JP2015200716A - Lens system and imaging apparatus including the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lens system capable of issuing a warning, in a case where a plurality of units do not form a predetermined combination, when an accessory unit driving a movable optical member is attached to a lens unit including the movable optical member.SOLUTION: The lens system includes the lens unit including a movable optical element and the accessory unit which can be attached to and detached from the lens unit and includes driving means for driving the movable optical element and means for detecting a signal corresponding to the position of the movable optical element. The lens unit includes output means for outputting a lens ID being identification information to the accessory unit. The accessory unit includes ID storage means for storing a reference ID being the identification information of the lens unit to be connected, warning means for issuing the warning, and ID comparison means for comparing the reference ID and the lens ID. The ID comparison means compares the reference ID and the lens ID and issues the warning by the warning means, when the reference ID and the lens ID do not coincide with each other.

Description

  The present invention relates to a lens system, and more particularly, to a movable optical member such as a zoom lens, a focus lens, and an iris, and a lens system having a position detection device that detects the positions thereof, and an imaging apparatus having the lens system.

  At present, in a lens system used for shooting a television or a movie, it is indispensable to be able to perform an electric operation in order to operate a movable optical member such as zoom and focus more smoothly. On the other hand, there is a demand from users who are accustomed to manual operation such as directly rotating a conventional operation ring by hand to enable not only electric operation but also conventional manual operation.

  In order to respond to such a request, Patent Document 1 proposes a lens system including a conventional manually operable lens unit that includes an accessory unit that can be electrically operated and is detachable.

JP 2005-43713 A

  When an accessory unit having a detector for detecting the position of the movable optical member is removed from the lens unit having the movable optical member and then attached again, it is necessary to make adjustments for calculating the position of each optical member. In addition, since the accessory unit corrects the inherent lens unit torque and variations in the optical member end position, the lens unit and the accessory unit are generally adjusted in pairs at the time of shipment from the factory. In addition, the lens unit and the accessory unit are filled with the same manufacturing number or the same unique number so that it can be seen that they are adjusted in pairs.

  In movie shooting, information related to video is usually recorded together with video recording. For example, the subject distance, focal length, aperture information, and the like of the photographing lens are recorded as metadata.

  For users who have multiple lens units of the same specification, when attaching or detaching the accessory unit, the number indicating the combination of the accessory unit and the lens unit adjusted in pairs is overlooked and combined in a pair different from the adjustment unit. May end up. In that case, predetermined control performance cannot be obtained, for example, the range of the output value of the position detector is different or the torque variation cannot be corrected.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a lens device that can warn a user when an accessory unit is attached to a lens unit having a movable optical member, and the combination does not match a predetermined combination. That is.

  In order to achieve the above object, a lens system of the present invention includes a lens unit having a movable optical element, a drive unit that can be attached to and detached from the lens unit, and that drives the movable optical element, and a position of the movable optical element. An accessory unit having a position detection unit that detects a signal corresponding to the lens unit, and the lens unit has an ID output unit that outputs a lens ID that is identification information of the lens unit to the accessory unit, and the accessory The unit includes an ID storage unit that stores a reference ID that is identification information of a lens unit to be connected, a warning unit that performs a warning, and an ID comparison unit that compares the reference ID and the lens ID. The ID comparison means compares the reference ID with the lens ID and warns by the warning means if they do not match. The features.

  According to the present invention, when the accessory unit for detecting the position of the movable optical member is attached to the lens unit having the movable optical member, when the combination of the lens unit and the accessory unit does not match the predetermined combination, It is possible to provide a lens apparatus capable of warning and an imaging apparatus having the lens apparatus.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a lens system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Flowchart of overall processing of the CPU 211 of the first embodiment Example of warning display of the display of Example 1 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a lens system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Flowchart of overall processing of the CPU 211 according to the second embodiment. Flowchart of Overall Processing of CPU 211 of Embodiment 3 Flowchart of the lens drive control process of the CPU 211 of the third embodiment.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a lens apparatus according to a first embodiment to which the present invention can be applied.
The lens apparatus of the present embodiment is roughly composed of two units, a lens unit 1 and an accessory unit 2. However, the lens unit 1 and the accessory unit 2 have a detachable structure, and are used as a configuration of only the lens unit 1 when shooting by only manual operation.

A detailed configuration of the lens unit 1 will be described.
The aperture 101 is an optical element for changing the amount of light of the image formed by the lens unit 1 and the depth of focus, and mechanically operates the aperture diameter of the aperture aperture 101 by rotating the aperture operation ring 102. Can do.

