KR19990076294A - Zoom position displacement compensation device of the zoom lens and its method - Google Patents

Abstract

The zoom position displacement compensating device of the zoom lens is used when the zoom lens is moved from the first zoom position, which is a position normally moved by the driving unit according to the operation of the zooming switch, to the second zoom position by an external force. In addition, the microcontroller drives the driving unit to move the zoom lens back to the first zoom position, and it is possible to prevent the camera from taking a picture such as being out of focus, underexposed or overexposed according to the change of the zoom position. It is possible to improve the reliability of the photographing operation.

Description

Zoom position displacement compensation device of the zoom lens and its method

The present invention relates to a zoom position displacement compensation device and method thereof of a zoom lens. More specifically, in a camera equipped with a zoom lens, the zoom position displacement is compensated when the zoom position of the zoom lens is changed by an external force during shooting. The present invention relates to a zoom position displacement compensation device of a zoom lens and a method thereof.

First, a conventional zoom lens driving will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10 is a flowchart of operation of a conventional camera.

As shown in FIG. 10, the user moves the zoom lens to a desired zoom position by using a separately mounted zoom button, and presses the shutter button to photograph an arbitrary subject. According to the force of the user pressing the shutter button, the release switch is sequentially operated in the release 1 stage and the release 2 stage.

When the release switch is operated in the release 1 stage, subject luminance and subject distance measurements are made, the exposure time is calculated according to the measured subject distance, brightness and zoom position, and the AF step of the shooting lens is set according to the set zoom position and subject distance. It is determined (S110 to S120).

Next, when the release switch is operated in the second release stage, the lens for adjusting the focus of the zoom lens is moved to the AF step determined above, and the shutter is operated according to the calculated exposure time (S130 to S140).

However, conventionally, the zoom position of the zoom lens is adjusted according to the user's operation of the zoom button before shooting, and then the shooting operation is performed immediately according to the release switch, so that the zoom position of the zoom lens is changed by an external force when shooting. Even if a problem occurs that does not compensate accordingly.

Therefore, by adjusting the focus according to the AF step corresponding to the zoom position before the conversion, a picture out of focus is taken.

In addition, since exposure is performed during the exposure time calculated according to the zoom position before the change, an unwanted picture such as underexposure or overexposure occurs.

Therefore, the technical problem to be achieved by the present invention is to compensate for this when the zoom lens is out of the set zoom position before shooting, so as to prevent a focusing error due to the change in the zoom position.

In addition, another technical problem of the present invention is to prevent underexposure and overexposure due to the change in the zoom position.

In addition, another technical problem of the present invention is to lock the shooting and warn the user when the zoom position displacement compensation operation is not normally performed, so as to prevent the shooting failure in advance.

1 is a block diagram of a zoom position displacement compensator according to an embodiment of the present invention;

2 is a detailed configuration diagram of a driving unit according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a block diagram of a microcontroller according to an embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a diagram showing an example in which the zoom position displacement compensation process according to the first embodiment of the present invention is applied;

5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of measuring a first zoom position of a zoom lens according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

6 is an operation flowchart of the zoom position displacement compensation method according to the first example of the first embodiment of this invention,

7 is an operation flowchart of the zoom position displacement compensation method according to the second example of the first embodiment of this invention,

8 is an operation flowchart of a zoom position displacement compensation method according to the first example of the second embodiment of this invention,

Fig. 9 is an operation flowchart of the zoom position displacement compensation method according to the second example of the second embodiment of this invention,

10 is a flowchart of operation of a conventional camera.

In order to solve this problem, in the present invention, the zoom position detector detects the zoom position of the zoom lens and outputs the corresponding signal before shooting in the zoom camera, and the microcontroller determines whether the zoom position is shifted according to the signal output from the zoom position detector. When the zoom position displacement occurs, the zoom lens is moved back to the zoom position before the displacement occurs to compensate for the displacement.

The above zoom position displacement compensation process may be performed when an arbitrary switch for selecting an arbitrary function of a zoom camera is operated, and the microcontroller continuously checks whether or not a zoom position displacement occurs according to a signal output from the zoom position detector. It may be performed every time a displacement occurs.

Then, with respect to the zoom position displacement compensation device of the zoom lens according to an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is most preferred that those skilled in the art can easily implement the present invention Examples will be described in detail.

As shown in FIG. 1, a configuration of a zoom position displacement compensator of a zoom lens according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a release switch S1 that operates in a first release and a second release in conjunction with a shutter button, and a zooming switch ( S2, the shooting mode switch S3, the flash mode switch S4, the zoom position detecting unit 10 for detecting the zoom position of the zoom lens, and the switches S1 to S4 and the zoom position detecting unit 10 A microcontroller 20 connected to an output terminal to output a plurality of control signals for performing a zoom position displacement compensation operation of the zoom lens, and a zoom lens to a corresponding position according to a control signal applied to an output terminal of the microcontroller 20. The lens driving unit 30 to be moved, and the information display unit 40 for displaying whether or not the normal operation of the zoom operation in accordance with the applied control signal.

