JP2007282092A - Photographing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photographing apparatus which can arbitrarily select two different optical system operations and has a simple structure that can continuously drive a group of optical elements. <P>SOLUTION: The photographing apparatus 1 has an optical system in which groups of optical elements L1 and L2 are arranged along an optical axis A, a first drive part 40 which drives the groups of optical elements L1 and L2 in the direction of the optical axis A corresponding to relative movement to a fixed part 20, and a power transmitter which transmits output from an actuator 131 to the first drive part 40. The power transmitter relatively moves between a first position to drive the first drive part 40 in a first direction and a second position to drive it in a second direction. Corresponding to relative movement of the power transmitter to the first drive part 40, a second drive part 80 drives the group of optical elements L2 in the direction of the optical axis A in a way different from the first drive part 40. A controller 150 controls the drive direction of the actuator 131, and allows the power transmitter to relatively move to the first drive part 40. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus such as a camera.

An imaging device such as a camera is known that has a simplified configuration by using a single motor for driving a zooming lens group and a focusing lens group among a plurality of lens groups provided in a lens barrel. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
Conventionally, such a one-motor type camera has a type in which a zooming area and a focusing area are alternately arranged and a lens group is driven by a cam cylinder having a cam groove formed continuously. Are known.

However, this conventional camera has a problem that the operation of the lens group during zooming becomes intermittent, and when a through image is displayed on a liquid crystal display like a digital still camera, the display becomes unnatural. .
In addition, since this camera cannot perform focusing in an area where zooming is performed, there is also a problem that a photographer cannot perform focusing at an arbitrary magnification.

JP-A-6-110112

  An object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus having a simple structure capable of arbitrarily selecting two different operations of an optical system and continuously driving an optical element group.

The present invention solves the above problems by the following means.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, an optical system in which a plurality of optical element groups are arranged along the optical axis direction, a fixed part, and the optical element group are driven in the optical axis direction according to relative movement with respect to the fixed part. In the imaging apparatus including the first drive unit, the actuator, and the power transmission unit that transmits the output of the actuator to the first drive unit, the power transmission unit is Relative between a first position for driving the first drive unit in a first direction and a second position for driving the first drive unit in a second direction opposite to the first direction. A mode in which the optical element group differs from the first drive unit according to the relative movement between the first position and the second position of the power transmission unit with respect to the first drive unit. A second drive unit for driving in the optical axis direction, and the actuator A control unit for controlling the driving direction of the eta to move the power transmission unit relative to the first driving unit between the first position and the second position. It is an imaging device.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the imaging apparatus according to the first aspect, the first drive unit is driven in the first direction or the second direction to move the optical element group to the optical axis. The second drive unit is driven in a direction to zoom the optical system, and the second drive unit is located between the first position and the second position with respect to the first drive unit of the power transmission unit. In response to relative movement, the optical element group is driven in the optical axis direction to perform focusing of the optical system, and the control unit drives the actuator in response to a zooming instruction and a focusing instruction input from the outside. It is an imaging device characterized by controlling.
A third aspect of the present invention is the image pickup apparatus according to the second aspect, wherein the optical system is held in a state of being substantially focused at infinity during the zooming.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when the actuator is driven in the opposite direction after the optical element group is driven by the first drive unit, the optical element group is moved by the second drive unit to the first drive unit. Therefore, the optical element group can be arbitrarily selected according to the driving direction of the actuator. Further, when the optical element group is driven by one of the first driving unit and the second driving unit, the optical element group is not driven in the mode according to the other, and therefore the optical element group is continuously driven in one mode. be able to.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an imaging device that can arbitrarily select two different operations of an optical system and can drive an optical element group continuously, by reversing the rotation direction of a drive cylinder. A power transmission unit capable of switching an object to which the rotational force of the drive cylinder is transmitted from an outer cam cylinder that drives a lens group that is driven during zooming to an inner cam cylinder that drives the lens group that is driven during focusing; Solved by providing.

Embodiments of a camera to which the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to the drawings.
The camera according to the embodiment is a non-lens-changeable digital still camera including a retractable lens barrel, and is a one-motor type camera that performs zooming and focusing of an optical system with a single motor.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the camera of the embodiment in a retracted state. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view including the optical axis of a lens barrel provided in the camera of FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a state in which the focal length of the optical system is minimized in the camera of FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a state where the focal length of the optical system is maximized in the camera of FIG.

The camera 1 includes a lens barrel 10, a lens barrel base unit 100, a CCD 110, an LPF 120, a power unit 130, an operation unit 140, a control unit 150, and a recording device 160.
As shown in FIG. 2, the lens barrel 10 includes a first lens group L1 and a second lens group L2, which are image pickup element groups constituting an optical system. The first lens group L1 and the second lens group L2 cooperate to form a zoom lens having a two-group configuration, and are sequentially arranged from the objective side (subject side) along the optical axis A direction. Yes. The second lens group L2 also functions as a focus lens.
The lens barrel 10 includes a fixed barrel 20, a drive barrel 30, an outer cam barrel 40, a rectilinear guide barrel 50, a first lens group barrel 60, a second lens group barrel 70, an inner cam barrel 80, and a second lens group frame 90. It has. The configuration of each of these elements will be described in detail later.

