JPH04122917A - Vibrationproof camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To accurately inform whether or not suppression effect is obtained and to inform the extent of a shake quantity when not and further indicates that both before and after photography by detecting the position of a correction optical system, controlled by an image blur suppressing means, exceeding a specific correction range. CONSTITUTION:The signal from a hand shake quantity detecting circuit 3 is converted in a circuit 4 into absolute displacement, which is digitized by a fast A/D converting circuit 5 and inputted as a hand shake quantity to a sequence control circuit 6. The driving signal for a correcting lens is outputted to a vibrationproof device 12 according to the data. The correcting lens displacement output is converted by the fast A/D converting circuit 5 into a digital value, which is inputted to the sequence control circuit 6. This data is compared with data on the previously stored image blur correction range of the vibrationproof device 12 (correcting lens) and when the displacement position of the correcting lens at this time is not within the image blur correction range, an LED 9 is put on through an LED control circuit 7 and an LED driving circuit 8.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Field of Application of the Invention) The present invention includes a sensor for detecting camera shake, a shake detection means for detecting the amount of shake from the output of the sensor, and a correction optical system based on the detected amount of shake. The present invention relates to an improvement in an anti-shake camera equipped with an image blur suppressing means for driving a system to suppress image blur, and a warning means when image blur suppression is insufficient.

(Background of the Invention) The conventional technology to which the present invention is applied will be explained below using a camera as an example.

Modern cameras automate all important tasks for photography, such as exposure determination and focus adjustment, so there is a very low possibility that even people who are inexperienced in operating the camera will make a shooting mistake. It was considered difficult to automatically prevent failure.

Therefore, in recent years, research has been carried out on cameras that can prevent failures in photography due to camera shake, and in particular, cameras that are designed to prevent failures in photography due to camera shake are being developed and researched.

One example of this is a camera that aims to prevent photographic failures by issuing a camera shake warning, which was proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 55-84925, Japanese Patent Publication No. 62-37771, Japanese Patent Publication No. 62-37772, etc. has been done.

These devices are configured to detect vibrations using a vibration accelerometer and to display a warning by comparing the amount of hand movement with a reference signal corresponding to the shutter speed.

In addition, in Japanese Patent Publication No. 62-27686, the deviation detector is limited to a method in which the light passing through the objective lens system is detected by the deviation of the output phase using two optical sensor groups, and the focus of the photographing lens is It is configured to generate a reference signal including distance and display a warning.

Further (2 Japanese Patent Publication No. 58-70217, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 59-222)
A completely similar proposal was made in No. 823. Furthermore, in JP-A-58-702] No. 7, a warning is displayed if the camera shake tolerance is exceeded for a certain period of time, and contents are added that change the camera shake tolerance during camera holding and shirt release. .

Further, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-222823, there is also added the content of selecting from two sets of shutter speeds and switching to flash mode as a countermeasure against camera shake.

All of these proposals have a configuration that detects the amount of camera shake, compares it with a predetermined reference signal (acceptable camera shake value), and displays a camera shake warning to prevent shooting failures due to photographer's camera shake. The aim is to prevent

In addition, in recent years, it has become possible to detect camera shake due to hand shake and move the photographic lens system to compensate according to the amount of hand shake, thereby achieving the effect of suppressing image shake, making it possible to take pictures without image shake even when hand shake occurs. Anti-shake camera systems are being actively researched and developed. However, it is impossible for such an anti-shake system to deal with all types of camera shake or hand shake, and a hand shake warning has been proposed to prevent photographing failures.

Here, in Japanese Patent Application No. 63-281113, the difference between the amount of camera shake and the amount of correction of the photographic lens system that moves in the direction of compensation, that is, the difference between the amount of camera shake and the amount of compensation of the photographic lens system that moves in the direction of compensation, that is, compared with a predetermined reference signal (tolerable camera shake value) with a correction error. The camera is configured to display a camera shake warning to prevent camera shake from occurring due to camera shake.

