JPH07287268A - Image pickup device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an image pickup device capable of obtaining a high-quality image by performing both the correction of image blurring and the shift of a picture element without making the device large and the cost of the device high. CONSTITUTION:This image pickup device is provided with shake detecting means 11 and 23 to 28 detecting the shake of the device, an imaging device 1, a luminous flux deflecting means arranged ahead of the imaging device 1 on an optical path and moving in the optical path so that a passing luminous flux may be deflected, and a control means driving the luminous flux deflecting means in accordance with an aimed position signal for moving a subject image formed on the imaging device 1 by a specified amount related to the picture element pitch of the imaging device 1 and output signals from the detecting means 11 and 23 to 28.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is configured to obtain a high-definition image using an image pickup device and an actuating means for changing an image forming position with respect to an image forming surface such as a variable apex angle prism. The present invention relates to an imaging device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, photographing apparatuses such as still cameras and video cameras have been automated, and various functions such as automatic exposure adjusting means and automatic focus adjusting means have been put to practical use.

Particularly, in a photographing device such as a video camera, it is general to use a zoom lens as a photographing lens used, and the zoom ratio thereof tends to increase year by year.

On the other hand, the miniaturization of the photographing device is also remarkable, and due to the miniaturization of the image pickup screen, the development of high-density mounting technology, the development of a compact recorder mechanical chassis, etc., a small model capable of photographing with one hand appears. Is coming.

However, when a small video camera equipped with such a zoom lens is used, harmful shake of the screen is likely to occur due to camera shake of the photographer. Therefore,
In order to remove this shake and obtain a stable screen, various shake preventing devices have been proposed. If this kind of shake prevention device is used, not only the harmful shake of the screen due to such a shake, but also in the situation where the harmful shake cannot be eliminated even when using a tripod when photographing from a ship or car. However, it goes without saying that it has a great effect.

This shake prevention device is configured to include at least shake detection means for detecting shake and shake correction means for performing some correction so that shake does not occur on the screen in accordance with the detected shake information. ing.

As the shake detecting means, for example, an angular accelerometer, an angular velocity meter, an angular displacement meter, etc. are known. As the shake correction means, a variable apex angle prism (details will be described later) used by the applicant of the present application, or a video camera configured to cut out an area to be actually used as a screen from the obtained imaging screen information There is known a method of sequentially changing (tracking) the cutout position to a position where the shake is corrected.

As the shake correction means, a variable apex angle prism or some other optical means is used as in the former case, and a method of removing shake at the stage of an image formed on an image pickup element is used here. A method of electronically processing image information including a shake and removing the shake, like the latter, is called an electronic corrector.

In general, the optical correction means can correct a shake within an angle defined as the shake angle of the camera regardless of the focal length of the lens, and therefore, the telephoto side of the zoom lens can be corrected. Even if the focal length is long, it is possible to have the shake removal performance which is practically no problem. However, it has a drawback of increasing the size of the camera.

On the other hand, the electronic correction means has a fixed correction rate for the vertical dimension of the screen, for example. Therefore, as the telephoto side focal length becomes longer, the shake removal performance deteriorates. However, it is often advantageous for miniaturization.

FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the focal length and the camera shake angle in terms of the subject position on the screen.

In FIG. 15, the optical axis of the lens when the camera is at the position 112 is 113, which means that the face of the person 111, who is the subject, is almost centered. From this state, it is assumed that the camera is rotated by a degree camera shake. At this time, the camera position is 114 and the optical axis is 115.
, Respectively.

FIGS. 15B and 15C show these 112 and 11 respectively.
4 shows the screen position at the camera position of No. 4, (B) shows the state at the tele end of the zoom lens, and (C) shows the state at the wide end. Reference numeral 116 denotes a subject on the screen, and 1
17 and 119 are screens when the camera position is 112, and 118 and 120 are screens when the camera position is 114, respectively.

As is apparent from FIG. 15, even if the camera shake is the same a degree, naturally, the longer the focal length of the lens is, the more harmful the shake on the screen is. Therefore, an optical means such as a variable apex angle prism is effective as a shake correction means particularly in combination with a lens having a long focal length at the telephoto end.

FIG. 16 shows the structure of the variable apex angle prism.

In FIG. 16, 121 and 123 are glass plates, and 127 is a bellows portion made of a material such as polyethylene. These glass plates 123 and bellows 1
Inside the area surrounded by 27, a transparent liquid such as silicone oil is enclosed.

In FIG. 16B, two glass plates 121 are provided.
And 123 are parallel to each other, and in this case, the incident angle and the outgoing angle of the light beam of the variable apex angle prism are equal. on the other hand,
With angles such as (A) and (C), the rays are bent at an angle, as indicated by rays 124 and 126, respectively.

Therefore, when the camera is tilted due to camera shake or the like, the shake is eliminated by controlling the angle of the variable apex angle prism provided in front of the lens so that the spectral line corresponding to that angle bends. It can be done.

FIG. 17 shows this state. Assuming that the variable apex angle prism is in a parallel state in FIG. 17A and the light beam is catching the head of the subject, the deflection is a degree as shown in FIG. On the other hand, by driving the variable apex angle prism to bend the light beam as shown in the figure, the shooting optical axis remains the same and the subject's head is continuously captured.