The lens barrel base 100 is a plate-like member fixed to a housing (not shown) of the camera 1.
The CCD 110 is a solid-state image sensor that converts a subject image formed by the optical system into an electrical signal, and is disposed on the exit side of the second lens group L2. The subject image acquired by the CCD 110 is displayed as a so-called through image on the LCD (not shown) provided on the housing of the camera 1 at the time of framing including zooming and focusing when the camera 1 is photographed. ing.
The LPF 120 (optical low-pass filter) prevents occurrence of moire on the image acquired by the CCD 110, and is provided between the second lens group L2 and the imaging surface portion of the CCD 110. Both the CCD 110 and the LPF 120 are fixed to the lens barrel base unit 100.
The power unit 130 includes a motor 131 that is an actuator and a reduction gear train 132. The motor 131 is a DC motor that drives each cylindrical body provided in the lens barrel 10 in the optical axis direction, and is fixed to the barrel base portion 100. The axial direction of the rotation output shaft of the motor 131 is substantially parallel to the optical axis A.
The reduction gear train 132 transmits the output of the motor 131 to the drive cylinder 30. The gear 132 a provided on the rotation output shaft of the motor 131 and the teeth provided on the drive cylinder 30 of the lens barrel 10. For example, it is constituted by four gears including the gear 132 b meshing with the motor 132, and the rotation direction of the motor 131 and the rotation direction of the drive cylinder 30 are the same.

As shown in FIG. 1, the operation unit 140 includes a power switch 141, a zoom switch 142, and a shutter release switch 143. These switch groups constituting the operation unit 140 are, for example, push buttons provided in a housing (not shown) of the camera 1, and are input units through which a photographer inputs signals to the ASIC 152 of the control unit 150. .
The power switch 141 is electrically connected to a battery (not shown) provided in the camera 1 and switches on and off the power supplied to the motor 131 and the control unit 150 of the camera 1.
The zoom switch 142 is operated when the photographer changes the focal length of the zoom lens, and shifts the zoom lens from the wide side to the tele side in the shooting state (increases the focal length of the zoom lens). A zoom switch for shifting (ZSWT) 142a and a zoom switch for shifting to the wide side (ZSWW) 142b for shifting the zoom lens from the tele side to the wide side (shortening the focal length of the zoom lens) are provided.

The shutter release switch 143 includes a focusing switch 143a and a shutter unit drive switch 143b. The focusing switch 143a causes the ASIC 152 of the control unit 150 (to be described later) to perform focusing by performing a so-called half-pressing operation in which the stroke of the shutter release switch 143, which is a push button switch, is about half. Yes.
Further, the shutter unit drive switch 143b is configured to drive the shutter unit 73 provided in the lens barrel 10 to the ASIC 152 when a full push operation is performed in which the push button is pushed in from the half-pressed state. .

The control unit 150 includes an MDIC (motor driver IC) 151, an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit) 152, a lens position detection switch 153, an encoder 154, and a drive cylinder position detection switch 155.
The MDIC 151 is electrically connected to the motor 131, the ASIC 152, the encoder 154, and the drive cylinder position detection switch 155, and controls the rotation direction and the rotation amount of the motor 131 based on a signal output from the ASIC 152. is there.
The MDIC 151 is also electrically connected to the shutter unit 73, and drives the shutter unit 73 in accordance with a signal from the ASIC 152.

The ASIC 152 is an information processing unit including an MPU that comprehensively controls each switch configuring the operation unit 140, the MDIC 151, the recording device 160, and the like.
The lens position detection switch 153 is disposed inside the lens barrel 10 and on the exit surface side of the second lens group L2, and is driven in the optical axis A direction following the second lens group L2. . The lens position detection switch 153 detects whether the second lens group L2 is at a predetermined reference position with respect to the second lens group frame 70.

The encoder 154 is a combination of a photo interrupter (PI) 154a and a light shielding plate 154b formed in a disk shape having a plurality of slits. This encoder 154 is provided on a gear 132a in which a PI 154a is connected to the lens barrel base unit 100 and a light shielding plate 154b is connected to the output shaft of the motor 131, and outputs a pulse signal according to the rotation of the motor 131. It has become.
The drive cylinder position detection switch 155 also includes a PI 155a and a light shielding plate 155b similar to the encoder 154. The PI 155a is fixed to the lens barrel base portion 100 of the camera 1, and the light shielding plate 155b is an optical axis of the drive cylinder 30 of the lens barrel 10. It is formed so as to protrude further from the end on the direction image side toward the image side in the optical axis direction.
The drive cylinder position detection switch 155 detects whether or not the drive cylinder 30 has reached a preset retracted position with respect to the fixed cylinder 20 when the lens barrel 10 that has finished photographing is returned to the retracted state. To output a signal. The ASIC 152 performs control so that the power source of the camera 1 is turned off according to the output.
The recording device 160 includes, for example, a non-volatile semiconductor memory. Based on the output from the MDIC 151, the recording device 160 shifts from the retracted state of the lens barrel 10 to the photographing state, and the tele side and the wide side in the photographing state. Data relating to the rotation direction, the number of rotations, and the like at the time of driving of the motor 131 accompanying the transition between the two is stored.

