JP2020115164A - Operation device, lens device, and imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an operation device which has an operation end in an operation member and is advantageous for finely adjusting the state of an optical member, for example.SOLUTION: The operation device which is the operation device for generating a command for changing the state of a movable optical member includes the operation member which has the operation end, a detection part which detects the state of the operation member, and a processing part which has a first mode for performing the change of the command according to the change of the state detected by the detection part and a second mode not for performing the change of the command, even when the change is performed, as operation modes and generates the command.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to an operating device, a lens device, and an imaging device.

A lens device (optical device) such as a TV lens device or a video lens device includes a movable lens such as a lens group for zoom adjustment, a lens group for focus adjustment, and an iris (aperture stop) for light amount adjustment. Some include a member and can control the movement (state) of such an optical member. For example, by using an operating device (for example, focus demand), the optical member (for example, a lens group for focus adjustment) can be controlled to a desired state (for example, position) of the operator.

Focus demand often controls the state of the optical member by rotational operation, but the rotational angle of the operating member is mechanically limited (the operating member has an operating end), and this is not the case. There is a thing (the operation member has no operation end). Since a focus demand having an operation end has a limited rotation angle, control (also referred to as absolute position control) in which the rotation angle of the operation member and the state of the optical member have a one-to-one correspondence is often performed. On the other hand, in a focus demand having no operation end, since the rotation angle is not limited, control (also referred to as relative position control) in which the change amount of the rotation angle of the operation member and the change amount of the state of the optical member correspond to each other is performed. Often.

With the higher definition of image data (higher pixel count of the image sensor), the sensitivity (resolution) of the operation of the operation member can be changed so that the state (position) of the lens group for focus adjustment can be finely controlled. Such an operating device has been proposed (Patent Document 1). The operating device of Patent Document 1 is configured to selectively perform rough adjustment and fine adjustment of the lens state by changing the sensitivity.

JP, 2018-124497, A

The technique of Patent Document 1 is premised on relative position control. However, when fine adjustment is performed by an operating device premised on absolute position control, even if the operation member reaches the operation end, the optical member moves within its movable range. It may not reach the edge. That is, in such a case, the movement (state) of the optical member may not be operated over the entire movable range of the optical member.

An object of the present invention is to provide an operating device which has an operating end on an operating member and is advantageous for fine adjustment of the state of an optical member.

In order to achieve the above object, an operating device of the present invention is an operating device that generates a command for changing a state of a movable optical member, and includes an operating member having an operating end and a state of the operating member. An operation mode including a detection unit for detecting, a first mode in which the command is changed according to the change in the state detected by the detection unit, and a second mode in which the command is not changed even if there is the change. And a processing unit that generates the command.

According to the present invention, for example, it is possible to provide an operating device that has an operating end on an operating member and is advantageous for fine adjustment of the state of the optical member.

Block diagram of a lens system in Example 1 Flowchart of operation command value calculation processing The figure which shows the concrete example of the operation when switching and using the operation mode Block diagram of a lens system in Example 2 Flowchart of operation mode automatic switching processing Block diagram of a lens system in Example 3 The figure which shows the concrete example of the contents which is indicated in indicatory department

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

A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a lens device and an operating device according to a first embodiment.

The focus demand 10, which is an operating device, is an operating device for operating the lens device 20. The focus demand 10 and the lens device 20 constitute a lens system.

The operation unit 101 is an operation member for the cameraman to operate the focus lens, and the operable range is mechanically limited. The operation unit 101 is, for example, a rotary knob, but the present invention can be applied as long as the operable range is mechanically limited (a slide operation unit or the like).

The operation position detection unit 102 is a position sensor such as a potentiometer or a rotary encoder, and outputs a position signal according to the operation position (operation amount) of the operation unit 101.

The operation command value calculation unit (processing unit) 103 calculates (calculates) a focus operation command value according to an operation mode set by a mode manual setting unit (user interface unit) 104 described later. When the operation mode is the operable mode (first mode), the focus operation command value is relatively changed from the current focus operation command value according to the operation amount of the operation unit 101 detected by the operation position detection unit 102. Let On the other hand, when the operation mode is the inoperable mode (second mode), the focus operation command value is maintained at the current focus operation command value regardless of the operation of the operation unit 101.

The mode manual setting unit 104 is an operation member for instructing switching of operation modes, and uses, for example, a push button or the like.

The demand communication unit 105 encodes the focus operation command value calculated by the operation command value calculation unit 103 into a communication command format and transmits it to the lens communication unit 201 of the lens device 20. Further, the position information of the focus lens 204 may be received from the lens communication unit 201 of the lens device 20. Further, an operation command value change request may be received from the lens device 20, and the current focus operation command value may be adjusted to the received position information of the focus lens 204.

The lens communication unit 201 is configured in the lens device 20, and transmits and receives commands to and from the demand communication unit 105 of the focus demand 10. Upon receiving the command of the focus operation command value, the lens communication unit 201 decodes the received data and outputs it to the drive command value calculation unit 202.

The drive command value calculation unit 202 generates a drive signal (focus drive command value) for drive control (position control) of the focus lens 204 from the focus operation command value and sends it to the control unit 203.