FIG. 18 is a view showing an example of the actual configuration of a variable vertical angle prism unit including the variable vertical angle prism, an actuator section for driving the variable vertical angle prism, and a vertical angle sensor for detecting an angular state.

Since the actual shake appears in all directions, the front glass surface and the rear glass surface of the variable apex angle prism are configured to be rotatable about the rotation axes in directions shifted by 90 degrees. Here, the subscripts a and b are used to indicate the respective components in the two rotation directions, but those having the same number have exactly the same function.
Therefore, the subscripts a and b will be omitted in the following description. or,
Some of the parts on the b side are not shown.

Reference numeral 141 denotes a variable apex angle prism, which is a glass plate 1.
21, 123, a bellows portion 127, a liquid, and the like. The glass plates 121 and 123 are integrally attached to the holding frame 128 using an adhesive or the like. The holding frame 128 constitutes a rotary shaft 133 with a fixed component (not shown), and is rotatable around this shaft. The shaft 133a and the shaft 133b are 9
The 0 degree direction is different. The coil 1 is placed on the holding frame 128.
35 is integrally provided, while a magnet 136 and yokes 137 and 138 are provided at a fixed portion (not shown). Therefore, by passing a current through the coil 135, the variable apex angle prism 141 rotates about its axis 133. There is a slit 129 at the tip of the arm portion 130 integrally extending from the holding frame 128, and the angle of the variable apex prism between the light emitting element 131 such as iRED and the light receiving element 142 such as PSD provided in the fixed portion. It constitutes a vertical angle sensor that detects the state.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing a shake prevention device provided with the variable apex angle prism 141 as shake correction means in combination with a lens.

In FIG. 19, 141 is a variable apex angle prism, 143 and 144 are apex angle sensors, 153 and 154 are amplification circuits for amplifying outputs of the apex angle sensors 143 and 144, and 1
Reference numeral 45 is a microcomputer, 146 and 147 are shake detecting means such as an angular accelerometer, 148 and 149 are actuators including the coil 135 to the yoke 138, and 152 is a lens.

In the microcomputer 145, the variable vertical angle prism 1 detected by the vertical angle sensors 143 and 144.
In order to control the variable apex angle prism 141 to the optimum angle state for removing the shake, the currents supplied to the actuators 148, 149 are determined according to the angle state of 41 and the detection results of the shake detecting means 146, 147. To do.

The main element is composed of two blocks because it is assumed that control in two directions 90 degrees apart is performed independently.

The image blur correction device using the variable apex angle prism has been described above.

On the other hand, a so-called "pixel shift" is well known as a method for obtaining a high-definition image using a solid-state image pickup device. That is, in an image pickup device using a solid-state image pickup element, the resolution thereof depends on the pixel density, so that the higher the number of pixels forming one screen, the higher the resolution of the image. In recent years, the density of solid-state image pickup devices has been remarkably increased. With the increase in precision of the manufacturing process, a screen size of 1/3 inch has 410,000 pixels, and
A high-density solid-state image sensor with 4 inches and 270,000 pixels has already been achieved at the time of filing this application.

However, increasing the number of pixels in order to obtain a higher-definition image is difficult to manufacture, and there is concern that the sensitivity of the solid-state image pickup device may be lowered.

On the other hand, the screen size is 1/2 inch, or 2
A method of increasing the number of pixels to 3/3 to improve the number of pixels is conceivable, but the size of the camera, especially the lens part, becomes large, which may impair the downsizing, which is an important point of consumer equipment.

A method using a multi-plate (2 to 3) solid-state image pickup device can be considered, but the size of the camera is also increased, and it is difficult to adjust the alignment between the solid-state image pickup devices.

The high definition by shifting the pixel is a method for achieving the high definition by synthesizing an image in which the image is shifted by 1/2 of the pixel pitch, for example, and overcomes the drawbacks of the other methods described above.

As a method for shifting the image for this purpose, for example, according to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 58-195369,
Disclosed is a method in which a transparent object layer such as transparent plastic or glass is provided between a lens system and an imaging unit, a piezoelectric element such as polyvinylidene fluoride is attached to the periphery of the transparent object layer, and an incident light beam angle is changed by applying a voltage. .

In addition, the Journal of the Television Society, vol 137,
No. 10 (1983), "Swing CCD Image Sensor," discloses a method for swinging a solid-state image sensor using a bimorph piezoelectric element.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 3-276981 discloses a method in which a transparent refracting plate is rotated by a stepping motor so as to correspond to an integer fraction of a pixel pitch before the image pickup device.

Further, in FIG. 8 of Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 61-191166, a light beam angle is changed by arranging a variable apex angle prism sandwiching a transparent elastic body made of silicon rubber between glass plates. A method is disclosed.

[0037]

As described above, an image blur correction device using the variable apex angle prism for correcting the image blur caused by camera shake is well known, and there are commercialization examples.

There is also an example of commercialization of high definition by shifting pixels, and as a method therefor, a method of using a variable apex angle prism is also disclosed.

