JP2022117741A - Operating device, driving device, and optical device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an operating device which is advantageous in terms of operability.SOLUTION: An operating device includes: an operating member operated by a user; a processing part 103 for generating a command value for controlling the driving of a movable member based on an operation amount of the operating member; and a setting part 105 for setting a limit value for the command value. When the operating member is operated in the same direction as before the command value reaches the limit value after the command value reaches the limit value, the processing part generates a specific command value different from the limit value.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to an operating device, a driving device and an optical device.

In order to control the driving of the movable member by the motor, an operation device operated by the user is used to give command values to the control system. Some of such operating devices output a command value corresponding to a relative operation amount of a rotary operating member that does not have an end of its rotation range.

Some optical devices such as imaging devices and lens devices have an autofocus (AF) function. Furthermore, the command value from the operating device is constantly monitored, and when the operation of the operating member (change in command value) is detected during AF control, the AF control is interrupted and the operation is prioritized (according to the command value) focus There is one that performs lens drive control and resumes AF control when the operation of the operating member is stopped. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-200001 discloses an imaging device that gives priority to an operation even when an operation member is operated so as to exceed a limit value of a command value. Patent Literature 2 discloses an operating device that can arbitrarily set (limit) a range of command values that change according to the operation of an operating member.

Japanese Patent No. 5500982 JP 2019-20554 A

In the imaging apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-200300, priority is given to the operation only when the operation member is operated so as to exceed the limit value of the command value at the driving end of the focus lens. Therefore, when the command value range is limited as in Patent Document 2, even if the operation member is operated beyond the limit end, the command value does not change. It is not possible to switch to AF control at the timing of .

The present invention provides, for example, an operating device that is advantageous in terms of operability.

An operation device as one aspect of the present invention includes an operation member operated by a user, a processing unit that generates a command value for controlling driving of a movable member based on an operation amount of the operation member, and and a setting unit for setting the limit value. The processing unit generates a specific command value different from the limit value when the operation member is operated in the same direction as before the command value reaches the limit value after the command value reaches the limit value. do. A driving device having a movable member, which is connected to or integral with the operating device, and an optical device in which the driving device drives an optical member as a movable member also constitute another aspect of the present invention.

11. An optical device, comprising: the driving device according to claim 10, which drives the optical member.

According to the present invention, for example, it is possible to provide an operating device that is advantageous in terms of operability.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the operating device and the lens device of Example 1; 4 is a flowchart showing processing executed in the first embodiment; 4A and 4B are diagrams showing the relationship between the operation command value and the lens position in the first embodiment; FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing processing executed in the second embodiment;

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a demand 10 as an operation device of Example 1 of the present invention and a lens device 20 as an optical device (driving device) connected thereto. The lens device 20 is communicably and detachably attached to an imaging device (camera) (not shown), and captures a subject image formed through a lens 203, which will be described later.

The demand 10 outputs to the lens device 20 an operation command value for controlling driving of the lens 203, which is an optical member as a movable member. In the following description, the lens 203 is a focus lens that is driven in the optical axis direction to adjust the focus on the subject. There may be. Also, the demand 10 may output an operation command value for controlling the driving of other optical members (movable members) such as an aperture unit for adjusting the amount of light instead of the lens 203 .

In the demand 10, an operation unit 101 has operation members operated by a user (photographer, etc.). The operating member includes a rotary member (knob) that is rotated, a rod-shaped member that is pushed and pulled, a slide member that is slid, a seesaw switch, and the like. In the following, a case where the operating member is a rotating member and is an endless rotating member that does not have an end of the mechanical rotation range (that is, can rotate over 360°) will be described.

The operation position detection unit 102 is composed of a potentiometer, a rotary encoder, etc., and outputs a position signal corresponding to the rotational position of the operation member in the operation unit 101 . A command value generation unit (processing unit) 103 generates an operation command value from a position signal from the operation position detection unit 102 and command value limit information from a setting unit 105, which will be described later. The demand communication unit 104 encodes the operation command value generated by the command value generation unit 103 into a communication command and transmits the communication command to the lens device 20 . The demand 10 can also receive information indicating the position of the lens 203 from the lens device 20 through the demand communication section 104 .

