JP3792840B2 - camera - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a vibration isolator Having camera It is about improvement.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Since the current camera automates all the important tasks for shooting such as determining the exposure and focusing, the possibility of shooting failure is very low even for those who are unskilled in camera operation.
[0003]
Recently, a system for preventing camera shake applied to the camera has been studied, and there are almost no factors that cause a photographer to make a shooting mistake.
[0004]
Here, a system for preventing camera shake will be briefly described.
[0005]
The camera shake at the time of shooting is usually a vibration of 1 Hz to 10 Hz as a frequency. However, as a basic idea for making it possible to take a photograph without image shake even if such a camera shake occurs at the shutter release time. Therefore, it is necessary to detect the vibration of the camera due to the above-mentioned camera shake and displace the correction lens in accordance with the detected value. Therefore, in order to take a photograph in which image shake does not occur even when camera shake occurs, first, it is necessary to accurately detect camera vibration, and secondly, to correct optical axis changes due to camera shake. Become.
[0006]
In principle, this vibration (camera shake) is detected by detecting the acceleration, angular acceleration, angular velocity, angular displacement, etc., and installing a shake detection sensor in the camera that appropriately calculates the output for camera shake correction. Can be done. Based on this detection information, image blur suppression is performed by driving a correction optical device that decenters the photographing optical axis.
[0007]
The details of the image stabilization system including the shake detection sensor and the correction optical device are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-58037. Here, the outline will be described with reference to FIG.
[0008]
FIG. 27A is a perspective view of a compact camera equipped with an image stabilization system. Reference numeral 801 denotes a camera cover, reference numeral 802 denotes a photographing lens of the camera, which is protected by a lens barrier when not photographing (FIG. 27). (A) The lens barrier is retracted and cannot be seen because of the photographing state). Reference numeral 803 denotes a main switch of the camera. FIG. 27A shows a photographing enabled state in which the image stabilization system is turned on. When the main switch 803 is set to the index “OFF”, the photographing is disabled. When the camera is set to the sports mode 804 (high-speed shutter mode) or the flash mode 805, the camera is switched to a photographing enabled state in which the image stabilization system is turned off (in such a mode, the image stabilization system is not necessary). Reference numeral 806 denotes a release button. When the release button 806 is depressed, the camera performs photometry and distance measurement, and after the focusing is completed, shake correction is started and exposure to the film is performed. A strobe light emitting unit 807 automatically emits light or forcibly emits light when the subject is dark.
[0009]
FIG. 27B is an internal perspective view of FIG. 27A, in which 808 is a camera body, 809 is a correction mechanism (correction optics) that performs shake correction by driving the correction lens 810 freely in the X and Y directions in the figure. 811p and 811y are shake detection sensors for detecting the shake 812p in the pitch direction and the shake 812y in the yaw direction, respectively. Reference numeral 813 denotes the lens barrier described above, which opens and closes in conjunction with the knob 814 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 27A, the knob 814 is adjacent to the main switch 803. When the main switch 803 is operated, the knob 814 is also pressed and the lens barrier 813 is opened. The lens barrier 813 mechanically locks the correction mechanism 809 when the lens barrier 813 is in a closed state, and prevents the correction mechanism 809 from being violently damaged when shooting is not carried out.
[0010]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the image stabilization system provided in the above-described conventional camera is a system that suppresses the shake applied to the camera, but the shake applied to the camera operates the camera in addition to the above-described camera shake of 1 Hz to 10 Hz. There are also unusual shakes (such as a release operation and a zoom operation), and such shakes have not been dealt with. For this reason, it is necessary to take measures against not only camera shake but also other disturbance shakes.
[0011]
(Object of the invention) the purpose Is Even if a large shake is added, the shake is corrected and the image is deteriorated. It is an object of the present invention to provide a camera that can prevent the above.
[0017]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
the above the purpose To achieve The present invention In the camera having the image stabilizer for correcting shake, the first operation means for starting the shooting preparation operation, and the second operation means for starting the shooting operation, the first operation means And an anti-vibration control means for controlling the anti-vibration device according to an operation time difference between the second operation means and The anti-vibration control means changes the operation mode of the shake correction by the anti-vibration device when the operation time difference between the first operation means and the second operation means is within a predetermined time. Then, shake correction is performed using a predicted target value of shake correction stored in advance, and the predicted target value of shake correction is applied to the camera according to the operating state of the first operating means and the second operating means. Pre-determined based on the runout caused A camera.
[0028]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on illustrated embodiments.
[0029]
FIG. 1 is a structural diagram of a vibrating body of a vibration gyro which is a shake detection sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0030]
In the figure, 11 is a metallic vibrator, 12 is a permanent magnet provided near the tip of the vibrator 11, 13, 14 are piezoelectric elements provided near the fixed end of the vibrator 11, and 15 and 16 are piezoelectric. Lead wires for extracting charges generated on the surface electrodes of the elements 13 and 14, 17 is a lead wire for grounding the vibrator 11, and 18 is a base provided on a ground plate (not shown) to which the vibrator 11 is fixed, Reference numeral 19 denotes a pressing member for sandwiching the vibrator 11 by the pedestal 18, reference numeral 20 denotes a coil for causing the permanent magnet 12 to generate a driving force by Lorentz force, and reference numeral 21 denotes the vibrator 11 and the permanent magnet 12 excited by the coil 20. This is a photoreflector for optically detecting the vibration displacement. The normal position of the coil 20 is indicated by a two-dot chain line in the figure.
[0031]
The excitation piece 11a and the detection piece 11b of the vibrator 11 are connected to each other by a flange 11c so as to be orthogonal to each other, and are integrally formed. The processing method is preferably performed all at once with a forging press, but may be metal injection or machining.
[0032]
Next, a method for assembling the vibrator 11 to the base 18 will be described.
[0033]
In the piezoelectric element 13, an attachment portion 13 a of the lead wire 15 is formed extending to the fixing portion 11 d side of the vibrator 11. Similarly, with respect to the piezoelectric element 14, an attachment portion 14 a (not shown) of the lead wire 16 is formed to extend toward the fixed portion 11 d of the vibrator 11. In order to escape the mounting portions 13a and 14a and the lead wires 15 and 16, a groove 18a is formed in the base 18, and a groove 19a is formed in the holding member 19.
[0034]
On both sides of the groove 18a of the pedestal 18, a pressure surface 18b that contacts the fixing portion 11d of the vibrator 11 is formed, and the pressure member 18 that has the same shape as the pressure surface 18b on the side facing the vibrator 11 is also formed on the holding member 19. (Shown) is formed.
[0035]
In the state of FIG. 1, by fastening the three screws from the holding member 19 side to the screw holes 18c formed in the pedestal 18 through the holes 19b and 11e, the fixing portion 11d of the vibrator 11 is clamped and the lead The lines 15 and 16 are drawn out to the back side of the pedestal 18 through the holes 18d and are integrally formed.
[0036]
As described above, by attaching the mounting portions 13a and 14a of the piezoelectric elements 13 and 14 and the lead wires 15 and 16 into the fixed end, the tension of the lead wires 15 and 16 gives vibration to the vibrator 11. Adverse effects can be prevented.
[0037]
Next, the operation principle of the shake detection sensor having the above configuration will be described.
[0038]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration for performing excitation control and detection signal processing of the vibrating body in FIG. 1, that is, a circuit configuration of a vibration gyro, and the same parts as those in FIG.
[0039]
In FIG. 2, the vibration displacement signal in the y direction (excitation direction) in FIG. 1 of the excitation piece 11a of the vibrator 11 detected by the photoreflector 21 is input to the amplification circuit 22 where it is amplified and the next band. By passing through the pass filter 23, a signal in the vicinity of the resonance frequency of the excitation piece 11a is taken out and adjusted by the phase shift circuit 24 so as to be the phase of the input signal of the coil 20. After that, the AGC circuit 25 adjusts the amplitude so that the output signal of the phase shift circuit 24 becomes an input signal that generates a Lorentz force that stably excites with a constant amplitude. An input signal is supplied to the coil 20 while assisting the current by 26. The current flowing through the coil 20 is opposite to the z-axis direction in the left and right winding coils as viewed from the front direction of the x-axis in FIG. Therefore, if the magnetization directions of the left and right permanent magnets 12 are opposite to each other with respect to the x-axis direction, both of the permanent magnets 12 are actuated by the Lorentz force in the same direction with respect to the y-axis direction. The amplitude is enlarged.
[0040]
Thus, a positive feedback loop is formed, and the excitation piece 11a performs self-excited oscillation with a constant amplitude in the y-axis direction.
[0041]
In this state, as shown in FIG. 1, when vibration of an angular velocity Ω around the z-axis is applied to the vibrator 11 through the base 18, the mass and the excitation speed are applied to the excitation piece 11 a and particularly the magnet 12 where the mass is concentrated. A Coriolis force proportional to the angular velocity Ω is generated in the x-axis direction (detection direction). This Coriolis force is transmitted to the detection piece 11b through the flange 11c, and the detection piece 11b is distorted in the x-axis direction. At this time, a charge proportional to the bending strain is generated on the surface electrode due to the bending strain applied to the piezoelectric elements 13 and 14 provided in the vicinity of the fixed end of the detection piece 11b. By taking this out as a signal, the angular velocity Ω applied around the Z axis is obtained.
[0042]
Next, a signal processing process for obtaining the angular velocity Ω applied around the Z-axis from the charge (voltage) generated on the surface electrodes of the piezoelectric elements 13 and 14 will be described.
[0043]
The bending strain received by the piezoelectric elements 13 and 14 is that when one is in the compressing direction and the other is in the tensile direction, the voltages generated at the respective surface electrodes are opposite to each other, and as shown in FIG. The output can be doubled by taking the differential by the differential circuit 29 after being amplified by 28. This output signal is an AM wave whose frequency is an excitation frequency and whose amplitude is modulated by Coriolis force (angular velocity). Accordingly, after the noise components in the band other than the signal in the vicinity of the excitation frequency are cut by the band pass filter 30, the output signal (excitation detection signal) of the photo reflector 21 through the amplifier circuit 22 and the band pass filter 23 is output by the phase shift circuit 32. By adjusting the phase shift and using this as a reference signal, synchronous detection is performed by the synchronous detection circuit 31, and smoothing is performed by the smoothing circuit 33, thereby obtaining a demodulated signal of angular velocity Ω around the Z-axis.
[0044]
At this time, by adjusting the amount of phase shift of the phase shift circuit 32 with a variable resistor or the like so that detection is performed at a timing when the null signal due to excitation superimposed on the output signal of the band pass filter 30 becomes maximum or minimum. Since the positive and negative areas of the null signal in the detected section are always equal, this influence does not appear in the output signal of the smoothing circuit 33 even if the amplitude of the null signal varies. That is, a highly accurate and stable angular velocity signal can be extracted. Further, by integrating the output signal of the smoothing circuit 33 by the integrating circuit 34, an angular displacement signal (a deflection angle) can be obtained.