Therefore, when one image pickup apparatus performs both image blur correction and pixel shift to obtain a higher quality image, at least one variable apex angle prism for image blur correction and pixel shift is provided. Each will be provided,
Then, the size of the device becomes large and the cost also increases.

(Object of the Invention) A first object of the present invention is to provide an image pickup apparatus capable of obtaining a high quality image by both preventing image blur and moving a predetermined amount of image related to pixel pitch. It is intended to provide the device without increasing the size and cost of the device.

A second object of the present invention is to provide an image pickup apparatus in which, in addition to the above-described first object of the present invention, it is possible to select a function that suits the user's intention. .

A third object of the present invention is the first object of the present invention.
In addition to the above object, even when the light beam deflecting means as the operating means according to claim 1 is arranged in front of at least a part of the lens for changing the focal length on the optical path, the focal length moves a predetermined amount related to the pixel pitch. It is an object of the present invention to provide an imaging device that does not cause inconvenience in the action of the operation.

The fourth object of the present invention is, in addition to the above-mentioned third object of the present invention, high image quality due to the image blur prevention and the predetermined amount of image movement even when the focal length is changed. An object of the present invention is to provide an image pickup device that does not prevent an image from being obtained.

The fifth object of the present invention is, in addition to the above-mentioned third object of the present invention, the above-mentioned image when the driving means which is driven stepwise is used as the means for operating the operating means. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image pickup apparatus in which blurring prevention and image movement of a predetermined amount described above do not prevent obtaining a high-quality image.

A sixth object of the present invention is the first object of the present invention.
In addition to the above-mentioned object, it is possible to provide an image pickup device capable of stably accumulating the formed image when moving the image by a predetermined amount related to the pixel pitch and obtaining a high-quality image. It is what

[0046]

The present invention as set forth in claim 1 for attaining the first object of the present invention,
Actuating means for changing the image forming position with respect to the image forming surface, first movement for preventing image blur, and moving the image formed on the image forming surface by a predetermined amount related to the pixel pitch of the image forming surface. And a control means for causing the actuating means to perform the second operation of (1), and also to act as one actuating means for preventing image blur and moving the image by a predetermined amount related to the pixel pitch of the image plane. It is to do.

The present invention as set forth in claim 2 for achieving the second object of the present invention, in the configuration of the present invention as set forth in claim 1, has at least one of the first and second operations. The selecting means is provided for selection, and the control means causes the actuating means to perform the operation selected by the selecting means, so that an appropriate function can be selected.

The present invention as set forth in claim 5 for achieving the third object of the present invention, in the configuration of the present invention as set forth in claim 1, is a lens for changing a focal length as an operating means. At least a part of the luminous flux deflector arranged in front of the luminous flux deflector is used, and the focal length is associated with the second operation by the luminous flux deflector. As a result, there is no inconvenience in the action of the second operation of the light beam deflecting means depending on the focal length.

Similarly, the present invention as set forth in claim 6 for achieving the third object of the present invention, in the configuration of the present invention as set forth in claim 5, responds to the focal length to provide the second object.
That is, the state of the operation is changed so that the second operation suitable for the focal length can be performed.

Similarly, the present invention as set forth in claim 15 for achieving the third object of the present invention, in the configuration of the present invention as set forth in claim 5, responds to the state of the second operation. The focal length is controlled so that the second operation can be performed at the focal length suitable for the second operation.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention for achieving the fourth object of the present invention, in addition to the structure of the fifth aspect, in response to the focal length, an image is displayed in the second operation. The drive amount of the light beam deflecting means for moving the light beam by a predetermined amount is changed, and it is possible to prevent the image quality from being deteriorated due to the change of the focal length.

According to the invention of claim 12 for achieving the fourth object of the invention, in the structure of claim 6, the second operation is restricted in response to the focal length. Thus, the second operation is normally performed at a focal length that is not suitable for performing the second operation, and the second operation is prevented from acting inappropriately.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention for attaining the fifth object of the present invention, in the structure of the present invention according to the seventh aspect, the luminous flux deflecting means is driven stepwise. A driving means is provided, and the number of driving means steps driven by the driving means is changed in order to move the image by a predetermined amount related to the image pitch in the second operation in response to the focal length. This makes it possible to maintain a high-quality image even when using a driving unit that performs dynamic driving.

The present invention as set forth in claim 16 for achieving the fifth object of the present invention, in order to drive the light beam deflecting means stepwise in the structure of the present invention as set forth in claim 15. Is provided, and the focal length is determined in response to whether or not the second operation is performed, which makes it suitable for performing the second operation by stepwise driving. The second operation can be performed with a different focal length, and even when the second operation is performed by stepwise driving, it is possible to always obtain a high-quality image.

Claim 1 for attaining the sixth object.
The present invention as set forth in claim 8, in the configuration of the present invention as set forth in claim 1, has a storage means for storing an image formed on an image forming surface, and the control means is the storage means. The control is performed so that the second operation is performed outside the time when the accumulation is performed, so that the image movement in the second operation does not adversely affect the image accumulation, so that the image quality is always high. The present invention aims to provide an image pickup device capable of obtaining various images.

