the video signal is substantially constant as shown in FIG. It is highly probable that the focus lens will start moving in the direction opposite to the (maximum) focus position. In this case, the focus lens once returns to the end (the closest end in the figure) and then returns to focus. The AF operation is to stop at the position. For this reason, the time required for focusing may be unnecessarily long. on the other hand,
In the AF mode according to the present embodiment, the operator performs AF operation based on experience.
By appropriately instructing the movement start direction, the movement of the focus lens can be started toward the focus position as shown in FIG. For this reason, quick focusing becomes possible. Also, when there are a plurality of focus positions, once
Even when the focus lens is set at any of the focus positions, the focus lens can be reset to another desired focus position by setting the AF standby state again and instructing the AF start direction. .

Next, a description will be given of a focus drive mechanism in which the focus drive in the lens device 1 can be switched to manual or electric as described above. Since the zoom drive mechanism and the iris drive mechanism are configured in the same manner as the focus drive mechanism, only the focus drive mechanism will be described. FIG. 5 is a side sectional view showing the basic configuration (first embodiment) of the focus drive mechanism. As shown in the figure, a focus lens (group) F composed of a plurality of lenses is disposed in the lens barrel main body 22 of the lens barrel 2, and the focus ring FR rotates around the outer circumference of the lens barrel main body 22. Arranged freely. It should be noted that a zoom lens (group), an iris, a relay lens (group) and the like (not shown) are arranged in order at the subsequent stage (right side in the figure) of the focus lens F. The focus lens F is held by a lens holding frame 24, and the lens holding frame 24 is engaged by helicoids 24A, 22A formed on the outer peripheral surface of the lens holding frame 24 and the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel body 22, respectively. Is rotatably held in the lens barrel main body 22. On the other hand, a pin 26 is fixed to the lens holding frame 24, and the pin 26
Is a straight groove 4 in the optical axis direction formed in the focus ring FR through an insertion hole 22B formed in the lens barrel main body 22.
A is engaged. Accordingly, when the focus ring FR rotates, the lens holding frame 24 rotates within the lens barrel main body 22 via the pin 26. When the lens holding frame 24 rotates, the action of the helicoids 22A and 24A causes the lens holding frame 24 to rotate.
Moves in the lens barrel body 22 in the optical axis direction, and the focus lens F moves in the optical axis direction. Thereby, focus adjustment is performed. The insertion hole 22B formed in the lens barrel main body 22 is formed in a shape along the movement locus of the pin 26 that moves in the optical axis direction while rotating around the optical axis.

The focus driving motor FM shown in FIG.
The clutch motor FCM and the clutch (mechanism) FCL are disposed in the casing 14 of the drive unit 12, and the focus driving motor FM is connected to the focus ring FR via the clutch FCL. Also, clutch FC
ON / OFF of L is switched by a clutch motor FCM. The focus driving motor FM and the clutch motor FCM are fixed to the casing 14 of the drive unit 12 or the lens barrel main body 22, respectively.

The clutch FCL is connected to the drive unit 12
Shaft 28 fixed to the casing 14 or the lens barrel main body 22
, And a pair of clutch plates 30 and 32 are rotatably disposed on a shaft 28 thereof. These clutch plates 30, 32
Are formed in a concave shape and a convex shape, each of which has a conical surface. When the clutch plate 32 is pressed against the clutch plate 30, the conical surfaces are pressed against each other to generate friction, and the clutch plates 30, 32 When one of them rotates, the other clutch plate follows and rotates. A bearing (thrust bearing) 34 and a spring 36 are provided on the left side of the clutch plate 30 in the figure, and a fixing member 38 for regulating the left end of the spring 36 is fixed to the tip of the shaft 28. The biasing force of the spring 36 urges the clutch plate 30 rightward in FIG.
On the other hand, the right side surface of the clutch plate 30 in the drawing is in contact with a step of the shaft 28 or a regulating member (not shown) fixed to the shaft 28, so that the clutch plate 30 is fixed at a certain position on the shaft 28. It is arranged rotatably.

A bearing (thrust bearing) 40 and a spring 42 are provided on the right side of the clutch plate 32 in the drawing, and a rotating member screw-connected to a screw portion formed on a part of the shaft 28 is provided. Is established. The clutch plate 32, the bearing 40, the spring 42, and the rotating member 44 are fixed at their respective contact portions, and the rotating member 44 rotates to rotate the shaft 28.
When it moves upward in the left-right direction in the drawing, the clutch plate 32 moves on the shaft 28 in the left-right direction in the drawing accordingly.

A gear is formed on the peripheral surface of the rotating member 44, and a gear 46 fixed to the output shaft of the clutch motor FCM meshes with the gear. Therefore, when the clutch motor FCM is driven, the rotating member 44 rotates and moves on the shaft 28 in the left-right direction in the figure. Clutch motor F
When the rotating member 44 moves leftward in the drawing due to the CM and the clutch plate 32 contacts the clutch plate 30 and then the rotating member 44 further moves leftward in the drawing, the spring 42 is compressed and the clutch plate 32 is urged to the left in the drawing, and this urging force causes the clutch plate 32 to
Pressed to zero. In this state, the clutch FCL is turned on, and the clutch plates 30 and 32 rotate in conjunction with each other. That is, the clutch FCL is in a state of transmitting power. On the other hand, when the clutch FCL is on,
When 4 moves rightward in the drawing, the urging force of the spring 42 in the leftward direction in the drawing is released, and then the clutch plate 32 moves rightward in the drawing, and separates from the clutch plate 30. In this state, the clutch FCL is turned off, and the clutch plate 30 and the clutch plate 32 do not rotate in conjunction with each other. That is, the clutch FCL does not transmit power.

On the other hand, a gear is formed on the peripheral surface of the clutch plate 32, and a gear 48 fixed to the output shaft of the focus driving motor FM meshes with this gear.
A gear is also formed on the peripheral surface of the other clutch plate 30, and this gear meshes with a gear 4B formed on the peripheral surface of the focus ring FR. Therefore, when the focus driving motor FM is driven while the clutch FCL is in the on state as described above, the rotation of the output shaft thereof is controlled by the focus ring F via the clutch plate 32 and the clutch plate 30.
R, and the focus ring FR rotates. That is,
The focus drive can be performed by electric power. on the other hand,
When the clutch FCL is in the off state, the power is not transmitted between the focus driving motor FM and the focus ring FR. Therefore, the focus drive cannot be performed by electric power, and the focus ring FR is directly rotated by hand. Can be operated. That is, focus driving can be performed manually.

As an example of the operation of the focus driving mechanism configured as described above, a case where the mode is switched from the manual MF mode to the AF mode will be described. In the manual MF mode, the clutch FCL is off (the clutch F
In a state where CL is set to the manual side), the operator can directly and manually rotate the focus ring FR. At this time, when the AF mode start switch is turned on by the operator, the mode is the AF mode, and the clutch FCL is set to the manual side, and the state is the AF standby state. In this AF standby state, when the operator rotates the focus ring FR in an AF movement start direction intended by the operator, the focus lens F moves in conjunction therewith. Then, a change in the focus position is detected by a focus position detecting means (not shown), and the AF start direction instructed by the operator is detected from the change. The focus position detecting means may detect the focus position based on, for example, an output signal of a potentiometer engaged with the gear 4B of the focus ring FR or the gear on the peripheral surface of the clutch plate 30, or may use other means. The focus position may be detected by a method. Instead of detecting the AF movement start direction by the focus position detection means, for example, the rotation of the focus ring FR may be directly detected by a potentiometer to detect the AF movement start direction.

When the AF position start direction is detected by the focus position detecting means, the clutch motor FCM is driven to switch the clutch FCL from off (manual side) to on (electric side). Is driven to electrically rotate the focus ring FR in the direction in which the AF movement starts. As a result, the focus lens F moves in the AF movement start direction instructed by the operator, and when the in-focus position is detected by the AF process, the drive of the focus driving motor FM is stopped and the focus lens F is moved. The focus position is set.