The lens driver 30 includes a motor 31 driven according to a control signal of the microcontroller 20 and at least one gear, and a zoom gear for transmitting power generated by driving the motor 31 to a zoom lens. It consists of parts A-G.

The configuration of the zoom gears A to G of the lens driving unit 30 according to the embodiment of the present invention is schematically shown in FIG. 2, which is a zoom motor gear A interlocking with the motor 31. And a plurality of zoom gears B to G which transmit rotational power generated in association with the zoom motor gear A to the barrel 35 of the zoom lens.

The zoom position detector 10 is mounted to the barrel 35 of the zoom lens and is configured to rotate in conjunction with the initial position detector 11 for detecting the initial position of the zoom lens and the zoom gears A to G. And a pulse generator 13 for outputting a pulse signal corresponding to the rotation amount.

The pulse generator 13 includes a photo coupler 131 including a light emitting diode and a light receiving transistor, and a plurality of slits are formed at predetermined intervals, and the detection plate rotates in conjunction with the zoom gears A to G. 133).

The zoom position detector 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the above-described pulse generator, but may use an encoder or the like.

The microcontroller 20 according to the embodiment of the present invention has a bus 23 for transmitting data and control signals, a zoom position detector 10 and a plurality of switches S1 to S4, as shown in FIG. In accordance with the input port 22 to receive a plurality of signals connected to the output terminal of the output to the bus 23 and the plurality of signals connected through the input port 22 connected to the bus 23 A central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as CPU) 24 which outputs a plurality of control signals for performing the zoom position displacement compensation operation on the bus 23 and clock signals necessary for the operation of the CPU 24 are provided. An output oscillator 25, a ROM (ROM) 26 storing an operation program necessary for basic operation of the CPU 24, a RAM (RAM) 27 storing a plurality of data on the bus 23; And an output for outputting a control signal connected to and applied to the bus 23 to a corresponding device. A port 28 is connected to the EEPROM 29 which is a storage device on the bus 23.

The operation of the zoom position displacement compensation device of the zoom lens according to the embodiment of the present invention by the above configuration is as follows.

First, the operation of the zoom position displacement compensation device of the zoom lens according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In the zoom position displacement compensation processing of the zoom lens according to the first embodiment of the present invention, a release switch S1 for performing a photographing operation is activated, or a shooting mode selection switch S3 for selecting a shooting mode or a flash mode. When the flash mode selection switch S4 or the like is operated, it is performed according to the routines shown in FIGS.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 4A, when the release switch S1 is operated, the zoom position displacement compensation processing of the zoom lens is performed (S1100 to S1200), and then the subject distance and subject luminance measurement operations are performed. Then, the lens is dimmed by the calculated AF step, and photographing is performed according to the calculated exposure time (S1300 to S1600).

In addition, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the shooting mode selection switch S3 for setting the arbitrary shooting mode of the camera is operated, the zoom position displacement compensation process of the zoom lens is performed, and then the corresponding shooting mode is set ( S2100 to S2300). When determining whether the shooting mode setting is completed, if the shooting mode selection switch S3 for setting another shooting mode is reactivated, the corresponding shooting mode is set, and the shooting mode selection switch S3 does not resume within a predetermined time End the shooting mode setting operation.

Normally, each time the shooting mode selector switch (S3) is operated, the shooting mode is the fuzzy mode. It is set sequentially in the portrait mode and the like.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 4C, when the flash mode selection switch S4 for setting an arbitrary flash mode of the camera is operated, the zoom position displacement compensation processing of the zoom lens is performed, and then the corresponding flash mode is set ( S3100 to S3300). When determining whether the flash mode setting is completed, if the flash mode selection switch S4 for setting another flash mode is restarted, the flash mode is set, and the flash mode selection switch S4 does not restart within a certain time. Ends the flash mode setting operation.

In general, whenever the flash mode selection switch S4 is operated, the flash mode is sequentially set to a red-eye reduction mode, a forced flash mode, and the like.

As described above, in the first embodiment of the present invention, when the arbitrary switch for selecting any function of the camera except the zoom switch is operated, the zoom position displacement compensation processing operation of the zoom lens is performed.

In addition, the zoom position displacement compensation processing operation of the zoom lens may be performed whenever the arbitrary switch for selecting any function of the camera except the zoom switch is operated.

When the zoom position displacement compensation processing routine of the zoom lens starts, first, the microcontroller 20 reads from the EEPROM 29 the zoom position of the zoom lens set in accordance with the operation of the zooming switch S2, that is, the first zoom position.