[0045]
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the finder display device of the camera according to the present embodiment. The finder display device is used for realizing the vibration-proof display of the vibration gyro having the configuration shown in FIGS. It is provided as one of the components.
[0046]
In the figure, reference numeral 41 denotes a light source such as an LED, and reference numeral 42 denotes a mask provided with two parallel and elongated transmission parts at substantially the center. Denoted at 43 is a pitch shake detection sensor having substantially the same structure as that shown in FIG. 1 for detecting the shake in the camera pitch direction (meaning the vertical direction when the camera is held at the normal position). Reference numeral 43 denotes a fixing portion 43a for fixing to a ground plate (not shown) with a screw or the like, a reflecting portion 43b having a mirror finish on the vicinity of the tip of the vibrator, and a piezoelectric element attached to the vicinity of the root of the vibrator for detecting Coriolis force. The element 43c (the pitch direction shake signal obtained here is used as one of control signals for shake correction by a correction optical device described later), a magnet 43d attached to both surfaces of the vibrator, and the magnet 43d. And a position detection sensor 43f such as a photo reflector for detecting the vibration position of the vibrator. When passing a predetermined current to the vibrator magnet 43d is stuck to vibrate in the vertical direction of the camera at a predetermined frequency. The mask 42 is arranged so that the longitudinal direction of the transmission part is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the vibrator of the pitch shake detection sensor 43.
[0047]
Reference numeral 44 denotes a yaw shake detection sensor having substantially the same structure as that shown in FIG. 1 for detecting a shake in the yaw direction of the camera (meaning a horizontal direction when the camera is held at a normal position). Reference numeral 44 denotes a fixing portion 44a for fixing to a ground plate (not shown) with a screw or the like, and the vicinity of the tip of the vibrator is bent at a predetermined angle, and the center of the surface is mirror-finished into a straight line having a predetermined width and both ends thereof 44b, a piezoelectric element 44c for detecting the Coriolis force, which is affixed in the vicinity of the base of the vibrator (the shake signal in the yaw direction obtained here is a control for shake correction by a correction optical device described later) Used as one of the signals), a magnet 44d affixed to both surfaces of the vibrator, a coil 44e fixed to a ground plate (not shown) in the vicinity of the magnet 44d, and a photo for detecting the vibration position of the vibrator. Is constituted by a position detection sensor 44f such Furekuta, when passing a predetermined current to the coil 44e, the vibrator magnet 44d is stuck vibrates in the camera in the optical axis direction at a predetermined frequency. It should be noted that the longitudinal direction of the reflecting portion 44b and the longitudinal direction of the transmitting portion of the mask 42 are set to be perpendicular.
[0048]
Reference numeral 45 denotes an imaging lens for forming an image formed by the light source 41 and the mask 42 in the vicinity of the reflection portion 44b of the yaw shake detection sensor 44 via the reflection portion 43b of the pitch shake detection sensor 43, and 46 denotes reflection. This is an imaging lens for forming an optical image of the light source reflected by the unit 44b in the vicinity of the finder imaging plane. Reference numeral 47 is an objective lens, 48 is a variable magnification lens, 49 is a half mirror, 50 is a field frame in the vicinity of the finder imaging plane, 51 is a prism, and 52 is an eyepiece. A real image is obtained from the objective lens 47 to the eyepiece 52. A zoom finder system is configured.
[0049]
When the light from the light source 41 passes through the mask 42, an image of two elongated parallel lines is generated. The light image of the light source passes through the imaging lens 45 and is reflected by the reflection portion 43 b of the pitch shake detection sensor 43 and forms in the vicinity of the reflection portion 44 b of the yaw shake detection sensor 44. Here, the two elongated parallel line images are reflected by being limited to a predetermined length by the mirror-finished width of the reflecting portion 44b, pass through the imaging lens 46 and the half mirror 49, and are connected in the vicinity of the finder imaging surface. Image. This image becomes an image stabilization index 53 described later.
[0050]
The photographer can observe the image stabilization index 53 superimposed on the subject by the half mirror 49.
[0051]
When the pitch shake detection sensor 43 is excited, the position and angle of the reflection portion 43b in the pitch direction change. Therefore, when the light source 41 emits light continuously, a light image (parallel line image) of the light source is reflected by the reflection portion 44b. The imaging position and the imaging position on the finder imaging plane change, and the image stabilization index 53 swings in the pitch direction (vertical direction).
[0052]
Note that the angle of the surface of the standing bent surface of the reflecting portion 44b is set so that the light image of the light source is always formed in the vicinity of the surface of the reflecting portion 44b even when the pitch shake detection sensor 43 is excited.
[0053]
When the yaw shake detection sensor 44 is excited, the position of the reflecting portion 44b in the yaw direction changes (vibrates in the length direction of the parallel line image). Therefore, when the light source 41 emits light continuously, the light image of the light source (parallel) is obtained. The reflection range of the (line image) changes, and the image stabilization index 53 appears to swing in the yaw direction (left-right direction).
[0054]
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the blinking timing of the light source 41 shown in FIG.
[0055]
In the figure, 61 is calculated by converting the output of the position detection sensor 43f that detects the position of the vibrator of the pitch shake detection sensor 43 into a pitch direction shake angle based on the relationship with the display position of the image stabilization index 53. The pitch index position output 62 is obtained by converting the output of the position detection sensor 44f for detecting the position of the vibrator of the yaw shake detection sensor 44 into a shake angle in the yaw direction based on the relationship with the display position of the image stabilization index 53. The calculated yaw index position output, 63 is a pitch direction shake angle output calculated from the output of the pitch shake detection sensor 43, and 64 is a yaw direction shake angle output calculated from the output of the yaw shake detection sensor 44, Reference numeral 65 denotes a light emission timing of the light source 41.
[0056]
FIG. 4 shows 1/30 second when the vibration detection sensor 43 for pitch is excited at a frequency of 300 Hz and the vibration detection sensor 44 for yaw is excited at a frequency of 330 Hz. As shown in FIG. The vibration of the yaw index position output 62 is 11 times with respect to the vibration of 61 times.
[0057]
Here, the intersection between the pitch index position output 61 and the pitch angle deflection angle output 63 is when the pitch index position output 61 has a positive slope (or may be negative, but the light source 41 must be at either slope. If the light source 41 emits light at that moment, the light source 41 emits light only at the pitch direction (shake out). The anti-vibration index 53 is moved and displayed (in the opposite direction), but the yaw direction is not always the same.
[0058]
Therefore, at the moment of each intersection (intersection of the pitch index position output 61 and the pitch direction deflection angle output 63), the light source 21 when the yaw index position output 62 and the yaw direction deflection angle output 64 are within a predetermined value. Is emitted (emission timing indicated by 65), the image stabilization index 53 is moved and displayed in accordance with the shake in both the pitch direction and the yaw direction (in the direction opposite to the shake).
[0059]
As described above, the pitch index position output 61 and the yaw index position output 62 are shifted in frequency at a ratio of “10:11”, and at least once every 10 times in the pitch direction (11 times in the yaw direction). Once, light emission timing occurs (and the position of the image stabilization index 53 by this becomes a position (in the two-dimensional direction) corresponding to the shake in the finder screen). Therefore, since the light source 41 is turned on once every 1/30 seconds, after the above operation is repeated, the afterimage effect (the light blinking in the human eye for 1/30 seconds or more is continuously lit by the afterimage. Therefore, it appears to the photographer that the image stabilization index 53 continuously moves according to the shake (in the direction opposite to the shake).
[0060]
5 is a view of the viewfinder of the camera equipped with the viewfinder display device shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 (a) shows an initial state when the image stabilization system is turned on, and FIG. This shows a state in which the camera shakes in the lower right direction in the figure and the image stabilization index 53 is moved and displayed in the direction opposite to the shake (upper left direction).
[0061]
In the same figure, 71 is a finder visual field range, 72 is a finder image of a subject, and 73 is a finder visual field range before the camera shakes.
[0062]
As shown in FIG. 5 (a), the anti-vibration index 53 is initially displayed at substantially the center of the viewfinder visual field range 71. If the camera shakes in the lower right direction in the figure as shown in FIG. The shake index 53 moves in the upper left direction, which is the opposite direction to the shake, and is displayed at substantially the center of the finder visual field range 73 before the camera shakes, thereby exhibiting an anti-vibration effect.
[0063]
As described above, since the image stabilization index 53 in the finder field is continuously moved and displayed so as to correct the shake, the photographer can intuitively recognize the image stabilization effect and the shake detection sensor. Since it also serves as an anti-vibration display actuator in the finder, it is possible to provide a finder display device having an inexpensive and space-saving anti-vibration display function.
[0064]
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the finder display device shown in FIG.
[0065]
In the figure, 81 is an MPU (microprocessing unit), 82 is a memory, 83 is an EEPROM, 84 is an LED for displaying an index on the finder (corresponding to the light source 41 in FIG. 3), and 85 is an LED 84. A drive circuit 86 is a shake detection sensor that detects a shake in the pitch direction (corresponding to the pitch shake detection sensor 43 in FIG. 3), and 87 is a position detection sensor that detects the position of the vibrator of the shake detection sensor 86 in the pitch direction. (Corresponding to the position detection sensor 43f in FIG. 3), 88 is a shake detection sensor (corresponding to the pitch shake detection sensor 44 in FIG. 3) for detecting a shake in the yaw direction, and 89 is a shake detection sensor 88 in the yaw direction. Position detection sensors (corresponding to the position detection sensor 44f in FIG. 3), 90, 91, 92, 93 for detecting the position of the vibrator are amplification circuits.
[0066]
In FIG. 6, shake detection sensors 86 and 88 and position detection sensors 87 and 89 are connected to an A / D conversion input terminal of MPU 81.
[0067]
Next, the operation sequence of the MPU 81 for recognizing the image stabilization effect on the display on the viewfinder will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0068]
When the main sequence of the camera is started by turning on the main switch of the camera or the like, the MPU 81 reads parameters relating to the display of the image stabilization index 53 on the finder from the EEPROM 83 in a series of operations of the initial processing, and stores the memory. This is stored at a predetermined address 82 (# 101).
[0069]
If IS (anti-vibration) is started by half-pressing the release operation member (YES in # 102), the variables used in the process are initialized, and the MPU 81 detects the shake in the pitch direction. Is read from the A / D conversion input terminal (# 103).
