JP7166949B2 - CONTROL DEVICE, AND LENS DEVICE AND IMAGING DEVICE INCLUDING THE SAME - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a lens device and an imaging device that include shake correction means and tilt means.

Conventionally, there has been known a lens device that includes shake correcting means and tilting means. Aperture photography is generally performed by fixing an imaging device to a tripod or the like, but there are cases where a handheld device is used for tilt photography depending on the photography situation.

Patent Document 1 discloses a lens unit equipped with an anti-vibration mechanism, a tilt mechanism or a shift mechanism, and a revolving mechanism for shifting at least a part of an imaging optical system in order to prevent image blurring due to camera shake. . Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-200001 discloses a camera that corrects shake by shifting an image sensor by an amount necessary for tilt shooting and shifting the image sensor around the shift position in accordance with camera shake. It is

JP 2011-87076 A JP-A-2008-35308

However, in the configurations disclosed in Patent Literatures 1 and 2, when the tilting means is operated, the shake detection means erroneously detects the shake caused by the operation of the tilting means as camera shake. Since the shake correcting means corrects the shake based on the erroneously detected shake, it is impossible to perform proper photographing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a control device, a lens device, and an imaging device capable of reducing erroneous detection by a shake detection means associated with the operation of a tilting means.

A control device as one aspect of the present invention includes first acquisition means for acquiring a shake amount from a shake detection means for detecting shake, second acquisition means for acquiring a tilt amount from a tilt means for performing tilt photographing, and control means for controlling the shake correction means for performing shake correction, wherein the control means corrects the shake in a first control mode based on the shake amount when it is determined that the tilt amount has not changed. means, and when it is determined that the tilt amount has changed, the shake correcting means is controlled in a second control mode in which the shake amount is not used.

A lens apparatus as another aspect of the present invention includes an imaging optical system, shake detection means for detecting shake, shake correction means for correcting shake, and the control device, wherein the shake correction means Drives the shift lens of the imaging optical system.

An image pickup apparatus as another aspect of the present invention includes an image pickup device and the control device, and the shake correcting means drives the image pickup device.

Other objects and features of the invention are described in the following embodiments.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a control device, a lens device, and an imaging device that are capable of reducing erroneous detection by the shake detection means due to the operation of the tilting means.

1 is a cross-sectional view of an imaging system in each embodiment; FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a control method in the first embodiment; 8 is a flow chart of a control method in the second embodiment;

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

(First embodiment)
First, referring to FIG. 1, an imaging system 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an imaging system (single-lens reflex camera system) 100. As shown in FIG. The imaging system 100 includes an imaging device (imaging device main body) 1 and a lens device (interchangeable lens) 2 detachable from the imaging device 1 . However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can also be applied to an imaging device in which an imaging device main body and a lens device are integrally configured. Note that in FIG. 1, the direction (optical axis direction) along the optical axis OA of the imaging optical system (lens) is the Z direction, and the direction orthogonal to the optical axis OA and parallel to the imaging surface is the Z direction. Let the horizontal direction be the X direction and the vertical direction be the Y direction.

First, the configuration of the imaging device 1 will be described. The main mirror 3 is arranged on the optical path of the light beam from the lens device 2 as shown in FIG. Let A sub-mirror 4 arranged behind the main mirror 3 (on the imaging surface side) reflects the light flux that has passed through the main mirror 3 and guides it to the focus detection unit 5 . The main mirror 3 and sub-mirror 4 can be retracted from the optical path by a driving mechanism (not shown).

The focus detection unit 5 detects the focus state of the lens device 2 (focus detection) using a phase difference detection method. The imaging device 6 is composed of a CCD sensor or a CMOS sensor. An object image (optical image) is formed on the light receiving surface (imaging surface) of the imaging device 6 by the light flux from the lens device 2 . The imaging device 6 photoelectrically converts the object image and outputs an imaging signal. A display panel (display unit) 9 displays an image generated from an imaging signal by a signal processing unit (not shown) and various information related to imaging. A camera CPU (control device) 10 controls each part of the imaging device 1 . Further, the camera CPU 10 can communicate with a lens CPU (control device) 109 of the lens device 2 and exchange desired control signals with the lens CPU 109 .