The setting unit 105 sets the maximum value and the minimum value of the operation command value output from the operation position detection unit 102 as limit values, and stores them as command value limit information. The limit value can be set, for example, by the user operating a setting switch (not shown). By the user operating a limit enable/disable switch (not shown), a limit value (set limit value) stored as command value limit information in the setting unit 105 is applied, or an initially set limit value ( It is possible to switch whether to apply the initial limit value). The initial limit values are originally the maximum and minimum values that the operation command value can take (values indicating the drive ends on both sides of the optical axis direction of the lens 203), and when the initial limit values are applied, the operation command value is It will be practically unrestricted. On the other hand, the set limit value indicates a maximum value smaller than the maximum initial limit value and a minimum value larger than the minimum initial limit value. The user can choose to apply either the initial limits or the set limits depending on the imaging situation.

The command value generation unit 103 generates the lens 203 based on the relationship between the current operation command value and the selected limit value and the amount of change in the position information from the operation position detection unit 102 (that is, the operation amount of the operation unit 101). Generates an operation command value that commands the position of Note that the command value generation unit 103 may generate an operation command value according to the operation position of the operation unit 101 .

On the other hand, in the lens device 20 , the lens communication section 201 transmits and receives commands and data to and from the demand communication section 104 . Upon receiving the encoded operation command value from the demand 10 , the lens communication unit 201 decodes it and sends it to the control unit 202 .

In MF (manual focus) mode, the control unit 202 performs MF control to drive the lens 203 to a position corresponding to an operation command value received from the demand 10 via the lens communication unit 201 . Also, in the AF mode, AF control for driving the lens 203 is performed according to an AF control signal input from the camera. The camera detects a focus state from a video signal acquired using an imaging device such as a CMOS sensor, and generates an AF control signal for causing the control unit 202 to control driving of the lens 203 so as to obtain a focused state. . When the operation command value from the demand 10 changes during AF control in the AF mode, the control unit 202 stops AF control and performs MF control. After that, when there is no change in the operation command value, AF control is performed again.

Note that the lens device 20 is provided with a position sensor for detecting the position of the lens 203, and information on the position of the lens 203 is transmitted to the demand 10 via the lens communication section 201 as described above. Note that the position of the lens 203 may be determined by detecting the rotational position of a manual focus operation ring provided on the lens device 20 using a sensor such as an encoder. The notification unit 106 notifies the user of the states of the demand 10, the lens device 20, the camera, and other information using display by an LED or LCD display, vibration generated by a motor, or the like.

The command value generation unit 103 has two command value generation modes for the lens apparatus 20 having the AF mode including the switching function between AF control and MF control as described above. One is that the operation unit 101 is operated in a specific direction (first direction), and after the operation command value reaches the limit value, it is further operated in a specific direction (hereinafter referred to as being operated outside the limit value). This is the first mode in which the operation command value is fixed without being changed from the limit value. The other is an operation of changing the operation command value between the limit value and a different value when the operation unit 101 is further operated outside the limit value after the operation command value reaches the limit value. This is the second mode for outputting command values.

FIG. 3A shows the relationship between the rotational position (operation position) of the operation unit 101 and the generated operation command value in the first mode. The command value generation unit 103 sets the operation command value as the reference value, with the operation position at the start of control as the reference position corresponding to the position of the lens 203 received from the lens device 20 . The command value generation unit 103 changes the operation command value from the reference value according to the amount of rotation of the operation unit 101 from the reference position, that is, the relative amount of operation.

At this time, when the initial limit value is selected, the operation command value is set between the maximum value (MOD) and the minimum value (INF) of the initial limit value within a predetermined operation amount (rotation amount) of the operation unit 101. can be changed. On the other hand, when the set limit value is selected, the operation command value can be changed between the maximum value (limit end 1) and the minimum value (limit end 2) of the set limit value. In FIG. 3(a), the set limit value is selected, and with the rotational position (i) as the reference position, the operation command value is set to the rotational direction of the operation unit 101 between the limit end 2 and the limit end 1 corresponding to the reference position. and change according to the amount of rotation.