[0070]
Thereafter, the offset and gain are adjusted (# 104). The adjustment of the offset is performed when the shake detection sensor 86 for detecting the shake and the position detection sensor 87 for detecting the position of the shake of the shake detection sensor 86 are not in operation (the shake detection sensor 86 is stopped and the shake detection sensor 86 86, when the output of the position detection sensor 87 is zero), the offset deviation of the shake detection sensor 86 and the position detection sensor 87 through the amplifier circuits 90 and 91 is corrected.
[0071]
In addition, the gain adjustment is performed by comparing the signals of the shake detection sensor 86 and the position detection sensor 87 obtained from the amplification circuits 90 and 91 as they are. Since it deviates from the senses, this is done to correct this. More specifically, even if the signal values of the shake detection sensor 86 and the position detection sensor 87 obtained from the amplifier circuits 90 and 91 are equal, the shake amount on the actual finder is that of the vibrator of the shake detection sensor 86 at that time. Since it is not equal to the position, the gain is adjusted to convert the output of the shake detection sensor 86 into the shake amount on the finder, and the vibration proof index is displayed at the position of the vibrator of the shake detection sensor 86 equal to the amount. It is intended to be done.
[0072]
In actual MPU81 processing,
Gp = AMPp (Gp′−OFFSETp)
To adjust offset and gain. However, Gp after adjustment, Gp ′ is the output of the shake detection sensor 86 before adjustment, and OFFSETp and AMPp are constants for adjusting offset and gain, respectively, and both are stored in the EEPROM 83 in advance. The value of OFFSETp is obtained as a difference between outputs when the shake detection sensor 86 and the position detection sensor 87 are not operating, and is stored in the EEPROM 83. AMPp is a constant for converting the output of the shake detection sensor 86 into a shake amount on the finder so that the vibration proof index is displayed at the position of the vibrator of the shake detection sensor 86 equal to the amount. Is obtained and stored in the EEPROM 83.
[0073]
If the value of Gp is larger than the vibration width of the vibrator of the shake detection sensor 86, the value of Gp is replaced with values at both ends thereof. That is, when the output value range of the position detection sensor 87 for detecting the position of the vibrator is set to PRpmin to PRpmax, and the value of Gp is less than PRpmin,
Gp = PRpmin
And When the value of Gp exceeds PRpmax
Gp = PRpmax
And Needless to say, since the image stabilization index 53 is displayed according to the output relationship shown in FIG. 4, the image stabilization display 53 is displayed on the finder screen when the vibration width of the vibration detection sensor 86 becomes larger. It is for preventing it becoming impossible to do in the inside.
[0074]
The output Gp of the shake detection sensor 86 after the offset and gain adjustment thus obtained is stored in the memory 82 (# 105).
[0075]
Next, the output PRp of the position detection sensor 87 for detecting the position of the vibrator of the shake detection sensor 86 in the pitch direction is read from the A / D conversion input terminal (# 106). Then, it is checked whether or not the inclination of the output signal of the position detection sensor 87 is positive (# 107). This is done by comparing the previous output of the position detection sensor 87 stored in the memory 82 with the output value PRp read this time. If the value stored in the memory 82 is an initialized value, it is determined that the slope of the output of the position detection sensor 87 is not positive, and thus the slope of the output of the position detection sensor 87 is not positive. If this is the case (NO in # 107), the process returns to step # 106 to read the output of the position detection sensor 87 for detecting the position of the vibrator of the shake detection sensor 86 in the pitch direction from the A / D conversion input terminal once again. In # 107, it is checked whether the inclination of the output of the position detection sensor 86 is positive. This process is repeated until the slope of the output of the position detection sensor 87 becomes positive.
[0076]
Thereafter, if the slope of the output of the position detection sensor 87 becomes positive (YES in # 107), the output PRp of the position detection sensor 87 at that time and the shake detection after adjusting the offset and gain stored in the memory 82. The output Gp of the sensor 86 is compared (# 108). As a result, if the difference is less than or equal to the value of the parameter read from the EEPROM 83 to the memory 82 in the series of initial processing operations, the two are substantially equal. The vibration of the pitch shake detection sensor 86 is in a vibration state in which the image stabilization index 53 can be displayed at the position shown in FIG. 4 (corresponding to the positions indicated by the black circles of the outputs 61 and 63 in FIG. 4). And proceed to the next step # 109. On the other hand, if the values cannot be regarded as substantially equal (NO in # 108), the output of the position detection sensor 87 that detects the position of the vibrator of the shake detection sensor 86 in the pitch direction once again is input to the A / D conversion input. In order to read from the terminal, the process returns to step # 106 and the same operation is repeated.
[0077]
In the next step # 109, the MPU 81 reads the output of the shake detection sensor 88 that detects the shake in the yaw direction from the A / D conversion input terminal. Thereafter, the offset and gain are adjusted in the same manner as the output of the shake detection sensor 86 that detects the shake in the pitch direction (# 110). In actual MPU processing,
Gy = AMPy (Gy′−OFFSETy)
To adjust offset and gain. However, Gy is the adjusted value, Gy ′ is the output of the shake detection sensor 86 before the adjustment, and OFFSETy and AMPy are constants for adjusting the offset and gain, respectively, and both are stored in the EEPROM 83 in advance. The value of OFFSETy is obtained as a difference in output when the shake detection sensor 88 and the position detection sensor 89 are not operating, and is stored in the EEPROM 83. AMPy is a constant for converting the output of the shake detection sensor 88 into a shake amount on the finder so that the index is displayed at the position of the vibrator of the shake detection sensor 88 equal to the amount. It is obtained and stored in the EEPROM 83.
[0078]
If the value of Gy is larger than the vibration width of the vibrator of the shake detection sensor 88, the value of Gy is replaced with values at both ends thereof. That is, when the output value range of the position detection sensor 89 for detecting the position of the vibrator is PRymin to PRymax, and the value of Gy is less than PRymin,
Gy = PRymin
And When Gy exceeds PRymax
Gy = PRymax
And
[0079]
The output Gy of the shake detection sensor 88 after the offset and gain adjustment thus obtained are stored in the memory 82 (# 110).
[0080]
Next, the MPU 81 reads the output PRy of the position detection sensor 89 that detects the position of the vibrator of the shake detection sensor 88 in the yaw direction from the A / D conversion input terminal (# 111). Then, the output PRy of the position detection sensor 89 at that time is compared with the output Gy of the shake detection sensor 88 after adjusting the offset and gain stored in the memory 82 (# 112). As a result, if the difference is less than or equal to the value of the parameter read from the EEPROM 83 to the memory 82 in the series of initial processing operations, the two are substantially equal. If the vibration of the yaw shake detection sensor 88 is in a vibration state in which the image stabilization index 53 can be displayed at the position shown in FIG. On the other hand, if the two values cannot be regarded as substantially equal, the operation starts again from the operation of reading the output of the position detection sensor 87 for detecting the position of the transducer of the shake detection sensor 86 in the pitch direction from the A / D conversion input terminal. Return to step # 106.
[0081]
In step # 113 for displaying the image stabilization index 53, the MPU 81 outputs a display-on signal to the drive circuit 85 (this timing corresponds to the 65 light emission timing shown in FIG. 4). While the display on signal is output, the drive circuit 85 turns on the LED 84. While the LED 84 is on, the image stabilization index 53 as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the finder.
[0082]
As described above, the output of the position detection sensor 87 for detecting the position of the vibrator in the pitch direction and the output of the sensor 86 for detecting shake are substantially equal, and the inclination of the output signal of the position detection sensor 87 is positive (or negative). When the output of the position detection sensor 89 for detecting the position of the vibrator in the yaw direction and the output of the sensor 88 for detecting shake are substantially equal, by displaying the image stabilization index 53, the index displayed on the finder always passes through the finder. Since it follows the object to be observed, the anti-vibration effect can be confirmed.
[0083]
8 to 10 are perspective views showing the configuration of the correction optical device provided in the camera according to the present embodiment.
[0084]
In FIG. 8, reference numeral 201 denotes a lens holder that holds a correction lens 202 in the center, and deflects incident light by displacing the correction lens 202 in a plane orthogonal to the optical axis via the lens holder 201. It is possible to make it. Accordingly, the camera shake can be corrected by detecting the camera shake and displacing the correction lens 202 so that the light beam is deflected in the direction opposite to the camera shake. Reference numeral 203 denotes a ground plate disposed in the lens barrel of the camera, which serves as a basis for supporting the lens shift mechanism. A yaw holder 204 has a projection (not shown) that fits into the elongated hole 203a of the main plate 203, and is configured to be displaceable only in the yaw direction.
[0085]
Reference numeral 205 denotes a guide bar that is inserted into a guide hole 201a formed in the lens holder 201. Both ends of the guide bar are supported by the bearing portion 204a of the yaw holder 204 so that the axial direction thereof is the pitch direction. With such a configuration, the lens holder 201 can be displaced only in the pitch direction on the yaw holder 204, and the yaw holder 204 can be displaced only in the yaw direction with respect to the base plate 203. The correction lens 202 can be displaced in both the pitch and yaw directions.
[0086]
Reference numeral 206 denotes a yaw motor composed of a step motor, which is arranged so that the direction of the rotation axis 206a is perpendicular to the optical axis. Further, a feed screw 207 having a male screw cut on the outer periphery is fixed to the rotating shaft 206a. FIG. 9A shows the details of the fixing portion. As shown in the drawing, the rotary shaft 206a is inserted into the feed screw 207 and fixed thereto. In addition, as shown in FIG. 9B, a structure in which a screw is directly cut on the rotating shaft (as in 206b) may be employed.
[0087]
Reference numeral 208 denotes a nut in which a female screw that engages with the feed screw 207 is cut, and has a U-shaped portion 208a into which a later-described steadying member is inserted. The tip of the feed screw 207 is fitted to the bearing portion 203b of the base plate 203, and the yaw motor 206 is fixed to the base plate 203 by bonding or the like so that the shaft thereof is in the yaw direction. The yaw holder 204 includes nut receiving portions 204b and 204c for inserting the nut 208 therebetween, and a steady stop portion 204d for preventing the nut 208 from rotating.
[0088]
Here, the relationship among the feed screw 207, the nut 208, and the yaw holder 204 will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0089]
The nut 208 is screwed into the feed screw 207 and at the same time is inserted between the nut receiving portions 204b and 204c of the yaw holder 204. The U-shaped portion 208a has a steady rest portion 204d, and the nut 208 rotates. It is supposed not to. When the yaw motor 206 rotates, the feed screw 207 fixed to the motor shaft 206a rotates. When the feed screw 207 rotates, the nut 208 also tries to rotate. However, the nut 208 does not rotate because its U-shaped portion 208a is stopped by the steadying portion 204d, and the nut 208 is rotated per rotation of the yaw motor 206. It moves in the axial direction of the screw by one pitch.
