JP2006227636A - Lens device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lens device realizing the improvement of operability by changing the movable range of the pushing/pulling operation of a one-shaft two-operation type operation bar used as the motor-driven operation member for a zoom lens and a focus lens. <P>SOLUTION: The pushing/pulling operation and the turning operation of the one-shaft two-operation type operation bar 16 are electrically detected, and the zoom lens and the focus lens are driven based on the operation of the operation bar 16. The pushing/pulling position of the operation bar 16 is regulated by a stopper 110, and the movable range of the pushing/pulling operation of the operation bar 16 is changed by adjusting the position of the stopper 110. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a lens apparatus, and more particularly, to a lens apparatus capable of performing a zoom operation and a focus operation by either a single-axis two-operation type operation or a normal controller operation.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a box-type lens device (EFP lens) used for a broadcast television camera, a lens operation such as a focus operation or a zoom operation is manually performed, and a lens operation is electrically performed. As what is performed manually, an operation method called a single-axis two-operation method is known. In the uniaxial two-operation type, the zoom operation is performed by pushing and pulling the operation rod extended from the lens device, and the focus operation is performed by rotating the operation rod. Such a single-axis two-operation type operation is often used in photographing that requires an instantaneous change in the angle of view, such as sports broadcasting, because a quick zoom operation is possible.

  On the other hand, as for the lens operation that is electrically operated, an operation method called a servo type that drives a motor by a command signal from a dedicated controller such as a zoom controller or a focus controller, and drives the zoom lens or the focus lens by the driving force. It has been known. In the case of shooting that requires a slow operation, such as drama shooting, this servo operation is often used.

Conventionally, in order to be able to select either the single-axis two-operation type manual operation or the electric operation of the controller according to the photographing situation or the photographer's preference, one lens device is used for manual operation and electric operation. There has been proposed one in which both drive mechanisms for operation are provided. In addition, since the drive mechanism for both manual operation and electric operation is provided in this manner, the drive mechanism becomes complicated. Therefore, in Patent Document 1, the operation of the uniaxial two-operation type operation rod is electrically detected. In addition, there has been proposed a controller that outputs the operation of the operation bar with a command signal. According to this, by using a single-axis two-operation type controller, a single-axis two-operation type operation and a zoom operation and a focus operation by a normal controller operation are performed only by an electric drive mechanism without providing a drive mechanism for manual operation. The effect that it can be performed is acquired.
JP-A-6-230266

  However, the one described in Patent Document 1 has a problem in the installation position of the uniaxial, two-operation type operation rod. In other words, a uniaxial and two-operation type operation rod that is usually extended on the back side of the lens device (surface to be attached to the camera body) passes through an operation rod insertion hole formed in the camera body to penetrate the camera body. It protrudes from a certain position on the back. However, in the one-axis two-operation type controller as described in JP-A-6-230226, the operation bar is not installed at a normal position but at a position different from the normal side of the camera body. . For this reason, there has been a drawback that it is difficult for a photographer who is accustomed to using an operating rod at a conventional position.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and enables a zoom operation and a focus operation with a simple drive mechanism in either a single-axis two-operation type or a normal controller operation method, and a single-axis two-operation type. It is an object of the present invention to provide a lens apparatus that can perform a zoom operation and a focus operation by a uniaxial two-operation system without discomfort by disposing an operation rod of a formula at a predetermined predetermined position.

  The lens device according to claim 1 is a single-axis two-operation type operation rod operated as an operation member of the controller in a lens device that drives the zoom lens and the focus lens based on a command signal from the controller, An operation rod disposed in the operation rod insertion hole of the camera body and variable means for varying a movable range related to a push-pull operation of the operation rod are provided.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the lens device according to the first aspect, the variable means has a stopper that regulates a movable range of the operating rod, and the operating rod is moved by moving the position of the stopper. It is characterized by varying the movable range.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the lens device according to the second aspect, wherein the stopper position detecting means for detecting the position of the stopper and the movement of the operating rod based on the position detected by the stopper position detecting means. It has a movable range detecting means for detecting a range, and a control means for controlling the position of the zoom lens so as to be adapted to the movable range detected by the movable range detecting means.

  According to the lens device of the present invention, since the zoom operation and the focus operation can be performed by the same drive mechanism in any of the operation methods of the uniaxial two-operation type operation unit and the controller, the drive mechanism becomes simple. Further, it is not necessary to prepare two types of lens devices according to the respective operation methods, which is effective in terms of operability and cost.