The operation command value changes from the limit end 2 to the limit end 1 by operating the operation unit 101 from the rotational position (i) to (ii) in the MOD direction. The lens 203 is driven in the MOD direction according to the change in the operation command value. After the operation command value reaches the limit end 1, the operation command value remains at the limit end until the operation unit 101 is operated from the rotational position (ii) in the MOD direction outside the limit end 1 to reach the rotational position (iii). It remains 1 and does not change. That is, even if the operation unit 101 is operated outside the limit end 1, the operation command value is fixed to the limit end 1. FIG.
After the operation unit 101 is operated to the rotational position (iii), when it is operated in the opposite direction (inside limit end 1) to the INF direction, the operation command value at that time, limit end 1, is used as a reference. The operation command value changes up to limit end 2 corresponding to rotational position (iv). Since the operation member of the operation unit 101 is an endless rotating member, there is no relationship between the absolute rotational position of the operation unit 101 and the operation command value. , the operation command value changes toward limit end 2 immediately. That is, the operation command value can be changed simply by reversing the operation direction without returning the operation unit 101 to the rotational position (ii) where the operation command value first reaches the limit end 1. FIG. As a result, it is possible to avoid the inconvenience of not knowing at what timing the driving direction of the lens 203 will be reversed when the operation direction of the operation unit 101 is reversed.

After the operation unit 101 reaches the rotational position (iv) and the operation command value reaches the limit end 2, the operation in the INF direction outside the limit end 2 of the operation unit 101 is continued, and the rotational position (iv ), the operation command value remains at limit end 2 and does not change.

Thus, in the first mode, even if the operation unit 101 is operated in the operation section of the rotational positions (ii) to (iii) and the operation section of the rotational positions (iv) to (v), the operation command value does not change. It becomes a dead zone. Therefore, the lens device 20 (control unit 202) in the AF mode determines that the operation unit 101 is not operated in the above two operation sections, and performs AF control.

FIG. 3(b) shows the relationship between the rotational position of the operation unit 101 and the operation command value in the second mode. As in the first mode, the operation command value changes in the operation section of the rotational positions (i) to (ii) and the operation section of the rotational positions (iii) to (iv).

On the other hand, in the operation section of the rotational positions (ii) to (iii) and the operation section of the rotational positions (iv) to (v), the command value generation unit 103 sets the operation command value to the limit end as in the first mode. The operation command value is changed within a predetermined range without being fixed. Specifically, the operation command value is switched between the limit end and a value (specific command value) inside the limit end by a specific amount for each specific operation amount of the operation unit 101 or for each specific time.

As described above, in the second mode, by changing the operation command value in the two operation sections that were dead zones in the first mode, the lens device 20 in the AF mode can operate the operation unit 101 in the two operation sections. Since it is determined that it is being operated, it does not shift to AF control. The specific amount by which the operation command value changes at this time can be detected by the lens device 20 as a change in the operation command value, and is not reflected in the driving of the lens 203. (less than the resolution of the effective operation command value). For example, when the minimum value of the operation command value is 0 and the maximum value is 1000, and the effective resolution of the operation command value is 2, the specific amount is a value smaller than 2 (=1). Therefore, even if the operation command value changes between the limit end and a value inside the limit end by a specific amount, the lens 203 is held at the position corresponding to the limit end.

After that, when the operation of the operation unit 101 is stopped, the lens device 20 shifts to AF control, and when the operation direction of the operation unit 101 is reversed, MF control is performed according to the effective change of the operation command value.

The first mode and the second mode can be selected (set) by the user in the setting section 105 . Alternatively, the second mode may be automatically set by determining that the lens device 20 is in the AF mode. Whether or not the lens device 20 is in the AF mode may be determined from the state of the lens device 20 detected via the demand communication unit 104 , and the AF ON/OFF selection of the lens device 20 can be made by the demand 10 . If there is, it may be judged from its ON/OFF.

The flowchart in FIG. 2 shows operation command value generation processing (command value generation method) executed by the command value calculation unit 103 when the lens device 20 is in the AF mode. A command value calculation unit 103 configured by a computer executes this process according to a computer program. In the following description, "S" means step.

First, in S<b>101 , the command value calculation unit 103 acquires information on the current rotational position of the operation unit 101 from the operation position detection unit 102 . The command value calculation unit 103 also acquires the limit end of the operation command value from the setting unit 105 .