  The focus lens group 103 is an optical element for displacing the imaging position of the lens unit 1 by moving in the optical axis direction. By rotating the focus operation ring 104, the focus lens group 101 can be mechanically operated in the optical axis direction.

  The lens CPU 111 is a device that detects attachment / detachment between the lens unit 1 and the accessory unit 2 and communicates with the accessory CPU 211 by software processing described later.

  The lens EEPROM 112 is a non-volatile memory, and is a storage device that stores lens unit identification information, which will be described later, in accordance with a command from the lens CPU 111.

Next, a detailed configuration of the accessory unit 2 will be described.
The aperture motor 201 is an actuator that rotates the aperture operation ring 102 via an aperture gear 202 that engages with the aperture operation ring 102 of the lens unit 1 when attached to the lens unit 1. The aperture position detector 203 (position detection means) is a detector that detects the rotational position of the aperture gear 202.

  The focus motor 204 is an actuator that rotates the focus operation ring 104 via a focus gear 205 that engages with the focus operation ring 104 of the lens unit 1 when attached to the lens unit 1. A focus position detector 206 (position detection means) is a detector that detects the rotational position of the focus gear 205.

  The accessory CPU 211 (ID comparison unit) is a device that controls the aperture motor 201 and the focus motor 204, communicates with the lens CPU 111, and the like by software processing described later.

  The accessory EEPROM 212 is a nonvolatile memory, and is a storage device that stores accessory unit identification information, which will be described later, in accordance with a command from the accessory CPU 211.

  The display 213 is a device that displays various internal information of the lens unit 1 and the accessory unit 2 in accordance with a command from the accessory CPU 211. Although not shown, the accessory CPU 211 also has a function of outputting lens information such as subject distance, focal length, aperture information to the camera.

  Next, software processing performed by the accessory CPU 211 (ID comparison unit) will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart of overall processing performed by the accessory CPU 211 in the first embodiment.

  First, power is supplied to the lens unit 1 so that the lens CPU 111 and the accessory CPU 211 can communicate with each other. At this time, the lens CPU 111 (ID output means) reads the identification information stored in the lens EEPROM 112 in S101 and transmits it to the accessory CU211. The accessory CPU 211 receives the identification information transmitted from the lens CPU 111. The lens EEPROM 112 stores a unique number (identification information) assigned in advance to the lens unit, and uses a manufacturing number or an arbitrary character string. The lens EEPROM 112 also stores lens optical member end positions, lens control correction data, and the like corresponding to a specific lens unit.

  Subsequently, in S102, the identification information of the lens unit 1 stored in the accessory EEPROM 212 is read. In S103, when the identification information of the lens unit corresponding to the accessory EEPROM 212 is not set, the identification information received from the lens unit 1 is written to the lens EEPROM 112 as the identification information of the corresponding lens unit (S104), and the processing is completed. . When the identification information (reference ID) of the corresponding lens unit is already set in the EEPROM 212, the identification information (lens ID) received from the lens unit 1 and the identification information (reference ID) of the lens unit stored in the EEPROM 212 Are compared (S105). If they match, the process is completed. If they do not match, a warning output as shown in FIG.

The effect of the present embodiment will be described.
Conventionally, when the accessory unit 2 is detached from the lens unit 1 and the user attaches again without checking the combination number, the adjusted accessory unit and lens unit may be attached in a different combination. At that time, it is difficult for the user to notice that the user is actually wearing the wrong combination until a phenomenon such as not moving to a predetermined end position or not having a predetermined control performance occurs.

  As a result, there has been a problem that wrong position data is stored in the video signal as metadata before it is noticed.

  However, in this embodiment, the accessory unit 2 having the position detection function reads the identification information (lens ID) of the lens unit 1 having the optical element, and the identification information of the lens unit 1 stored as a pair unit by the accessory unit 2. (Reference ID) is compared. When the identification information is different, a warning is displayed to the user so that the user can return to the correct combination of the lens unit 1 and the accessory unit 2 before starting shooting.

  In this embodiment, a liquid crystal display (display means) is shown as an example of the display, but an LED (display means) may be turned on / off / flashed. Further, the sound may be transmitted to the user by sound generated by the warning sound generating means or vibration generated by the vibration generating means. Further, when the power is turned on, the focus motor 201 and the aperture motor 204 may be driven to move either the focus operation ring 102 or the aperture operation ring 104 of the lens unit 1 to warn the user. For example, the user may be warned by performing an operation different from the operation at the time of normal power-on such as reciprocating a certain position.