[0056]

【Example】

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of an image pickup apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a solid-state image sensor such as a CCD, and 2 is a solid-state image sensor. Drive circuit, 201 is a timing generator (TG)
3 is a circuit for amplifying the video signal obtained by the solid-state image sensor,
4 is an A / D converter, 5-7 is an image memory, 8 is a synthesis circuit, 9 is a D / A converter, 10 is a signal output to a recorder, etc., 11 is a CPU, 12 is a variable apex prism on the pitch side. An apex angle sensor for detecting the apex angle state of, for example, is composed of a light emitting element and a light receiving element as described above. 13 is a vertical angle sensor for detecting the vertical angle state of the variable vertical angle prism on the yaw side,
Reference numeral 14 is a variable apex prism, 15 is a drive actuator for the variable apex prism in the pitch direction, 16 is a yaw side actuator, 17 is a subtraction circuit for calculating the difference between the pitch side apex angle target position and the actual apex angle. , 18 is also a yaw side subtraction circuit, 19 is an amplification circuit that amplifies the output value of the pitch side apex angle sensor, and 20 is an amplification circuit that amplifies the output value of the yaw side apex angle sensor.

Reference numeral 21 is a voltage determination circuit for determining the voltage applied to the actuator 15 with respect to the output of the pitch side subtraction circuit, 22 is also the yaw side voltage determination circuit, 27 is the drive circuit of the pitch side shake detection sensor, 28 is a drive circuit for the yaw-side shake detection sensor.

25 is a pitch side shake detection sensor, and 26 is a shake detection sensor.
Is a shake detection sensor on the yaw side. (A vibration gyro or the like is used as the shake detection sensor as described above).

Reference numeral 23 is an amplifier circuit for amplifying the output of the pitch side shake detection sensor 25, 24 is an yaw side amplifier circuit, 2
Reference numerals 9 and 30 denote waveform oscillators for driving the variable apex angle prism for shifting the pixels, which are also provided on the pitch side and the yaw side. Reference numerals 31 and 32 are adders.

The operation of the configuration shown in FIG. 1 will be described below. First, the blur detection sensor drive circuit 2 for image blur correction
The shake detection sensors 25 and 26 are driven by 7 and 28. A known example is a piezoelectric vibrating gyro that drives a piezoelectric element attached to a resonator at the resonance frequency of the resonator and detects Coriolis by the output from the detecting piezoelectric element. The outputs obtained from the blur detection sensors 25 and 26 are input to the CPU 11 after passing through the amplifier circuits 23 and 24.

When the variable apex angle prism 14 is driven according to the detection results of the blur detection sensors 25 and 26, the image blur correction is basically completed, but in reality, it is a recorded moving image to reduce the strangeness. Therefore, in the CPU 11, for example, the outputs of the abrupt shake detection sensors 25 and 26 at the start of panning are subjected to "machining" such that the variable apex angle prism 14 is not made to react (this is well known and will not be described in detail here). ). If the variable apex angle prism 14 is moved so as to respond to the output of the CPU 11, camera shake correction can be performed. That is, the blocks 11 and 23 to 28 constitute the shake detection means.

Next, the image blur correction means is composed of blocks 12-2.
It consists of 2.

From the CPU 11, a signal corresponding to the apex angle target position to be taken by the variable apex angle prism 14 is added to the adders 31 and 32 in order to correct the image blur caused by the shake detected by the shake detecting means. Subtraction circuit 1 through
7 and 18 are input. On the other hand, the variable apex angle prism 14
Of the vertical angle in the pitch direction and yaw direction of the vertical angle detection circuit 1
Amplification circuits 19 and 2 which are signals detected by 2 and 13 and amplified by amplification circuits 19 and 20 and corresponding to the apex position.
The output of 0 is also input to the subtraction circuits 17 and 18. Therefore, the subtraction circuits 17 and 18 output signals according to the difference between the target apex position and the actual apex position. In accordance with this difference signal, the voltage determination circuits 21 and 22 determine the applied voltage to the actuators 15 and 16 for driving the variable apex angle prism, and the applied voltage is applied to the actuators 15 and 16 to perform the blur correction as described above.

Here, the adders 31 and 32 are provided to superimpose the image blur correction and the drive for high definition. To the adders 31 and 32, the apex angle target value for image blur correction from the CPU 11 and the apex angle target value output from the waveform oscillators 29 and 30 for pixel shift are input, and both are added. It has become so. At this time, the waveform for shifting the pixel is the CCD obtained from the TG 201.
In synchronization with the drive timing signal of the drive circuit 2,
The signal is such that a predetermined pixel shift can be obtained for each screen.

Further, a switch unit is provided inside the adders 31 and 32 to select either one of the case where the vertical angle target position for image blur correction and the vertical angle target position for pixel shift are added. It is possible that In this way, the variable apex angle prism can be driven only by the signal for high definition when the camera shake correction is turned off.

The blocks 29 to 32 may be provided in the CPU.