In this embodiment, the imaging device 1 is a single-lens reflex camera having the main mirror 3, the sub-mirror 4, and the focus detection unit 5, but does not have the main mirror 3, the sub-mirror 4, and the focus detection unit 5. It may be a so-called mirrorless camera. Further, instead of providing the focus detection unit 5, the imaging signal from the imaging element 6 may be used to perform focus detection by the imaging plane phase difference detection method. Further, focus detection by a contrast detection method may be performed using an imaging signal obtained from the imaging device 6 .

The lens device 2 has an imaging optical system. The imaging optical system has a first lens unit 101, a second lens unit (shift lens) 102, a third lens unit 103, an aperture unit 105, and a fourth lens unit 104 in order from the object side to the imaging surface side. In the lens device 2, the first lens unit 101, the second lens unit 102, and the third lens unit 103 are moved in the optical axis direction by relative rotation about the optical axis OA between the guide tube 20 and the cam tube 21, which will be described later. Moving. The first lens unit 101 is held by a first lens holding frame 111 and the second lens unit 102 is held by a second lens holding frame 112 . The third lens unit 103 is held by a third lens holding frame 113 , and the fourth lens unit 104 is held by a fourth lens holding frame 114 .

The second lens unit 102 receives a driving force from an anti-vibration unit (shake correction means) 106 and shifts in a plane orthogonal to the optical axis OA (predetermined direction intersecting the optical axis OA). Note that the anti-vibration unit 106 may shift the second lens unit 102 so as to rotate about an axis passing through the optical axis OA. A diaphragm unit 105 adjusts the amount of light incident on the imaging device 1 . The diaphragm unit 105 and the lens CPU 109 are electrically connected by a flexible printed circuit board (not shown). The anti-vibration unit 106 is a voice coil motor composed of a magnet and a coil, and shifts the second lens unit 102 by a thrust generated by energizing the coil. The anti-vibration unit 106 and the lens CPU 109 are electrically connected by a flexible printed circuit board (not shown).

The lens CPU 109 has first acquisition means 109a, second acquisition means 109b, and control means 109c. The lens CPU 109 calculates the drive amount (shift drive amount) of the second lens unit 102 based on shake information (shake amount of the lens device 2) detected by shake detection means 110 such as an angular velocity sensor. Then, the lens CPU 109 controls driving of the anti-vibration unit 106 based on the calculation result of the driving amount. In this embodiment, the second lens unit 102 is shifted within a plane perpendicular to the optical axis OA, but it may be shifted so as to be inclined with respect to the optical axis OA.

The shake detection means 110 is attached to the connecting ring 22 and moves integrally with the second lens unit when a tilting mechanism, which will be described later, is operated. The shake detection means 110 and the lens CPU 109 are electrically connected by a flexible printed circuit board (not shown). In this embodiment, the shake detection means 110 is an angular velocity sensor, but is not limited to this, and may be an acceleration sensor or a position sensor.

The first lens holding frame 111 , the second lens holding frame 112 and the third lens holding frame 113 are attached to the connecting ring 22 . The connecting ring 22 is fixed to the rectilinear cylinder 23 . The first cam follower 121 provided on the rectilinear barrel 23 and the fourth cam follower 124 provided on the fourth lens holding frame 114 correspond to the rectilinear groove provided on the guide barrel 20, the focus cam groove provided on the cam barrel 21 and the It engages with the fourth lens cam groove. The focus operation ring 24 is rotated by a user who manually adjusts the focus (manual focus), and transmits a rotational operation force to the cam cylinder 21 .