Next, a second embodiment of the focus driving mechanism will be described. FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the focus drive mechanism, and is a view in which some constituent members arranged on the peripheral surface of the lens barrel 2 are developed on the drawing. Members having the same or similar functions as those in FIG. 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 6, a focus lens (group) F composed of a plurality of lenses is arranged in the lens barrel main body 22 of the lens barrel 2, and a driving ring 50 is provided on an outer peripheral portion of the lens barrel main body 22. Are rotatably disposed. The focus lens F is held by a lens holding frame 24. The lens holding frame 24 has helicoids 24 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the lens holding frame 24 and the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel body 22, respectively.
By the engagement of A and 22A, it is rotatably held in the lens barrel main body 22. On the other hand, a pin 26 is fixed to the lens holding frame 24, and the pin 26 is inserted into an insertion hole 22 </ b> B formed in the lens barrel main body 22, and is formed in a driving groove 50 in a straight groove in the optical axis direction. 50A. Therefore,
When the driving ring 50 rotates, the lens holding frame 24 rotates in the lens barrel main body 22 via the pin 26. When the lens holding frame 24 rotates, the lens holding frame 24 moves forward and backward in the lens barrel main body 22 by the action of the helicoids 22A, 24A, and the focus lens F moves in the optical axis direction. Thereby, focus adjustment is performed.

An operating ring (referred to as a focus ring FR) corresponding to the focus ring FR in FIG. 1 is rotatably disposed on the outer peripheral portion of the drive ring 50. The focus ring FR is a manual focus operation member for performing a rotation operation with a hand held by the operator.
It is also used as an operation member for instructing the F movement start direction.

The focus driving motor FM shown in FIG.
The clutch motor FCM, the electric clutch ECL, and the manual clutch MCL are shown by developing and disposing the components arranged on the peripheral surface of the lens barrel 2 as shown in the front view of FIG.
These members are used for the casing 1 of the drive unit 12.
4. The focus driving motor FM is connected to a driving ring 50 via an electric clutch ECL, and the focus ring FR is connected to a manual clutch MCL.
Is connected to the drive ring 50 via the. On / off of the electric clutch ECL and the manual clutch MCL is switched by one clutch motor FCL. The focus driving motor FM and the clutch motor FCL are fixed to the casing 14 of the drive unit 12 or the lens barrel main body 22, respectively.

The electric clutch ECL is a clutch for connecting or disconnecting the power transmission between the focus driving motor FM and the driving ring 50, while the manual clutch MCL is connected to the focusing ring FR and the driving ring. It is a clutch for connecting or disconnecting power transmission between the ring 50. Electric clutch ECL and manual clutch M
The basic configuration of each of the clutches CL is the clutch F shown in FIG.
The electric clutch ECL includes a shaft 54 fixed to the casing 14 of the drive unit 12 or the lens barrel main body 22. The shaft 54 is fixed to the shaft 54 in order from the left side in the figure. Member 56, spring 58,
A bearing 60, a pair of clutch plates 62 and 64, a bearing 66, a spring 68, and a rotating member 70 are arranged. A gear is formed on the peripheral surface of the rotating member 70. The gear includes a gear 4 fixed to the output shaft of the clutch motor FCM.
6, and the electric clutch ECL is turned on / off by the clutch motor FCM. A gear 48 fixed to the output shaft of the focus driving motor FM meshes with a gear formed on the peripheral surface of one clutch plate 62, and a drive gear is formed on the gear formed on the peripheral surface of the other clutch plate 64. Gear 50 formed on the peripheral surface of the use ring 50
B is engaged. Accordingly, when the focus driving motor FM is driven while the electric clutch ECL is on, the driving ring 50 rotates, and the focus lens F moves as described above.

On the other hand, the manual clutch MCL has a shaft 72 fixed to the casing 14 of the drive unit 12 or the lens barrel main body 22. The shaft 72 has a fixing member 74, a spring 76, a bearing 78, A pair of clutch plates 80, 82, a bearing 84, a spring 86, and a rotating member 88 are arranged. A gear is formed on the peripheral surface of the rotating member 88, and the gear 46 fixed to the output shaft of the clutch motor FCM meshes with this gear, and the manual clutch MCL is turned on / off by the clutch motor CM. It has become so. A gear 52A formed on the peripheral surface of the focus ring FR meshes with a gear formed on the peripheral surface of the one clutch plate 80, and a driving ring is formed on the gear formed on the peripheral surface of the other clutch plate 82. The gear 50B formed on the peripheral surface of the gear 50 meshes. Therefore, when the focus ring FR is rotated while the manual clutch MCL is on, the drive ring 50 is rotated,
The focus lens F moves as described above.

The above-described electric clutch ECL and manual clutch MCL have a relationship in which one is turned on by the clutch motor FCM and the other is turned off. When the focus drive is performed by electric power, as shown in FIG. 8, the clutch plate 62 and the clutch plate 64 of the electric clutch ECL are pressed against each other, and the electric clutch ECL is turned on, that is, the focus drive motor FM Is transmitted to the driving ring 50, the clutch plate 80 and the clutch plate 82 of the manual clutch MCL are separated from each other, and the manual clutch MCL is turned off, that is, the driving force is applied from the focus ring FR. Power is not transmitted to the ring 50 or from the driving ring 50 to the focus ring FR. Therefore, in this state, when the members driven by the focus driving motor FM are driven by the focus driving motor FM as shown by hatching in the figure, the power is transmitted to the clutch plate 6 of the electric clutch ECL.
The driving ring 50 is rotated via the transmission ring 2 and 64 and the driving ring 50 rotates. When the driving ring 50 rotates, the focus lens F moves. On the other hand, the power is not transmitted to the focus ring FR via the manual clutch MCL, and the focus ring FR is in a stopped state. Further, even if the focus ring FR is rotated, the power thereof is supplied to the drive ring 50 via the manual clutch MCL.
And the focus lens F does not move.
The focus ring FR receives the driving force when the drive ring 50 rotates due to friction with the peripheral surface of the drive ring 50. The rotation of the focus ring FR is regulated by the friction between the corrugated spring and the focus ring FR. However, as long as the manual clutch MCL is turned off during the electric focus driving, there is no problem even if the focus ring FR is rotated by the driving force transmitted directly from the driving ring 50.

On the other hand, when the focus drive is performed manually, the clutch plate 80 and the clutch plate 82 of the manual clutch MCL are pressed against each other as shown in FIG. Ring FR
Is transmitted to the driving ring 50, the clutch plate 62 and the clutch plate 64 of the electric clutch ECL are separated from each other, and the electric clutch ECL is off, that is, the focus driving motor FM From the driving ring 50 or from the driving ring 50 to the focus driving motor FM. Therefore,
In this state, when the operator rotates the focus ring FR as shown by hatching in the figure, a member driven by the rotation of the focus ring FR is driven by the clutch plate 80 of the manual clutch MCL. , 82 to the driving ring 50, the driving ring 50 rotates, and when the driving ring 50 rotates, the focus lens F moves. On the other hand, the power is electric clutch E
The focus ring FR is not transmitted to the focus driving motor FM via the CL, and the focus ring FR can be easily rotated. Further, even if the focus driving motor FM is driven, its power is not transmitted to the driving ring 50 via the electric clutch ECL, and the focus lens F does not move.

In general, an index indicating the focus position is written on the focus ring FR. However, when the focus ring FR does not rotate when the focus drive is performed electrically as in the focus drive mechanism of the present embodiment. In this case, it is not preferable to write an index indicating the focus position on the focus ring FR. Therefore, in the present embodiment, in consideration of the fact that the drive ring 50 rotates in a fixed relationship with the position of the focus lens F when performing the focus drive regardless of whether it is manually operated or electrically operated, the drive ring 50 is driven as shown in FIG. An index indicating the focus position is written on the focus ring 50.

As an example of the operation of the focus driving mechanism configured as described above, a case where the mode is switched from the manual MF mode to the AF mode will be described. In the manual MF mode, the manual clutch MCL is turned on, and The clutch ECL is off (the manual clutch MCL and the electric clutch ECL are set to the manual side),
The operator can directly and manually rotate the focus ring FR. At this time, when the AF mode start switch is turned on by the operator, the mode becomes the AF mode, and the manual clutch MCL and the electric clutch ECL are set to the manual side and the AF standby state is established. In this AF standby state, when the operator rotates the focus ring FR in the intended AF movement start direction, the focus lens F moves in conjunction with this. Then, a change in the focus position is detected by a focus position detecting means (not shown), and the AF start direction instructed by the operator is detected from the change. The focus position detecting means is, for example, the gear 5 of the driving ring 50.
0B, a gear on the peripheral surface of the clutch plate 64, or the clutch plate 8
The focus position may be detected by an output signal of a potentiometer engaged with the gear on the peripheral surface of No. 2, or the focus position may be detected by another method. Instead of detecting the AF movement start direction by the focus position detection means, for example, the rotation of the focus ring FR may be directly detected by a potentiometer to detect the AF movement start direction.