The first zoom position of the zoom lens is measured according to the routine shown in FIG. When the zoom lens is moved to a desired zoom position of a tele or wide end according to a user's manipulation of the zooming switch S2, the microcontroller 20 according to a signal output from the zoom position detector 10 is used. The final stop position at which the zoom lens is normally moved by the zoom driver 30, that is, the lens driver 30, is detected.

More specifically, when a signal corresponding to the operation of the zooming switch S2 is input through the input port 22 (S4100), the CPU 24 of the microcontroller 20 moves the zoom lens to the tele end or the wide end. Outputs a drive signal for the bus 23. The drive signal output on the bus 23 is applied to the lens driver 30 through the output port 25.

When the motor 31 of the zoom lens driver 30 rotates in an arbitrary direction according to the driving signal, the zoom gears 33, A to G rotate in synchronization with the rotation of the motor 31, and thus occur. When the rotational power is transmitted to the barrel 35 of the zoom lens, the zoom lens is moved to the tele end or the wide end (S4200). The direction in which the zoom lens moves to the tele end or the wide end is changed according to the rotation direction of the motor 31.

At this time, as the zoom gear unit 33 rotates, the detection plate 133 of the zoom position detecting unit 10 also rotates, so that light emitted from the light emitting diode of the photo coupler 131 is incident or incident on the light receiving transistor. It doesn't work.

That is, when the detection plate 133 rotates and the portion where the slit is formed is located on the photo coupler 131, the light emitted from the light emitting diode does not pass through the slit and enter the light receiving transistor, and the slit is formed. When no part is positioned on the photo coupler 131, the light emitted from the light emitting diode is reflected by the detection plate 133 and is incident again to the light receiving transistor. Accordingly, the pulse generator 11 outputs a pulse signal corresponding to whether light is received.

As described above, when a reference signal is output from the initial position detector 11 that detects a reference point (which is set based on an arbitrary point formed on the barrel) as a reference for zoom position detection according to the rotation of the motor 31, the microcontroller ( The CPU 24 of 20 measures the amount of rotation of the motor 31 by counting the pulse signal output from the pulse generator 13, and accordingly detects the first zoom position of the zoom lens (S4300).

When the movement of the zoom lens to the corresponding position is completed, the microcontroller 20 stores the detected first zoom position in the EEPROM 29 which is a storage device (S4400 to S4500). It is also possible to store the measured zoom position in the RAM 27 which is a storage device.

As such, the first zoom position of the zoom lens is measured every time the zooming switch S2 is operated and stored in the EEPROM 27. In all embodiments of the present invention, the first zoom position is measured according to the zooming switch S2. It is assumed as a precondition.

First, a zoom position displacement compensating apparatus for a zoom lens according to a first example of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

As shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C, operating the release switch S1 to shoot at the current zoom position corresponding to the composition observed through the finder, or selecting a shooting mode such as a snap shooting mode. By operating the flash mode switch S4 for selecting the flash mode such as the red-eye shooting mode, or the like, the microcontroller 20 performs the operation according to the routine shown in FIG. The zoom position displacement compensation process according to the first example of the first embodiment of the invention is performed.

First, the CPU 24 of the microcontroller 20 reads the first zoom position (S50), and re-names the current zoom position of the zoom lens (hereinafter referred to as a second zoom position) according to a signal applied from the position detector 10. ) Is measured (S100). Next, the first zoom position is read from the EEPROM 29 to determine whether the second zoom position coincides with the second zoom position. When the second zoom position does not coincide with the first zoom position, the zoom lens is driven by the lens driver 30. It is judged to be out of a certain distance by a forced force from the outside in the normally moved position.

When the second zoom position does not coincide with the first zoom position, the CPU 24 first starts an internal timer (not shown) to start counting the first set time for determining whether a zoom operation error occurs. In operation S120, a driving signal is output on the bus 23 so that the zoom lens moves to the first zoom position. As the motor 31 of the lens driving unit 30 rotates in the corresponding direction according to the driving signal, the zoom lens moves to the first zoom position (S130).

The CPU 24 determines whether the zoom lens is moved to the first zoom position according to a signal applied from the zoom position detector 10 (S140), and when the first zoom time has not been moved to the first zoom position, elapses of the first preset time. It is determined whether or not (S150).

In the case where the zoom lens is not moved to the first zoom position for the first set time to elapse, an abnormality occurs on the lens driving unit 30 or an abnormality occurs on the zoom lens barrel side, and thus the lens movement is not normally performed. It determines that the zoom operation error processing.

Next, the CPU 24 of the microcontroller 20 outputs an error generation signal on the bus 23 to display the current zoom operation error occurrence state in the user, and the error occurrence signal is outputted through the output port. 40 is entered. Accordingly, the information display unit 40 is driven according to the error occurrence signal to indicate that the current zoom lens is not normally moved (S160 to S170).