When the cam barrel 21 is rotated via the focus operation ring 24, the first lens unit 101, the second lens unit 102, and the third lens unit 103 are integrated in the optical axis direction together with the rectilinear barrel 23 and the connecting ring 22. to move. Along with this, the fourth lens unit 104 moves in the optical axis direction independently of the first lens unit 101, the second lens unit 102, and the third lens unit 103. The focus operation ring 24, the guide barrel 20, the cam barrel 21, the rectilinear barrel 23, and the like constitute a manual focus mechanism (focus adjustment means). Note that the first lens unit 101, the second lens unit 102, and the third lens unit 103 may be configured to be driven by an electric actuator such as a motor. Alternatively, the amount and direction of rotation of the focus operation ring 24 may be electrically detected, and the actuator for driving the cam cylinder 21 may be controlled based on the electrical signal.

Next, the tilt/shift mechanism (tilting means) in the lens device 2 will be described. The overall rotating section 30 is rotatably connected to a fixing member 31 fixed to a mount 25 connected to the imaging device 1 so as to be rotatable around the optical axis OA. The portion (rotatable portion) is rotated around the optical axis OA. The amount of rotation (angle) of the rotatable portion is detected by an angle sensor 32 .

The shift section (shift means) 33 is connected to the entire rotating section 30 so as to be able to shift in a direction (shift direction) orthogonal to the optical axis OA, and is positioned closer to the object side than the shift section 33 in the lens device 2 . (shiftable portion) is translated in the shift direction. The shift portion 33 has a mechanism for converting a rotation operation of a shift operation knob (not shown) into a force in a shift direction to shift a shiftable portion. The shift amount of the shiftable portion is detected by the shift sensor 34 along with the shift direction (vertical direction).

The TS rotation section 36 relatively rotates the shift section 33 and the tilt section 35 (TS rotation). The tilt unit 35 shifts a portion of the lens device 2 closer to the object side than the tilt unit 35 (a tiltable portion) with respect to the shift unit 33 (that is, with respect to the imaging device 1) around an axis perpendicular to the optical axis OA. ) tilt. Specifically, the concave surface provided on the TS rotating portion 36 and the convex surface provided on the tilt portion 35 are formed as semi-cylindrical surfaces having the same central axis (tilt center) and the same radius, and are in contact with each other. in contact with The convex surface provided on the tilt section 35 slides against the concave surface provided on the TS rotating section 36, so that the tiltable portion rotates (tilts) in the tilt direction.

The tilt section 35 has a mechanism for tilting the tiltable portion by converting the rotation operation of the tilt operation knob 37 into a force in the tilt direction. The tilt amount of the tiltable portion is detected by the tilt sensor 38 along with the tilt direction (vertical direction). The overall rotation section 30, the shift section 33, the tilt section 35, and the TS rotation section 36 can combine shifting and tilting in all directions. The guide tube 20 is fixed to the tilt portion 35 .

When a release button (not shown) is operated in the imaging apparatus 1 to which the lens device 2 configured as described above is attached, after autofocus and photometry (exposure determination), the imaging device 6 is exposed and a photographed image is generated. and recorded.

Next, a control method by the lens CPU 109 in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a flow chart of the control method in this embodiment. Each step in FIG. 2 is mainly executed by the first acquisition means 109a, the second acquisition means 109b, and the control means 109 of the lens CPU 109. FIG.

First, in step S<b>1 , when the imaging system 100 is powered on, the lens CPU 109 (second acquisition unit 109 b ) acquires the tilt angle from the tilt sensor 38 and acquires the shift amount from the shift sensor 34 . In this embodiment, the tilt amount is at least one of the tilt angle and the shift amount. Subsequently, in step S2, the lens CPU 109 (control unit 109c) stores the tilt angle and shift amount acquired in step S1 in a storage unit (first storage area) such as an internal memory.