When the AF movement start direction is detected by the focus position detecting means, the manual clutch MCL is switched from on to off by the clutch motor FCM, and the electric clutch ECL is switched from off to on (the manual clutch MCL). And electric clutch E
(CL is switched from the manual side to the electric side) Then, the focus driving motor FM is driven, and the driving ring 50 is rotated in the AF movement start direction by electric power. As a result, the focus lens F moves in the AF movement start direction instructed by the operator, and when the in-focus position is detected by the AF process, the drive of the focus driving motor FM is stopped and the focus lens F is moved. The focus position is set.

Next, a third embodiment of the focus driving mechanism will be described. FIG. 11 is a side sectional view showing the configuration of the focus drive mechanism. Note that members having the same or similar functions as those in FIG. 5 or FIG. 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 5 or FIG. The focus drive mechanism shown in FIG. 11 is capable of switching the focus drive between manual and electric without a clutch, and as shown in FIG. The driving lens 50 is rotatably disposed on the outer peripheral portion of the lens barrel main body 22. Focus lens F
Is held by a lens holding frame 24. The lens holding frame 24 has helicoids 24A formed on the outer peripheral surface of the lens holding frame 24 and the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel body 22, respectively.
By the engagement of 22A, it is rotatably held in the lens barrel main body 22. On the other hand, a pin 26 is fixed to the lens holding frame 24, and the pin 26 is inserted into an insertion hole 22 </ b> B formed in the lens barrel main body 22, and is formed in a driving groove 50 in a straight groove in the optical axis direction. 50A. Therefore, when the driving ring 50 rotates, the lens holding frame 24 rotates in the lens barrel main body 22 via the pin 26. Lens holding frame 2
When 4 rotates, the lens holding frame 24 advances and retreats in the lens barrel main body 22 by the action of the helicoids 22A and 24A, and the focus lens F moves in the optical axis direction. Thereby, focus adjustment is performed.

An operation ring (referred to as a focus ring FR) corresponding to the focus ring FR in FIG. The focus ring FR is a manual focus operation member for rotating operation with a hand held by the operator, and also as an operation member for instructing an AF movement start direction in the AF standby state of the AF mode described above. Is also used.

The focus driving motor FM shown in FIG.
Is disposed between the focus ring FR and the drive ring 50 and is installed on the inner peripheral surface side of the focus ring FR.
The gear 90 fixed to the output shaft of the focus driving motor FM meshes with a gear 50C formed on the outer peripheral surface of the driving ring 50.

The focus driving motor FM is locked (output shaft is immovable) or unlocked by an electric lock means (electric brake) or a mechanical lock means (stopper engaging with a gear). When the focus drive is performed manually, the focus driving motor FM is locked by the locking means. When the focus ring FR is manually rotated in this state, the entire focus drive motor FM rotates around the optical axis together with the focus ring FR, and the drive ring 50 rotates in conjunction with the rotation. by this,
The focus lens F moves as described above.

On the other hand, when the focus drive is performed electrically, the focus drive motor FM by the lock means is used.
Is unlocked. When the focus drive motor FM is driven in this state, the drive ring 50 rotates, and the focus lens F moves as described above. A corrugated spring 92 is provided between the tip of the focus ring FR and the lens barrel body 22, and the focus driving motor F
When M is driven to rotate the drive ring 50, the focus ring FR is stopped by the frictional force of the corrugated spring 92.

For detecting the focus position, a gear 50D is formed on the peripheral surface of the driving ring 50, and a gear 96 fixed to the output shaft of the potentiometer 94 is engaged with the gear 50D.

As an example of the operation of the focus driving mechanism configured as described above, a case in which the mode is switched from the manual MF mode to the AF mode will be described.
M is locked (the locking means is set to the manual side), and the operator can directly and manually rotate the focus ring FR. At this time, if the AF mode start switch is turned on by the operator,
The AF mode is set, and the AF standby state is set while the lock unit is set to the manual side. In this AF standby state, when the operator rotates the focus ring FR in a desired AF movement start direction, the driving ring 50 rotates in conjunction with this operation, and the focus lens F moves. Then, a change in the focus position is detected by the potentiometer 94, and the change in the focus position is designated by the operator based on the change.
The F movement start direction is detected.

When the AF movement start direction is detected by the potentiometer 94, the lock of the focus drive motor FM by the lock means is released (the lock means is set to the electric side), and then the focus drive motor FM is driven. The driving ring 50 is
F Rotate in the movement start direction. As a result, the focus lens F moves in the AF movement start direction instructed by the operator, and when the in-focus position is detected by the AF process, the drive of the focus driving motor FM is stopped and the focus lens F is moved. The focus position is set.

In the focus drive mechanism shown in FIG. 11, a focus drive motor FM is installed on the inner peripheral surface of the focus ring FR, and the focus drive motor is mounted on a gear 50C formed on the outer peripheral surface of the drive ring 50. Although the gear 90 of the FM is meshed, a focus drive motor FM is installed on the outer peripheral surface of the drive ring 50, a gear is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the focus ring FR, and the focus drive motor FM is attached to the gear. Gear 90 may be meshed. Further, as shown in FIG. 12, a focus driving motor FM is installed on the outer peripheral surface of the focus ring FR, and a hole 52B is formed in the focus ring FR to be inserted into a gear 50C formed on the outer peripheral surface of the driving ring 50. The gear 90 of the focus driving motor FM may be engaged with the gear 50C of the driving ring 50 through the hole 52B. And a focus driving motor FM
Alternatively, a box-shaped cover 98 that covers the gear 90 may be provided on the focus ring FR so that it can be used as a finger hook or the like.

The index indicating the focus position is the same as that of the focus drive mechanism of the second embodiment described above with reference to FIG.
0 is described on the driving ring 50 in the same manner as described above.

According to the focus drive mechanisms of the second and third embodiments described above, when the focus drive is performed electrically, the focus ring FR, which is a manual operation ring, is held in a fixed state. Even or
This is effective because no load is applied to the drive motor even when the operating force is applied.

Next, the configuration of the AF mode start switch will be described. The AF mode start switch can be provided in any part such as the lens barrel 2, the drive unit 12, an external controller such as a focus demand, and other accessories. Can also. Here, a configuration in the case where the AF mode start switch is installed on the lens barrel 2 (particularly, the focus ring FR) will be described. FIG. 13 (A),
FIG. 13B is an external view and a side sectional view showing an embodiment of an AF mode start switch installed on the lens barrel 2, and FIG. 13B is a second embodiment shown in FIG. 9 shows the configuration of an AF mode start switch in the focus drive mechanism according to the embodiment. The AF mode start switch S1 is connected to the focus ring FR as shown in FIG.
Is configured to be turned on when the pressing member 200 provided in the is pressed. As shown in FIG. 7B, the pressing member 200 is disposed by being urged upward (outward of the focus ring FR) in the figure by a spring 202 into a hole formed in the focus ring FR. Opposite to the lower end surface of the driving ring 50, the electric section 20
4 are provided. This allows the operator to press the pressing member 20.
When 0 is pressed, the pressing member 200 and the electric segment 204 come into contact with each other, and electricity is supplied between these members, and the AF mode start switch S1 is turned on. When the pressing member 200 is released, the spring 2
02, the pressing member 200 returns to the original position, the pressing member 200 is separated from the electric section 204, and the AF mode start switch S1 is turned off. Note that the configuration of the AF mode start switch S1 of the present embodiment is not limited to the focus drive mechanism of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 6, but can be applied to focus drive mechanisms of other forms.

FIGS. 14A and 14B are an external view and a side sectional view, respectively, showing another embodiment of the AF mode start switch provided in the lens barrel 2. In particular, FIGS.
(B) shows the configuration of the AF mode start switch in the focus drive mechanism of the first embodiment shown in FIG. The AF mode start switch S1 is configured to be turned on when a part of the peripheral surface of the focus ring FR (the range L indicated by hatching in the figure) shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2B, a pressure sensor 210 is disposed in that portion, and this pressure sensor 2
When the pressing force of the operator is detected by 10, the AF mode start switch S1 is turned on, and when the pressing force is not detected, it is turned off. Similarly, a configuration in which the AF mode start switch S1 is turned on / off by the pressing force of the operator on the focus ring FR may be configured as shown in a front sectional view of FIG. The AF mode start switch S1 shown in the figure is configured such that a part of the peripheral surface of the focus ring FR is formed of a deformable elastic member, and is turned on when the portion formed by the elastic member is pressed.
As shown in the figure, the focus ring FR and the lens barrel body 2
2, a plurality of conductive plates 212 having an arc-shaped cross section
It is arranged so that it may overlap with the adjacent conductive plate 212 at the end. One end 212A of each conductive plate 212 is connected to the lens barrel body 2
2, the other end 212B is urged by a spring 214 in a direction (outside) not in contact with the adjacent conductive plate 212A. Therefore, when the elastic portion of the focus ring FR is not deformed, the respective conductive plates 212 are separated from each other. When no current is supplied to any of the conductive plates 212, the AF mode start switch S1 is turned off. On the other hand, when the operator presses the elastic portion of the focus ring FR, the portion is deformed, and the conductive plate 212 disposed at that portion is pressed inward. Thereby, the end 212B of the conductive plate 212
Contact the end 212A of the adjacent conductive plate 212, and current flows between the two conductive plates 212. When the current flows between any two conductive plates 212, the AF mode start switch S1 is turned on. Note that the AF shown in FIGS.
The configuration of the mode start switch S1 is not limited to the focus drive mechanism of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 5, but can be applied to focus drive mechanisms of other forms.

