JP2003156671A - Optical controller, optical driving unit, optical system and photographing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical controller in which not only the speed of a lens (optical adjustment means) which is electrically driven but also the speed of the lens which is manually operated are stored and reproduced. SOLUTION: The optical controller is composed of a detection means 10 with which the position of a manually operating member 7 moved and operated for manually driving an optical adjustment means 1 is detected, an electric driving means 9 which electrically drives the optical adjustment means via the manually operating member, and control means 17, 22 and 23 which calculate and store a moving speed of the optical adjustment means on the basis of the variation in the detected position detected with the detection means according to a storage and operation means 21 while the manual driving member is moving and drive the optical adjustment means at a speed which is stored in the electric driving means according to the operation of a reproducing means 20.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical control device, and more particularly, to a device suitable for a TV lens used for television shooting and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a TV lens used for television shooting, when a zoom operation is performed on a subject, a method for driving a variable power lens by manually operating a manual ring of a lens barrel, and a lens mirror There is a method in which a seesaw switch provided in a drive unit mounted on the side surface of a cylinder is operated to control a motor in the drive unit according to an operation direction and an operation amount of the switch to electrically drive a variable power lens.

Manual operation has the advantage that the angle of view can be changed at will because the photographer directly operates the manual ring. On the other hand, the electric drive has a structure in which the seesaw switch can be operated by the right hand holding the drive unit, so that the left hand can concentrate on the focus operation. The photographer uses two operation methods to perform the zoom operation depending on the shooting situation and his or her preference.

Under these circumstances, the drive unit has become multifunctional in recent years, and for example, a function of storing / reproducing an arbitrary lens position is added, or a predetermined button is pressed during operation of a seesaw switch, the zoom speed at that moment is changed. There is also a drive unit added with a function of memorizing and operating while maintaining the speed even when the operation of the seesaw switch is released, and the operation and the memory are released when the operation end is reached.

The conventional storage and reproduction of the zoom speed is performed by storing the output from the seesaw switch and driving the variable power lens at a speed corresponding to the stored output value.

[0006]

However, for photographers who are accustomed to the manual operation, which can be operated at their own will and can easily perform delicate speed adjustments, it is necessary to set a delicate slow speed with a seesaw switch. It is often uncomfortable and not always easy to use.

Further, the photographer shoots in various postures in various shooting situations. For example, when shooting with the camera held in the knees, in this case, the drive unit cannot be held with the right hand, so the operability of the seesaw switch is extremely poor and it is difficult to make delicate speed adjustments using the seesaw switch. Is. Therefore, it becomes difficult to store the zoom speed using the output of the seesaw switch.

Further, the set speed is not limited to once,
It is desirable that the speed be remembered even when the power of the camera is turned off and on again, because there are occasions when it is necessary to reproduce it again and again.

Therefore, in the present invention, a lens (optical adjusting means) is used.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical control device capable of storing and reproducing not only the speed at the time of electrically driving the lens but also the lens speed at the time of manual operation.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the optical control device of the present invention is a detection means for detecting the position of a manually operated member that is moved to manually drive the optical adjustment means. And an electric drive means for electrically driving the optical adjustment means via the manual operation member, and an optical operation based on a change in the detection position by the detection means in response to the operation of the memory operation means while the manual operation member is moving. The control means calculates and stores the moving speed of the adjusting means, and causes the electric drive means to drive the optical adjusting means at the stored speed according to the operation of the reproduction operation means.

It should be noted that the control means calculates the moving speed and direction of the optical adjusting means based on the change of the detection position by the detecting means in response to the operation of the memory operating means while the manual operation member is moving. Alternatively, the electric drive means may be caused to drive the optical adjustment means in the stored direction at the stored speed in response to the operation of the reproduction operation means.

Further, a position storage means for storing the position of the optical adjustment means is provided, and the control means changes the detection position by the detection means in response to the operation of the storage operation means when the manual operation member is moving. The moving speed of the optical adjusting means is calculated and stored on the basis of, and in response to the operation of the reproduction operating means, the electric driving means is operated to move the optical adjusting means to the position stored in the position storing means at the stored speed. You may make it drive.