[0090]
When the nut 208 moves in the axial direction of the screw, the yaw holder 204 comes into contact with the yaw holder 204 and moves together. A yaw spring 209 is disposed between the spring receiving portion 204e of the yaw holder 204 and the spring receiving portion 203c of the base plate 203, and urges the yaw holder 204 in the yaw direction (leftward in FIG. 8). Since the yaw holder 204 is urged to the left in this manner, the nut 208 and the yaw holder 204 are integrated with each other so that the right side surface of the nut 208 and the left side surface of the nut receiving portion 204c of the yaw holder 204 are always in contact with each other. Displace at. Note that the pitch of each of the feed screw 207 and the nut 208 is finely cut, and the feed screw 207 is not rotated by the axial biasing force of the feed screw 207 from the nut 208. That is, the nut 208 moves when the yaw motor 206 rotates, but when the energization to the yaw motor 206 is stopped and the motor 206 is stopped, the nut 208 remains stopped at that position.
[0091]
Reference numeral 210 denotes a pitch motor composed of a step motor, which is fixed on the yaw holder 204 so that the direction of the rotating shaft 210a is a direction perpendicular to the optical axis and the pitch direction. Similarly to the yaw motor 206, a feed screw 211 having a male screw cut on the outer periphery is fixed to the rotating shaft 210a. The feed screw 211 is screwed with a nut 212 and is fitted to a bearing portion 204f of the yaw holder 204. The tip is mated. The nut 212 is inserted between the nut receiving portions 201b and 201c of the lens holder 201, and the rotation preventing portion 201d is inserted into the U-shaped portion 212a to restrict the rotation. The lens holder 201 is biased upward on the yaw holder 204 by a pitch spring 213 disposed between the bearing portion 204a of the yaw holder 204 and the holder itself. Similarly to the yaw direction, when the pitch motor 210 rotates, the feed screw 211 fixed to the shaft rotates, and the nut 212 cannot be rotated by the steadying portion 201d of the lens holder 201. Therefore, the screw per rotation of the feed screw 211 is rotated. The lens holder 201 is moved in the axial direction by one pitch and the lens holder 201 is moved in contact with the receiving portion 201c of the lens holder 201. Since the lens holder 201 is biased upward by the pitch spring 213, the lens holder 201 is displaced in a state where the lower surface of the nut 212 and the upper surface of the receiving portion 201c of the lens holder 201 are always in contact with each other.
[0092]
With the above configuration, the lens holder 201 is displaced in the pitch direction on the yaw holder 204 in response to the rotation of the pitch motor 210.
[0093]
The yaw spring 209 and the pitch spring 213 are arranged so as to push the vicinity of an axis that serves as a guide when the yaw holder 204 and the lens holder 201 are displaced, respectively. That is, the pitch spring 213 pushes the lens holder 201 on the axis of the guide bar 205, and the yaw spring 209 pushes the vicinity of the longitudinal axis of the long hole 203a, so that the rotational moment with respect to the lens holder 201 due to the pressing force of the spring acts. This prevents the displacement from occurring smoothly. Further, the pitch spring 213 biases the lens holder 201 in the direction opposite to the direction of gravity (upward in FIG. 8), and is arranged so that gravity and spring force are not applied in the same direction.
[0094]
Reference numeral 214 denotes a yaw displacement sensor, which uses a well-known photo reflector. The yaw holder 204 has a reflective portion 204g for the sensor, which is painted white to enhance the reflectance. The yaw displacement sensor 214 is fixed to a cover member (not shown), and when the yaw holder 204 is displaced in the yaw direction, the amount of light of the photoreflector reflected by the reflecting portion changes so that the displacement can be detected. Reference numeral 215 denotes a pitch displacement sensor, which uses a photo reflector as in the yaw direction and is fixed to the cover member. The lens holder 201 is also provided with a reflecting portion 201e, which is painted white to increase the reflectance, like the mounting portion 204g.
[0095]
When the lens holder 201 is displaced in the pitch direction, the amount of light of the photoreflector reflected by the reflecting portion 201e changes so that the displacement can be detected. The reflecting portion 201e of the lens holder 201 is formed long in parallel to the yaw direction, and the amount of light reflected by the photo reflector does not change even when the lens holder 201 is displaced in the yaw direction as the yaw holder 204 is displaced. Instead, it is configured to change only with displacement in the pitch direction.
[0096]
With the above configuration, the displacement of the lens holder 201 that is displaced in both the pitch and yaw directions can be detected independently in the pitch direction and the yaw direction.
[0097]
In the above configuration, the pitch motor 210 is fixed on the yaw holder 204 to displace the lens holder 201 (correction lens 202) in the pitch direction, and the yaw motor 206 is fixed on the base plate 203 to fix the correction lens 202 to the yaw holder 204. The pitch motor 210 and the pitch motor 210 are integrally displaced in the yaw direction. In this way, the direction in which the motor and the correction lens 202 are integrally displaced is “yaw direction = horizontal direction”, and the direction in which only the correction lens 202 is displaced is “pitch direction = vertical direction”. By displacing only the correction lens 202, a large load is not applied.
[0098]
Further, as described above, when the correction lens 202 is displaced in the yaw direction, since the correction lens 202 and the pitch motor 210 are driven integrally, there is no relative displacement between them. The structure is simple and the movement is smooth as compared with the one fixed on the main plate 203. That is, in the case where the pitch motor 210 has a structure fixed on the ground plate 203, a relative displacement is generated between them, so that a sliding member for sliding the lens holder is used. Therefore, when driving in the yaw direction, friction is generated between the sliding member and the lens holder, the driving load is increased due to the frictional resistance, and the structure must be complicated. In addition, there was a problem of response delay due to backlash. By adopting the structure as described above, it is possible to eliminate the above points.
[0099]
Further, since these motors are arranged so that the directions of the rotation shafts 210a and 206a of the pitch motor 210 and the yaw motor 206, that is, the longitudinal direction of each motor is perpendicular to the optical axis, the correction optical device is flattened. Can be structured. That is, the correction optical device is not elongated in the optical axis direction and is not increased in size. In addition, when the correction optical device is incorporated in the camera, the motor can be disposed in a space around the lens necessary for the escape position of the shutter blades. The space efficiency and the like when it is incorporated into the product will be good.
[0100]
Further, since the moving direction of the correction lens 202 (lens holder) coincides with the rotation axis direction of each motor, the correction lens 202 can be displaced by a feed screw as shown in FIG. Compared with the case where the correction lens is displaced by transmitting to the cam, the displacement of one pitch of the screw per motor rotation is made (in the case of a cam, the entire stroke of the correction lens needs to be within one rotation of the motor. The lens movement amount per corner is large, a large force is required, and the accuracy is poor.) A sufficient force can be output without a reduction gear, and highly accurate control is possible. Specifically, if the pitch of the screw is 0.2 mm, the number of rotations of the motor is 5 for a stroke of 1 mm.
[0101]
Next, the operation of the correction optical device will be briefly described.
[0102]
First, when the camera is turned on, the yaw displacement sensor 214 and the pitch displacement sensor 215 detect the position of the lens holder 201 based on the light amounts from the yaw holder 204 and the reflecting portions 204g and 201e of the lens holder 201, and the yaw motor 206 and pitch. The motor 210 is driven to move the correction lens 202 to a position where the center of the correction lens 202 coincides with the center (optical axis) of the photographing optical system. When energization of the motor is stopped, the correction lens 202 remains at that position. When camera shake correction is not performed, shooting is performed with the correction lens 202 in the center position. When camera shake correction is performed during shooting, the yaw motor 206 and the pitch motor 210 are driven based on the signals from the shake detection sensors 86 and 88 shown in FIG. 3, and the yaw holder 204 and the lens holder 201 (correction lens) are driven. 202) is displaced in a direction to cancel camera shake.
[0103]
FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an electrical schematic configuration of a camera having a vibration-proof system having a correction optical device and a shake detection sensor having the above-described configuration, and a finder display device. This camera is assumed to be a compact camera that can retract the taking lens.
[0104]
In FIG. 3, reference numeral 301 denotes a camera microcomputer, and 302 denotes a main switch of the camera. Reference numeral 303 denotes a release operation member. When the shutter release member is half-pressed, a shooting preparation operation is started, that is, an s1 signal for starting photometry and distance measurement is generated. When the shutter release member is fully pressed, s2 is set. A signal is generated. Reference numeral 304 denotes a photometry circuit that calculates photometry information, 305 denotes a distance measurement circuit that calculates distance measurement information, 306 denotes a lens focusing drive circuit for adjusting the focus of the photographing lens, 307 denotes a shutter circuit that opens and closes the shutter, and 308. Is a strobe device, 309 is a zoom drive circuit for adjusting the focal length of the taking lens, 310 is a film feeding circuit for winding and rewinding the film, 311 is a correction optical device shown in FIG. 8, and 312 is FIG. The vibration detection sensor shown in FIG. 2 serves as an actuator for image stabilization display, and performs motion detection for use in image stabilization display and for image stabilization correction. Reference numeral 313 denotes a display device that includes a portion for performing image stabilization display (display of image stabilization index) in the viewfinder shown in FIG.
[0105]
The above camera microcomputer 301 In The signal from the main switch 302, the s1 and s2 signals from the release operation member 303, the photometry information from the photometry circuit 304, and the distance measurement information from the distance measurement circuit 305 are input, respectively. Further, the operation of the lens focusing drive circuit 306, shutter circuit 307, strobe device 308, zoom drive circuit 309, film feeding circuit 310, correction optical device 311, shake detection sensor 312, and display device 313 is controlled.
[0106]
Necessary information is also input to the camera microcomputer 301 from each of the above circuits and devices. For example, the lens focusing drive circuit 306 receives position information of the photographing lens and rotation information of the focusing lens drive motor. However, shutter opening amount information is provided from the shutter circuit 307, shooting lens feed amount information is provided from the zoom drive circuit 309, and film feeding state information and feeding motor load information are provided from the film feeding circuit 310. The correction optical device 311 receives position (displacement) information of the correction lens, and the shake detection sensor 312 receives shake information applied to the camera.
[0107]
Further, the camera microcomputer 301 displays the above-described states of the plurality of circuits and devices and further the image stabilization state on the display device 313, and if necessary, the flash device 308 emits light to compensate for the amount of light at the time of photographing.
[0108]
FIGS. 12 and 13 are flowcharts for explaining the camera sequence in the camera microcomputer 301. This flow starts when the main switch 302 is turned on, and at the same time, the camera microcomputer 301 counts up to the time t1. A timer (hereinafter referred to as timer t1 for convenience of description. The same usage is applied to other timers) is started. The timer t1 is for automatically turning off the main switch 302 when the camera is left with the main switch 302 on.