Next, focus control of the lens device 1 will be described. FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating components related to focus control and zoom control. The focus driving mechanism shown in FIG.
It is composed of a focus driving motor FM, a clutch FCL, a clutch motor FCM, a focus ring FR and the like. Focus lens F and focus drive motor FM
The power transmission is connected or disconnected by the clutch FCL, and the clutch FCL is turned on / off by the clutch motor FCM. Clutch FCL is off (clutch F
When CL is on the manual side, the focus ring FR can be manually rotated to drive the focus lens F (manual focus drive), and when the clutch FCL is on (the clutch FCL is on the electric side), the focus The focus lens F is electrically driven by the driving motor FM.
Can be driven (electrically driven focus drive). The position of the focus lens F (focus position) is detected by a potentiometer FP.

Here, the focus drive mechanism is specifically configured like the focus drive mechanism of the first to third embodiments shown in FIG. 5, FIG. 6, or FIG. 11, and FIG. The configuration of the illustrated focus drive mechanism does not exactly match the configuration of the first to third embodiments. However, switching the clutch FCL to the manual side or the electric side by driving the clutch motor FCM in FIG. 16 is different from the first or second embodiment in that the clutch FCL is driven by driving the clutch motor FCM.
(Refer to FIG. 5), or considering that it is equivalent to switching the manual clutch MCL and the electric clutch ECL (see FIG. 6) to the manual side or the electric side, the focus of the first or second embodiment is considered. The focus control described below can be applied to any of the driving mechanisms. Also, the third
In the embodiment, the clutch FCL and the clutch motor F
CM is not used, but in FIG.
If the control for switching the focus drive motor FM in the third embodiment to the manual side (on) or the electric side (off) is used as the control for switching the operation mode to the manual side or the electric side, the third embodiment will be described. The focus control described below can also be applied to the focus drive mechanism of the embodiment.

In FIG. 16, the zoom drive mechanism is constructed similarly to the focus drive mechanism, and the power transmission between the zoom lens Z and the zoom drive motor ZM is performed by the clutch ZC.
L connects or disconnects, and the clutch ZCL is turned on / off by the clutch motor ZCM. Clutch Z
When CL is off (the clutch ZCL is on the manual side), the zoom lens Z can be driven by manually rotating a zoom ring ZR (not shown). When the clutch ZCL is on (the clutch ZCL is on the electric side), The zoom lens Z can be electrically driven by the zoom M driving motor ZM. The position of the zoom lens Z is detected by a potentiometer ZP.

The CPU 100 shown in the figure is built in the drive unit 12, and the focus drive motor FM, the zoom drive motor ZM, the clutch motor FCM, and the clutch motor ZCM are respectively provided in the CPU 100.
It is driven based on the command signal output from.

When driving the focus driving motor FM, the CPU 100 outputs the focus driving motor FM
Is output, and the command signal is applied to the amplifier 104 via the D / A converter 102. Then, a drive voltage based on the command signal is applied from the amplifier 104 to the focus drive motor FM, and the focus drive motor FM
It rotates in the rotation direction and rotation speed commanded from 00.

When driving the zoom drive motor ZM, similarly to the case of driving the focus drive motor FM,
A command signal for instructing the rotation direction and the rotation speed of the zoom drive motor ZM from the CPU 100 to the amplifier 106 is D / D.
By being provided via the A converter 102, a drive voltage based on the command signal is applied to the zoom drive motor ZM, and the zoom drive motor ZM rotates in the rotation direction and rotation speed commanded by the CPU 100.

When the clutch FCL is switched from on (electric side) to off (manual side) or off to on, the CPU
100, a command signal for commanding the rotation direction and the rotation speed of the clutch motor FCM for switching the clutch FCL on or off is output.
The signal is applied to the amplifier 108 via the / A converter 102.
Then, a drive voltage based on the command signal is applied from the amplifier 108 to the clutch motor FCM, and the clutch motor FCM rotates in the rotation direction and the rotation speed specified by the CPU 100. As a result, the clutch FCL is turned on or off.

When the clutch ZCL is switched on (electric side) or off (manual side), the CPU 100 switches the amplifier 110 to the on / off state in the same manner as when the clutch FCL is switched on or off. When a command signal for commanding the rotation direction and rotation speed of the clutch motor ZCM is given via the D / A converter 102, a drive voltage based on the command signal is applied to the clutch motor ZCM, and the clutch motor ZCM is It rotates in the commanded rotation direction and rotation speed. As a result, the clutch ZCL is switched on or off.

Next, the processing contents of the focus control in the CPU 100 will be described in detail. The focus adjustment includes the MF mode and the AF mode as described above.
The processing of the CPU 100 in the F mode will be described. The MF mode includes a “manual MF mode” and an “electric MF mode”. In the case of the manual MF mode, the operator performs a focus adjustment by directly rotating the focus ring FR to adjust the focus. In the case of the mode, an external controller such as the focus demand 112 is connected to the drive unit 12 as shown in the figure, and the focus is adjusted by operating the electric operation member of the focus demand 112. The setting of the manual MF mode or the electric MF mode can be selected by an operator using a predetermined switch, or automatically selected by the CPU 100 depending on whether or not an external controller is connected.

When setting to the manual MF mode, the CPU
100 outputs a command signal for switching the clutch FCL to the manual side (off) to the amplifier 108 of the clutch motor FCM when the clutch FCL is set to the electric side (on). Thereby, the power by the rotation operation of the focus ring FR is transmitted to the focus lens F (the power transmission between the focus driving motor FM and the focus lens F is cut off),
The focus lens F can be manually moved by the focus ring FR. In this mode,
The CPU 100 does not control the focus driving motor FM.

On the other hand, when setting to the electric MF mode,
When the clutch FCL is set to the manual side, the CPU 100 outputs a command signal for switching the clutch FCL to the electric side by using the amplifier 108 of the clutch motor FCM.
Output to Thereby, the focus driving motor FM
Is transmitted to the focus lens F, and the focus lens F can be moved electrically by the focus drive motor FM. Then, the CPU 100
Based on a signal provided from the focus demand 112 via the A / D converter 114, a command signal for driving the focus driving motor FM is transmitted to the focus driving motor F
The signal is output to the M amplifier 104. Here, the signal from the focus demand 112 is generally a signal for instructing the target position of the focus, and the CPU 100 acquires the current position of the focus from the potentiometer FP via the A / D converter 114, and A command signal for commanding a rotation direction and a rotation speed according to a difference from the current position is output.

The manual MF mode and the electric MF
As in the case of the mode, the zoom can be adjusted by directly rotating the zoom ring 6 (see FIG. 1) by hand, and the electric motor operating member of the zoom demand 116 is operated to drive the zoom driving motor ZF. By doing so, the zoom can be adjusted.

Next, the processing of the CPU 100 in the AF mode will be described. First, the AF process in the AF mode will be described.
The video signal output from the camera body is input from a predetermined terminal of the camera, and only the high frequency component of the video signal is extracted by a high-pass filter (HPF) 120 as shown in FIG. . Next, the high frequency component of the video signal is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 122 and then input to the gate circuit 124. In the gate circuit 124, a digital signal in a range corresponding to a focus area (for example, the center of the screen) is extracted from the digital signal for one screen input from the A / D converter 122, and the value of the extracted digital signal is obtained. Are integrated. Then, the integrated value is input to the CPU 100 as a focus evaluation value.

At the time of AF processing, the CPU 100 sets the clutch FCL to the electrically driven state and drives the focus driving motor FM, so that the AF movement start direction instructed by the operator will be described in detail later. Starts the movement of the focus lens F, and acquires the focus evaluation value from the gate circuit 124 together with the movement.
When the focus evaluation value is equal to or more than the predetermined value and shows a clear increasing tendency in the AF movement start direction, the focus evaluation value is thereafter increased while moving the focus lens F in the direction in which the focus evaluation value increases. Is detected, and the focus lens F is set at that position. The position at which the focus evaluation value switches from the increasing trend to the decreasing trend is the focus position at which the focus evaluation value becomes the maximum (maximum). By this processing, the focus evaluation value is shifted to the focus position existing in the AF movement start direction from the AF start position. The focus lens F is set. Such an AF method is a so-called hill-climbing A except that the AF movement start direction is specified by the operator.
Known as F.