  In addition, since the operation rod of the single-axis two-operation type operation unit is arranged at the normal position as before, the zoom operation and the focus operation by the single-axis two-operation method can be performed with the same usability as before without any sense of incongruity. In addition, since the single-axis two-operation type operation unit can be arranged in the lens, it is advantageous for downsizing the apparatus.

  Preferred embodiments of a lens apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  The lens device according to the present invention selects either the single-axis two-operation type operation method or the non-single-axis two-operation type operation method (zoom demand and focus demand) depending on the shooting situation or the photographer's preference, and the selection The zoom operation and the focus operation can be performed by the above-described operation method. FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the entire TV camera system when a single-axis two-operation method is used, and FIG. 2 shows the case where the controller operation method is used. It is the perspective view which showed. As shown in these drawings, the television camera 10 includes a lens device 12 and a camera body 14, and the lens device 12 is mounted on the front side of the camera body 14 placed on the camera platform 22. As shown in FIG. 1, when the operation is performed by a single-axis two-operation type, an operation rod 16 is installed on the back side of the lens device 12 (surface attached to the camera body 14). Is protruded to the back side of the camera body 14 through the operation rod insertion hole 14A (see FIG. 2) formed in the camera. The cameraman can perform a zooming operation by grasping the finger hook portion 18 of the operation bar 16 and pushing and pulling the operation bar 16 while watching the image reflected on the viewfinder 20 of the camera body 14. The focus operation can be performed by rotating the finger hook 18 and rotating the axis of the operation rod 16.

  As shown in FIG. 2, when an operation is performed by the controller, a zoom demand 26 and a focus demand 28 are installed at the tips of pan / tilt rods 24A and 24B extending from the camera platform 22, respectively. From the zoom demand 26 and the focus demand 28, a zoom speed command signal for instructing a zoom speed and a focus position command signal for instructing a focus position are output, and these command signals are transmitted to the lens device 12 via a cable. . The photographer can perform a zoom operation by rotating the thumb ring 26A of the zoom demand 26 with a thumb, and can perform a focus operation by rotating the focus knob 28A of the focus demand 28.

  FIG. 3 shows a single-axis two-operation type that electrically detects push-pull operation and rotation operation of the single-axis two-operation type operation rod 16 when the lens operation is performed using the single-axis two-operation type operation method as shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a plan sectional view showing the arrangement of units in the lens device 12. As shown in the figure, a lens barrel 34 is installed in covers 30 and 32 covering the lens device 12, and a uniaxial two-operation unit 36 is installed on the side surface of the lens barrel 34 by screws 37 and 37. A potentiometer that electrically detects the operation position of the push-pull operation and the rotation operation of the operation rod 16 is installed inside the single-axis two-operation type unit 36, and the electric signal output from the potentiometer is a single-axis two-operation type. The data is input from the connector 38 on the unit 36 side to the connector 40 on the lens barrel 34 side. As will be described later, since the zoom lens and the focus lens in the lens barrel 34 are motor-driven by an electric signal input from the uniaxial two-operation type unit 36, the zoom operation is performed by pushing and pulling and rotating the operation rod 16. In addition, the focus operation is electrically performed.

  In addition, the uniaxial two-operation type unit 36 is fixed to the lens barrel 34 when the lens device 12 is assembled, but the operation rod 16 is detachable from the uniaxial two-operation type unit 36. Therefore, when the lens operation is performed by the controller as shown in FIG. 2, only the operation rod 16 can be detached from the lens device 12. When the operation rod 16 is attached to the uniaxial two-operation type unit 36, the operation rod 16 is disposed at a position penetrating the operation rod insertion hole 14A formed in the camera body 14, as shown in FIG. This position is the same as the position where a single-axis two-operation type operation bar for manual operation is conventionally mounted, so that the usability of the operation bar 16 is completely the same as the conventional one. In addition, as compared with a case where an external single-axis two-operation type controller is used as described in JP-A-6-230226, the single-axis two-operation type unit 36 is disposed in the covers 30 and 32 of the lens device 12. Therefore, it can design compactly as a whole.

  FIG. 4 is an overall system diagram of the lens device 12. As shown in the figure, the one-axis two-operation type unit 36 and the controller 70 (the zoom demand 26 and the focus demand 28) are connected to a control circuit 74 via a switching circuit 72. The switching circuit 72 connects one of the uniaxial two-operation type unit 36 and the controller 70 to the control circuit 74. The switching of the switching circuit 72 is switched by the cameraman according to the operation method to be selected. Can be done by.

  When the controller 70 is connected to the control circuit 74 by the switching circuit 72, the zoom speed command signal from the zoom demand 26 and the focus position command signal from the focus demand 28 are input to the control circuit 74. On the other hand, when the single-axis two-operation type is connected to the control circuit 74, the zoom position command signal based on the push-pull operation of the operation bar 16 from the single-axis two-operation type unit 36 to the control circuit 74, and the rotation of the operation bar 16 A focus position command signal based on the operation is input.