As in the present invention, the moving speed of the optical adjusting means is calculated and stored based on the change of the detected position of the manual operating member while the manual operating member is moving, and the calculated speed is stored. By making it possible to drive the optical adjusting means, the optical adjusting means is driven at the same speed as the speed of the optical adjusting means when the manual operating member is manually operated to drive the optical adjusting means. Can be reproduced.

Therefore, it becomes possible to perform a speed memory operation corresponding to the user's preference and various usage situations, and it is possible to realize a convenient optical drive unit, optical system and photographing system. .

Moreover, since the optical adjusting means is driven through the manual operating member even during the electric drive, the moving speed of the optical adjusting means is based on the change of the detected position of the manual operating member at this time by utilizing the detecting means. Is calculated and stored, it is possible to reproduce the movement of the optical adjusting means at the same speed as the speed of the optical adjusting means when the optical adjusting means is driven by electric drive. That is, it becomes possible to share the above-mentioned detecting means for calculating the driving speed of the optical adjusting means both during the manual operation and during the electric driving.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 shows an electrical configuration of a lens drive unit (optical drive unit) which constitutes a lens system (optical system) according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and this. 1 shows a part of a zoom lens equipped with a lens driving unit. This lens driving unit has a speed preset function for storing and reproducing the zooming speed. Also, the zoom lens
It is used for television shooting and the like, and is attached to a television camera (not shown) to form an image pickup system.

In FIG. 1, D is a lens drive unit and L is a zoom lens. In the zoom lens L, reference numeral 1 denotes a variable power lens, which is held by a lens holding frame 2 and is movable in the optical axis direction (left and right direction in FIG. 1). The lens holding frame 2 is provided with at least three or more roller members 3, and each roller member 3 has a linear groove portion 4a provided in a fixed barrel 4 which is a housing, and a cam provided in the rotary barrel 5. It engages with the groove 5a.

A connecting pin 6 is provided on the rotary cylinder 5, and the connecting pin 6 is engaged with a zoom operation ring (manual operation member) 7 through a groove 4b provided on the fixed cylinder 4.

In such a structure, when the photographer manually performs the zooming operation, the zoom operation ring 7 is manually rotated. As a result, the rotary cylinder 5 rotates integrally with the zoom operation ring 7, and the roller member 3 of the lens holding frame 2 moves along the linear groove portion 4a of the fixed cylinder 4 and the cam groove portion 5a of the rotary cylinder 5 to change the magnification. The lens 1 moves in the fixed cylinder 4 in the optical axis direction.

A lens drive unit D is mounted near the fixed barrel 4. This lens drive unit D
The body 8 has a zoom motor (electric drive unit) 9 and a potentiometer (detection unit) 10 for detecting a lens position.

The position detection gear 11 provided on the input shaft of the potentiometer 10 meshes with the position detection gear 7a formed on the zoom operation ring 7. Therefore, when the zoom operation ring 7 rotates, the potentiometer 10
Outputs a signal having a value corresponding to its rotational position. In the present embodiment, the potentiometer 10 is used to detect the rotational position of the zoom operation ring 7, but instead of the potentiometer 10, another detection means such as an encoder (mechanical or optical type) is used. May be used.

The driving force of the zoom motor 9 is the same as that of the gear head 1.
2. It is transmitted to the intermediate gear 14 via the motor output gear 13. A face gear 14a is provided on an end surface of the intermediate gear 14, and a connecting gear 15 is located next to the face gear 14a. The connecting gear 15 meshes with an operation gear 7b formed on the zoom operation ring 7. A face gear 15a is also provided on the end surface of the coupling gear 15, and faces the face gear 14a of the intermediate gear 14 with a predetermined gap therebetween.

An electromagnetic clutch 16 is attached to the support shaft 15b of the connecting gear 15 on the opposite side of the intermediate gear 14. By controlling the ON / OFF of the electromagnetic clutch 16,
The connecting gear 15 slides in the axial direction (longitudinal direction) of the support shaft 15b, so that connection and disconnection of the face gear 14a of the intermediate gear 14 and the face gear 15a of the connecting gear 15 can be switched.