The AF process includes a process of detecting a focus position based on a focus evaluation value and a process of moving the focus lens F by electric motor. Is moved in the direction in which the focus evaluation value increases. However, since the movement direction of the focus lens F is specified by the operator as the AF movement start direction, the focus lens F is moved in the AF movement start direction regardless of the focus evaluation value. The focus lens F may be moved, or another method may be adopted. Further, as described above, in the case of the hill-climbing AF, when the increasing tendency of the focus evaluation value is detected in the direction opposite to the AF movement start direction instructed by the operator, that is, the decreasing tendency of the focus evaluation value with respect to the AF movement start direction. Is detected, the focus lens F is moved in the direction opposite to the AF movement start direction.
Moves in the range in which the focus evaluation value shows a decreasing tendency with respect to the AF movement start direction, and the focus lens F is moved in the AF movement start direction designated by the operator without performing the hill-climbing AF. Good.

Next, the processing of the entire AF mode will be described. When the AF mode start switch S1 shown in the figure is turned on in the MF mode, the CPU 100 sets the AF standby state before starting the above-described AF processing. to go into. The AF standby state is a state in which the operator waits for an instruction of an AF start direction in an infinite direction or a close direction.

Here, the instruction of the AF movement start direction is performed by the operator by operating the MF. Specifically, the focus ring FR is manually operated to give an instruction in the rotation direction,
Alternatively, the operator operates the electric operation member such as the focus demand 112 to give an instruction in the operation direction. However, the AF movement start direction may be instructed by only one of the operations, or if the mode before the AF mode start switch S1 is turned on is the manual MF mode, the AF operation is performed only by the former operation. When the mode before the mode start switch S1 is turned on is the electric MF mode, the AF start direction may be instructed only by the latter operation. Also, the AF mode start switch S1 is set in FIG.
As shown by 3 and the like, it is provided on the lens barrel 2 and also on the focus demand 112. When the AF mode start switch S1 of the lens barrel 2 is turned on, the AF operation of the focus demand 112 is performed only by the former operation. When the start switch S1 is turned on, the AF movement start direction may be instructed only by the latter operation. Instead of instructing the AF start direction by operating the MF, the AF start direction may be indicated by a dedicated instruction switch. In the following description,
Operate the focus ring FR manually to set A
The case where the F movement start direction is instructed is considered, but the same processing can be applied even when the electric operation member such as the focus demand 112 is operated to instruct in the operation direction.

In the AF standby state, the CPU 100 first sets the clutch FCL to the manual side, and monitors the operation direction of the focus ring FR. The operation direction of the focus ring FR is obtained by acquiring a signal of the focus position output from the potentiometer FP via the A / D converter 114 and detecting the change in the focus position.
When a detecting means (a potentiometer or the like) for detecting the rotation of the focus ring FR is provided, the operating direction of the focus ring FR can be directly detected by the detecting means.

When the operator rotates the focus ring FR to instruct the AF movement start direction, the CPU 10
0 detects the AF movement start direction instructed by the operator based on the focus position signal from the potentiometer FP. When the operator instructs the AF start-up direction by operating an electric operation member such as the focus demand 112, the CPU 100 determines the AF designated by the operator based on a change in the focus position command signal given from the focus demand 112. The movement start direction can be detected.

When the AF movement start direction is instructed by the operator, the CPU 100 sets the clutch FCL to the electric side. Subsequently, a command signal is output to the amplifier 104 of the focus driving motor FM, and the focus driving motor FM is rotated in the AF movement start direction. As a result, the focus lens F is moved in the AF movement start direction instructed by the operator, and the focus lens F is set at the in-focus position by the AF processing.

In the AF standby state, the clutch FCL need not always be set to the manual side, but may be set to the electric side. In the focus drive mechanism according to the second or third embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 11, the manual clutch MCL and the electric clutch EC corresponding to the clutch FCL are provided.
Since the focus ring FR can be rotated even when L or the lock means is set to the electric side, the AF is performed by the focus ring FR on the condition that a detection means for detecting the rotation of the focus ring FR is provided. It is possible to indicate the direction of movement. At this time, if necessary, the focus lens F can be moved electrically based on the operation of the focus ring FR for instructing the AF movement start direction. The same applies to the case where the AF operation start direction is instructed by the electric operation member. However, setting the clutch FCL to the manual side in the AF standby state as described above, that is, setting the clutch FCL to the manual focus driving state has an advantage. For example, FIG.
When the focus operation member for manual focus drive cannot be operated in the state of electric focus drive as in the first embodiment, the manual focus drive state is set in the AF standby state. By doing so, it is possible to operate the focus operation member, and thereby it is possible to instruct the AF movement start direction. Further, since the focus lens F moves together with the operation of instructing the AF movement start direction, the potentiometer FP for detecting the position of the focus lens F
The operation direction can be known by the signal of (1), and no special detecting means for detecting the rotation of the focus ring FR is required.

The processing procedure of the CPU 100 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, when the power is turned on, the CPU 100 performs an initial setting (step S1).
0), processing other than AF mode (mainly processing in MF mode)
Is performed (step S12). At this time, the AF mode display LED 130 (see FIG. 16) indicating the AF mode is turned off (turned off) (step S14). Then, the focus operation flag is cleared (step S1).
6). The AF mode display LED 130 is provided on the focus ring FR, the drive unit 12, the focus demand 112, and the like.

Next, CPU 100 determines whether or not AF mode start switch S1 has been turned on (step S1).
18). If NO, the process returns to step S12. On the other hand, if YES, the process proceeds to the AF standby state in the AF mode. First, the clutch FCL is turned off and the clutch FCL is set to the manual side (step S2).
0). Further, the AF display LED 130 is turned on (lit) (step S22). If the clutch FCL has already been set to the manual side, step S20 is not performed.

Next, the CPU 100 executes the AF operation by the operator.
It is determined whether or not the focus ring FR has been operated in order to detect the instruction of the movement start direction (step S2).
4). If NO, it is determined whether the focus operation flag is on (step S26). If the focus ring FR has never been operated in the AF standby state and the AF movement start direction has not been instructed, it is determined to be NO in this processing, and the above-described step S1 is performed.
8 and the processing of steps S18 to S26 is repeated until the focus ring FR is operated.

On the other hand, in step S24, YE
S, that is, when it is determined that the focus ring FR has been operated, the CPU 100 determines whether or not the operation is an operation in the infinite direction (step S28). If YES, the infinite direction flag is turned on (step S30).
On the other hand, if NO, the infinite direction flag is turned off (step S32). Then, the focus operation flag is turned on (step S34), and the process returns to step S18.

When the operation of the focus ring FR is stopped, the detection of the instruction for the AF start-up direction is completed, and the determination in step S24 is NO, and the determination in step S26 is YES. Next, the CPU 100 sets the clutch FCL to the electric side (step S36).
Then, it is determined whether or not the infinity direction flag is ON (step S38). If the determination is YES, the focus driving motor FM is rotated in the infinity direction, and the movement of the focus lens F in the infinity direction is started. (Step S4
0). On the other hand, if NO is determined, the focus driving motor FM is rotated in the close direction, and the movement of the focus lens F in the close direction is started (step S4).
2).

Then, the CPU 100 executes the above-mentioned hill climbing A
F is performed (step S44), and it is determined whether a focus position has been detected (step S46). If the determination is YES, the focus drive motor F
M is stopped, and the focus lens F is stopped. As a result, the focus lens F is set at the in-focus position,
Focusing by AF is completed. When focusing is completed, the CPU
100 clears the focus operation flag (step S48), and returns to step S18.

In the above-described processing procedure of the CPU 100, the AF processing is started when the operation of the focus ring FR is stopped in the AF standby state. However, the AF processing is started at another timing. You may. For example, the AF process may be started when it is detected that the operation amount of the focus ring FR has become equal to or more than a predetermined value, or when it has been detected that the operation speed of the focus ring FR has become equal to or more than a predetermined speed. . On the other hand, AF
If the operation of a member of the MF such as the focus ring FR is detected during the processing of the above, the mode may return to the MF mode.