The control unit 203 drives and controls the focus lens 204 based on the drive signal input by the drive command value calculation unit 202.
The focus lens 204 is an optical element that can perform focus adjustment by moving in the optical axis direction.

The lens position detection unit 205 is a position sensor that detects the position of the focus lens 204, and the detected position signal is input to the drive command value calculation unit 202. Feedback control of the focus lens 204 is performed by the drive command value calculation unit 202 and the lens position detection unit 205. Further, the detected position signal may be transmitted from the lens communication unit 201 to the focus demand 10.

In the example shown here, the lens device and the operating device are independent and are connected via the communication unit, but the configuration is not necessarily limited to this, and the lens device and the operating device are integrated, for example. You can take

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the operation command value calculation process by the operation command value calculation unit 103.
In step S101, the operation mode set by the manual mode setting unit 104 is referred to, and if it is the operable mode, the process proceeds to step S102, and if it is the inoperable mode, the process proceeds to step S104.
In step S102, the operation amount of the operation unit 101 detected by the operation position detection unit 102 is acquired.

In step S103, the current operation command value is calculated from the previous operation command value calculated by the operation command value calculation unit 103 and the operation amount acquired in step S102, and the process ends. At this time, the change amount of the operation command value with respect to the operation amount may be constant or variable. That is, a sensitivity switching unit that changes the amount of change in the operation command value calculated by the operation command value calculation unit 103 with respect to the operation amount of the operation unit 101 may be provided.

In step S104, the current operation command value is set to the previous operation command value calculated by the operation command value calculation unit 103, and the process ends.

In this embodiment, only the relative position operation is illustrated, but in addition to this, an absolute position operation (third mode, (so-called, coarse adjustment mode)) for calculating an operation command value according to the operation position of the operation unit 101 is performed. You may allow it. Further, a means (command value change) for changing the operation command value to a value different from the value calculated by the operation command value calculation unit 103 (for example, the current position of the focus lens or a preset predetermined value). Section) may be provided.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a specific example of operation when the operation mode is switched and used.
FIG. 3A illustrates an operation command value (position of the focus lens 204) and a position of the operation unit 101 in the operable mode.

FIG. 3-2 illustrates a state in which the operation unit 101 has been operated up to the position of a mechanical (mechanical) operation end (first operation end) in the operable mode. The state shown here may occur, for example, when the operation unit 101 is operated toward the end in a so-called fine adjustment mode in which the movement amount of the focus lens 204 is small with respect to the operation amount of the operation unit 101. .. At this time, the operation command value does not reach the position of the end of the movable range corresponding to the operation end (first operation end) of the operation unit 101, and the inoperable region (the operation unit continues to be operated in one direction as it is). However, there is a region where the focus lens 204 cannot move.

FIG. 3C shows the operation after changing to the inoperable mode by the mode manual setting unit 104. As shown here, in the inoperable mode, it is possible to move the operation unit 101 to an arbitrary position without changing the operation command value.

FIG. 3-4 shows the operation when the mode is manually set again by the mode manual setting unit 104. By the operation of FIG. 3-3, the position of the operation unit 101 is no longer the operable end position, so the operation command value is set to a position within the area that cannot be operated in the state of FIG. 3-2. It can be changed.

As described above, by making it possible to switch between the operable mode and the inoperable mode, it is possible to operate the entire operable area of the movable optical member even when performing relative position control with an operating device having an operating end. Is possible.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Hereinafter, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

In the first embodiment, since the operation mode is switched manually, the operation of the operator becomes complicated. Therefore, in the second embodiment, the operation mode is automatically switched to prevent the operator's operation from being complicated.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the lens device and the operating device according to the second embodiment.
The operation command value calculation unit 103 in the second embodiment calculates the focus operation command value based on the operation mode set by the mode automatic setting unit 106 described later.

The mode automatic setting unit 106 automatically switches the operation mode. The process of the mode automatic setting unit 106 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation mode switching process by the automatic mode setting unit 106.

In step S201, referring to the operation mode, if the operation mode is available, the process proceeds to step S202, and if the operation mode is not available, proceeds to step S205. The operation mode is set to the initial value of the operation mode.

In step S202, the position of the operation unit 101 detected by the operation position detection unit 102 and the operation command value calculated by the operation command value calculation unit 103 are referred to. At this time, it is determined whether or not the operation position of the operation unit 101 has reached the operation end and the operation command value has not reached the end position (one-way operation impossible). Proceed; otherwise, do nothing and exit (maintain operable mode).

In step S203, it is stored which side of the operation end the operation unit 101 is in (which direction the operation cannot be performed), and the process proceeds to step S204.
In step S204, the operation mode is set to the inoperable mode and the process ends.

In step S205, the operation end (operation direction that cannot be operated) stored in step S203 is referred to, and if the operation direction of the operation unit 101 is the direction to the operation end opposite to the stored operation end, what is Quit without operation (maintain inoperable mode). In addition, the operation direction of the operation unit 101 is the stored direction to the operation end (the direction of the end of the movable range in which the operation unit 101 was located when the operation mode was switched to the operation impossible mode). In this case, the process proceeds to step S206.

