JP6069969B2 - Shooting lens controller - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a photographic lens control device, and more particularly, to a photographic lens control device capable of changing the moving direction of a photographic lens with respect to the rotation direction of a focus ring.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a lens control device that drives a photographing lens with a motor and drives the photographing lens at a speed corresponding to the operation speed of a focus ring is known (Patent Document 1). In this device, when the focus ring is rotated at a low speed, the photographic lens is driven at a speed corresponding to the rotation speed. When the focus ring is rotated at a high speed, the photographic lens is driven at a double speed with respect to the rotation speed. Is done. As a result, both fine focus adjustment and quick focus adjustment are possible.

JP 2002-156574 A

  However, in the configuration of Patent Document 1, the moving direction of the photographing lens with respect to the rotation direction of the focus ring cannot be changed.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a photographing lens control device capable of changing the moving direction of the photographing lens with respect to the rotation direction of the focus ring.

  The photographic lens control device according to the present invention includes an operation member that is provided to operate a focusing operation of the photographic lens and that can be operated in first and second directions, and a switching device that switches a driving direction of the photographic lens. The switching device moves the photographic lens in the infinity direction when the operation member is operated in the first direction and moves the photographic lens in the proximity direction when operated in the second direction. The special setting is characterized in that when the operation member is operated in the first direction, the photographing lens is moved in the proximity direction, and when the operation member is operated in the second direction, the photographing lens is moved in the infinity direction. .

  The operation member is preferably a focus ring.

  Further, the photographing lens may further include a control unit that performs an operation different from the manual focus according to the operation mode of the operation member. The control means switches to the autofocus mode when a predetermined operation mode is detected, or moves the photographic lens to a specific position, and when the predetermined operation mode is not detected, moves the photographic lens to either the near direction or the infinity direction. It is preferable to move.

  It is preferable that the predetermined operation mode is detected as a speed or a rotation angle of the operation member.

  The predetermined operation mode is to operate the operating member at a predetermined reference speed or higher, and the specific position is preferably at the infinity end. When the focus ring is rotated at high speed in the infinity direction, the photographing lens can be immediately moved to the infinity end based on the user's intention.

  In the autofocus mode, it is preferable that the control device stops the photographing lens at a position where the contrast ratio exceeds the threshold and the peak of the contrast ratio first appears. As a result, the in-focus position can be detected immediately.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a photographing lens in which the moving direction of the photographing lens with respect to the rotation direction of the focus ring can be changed.

It is a block diagram showing the electric constitution of the camera to which the embodiment of the present invention is applied. It is the schematic which looked at the camera shown in FIG. 1 from the front. It is a figure showing the display screen of the camera to which embodiment of this invention is applied. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the camera to which embodiment of this invention is applied. 5 is a flowchart corresponding to the operation of FIG. It is a schematic diagram of an autofocus operation of a camera to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. It is a flowchart of the other operation example of the camera to which this embodiment is applied. It is a flowchart showing the subroutine 1 of FIG. It is a flowchart showing the subroutine 2 of FIG. It is a flowchart showing the subroutine 3 of FIG. It is a flowchart showing the subroutine 4 of FIG.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Referring to FIG. 1, the camera 10 includes a lens unit 20 and a camera body 30. The lens unit 20 and the camera body 30 communicate via a signal line 12 described in detail later.

  A lens CPU 22 that controls the lens unit 20 is connected to a motor driver 24. The photo interrupter 25 is disposed so as to sandwich the focus ring (operation member) 26. The motor driver 24 controls the focus motor 27, the aperture actuator 28, and the shutter actuator 29 according to a signal from the lens CPU 22, and the focus motor 27 performs focusing control of the photographing lens (not shown).

  The camera body 30 is controlled by a camera DSP 32 (control means). The camera body 30 includes an image sensor 34, an image LCD 36, and a memory 38. The camera DSP 32 can process an image signal from the image sensor 34, display a photographed image on the image LCD 36, and save it in the memory 38.