[Second Embodiment] In this embodiment, a variable apex angle prism is arranged at the forefront of a photographing lens (zoom lens). When the variable apex prism is arranged as in this embodiment, or in the front lens group or in the rear (in front of the variator), the amplitude is made variable according to the focal length for pixel shifting. It is necessary, and at this time, the angle control accuracy becomes very small on the side closer to the telephoto.

That is, the amount of movement of the image within the image pickup screen will change depending on the focal length of the zoom lens even if the same change in apex angle is given to the variable apex angle prism.

In response to image blurring, the blurring angle of the camera is detected and the angle spectral line is bent. Therefore, when it is arranged behind the (variator lens) of the zoom lens, the same blurring occurs according to the focal length. It is necessary to change the target angle of the variable apex angle prism, but the focal length becomes irrelevant when the prism is arranged in front of the zoom lens as in this example.

Therefore, it is only the target position for pixel shifting that corrects the target apex angle of the variable apex angle prism according to the focal length.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of an image pickup apparatus according to the second embodiment for correcting the target position of the variable apex angle prism for shifting the pixels according to the focal length as described above. The same components as those in FIG.
Reference numeral 3 is a zoom encoder, and the output from the zoom encoder 33 is taken into the waveform oscillators 29 and 30.

Specifically, in order to obtain the same pixel shift amount, the change amount of the apex angle may be primarily controlled according to the zoom ratio (so that it becomes smaller as it becomes wider).

[Third Embodiment] When the first embodiment of the present invention is applied to a video camera or the like, if a minute amount of image movement itself due to the driving of the pixel shifter is recorded as an image. As a result, the image quality deteriorates as a blur.

Therefore, the following control is performed in the third embodiment.

The drive timing of the variable apex angle prism for shifting the pixel is made different from the storage time in the CCD.

In order to carry out, the shutter speed is shifted to the high speed side to secure more time for driving.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of an image pickup apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The same components as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals, and 34 is an on / off switch having a pixel shifting function, Reference numeral 35 denotes a shutter speed (accumulation time) control circuit.

When the pixel shift is turned on by the on / off switch 34, the shutter speed control circuit 35 increases the speed from the result, for example, 1/60 second to 1/100 second.

FIG. 4 is a timing chart of the above operation. FIG. 4 (A) shows the timing of image accumulation in the CCD.
(B) shows the timing of changing the target apex angle for pixel shifting. In this example, the video camera is assumed to be an NTSC system with 1 field of 1/60 sec. C
As shown in FIG. 4 (A), the image accumulation timing on the CD is limited to the latter half of the field (about 1/120 seconds), while as shown in FIG. 4 (B), pixel shift is performed at the timing of point P. And change the target position by the time before the start of the next accumulation.

[Fourth Embodiment] In the conventional examples shown in FIG. 15 and thereafter, a moving coil type torquer is used as an actuator for driving the variable apex angle prism, but as a fourth embodiment, A step motor is used as the actuator. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the essential parts of an image pickup apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 5, 127 is a bellows portion of the variable apex prism, 128 is a holding frame for holding the variable apex prism, 36 is a rack portion integrally provided on the holding frame, 37 is an output shaft of a step motor, and a predetermined motor. It is threaded on the pitch and meshes with the rack. 38 is a step motor body, 39 is a motor body 3
8 is a sheet metal portion having a bearing portion for the output shaft 37. When the output shaft rotates by a predetermined step angle, the rack moves back and forth, and as a result, the variable apex angle prism 127 and its holding frame 128 rotate around the rotation center.

When the step motor is used as the actuator as described above, the minimum control amount of the change of the apex angle of the variable apex angle prism 127 corresponds to the angle which changes by one step rotation of the step motor.

More specifically, the output shaft 37 of the step motor 38 is Δθ (cad / s in one step).
step), the pitch of the screw of the output shaft 37 is A mm, and the rack 3 is moved from the rotation center of the variable apex angle prism.
6. If the distance γ to the position where the output shaft 37 meshes is γ, the angle ΔT of the variable apex angle prism that changes with one step rotation of the step motor is

[0083]

[Outer 1] Is shown. Therefore, a minute vertical angle change of ΔT or less cannot be performed. Further, a change in the apex angle of ΔT or more is n · ΔT (n is the number of steps).

On the other hand, when the variable apex angle prism is arranged in front of the taking lens, the moving amount of the image on the image forming plane is B, and the focal length is f, the vertical angle change n · ΔT and the moving amount B of the image. The relationship with is expressed by B≈f × n · ΔT (where n · ΔT is a minute angle).

That is, the amount of movement B of the image on the image plane that moves by n · ΔT has a linear relationship with the focal length f.

FIG. 6 shows the relationship between the amount of movement B of the image on the image plane and the focal length f for each of n = 1 to 5 with the horizontal axis as the focal length f and the vertical axis as the image movement amount B. It is a graph. Assuming that the focal length f is 10 mm zoom with Wide 10 mm Tele and 10 mm zoom, f at the same n
The amount of movement of the image at = 10 mm and the amount of movement of the image at f = 10 mm differ by about 10 times.