However, even in an anti-shake camera system that detects the amount of camera shake and corrects it with a photographic lens system to obtain an image stabilizing effect, the correction range of this photographic lens system is limited, and as mentioned above, the amount of camera shake and the photographic lens It is not sufficient to warn only from the difference in the amount of correction, that is, from the correction error; it is necessary to warn from the fact that the photographic lens system exceeds the correction range and the image blur suppression effect is not achieved. This is because the correction accuracy of photographic lens systems has improved dramatically in recent years, and it has become more important to warn that the image is out of the correction range, where image blur suppression cannot be achieved, rather than as a warning from correction errors. .

Furthermore, all previous proposals were based on the premise of preventing shooting failures by issuing a camera shake warning before shooting, even before release. Therefore, it was unclear to what extent the image blur suppression effect was obtained after the photograph was taken, that is, after the release, and it was not possible to clearly know whether or not the photograph failed.

(Objective of the Invention) An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, to clearly inform whether or not an image blur suppression effect has been obtained, and, if not, to inform the user of the amount of shake. Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an anti-shake camera that can notify the user of this fact both before and after the photograph is taken.

(Features of the Invention) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a warning system that operates a warning means by detecting that the position of a correction optical system controlled by an image blur suppression means exceeds a predetermined correction range. A control means is provided, and the warning control means includes a warning state variable means for changing the warning state according to the degree to which the position of the correction optical system exceeds a predetermined correction range, and
The apparatus further comprises an operation control means for operating a warning control means in response to a switch input for starting a photographing preparation operation and a switch input for starting a photographing operation of the camera, whereby the correction optical system operates within a predetermined correction range. Upon detecting whether or not the shake has been exceeded, a shake warning is issued, and the warning state is made variable depending on how far the predetermined correction range has been exceeded;
Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that the above-mentioned detection is performed before and after photographing.

(Example of the invention) Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail according to illustrated embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention, in which numeral 1 denotes a sensor control drive circuit that controls and drives a sensor, which will be described later, that outputs camera shake information;
2 is a camera shake detection sensor built into the camera; 3 is a camera shake amount detection circuit that detects the amount of camera shake from the output of the sensor. 4 is a camera shake century versus displacement conversion circuit for converting the amount of camera shake in the camera shake amount detection circuit 3 into an absolute displacement, and 5 is a high-speed A/D conversion circuit for converting the absolute displaced analog amount of the circuit 4 into a digital value. Circuit, 10.1112 is an anti-shake system that operates according to the amount of camera shake, 12 is an anti-shake device that compensates for camera shake by actually moving the compensation lens, and 1 is the actual amount of compensation lens. A lens position detection device 10 detects whether the lens has moved, and is a high-speed A/D conversion circuit that converts the amount of lens movement into a digital value. 6 controls the camera's photographing operation and camera shake detection operation, controls the drive of the image stabilization device 11, and calculates whether the compensation lens is within a predetermined compensation range from the input camera shake amount and the input compensation amount of the compensation lens. 7 is an LED control circuit for displaying the image pre-suppression effect judgment data calculated by the sequence control circuit 6 on the LED 9; 8 is an LED control circuit for displaying the control signal of the LED control circuit 7; This is an LED drive circuit that originally lights up the LED9.

Next, the operation in the above configuration will be explained.

First, the sequence control circuit 6 is activated by a switch (SW 1 ) for starting preparation for photographing, which is attached to the outside of the camera and operated by the photographer. When SW1 is turned on, the sequence control circuit 6 transmits a signal to the sensor control drive circuit 1, supplies power to the camera shake detection system, drives the sensor 2, and starts detecting the actual camera shake amount. The value output from the sensor 2 is only the amount of camera shake detected by the camera shake amount detection circuit 3, but the meaning of the output signal differs depending on the sensor 2. For example, if it is an angular velocity sensor, it will detect the angle induced during camera shake. A sensor such as an acceleration output or a vibration gyro outputs an angular velocity output of camera shake, and a sensor that lowers a pendulum in the direction of gravity and detects camera shake based on the swing angle outputs an angular output of camera shake. In order to convert them into camera shake displacement in the camera shake century versus displacement conversion circuit 4, the signal from the camera shake amount detection circuit 3 is first- or second-order integrated in the circuit 4, and then converted into an absolute displacement. High-speed A/D conversion circuit 5
is converted into a digital value by the sequence control circuit 6.
This is taken in as the amount of camera shake. Based on the data, the sequence control circuit 6 outputs a correction lens drive signal (command signal) to the image stabilization device 12 in order to correct optical axis shake of the photographic lens.