[0109]
When the main switch 302 is turned on as described above, the camera microcomputer 301 causes the zoom driving circuit 309 to draw out the photographing lens retracted in the camera body in step # 401. At the same time, the lens barrier protecting the photographing lens is also opened. In the next step # 402, the display device 313 is turned on display (usually displayed on the surface of the camera body or in the camera finder) indicating the state of each function of the camera and shooting information. In the subsequent step # 403, power is supplied to the shake detection sensor 312 provided in the camera in order to detect camera shake, and shake detection is started.
[0110]
Next, in step # 404, a zoom tele (increasing the focal length) operation (not shown in FIG. 11, but the state of the zoom switch for performing the zoom operation is also input to the camera microcomputer 301) is performed. If the zoom tele operation has been performed, the process proceeds to step # 405, where the photographing lens is driven in the tele direction via the zoom drive circuit 309. At this time, the timer t1 is reset. The timer t1 is reset not only when the zoom operation is performed but also every time an operation switch provided in the camera is operated. That is, the timer t1 that automatically turns off the main switch 302 for each operation is reset, and as long as some operation continues, the camera main switch 302 Is not turned off.
[0111]
If the zoom tele operation is not performed in step # 404, the process proceeds to step # 406, where it is determined whether or not a zoom wide operation (shortening the focal length) is performed. If the operation has been performed, the process proceeds to step # 407, where the photographing lens is driven in the wide direction via the zoom drive circuit 309. At this time, the timer t1 is reset in the same manner as described above. Of course, when the lens is already at the wide end or the tele end, the photographing lens is of course protected from being driven even if it is driven in that direction.
[0112]
In the next step # 408, it is determined whether or not the s1 signal is generated by half-pressing the release operation member 303. When the s1 signal is not generated, the process proceeds to step # 409, and the value of the timer t1 is t0 or more. Whether the main switch 302 is turned off or not. As a result, when it is determined that the photographer has stopped using the camera, that is, when the main switch 302 is turned off or when it is determined that the camera is in a normal state because it has not been operated for t0, for example, for 4 minutes, the process proceeds to step # 427.
[0113]
In step # 427, power supply to the shake detection sensor 312 is stopped. Then, in step # 428, the photographic lens is driven to retract in the opposite manner to the case of step # 401 and housed in the camera body, and at the same time, the lens barrier is closed. In the next step # 429, the display on the display device 313 is turned off, and the series of operations is terminated.
[0114]
In step # 409, when the timer t1 has not reached t0 or when the main switch 302 is on, the process returns to step # 404, and the operations from step # 405 to step # 409 are repeated.
[0115]
In the flowchart of FIG. 12, the operation members are in a zoom operation switch (not shown), a main switch 302, and a release operation member. 303 However, it goes without saying that the state of other operation members, for example, operation switches for switching the mode of the strobe and the display at that time also interrupt the actual flow.
[0116]
If it is determined in step # 408 that the s1 signal is generated by half-pressing the release operation member 303, the process proceeds to step # 410. In step # 410, a timer t2 (which counts independently of the timer t1) that starts until the time t2 is reached is started. In the next step # 411, photometry of the subject is performed by the photometry circuit 304. When the photometry operation is completed, the process proceeds to step # 412. Here, the distance measurement (ranging) to the subject is performed by the distance measurement circuit 305. When the distance operation ends, the process proceeds to step # 413. In step # 413, the photographing lens is driven through the lens focusing drive circuit 306. When this focusing drive is completed, the process proceeds to step # 414.
[0117]
In step # 414, the correction lens of the correction optical device 311 is aligned with the optical axis of the photographing lens. Normally, the optical axis of the correction lens coincides with the optical axis of the photographic lens, but in this step, if the optical axis of the correction lens and the optical axis of the photographic lens are misaligned, they are matched to obtain a good image. To be able to. Specifically, the position of the correction lens is detected by a position detection sensor, and when the position is not at a predetermined position (initial position), the correction lens is driven to a predetermined position. Then, when the output of the position detection sensor is a predetermined value or when it becomes a predetermined value, the process proceeds to step # 415, where the display device 313 turns on the image stabilization display, that is, the image stabilization index 53 is displayed. Display the shaking status to the photographer. Then, the process proceeds to step # 416 in FIG.
[0118]
In step # 416 of FIG. 13, the process waits until the s2 signal is generated by fully pressing the release operation member 303. When the release operation member 303 is fully pressed to perform an exposure operation and the s2 signal is generated, the process proceeds to step # 417, and the timer t2 is stopped. In the next step # 418, the timer t2 is compared with a predetermined time T (for example, 200 msec). If “t2> T”, the process proceeds to step # 420. In step # 420, the correction optical apparatus 311 starts shake correction.
[0119]
If it is determined in step # 418 that “t2 <T” or “t2 = T” (the release operation member 303 has been fully pressed, the generation interval between the s1 signal and the s2 signal is determined from the time T. If it is less), the process proceeds to step # 419, where the image stabilization display is changed, for example, by blinking the image stabilization index 53 described above, and this is set as a camera shake warning display. In such a case, that is, when “t2 <T” or “t2 = T”, the correction optical device 311 does not perform shake correction. The reason why the shake correction is not performed when the release operation member 303 is fully pressed in this way will be described below.
[0120]
From the momentum when the release operation member 303 is fully pressed at once, the camera shakes greatly in the pressing direction. The frequency component of the shake is lower than the frequency component of the hand shake (for example, 500 mHz), so that the shake detection sensor 312 may not be able to detect the shake accurately.
[0121]
This is because when the vibration detected by the shake detection sensor 312 is an angular velocity, the output is integrated by calculation to drive the correction lens with the output as a target value, or input from the mechanical characteristics of the correction lens. In the case of an anti-vibration system that compensates for camera shake due to the mechanical angular integration of the measured angular velocity, the movement of the correction lens becomes an angle of camera shake. This is because it is not well integrated. (The phase is shifted from the actual camera shake. For details, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-275917).
[0122]
In such a state where the shake correction accuracy is poor (when shake correction is performed with the actual camera shake being out of phase), when shake correction is performed, image deterioration may occur even before shake correction. For this reason, whether or not the shakes having different characteristics described above have occurred due to the violent operation of the release operation member 303 is detected at the operation interval between the half-press and the full-press of the release operation member 303, that is, the time interval between the s1 signal and the s2 signal. Therefore, shake correction is not performed.
[0123]
After the operation of step # 419 or # 420 is completed, the process proceeds to step # 421, where the opening / closing of a shutter (not shown) is controlled via the shutter circuit 307 to perform exposure on the film. Although details are omitted in the flow of FIG. 13, in step # 421, the shutter is actually opened after the shutter has been opened for an amount and time determined from the photometric information obtained by the photometric circuit 304. Closed and the exposure to the film is complete. Further, for example, an operation member for turning off the image stabilization system (configured by the correction optical device 311 and the image blur detection sensor 312) while the film is being exposed (an operation member for the photographer to turn off the image stabilization system). Does not stop even if there is a camera). This is to prevent the image deterioration due to the behavior of the correction lens when the shake correction is stopped during the exposure, and is a measure against the image stabilization system being turned off accidentally during the exposure.
[0124]
In the next step # 422, it is determined whether or not the shake correction is performed. If the shake correction is not performed (if the process comes to this step without going through step # 420), the process immediately proceeds to step # 424. . On the other hand, if shake correction has been performed, the process proceeds to step # 423, the shake correction by the correction optical apparatus 311 is stopped, and then the correction lens is centered (similar to step # 414), and the process proceeds to step # 424.
[0125]
In the next step # 424, the image stabilization display on the display device 313 is turned off. The anti-vibration display is performed according to the actual shake of the anti-vibration index in the finder as described above, and the photographer can check the anti-vibration state while looking through the finder. . In the subsequent step # 425, the photographing frame is wound up via the film feeding circuit 310, and the next unphotographed frame is set so as to come to the photographing position. Then, the process proceeds to step # 426, the timer t1 is reset, and the process returns to step # 404 in FIG. The reason why the timer t1 is reset in step # 426 is to prevent the main switch 302 from being automatically turned off due to the time count value of the timer t1 increasing.
[0126]
In the above flow, the state of the main switch 302 is seen only at step # 409 in FIG. 12, but the main switch 302 is actually seen everywhere. For example, the main switch 302 is displayed during long-time exposure. Even if 302 is turned off, the camera accepts it.
[0127]
Here, the anti-vibration system, in particular, the shake detection sensor 312 may take some time (about 1 second) until the output is stabilized after the power is turned on. If shooting is performed until then, not only the shake correction cannot be performed properly, but the image may be deteriorated (because of an erroneous signal from the shake detection sensor 312). In order to prevent such a situation, the camera sequence prohibits photographing until the shake detection sensor 312 is stabilized.
[0128]
FIG. 14 is a flowchart in the camera microcomputer 301 for only the part relating to the above countermeasure. This flow starts after the main switch 302 is turned on and the shake detection sensor 312 starts operating. That is, the process starts after step # 403 in FIG.
[0129]
First, in step # 501, a timer t3 that starts the time t3 until the shake detection sensor 312 is stabilized is started. In the next step # 502, the output of the shake detection sensor 312 is checked, and if the output is smaller than the predetermined value, the process proceeds immediately to step # 504, but if the output becomes larger than the predetermined value, that is, the shake becomes larger, step # 503. , The timer t3 is reset, and the process returns to step # 502. This is because when the shake becomes large to some extent, the calculation in the shake detection sensor 312 is saturated, and it takes time until the shake detection sensor 312 is stabilized again.
[0130]
In the next step # 504, the process waits until the s1 signal is generated by half-pressing the release operation member 303. When the s1 signal is generated, the process proceeds to step # 505. In step # 505, the time from the start of timer t3 until the release operation member 303 is half-pressed (this time is also referred to as t3 for convenience) is held. In the subsequent step # 506, the time t3 is set to a predetermined time Tx (the necessary vibration-proof accuracy varies depending on the zoom and shutter speed, so this time Tx is variable accordingly. For example, when zoom telephoto and shutter speed are slow. The time Tx is set as long as 1.5 seconds because it is necessary to increase the anti-vibration accuracy), and when “t3> Tx”, the process proceeds to step # 507, where the release operation member 303 is Wait for generation of s2 signal by full pressing. When the s2 signal is generated, the process proceeds to step # 508 to perform an exposure operation. Of course, at this time, the shake detection sensor 312 is sufficiently stable (because t3> Tx), and the correction optical device 311 performs shake correction at the time of exposure.