  Further, the movable optical elements configured in the lens apparatus of the present embodiment are only the aperture stop and the focus lens, but the present invention can be similarly applied by adding a zoom lens thereto.

FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the lens apparatus of Example 2 of the present invention.
In this embodiment, when the combination of the lens unit and the accessory unit is different, a configuration is described in which the user is warned by using the rotation lock member to prevent the focus operation ring and the aperture operation ring from being rotated.

The description of the same configuration as that of the first embodiment will be omitted, and only the newly added configuration will be described.
The configuration of the lens unit 1 is the same. A detailed configuration of the accessory unit 2 will be described.

  A rotation lock drive unit 214 is connected to the CPU 211, and the rotation lock drive unit 214 is connected to a lens rotation lock member 215 that prohibits manual operation of the focus operation ring 102 and the aperture operation ring 104 of the lens unit 1.

Software processing performed by the lens CPU 211 will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of overall processing performed by the lens CPU 211 in the second embodiment.
Since S101 to S106 are the same as those in the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  In S <b> 110, if the identification information (lens ID) received from the lens unit 1 does not match the identification information (reference ID) read from the accessory EEPROM 212, a control signal is transmitted to the rotation lock driving unit 214. Thereby, the rotation lock member 215 is operated, and manual operation and electric operation of the focus operation ring 102 and the aperture operation ring 104 are prohibited.

The effect of the present embodiment will be described.
In the present embodiment, when the identification information of the lens unit 1 and the accessory unit 2 does not match, the rotation confirmation member is used to prohibit the rotation of the focus operation ring 102 and the aperture operation ring 104 so that the user can confirm the display unit 213. If this is not done, malfunctions are reliably prevented. This prevents the wrong position data from being stored as metadata in the video signal.

  In this embodiment, the warning operation is displayed on the display and the rotation of the focus operation ring 102 and the aperture operation ring 104 is prohibited. However, the display of the warning on the alarm is not essential.

  Thus, manual operation and electric operation of the focus operation ring 102 and the aperture operation ring 104 are prohibited by the rotation lock member 215. However, only the manual operation may be validated, the control of the focus motor 201 and the aperture motor 204 may be stopped, and only the electric operation may be prohibited.

  Configuration Block of Lens Device of Example 1 The lens device of Example 3 will be described with reference to FIG. The accessory EEPROM 212 of the normal accessory unit 2 stores the lens optical member end position unique to the lens unit, lens correction control data, and default control data before correction.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart of overall processing performed by the lens CPU 211 in the third embodiment. Since S101 to S106 are the same as those in the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  In S120, when the identification information received from the lens unit 1 and the identification information read from the accessory EEPROM 212 do not match, default data for lens control stored in the accessory EEPROM 212 in advance is read. After reading, the mismatch flag is set to “1” (S121), and the process is terminated.

  Next, control data processing performed by the lens CPU 211 will be described using the flowchart of FIG. In S201, the inconsistency flag is read, and if it is not “1”, that is, if the combination of the lens unit and the accessory unit coincides with that at the time of adjustment, the lens stored in the accessory EEPROM 212 (correction data storage means) as control data. The unit-specific correction control data is read (S202). Thereafter, the process ends.

  If the mismatch flag is “1”, that is, if the combination of the lens unit and the accessory unit does not match the combination at the time of adjustment, the default control stored as data for control in the accessory EPROM 212 (default data storage means) Data is read (S203).

  Next, in S204, the soft limit of the end position of the movable range of the movable optical element stored in the accessory EPROM 212 (end storage means) is invalidated (S204), and the process is terminated.

  Here, the lens unit-specific correction control data refers to the aperture motor 201 and the focus motor in the accessory unit necessary for achieving a predetermined purpose in a specific combination of the lens unit and the accessory unit that have been adjusted. Data necessary for controlling the driving means such as 204. More specifically, the relationship between the required torque and the position in consideration of the driving range, driving speed, driving direction, lens device attitude, etc. as parameters when the movable optical element is to be changed precisely at a constant speed within a predetermined movable range. It is data of. Or data on the control of the movable range of the movable optical element and the drive torque of the drive means necessary to achieve a certain purpose, such as data on the movable range of the movable optical element that can guarantee that it will be realized. is there. The correction control data unique to the lens unit is usually set by measuring necessary characteristics by connecting the lens unit and the accessory unit at the time of adjustment before shipment in the manufacturing stage. That is, the correction data absorbs individual differences such as manufacturing errors between the lens unit and the accessory unit.