Then, in the image stabilization device 12, a closed loop servo drive is applied so that the correction lens follows the command signal, and at the same time, the lens position detection device 11 detects the displacement of the correction lens from the movable center position (a position that coincides with the photographing optical axis). Output. This corrected lens displacement output is converted into a digital value by the high speed A/D conversion circuit 5 and taken into the sequence control circuit 6.

The sequence control circuit 6 uses this data and pre-held data on the image stabilization range of the image stabilization device 12 (correction lens) (in this embodiment, data equivalent to 90% of the mechanical stroke in one direction, pitch and yaw). ), if the displacement position of the correction lens at this time is outside the image stabilization range, L
The LED 9 is turned on via the ED control circuit 7 and the LED drive circuit 8 to indicate that image blur correction is not being performed properly.

Next, as an actual example of the image stabilization device 12 and the lens position detection device 11, a correction optical mechanism suitably used in such an image stabilization system is shown in FIG.

This correction optical mechanism obtains the effect of suppressing image blur on the imaging plane by moving the correction lens 41, which is a part of the optical system of the photographic lens system, in a direction that corrects camera shake within a plane perpendicular to the optical axis. It is a mechanism.

The correction lens 41 is arranged in two mutually perpendicular directions (
It can be freely driven to pitch 42p and yaw 42y. Its configuration is shown below.

In FIG. 2, a fixed frame 43 that holds the correction lens 41
Bearings made of polyacetal resin (hereinafter referred to as POM) 4
4p so that it can slide on a pitch slide shaft 45p. Further, the pitch slide shaft 45P is attached to the first holding frame 46.

The fixed frame 43 is held between pitch coil springs 47p coaxial with the pitch slide shaft 45p, and is held near the neutral position. Further, a pitch coil 48p is attached to the fixed frame 43. Pitch coil 48p is pitch magnet 49
The fixed frame 43 is placed in a magnetic circuit consisting of a pitch yoke 410p and a pitch yoke 410p, and by passing a current, the fixed frame 43 moves in the pitch direction 2.
Driven to 2p.

The pitch coil 48p is provided with a slit 411p, and the projector 412p (infrared light emitting diode IRED) is provided with a slit 411p.
) and the light receiver 413p (semiconductor device detection element PSD), the position of the fixed frame 43 in the pitch direction 42p is detected. In this embodiment, the output of the photoreceiver 431p is amplified,
It also serves as the lens position detection device 11.

A slide bearing 44y such as a POM is fitted into the first holding frame 46, and can slide on the housing 414 to which the yaw slide shaft 45y is attached.

Since the housing 414 is attached to a lens barrel (not shown), the first holding frame 46 is movable in one direction 42y relative to the lens barrel.

Also, a yaw coil spring 47 is installed coaxially with the yaw slide shaft 45y.
y is provided, and similarly to the fixed frame 43, it is held near the neutral position.

Further, the fixed frame 43 is provided with a yaw coil 48y, and the fixed frame 43 is also driven in the yaw direction 42y by the yaw magnet 49y and yaw yoke 410y that sandwich the yaw coil.

A slit 411y is provided in the yaw coil 48y to detect the position of the fixed frame 23 in the yaw direction 42y as well as in the pitch direction. Then, the pitch direction 4 of the correction lens 41
The drive in the 2p and y directions 42y has the configuration shown in FIG.