  Referring to FIG. 2, the focus ring 26 is rotatable in both the A direction and the B direction. Here, in the standard setting, when the focus ring 26 is rotated in the A direction, the photographing lens moves in the infinity direction, and when the focus ring 26 is rotated in the B direction, the photographing lens moves in the near direction. The focus ring 26 is provided with, for example, 50 protrusions (not shown). The protrusion is disposed so as to pass through a light detection unit (not shown) of a photo interrupter 25 (see FIG. 1) fixed to the camera 10. The light detection unit of the photo interrupter 25 detects a two-phase pulse waveform. When the focus ring 26 is rotated, the pulse waveform recognized by the light detection unit of the photo interrupter 25 changes. Thereby, the lens CPU 22 can detect the rotation direction of the focus ring 26. At this time, as shown in FIG. 3, when the focus ring 26 is rotated in the A direction, an infinity display 40 indicating the rotation direction of the focus ring 26 is displayed on the image LCD 36 (see FIG. 1). Similarly, when the focus ring 26 is rotated in the B direction, a near display 42 is displayed.

  The movement of the lens unit 20 and the camera body 30 will be described with reference to FIG. The focus control of the photographing lens is executed by communication between the lens unit 20 and the camera body 30 via the signal line 12 (see FIG. 1). The signal line 12 includes a signal line SOUT, a signal line SIN, and a clock line SCLK. The signal line SOUT transmits a signal from the camera DSP 32 to the lens CPU 22, and the signal line SIN transmits a signal from the lens CPU 22 to the camera DSP 32.

  The communication time interval is, for example, 30 ms. At each communication, the lens CPU 22 detects the rotation angle and rotation time of the focus ring 26 and transmits the detection result to the camera DSP 32. The camera DSP 32 calculates the rotation direction and rotation speed of the focus ring 26 from the received detection result. Here, the communication 1 is in an initial state, and the focus ring 26 is stopped at the initial position. Communication 2 is communication 30 ms after communication 1, and the focus ring 26 is rotating.

  When a communication request is made from the camera DSP 32 to the lens CPU 22 in the communication 1, the rotation angle and the rotation time are transmitted from the lens CPU 22 to the camera DSP 32 via the signal line SOUT. Since communication 1 is in the initial state, the rotation angle and the rotation time are zero. The camera DSP 32 calculates the rotation direction and rotation speed of the focus ring 26 from the received rotation angle and rotation time.

  Next, when the focus ring 26 is rotated during communication 1 to communication 2, a change in the pulse waveform is detected in the photo interrupter 25. The number of pulses of the pulse waveform is counted by the lens CPU 22 every time the protrusion passes through the light detection unit. Here, the rotation time is defined as the time from the time when the photo interrupter 25 first detects a pulse to the time when the last pulse is detected.

  In communication 2, when a communication request is made from the camera DSP 32 to the lens CPU 22, the lens CPU 22 calculates a rotation angle. The calculated rotation angle is transmitted from the lens CPU 22 to the camera DSP 32 via the signal line SIN. Here, the rotation angle is defined by “rotation angle = maximum rotation angle × number of rotation pulses ÷ total number of pulses”. When receiving the rotation angle, the camera DSP 32 calculates the rotation speed and the rotation direction. The rotation speed is defined as “rotation speed = rotation angle ÷ rotation time”. That is, the rotational speed in the present embodiment is defined as an angular speed. The rotation direction is defined as an infinite direction when “communication 2 rotation angle−communication 1 rotation angle> 0”, and defined as a near direction when “communication 2 rotation angle−communication 1 rotation angle <0”. Is done. In the lens CPU 22, when a specific phase of the two-phase pulses is detected, it is recognized that the focus ring 26 has rotated in the infinity direction, and when the other phase is detected, It is recognized that the focus ring 26 has rotated in the near direction, and the camera DSP recognizes the rotation direction based on the sign of the rotation angle acquired by communication.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart corresponding to the operation of FIG. When communication is started in step S01, it is determined in step S03 whether or not the manual focus mode is set. When the manual focus mode is not set, that is, when the auto focus mode is set, the process proceeds to step S21 and the process ends. When in the manual focus mode, the process proceeds to step S05.