[0131]
If it is determined in step # 506 that “t3> Tx” is not satisfied, the shake detection sensor 312 is not yet stable, so that exposure cannot be permitted, and the process proceeds to step # 509, where the release operation member is again operated. In 303, the state of whether or not the s1 signal is generated is checked. As a result, if the s1 signal is generated, the process stays at this step. That is, as long as the s1 signal is generated in the release operation member 303 in step # 509, photographing cannot be performed.
[0132]
Thereafter, when it is determined in step # 509 that the s1 signal is not generated in the release operation member 303 (when the photographer's finger is released from the release operation member 303), the process proceeds to step # 510 and the timer t3 is held. Is released. As a result, the timer t3 advances the time measurement from the current time value. Thereafter, the process returns to step # 502. This is because the shake detection sensor 312 is not stable, and even if the release operation member 303 is fully pressed, the exposure operation in step # 507 and subsequent steps does not proceed even if the release operation member 303 is fully pressed. Even if the member 303 is kept pressed, it is impossible to take a picture at any time. Once the finger is released from the release operation member 303, the release operation member 303 is half-pressed (s1 signal is generated) and fully pressed (s2 signal is generated). Is taken (of course, “t3> Tx” at that time), so that shooting is possible.
[0133]
That is, once the release lock is set, the release lock is not released unless the half-press operation of the release operation member 303 is released.
[0134]
The release operation member 303 is generally composed of a known push-type switch. When the release operation member 303 is pressed one step, an s1 signal is generated, and when the release operation member 303 is further pressed (two steps), an s2 signal is generated. If the shake detection sensor 312 is in an unstable state at this time (immediately after the main switch 302 is turned on or when the shake detection sensor 312 returns to the stable state again when a large shake is input), the shake detection sensor 312 is detected. The release lock is performed until the shutter speed is stabilized. However, when the release lock is released while the release operation member 303 is fully pressed, the release time lag becomes longer, and the image is taken at an unintended timing by the photographer. As a result, you can take pictures at unwanted photo opportunities. In addition, when the release lock is performed in this way, the photographer does not notice this and tends to perform an operation of pushing the release operation member 303 strongly, and the shake caused by this operation cannot be suppressed by the image stabilization system. There is a risk of becoming. If the release lock is released at such timing and the image is taken, the image will be greatly deteriorated.
[0135]
Considering the above, in the flow of FIG. 14, when the release is locked, the release operation member 303 is once released, and the release lock is not released unless the camera (the shake detection sensor 312) is stabilized.
[0136]
The camera sequence has been described above under the condition that the image stabilization system is used. However, the image stabilization system may not be used depending on the state of the camera, and the sequence at that time is shown in FIG.
[0137]
The flow of FIG. 15 starts when the main switch 302 is turned on. First, in step # 601, settings are made so that image stabilization display can be performed in step # 415 of FIG. 12 (where image stabilization display is not performed but step # 415 is not performed). If it comes to 415, it is decided here whether or not to display the image stabilization).
[0138]
In the next step # 602, it is determined whether or not strobe charging is being performed in the strobe device 308 (hereinafter, referred to as strobe charging). When the strobe charging is in progress, the process proceeds to step # 606, where the strobe charging is performed. If completed, the process proceeds to step # 603. In step # 603, it is determined whether the camera remote control or the self-timer is operating. If it is operating, the process proceeds to step # 606, and if not, the process proceeds to step # 604.
[0139]
In step # 604, it is determined whether or not it is normal strobe shooting (except when using the strobe device 308 with a long shutter speed as in slow sync shooting). If it is normal strobe shooting, step # 606 is determined. If not, the process proceeds to step # 605. In step # 605, it is determined whether or not it is a super slow shutter (for example, 2 seconds). If it is a super slow shutter, the process proceeds to step # 606, and if not, the process proceeds to step # 607.
[0140]
In step # 606, the setting is made so that the image stabilization display is not performed in step # 415 in FIG. 12 (the setting in step # 601 is canceled).
[0141]
In step # 607, the product A of the shutter speed and the zoom information A (for example, “1.67” when the shutter speed is “1/60” and the zoom focal length is “100 mm”) is A. ₀ (For example, “1”) is smaller than “A <A”. ₀ For example, when it is smaller than “1”, the process proceeds to step # 609. At step # 420 in FIG. 13, the correction optical device 311 is set so as not to perform shake correction driving. On the other hand, when it is “1” or more, step # 608 is performed. Here, in step # 420 in FIG. 13, the correction optical device 311 is set to perform shake correction driving. Thereafter, the process returns to step # 601.
[0142]
The above flow will be described. When the strobe is being charged and the power supply has no margin, the correction optical device 311 is not driven. (In such cases, functions other than anti-vibration functions are not available.)
In addition, shake correction is not performed when using a remote control or a self-timer. This is because when using a remote control or self-timer, the camera is mounted on a tripod and fixed so that it does not shake, so there is no need for shake correction. When the camera is fixed, the impact of the shutter drive when using the camera is transmitted to the shake detection sensor 312 and the shake detection sensor 312 malfunctions. This not only lowers the shake correction accuracy but also does not correct the shake. This is because the image may be deteriorated from time.
[0143]
The reason for not correcting the shake at the time of normal strobe photography is that the light emission time of the strobe on the subject is extremely short, such as 500 msec.
[0144]
Note that even with flash photography, slow sync (the shutter speed is determined based on the photometric information of the subject, so it becomes a slow shutter when the subject is dark. The background where the flash does not reach is clearly reflected due to the slow shutter, but in general, if a tripod is not used for the slow shutter, camera shake will be affected. Is preventing.
[0145]
The shake correction is not performed even at a very slow shutter speed such as 1 second when the focal length is 150 mm and 4 seconds or more when the focal length is 30 mm. This is because such an ultra-slow shutter includes a very low frequency component and, as described above, shake correction cannot be performed with high accuracy due to the limit of the integration capability of the shake detection sensor 312. Further, the output of the shake detection sensor 312 also includes output fluctuation (drift) at an extremely low frequency, and such output fluctuation also affects image degradation when using an ultra-slow shutter. .
[0146]
As described above, during flash charging, when using a remote control or self-timer, during normal flash shooting, or when using a super slow shutter, shake correction is not performed (to pass through step # 609), and in step # 606. As explained, set to a setting that does not display image stabilization. This is to clearly indicate to the photographer that no shake correction is to be performed, and to encourage him to hold the camera firmly.
[0147]
The reason why the shake correction is not performed when the product of the shutter and the zoom is smaller than the predetermined value is that in such a case, the influence of the image deterioration due to the camera shake is small. However, in such a case, the image stabilization display is performed even though the image stabilization is not performed (because it does not pass through step # 606). This determination is made automatically at step # 607, and shake correction is frequently switched on and off frequently due to changes in camera framing (shutter speed changes due to changes in subject brightness). This is because it is not preferable to turn on or off the image stabilization display. Also, it is not important to inform the photographer that the camera shake correction is not performed as in the above four states where no image stabilization display is performed (image degradation does not occur if the photographer is not notified), and the image stabilization display is turned off at such times. This is because the photographer does not understand the meaning of the action and gives anxiety.
[0148]
When it is determined in step # 607 that shake correction is not necessary, the release lock described with reference to FIG. 14 is not performed unconditionally, and the camera's rapid shooting performance is improved. That is, when the zoom is wide, when the shutter speed is fast, or when shake correction is unnecessary due to the combination thereof, shooting can be performed immediately after the main switch 302 is turned on. do not do.
[0149]
What is important in this flow is a setting in which the shake correction is not performed in Step # 609. If the shake correction is not performed, the shake detection target value is not output to the correction optical device 311, and the shake detection sensor 312 is not output. Is still in operation, and all other functions related to vibration isolation (excluding display) are in an operating state.
[0150]
This is to immediately turn on / off shake correction when the anti-vibration system is required and when it is frequently switched (shutter speed change due to framing change, etc.) as in the determination of step # 607. It is. In more detail, if every element of the vibration isolation system is turned on and off each time, a stand-by time until stabilization is required each time it is started up, resulting in a vibration isolation system with poor mobility. is there. Since the correction optical device 311 has a small operation time constant, it can be turned on immediately. Therefore, when the image stabilization system is not used, the entire system is not turned off, and only the correction optical device 311 is not used (the shake correction target value is corrected optically). Only output to the device 311).
[0151]
As described above, it is not preferable to turn off all of the vibration isolation systems (particularly the vibration detection sensor 312) because it takes time to stabilize the vibration isolation system again at the next use. For this reason, the components other than the correction optical device 311 among the components of the image stabilization system operate as much as possible while the main switch 302 of the camera is on.
[0152]
FIG. 16 shows the relationship between the above camera sequence and the image stabilization system.
[0153]
As described above, in the past, there has been no countermeasure against specific shakes (such as a release operation and a zoom operation) when operating the camera other than the camera shake applied to the camera. However, the release operation member 303 is half-pressed. And the full press operation time difference (the value of the timer t2) to control the operation and non-operation of the shake correction. Specifically, when the operation time difference is within a predetermined time, the shake correction is not performed or the shake correction is interrupted ( Since step # 418 → # 419) in FIG. 13 is employed, the image stabilization system malfunctions when large and low-frequency vibration is applied when the release operation member 303 is pressed at once, causing image degradation. Disappears.
[0154]
In addition, by controlling the display of the image stabilization system based on the operation time difference at this time, that is, when the operation time difference is within a predetermined time, the camera shake warning display is performed, so that the photographer re-shoots accordingly. It is possible to determine whether or not a photo opportunity has been missed without knowing that the shooting has failed.
[0155]
Further, as shown in FIG. 14, even if the release operation member 303 is not half-pressed until the vibration isolation system (vibration detection sensor) is properly operated, the release operation is performed and the release operation member 303 is half-pressed. Since the shutter release is locked until it is released once and then re-operated, the release lock is inadvertently released, which may cause the photographer to take a picture at an unwanted shooting opportunity. Further, it is possible to prevent image deterioration due to a large shake caused by the release lock (due to a strong pressing operation that cannot be fully received).
[0156]
Further, as described with reference to FIG. 15, the correction optical device 311 is deactivated when the shutter speed at the time of photographing is high, but the shake detection sensor 312 remains in operation, so that the image stabilization is achieved. It eliminates the time loss caused by the startup when the system is in use, and improves the mobility of the camera.
[0157]
Further, for example, when the shutter speed is fast and the correction optical device 311 is not operated, the image stabilization display is performed. That is, when the image stabilization is automatically turned on / off at the shutter speed, the image stabilization is performed. Since the display device 313 is not controlled (shake-proof display is performed even if shake correction is not performed) (steps # 607 → # 609 (not passing through # 606) in FIG. 15), an extra display change This eliminates anxiety for the photographer.