On the other hand, assuming that the amount of image movement required for pixel shifting is ΔB (for example, ΔB corresponds to 1/2 pixel), from FIG. 6, depending on the design of ΔT, f ₁ to The range of f _T (f ₁ = 100 mm in this example) becomes a shift amount larger than the desired pixel shift amount ΔB even with the minimum driving of step n = 1. Also, f ₂ ~
At f ₁ , the pixel shift amount is not less than ΔB when n = 2 and is not more than ΔB when n = 1.

Therefore, in the fourth embodiment, ΔT is set so that the pixel shift can be performed within the error range of ± x% with respect to the desired pixel shift amount ΔB in the entire focal length range. Only the focal length that gives the desired pixel shift amount is used. The usable focal length range is limited, and in the focal length range having a large error with respect to ΔB, it is not used at the time of pixel shifting, or the pixel shifting is automatically turned off in that focal length range. Present the idea of.

Considering only the pixel shift, if ΔT is set to be sufficiently small, it is possible to eliminate the error with respect to ΔB at all focal lengths. Since the changing speed of the apex angle obtained at the maximum usable maximum speed Vmax (PPS) obtained in step 2 becomes slow, there arises a problem that the speed required for correcting the camera shake cannot be obtained.

In FIG. 7, the range in which a predetermined error is allowed with respect to the desired pixel shift amount ΔB is set as the “permissible pixel shift range”, and the pixel shift amount falls within this range in the entire focal length range of FIG. 6. As shown in FIG. 7, n = 1 for f _{1 to} f _T and n = for f _{2 to} f _1.
2 will be set. N according to the focal length
The settings are shown in the table in FIG.

FIG. 9 shows the relationship between the focal length and the pixel shift amount actually obtained according to the table of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of the fourth embodiment. When the number of input pulses of the step motor is used as an absolute position encoder, as is well known, a moving one (here, the variable apex angle prism 14) is in a state of being at a starting position (for example, the variable apex angle prism 14 At a position where the two glasses are parallel to each other), the input pulse is continuously counted from here. Here, in order to confirm the movement to the starting position, a means for separately detecting the starting position is required. Examples of detection means therefor include a photo interrupter and a leaf switch. After this, the step motor 4 is driven by the step motor drivers 42 and 43.
It is possible to detect the apex angle state of the variable apex angle prism 14 by continuously counting the number of steps input to 4, 45 by the CPU 111.

In the CPU 111, the blur detection result that has passed through the filters 40 and 41, the focal length information from the zoom encoder 33, and the timing generator (TG) 201.
The CCD 1 drive timing signal from the above and the apex angle state of the variable apex angle prism 14 are taken in as the number of input pulses to the step motors 44 and 45.

The CPU 111 drives and controls the variable apex angle prism 14 on the basis of these pieces of information. Particularly, the driving for shifting the pixel is performed by the timing generator (TG) 201.
From the zoom encoder 33 in synchronization with the CCD 1 drive timing from the CPU 11
Based on the table corresponding to FIG. 8 stored in FIG. 1, n is determined, and the variable apex angle prism for pixel shifting of n pulses is driven.

FIG. 11 shows a flow for determining n in the CPU 111.

The process starts at step 301. In step 302, it is determined whether or not driving for pixel shifting is performed. If so, in step 303, the focal length at that time is read, and in step 304, the CPU
The value n is determined from the table corresponding to FIG. 8 provided in 111. If not, step 302 is not followed.

As a modification of the fourth embodiment of the present invention,
It can be set when the pixel shift amount does not have an allowable range, or when ΔT is too small to fit within the allowable range and the range is small, which affects the performance of the shake prevention device. It may be possible to limit the focal length. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the operation in the case of such a configuration. In FIG. 12, when the driving pulse of the step motor for shifting the pixel is n = 1, the focal length f _e ,
If the focal length is f _d when n = 2, f _c when n = 3, and f _b when n = 4, it is possible to obtain a desired pixel shift amount without error.

As a concrete operation, for example, the focal length f _d
From the state in, when the zoom operation to the Tele side is performed at the focal length f _e, when the zoom operation to the Wide side is performed it can be considered such constructed as to set the focal length f _c.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the further modified example. FIG. 13 shows that when an appropriate ΔT is set,
In the range of the area A on the Tele side of the focal length f _A , even when n = 1, which is the minimum apex angle change of the variable apex prism, the amount of shift exceeds the allowable pixel shift range. Shows. In such a case, it may be considered that the focal length of the area A is not used when the pixel shift is turned on.

For this purpose, for example, when the pixel shift is turned on with the focal length in the area _A , the focal length is forcibly set to f _A.

With the pixel shift turned on, f _W
It stops at f _A when zooming to Tele side when the ~f _A has a focal length. It can be configured like this.

[Fifth Embodiment] FIG. 14 is a block diagram of the fifth embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is a modification of the first embodiment, and is a block diagram of the first embodiment.