Next, in S102, the command value calculation unit 103 determines whether or not the current rotational position of the operation unit 101 acquired in S101 is a rotational position corresponding to the limit end of the operation command value. If the position corresponds to the limit end, proceed to S103; otherwise, proceed to S106. The process proceeds to S106 when, for example, the current rotational position of the operation unit 101 is in the operation sections (i) to (ii) or (iii) to (iv) shown in FIGS. is.

In S106, the command value calculator 103 calculates (generates) an operation command value from the reference position and the rotational position. Then, the operation command value is transmitted to the lens device 20 in S109.

In S103, the command value calculation unit 103 confirms whether or not the second mode is valid (selected). If the second mode is valid, the process proceeds to S104, and if the second mode is invalid (the first mode is selected), the process proceeds to S106.

In S104, the command value calculation unit 103 determines whether or not the operation unit 101 has been operated in the direction in which the operation command value exceeds the limit end (hereinafter referred to as the operation unit 101 has been operated outside the limit end). . At this time, the command value generation unit 103 ensures that the amount of change in the rotational position of the operation unit 101 detected by the operation position detection unit 102 within the specific time is greater than or equal to a specific amount (that is, the operation speed of the operation unit 101 is set to the threshold value). (above), it is determined that the operation unit 101 is being operated. If the operation unit 101 is operated to the outside of the limit end, the command value calculation unit 103 proceeds to S105. If operated, the process proceeds to S106.

In S105, the command value calculation unit 103 determines whether or not the operation command value in the previous routine was the limit end. .

In S107, the command value calculator 103 sets the operation command value to a value inside the limit end by a specific amount. Then, the operation command value is transmitted to the lens device 20 in S109.

On the other hand, in S108, the command value calculator 103 sets the operation command value to the limit end. Then, the operation command value is transmitted to the lens device 20 in S109. By alternately performing the processes of S107 and S108 in a plurality of times of the routine, the limit end and a value inside the limit end by a specific amount are alternately transmitted to the lens device 20 as the operation command value. For example, when the limit end 1 as the operation command value is 0, the limit end 2 is 1000, and the specific amount is 1, 1000 and 999 are alternately transmitted to the lens device 20 as the operation command value.

As described above, the demand 10 of the present embodiment changes the operation command value to be transmitted to the lens device 20 when the operation command value is set to the limit end and the operation unit 101 is operated outside the limit end. . As a result, it is possible to notify the lens device 20 that the operation unit 101 is being operated, and prevent the lens device 20 from shifting to AF control. In other words, even when the range of the operation command value is limited, it is possible to switch between the MF control state in which the operation is prioritized and the AF control state in which the operation is not performed only by operating/stopping the operation unit 101.

In the above processing, a case has been described in which the operation command value is changed between the limit value and a value inside it. good too. Further, the operation command value may be changed between a value outside and a value inside the limit value with the limit value interposed therebetween.

Further, in the above processing, the operation command value is changed in S107 and S108 for each routine, but the operation command value may be changed for each routine.

Moreover, although the case where the demand 10 and the lens device 20 are separate has been described in this embodiment, the demand may be provided integrally with the lens device.

Next, Example 2 of the present invention will be described. The configurations of the demand 10 and the lens device 20 are the same as those of the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, when the operation unit 101 is operated, the operation command value for controlling the position of the lens 203 is transmitted from the demand 10 to the lens device 20, and even when the operation unit 101 is operated outside the limit end. The case where the changing operation command value is transmitted to the lens device 20 has been described. In contrast, in this embodiment, when the operation unit 101 is operated to the outside of the limit end, a speed command value (specific command value) is transmitted to the lens device 20 instead of the operation command value. That is, in the operation section from (i) to (ii) and the operation section from (iii) to (iv) in FIG. A speed command value is transmitted to the lens device 20 in the operation section from (ii) to (iii) and the operation section from (iv) to (v).

The speed command value is a command value that indicates the driving direction and the driving speed of the lens 203 by positive and negative values. In this embodiment, a specific speed command value other than 0 is transmitted to the lens device 20 when the operation unit 101 is operated outside the limit end. Whether the speed command value is positive or negative is determined from the positional relationship between the position of the lens 203 and the limit end. As the specific speed command value, a very low speed command value (for example, +1 or -1 indicating the lowest speed) is preferable. By transmitting a low speed command value to the lens device 20 when the operation unit 101 is operated to the outside of the limit end in this way, the lens 203 is hardly driven and the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained. be able to. Further, by alternately switching between positive and negative speed command values (for example, by alternately switching between +1 and -1), driving of the lens 203 with respect to them may be canceled. Further, the lens 203 may be held at a position corresponding to the limit end by alternately transmitting the speed command value and the limit end operation command value to the lens device 20 .