[0158]
Furthermore, in the conventional correction optical device, the scale is large, and it is necessary to enlarge the camera itself in order to be mounted on the camera. However, in the compact camera as described above, it is difficult to increase the size and become heavy. Although it was fatal and the structure was complicated, both the parts cost and the assembly cost were high, and it had many drawbacks such as being unpreferable as a consumer product. However, the correction optics having the structure as shown in FIG. By using an apparatus, the above-described drawbacks can be solved.
[0159]
Furthermore, in the past, in the case of an anti-vibration system mounted on a single-lens reflex camera, it can be recognized through the finder that the camera shake is actually corrected because of the TTL method that allows the photographer to aim at the subject through the taking lens. In the camera, the photographic system (shake correction) lens and the finder system lens where the photographer checks the subject are dedicated, so the operation of the image stabilization system could not be known through the finder (of course, the finder system also If you install a dedicated correction optical device, you can know the state of shake correction, but doing so increases the cost and cost of the camera), so you can shoot without checking the operating status of the image stabilization system. As a result, shooting may be performed without sufficient shake correction. Furthermore, despite the fact that the camera was equipped with a new function called an anti-vibration system, it was also unsatisfactory that the user could not be persuaded. With respect to this point as well, the above-mentioned problem can be solved while maintaining the compactness of the camera by providing the camera with a finder optical device capable of image stabilization display as shown in FIG.
[0160]
Furthermore, the addition of an anti-vibration system requires the user to perform an operation for that purpose, and the anti-vibration system also outputs information such as the anti-vibration state to the user. There is a risk that the camera will be cumbersome and difficult to understand, but it will automatically decide whether to use the anti-vibration system and display how much the shake is moving in which direction during shake correction. Since it is configured to be recognized, the above-mentioned drawbacks can be solved.
[0161]
(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of the camera according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The difference from FIG. 11 is that the output signal of the prediction amount generation circuit 314 is input to the camera microcomputer 301. The prediction amount generation circuit 314 will be described below.
[0162]
FIG. 18 is a side view of a camera according to the second embodiment of the present invention, which includes a camera body 701 and a lens barrel 702 housed in the camera body 701 when not in use. Reference numeral 303 denotes the above-mentioned release operation member which is a two-stage tact switch. By half-pressing the camera, the camera is ready for shooting (photometry, distance measurement, lens focusing drive), and by fully pressing it, The film is exposed.
[0163]
In general, the force for pressing the release operation member 303 (the force in the direction of the arrow 703) is slow and weak, but a strong force may be applied in the direction of the arrow 703 depending on the photographer who uses the camera and the shooting situation. . In such a case, a large shake occurs in the direction of the arrow 703 as described above.
[0164]
The occurrence of this shake can be predicted by looking at the timing of the s1 signal generated by half-pressing and the s2 signal generated by full-pressing in the first embodiment described above. I tried not to do it.
[0165]
However, the waveform of a large shake in the direction of the arrow 703 indicates the timing of the s1 signal and the s2 signal (the speed at which the release operation member 303 is pressed). Equivalent to Therefore, it is possible to correct the shake by predicting the occurrence of the shake.
[0166]
FIG. 19 shows a camera shake waveform 711 applied to the camera. When the generation interval of the s1 signal and the s2 signal is narrow, an abrupt change 711a of the camera shake waveform occurs. This waveform is determined by the speed at which the release operation member 303 is pressed, the pressing force, and the weight of the camera.
[0167]
Therefore, if the hand movement waveform is stored in the predicted amount generation circuit 314 and the correction optical device 311 is driven with the predicted waveform at the timing of pressing the release operation member 303, such a shake can also be corrected.
[0168]
FIG. 20 is a drawing that shows the vibration when the release operation member 303 is pushed at once, and the waveform 711a can be approximated to straight lines 712a, 712b, and 712c having several inclinations indicated by dotted lines.
[0169]
Then, an optimal straight line is selected according to the shutter speed, the release time lag, and the focal length of the camera. For example, when the shutter speed is fast (ta in FIG. 20 is fixed, tb is shifted to the left side of the drawing), the straight line 712a is closest to the waveform 711a, and when the shutter speed is long, the straight line 712c is selected. Further, when the release time lag is long (ta and tb in FIG. 20 are shifted to the right side of the drawing), the straight line 712b is closer to the fluctuation waveform 711a at the time of exposure (between ta and tb) than the straight line 712a. Straight line as quantity 712b Select.
[0170]
When the focal length of the lens changes, even if the amount of camera shake applied to the camera is the same (for example, 0.2 degrees as an angle), the amount of image shake on the film image plane will be different (even with the same camera shake amount, Zoom Tele is more effective than Zoom Wide). The runout will increase.) Therefore, the slope of the straight line in FIG. 20 is also changed by the focal length of the lens (the slope of the straight line is tight in Zoom Tele).
[0171]
The output of the prediction amount generation circuit 314 in FIG. 17 is selected and changed in the camera microcomputer 301 according to the state of the camera (focal length, shutter speed, release time lag).
[0172]
If the correction optical device 311 is driven at the time of exposure with the estimated amount at the time of photographing obtained as described above, it is possible to correct a large shake when the release operation member 303 is pressed. Hereinafter, the shooting sequence of the camera in such a system will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0173]
Since the operation until the release operation member 303 is fully pressed (s2 signal generation) is the same as that in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 12, the flow and description thereof are omitted. In addition, regarding the operation after the release operation member 303 is fully pressed, the same step numbers are given to the portions that perform the same operations as in the first embodiment shown in FIG. Is omitted.
[0174]
The flowchart in FIG. 21 is different from the flowchart in FIG. 13 in that step # 431 is provided instead of step # 419 in FIG. 13, and shake correction is started by predictive correction during exposure.
[0175]
That is, when it is determined in step # 418 that “t2> T” is not satisfied, that is, the half-pressing operation (s1 signal generation) and the full-pressing operation (s2 signal generation) of the release operation member 303 are performed all at once. When a large shake with a component different from the normal shake is added to step # 431, the correction optical apparatus 311 is driven with the predicted waveform described above.
[0176]
Thereafter, in step # 421, the shutter is opened and closed to expose the film. However, it should be noted that the predicted waveform is a straight line having a constant gradient as shown in FIG. In order to correct large shake, the correction time becomes longer. Therefore, the driving stroke of the correction lens in the correction optical device 311 needs to be large. If the time from the start of the predictive correction in step # 431 until the exposure to the film is long, the correction is made before the exposure to the film. There is a risk that the lens will use up its stroke, making prediction correction impossible during exposure.
[0177]
Therefore, the time from step # 431 to the shutter opening / closing of step # 421 must be set to be as short as possible.
[0178]
By following such a flow, large shake applied to the camera by the release operation can be predicted and corrected, and when a large shake occurs by the release operation as in the first embodiment, the shake correction is performed. It is possible to improve the image accuracy compared to stopping the image. However, it is impossible to correct a normal shake applied to the camera at the time of exposure (not a large shake applied to the camera by a single press operation of the release operation member 303 but a shake constantly applied to the camera).
[0179]
As described above, the anti-vibration system is controlled by the difference between the half-pressing time and the full-pressing operation time of the release operation member 303. In particular, when the operating time difference is within a predetermined time, the operation mode of shake correction by the anti-vibration system is set. In other words, in this embodiment, when the operation time difference between the half-press and the full-press of the release operation member 303 is within a predetermined time, the shake correction is performed with the predicted target value. Also, the predicted target value is the camera state, for example, the focal length of the camera, the shutter speed of the camera, the release time lag of the camera (the delay time from the exposure operation to the film until the actual exposure starts) ).
[0180]
Accordingly, it is possible to correct a large shake that occurs when the release operation is messy, and to improve the image accuracy.
[0181]
(Third embodiment)
As described in the first embodiment, since the shake detection sensor 312 cannot accurately detect a large shake during the release operation, the image is deteriorated when the shake correction is performed, but the second embodiment described above. As described above, the error output of the shake detection sensor 312 can be predicted in this manner, in the same way as the shake waveform at this time can be predicted.
[0182]
Therefore, if this error output is also predicted and offset with the error of the shake detection sensor 312, it is possible to detect a normal shake superposed on a large shake caused by a single press operation of the release operation member 303 at this time. That is, at the same time as predicting a large shake at the time of pressing the release operation member 303, the error output of the shake detection sensor 312 at this time is also canceled by the prediction, and only the normal shake component is extracted from the shake detection sensor 312. Image accuracy can be further improved by driving the correction optical apparatus 311 to perform shake correction while mixing with the predicted waveform.
[0183]
FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing the operation of the third embodiment of the present invention based on such a concept. What is different from FIG. 21 is that step # 441 is provided instead of step # 431. The prediction value mixing is performed, and the shake correction is started in step # 420. The configuration of the camera is the same as that shown in FIGS.
[0184]
In step # 441, the predicted waveform shown in FIG. 20 and the waveform that cancels the error output that would occur in the shake detection sensor 312 are mixed with the output of the shake detection sensor 312, and the next step is performed based on this signal. In step # 420, the correction optical apparatus 311 is caused to perform shake correction. As a result, it is possible to simultaneously correct a large shake that occurs when the release operation member 303 is pressed once and a normal shake that is superimposed on the shake.
[0185]
As described above, shake correction is performed by adding the predicted target value to the target from the shake detection sensor (changing the shake correction operation mode), so large shake that occurs when the release operation is messy is also corrected. Thus, the image accuracy can be further improved as compared with the second embodiment.
[0186]
(Fourth embodiment)
In the first embodiment, the image stabilization system is always turned on at the time of shooting. However, in the camera according to the fourth embodiment that performs the operations shown in FIGS. Shake correction can be prohibited during shooting. This is to enable photographing (for example, panning) that intentionally causes camera shake. The configuration of the camera is the same as that shown in FIGS.
[0187]
In FIG. 18, reference numeral 704 denotes an image stabilization prohibiting switch for prohibiting shake correction at the time of shooting. The image is captured while the image stabilization prohibiting switch 704 is pressed (turned on), or the image stabilization prohibiting switch 704 is pressed. If the image is taken later, shake correction is not performed at the time of shooting.
[0188]
FIG. 23 and FIG. 24 are flowcharts showing operations based on the above concept. The difference from the first embodiment shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 is that step # 451 in FIG. 23 corresponding to FIG. Step # 452 is added to FIG. 24 corresponding to FIG. Also, step # 441 in FIG. 24 is a part that performs the same operation as step # 441 described in the third embodiment shown in FIG. 22, and the description thereof is omitted.