Next, processing after the completion of focusing by AF in the AF mode will be described. A in AF mode
As one mode of the processing after the completion of focusing by F, when the focusing is completed, the camera returns to the AF standby state again, and
There is a case where the processing in the F mode is repeatedly executed.
The processing procedure of the CPU 100 at this time will be described. The configuration of the AF mode start switch S1 is switched on or off by a predetermined operation like a slide switch, and the state is maintained even if the operation force is released. (Hold type switch), the CPU 100
Is as shown in the flowchart of FIG. That is, after the process of step S48 is completed, when the process returns to step S18, it is determined whether the AF mode start switch S1 is on.
Once 1 is turned on, then, unless the operator switches the AF mode start switch S1 off, YES is determined in this determination process, and the AF mode process is repeatedly executed.

The configuration of the AF mode start switch S1 is ON only when the operating force is applied as shown in FIGS. 13, 14, and 15, and is OFF when the operating force is released (automatically). Return type switch).
Every time the mode start switch S1 is detected to be turned on, recognition of the state of the AF mode start switch S1 in the processing of the CPU 100 is switched between on and off like a holding type switch, and then the AF mode start switch S1 CPU 10 for repeating the processing in the AF mode by holding that state until it is detected that
0 is the same as the flowchart of FIG. 17 described above.

As another mode of the process after the completion of the focusing by the AF, once the focusing is completed, the mode may be returned to the MF mode. In this case, as the AF mode start switch S1, it is preferable to use an automatic return type switch instead of a holding type switch. CPU 100 at this time
Are the same as those in the flowchart of FIG. That is, when the process returns to the determination process of step S18 after the completion of the AF focusing, if the automatic return type AF mode start switch is not turned on, the determination process determines NO, and returns from the AF mode to the MF mode. Will do.

As another mode of the process after the completion of the focusing by the AF, there is a case where the AF is continuously performed after the focusing is completed. That is, the AF standby state is set only immediately after the AF mode start switch S1 is turned on, and once the focusing is completed, the focus is constantly monitored. So that you can always maintain The processing procedure of the CPU 100 at this time is changed in the flowchart of FIG. 17 so that the AF processing in steps S44 and S46 is repeatedly performed until the AF mode is released. The release of the AF mode is performed by, for example, switching the switch from ON to OFF in the case of the holding type AF mode start switch, and turning on the switch again in the case of the automatic return type AF mode start switch. Can be.

When AF is continued after the completion of focusing as described above, fine adjustment by MF can be performed every time focusing is completed. CPU1 at this time
In the processing procedure of 00, after the focusing by the AF is completed, the AF processing is temporarily interrupted, and the focus adjustment can be performed by operating the MF. For example, after the focusing by the AF is completed, the clutch FCL is switched from the electric side to the manual side so that the focus can be adjusted by manually rotating the focus ring FR. Or, after the focusing by AF is completed, with the clutch FCL set to the electric side,
The operation of the MF is detected, and the focus lens F is moved electrically based on the operation. The operation of the MF at this time is
In addition to the operation of the electric operation member such as the focus demand 112, the rotation of the focus ring FR even in the state of electric focus drive as in the focus drive mechanism of the second or third embodiment of FIGS. When the operation is possible, the operation of the focus ring FR may be performed on condition that there is a detecting unit for detecting the rotation of the focus ring FR.

Such fine adjustment by the MF is performed, for example, by
When the operation of the MF to move the focus lens F at a speed equal to or higher than the predetermined value is detected by the CPU 100, the operation ends, and the CPU 100 thereafter returns to the AF processing. By enabling such fine adjustment of focus,
The operator can correct the focus by operating the MF after focusing by AF.

The mode of processing after the completion of focusing by AF as described above can be arbitrarily selected by an operator using a predetermined switch. Where A
After focusing by F, the mode for switching to the AF standby state is referred to as AF standby state return mode, MF
The mode that switches to the mode is referred to as an MF return mode, the mode in which AF is continued is referred to as an AF continuation mode, and a mode in which fine adjustment by MF is possible after focusing by AF in the AF continuation mode is particularly referred to as a fine adjustment mode. Switches for selecting these modes include, for example, the lens barrel 2,
The drive unit 12, the external controller such as the focus demand 112, etc., and other accessories may be provided in any part, and are configured as shown in FIGS. 18A to 18C, for example. FIG. 3A shows a configuration in which a desired mode can be selected by using a knob. When the mode is set to a position described as “ON”, the AF standby state return mode is set, and the mode is set to a position described as “1”. Then, the mode is set to the MF return mode.
When the mode is set to the F continuation mode and the position is set to "fine adjustment", the mode is set to the fine adjustment mode. FIG. 2B shows a mode in which the mode is sequentially switched each time the button is pressed, and the currently selected mode is indicated by the lighting position of the lamp. FIG. 2C shows a configuration in which a desired mode can be selected by a slide switch. Note that the selected mode may be displayed on the viewfinder of the camera body in a form as shown in FIGS. Further, a lamp for each mode may be provided in the drive unit 12 or the like, or may be displayed on the viewfinder, and the lamp of the selected mode may be turned on.

As described above, regarding the processing procedure of the CPU 100 when the processing after the completion of focusing by AF can be selected, the processing of steps S44 to S46 in the flowchart of FIG. 17 is the same as that in the flowchart of FIG. Changed to processing. However, the flowchart of FIG. 19 shows a case where three modes of the AF standby state return mode, the MF return mode, and the AF continuation mode can be selected, and the AF mode start switch S1 is an automatic return type. Each time the AF mode start switch S1 is turned on, the state of the AF mode start switch in the processing of the CPU 100 is switched between on and off. After the processing in step S42, first, the above-described hill-climbing AF processing is performed (step S50), and it is determined whether or not the in-focus position has been detected (step S52). The focus driving motor FM is stopped at the focus position, and the focus lens F is stopped.
Thereby, the focus lens F is set to the in-focus position, and the focusing by AF is completed.

Next, the CPU 100 determines whether or not the mode is set to the AF continuation mode (step S54). Y
If it is ES, the process returns to step S50. That is, the AF process is always performed so that the focus lens F is at the in-focus position. On the other hand, if NO is determined in step S54, it is next determined whether or not the mode is the MF return mode (step S56). If it is determined as YES,
After turning off the state of the AF mode start switch S1 in the process (step S58), the process proceeds to step S48. Accordingly, in the flowchart of FIG. 17, NO is determined in step S18, and the process shifts to a process in the MF mode. On the other hand, if NO is determined in the step S56, the process directly proceeds to the step S48. As a result, YES is determined in step S18, and the process shifts to the AF standby state. In the above flowchart, three modes of the AF standby state return mode, the MF return mode, and the AF continuation mode are selectable, but any two modes may be selectable.

Next, the processing procedure of the CPU 100 when the fine adjustment mode can be set in the AF continuation mode will be described. In this case, in the processing procedure of the CPU 100, the processing after determining YES in step S54 of the flowchart of FIG. 19 is added as in the flowchart of FIG. The operation of the MF for performing the fine adjustment of the focus after the completion of the focusing by the AF is performed by the focus ring FR or the focus demand 112.
The focus drive based on the operation of F is driven by electric power. That is, the focus drive mechanism is configured as in the second or third embodiment of FIG. 6 or FIG. 11 in which the focus ring F can be rotated even in the state of electric focus drive. A detecting means for detecting rotation is provided, and after the focusing by the AF is completed, the focus driving is performed electrically based on the operation of the MF including the operation of the focus ring FR without switching the focus driving to manual.

In FIG. 20, the processing of the CPU 100 in steps S50 to S54 is as described in the flowchart of FIG. And the CPU 100
If it is determined in step S54 that the AF continuation mode has been set, it is determined whether or not the AF fine adjustment mode has been set (step S60). When the AF fine adjustment mode is selectable as a mode different from the AF continuation mode as in the switch shown in FIG. 18, the CPU 100 sets the AF continuation mode when the AF fine adjustment mode is selected. Is also determined as having been selected at the same time. If NO is determined in this step S60, the process returns to step S50. As a result, processing in the AF continuation mode without performing fine adjustment of focus by the MF is performed. On the other hand, in step S60, Y
If it is determined to be ES, the current position of the operation member for performing the operation of the MF next, that is, the current position of the focus ring FR and the position of the focus demand 112 when the focus demand 112 is connected. (The focus position instructed by the signal given from the focus demand 112) is stored (step S62). The parameter at this time is fcemo. Next, the current focus position is stored from the potentiometer FP (step S64). The parameter at this time is assumed to be fpmemo. Then, the focus position control data fpmemo + (fcmemo-fc) is calculated (step S66). Note that fc indicates the position (focus ring / focus demand data) of the operation member of the MF after the operation of the MF is started, and when the focus ring FR is operated, the focus ring F
The position of the focus demand 112 when the operating member of the focus demand 112 is operated. The CPU 100 includes a focus driving motor FM
To move the focus lens F electrically to the position indicated by the focus position control data. Thus, after the focusing by the AF is completed, the focus lens F is moved by the operation of the MF by the operator.