In such a structure, when the photographer performs zooming electrically, when a seesaw switch 18 provided on the exterior surface of the lens drive unit D or a zoom demand 19 attached to a tripod is operated, commands issued by these are issued. Based on the change in the signal, the CPU 17 determines that the variable power lens 1 is electrically driven, and switches the electromagnetic clutch 16 from the disengaged state to the engaged state through the drive circuit 23.
At the same time, the motor 9 is driven to drive the variable power lens 1.

When the operation of the seesaw switch 18 or the zoom demand 19 is stopped, the CPU 17 determines that the electric drive is released because the command signal from them is a predetermined reference signal, and the electromagnetic clutch 16 is released through the drive circuit 23. Switch to the state.

As described above, in the lens drive unit D of this embodiment, the manual operation and the electric drive of the lens are automatically switched by using the electromagnetic clutch 16 without using a switching lever or the like. ing.

Next, the procedure of the memory operation of the zoom speed and the direction of the speed preset function will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

When the zoom operation ring 7 is rotated manually by the photographer, the step (abbreviated as S in the figure) is performed.
In 101, when the CPU 17 detects the rotation of the zoom operation ring 7 from the change in the position data of the potentiometer 10 that meshes with the zoom operation ring 7, the position data detected by the potentiometer 10 within a predetermined time is stored in a buffer in the CPU 17 in step 102. To do.

When the memory switch 21 provided on the exterior surface of the lens drive unit D is pressed by the photographer in step 103 while the zoom operation ring 7 is rotating, in step 104 the memory switch 2 is pressed.
The driving speed and direction (that is, the zoom speed and the zoom direction) of the variable magnification lens 1 are calculated from the position data at the moment when 1 is pressed and the position data stored in the buffer at step 102, and at step 105, the memory unit 22 Remember.

The driving speed of the variable magnification lens 1 is the difference between the position data at the moment when the memory switch 21 is pressed and the position data stored in the buffer in step 102, which is the difference between the times when both position data are acquired. It is obtained by dividing (or differentiating). The driving speed of the variable power lens 1 is obtained by determining the sign (+, −) of the difference between the position data at the moment when the memory switch 21 is pressed and the position data stored in the buffer in step 102.

The drive speed and direction data stored in the memory section 22 is retained even when the lens drive unit D is powered off. It should be noted that the CPU 17, the memory unit 22, and the drive circuit 23 constitute the control means referred to in the claims.

Next, the procedure of the operation for reproducing the zooming according to the driving speed and the direction stored by the memory operation will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in.

In step 201, the lens driving unit D
When the speed reproduction switch 20 provided on the outer surface of the CPU 1 is pressed by the photographer, the CPU 1
7 issues a command to the drive circuit 23 to bring the electromagnetic clutch 16 into the engaged state.

Further, in step 203, the CPU 21 reads the data of the driving speed and direction of the variable magnification lens 1 stored from the memory unit 22, and sends this data to the driving circuit 23 as a command value. The drive circuit 23 operates to drive the motor 9 at the same speed as the drive speed stored in the memory unit 22 and in the same direction as the stored direction in accordance with the command value. (Step 204).

Then, in step 205, the CPU 21
When the potentiometer 10 detects that the variable power lens 1 reaches the operating end, the motor 9 is driven through the drive circuit 23.
Is stopped (step 206) and the electromagnetic clutch 16 is brought into a disengaged state.

Since the data stored in the memory unit 22 is retained even when the power is turned off, the reproduction switch 20
By pressing, it is possible to reproduce the driving of the variable magnification lens 1 in the same direction as the stored direction at the same speed as the stored driving speed many times.

In the above description, the memory function and the reproducing function of the speed and the direction when the zoom operation ring 7 is manually operated have been described, but the electric drive according to the operation of the seesaw switch 18 or the zoom demand 19 by the photographer. Since the zoom operation ring 7 also rotates at any time, the above memory function can be used even during electric drive.

Therefore, it is possible to select the storage operation of the driving speed and direction of the variable magnification lens 1 according to the photographer's preference and the photographing situation. That is, if it is desired to set the speed and direction to be stored manually, the memory switch 21 should be pressed while manually operating the zoom operation ring 7, and if the speed and direction should be set electrically, the electric operating member 8 should be pressed. While pressing the memory switch 21. Therefore, it is possible to easily set a desired or delicate speed regardless of the shooting posture.