Subsequently, in step S3, the lens CPU 109 (second obtaining unit 109b) obtains the tilt angle from the tilt sensor 38 again and the shift amount from the shift sensor 34, for example, after a predetermined period of time has elapsed. Subsequently, in step S4, the lens CPU 109 (control unit 109c) stores the tilt angle and shift amount acquired in step S3 in a storage unit (second storage area) such as an internal memory.

Subsequently, in step S5, the lens CPU 109 (control means 109c) stores the tilt angle and shift amount stored in the first storage area and the (previously detected) tilt angle and shift amount stored in the second storage area. and compare each. Then, the lens CPU 109 determines whether or not at least one of the tilt amount and the shift amount (amount of tilt) stored in the first storage area and the second storage area has changed.

Here, the change in the amount of tilt means that the control means 109c has determined that the amount of tilt has changed. For example, if the change in tilt amount is slight, it may be due to noise. For this reason, for example, if the amount of change in the tilt amount is smaller than a predetermined amount, the control means 109c determines that the tilt amount has not changed. It may be determined that the amount has changed. If the tilt amount or the shift amount has not changed in step S5 (if the tilt amount has not changed), the process proceeds to step S6.

Subsequently, in step S<b>6 , the lens CPU 109 (first acquisition means 109 a ) acquires shake information from the shake detection means 110 . Subsequently, in step S7, the lens CPU 109 (control unit 109c) calculates the shift driving amount of the shift lens based on the shake information acquired in step S6. Subsequently, in step S8, the lens CPU 109 (control unit 109c) controls driving of the anti-vibration unit 106 so as to shift drive the shift lens by the shift driving amount calculated in step S7. After the shift driving, the process returns to step S3.

On the other hand, if the tilt angle or shift amount has changed in step S5, the process proceeds to step S9. In step S9, the lens CPU 109 (control unit 109c) calculates the drive amount from the current position of the drive unit of the anti-vibration unit 106 to the optical center position. The optical center position is any of the center position of the drive range (movable range) of the anti-vibration unit 106, the position on the ideal optical axis of the imaging optical system, or the position of the shift lens with the best optical performance as the imaging optical system. means

Subsequently, in step S10, the lens CPU 109 (control means 109c) controls driving of the anti-vibration unit 106 so as to shift drive the shift lens by the shift driving amount calculated in step S9. After the shift driving, the process returns to step S3. Then, the lens CPU 109 repeats the processing of steps S3 to S10.

As described above, in this embodiment, the shift lens control method is changed based on whether or not the tilt amount has changed. That is, when the control means 109c determines that the tilt amount (tilt angle or shift amount) has not changed, it controls the anti-vibration unit 106 in the first control mode based on the shake information. On the other hand, when the controller 109c determines that the tilt amount has changed, it controls the anti-vibration unit 106 in the second control mode in which the shake information from the shake detector 110 is not used so as to maintain the optical center position.

Next, before explaining the effects of the present embodiment, when the first control mode is always set, that is, when shake correction is performed based on the information of the shake detection means 110 even when the tilt amount changes. will be explained. The shake detection means 110 is attached to the communication ring 22, which is a lens barrel portion driven by the tilting means. Therefore, the shake detection means 110 detects shake information obtained by adding the angular velocity or acceleration due to the operation of the swing means and the shake. When the anti-vibration unit 106 is driven based on the shake information detected by the shake detection means 110, the shake correction includes components for correcting the angular velocity and acceleration due to the operation of the swing means. As a result, the finder image and the live view image being shot are not effectively shake-corrected, which may cause a sense of discomfort.

By aligning the position of the principal point of the imaging optical system with the position of the center of rotation where the tilt rotates, the tilt-induced tilting can ideally be achieved without moving the subject in the viewfinder even when tilting. It is possible to tilt. However, when the shake correction is performed so as to correct the rotational motion of the tilt motion, the control unit 109c moves the shift lens so as to correct the erroneously detected rotational shake of the imaging system 100. FIG. In addition, since the operating range of the tilt angle is generally larger than the angle correction range of the anti-vibration unit 106, the viewfinder image and the live view image are greatly shifted during the swing motion. That is, every time the tilting motion is performed, the image shifts greatly, so that the composition changes and the photographing becomes uncomfortable. In addition, in an image pickup apparatus that performs panning detection based on a signal from the shake detection unit 110, the tilt operation may generate the same signal as during panning, which may result in erroneous panning detection.