In FIG. 2, the outputs of the photodetectors 413p and 413y are amplified by amplifiers 415p and 415y, and a compensation circuit 416
Coils (pitch coil 48p, yaw coil 48y) via p, 416y and drive circuits 417p, 4]7y
, the fixed frame 23 is driven and the light receiver 413p is
, 413y changes. Here, if the driving direction (polarity) of the coil is set in the direction in which the output of the light receivers 413p, 413y becomes smaller, a closed system shown by solid lines 418p, 418y is formed, and at the point where the output of the light receivers 413p, 413y becomes almost zero. Stabilize.

Here, the compensation circuits 416p and 416y are circuits that further stabilize the system, and the drive circuits 417p and 4]7y are circuits that compensate for the current applied to the coils 48p and 48y.

Then, to such a system, an external command signal 4 is sent from the sequence control circuit 6 in FIG.
When 19p and 419y are given, the correction lens 41 is driven in the pitch direction 42p and the yaw direction 42y extremely faithfully to the command signal, and an image blur suppressing effect can be obtained.

However, as already mentioned, the range in which the image blur suppression effect can be obtained is not infinite, and the pitch direction 42p of the correction lens 41 is
, the mechanical movable range in one direction 42y, or the optical movable range of the correction lens 41 determined from the influence on the imaging performance on the imaging plane of the correction lens 41 (for example, chromatic aberration), whichever is smaller. determined by

In this embodiment, the latter is determined by the optical movable range, and in order to avoid mechanical impact during use, 90% of the movable range of the correction lens 41 is used to obtain the image blur suppressing effect. As a range. This range is set in advance as a predetermined correction range in the sequence control circuit No. 6 in Fig. 1, and the lighting control of the LED 9 is performed by comparing and judging with the output data from the lens position detection bag fill in Fig. 1. .

Next, Figure 3 shows how the camera shake data determined by the camera shake detection system in Figure 1 and the correction amount data determined by the position detection system of the compensation lens system that moves to compensate for it are processed in the camera sequence. 12 is a flowchart showing how to display it in

First, when the SWI indicating preparation for shooting is turned on, the DX coat,
Performs manual judgment of switches indicating preparation for shooting such as T/W (tele/wide) switch, and performs BC (battery check) 1 for camera shooting (steps 201-202-2)
03-204). Next, BC2 is performed to guarantee the operation of the camera shake detection system (step 205), and each of them is NG.
(below the guaranteed operation voltage) (steps 206 and 208), a warning display (1) or a warning display (2) is performed (steps 206-207 or 206-208-20).
9) Return to the original SWI standby operation.

Further, if both BCl and BC2 are OK, the sequence control circuit 6 sends a signal to a photometry and distance measurement circuit (not shown),
Perform distance measurement and photometry operations (steer knobs 210-211)
. Then, the photometry and distance measurement results are calculated based on the data entered in the previous switch input (at step 202), and if the strobe is being used and the strobe is not charging,
The strobe is charged (steps 213-217), and the vibration-proof power source BC3 is turned on when using the strobe (steps 213-218).
If the result is NG, a warning display (3) is displayed (steps 219-220), and if OK, the warning display (3) is canceled and the switch state is determined to determine whether or not to activate the vibration isolation system. (Steps 219-221-222). If the switch is on, the vibration isolation system is activated (step 223), and if it is off, the vibration isolation system is deactivated (step 224).

Next, the amount of camera shake is detected by the camera shake detection system, and the position of the corrector lens that has moved in the direction of compensation is detected based on the command signal at that time (steps 225-226). If the correction lens position is not within the image stabilization range, the LED 9 is turned on (steps 227-229); if it is within the correction range, the state of SW2, which is the switch for starting the photographing operation, is determined, and the switch
If BC2 is off, it returns to the original vibration-proofing power source BC3 (step 227-230-218). Also, if SW2 is on, the sequence proceeds to a normal release operation (
(not shown in Figure 3).

As an effect of the above embodiment, in the ON state of SWI, that is, before release (SW2 ON), the photographer can know whether the image shake suppression effect of the anti-shake camera is obtained or not by the display state of the LED 9. This allows you to decide whether or not to take pictures.

In addition, by lighting the LED 9 only when the image blur suppression effect is not obtained due to camera shake, it is possible to know the degree of camera shake from the lighting time and the interval, and determine how much camera shake should be suppressed to take a picture. Judgment is also possible.