Further, in the present embodiment, the speed reproduction switch 20 is moved to the position before the start of movement according to the switch operation after moving the variable power lens 1 in the predetermined direction at the predetermined speed. It also serves as a RET (return) switch. This prevents an erroneous operation caused by arranging many switches on the exterior surface of the lens driving unit D.

Whether the switch 20 is assigned to the speed reproduction switch or the RET switch can be selected by setting a dip switch (not shown) provided inside the lens driving unit D.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
1 shows an electrical configuration of a lens drive unit (optical drive unit) that constitutes a lens system (optical system) according to an embodiment and a part of a zoom lens in which the lens drive unit is mounted. This lens driving unit has a speed preset function for storing and reproducing the zooming speed. The zoom lens is used for television shooting and the like, and is attached to a television camera (not shown) to configure a shooting system.

In the first embodiment described above, the zoom speed and direction are stored, and the zoom lens 1 is driven to the operating end in the stored direction at the stored speed by pressing the speed reproduction switch. In the embodiment, the zoom position is stored instead of the zoom direction, and by pressing the position reproduction switch, zooming to the stored position at the stored speed can be performed.

In FIG. 4, 21 'is a memory switch operated when storing the zoom speed and the zoom position, and 24 is a position reproduction for electric (servo) driving up to the stored zoom position at the stored zoom speed. It is a switch.

Since the other constituent elements in this embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment, the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment are used and the description thereof is omitted.

The zoom speed can be stored during both manual operation and electric drive, and the storage procedure during manual operation is the same as that described with reference to FIG. 2 in the first embodiment. Further, the storage procedure at the time of electric drive may be the same as that in FIG. 2, but in this embodiment, it is stored in the procedure shown in the flowchart in FIG.

That is, when the seesaw switch 18 (or zoom demand 19) of the lens driving unit D is operated in step 301 and the memory switch 21 'is pressed in step 302, the CPU 17 causes the CPU 17 to execute step 3
In 03, the seesaw switch 18 (or the zoom demand 19) stores the speed command signal issued to the CPU 17 in the memory unit 22.

The zoom position is stored according to the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. That is, step 401
Then, the memory switch 21 'is pressed, and step 402
When the position reproduction button 24a is pressed with, step 403
Then, the CPU 17 stores the position data detected by the potentiometer 10 in the memory unit 22.

Next, the operation of reproducing the stored zoom position at the stored zoom speed will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

When the position reproduction button 24a is pressed in step 501, the CPU 17 turns on the electromagnetic clutch 16 through the drive circuit 23 in step 502. And
In step 503, the CPU 17 reads command position and speed data from the memory unit 22.

Here, as shown in FIG. 4, the position reproducing switch 24 determines whether the variable magnification lens 1 is driven to a designated zoom position at a predetermined maximum speed or at a speed stored in the memory section 22. A speed mode selection switch for selection is configured, and the two moving speeds can be selected by rotating the lever 24b.

When the highest speed is selected in step 504, the CPU 17 determines in step 503 the memory unit 2
In step 505, the motor 9 is driven at the maximum speed regardless of the speed data stored in 2. And step 50
When the zoom position reaches the command position stored in the memory unit 22 in step 6, the motor 9 is stopped in step 509.

When the memory speed is selected as the moving speed by the lever 24b, the motor 9 is driven so that the zoom speed becomes the stored command speed in step 507. Then, in steps 508 and 509,
The stop control of the motor 9 is performed so that the variable power lens 1 stops at the command position, and after the motor is stopped, the electromagnetic clutch 16 is released in step 510.

As described above, in this embodiment, the zoom speed can be stored both during the manual operation and the electric drive, and the arbitrary zoom position of the photographer can be stored. In addition to requiring a zoom speed / position reproduction function at the speed stored in the, the zoom drive to the stored position at a predetermined maximum speed is possible. Therefore, it is possible to provide a wider range of usability according to the shooting situation.

In each of the above embodiments, the speed preset function or the zoom speed / position reproducing function relating to the zoom has been described. However, the present invention can be applied to the control of other optical adjusting means such as focus and iris. it can.