[0189]
Here, in step # 451 of FIG. 23, the state of the anti-shake prohibition switch 704 is observed. When the anti-shake prohibition switch 704 is pressed (ON state), step # 415 is skipped and FIG. The process proceeds to step # 416. That is, no image stabilization display is performed. When it is determined in step # 418 that “t2> T” is not satisfied (when the release operation member 303 is pressed at once), the process proceeds to step # 452, where the state of the anti-vibration prohibition switch 704 is reconfirmed. When the image stabilization prohibiting switch 704 is on, that is, when image stabilization is prohibited, the process proceeds to step # 421 to perform an exposure operation.
[0190]
on the other hand, Step # 452 When the anti-vibration prohibition switch 704 is off, the process proceeds to step # 441, and the predicted values are mixed as in FIG. 22, and the process proceeds to step # 420 to correct the shake.
[0191]
When it is determined in step # 418 that “t2> T”, the process proceeds to step # 420, and the correction optical device 311 is driven. Step # 453 When the anti-vibration prohibition switch 704 is on, the camera is set not to perform shake correction. That is, when the image stabilization is off, not only the image stabilization is performed, but the image stabilization main sequence such as the image stabilization sensor 312 is operating. This is because the photographer may frequently switch between using and not using the image stabilization system. If the image stabilization system is turned off, it takes time to start the image stabilization system each time. This is to prevent the deterioration of the sex.
[0192]
Thus, even in a camera having a configuration in which the photographer can freely turn on and off the image stabilization system, the mobility of the camera is not impaired.
[0193]
As described above, it is equipped with an anti-vibration prohibition switch (or anti-vibration changeover switch) that selects use or non-use of the anti-vibration system. The shake correction is stopped and the shake detection sensor is operated. When it is selected that the anti-vibration system is not used, the anti-vibration display is not performed, but the shake detection sensor is operated.
[0194]
Thereby, even in a camera system in which the photographer can select on / off of the image stabilization, the mobility of the camera can be improved.
[0195]
(Fifth embodiment)
In the second to fourth embodiments described above, countermeasures against the large shake associated with the quick release operation of the release operation member have been taken by making the correction optical device predictively correct. Such a shake can be dealt with not only in the image stabilization system but also in the camera sequence.
[0196]
The simplest way to prevent the failure photograph from being made against a large shake caused by a single press operation of the release operation member is to lock the release as in the first embodiment. In addition to this, as shown in FIG. 19, the large shake caused by the single press operation of the release operation member is settled as time passes. Therefore, when such a shake occurs, it is also possible to take measures against image deterioration by shifting the release timing (extending the release time lag) until a large shake is settled.
[0197]
FIG. 25 is a flowchart of the main part of a camera sequence based on such a concept, and this will be described below as a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
[0198]
24 is different from the flowchart of FIG. 24 in the fourth embodiment in that step # 461 is provided instead of step # 441 in FIG. 24, and here, the release time lag is extended for a predetermined time. Then, after waiting for a predetermined time, the process proceeds to step # 420. When the image stabilization is on, shake correction is started and exposure is performed (step # 421).
[0199]
The release time lag is not extended when the release operation member is pressed at once and the anti-vibration prohibition switch is on. This is because, when the photographer selects the image stabilization off, there are many cases where the quickness is required. In such a case, it is better not to extend the release time lag.
[0200]
As described above, it is possible to know the state of the shake by looking at the timing of the release operation, and to prevent image deterioration with a simple configuration in which the release time lag of the camera is changed based on the state.
[0201]
(Sixth embodiment)
In the first to fifth embodiments described above, when it is determined that the image stabilization is not necessary (in the second to fourth embodiments, the shake correction is automatically turned off at the shutter speed or the like, in the fourth embodiment, , Who added the will of the photographer) described a configuration that does not perform shake correction during shooting. In these embodiments, an image stabilization system that performs shake correction only during exposure has been described. However, there are cameras (cameras that perform distance measurement and photometry with a TTL optical system) that can benefit from shake correction before exposure. In such cases, before shooting (during distance measurement and photometry) It is preferable that the shake correction is performed (even if the photographer performs the image stabilization off operation).
[0202]
FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing the operation of the part relating to image stabilization in such a camera. This flow starts when the release operation member of the camera is half-pressed (s1 signal generation). It is assumed that the circuit configuration of the camera is the same as that shown in FIG. 11, and that the camera has the anti-vibration prohibition switch 704 similar to that shown in FIG.
[0203]
In step # 571, shake correction is started, and thereafter, although not described in the flow, photometry, distance measurement, lens focusing drive, and the like are performed. At this time, even if the image stabilization off operation is performed by the image stabilization prohibiting switch 704, the image stabilization and the distance measurement accuracy are increased by performing the image stabilization.
[0204]
In step # 572, the process waits until the release operation member 303 is fully pressed. When the release operation member 303 is fully pressed, the process proceeds to step # 573, where the state of the image stabilization prohibiting switch 704 is determined and the image stabilization is off (# 573). The process proceeds to step # 574. When the image stabilization is on (NO in # 573), the process proceeds to step # 575.
[0205]
In step # 574, the shake correction is stopped. This is because, since the photographer wants to turn off the image stabilization, the shake correction is stopped after the release operation member 303 is fully pressed (because shooting starts). In the next step # 575, the film is exposed. In the following step # 576, the state of the image stabilization prohibiting switch 704 is determined again. If the image stabilization is on, the process returns to step # 572. If the anti-vibration prohibition switch 704 is off, the process proceeds to step # 577 to start shake correction again (this step # 577 proceeds when the anti-vibration is off in step # 576. This is because the correction is stopped). Then, the process returns to step # 572.
[0206]
In this way, shake correction is performed until shooting starts even when image stabilization is turned off, so that the accuracy of photometry, distance measurement, etc. can be improved. In some cases, only the shake correction is stopped only at the time of photographing (while the shake detection sensor or the like is kept operating), so that the shake correction start state can be immediately restored.
[0207]
(Correspondence between Invention and Embodiment)
In each of the above embodiments, the release operation member 303 corresponds to the first and second operation means of the present invention. This half-press operation is the operation of the first operation means, and the full-press operation is the second. This corresponds to the operation of the operating means. The shake detection sensor 312 and the correction optical device 311 correspond to the image stabilization device of the present invention, the camera microcomputer 301 corresponds to the image stabilization control unit of the present invention, and the display device 313 corresponds to the display unit of the present invention.
[0208]
The above is the correspondence between each configuration of the embodiment and each configuration of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the embodiment, and the functions shown in the claims or the embodiment It goes without saying that any configuration may be used as long as the function of the can be achieved.
[0209]
(Modification)
Although the present invention is described as being applied to a compact camera, it can also be applied to a single-lens reflex camera, a digital camera, or a video camera.
[0210]
Further, the first operating means and the second operating means are assumed to be a two-stage pressing type release operating member. But this It is not limited and may be an independent operation member.
[0211]
Furthermore, the present invention may be configured by appropriately combining the above embodiments or their techniques.
[0212]
【The invention's effect】
As explained above, according to the present invention, Even if a large shake is added, the shake can be corrected to prevent image deterioration. .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a mechanical configuration of a vibration gyro provided in a compact camera according to each embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a signal processing system of the vibration gyro shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of a finder display device of a compact camera according to each embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a diagram illustrating the lighting timing of an LED for realizing an image stabilization display in the finder display device of FIG. 3; FIG.
5 is a diagram showing an example of display in the finder in the finder display device of FIG. 3. FIG.
6 is a block diagram showing a signal processing system of a finder display device having the image stabilization display function of FIG. 3;
7 is a flowchart showing an operation when performing image stabilization display using the signal processing system of FIG.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an example of a mechanical configuration of a correction optical device provided in the compact camera according to each embodiment of the present invention.
9 is an enlarged side view showing details of a feed screw portion fixed to the output shaft of the motor shown in FIG. 8 and a modified example thereof. FIG.
10 is an enlarged perspective view showing a mechanism portion for moving the lens holder by the motor of FIG. 8. FIG.
FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the compact camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
12 is a flowchart showing a part of a series of operations of the camera of FIG.
13 is a flowchart showing a continuation of the operation of FIG.
14 is a flowchart for explaining in detail a part of performing a release lock until the output of the shake detection sensor is stabilized in the camera of FIG. 11;
FIG. 15 is a flowchart for mainly explaining an operation part when the image stabilization system is not used in the camera of FIG. 11;
16 is a diagram showing the relationship between the camera sequence of FIG. 11 and the image stabilization system.
FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a compact camera according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
18 is a side view of the camera of FIG.
FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a camera shake waveform applied to the camera of FIG. 17;
20 is an enlarged view showing a shake when the release operation member of the camera of FIG. 17 is pressed at a stroke.
FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing the operation of the main part of the compact camera according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing operations of main parts of a compact camera according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing a part of a series of operations of the compact camera according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
24 is a flowchart showing a continuation of the operation of FIG.
FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing an operation of main parts of a compact camera according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing operations of main parts of a compact camera according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 27 is a perspective view showing a compact camera equipped with a conventional vibration isolation system.
[Explanation of symbols]
11 vibrator
12 Magnet
20 coils
21 Photo reflector
41 Light source
42 Mask
43, 44 Vibration detection sensor
45, 46 Imaging lens
53 Anti-vibration index
81 MPU
84 LED
85 Drive circuit
86,88 shake detection sensor
87,89 Position detection sensor
201 Lens holder
202 Correction lens
203 ground plane
206,210 motor
207, 211 Feed screw
208 nut
209, 213 Spring
301 Camera microcomputer
303 Release operation member
311 Correction optical device
312 Shake correction sensor
313 Display device
134 Predictive quantity generation circuit

Claims (5)

In a camera having an image stabilizer for correcting shake, a first operating means for starting a shooting preparation operation, and a second operating means for starting a shooting operation,
An anti-vibration control unit for controlling the anti-vibration device according to an operation time difference between the first operation unit and the second operation unit ;
The anti-vibration control means changes the operation mode of shake correction by the anti-vibration device when the operation time difference between the first operation means and the second operation means is within a predetermined time, Let the shake correction be performed using the predicted target value of shake correction stored,
The predicted camera shake correction target value is obtained in advance based on a shake caused to the camera by an operation state of the first operation means and the second operation means . The anti-vibration device includes a shake detection unit that detects a shake and a correction unit that corrects the shake, and the image stabilization control unit is configured such that when the operation time difference is within a predetermined time, The camera according to claim 1 , wherein shake correction is performed using a predicted target value of shake correction and an output from the shake detection unit . Predicted target value of the shake correction, camera according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is modified by the focal length of the camera. Predicted target value of the shake correction, camera according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is changed by the shutter speed of the camera. Predicted target value of the shake correction, camera according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is modified by the release time lag of the camera.

Images