Next, the configuration of the lens barrel 10 will be described.
The fixed cylinder 20 is a cylinder disposed on the outermost diameter side among the cylinders constituting the lens barrel 10 and is a fixed portion fixed to the lens barrel base portion 100. The fixed cylinder 20 includes a screw portion having a thread groove formed on the inner peripheral surface portion.
The drive cylinder 30 is a cylinder inserted on the inner diameter side of the fixed cylinder 20, and a tooth portion that meshes with the gear 132 b is formed on a part of the outer peripheral surface portion on the optical axis direction image side. The tooth portion is also formed with a thread groove that engages with the thread portion of the fixed cylinder 20.
The outer cam cylinder 40 is a cylinder that is inserted on the inner diameter side of the fixed cylinder 20 and closer to the objective side in the optical axis A direction than the drive cylinder 30. The outer cam cylinder 40 is a first drive unit that includes a cam groove 41 that guides the first lens group cylinder 60 and the second lens group cylinder 70 in the optical axis A direction on the inner peripheral surface portion thereof.

  The rectilinear guide cylinder 50 is a cylinder inserted on the inner diameter side of the drive cylinder 30, and includes a rectilinear guide hole 51 that is a long hole formed extending in the direction of the optical axis A (see FIG. 5). ). The straight guide holes 51 are formed so that cam follower pins 61 and 71 formed in the first lens group cylinder 60 and the second lens group cylinder 70 respectively pass therethrough. Further, the rectilinear guide tube 50 includes a long hole (not shown) provided to extend in the direction of the optical axis A through which a projection 81 of an inner cam tube 80 described later passes.

The rectilinear guide tube 50 includes an annular flange portion that protrudes to the outer diameter side at the end on the image side in the optical axis direction. This flange portion is formed on the inner peripheral surface portion of the drive tube 30. Is fitted in the groove. As a result, the rectilinear guide tube 50 moves in the direction of the optical axis A integrally with the drive tube 30 as the drive tube 30 moves in the direction of the optical axis. Further, the rectilinear guide cylinder 50 is restricted from rotating around the optical axis A with respect to the fixed cylinder 20, so that when the drive cylinder 30 rotates and is driven in the optical axis A direction, the rectilinear guide cylinder 50 advances straight in the optical axis A direction. It has become.
The first lens group cylinder 60 is a cylinder in which the first lens group L1 is fixed on the inner diameter side thereof, and is on the inner diameter side of the rectilinear guide cylinder 50, and on the object side with respect to the central portion in the optical axis A direction. Is inserted in the part. A cam follower pin 61 that is inserted into the cam groove 41 of the outer cam barrel 40 is formed on the outer peripheral edge of the first lens group barrel 60 on the optical axis direction image side.

The second lens group cylinder 70 is a cylindrical body into which the second lens group frame 90 is inserted on the inner diameter side thereof, and is on the inner diameter side of the rectilinear guide cylinder 50 and is more image than the central portion in the optical axis A direction. It is inserted in the side part. A cam follower pin 71 to be inserted into the cam groove 41 of the outer cam barrel 40 is formed on the outer peripheral edge of the second lens group barrel 70 on the optical axis direction objective side.
An intermediate portion of the second lens group tube 70 in the direction of the optical axis A has an outer diameter smaller than that of other portions, and a gap is formed between the second lens group tube 70 and the rectilinear guide tube 50.
Further, the second lens group cylinder 70 is provided with a rectilinear guide hole 72 which is a long hole formed extending in the direction of the optical axis A at the center portion in the optical axis direction (see FIG. 6). The rectilinear guide hole 72 is a hole through which a cam follower pin 91 of a second lens group frame 90 described later passes.

The second lens group cylinder 70 includes a shutter unit 73 at the end on the objective side in the optical axis direction. The shutter unit 73 includes a shutter curtain that adjusts an exposure time (not shown) and a diaphragm unit that adjusts the amount of light passing through the shutter unit 73 and is connected to the ASIC 152 via the MDIC 151, and according to a signal from the shutter release switch 143. It is designed to be driven.
The inner cam cylinder 80 is a cylinder that is inserted into a gap formed between the linear guide cylinder 50 and the second lens group cylinder 70 described above, and is a protrusion that protrudes radially outward from the outer peripheral surface portion thereof. 81. The protrusion 81 is inserted into a rectilinear guide groove 32 formed through the elongated hole of the rectilinear guide cylinder 50 and extending in a direction substantially parallel to the optical axis A on the inner peripheral surface portion of the drive cylinder 30 ( (See FIG. 5). Thus, the inner cam cylinder 80 rotates about the optical axis A with respect to the fixed cylinder 20 integrally with the drive cylinder 30.