In contrast to FIG. 1, in FIG. 14, the blur detection sensor output is amplified by blocks 23 and 24, and then filtered by the filter 4
041 is provided, and then the CPU 11 is incorporated. The same components as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted here. Here, the filters 40 and 41 are low-cut or band-pass filters, and pass only signals in a predetermined frequency band. The purpose of this filter is to cut a noise component that is included in the output of the shake detection sensor or to cut an erroneous signal component generated by the shake detection sensor itself. Generally, the frequency components of camera shake are distributed around 1 to 10 Hz, so that signals in the frequency band lower and higher than this region are cut.

On the other hand, on the other hand, the image shift for shifting the pixel needs to be performed, for example, outside the CCD accumulation time as described above, and the frequency component of the driving waveform for shifting the pixel is higher than the frequency component of camera shake.

Therefore, for example, if the signals for blur correction and the signals for pixel shift are added by the adders P, Y 31 and 32 and then the signals are filtered, the image shift for pixel shift is not properly performed. . Therefore, in implementing this case, it is necessary to arrange a filter before the addition.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the variable apex angle prism is used as the image blur correction means, but other optical means, for example, by moving in a plane substantially orthogonal to the optical axis, the light passes. The same effect can be obtained by using a means for deflecting the light flux.

Further, the image blur correcting means other than the optical means, for example, a means for driving the image pickup device itself to correct the image blur may be applied.

As the shake detection sensor, an angular velocity sensor such as a vibration gyro is used, but other sensors such as a displacement sensor, an angular displacement sensor, a velocity sensor, an acceleration sensor and an angular acceleration sensor can also be applied. .

In each of the above embodiments, the image blur correction means is always driven in accordance with both the blur signal and the pixel shift signal, or in response to either of the above two signals. The image blur correction means may be driven.

Further, in the block configuration diagrams of the first to fifth embodiments of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, 10 and 14, it is assumed that the signal for camera shake correction is A and the signal for pixel shift is If the signal is B and the apex angle detection result is C, A + B = C
It is controlled so that

Therefore, since A = CB or B = CA is the same, the block structure may be changed to correspond to the above equation.

[0112]

As described above, according to the present invention as set forth in claim 1, the image blur prevention and the movement of the image by a predetermined amount related to the pixel pitch are performed by the operating means. It is possible to obtain a high-quality image by both the image blur prevention and the image movement of a predetermined amount related to the pixel pitch without increasing the size of the apparatus and increasing the cost.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to select which of the image blur prevention and the predetermined amount of image movement related to the pixel pitch is to be made to function. In addition to the effects of the present invention, it becomes possible to perform an operation that suits the user's intention.

Further, according to the present invention as defined in claim 5, since the focal length and the operation of the light flux changing means for performing a predetermined amount of image movement relating to the pixel pitch are related, An improper operation of the light beam deflecting means does not impair a high-quality image.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the operation state of the light beam deflecting means for moving the image by a predetermined amount related to the pixel pitch is changed in response to the focal length. Therefore, the operation of the light beam deflector can be made to have an appropriate action at any focal length.

According to the present invention as set forth in claim 15,
Since the focal length is controlled in response to the operation state of the light beam deflecting means for performing a predetermined amount of image movement related to the pixel pitch, it is suitable for the operation of the light beam deflecting means to operate properly. The operation of the light beam deflecting means is performed at the focal length, and an appropriate action is always obtained.

According to the present invention, the drive amount of the light beam deflecting means for moving the image by a predetermined amount related to the pixel pitch is changed in response to the focal length. Therefore, in addition to the effect of the present invention described in claim 1, even if the focal length changes, a high-quality image is not damaged.

According to the present invention as defined in claim 12,
In response to the focal length, the operation of moving the light beam deflecting means by a predetermined amount related to the pixel pitch is regulated, so that the light beam deflecting means is prevented from acting inappropriately at a focal length which is not suitable for the operation. You can

According to the present invention as set forth in claim 13,
Since the number of driving steps of the stepwise driving means for performing a predetermined amount of image movement related to the pixel pitch is changed according to the focal length, the effect of the present invention as set forth in claim 5 is obtained. In addition, a high-quality image will not be damaged even if a drive unit that performs a stepwise drive is used.

According to the present invention as defined in claim 16,
In the case where the light beam deflecting means is driven by the driving means for performing the stepwise driving, the focal length is determined in response to whether or not the light beam deflecting means operates. It is possible to maintain a high-quality image in which the light beam deflecting unit does not operate at the focal length suitable for driving.

According to the present invention as set forth in claim 18,
Since the predetermined amount of image movement related to the pixel pitch is performed outside the image accumulation time, the predetermined amount of image movement related to the pixel pitch does not adversely affect the image accumulation.

In each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the variable apex angle prism 14 corresponds to the actuating means and light beam deflecting means of the present invention, and C
PU11, waveform oscillators 29, 30, adders 31, 32,
The voltage determination circuits 21 and 22 correspond to the control means of the present invention,
The switch section inside the adder corresponds to the selecting means of the present invention,
Controlling the outputs of the waveform oscillators 29 and 30 according to the output of the zoom encoder 33 and the zoom encoder corresponds to the related means, the operation state changing means, and the drive amount changing means, and the stepping motors 38 or 44 and 45 deflect the light flux. It corresponds to a driving means for driving the means stepwise, and CP
Step 304 of the operation of U111 corresponds to the driving step number varying means of the present invention, and limiting the settable focal length corresponds to the related means and focal length control means of the present invention.
Automatically turning off the pixel shift corresponds to the regulating means of the present invention, the CCD 1 corresponds to the accumulating means of the present invention, and the on / off switch 34 and the shutter speed control circuit 35 correspond to the operating time control means.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image pickup apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image pickup apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image pickup apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a timing chart showing the operation of the configuration of FIG. 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of main parts of an image pickup apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing a relationship between an image movement amount and a focal length.