  In step S05, with respect to the focus ring 26, it is detected whether or not the rotation angle in communication 1 and the rotation angle in communication 2 are equal. If it is determined in step S07 that the focus ring 26 is not rotating based on the detection result, the process proceeds to step S21 and the process is terminated. When the focus ring 26 is rotating, the process proceeds to step S09.

  In step S09, the rotational speed of the focus ring 26 is calculated as described above. In step S11, it is determined whether the speed is equal to or higher than the reference speed. When the speed is smaller than the reference speed, the process proceeds to step S12. In step S12, after the lens is driven in the manual focus mode, the process proceeds to step S21, and the process ends. When it is equal to or higher than the reference speed, the process proceeds to step S13.

  In step S13, the rotation direction of the focus ring 26 is detected as described above. In step S15, when the rotation direction is not infinity, the process proceeds to step S16, and the mode is switched from the manual focus mode to the autofocus mode. In step S18, after the lens is driven in the autofocus mode, the process proceeds to step S21 and the process ends. When the rotation direction is the infinity direction, the process proceeds to step S19, the lens is moved to the infinity end (specific position), and then the process proceeds to step S21, and the process ends.

  As described above, in the focusing control of the photographing lens, it is possible to cause the photographing lens to execute an operation different from the manual focus according to the operation mode of the focus ring 26. That is, when it is in the manual focus mode and the focus ring is rotated in the near direction at a reference speed or higher (predetermined operation mode), the mode is switched to the auto focus mode. Alternatively, in the manual focus mode and when the focus ring is rotated in the infinity direction at a reference speed or higher, the photographing lens is moved to the infinity end. When the focus ring 26 is operated at a speed lower than the reference speed, the normal manual focus mode is maintained. That is, the lens is moved in either the infinity direction or the near direction.

  As described above, the focus ring 26 can cause the photographing lens to perform an operation different from the manual focus according to a predetermined operation mode as well as a focusing function in the manual mode.

  Next, control of the lens position in the autofocus mode in the present embodiment will be described. Referring to FIG. 6, the photographing lenses are driven in the order of 1 to 4. The initial position of the taking lens is position a. When the camera 10 is set to autofocus, the camera DSP 32 detects the contrast ratio and starts driving the photographic lens in the infinity direction. If the contrast ratio exceeds the threshold when the camera DSP 32 passes the position b, the camera DSP 32 records that the position b is the peak of the contrast ratio. The camera DSP 32 gives an instruction to return the photographic lens to the position b when the photographic lens reaches the position c. As described above, the camera DSP 32 stops the photographing lens at a position where the contrast ratio exceeds the threshold and the peak of the contrast ratio appears for the first time. With this configuration, the focus position can be detected immediately. The control of the lens position in the autofocus mode is also applied when the manual focus mode is switched. At this time, the contrast ratio may be detected during manual focus setting. The peak value of the contrast ratio may be detected by driving the photographing lens in the near direction. Note that when the position of the photographing lens that exceeds the threshold and the contrast ratio reaches a peak is not detected, the photographing lens is forcibly moved to a specific position. For example, the photographing lens is arranged at the infinity end or the near direction end.

  Next, an operation for changing the relationship between the rotation direction of the focus ring 26 and the moving direction of the photographing lens will be described. In the standard setting, when the focus ring 26 is rotated in the A direction, the photographic lens moves in the infinity direction, and when the focus ring 26 is rotated in the B direction, the photographic lens moves in the near direction. That is, in the above-described standard setting, the focus ring 26 can be set so that the photographing lens moves in the near direction when rotated in the A direction, and the photographing lens moves in the infinite direction when rotated in the B direction. Is possible. The operation at this time is shown in FIG. The same steps as those in the operation flow of FIG. The change from the standard setting to the special setting is performed by setting a camera menu (switching means) displayed on the image LCD 36. The relationship between the rotation direction of the focus ring 26 and the driving direction of the photographing lens can be identified by an icon displayed on the image LCD 36.