The inner cam cylinder 80 is a second drive unit that drives the second lens group frame 90 (second lens group L2) in the optical axis direction during focusing of the optical system, and the second lens group frame is disposed on the inner peripheral surface portion thereof. A cam groove 82 for guiding 90 cam follower pins 91 in the optical axis A direction is formed. The shape of the cam groove 82 will be described in detail later.
The second lens group frame 90 is an annular member with the second lens group fixed to the inner diameter side thereof, and a cam follower pin 91 is formed on the outer peripheral surface portion so as to protrude to the outer diameter side. The cam follower pin 91 passes through a rectilinear guide hole 72 formed in the second lens group cylinder 70 and is inserted into a cam groove 82 formed in the inner cam cylinder 80.

The lens barrel 10 includes a pressing portion 31 formed in the drive cylinder 30 and an opening 42 formed in the outer cam cylinder 40, and transmits power to transmit the rotational force of the drive cylinder 30 to the outer cam cylinder 40. Department.
Hereinafter, the power transmission unit will be described.
FIG. 5 is a development view of the lens barrel showing the configuration of the power transmission unit.
The opening 42 is provided at the end of the outer cam cylinder 40 on the optical axis direction image side. The opening 42 is formed such that a portion other than the portion in which the cam groove 41 of the outer cam cylinder 40 is formed is cut out, and a pair of wall surface parts 43 that are spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction of the outer cam cylinder 40. It has.

On the other hand, the pressing portion 31 is formed at the end of the drive cylinder 30 on the objective side in the optical axis A direction, protrudes toward the optical axis direction objective side, and is inserted into the opening 42.
The pressing portion 31 has a dimension along the circumferential direction of the outer cam cylinder 40 that is smaller than a dimension (opening dimension) between the wall surfaces 43 of the opening 42. In accordance with the relative rotation around the optical axis A, it moves between a first position that contacts one of the wall surfaces 43 and a second position that contacts the other.

When the drive cylinder 30 rotates in a state where the pressing part 31 presses the wall surface part 43, the power transmission part transmits the rotational force to the outer cam cylinder 40. As a result, the outer cam cylinder 40 rotates together with the drive cylinder 30, and the first lens group cylinder 40 and the second lens group cylinder 70 are driven in the optical axis A direction. When the rotational direction of the drive cylinder 30 is reversed from this co-rotating state, the outer cam cylinder 40 does not rotate and the drive cylinder 30 does not rotate because the wall surface portion 43 is not pressed until the pressing portion 31 reaches the other of the wall surface portions 43. A rotation around the optical axis A (idle rotation) is performed independently with respect to the fixed cylinder 20.
Hereinafter, the direction in which the drive cylinder 30 rotates when the first lens group cylinder 40 and the second lens group cylinder 70 are extended to the optical axis direction objective side is referred to as a normal rotation direction, and similarly the drive cylinder 30 is rotated in the normal rotation direction. The rotation direction of the motor 131 to be driven will be described as a normal rotation direction.
Further, in the wall surface portion 43, the side (wall surface portion near the retracted end of the cam groove 41) pressed by the pressing portion 31 when the drive cylinder 30 rotates forward is referred to as a normal rotation side wall surface portion 43 a, and the opposite side is reversed. This will be described as the side wall surface portion 43b.

Here, in the lens barrel 10, the first lens group cylinder 60 and the second lens group cylinder 70 are not driven in the direction of the optical axis A when the drive cylinder 30 idles as described above, whereas the second lens group The frame 90 is driven in the direction of the optical axis A by the inner cam cylinder 80.
Hereinafter, the driving mechanism of the second lens group frame 90 will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 6 is a development view showing the inner peripheral surface of the inner cam cylinder.
The cam groove 82 formed in the inner cam cylinder 80 has two regions that are inclined in opposite directions with respect to the circumferential direction of the inner cam cylinder 80, and a line parallel to the rotation axis of the inner cam cylinder 80 as a target axis. It is formed in a substantially V shape in combination with the line object. In addition, the boundary between the two regions of the cam groove 82 is provided on the objective side in the optical axis A direction, and the second lens group frame 90 is disposed from the optical axis direction image side to the optical axis direction objective side during zooming. To be driven.

The circumferential length of the cam groove 82 in the inner cam cylinder 80 is substantially the same as the distance between the wall surfaces 43 of the opening 42 described above, and the cam follower pin 91 of the second lens group frame 90 is In a state where the pressing portion 31 of the drive cylinder 30 presses the wall surface portion 43, that is, during zooming, the cam groove 80 is positioned near one of the end portions on the optical axis direction image side. It is designed to focus almost at infinity.
Hereinafter, of the two regions of the cam groove 82, the region on the side that drives the cam follower pin 91 when the drive cylinder 30 rotates in the forward rotation direction is the normal rotation side region 82a, and the cam follower pin when the drive cylinder 30 rotates in the reverse rotation direction. The area on the side where 91 is driven will be referred to as the reverse rotation area 82b.

Next, an operation during zooming of the camera 1 will be described.
When the power switch 141 is turned on by the photographer in the retracted (stored) camera 1, the motor 131 rotates in the forward rotation direction, and the pressing portion 31 of the drive cylinder 30 is an opening formed in the outer cam cylinder 40. By pressing the normal rotation side wall surface portion 43a of the portion 42, each cylindrical body excluding the fixed barrel 20 of the lens barrel 10 is drawn out toward the objective side in the optical axis direction to shift from the retracted state to the photographing state shown in FIG.
In the photographing state shown in FIG. 3, the zoom lens of the lens barrel 10 has the shortest focal length. Hereinafter, this state will be referred to as a wide position of the lens barrel 10.