In the present embodiment, when the tilt amount changes, the information of the shake detection means 110 is not used, so it is possible to prevent composition changes due to erroneous detection by the shake detection means 110 when the tilt means operates. In other words, it is possible to prevent the finder image and the live view image from greatly shifting each time the tilting movement is performed, and causing a feeling of strangeness. Also, by holding the shift lens at the optical center position, it is possible to shoot with higher optical performance.

In this embodiment, the movement of the tilt section 35 is acquired as a tilt angle from the tilt sensor 38 and the shift amount is acquired from the shift sensor 34, but the rotation of the TS rotating section 36 or the overall rotating section 30 may be detected. A combination of these may also be used. Even in this case, it is sufficient to determine whether each parameter has changed and change the control of the anti-vibration unit 106 .

Further, in the present embodiment, the determination criterion for transitioning to the first control mode is whether or not the continuously acquired tilt angle is different from the value of the previously detected tilt angle, but is not limited to this. For example, when it is determined that the tilt amount has not changed, instead of immediately transitioning to the first control mode, the second control mode continues for a predetermined time (for example, several seconds) from the time when the tilt amount changed last time. You may make it As a result, it is possible to reduce the switching frequency of the control mode, so that it is possible to further reduce discomfort during shooting.

Further, in the present embodiment, the anti-vibration unit 106 is electrically controlled so as to be held at the optical center position in the second control mode, but it is not limited to this. For example, a lock mechanism may be provided to mechanically hold the drive range of the shift lens (correction lens) of the anti-vibration unit 106 at the optical center position. Thereby, in the case of the second control mode, the lock mechanism can be operated to mechanically hold the shift lens at the optical center position.

In the present embodiment, the position of the shift lens is moved from the current position to the optical center position in the second control mode. It is preferable to drive at a moving speed or less. This is to reduce the change speed of the finder image and the live view image when moving to the optical center position. This makes it possible to further reduce discomfort during shooting.

Further, in the present embodiment, the shake correction means for performing shake correction drives the shift lens that constitutes the imaging optical system, but is not limited to this. The shake correction means may be configured, for example, to drive the imaging device 6 to perform shake correction. Also, the control method of this embodiment is executed by the lens CPU 109 , but the control method is not limited to this, and part of it may be executed by the camera CPU 10 . In this case, the camera CPU 10 has at least part of the functions of the first acquisition means 109a, the second acquisition means 109b, and the control means 109c of the lens CPU 109. FIG.

(Second embodiment)
Next, a control method by the lens CPU 109 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Since the basic configuration of the imaging system of this embodiment is the same as that of the imaging system 100 of the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1, the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of the control method in this embodiment. Each step in FIG. 3 is mainly executed by the first acquisition means 109a, the second acquisition means 109b, and the control means 109 of the lens CPU 109. FIG. Note that steps S11 to S18 in FIG. 3 are the same as steps S1 to S8 in FIG. 1, respectively, so description thereof will be omitted.

In step S19, the lens CPU 109 acquires information indicating the current position of the drive unit of the anti-vibration unit 106 (current shift lens position). Subsequently, in step S20, the lens CPU 109 (control unit 109c) controls driving of the anti-vibration unit 106 so as to hold the shift lens at the position (current shift lens position) calculated in step S19 (shift driving ). After the shift driving, the process returns to step S13. Then, the lens CPU 109 repeats the processing of steps S13 to S20.