  Here, the configuration of the uniaxial two-operation type unit 36 will be described. The operation rod 16 of the uniaxial two-operation type unit 36 is slidably inserted into a hollow shaft 80 that is rotatably supported. The hollow shaft 80 is formed with a longitudinal key groove hole 80A, and a pin 82 fixed to the tip of the operation rod 16 is engaged with the key groove hole 80A. Therefore, when the operating rod 16 is rotated, the hollow shaft 80 is rotated in conjunction with this.

  A moving frame 84 is fitted on the hollow shaft 80, and the tip of the pin 82 is engaged with a circumferential groove 84 </ b> A formed on the inner periphery of the moving frame 84. The pulley 86A and a part of the wire 88 wound around the pulley 86B are fixed to the convex portion 84B of the moving frame 84. Accordingly, when the operation rod 16 is pushed and pulled, the pulleys 86A and 86B rotate in conjunction with the operation rod 16.

  The hollow shaft 80 and the pulley 86B are provided with a focus potentiometer 90 and a zoom potentiometer 92 for detecting the respective rotational positions. These potentiometers 90 and 92 are connected to the switching circuit 72 via connectors 38 and 40. Accordingly, the control circuit 74 receives a zoom position command signal corresponding to the push / pull operation of the operating rod 16 and a focus position command signal corresponding to the turning operation. The configuration of the uniaxial two-operation type unit 36 may be any configuration as long as the push-pull position and the rotation position of the operation rod 16 can be electrically detected.

  On the other hand, in the photographing optical system of the lens barrel 34, a focus lens 50, a variator lens 52A, a compensator lens 52B, and the like are arranged in order from the front. The focus lens 50 is configured such that its support frame 54 is connected to a lead screw 56 and is moved back and forth along the optical axis P when the lead screw 56 is rotated by a focus motor 58.

  The variator lens 52 </ b> A and the compensator lens 52 </ b> B are lenses constituting the zoom lens 52, and cam pins 52 </ b> C and 52 </ b> D projecting from these support frames are engaged with the cam grooves 60 </ b> A and 60 </ b> B of the cam barrel 60. When the cam cylinder 60 is rotated by the zoom motor 62, the variator lens 52A and the compensator lens 52B move back and forth along the optical axis according to the positional relationship regulated by the cam grooves 60A and 60B.

  The control circuit 74 detects the position (focus position) of the focus lens 50 using a focus potentiometer 64 installed on the lead screw 56 and determines the position (zoom position) of the zoom lens 52 using a zoom potentiometer 66 installed on the cam cylinder 60. While detecting, the focus motor 58 and the zoom motor 62 are driven, and the focus lens 50 and the zoom lens 52 are servo-controlled.

  That is, when the controller 70 is connected to the control circuit 74 by the switching circuit 72, the control circuit 74 obtains the zoom speed from the zoom position detected by the zoom potentiometer 66, and this zoom speed and the zoom demand 26 are given. The zoom motor 62 is driven to move the zoom lens 52 so that the difference from the target speed indicated by the zoom speed command signal becomes zero. As a result, the zoom lens 52 is motor driven in accordance with the operation of the zoom demand 26.

  Similarly, the control circuit 72 drives the focus motor 58 so that the difference between the target position indicated by the focus position command signal input from the focus demand 28 and the focus position detected by the focus potentiometer 64 becomes zero. The focus lens 50 is moved. Thereby, the focus lens 50 is driven by a motor in accordance with the operation of the focus demand 28.

  On the other hand, when the single-axis two-operation type unit 36 is connected to the control circuit 74 by the switching circuit 72, the control circuit 74 indicates the target indicated by the zoom position command signal input from the zoom potentiometer 92 of the single-axis two-operation type unit 36. The zoom motor 62 is driven to move the zoom lens 52 so that the difference between the position and the zoom position detected by the zoom potentiometer 66 becomes zero. Accordingly, the zoom lens 52 is driven by a motor in accordance with the push / pull operation of the operation rod 16.

  Similarly, the control circuit 74 is configured so that the difference between the target position indicated by the focus position command signal input from the focus potentiometer 90 of the single-axis two-operation type unit 36 and the focus position detected by the focus potentiometer 64 becomes zero. The focus motor 58 is driven to move the focus lens 50. Thereby, the focus lens 50 is driven by a motor in accordance with the turning operation of the operation rod 16.