When the photographer operates the ZSWT 142a at this wide position, the zoom lens of the lens barrel 10 moves to the tele side. Specifically, the first lens group cylinder 60 and the second lens group cylinder 70 are guided by the outer cam cylinder 40 and the rectilinear guide cylinder 50 and extended toward the image side in the optical axis direction. 90 also moves to the optical axis direction image side.
The zoom lens has the longest focal length when the cam follower pins 61 and 71 reach the tele end of the cam groove 41 (see FIG. 4). Hereinafter, this state will be referred to as a tele position of the lens barrel 10.

Next, when the photographer operates the ZSWWW 142b from the tele position in FIG. 4, the motor 131 rotates in the reverse direction, so that the drive cylinder 30 and the outer cam cylinder 40 are reversed, and the first lens group cylinder 60 and the second lens are rotated. The group cylinder 70 is driven to the optical axis direction image side, and the zoom lens moves to the wide side.
In addition, when the photographer turns off the power switch 141 in the photographing state of the lens barrel 10 including the state where the lens barrel 10 is in the wide position and the tele position, the motor 131 rotates in the reverse direction, and the lens barrel. 10 returns to the retracted state shown in FIG.

Next, the operation during focusing of the lens barrel 10 will be described with reference to FIGS.
6A and 6B are development views showing the inner peripheral surface portion of the inner cam cylinder. FIG. 6A shows a state before the focusing operation, and FIG. 6B shows a state after the focusing operation.
FIG. 7 is a development view of the lens barrel showing the configuration of the power transmission unit when the lens barrel is shifted from the retracted state to the wide position, and (a) is a state in which the lens barrel is stopped at the wide position. (B) shows the operation during focusing.
The focusing of the lens barrel 10 is performed by rotating the motor 131 in the direction opposite to the rotation direction immediately before the focusing. Specifically, the motor 131 is rotated in the forward rotation direction. When the zoom lens is driven to the tele side, the motor 131 is rotated in the reverse direction, and when the motor 131 is rotated in the reverse direction and the zoom lens is driven to the wide side, the motor 131 is rotated in the forward direction. .

  When the lens barrel 10 shifts from the retracted state shown in FIG. 5 to the wide position shown in FIG. 7, the rotation direction immediately before the motor 131 is the normal rotation direction, so that the drive cylinder as shown in FIG. The 30 pressing portions 31 are in contact with the normal rotation side wall surface portion 43 a of the opening 42. Further, the cam follower pin 91 of the second lens group frame 90 is positioned in the cam groove 82 in the vicinity of the end portion on the image side in the optical axis direction of the normal rotation side region 82a (see FIG. 6A).

When the shutter release switch 143 is half-pressed by the photographer from the state shown in FIG. 7A, the ASIC 152 performs focusing by rotating the motor 131 (drive cylinder 30).
Here, the rotation direction of the motor 131 when performing focusing is determined by the rotation direction immediately before the lens barrel 10. The rotation direction immediately before the motor 131 is recorded in the recording device 160. When focusing is performed immediately after the lens barrel 10 is moved from the retracted state to the wide position, the rotation direction immediately before the motor 131 is the normal rotation direction, and the ASIC 152 rotates the motor 131 (drive cylinder 30) in the reverse rotation direction. The MDIC 151 is instructed as follows.

When the drive cylinder 30 rotates in the reverse rotation direction, the pressing portion 31 of the drive cylinder 30 moves from the normal rotation side wall surface portion 43a of the opening 42 toward the reverse rotation side wall surface portion 43b. During this time, the outer cam cylinder 40 does not receive a rotational force from the drive cylinder 30 and therefore does not rotate, and the first lens group cylinder 60 and the second lens group cylinder 70 are not driven in the direction of the optical axis A.
On the other hand, when the drive cylinder 30 rotates, the inner cam cylinder 80 connected to the drive cylinder 30 by the protrusion 81 rotates with the drive cylinder 30. Since the rotation of the second lens group cylinder 70 is restricted by the rectilinear guide cylinder 50, when the inner cam cylinder 80 rotates, the cam follower pin 91 of the second lens group frame 90 causes the cam groove 82 and the second lens group cylinder 70 to move. The second lens group frame 90 is driven in the optical axis A direction (see FIG. 6). At this time, the cam follower pin 91 moves in the forward rotation side region 82 a of the cam groove 82.
In this focusing, for example, the MPU provided in the ASIC 152 detects the contrast of a specific focus area in the photographed image in accordance with an output from an image processing unit (not shown) connected to the CCD 110, and this contrast exceeds a predetermined threshold value. When it becomes, it is performed by considering that it is in focus.