In this embodiment, the drive target position of the shift lens in the second control mode is not the optical center position but the current position. In the case of the first embodiment, an image shift occurs when moving from the current position to the optical center position, but in the present embodiment, the shift lens is held at the current position, so no image shift occurs. As a result, it is possible to prevent a change in composition due to erroneous detection by the shake detection unit 110 during tilting motion, and to reduce a sense of incongruity at the time of photographing.

As described above, in each embodiment, the control device (lens CPU 109 or camera CPU 10) has first acquisition means 109a, second acquisition means 109b, and control means 109c. The first acquisition means acquires the shake amount from shake detection means 110 that detects shake. The second acquisition means acquires the amount of tilt from the tilt means for performing tilt photographing. The control means controls the shake correction means for performing shake correction. Further, when the control means determines that the swing amount has not changed, the control means controls the shake correction means in the first control mode based on the shake amount. On the other hand, when the control means determines that the swing amount has changed, it controls the shake correction means in a second control mode in which the shake amount is not used.

Preferably, the control means determines that the tilt amount has not changed when the amount of change in the tilt amount is smaller than a predetermined amount. On the other hand, when the amount of change in the tilt amount is larger than the predetermined amount, the control means determines that the tilt amount has changed. Also preferably, the control means holds the position of the shake correction means at a predetermined position in the second control mode. More preferably, the predetermined position is the center position (optical center position) of the movable range of the shake correction means. Further, preferably, the predetermined position is the position of the shake correcting means at the time when the swing amount changes. More preferably, the predetermined position is the current position of the shake correction means. Also preferably, the control means uses a lock mechanism to hold the shake correction means at a predetermined position. Also preferably, the tilt amount is at least one of a tilt angle and a shift amount.

Preferably, the shake correction means drives a shift lens of the imaging optical system. More preferably, the tilting means changes the tilting amount of the optical system including the shake correcting means in the imaging optical system. Preferably, the shake detection means moves together with the shake correction means when the swing amount changes. Further preferably, the shake correcting means drives the imaging element.

According to each embodiment, it is possible to provide a control device, a lens device, and an imaging device capable of reducing erroneous detection by the shake detection means associated with the operation of the tilting means.

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

109 lens CPU (control device)
109a First acquisition means 109b Second acquisition means 109c Control means 110 Shake detection means

Claims (12)

a first obtaining means for obtaining a shake amount from a shake detection means for detecting shake;
a second obtaining means for obtaining a tilt amount from tilt means for performing tilt photographing;
a control means for controlling the shake correction means for performing shake correction;
The control means is
when it is determined that the tilt amount has not changed, controlling the shake correction means in a first control mode based on the shake amount;
A control device, wherein when it is determined that the tilt amount has changed, the shake correcting means is controlled in a second control mode in which the shake amount is not used. The control means is
determining that the tilt amount has not changed when the amount of change in the tilt amount is smaller than a predetermined amount;
2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein when said change amount of said tilting amount is larger than said predetermined amount, it is determined that said tilting amount has changed. 3. The control device according to claim 1, wherein said control means maintains the position of said shake correction means at a predetermined position in said second control mode. 4. A control device according to claim 3, wherein said predetermined position is a center position of a movable range of said shake correcting means. 4. The control device according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined position is the position of the shake correcting means at the time when the tilt amount changes. 6. The control device according to claim 5, wherein said predetermined position is the current position of said shake correcting means. 7. The control device according to claim 3, wherein said control means uses a lock mechanism to hold said shake correction means at said predetermined position. The control device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the tilt amount is at least one of a tilt angle and a shift amount. an imaging optical system;
shake detection means for detecting shake;
shake correction means for performing shake correction;
A control device according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
The lens apparatus, wherein the shake correcting means drives a shift lens of the imaging optical system. 10. The lens apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said tilting means changes the tilting amount of an optical system including said shake correcting means in said imaging optical system. 11. The lens apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the shake detection means moves integrally with the shake correction means when the tilt amount changes. an imaging device;
A control device according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
The image pickup apparatus, wherein the shake correcting means drives the image pickup element.

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