  The operation from step S01 to step S11 is equal to the operation shown in FIG. In step S11, when the focus ring 26 is rotated at the reference speed or higher, the mode is switched to the auto focus mode. In step S46, the rotation direction of the focus ring 26 is determined. When the rotation direction is the A direction, the process proceeds to subroutine 1 of step S50. Referring to FIG. 8, in step S52, it is determined whether or not the rotation direction of the focus ring 26 is a standard setting. When it is standard, in step S54, autofocus is started in the infinity direction. If it is determined in step S52 that the setting is not standard, autofocus is started in the near direction in step S56. Thus, when step S50 is executed, the process returns to step S21 and the process ends.

  Similarly, in step S46, the rotation direction of the focus ring 26 is determined. When the rotation direction is not the A direction, the process proceeds to subroutine 2 of step S60. Referring to FIG. 9, in step S62, it is determined whether or not the rotation direction of the focus ring 26 is a standard setting. When it is standard, in step S64, autofocus is started in the near direction. If it is determined in step S62 that the standard setting is not set, in step S66, autofocus is started in the infinity direction. Thus, when step S60 is executed, the process returns to step S21 and the process ends.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S11 that the speed is not equal to or higher than the reference speed, the process proceeds to step S40 while the manual focus mode is maintained. In step S40, the rotation direction of the focus ring 26 is determined. When the rotation direction is the A direction, the process proceeds to subroutine 3 of step S70. Referring to FIG. 10, in step S72, it is determined whether or not the rotation direction of the focus ring 26 is a standard setting. When it is standard, manual focus is started in the direction of infinity in step S74. If it is determined in step S72 that the setting is not standard, manual focus is started in the near direction in step S76. Thus, when step S70 is executed, the process returns to step S21 and the process ends.

  Similarly, in step S40, the rotation direction of the focus ring 26 is determined. When the rotation direction is not the A direction, the process proceeds to subroutine 4 of step S80. Referring to FIG. 11, in step S82, it is determined whether or not the rotation direction of the focus ring 26 is a standard setting. When it is standard, manual focus is started in the near direction in step S84. If it is determined in step S82 that the setting is not standard, manual focus is started in the infinity direction in step S86. Thus, when step S80 is executed, the process returns to step S21 and the process ends.

  In this way, a photographing lens that can change the moving direction of the photographing lens relative to the rotation direction of the focus ring is realized. In the autofocus control shown in step S54 in FIG. 8 and step S66 in FIG. 9, the photographing lens may be moved to the infinity end as in steps S13 to S21 in FIG.

26 Focus ring (operation member)
A direction (first direction)
B direction (second direction)

Claims (6)

An operating member provided for operating a focusing operation of the photographic lens and operable in first and second directions;
Switching means for switching the driving direction of the photographing lens;
Control means for causing the photographic lens to perform an operation different from manual focus according to the operation mode of the operation member,
In the standard setting, the switching means moves the photographic lens in the infinity direction when the operation member is operated in the first direction, and moves the photographic lens in the proximity direction when operated in the second direction. When the operation member is operated in the first direction, the photographing lens is moved in the proximity direction, and when the operation member is operated in the second direction, the photographing lens is moved in the infinity direction. ,
The control means switches the auto focus mode when detecting a predetermined operation mode, or the taking lens is moved to a specific position, proximity direction or infinity direction the photographing lens when not detecting a predetermined operation mode A photographic lens control device that is moved to any one of the above.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation member is a focus ring.   The photographing lens control device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined operation mode is detected based on an angular velocity of the operation member.   The photographing lens control device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined operation mode is an operation of the operation member at a predetermined reference speed or more.   2. The photographic lens control device according to claim 1, wherein in the autofocus mode, the control unit stops the photographic lens at a position where a contrast ratio exceeds a threshold and a peak of the contrast ratio appears for the first time. . The specific position is an infinite end,
The photographing lens control device according to claim 1, wherein when the predetermined operation mode is detected in an infinite direction, the photographing lens is moved to the specific position.

Images