Next, the focusing operation after the lens barrel 10 moves from the tele position to the wide position will be described.
FIG. 8 is a development view of the lens barrel showing the configuration of the power transmission unit when the lens barrel is shifted from the tele position to the wide position. FIG. 8A shows a state where the lens barrel is in the wide position. (B) shows the operation during focusing.
When the lens barrel 10 is moved from the tele position to the wide position, the rotation direction immediately before the motor 131 is the reverse rotation direction, so that the pressing portion 31 of the drive cylinder 30 is an opening as shown in FIG. 42 is in contact with the reversing side wall surface portion 43b.
At this time, the cam follower pin 91 of the second lens group frame 90 is positioned in the cam groove 82 in the vicinity of the end portion on the image side in the optical axis direction of the reverse rotation side region 82b.
When focusing is performed from this state, the motor 131 (drive cylinder 30) is rotated in the forward rotation direction, and the cam follower pin 91 moves in the reverse rotation side region 82b of the cam groove 82 (see FIG. 8B).

Next, the focusing operation after the lens barrel 10 has moved from the wide position to the tele position will be described.
FIG. 9 is a development view of the lens barrel showing the configuration of the power transmission unit when the lens barrel is shifted from the wide position to the tele position. FIG. 9A shows a state where the lens barrel is in the tele position. (B) shows the operation during focusing.
When the lens barrel 10 is moved from the wide position to the tele position, the rotation direction immediately before the motor 131 is the forward rotation direction, and therefore the pressing portion 31 of the drive cylinder 30 is opened as shown in FIG. The portion 42 abuts on the normal rotation side wall surface portion 43a.
At this time, the cam follower pin 91 of the second lens group frame 90 is located in the cam groove 82 in the vicinity of the end portion on the optical axis direction image side of the forward rotation side region 82a.
When focusing is performed from this state, the motor 131 (drive cylinder 30) is rotated in the reverse direction, and the cam follower pin 91 moves in the forward rotation side region 82a of the cam groove 82 (see FIG. 9B).
The focusing of the lens barrel 10 is not limited to the tele position and the wide position described above, and can be performed at an arbitrary magnification (an arbitrary position of the zoom lens). This is done by rotating the motor 131 in this direction.

Next, a series of controls performed by the control unit 150 during shooting of the camera 1 including the above-described zooming and focusing will be described with reference to flowcharts.
10 and 11 are flowcharts showing the control performed by the control unit during shooting by the camera. Hereinafter, each step will be described.

(Step S01: Power SW ON)
When the ASIC 152 detects that the power switch 141 is turned on from the standby state in which the lens barrel 10 is in the retracted state, the camera 1 proceeds to step S02 in order to shift to the photographing state. Here, the “shooting state” is not limited to a state in which a subject can be shot, and a captured image stored in a recording medium such as a flash memory provided in the camera 1 is reproduced and displayed on an LCD or the like. Is also included.
When the ASIC 152 does not detect the ON operation of the power switch 141, the camera 1 is maintained in the standby state.
(Step S02: Motor forward rotation)
When the power switch 141 is turned on by the photographer, the ASIC 152 drives the motor 131 to drive each cylindrical body of the lens barrel 10 other than the fixed cylinder 20 to the objective side in the optical axis direction. As described above, the rotation direction of the motor 131 at this time is the normal rotation direction.

(Step S03: Second lens group frame position detection)
The lens barrel 10 is configured to control the amount of movement of each cylinder in the optical axis A direction in accordance with the transition from the retracted state to the wide position by the number of rotations of the motor 131.
On the other hand, each cylindrical body constituting the lens barrel 10 may move due to vibration or the like in the retracted state (collapsed state), and the position in the retracted state is not constant. For this reason, the pressing portion 31 of the drive cylinder 30 may be located between the pair of wall surfaces 43 of the outer cam cylinder 40 in the retracted state. Even if the motor 131 is rotated from the retracted state, the first lens is immediately The group cylinder 60 and the second lens group cylinder 70 are not necessarily driven in the optical axis A direction.
For this reason, in the camera 1, the position of the second lens group frame 90 with respect to the inner cam cylinder 80 when the pressing portion 31 comes into contact with the normal rotation side wall surface portion 43a and the drive cylinder 30 starts to rotate together with the outer cam cylinder 40. Is the reference position of the second lens group frame 90, and this reference position is detected by the lens position detection switch 153 (SW1). When the lens position detection switch 153 detects that the second lens group frame 90 has reached the reference position, the output to the ASIC 152 changes from “L” to “H”.

(Step S04: Motor rotation speed count)
The ASIC 152 starts counting the number of rotations of the motor 131 based on the output of the encoder 154 in response to the output “H” of the lens position detection switch 153. In the ASIC 152, the number of pulse signals output from the encoder 154 reaches the number n1 set in advance corresponding to the number of rotations of the motor 131 required to move the lens barrel 10 from the retracted state to the wide position. Then, a signal is sent to the MDIC 151 so as to stop the rotation of the motor 131. The rotational speed n1 of the motor 131 and the rotational speed n2 to be described later are recorded in advance in the recording device 160.

(Step S05: Motor stop)
The motor 131 is controlled by the MDIC 151 and stops its rotation. As a result, the lens barrel 10 is in a shooting state in which the shooting shown in FIG. 3 is possible.
In this shooting state, the ASIC 152 performs one of steps S06 to S08 according to the input of the photographer.