In step S206, the operation mode is set to the operable mode and the process ends.
In the flowchart illustrated here, the operation is performed when the one-way operation is disabled (the operation command value does not reach the end position even when the operation section reaches the end) while operating in the operation enable mode. The mode is set to inoperable mode. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and operates when the operation unit starts to be operated toward the other end after the one-way operation is disabled while operating in the operation mode. The mode may be set to the inoperable mode.

In the present embodiment, the method of determining the cancellation condition of the inoperable mode based on the operation direction has been illustrated, but the invention is not limited to this, and the specific operation position is detected (passed) and released. A method may be used, or a method of detecting and releasing a specific movement of the operation unit 101 may be used.

As described above, in the second embodiment, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, the operation mode automatic setting process is provided, whereby it is possible to prevent the operator's operation from becoming complicated.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Hereinafter, the same symbols are given to the same parts as those in the first and second embodiments, and the description thereof will be omitted.

In the first and second embodiments, since there is no means for notifying the operator of the setting state of the operation mode, there is a possibility that an operation error may occur due to the erroneous recognition of the operation mode.

Therefore, in the third embodiment, by displaying the operation mode, it is possible to reduce operation mistakes.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the lens device and the operating device according to the third embodiment.
The display unit 107 is a display member such as an LED or a display, and displays the setting state of the operation mode. Further, the focus operation command value, the position information of the focus lens 204, or the position information of the operation unit 101 may be displayed together.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a specific example of contents displayed on the display unit 107.
FIG. 7A shows an example of a display in the operable mode.

The notation indicating the operation mode is arranged in the upper row (row of Focus Control). Further, the display indicating the operation mode is not limited to this, and may be a display of a mark, a symbol, or the like, a change in the tone of the entire display, or an LED or the like. good. An index indicating the focus operation command value is arranged in the middle row (F: Focus row). This display may show the focus operation command value or the position of the focus lens 204. An index indicating the position of the operation unit 101 is arranged in the lower stage (C: Control line).

In the operable mode, the focus operation command value is expressed so as to change in association with the movement of the operation unit 101.

FIG. 7B shows an example of a display in the inoperable mode.
Although the display content is the same as that of FIG. 7A, in the inoperable mode, the index indicating the focus operation command value does not change, and only the index indicating the position of the operation unit 101 changes.

In this example, the display example using the index is shown, but the position may be expressed by a numerical value. Also, not all indicators may be displayed.

As described above, in the third embodiment, in addition to the effects of the first or second embodiment, the operation mode display means is provided, so that an operator makes a mistake in recognizing the setting state of the operation mode. It becomes possible to reduce.

In the illustrated embodiment, the focus lens of the lens device is illustrated as the movable optical member that is operated, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the movable optical member that operates the zoom lens, the macro lens, and the diaphragm is used. Even if the present invention is applied, the same effect can be enjoyed.

Further, in the illustrated embodiment, the mode switching is performed based on the relationship between the position of the operation unit and the operation command value calculated by the operation command value calculation unit, but the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, the modes may be switched based on the relationship between the position of the operation unit and the position of the optical member (for example, the feedback value from the lens device).

Further, the effect of the present invention is enjoyed by configuring the image pickup apparatus having the operating device of the present invention, the lens device operated by the operating device, and the image pickup element arranged on the image plane of the lens device. An imaging device can be realized.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be made within the scope of the gist thereof.

10 ··· Focus demand (operating device)
101... Operation unit 102... Operation position detection unit (detection unit)
103... Operation command value calculation unit (processing unit)

Claims (11)

An operating device for generating a command for changing the state of a movable optical member,
An operation member having an operation end,
A detection unit for detecting the state of the operation member,
The operation mode includes a first mode in which the instruction is changed according to the change in the state detected by the detection unit, and a second mode in which the instruction is not changed even if the instruction is changed. A processing unit that generates
An operating device comprising: The operating device according to claim 1, further comprising a user interface unit for instructing switching between the first mode and the second mode. In the first mode, when the operation member reaches the first operation end and the state of the optical member is not the end of the movable range of the optical member corresponding to the first operation end in the first mode. The operating device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the operating mode is switched to the second mode. The operation device according to claim 3, wherein the processing unit switches to the first mode when the operation member is operated toward the first operation end in the second mode. The operation device according to claim 3, wherein the processing unit switches to the first mode when the state detected by the detection unit reaches a predetermined state in the second mode. .. The user interface unit for changing the ratio of the change amount of the command with respect to the operation amount of the operation member in the first mode is included, and any one of claims 1 to 5 is provided. The operating device described. The processing unit has a third mode as the operation mode, which is different from the first mode and which does not switch to the second mode and changes the command. Item 7. The operating device according to any one of Item 6. The operating device according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit that displays a current mode of the operation modes. The operating device according to claim 8, wherein the display unit further displays at least one of the command, the state of the optical member, and the state of the operating member. An operating device according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
An optical member whose state is changed by the operating device,
A lens device comprising: The lens device according to claim 10,
An image sensor arranged on the image plane of the lens device;
An imaging device comprising:

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