Next, the CPU 100 determines whether or not the mode is the AF fine adjustment mode (step S68). If the determination is NO, that is, if the AF fine adjustment mode is released, the process returns to the step S54. On the other hand, if determined to be YES, it is next determined whether or not the operation speed of the MF is equal to or higher than a predetermined value (step S70). If the determination is NO, the MF operation is determined to be an operation for fine adjustment of focus, and the process returns to step S66. On the other hand, if the determination is YES, the MF operation is determined to be an instruction to end the fine focus adjustment, and the process returns to step S50. Thereby, AF is restarted again.

In the above-described flowchart, the case where the fine adjustment of the focus by the MF is performed by motor after the completion of the focusing by the AF has been described, but it is also possible to manually perform the fine adjustment. In this case, a process of switching the clutch FCL to the manual side after the completion of focusing by AF and switching the clutch FCL to the electric side after the completion of the fine focus adjustment is added.

Next, the CPU 10 for automatically switching to the AF mode at the time of quick zoom.
The processing of 0 will be described. The quick zoom is a function in which the zoom lens F immediately moves to the telephoto end when a predetermined switch S2 (see FIG. 16) of the drive unit 12 is turned on, and returns to the original position when the switch S2 is turned off. The switch S2 is constituted by, for example, a push button type, and when the button is pressed, the switch S2 is turned on,
It turns off when released. Since such a quick zoom is generally used when a subject to be focused is zoomed and focus adjustment is performed with high precision, it is convenient to automatically switch to the AF mode when the switch S2 is turned on.
Therefore, when the switch S2 is turned on (hereinafter, quick zoom is turned on), a mode in which the AF mode is automatically set can be selected. This mode is called “Q.Z & AF mode”.
The mode that does not become the F mode is referred to as “QZ mode”. These modes are, for example, the drive unit 12
Can be made selectable with a knob as shown in FIG.

As described above, Q. FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure regarding focus control of the CPU 100 when the Z & AF mode is made selectable. Note that, in the flowchart shown in FIG. 17, the processes having the same step numbers as those in the flowchart of FIG. 17 have the same contents as those in FIG. explain. In step S80 in FIG. 22, the CPU 100 determines whether or not the quick zoom has been turned on, that is, whether or not the switch S2 has been turned on. If the determination is NO, the process returns to step S12. On the other hand, if it is determined as YES,
Q. Z. It is determined whether & AF mode has been selected (step S82). NO, that is, Q. Z. If it is determined that the mode has been selected, the above-described step S1
Return to 2. If Quick Zoom is turned on,
CPU 10 moves zoom lens Z to the telephoto end.
However, the zoom control process is omitted in the flowchart of FIG. On the other hand, if YES in step S82, Z. If it is determined that the & AF mode has been selected, the zoom lens Z
Simultaneously with the movement to the telephoto end, the flow shifts to the processing in step S20 to start the processing in the AF mode. Then, before the determination processing in step S26 for shifting to the AF processing,
It is determined whether or not the zoom lens Z has reached the telephoto end (step S84). If the determination is NO, the process returns to step S80, and the AF process is not started. on the other hand,
If the determination is YES, the process moves to step S26. In the AF standby state, before or after the zoom lens Z reaches the telephoto end, when the operator rotates the focus ring F to instruct the AF movement start direction, CP
U100 determines YES in the determination processing of step S26, and executes the AF processing. When the quick zoom is turned off, the CPU 100 ends the processing in the AF mode. Note that even when the quick zoom is turned off by the operator, the quick zoom may be kept on if the focusing by the AF is not completed.

As for the processing after the completion of the focusing by the AF while the quick zoom is ON, the AF may be returned to the AF standby state or the MF mode as in the above-described embodiment, or the AF may be continued. The focus may be finely adjusted by the MF. Further, the processing after the completion of focusing may be arbitrarily selectable. Further, the same processing as the processing after the completion of AF focusing when the AF mode start switch S1 is turned on to enter the AF mode may be performed. Further, even if the quick zoom is on, if the focusing by the AF is completed, the mode may be returned to the MF mode and the quick zoom may be forcibly turned off.

Next, switching from the AF standby state to the AF in the AF mode will be described in detail. As described above, in the AF standby state, the CPU 100 waits for the operator to instruct the AF start direction by operating the MF. When the operation of the MF is detected, A
The process of F is started. That is, the focus lens F is electrically moved in the AF movement start direction instructed by the operation of the MF, and the detection of the focus position based on the focus evaluation value is started. The switching from the AF standby state to the AF processing may be performed immediately when the MF operation is detected, or may be performed when the MF operation is stopped as shown in the flowchart of FIG. May go. However, for example, when the AF mode start switch S1 is installed on the focus ring FR,
When the auto start switch S1 is pressed to set the AF standby state, the focus ring FR moves unexpectedly by the operation, or when the focus ring FR is gripped in the AF standby state, the focus ring FR can be moved even if there is no intention to move the focus ring FR. It is possible that the ring FR suddenly moves. CPU1 for MF operation
00, the detection sensitivity of the focus ring FR
Even a slight movement of the operation member F may be erroneously recognized as an instruction of an AF movement start direction, and the AF may be started in a direction not intended by the operator. Therefore, as a solution to this, it is preferable to set a dead zone for the MF operation in the AF standby state. That is, in the AF standby state, when detecting the operation of the MF in the AF standby state, the CPU 100 determines whether or not the operation has been performed for a certain amount or more. If the processing is not started and the amount is equal to or more than the predetermined amount, the AF processing is started. by this,
A dead zone can be set for the MF operation in the AF standby state. Regarding the size of the dead zone, the operator may be able to adjust the size to a desired size by the adjusting means 132 (variable resistor, rotary switch, etc.) shown in FIG. As the detection of the operation amount of the MF, the operation amount of the operation member of the MF may be directly detected, or when the focus lens F moves by the operation of the MF, the movement amount is detected. You may.

In the AF standby state, the AF
When the focus lens F moves together with the operation of the MF for instructing the movement start direction, and then automatically switches to AF (in the case of the processing in the flowchart of FIG. 17), AF is performed for quick focusing. It is necessary to consider the timing of switching to. That is, depending on the subject, AF
In some cases, moving the focus lens F by operating the MF can perform focusing more quickly. Then, the operator
When the focus evaluation value is detected to be equal to or higher than a predetermined level during the operation of the MF for instructing the F movement start direction, the AF
It is preferable to switch to the processing of (1).

For example, as shown in FIG. 23, a threshold value for starting the AF processing is set for a focus evaluation value obtained during the operation of the MF in the AF standby state. The threshold value is adjusted by the adjusting means 134 shown in FIG.
(Variable resistance, rotary switch, etc.) can be set to an arbitrary value, and that value is given to CPU 100 as a threshold value. Then, the focus position when the AF standby state is set is point a in FIG.
Assuming that the MF operation is performed from the point a, the AF processing is not started until the focus position moves to the point b where the focus evaluation value exceeds the threshold, and the focus lens F is moved by the MF operation. . When the focus position reaches point b, that is, when the focus evaluation value exceeds the threshold value, AF processing is started, and the focus position is moved to the in-focus position at point c in FIG. still,
As for the threshold value, the CPU 100 automatically changes the value input from the adjusting means 134 to a suitable value in consideration of the aperture value and the focal length (in consideration of the case where the depth of field is deep, etc.).
The CPU 100 acquires the aperture value from a potentiometer installed on the iris.

The processing procedure of the CPU 100 in this case is the same as the processing in the AF standby state of the AF mode (steps S20 to S34) in the flowchart of FIG.
Before the process of step S34, the processes of steps S90 to S94 shown in the flowchart of FIG. 24 are added. When the operator operates the focus ring FR in the AF standby state, the CPU 100 proceeds to step S
24 is determined as YES. Thereafter, CPU 100 determines whether or not the operation is an operation in the infinite direction (Step S).
28). If YES, the infinite direction flag is turned on (step S30). On the other hand, if NO, the infinite direction flag is turned off (step S32). Thereafter, the threshold value set by the adjusting means 134 is read (step S90), and an appropriate threshold value is determined with reference to the F value (step S92). Next, it is determined whether or not the focus evaluation value obtained from the video signal has exceeded a threshold (step S94). If NO is determined, the focus operation flag is not turned on and the process proceeds to step S20.
Return to Thus, the AF process is not started. On the other hand, if YES in step S94, that is, if it is determined that the focus evaluation value has exceeded the threshold value, the focus operation flag is turned on (step S34), and the process returns to step S20. Thus, the AF process is started.