(Step S06: ZSWT ON)
When the ZSWT 142a is turned on by the photographer in this shooting state, the ASIC 152 detects this input and proceeds to step S06a to perform a zoom-up operation (an operation to increase the focal length of the zoom lens).
(Step S06a: Zoom-up operation)
The ASIC 152 issues an instruction to the MDIC 151 to rotate the motor 131 in the forward rotation direction, whereby the zoom lens of the lens barrel 10 moves to the tele side and performs a zoom-up operation.

(Step S07: ZSWW ON)
When the photographer turns on the ZSW 142b after the lens barrel has been zoomed up, the ASIC 152 detects this input and proceeds to step S07a to perform a zoom down operation.
(Step S07a: Zoom-down operation)
The ASIC 152 issues an instruction to the MDIC 151 to rotate the motor 131 in the reverse rotation direction, whereby the zoom lens of the lens barrel 10 shifts to the wide side, and a zoom-down operation (operation to shorten the focal length of the zoom lens) is performed. Done.

(Step S08: Shutter SW ON)
When the shutter release switch 143 is half-pressed by the photographer in the shooting state, the ASIC 152 detects this output and proceeds to step S09 to perform the focusing operation. On the other hand, when the shutter release switch 143 is not operated, the process returns to step S06, and the ASIC 152 waits without performing processing until there is an input from the photographer (shooting standby state).

(Step S09: Motor rotation direction determination)
As described above, in the camera 1, focusing is performed by rotating the motor 131 in the direction opposite to the previous rotation direction. The ASIC 152 refers to the recording device 160 and immediately before the motor 131. It is determined whether the rotation direction is a normal rotation direction. If the rotation direction immediately before the motor 131 is the forward rotation direction, the process proceeds to step S10. If the rotation direction is the reverse rotation direction, the process proceeds to step S11.

(Step S10: Motor reverse focus control)
For example, when focusing is performed after the lens barrel 10 has shifted from the retracted state to the wide position, or after performing a zoom-up operation from the wide position to the tele position, the rotation direction immediately before the motor 131 is the forward rotation direction. The ASIC 152 instructs the MDIC 151 to rotate the motor 131 (drive cylinder 30) in the reverse rotation direction.
As a result, the second lens group L2 is driven in the direction of the optical axis A, and the ASIC 152 proceeds to step S12 when the optical system considers that the predetermined focus point of the subject image is in focus.
(Step S11: Motor forward rotation focus control)
On the other hand, for example, when the lens barrel 10 is shifted from the tele position to the wide position, the rotation direction immediately before the motor 131 is the reverse rotation direction. Therefore, the ASIC 152 moves the motor 131 (drive cylinder 30) in the normal rotation direction. An instruction is issued to the MDIC 151 so as to rotate it, and focusing is performed as in step S010.

(Step S12: Shooting)
When the shutter release switch 143 is fully pressed by the photographer, the ASIC 152 issues a signal to the MDIC 151 to drive the shutter curtain and the diaphragm portion of the shutter unit 73, thereby the subject image on which the CCD 110 is imaged by the optical system. To get.
(Step S13: Data transfer)
The ASIC 152 generates image data based on the subject image acquired by the CCD 110 in step S13, and transfers the image data to a detachable recording medium such as a flash memory attached to the camera 1.
(Step S14: Power SW OFF determination)
When the power switch 141 is operated by the photographer in the shooting state (shooting standby state), the process proceeds to step S15, and the ASIC 152 performs power-off control. If the operation of the power switch 141 is not performed, the process proceeds to step S06 as in step S08, and the ASIC 152 waits for an input from the photographer.

(Step S15: Motor reverse)
When the power is turned off, the lens barrel 10 of the camera 1 returns to the retracted state again. Therefore, the ASIC 152 drives the motor 131 in the reverse rotation direction so that each barrel of the lens barrel 10 is in the optical axis direction image side. To drive.
(Step S016: Drive cylinder position detection)
When the drive cylinder position detection switch 155 (SW2) shifts the lens barrel 10 to the retracted state and detects that the drive cylinder 30 has reached the aforementioned retracted position, the output to the ASIC 152 changes from “H” to “L”. To change.
The ASIC 152 starts counting the number of rotations of the motor 131 based on the output of the encoder 154 according to the output “L” of the drive cylinder position detection switch 155.

(Step S17: Motor rotation speed count)
When the number of input of the pulse signal output from the encoder 154 reaches the preset number n2, the ASIC 152 issues a signal for stopping the rotation of the motor 131 to the MDIC 151.
(Step S18: Motor stop)
The MDIC 151 stops the motor 131 according to the output of the ASIC 152.