Further, the electromagnetic clutch 16 for switching between the manual operation state and the electric drive state is not limited to the one having the structure described in each of the embodiments, and the drive force of the motor 9 can be transmitted / received.
Other configurations may be used as long as non-transmission can be switched.

Further, in the present embodiment, the so-called ENG lens mounted on the camera of the type that the photographer carries on the shoulder has been described, but the present invention can be applied to various lenses used in a studio or a field.

[0057]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The moving speed of the optical adjusting means is calculated and stored based on the change in the detected position of the manual operating member while the manual operating member is moving, and the optical adjusting means is driven at the stored speed. Therefore, it is possible to reproduce driving of the optical adjusting means at the same speed as the speed of the optical adjusting means when the optical adjusting means is driven by manually operating the manual operation member.

Therefore, it is possible to perform a speed memory operation corresponding to the user's preference and various usage situations, and it is possible to realize a convenient optical drive unit, optical system, and photographing system.

Moreover, since the optical adjusting means is driven through the manual operating member even during electric driving, the optical adjusting means is utilized based on the change in the detected position of the manual operating member at this time by utilizing the detecting means. If the moving speed of the optical adjusting means is calculated and stored, the movement of the optical adjusting means at the same speed as the speed of the optical adjusting means when the optical adjusting means is driven by electric drive can be reproduced. That is, the detecting means can be shared for calculating the drive speed of the optical adjusting means both during the manual operation and during the electric drive.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an optical system that is a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure for storing a velocity during manual operation in the lens driving unit that constitutes the optical system.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a speed reproduction procedure in a lens drive unit that constitutes the above optical system.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an optical system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a speed storing procedure at the time of electric driving in the lens driving unit that constitutes the optical system of the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a position storing procedure in a lens driving unit that constitutes the optical system of the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a speed / position reproduction procedure in a lens driving unit that constitutes the optical system of the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

Magnifying lens 2 Lens holding frame 3 roller members 4 fixed cylinder 4a Straight groove 4b groove 5 rotating cylinder 5a Cam groove 6 connecting pins 7 Operation ring 7a Position detection gear 7b Operation gear 9 Zoom motor 10 Potentiometer 11 Position detection gear 12 gear head 13 Motor output gear 14 Intermediate gear 14a Face gear 14b spindle 15 connected gears 15a face gear 15b spindle 16 electromagnetic clutch 17 CPU 18 Seesaw switch 19 Zoom demand 20 speed playback switch 21,21 'memory switch 22 Memory section 23 Drive circuit 24 position playback switch 24a position playback button 24b lever L zoom lens D lens drive unit

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A detection means for detecting a position of a manual operation member that is moved and operated to manually drive the optical adjustment means, and an electric drive means for electrically driving the optical adjustment means via the manual operation member. The operation speed of the optical adjusting means is calculated and stored based on the change of the detection position by the detecting means in accordance with the operation of the storing operation means when the manual operation member is moving, and the operation of the reproducing operation means is performed. And a control unit that causes the electric drive unit to drive the optical adjustment unit at the stored speed. 2. The moving speed and direction of the optical adjusting means based on the change of the detection position by the detecting means in response to the operation of the memory operating means when the manual operating member is moving. Is calculated and stored, and the electric drive means is caused to drive the optical adjustment means in the stored direction at the stored speed in accordance with the operation of the reproduction operation means. The optical control device according to claim 1. 3. A position storage means for storing the position of the optical adjustment means is provided, and the control means is responsive to the operation of the storage operation means when the manual operation member is moving. The moving speed of the optical adjusting means is calculated and stored on the basis of the change in the detected position by the detecting means, and the electric drive means is responsive to the operation of the reproducing operation means to the position storing means at the memorized speed. The optical control device according to claim 1, wherein the optical control unit is driven to a stored position. 4. An optical drive unit comprising the optical control device according to claim 1, and being mounted on an optical device having the optical adjusting means and the manual operation member. 5. The optical drive unit according to claim 4,
An optical system comprising: the optical device. 6. An imaging system, comprising: the optical system according to claim 5; and an imaging device on which the optical device is mounted.