7 is a diagram showing the relationship between the amount of movement of an image and the focal length within the allowable pixel shift range of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a table showing a relationship between a focal length and an n number for shifting a pixel.

FIG. 9 is a graph showing the relationship between the focal length and the n number for pixel shifting.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a configuration of an image pickup apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

11 is a flowchart showing control by CPU 111 of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the modified example of the fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the modified example of the fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a configuration of an image pickup apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a relationship between a camera shake angle and an image shake on a screen.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the operation of the variable apex angle prism.

FIG. 17 is a diagram for explaining the principle of image blur correction by the variable apex angle prism.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a drive unit for a variable apex angle prism.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image blur correction device using a variable apex angle prism.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Solid-state image sensor 14 Variable apex angle prism 25, 26 Blurring detector 28, 29 Waveform oscillation circuit

Claims (24)

[Claims] 1. An operating means for changing an image forming position with respect to an image forming surface, a first operation for preventing image blurring, and an image formed on the image forming surface, a pixel pitch of the image forming surface. And a control unit for causing the actuating unit to perform a second operation for moving the operation unit by a predetermined amount. 2. A selection means for selecting at least one of the first and second operation signals, wherein the control means causes the actuation means to perform the operation selected by the selection means. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1. 3. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the actuating means includes a light beam deflecting means for changing the image forming device with respect to the image forming surface by deflecting a light beam. 4. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the actuating means has a driving means for moving the image plane with respect to an incident light beam. 5. The light flux deflecting means is disposed in front of the optical path with respect to at least a part of a lens for changing the focal length, and related means for associating the focal length with the second operation by the light flux deflecting means. The imaging device according to claim 3, further comprising: 6. The associated means is responsive to focal length to
The image pickup apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising an operation state changing means for changing the state of the second operation. 7. The associated means is responsive to focal length to
7. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising drive amount varying means for changing a drive amount of the light beam deflecting means for moving the image by the predetermined amount in the second operation. 8. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the drive amount varying means reduces the drive amount of the light beam deflecting means in response to a longer focal length. 9. The driving means for driving the light flux deflecting means in a stepwise manner, and the associating means is responsive to a focal length, wherein the image in the second operation is a predetermined amount related to a pixel pitch. 8. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising drive stage number varying means for changing the drive stage number driven by the drive means for moving. 10. A step motor is used as the drive means, and the drive step number varying means drives the step motor in order to move an image by the predetermined amount in the second operation in response to a focal length. The imaging device according to claim 9, wherein the number of steps to be performed is changed. 11. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the drive step number varying means reduces the drive step number in response to a longer focal length. 12. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the related unit includes a restricting unit that restricts the second operation in response to a focal length. 13. The focal length state in which the regulation means has an appropriate relationship between a predetermined amount related to the pixel pitch and an image movement amount when the driving means drives by a driving pitch of stepwise driving. 13. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 12, wherein only the second operation is performed. 14. The regulating means is such that the predetermined amount related to the pixel pitch and the image movement amount when the driving means drives an integral multiple of the driving pitch of the stepwise driving are substantially equal to each other. 14. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the second operation is performed only in a focal length state. 15. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the related unit has a focal length control unit for controlling the focal length in response to the state of the second operation. 16. A focal length control means determines a focal length in response to whether or not the second operation is performed, while having a driving means for driving the luminous flux deflecting means in a stepwise manner. 16. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the control for switching is switched. 17. The focal length control means, when the second operation is performed, sets the focal length to a predetermined amount related to the pixel pitch and an integer for the driving pitch of the stepwise driving by the driving means. 3. The focal length is set so that the image movement amount at the time of double driving substantially matches.
The imaging device of 1. 18. A storage unit is provided for storing an image formed on the image formation surface, and the control unit performs the second operation outside the time when the storage by the storage unit is performed. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising operation time control means for controlling the operation. 19. A photoelectric conversion element is provided, and the operation time control means makes a time zone for accumulating charges of the photoelectric conversion element different from a time zone for performing the second operation. Item 18. The image pickup device according to item 18. 20. The operation time control means is responsive to whether or not the second operation is set to be performed,
19. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the storage time of the storage means is controlled. 21. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the operation time control means shortens a storage time by the storage means when the second operation is set to be performed. 22. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit causes the actuating unit to perform an image blur prevention operation in response to a signal corresponding to the image blur. 23. The control means causes the actuating means to perform an operation of moving the image formed on the image forming surface by an integral fraction of the pixel pitch of the image forming surface. Imaging device. 24. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the light flux deflecting means deflects the passing light flux by moving an optical member in the optical path.