  On the other hand, the default control data for lens control is data relating to the drive control of the lens unit and the accessory unit, in which individual differences such as individual manufacturing errors are not considered, and the lens unit alone and the accessory unit alone The control data is set based on the specifications. Although it is not a combination of a specific lens unit and an accessory unit that have acquired the control correction data at the time of adjustment, it is control data applicable to a combination of a lens unit and an accessory unit having the same specifications. Alternatively, the default control data may be applicable to a combination of a lens unit and an accessory unit that can be connected to each other, although the specifications are different. For example, for the driving range of the movable optical element, the movable range of the movable optical element is the entire range that can be used in normal use. Alternatively, it is data on the relationship between the position of the movable optical element and the drive torque for driving at a constant speed set based only on the design specifications of the lens unit and the design specifications of the drive means of the accessory unit. Alternatively, control data based only on the design specifications of the lens unit, control data based only on the design specifications of the accessory unit, and the like can be considered.

The effect of the present embodiment will be described.
In this embodiment, when the identification information of the lens unit 1 and the accessory unit 2 does not match the combination at the time of adjustment, default data is used as correction control data, and the lens optical member end position is invalidated. As a result, it is not possible to obtain optimum operation performance, but it is possible to operate the entire range of the mechanical movable range of the focus and the diaphragm. In addition, when the optical member end position automatic detection function is provided, it is possible to operate the entire movable range of the movable working optical element. It is also possible to output lens information such as distance, focal length, and aperture information.

  According to the lens system of the present invention, when the accessory unit for detecting the position of the movable optical member is attached to the lens unit having the movable optical member, the combination of the lens unit and the accessory unit does not match the predetermined combination. It is possible to provide a lens device that can warn the user.

  Furthermore, by including the lens system of the present invention and an image sensor that receives subject light from the lens system, an imaging apparatus that can enjoy the effects of the present invention can be realized.

1 Lens unit 2 Accessory unit 101 Aperture (movable optical element)
103 Focus lens group (movable optical element)
111 Lens CPU (ID output means)
203 Aperture position detector (position detection means)
206 Focus position detector (position detection means)
211 Accessory CPU (ID comparison means)
212 Accessory EEPROM (ID storage means)

Claims (9)

A lens unit having a movable optical element; an accessory unit detachably attached to the lens unit; a driving means for driving the movable optical element; and a position detecting means for detecting a signal corresponding to the position of the movable optical element; In a lens system having
The lens unit has ID output means for outputting a lens ID, which is identification information of the lens unit, to the accessory unit;
The accessory unit includes an ID storage unit that stores a reference ID that is identification information of a lens unit to be connected, a warning unit that performs a warning, and an ID comparison unit that compares the reference ID and the lens ID. ,
The ID comparison means compares the reference ID with the lens ID and warns by the warning means if they do not match.
A lens system characterized by that. The warning means is a display means,
The ID comparison unit compares the reference ID and the lens ID and, if they do not match, displays a warning that the display ID does not match, and warns.
The lens system according to claim 1. The warning means is a lock means for locking the movable optical element so that it cannot be driven,
The ID comparison means compares the reference ID and the lens ID and locks the movable optical element so that the movable optical element cannot be driven by the locking means if they do not match.
The lens system according to claim 1.   2. The lens system according to claim 1, wherein the ID comparison unit compares the reference ID with the lens ID, and the warning unit stops driving the drive unit when they do not match. The warning means is a warning sound generating means,
The ID comparison means compares the reference ID and the lens ID and generates a sound from the warning sound generation means if they do not match.
The lens system according to claim 1. The accessory unit has correction data storage means for storing correction control data in consideration of individual differences inherent in the lens unit, and default data storage means for storing default control data not in consideration of individual differences inherent in the lens unit. And
When the reference ID and the lens ID match, the lens unit is controlled based on the correction control data, and when the reference ID and the lens ID do not match, the lens based on the default control data. Control unit,
The lens system according to claim 1, wherein the lens system is a lens system. The accessory unit has end storage means for storing the position of the end of the movable range of the movable optical element,
If the reference ID and the lens ID do not match, the position of the end stored in the end storage means is invalidated, and the entire range in which the movable optical element is movable is controlled as a possible range.
The lens system according to any one of claims 1, 2, 4 to 6.   The lens system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the movable optical element includes at least one of a focus lens, a zoom lens, and an aperture stop.   An imaging apparatus comprising: the lens system according to claim 1; and an imaging element that receives light from the lens system.

Images