  As described above, since the zoom operation and the focus operation by the single-axis two-operation type and the controller 70 can be performed by the same drive mechanism, the structure of the lens device 12 is simple and the single-axis two-operation type operation rod 16 is used. Is installed at a position penetrating through the operation rod insertion hole 14A formed in the camera body 14 as before, so that the operation rod 16 can be operated at a position that is conventionally used even when operated by a single-axis two-operation type. can do.

  In the above embodiment, it has been described that the switching of the connection between the one-axis two-operation type and the controller 70 by the switching circuit 72 is performed by the operation of the cameraman, but it is also possible to perform it automatically. For example, it is detected whether or not the single-axis two-operation type operation rod 16 is attached to the single-axis and two-operation type unit 36. If not, the controller 70 is connected to the control circuit 74 and is attached. Alternatively, the uniaxial two-operation type unit 36 may be connected to the control circuit 74. FIG. 5 shows an example of a method for detecting whether or not the operating rod 16 is attached to the uniaxial two-operation type unit 36. A part 16A of the operating rod 16 is a screw (connection between the screw 16C and the screw hole 16D) or the like. When the electrode 100 and 102 (elastic conductive member) are brought into contact with the other portion 16B of the operation rod 16, the capacitance between the electrodes 100 and 102 is detected by the detection circuit 104. Make sure you do. As a result, it is possible to automatically detect that the operating rod 16 has been attached or detached due to a change in capacitance between the electrodes 100 and 102 that occurs when the portion 16A of the operating rod 16 is attached or detached.

  Contrary to the above, the controller 70 detects whether or not the lens device 12 is connected. If not, the uniaxial two-operation type unit 36 is connected to the control circuit 74 and connected. If so, the controller 70 may be connected to the control circuit 74. Whether or not the controller 70 is connected to the lens device 12 can be confirmed by a connection confirmation signal and its response signal, for example, when the controller 70 performs serial communication with the lens device 12. In the case of a parallel signal, it can be confirmed by checking whether any of the pins is grounded.

  Further, in the configuration in the uniaxial two-operation type unit 36 of the above-described embodiment, the position of the stopper 110 that restricts the pushing position of the operation rod 16 can be adjusted in the front-rear direction by the screw 112 as shown in FIG. The operation amount (movable range) related to the push / pull operation of the bar 16 may be variable. In this case, in the control circuit 74, the rotational position of the screw 112 is detected by the potentiometer 114 via the gears 112A and 114A, and the position of the stopper 110 is detected. Based on this, the operation amount (movable range) of the operating rod 16 is detected. ) Is detected. Then, the position of the zoom lens 52 relative to the push / pull position of the operation rod 16 may be determined so as to match the operation amount of the operation rod 16.

  In the above-described embodiment, the uniaxial two-operation type unit 36 itself is fixed inside the lens device 12. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the uniaxial two-operation type unit 36 is placed at a predetermined position of the lens device 12. It may be made to be detachable. However, the single-axis two-operation type unit 36 is mounted in advance on the lens device 12 so that the operation bar 16 of the single-axis two-operation type unit 36 is disposed at a position penetrating the operation rod insertion hole 14A of the camera body 14 as described above. Make sure you have enough space.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of the entire television camera system when a single-axis two-operation type operation method is used. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of the entire television camera system when the operation method of the controller is used. FIG. 3 is a plan sectional view of the lens device 12 showing the arrangement of the uniaxial two-operation type unit. FIG. 4 is an overall view of the lens apparatus system. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a detection unit that detects attachment / detachment of the operation rod. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration in which the operation amount of the operation rod can be adjusted.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Television camera, 12 ... Lens apparatus, 14 ... Camera body, 14A ... Operation rod insertion hole, 16 ... Operation rod, 26 ... Zoom demand, 28 ... Focus demand, 34 ... Lens barrel, 36 ... Single axis 2 operation type unit 50 ... focus lens, 52 ... zoom lens, 70 ... controller

Claims (3)

In a lens device that drives a zoom lens and a focus lens based on a command signal from a controller,
A single-axis two-operation type operation bar operated as an operation member of the controller, the operation bar disposed in the operation bar insertion hole of the camera body,
Variable means for varying the movable range related to the push-pull operation of the operation rod;
A lens device comprising:   2. The lens apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the variable means has a stopper that regulates a movable range of the operation rod, and varies the movable range of the operation rod by moving the position of the stopper.   Stopper position detection means for detecting the position of the stopper, movable range detection means for detecting the movable range of the operating rod based on the position detected by the stopper position detection means, and detected by the movable range detection means 3. The lens apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising control means for controlling the position of the zoom lens so as to conform to a movable range.

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