Furthermore, since it also serves as a position detection means within the vibration isolator 12, there is no need to install a new position sensor, and there is no increase in space or cost.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention, and the same parts as in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals. Here, only the parts that are different from the first embodiment will be explained.

Similar to the first embodiment, the displacement data of the correction lens is manually input to the sequence control circuit 6, but here, among various shooting conditions, the shutter speed, which is the exposure time, and the correction lens performs image shake correction within this exposure time. Integrate and compare the time that was outside the range. Then, it can be seen to what extent there was a period during which the image blur suppressing effect could not be exhibited during the exposure time. The amount is output in analog form. Then, the LED control circuit 13 performs well-known V-F conversion based on the analog quantity, and the LED
The blinking period of the LED 9 is controlled via the drive circuit 8.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the relationship between the display state of the LED 9 and the image blur suppressing effect in this second embodiment.

Figure 6 shows the shutter oven at the time of release (SW2 on), that is, the exposure time and the position of the photographing lens at that time. This is the range in which the shake suppression effect is obtained. On the other hand, the thin line part is the vibration isolator 12 in FIG.
indicates a portion that moves to correct the correction lens, but is optically impossible to correct or is beyond the mechanical range of movement.

The photographic results are clearly good when the image stabilization effect is obtained when the shutter is opened, that is, the thick line part, and when the image blur suppression effect is not obtained, that is, the accumulated time is outside the image stabilization range. The bigger it gets, the worse it gets.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing how to display the camera sequence in the above configuration.

In FIG. 7, the steps from SWI○N (step 301) to lens position detection (step 323) are the same as in the first embodiment, but in the second embodiment, the image blur suppression effect is suppressed when SWl is on. We do not display warnings that the results are not obtained.
This warning display is performed only during the exposure time between opening and closing of the shutter after turning on SW2 (step 324).

That is, after confirming that SW2 is on, a known AF drive is performed, and then the shutter that also serves as an aperture is opened (steps 324-325-326). The time during which the correction lens is outside the correction range is counted until the shutter is closed (steps 327-328). After that, the exposure time and the time ratio outside the correction range are calculated, and this result is
'', the blinking period of the LED 9 is set according to the above ratio, and the LED 9 blinks (warning display) (steps 329-331-332). This warning display is turned off when a winding completion signal is received or by a 4 second timer (not shown). Also, if the ratio of exposure time and time outside the correction range is "○", that is, during the exposure time,
If it is within the correction range, LED9 will not turn on (
step 330). Next, one frame of film is wound (step 333).

As an effect of the second embodiment, the photographer can clearly see whether the image blur suppressing effect was obtained for the image taken within a short exposure time after turning on SW2, that is, after taking the photograph. Furthermore, by knowing how much image blur suppression effect has been achieved by changing the flashing cycle of the LED 9, it is possible to determine whether to take another picture and to what extent camera shake should be suppressed at that time.

For example, if the camera shake warning LED 9 does not blink after photographing, it means that the image stabilization effect of the anti-shake camera has been sufficiently achieved and there has been no failure in photographing due to camera shake. Also, L
If the flashing cycle of ED9 is fast, there is a large amount of time during which the image blur suppression effect is not obtained during the exposure time, which means that the photographing has failed due to camera shake, and it is necessary to suppress the camera shake and try again.

Further, in this embodiment as well, a warning display may be displayed when the SWI is on, and by doing so, it is possible to know the image blur suppression effect both before and after photographing.

In the first and second embodiments described above, a warning is displayed that the image blur suppression effect has not been achieved by lighting the LED 9 or by changing its blinking cycle in an analog manner. However, it is not limited to this,
It is also possible to make use of sound produced by a sounding body, analog changes in volume, and analog changes in sound frequency.

FIG. 8 shows a third embodiment in which the volume of the sounding body is changed according to the ratio of the time outside the correction range to the exposure time at that time, and the LED of the second embodiment is used as the sounding body. This is almost a replacement. Also, the same parts as in FIGS. 1 and 4 are given the same reference numerals.