Next, in the AF standby state, the AF
Control of the clutch FCL at the time of switching from MF to AF in a case where the focus lens F moves together with the operation of the MF for instructing the movement start direction and then automatically switches to AF will be described. In the case of the processing procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. 17, in the AF standby state, the clutch FCL is set to the manual side (step S20), and when the operator rotates the focus ring FR to instruct the AF movement start direction, The clutch FCL is switched to the electric side (step S36), and A
The process of F is started. In such a case, if the clutch FCL is suddenly switched from the manual side to the electric side, a sharp torque change occurs in the operation of the focus ring FR, giving an uncomfortable feeling to the operator. Therefore, switching from the manual side of the clutch FCL to the electric side is performed as follows. The following description is based on the configuration of the focus driving mechanism of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 6, and the manual clutch M corresponding to the operation of the clutch FCL in the second embodiment.
Of the CL and the electric clutch ECL, the clutch that affects the operation feeling of the focus ring FR is the manual clutch MC.
Since it is L, control of the manual clutch MCL will be described.

First, assuming that the rotational torque of the focus ring FR is TA, the rotational torque of the drive ring 50 is TB, and the rotational torque of the helicoids 22A and 24A that move the focus lens F is TH, the focus lens F is moved by manual operation. Focus ring F required for
The operating torque TM of R is as follows: TM = TA + TB + TH. Therefore, assuming that the rotational torque that can be transmitted by the manual clutch MCL is TC, TC must be TC> TB + TH in order to move the focus lens F manually.

On the other hand, in order to prevent the focus ring FR from rotating by the focus driving motor FM during AF, it is necessary that TC <TA. Therefore, focus ring F
AF that moves focus lens F by manually operating R
At the time of transition from the standby state (at the time of MF) to AF in which the focus lens F is moved by the focus driving motor FM, TC is calculated from the value TC> TB + TH by Tc.
The value is switched to a value such that C <TA. At this time, if TC is changed to a sudden decrease, the operating torque TM of the focus ring FR is rapidly increased because TC = TA + TC in a range where TC is in the range of (TB + TH) ≤TC≤TA. Change. Therefore, TC is gradually reduced as shown in FIG. 25 when shifting from the AF standby state (at the time of MF) to AF. As a result, the operating torque TM of the focus ring FR is reduced as shown in FIG.
, Gradually decreases from TA + TB + TH to TA. In order to gradually reduce TC in this manner, the pressing force of the clutch plate 82 against the clutch plate 80 of the clutch MCL may be gradually reduced, and the clutch motor FC
M is possible by controlling the rotation speed.

The above-described control of the clutch MCL is similarly applied to the case where the focus drive mechanism has another form. That is, if the state of the clutch FCL (the first embodiment) or the lock means (the third embodiment) is controlled to gradually shift from the manual focus drive state to the electric focus drive state, It is possible to reduce a sense of discomfort in operating the focus ring FR when switching from manual operation to electric operation.

The description of the switching from the AF standby state to the AF described above is not limited to the case where the present invention is applied to the AF mode having the AF standby state for instructing the AF start direction. That is, the present invention can be applied to a case where the focus driving is automatically switched to the AF from the focus driving state by the MF operation.

In the above embodiment, the present invention has been described with respect to the lens device having the focus ring FR. However, the content relating to focus control can be similarly applied to a lens device without a focus ring.

[0115]

As described above, according to the lens apparatus of the present invention, when the operator automatically switches from the state in which the focus operation member is operated to the auto focus, the condition for the switching is set. Since the focus evaluation value exceeds a predetermined threshold value, autofocus can be started at a focus evaluation value level at which no malfunction of autofocus occurs, and focusing can be performed quickly.

Further, the condition for switching to auto focus is that the movement amount of the focus lens that moves based on the operation of the focus operation member or the operation amount of the focus operation member changes by a predetermined amount or more. A dead zone can be provided in the operation member, and a problem that autofocus is started by a slight movement of the focus operation member not intended by the operator is prevented, and operability is improved.

Further, by gradually changing the switching of the focus lens from the manual state to the electric state, the operating force of the focus operating member for manually driving the focus lens is reduced by the automatic focusing operation. There is no inconvenience that changes abruptly by switching to autofocus, and the operational feeling of the focus operation member when switching to autofocus can be made uncomfortable.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view showing an example of a lens device (ENG lens) for a television camera to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram used for describing an outline of an AF mode according to the present embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram used for describing an operation in an AF mode according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram used for describing the operation of the AF mode in the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view showing a basic configuration (first embodiment) of a focus drive mechanism.

FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a focus drive mechanism according to a second embodiment, and is a diagram in which some constituent members are developed.

FIG. 7 is a front view illustrating a configuration of a focus driving mechanism according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a side cross-sectional view showing a state during electric focus driving in the second embodiment of the focus driving mechanism.

FIG. 9 is a side sectional view showing a state at the time of manual focus driving in the second embodiment of the focus driving mechanism.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example in which an index indicating a focus position is indicated on a driving ring.

FIG. 11 is a side sectional view showing the configuration of a third embodiment of the focus driving mechanism.

FIG. 12 is a side sectional view showing a modification of the focus drive mechanism of the third embodiment shown in FIG. 11;

FIGS. 13A and 13B are an external view and a side sectional view showing an embodiment of an AF mode start switch installed in a lens barrel, respectively.

FIGS. 14A and 14B are an external view and a side cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of an AF mode start switch provided in a lens barrel, respectively.

FIG. 15 is a front sectional view showing another embodiment of the AF mode start switch installed in each of the lens barrels.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating components related to focus control and zoom control.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating a basic processing procedure of a CPU;

FIGS. 18A to 18C are diagrams showing an example of the configuration of a switch for selecting a process after completion of AF focusing in the AF mode.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of the CPU in a case where a process after the completion of AF focusing in the AF mode can be selected;

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a CPU when fine adjustment by MF is enabled as a mode of processing after completion of AF focusing in an AF mode;

FIG. Z. Mode and Q. Z. & AF
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a knob for selecting a mode.

FIG. Z. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure relating to focus control of a CPU when & AF mode is selectable.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram used for describing processing when a threshold value for starting AF processing in the AF mode is provided.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of the CPU when a threshold value for starting the AF processing in the AF mode is provided.

FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram used to describe clutch control when switching to AF in the AF mode.

FIG. 26 is an explanatory diagram used to explain clutch control when switching to AF in the AF mode.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Lens apparatus, 2 ... Lens barrel, FR ... Focus ring, 12 ... Drive unit, F ... Focus lens (group), FM ... Focus drive motor, FCM ... Clutch motor, FCL ... Clutch, 30, 32, 62, 6
4, 80, 82: clutch plate, 50: drive ring, E
CL: Electric clutch, MCL: Manual clutch, S1
... AF mode start switch, 100 ... CPU

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A manual focus means for moving a focus lens based on an operation of a focus operation member by an operator, and a focus evaluation value which becomes a maximum value at a focus position from a video signal of a camera, and the focus evaluation value is obtained. An auto-focusing means for setting the focus lens to a focus position based on the following: the focus evaluation value is acquired together with the movement of the focus lens by the manual focusing means, and the focus evaluation value is A focus control means for setting the focus lens to a focus position by the auto focus means when the threshold value is exceeded. 2. The lens apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an adjusting unit that adjusts the threshold value. 3. The focus lens is set to a focus position based on information from a manual focus means for moving a focus lens based on an operation of a focus operation member by an operator and a detection means for detecting a focus position. A lens device provided with an auto-focusing means, wherein when the movement amount of the focus lens by the manual focusing means or the operation amount of the focus operation member changes by a predetermined amount or more, the auto-focusing means adjusts the focus lens. A lens device comprising: focus control means for setting a focus position. 4. The lens device according to claim 3, further comprising an adjusting unit that adjusts the predetermined amount. 5. A clutch for switching between a manual state in which the focus lens is manually moved or an electric state in which the focus lens is moved electrically, a manual focus means for manually moving the focus lens by an operation of a focus operation member by an operator, and focusing. A lens device comprising: an auto-focus unit that electrically moves the focus lens based on information from a detection unit that detects a position and sets the focus position to a focus position; when switching from the manual focus unit to the auto-focus unit; And a clutch control means for gradually switching the clutch from a manual state to an electric state.