The flowchart in FIG. 4 shows operation command value generation processing executed by the command value calculation unit 103 when the lens device 20 is in the AF mode.

First, in S<b>201 , the command value calculation unit 103 acquires information on the current rotational position of the operation unit 101 from the operation position detection unit 102 . The command value calculation unit 103 also acquires the limit end of the operation command value from the setting unit 105 .

Next, in S202, the command value calculation unit 103 determines whether or not the current rotational position of the operation unit 101 acquired in S201 is a rotational position corresponding to the limit end of the operation command value. If the position corresponds to the limit end, proceed to S203; otherwise, proceed to S206.

In S206, the command value calculator 103 generates an operation command value calculated from the reference position and the rotational position. Then, the operation command value is transmitted to the lens device 20 in S207.

In S203, the command value calculator 103 confirms whether the second mode is valid. If the second mode is valid, the process proceeds to S204, and if the second mode is invalid, the process proceeds to S206.

In S204, the command value calculation unit 103 determines whether or not the operation unit 101 has been operated outside the limit end. If the operation unit 101 is operated to the outside of the limit end, the process proceeds to S205, and if the operation unit 101 is not operated or is operated to the inside of the limit end, the process proceeds to S206.

In S205, the command value calculator 103 sets the above-described specific speed command value. Then, a specific speed command value is transmitted to the lens device 20 in S207.

As described above, the demand 10 of this embodiment transmits a specific speed command value to the lens device 20 when the operating unit 101 is operated outside the limit end when the limit end is set for the operation command value. . As a result, it is possible to notify the lens device 20 that the operation unit 101 is being operated, and prevent the lens device 20 from shifting to AF control. In other words, even when the range of the operation command value is limited, it is possible to switch between the MF control state in which the operation is prioritized and the AF control state in which the operation is not performed only by operating/stopping the operation unit 101.

In each of the above embodiments, an optical device having a lens as a movable member has been described.
(Other examples)
The present invention supplies a program that implements one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in the computer of the system or device reads and executes the program. It can also be realized by processing to It can also be implemented by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that implements one or more functions.

Each embodiment described above is merely a representative example, and various modifications and changes can be made to each embodiment in carrying out the present invention.

10 demand 101 operation unit 103 command value generation unit 105 setting unit 20 lens device 203 lens

Claims (12)

an operating member operated by a user;
a processing unit that generates a command value for controlling driving of the movable member based on the operation amount of the operating member;
a setting unit that sets a limit value for the command value,
The processing unit sets a specific command value different from the limit value when the operation member is operated in the same direction as before the command value reaches the limit value after the command value reaches the limit value. An operating device characterized by generating When the operation member continues to be operated in the same direction as before the command value reaches the limit value after the command value reaches the limit value, the processing unit determines the limit value and the specific command value. 2. The operation device according to claim 1, wherein the operation device is generated by switching between and at each specific operation amount of the operation member or at each specific time. 3. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein the specific command value is a command value that differs from the limit value by a specific amount. 4. The operating device according to claim 3, wherein the specific amount is an amount by which the movable member is not moved from a position corresponding to the limit value. the command value is a command value for controlling the position of the movable member;
3. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein said specific command value is a command value for controlling the speed of said movable member. 6. The operating device according to claim 5, wherein said specific command value is a command value corresponding to the lowest speed of said movable member. 7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the processing unit generates the specific command value when the speed of the operating member becomes equal to or greater than a threshold after the command value reaches the limit value. An operating device according to any one of the preceding claims. The operating device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the operating member is rotated. 9. The operating device according to claim 8, wherein the operating member has no end in its rotation range. A driving device for driving a movable member,
an operating device according to any one of claims 1 to 9;
and a control unit that controls driving of the movable member based on a control signal different from the command value when the command value input from the operating device does not change. an optical member as a movable member;
11. An optical device, comprising: the driving device according to claim 10, which drives the optical member. 12. The optical device according to claim 11, further comprising an imaging device for capturing an image formed through said optical member.

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