In FIG. 9, reference numeral 16 denotes a sounding body volume control circuit that changes the volume of the sounding body 18 in accordance with the time outside the correction range in the exposure time based on the analog quantity from the sequence control circuit 6;
Reference numeral 7 denotes a sounding body drive circuit that changes the actual volume of the sounding body 18 based on a signal from the control circuit 16.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the relationship between the state of the sounding body 18 and the image blur suppressing effect in this third embodiment.

Other examples include a method of giving a warning by transmitting vibrations from the grip to the palm of the hand holding the object, and a method of displaying a bar in one or two dimensions to display the direction and extent of the deviation outside the correction range. You can also do it.

According to each of the above embodiments, the photographer who is the user of the anti-shake camera can use the anti-shake camera before shooting (when SWI is on), after shooting (when SW2 is on), and even before and after shooting (when SWISW2 is on). It is possible to know from the camera shake warning means whether the image shake suppression effect, which is a feature of camera shake cameras, is being achieved, and if not, to what extent. You can also find out if you should shoot with less noise.

In addition, the warning means can use a variety of warning means, such as an LED display, sound, and vibration to the hand that is being gripped, so that the most effective warning method for the photographer can be determined simply by changing the warning means. Made selectable.

Furthermore, since it also serves as a position detection means within the vibration isolator,
There is no need to install a new position sensor, no increase in space, and no increase in cost, and a camera shake warning is sent simply by adding a warning means.

(Modified Example) In this embodiment, whether or not the driven correction lens exceeds a predetermined correction range is determined from the data from the lens position detection device 11. It is also possible to display a warning based on the data on the amount of runout.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, according to the present invention, the warning means is activated by detecting that the position of the correction optical system controlled by the image blur suppression means exceeds a predetermined correction range. a control means, and a warning state variable means for changing the warning state according to the degree to which the position of the second correction optical system exceeds a predetermined correction range within the warning control means;
The apparatus further comprises an operation control means for operating a warning control means in response to a switch input for starting a photographing preparation operation and a switch input for starting a photographing operation of the camera, whereby the correction optical system operates within a predetermined correction range. By detecting whether or not it exceeds, a shake warning is issued, and the warning state is made variable depending on how far the predetermined correction range is exceeded, and the above-mentioned detection is performed before and after shooting.
It is possible to clearly inform whether or not an image blur suppression effect has been obtained, and if not, to inform about the amount of shake both before and after photographing.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the correction optical mechanism. 6 is a diagram showing the relationship between the LED display state and the image blur suppression effect, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the position change of the correction lens during exposure, and FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the operation in the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the relationship between the state of the sounding body and the image blur suppressing effect. 1...Sensor control drive circuit, 2...Sensor, 3...Camera shake amount detection circuit, 4...
- Camera shake century versus displacement conversion circuit, 6... Sequence control circuit, 7... LED control circuit, 8...
...LED drive circuit, 9...LED, 11.
... Lens position detection device, 12 ... Anti-vibration device, 13 ... LED control circuit, 16 ...
...Sounding body volume control circuit, 17...Sounding body drive circuit, 18...Sounding body.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A sensor that detects camera shake, a shake detection means that detects the amount of shake from the output of the sensor, and an image that drives a correction optical system based on the output from the shake detection means to suppress image shake. In an anti-shake camera comprising a shake suppressing means and a warning means for warning that image shake suppression is not sufficiently performed, the position of a correction optical system controlled by the image shake suppressing means is within a predetermined correction range. An anti-vibration camera characterized in that it is provided with a warning control means for operating the warning means by detecting that the vibration exceeds the limit. (2) The anti-vibration system according to claim 1, wherein the warning control means includes warning state variable means for changing the warning state according to the degree to which the position of the correction optical system exceeds a predetermined correction range. camera. (3) By inputting a switch to start the camera's shooting preparation operation and a switch input to start the shooting operation,
3. The anti-shake camera according to claim 1, further comprising operation control means for operating the warning control means.