As described above, according to the camera 1 of the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) A power transmission unit (pressing unit 31, opening) that can switch the driving mode of the optical element group (first lens group L1, second lens group L2) according to the rotation direction of the motor 131 (driving cylinder 30). Since the power source (motor 131) that performs zooming and focusing can be shared, the configuration of the lens barrel 10 can be simplified.
In addition, the lens barrel 10 has a single motor 131 for driving a focusing lens and a zooming lens, so that the lens barrel 10 is lighter than a two-motor lens barrel that is driven by an individual motor. Therefore, the operability of the camera 1 is improved. Furthermore, the configuration of the circuit for controlling the motor 131 is simplified.
(2) The cam cylinder (inner cam cylinder 80) that drives the second lens unit L2 in the direction of the optical axis A when performing focusing is configured so that the first lens unit L1 and the second lens unit L2 are optical axes when performing zooming. Since the cam cylinder (outer cam cylinder 40) driven in the A direction can be driven independently, focusing can be performed at an arbitrary magnification.
(3) During zooming, since focusing is not performed unless the rotation direction of the motor 131 is reversed, zooming can be performed continuously.
(4) Since the zoom lens is zoomed in a state of being substantially focused at infinity, the through image for displaying the image acquired by the CCD 110 in real time on the LCD or the like is focused at infinity even during zooming. Therefore, the photographer can comfortably perform the zooming operation.

(Modification)
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications and changes are possible, and these are also within the equivalent scope of the present invention.
(1) Although the camera of the embodiment is a digital still camera, the camera of the present invention is not limited to this, and may be, for example, a film camera, a movie camera for shooting a moving image, or the like. The configuration of the camera can be changed as appropriate. For example, the lens barrel of the embodiment includes a zoom lens having a two-group configuration, but the configuration of the optical element group is a configuration of two or more groups. May be.
(2) The lens barrel provided in the camera of the embodiment has a configuration in which a lens group driven during zooming and focusing overlaps in part (second lens group). The combination of groups is not limited to this, and can be changed as appropriate. For example, different (non-overlapping) lens groups or completely overlapping lens groups may be driven during zooming and focusing.
(3) In the embodiment, the motor is a DC motor, but the type of the motor is not limited to this, and may be a stepping motor, for example.
(4) In the embodiment, focusing is performed when the engagement between the drive cylinder and the outer cam cylinder is released by reversing the rotation direction of the drive cylinder, but this is not restrictive. Focusing may be performed by rotating the outer cam cylinder, and zooming may be performed by rotating the inner cam cylinder by reversing the rotation direction of the drive cylinder.
(5) In the embodiment, the zooming and focusing operations are switched by the rotational motion of the drive cylinder, but this switching is not limited to the rotational motion, and may be, for example, a linear motion. Further, the mechanism for driving the optical element group in the optical axis direction is not limited to the cam barrel, and may be a feed screw, for example.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure in the retracted state of the camera of an Example. It is sectional drawing containing the optical axis of the lens barrel with which the camera of FIG. 1 was equipped. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a state where the focal length of the optical system is minimized in the camera of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a state in which the focal length of the optical system is maximized in the camera of FIG. 1. It is an expanded view of the lens barrel which shows the structure of a power transmission part. It is an expanded view which shows the inner peripheral surface part of an inner cam cylinder. It is a development view of the lens barrel showing the configuration of the power transmission unit when the lens barrel is moved from the retracted state to the wide position. It is a development view of the lens barrel showing the configuration of the power transmission unit when the lens barrel is shifted from the wide position to the tele position. It is an expanded view of a lens barrel which shows the structure of the power transmission part when a lens barrel transfers to a wide position from a tele position. It is a flowchart which shows the control which a control part performs at the time of imaging | photography of a camera. It is a flowchart which shows the control which a control part performs at the time of imaging | photography of a camera.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Camera: 10 Lens barrel: 20 Fixed cylinder: 30 Drive cylinder 31 Pressing part: 40 Outer cam cylinder: 42 Opening part: 43 Wall part 80 Inner cam cylinder: 131 Motor: 150 Control part L1 1st lens group: L2 1st 2 lens groups

Claims (3)

An optical system in which a plurality of optical element groups are arranged along the optical axis direction;
A fixed part;
A first drive unit that drives the optical element group in the optical axis direction according to relative movement with respect to the fixed unit;
An actuator,
In an imaging apparatus comprising: a power transmission unit that transmits an output of the actuator to the first drive unit;
The power transmission unit has a first position for driving the first drive unit in a first direction and the first drive unit opposite to the first direction with respect to the first drive unit. A relative movement between the second positions driven in the second direction;
In accordance with the relative movement between the first position and the second position of the power transmission unit with respect to the first driving unit, the optical element group is different from the first driving unit in a manner different from the first driving unit. A second drive unit for driving in the axial direction;
A control unit that controls the drive direction of the actuator to move the power transmission unit relative to the first drive unit between the first position and the second position. An imaging device. The imaging device according to claim 1,
The first drive unit is driven in the first direction or the second direction to drive the optical element group in the optical axis direction to perform zooming of the optical system,
The second drive unit moves the optical element group to the optical axis according to the relative movement of the power transmission unit with respect to the first drive unit between the first position and the second position. Driving in the direction to focus the optical system,
The control unit controls the driving direction of the actuator in accordance with a zooming instruction and a focusing instruction input from the outside. The imaging device according to claim 2,
The image pickup apparatus, wherein the optical system is held in a state of being substantially focused at infinity during the zooming.

Images