Next, the CPU 24 performs a release lock process so that photographing is not performed while the zoom lens is not moved to the normal zoom position. In the present invention, even when a signal corresponding to the operation of the release switch S1 is input by software, the microcontroller 20 performs a release lock process so as not to perform a photographing operation. However, the release lock process is not limited thereto, and may be processed in hardware using a separate release lock device.

Unlike the above, when the second zoom position coincides with the first zoom position or when the zoom lens is moved to the first zoom position within the first preset time, the routine returns to the routine shown in FIG. Performs the mode setting or flash mode setting operation.

Accordingly, even when the zoom position displacement of the zoom lens occurs, the zoom lens is moved to the zoom position before the displacement occurs again, so that normal shooting is performed according to the AF step and exposure time according to the previous zoom position.

Next, a zoom position displacement compensation process according to a second example of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

In the zoom position displacement compensation process according to the second example of the first embodiment of the present invention, after the shooting is performed at the first zoom position set according to the zooming switch operation and a predetermined time has elapsed, the finder is not operated again without the zooming switch being operated. Although the zoom position corresponding to the composition observed through the second zoom position is changed by a certain distance by an external force, when the current zoom lens is to be taken at the second zoom position, the zoom lens according to the first example described above Is moved back to the first zoom position to prevent the photographing from being made according to the composition intended by the photographer.

As shown in Fig. 7, as in the first example of the first embodiment, it is determined whether the first zoom position and the second zoom position coincide (S200 to S210), and the second zoom position is equal to the first zoom position. If it does not match, the zoom lens is moved to the first zoom position again (S220 to S230). If the zoom lens is not moved to the first zoom position for the first set time, the zoom operation error is displayed and the release lock is performed (S240). S280).

However, when the zoom lens is moved to the first zoom position within the first preset time, the CPU 21 of the microcontroller 20 starts to count the second preset time by driving an internal timer (not shown). In operation S290, a driving signal for moving the zoom lens to the second zoom position is output. Accordingly, the lens driver 30 moves the zoom lens to the second zoom position corresponding to the composition observed by the user through the finder (S230).

If the zoom lens is not moved to the second zoom position for the second set time, the information display unit 40 is driven as described above to indicate that an error has occurred in the zoom operation, and the release lock process is performed. When it is moved to the second zoom position within the second preset time, the routine returns to the routine shown in Fig. 4, respectively, to perform the shooting operation and the mode setting operation.

Therefore, even when the zoom position displacement compensation process is performed, imaging can be performed according to the current zoom position corresponding to the composition observed by the user through the finder.

Next, the operation of the zoom position displacement compensator of the zoom lens according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In the zoom position displacement compensation process of the zoom lens according to the second embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 5, the first zoom position according to the zooming switch S2 is measured, The controller 20 continuously checks whether the zoom position of the zoom lens is changed, and is automatically performed when a zoom position displacement occurs.

First, the operation of the zoom position displacement compensator of the zoom lens according to the first example of the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

The CPU 24 of the microcontroller 20 reads the first zoom position, and then continuously determines whether the zoom position of the zoom lens is changed, that is, moved according to a signal applied from the zoom position detector 10. When the level of the signal output from the zoom position detector 10 is changed, the CPU 24 determines that the zoom lens is in a moving state, and determines whether the zoom lens is in a moving state according to the operation of the zooming switch S2 (S400). S410).

When the signal corresponding to the operation of the zooming switch S2 is not input in the above, it is determined that the zoom lens is moved by an external force, and the pulse signal output from the zoom position detection unit 10 is counted. When the zoom lens is no longer moved, the zoom lens detects the second zoom position moved by an external force according to the counted signal.

After checking whether the zoom lens is moved as described above, the second zoom position corresponding to the zoom position displacement occurs is measured, and then the CPU 24 of the microcontroller 20 is the same as the first example of the first embodiment. After counting the first set time, the zoom lens is moved to the first zoom position, which is the final stop position moved by the lens driver 30, and the zoom lens is moved to the first zoom position to allow the first set time to elapse. If not, the zoom operation error display and release lock are performed (S460 to S530).

Next, with reference to Fig. 9, the operation of the zoom position displacement compensation device of the zoom lens according to the second example of the second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The CPU 24 of the microcontroller 20 according to the second example of the second embodiment of the present invention continuously checks whether or not the zoom lens is moved and sets the second zoom position as in the first example of the second embodiment. It measures (S600-S650).

Next, similarly to the second example of the first embodiment, even if the zoom position corresponding to the composition observed by the user through the finder is the second zoom position which is changed by a certain distance by an external force, the current zoom lens is positioned. When the user wants to shoot at the second zoom position, in order to prevent the zoom lens from being moved back to the first zoom position, when the zoom lens is moved to the first zoom position, the zoom lens is moved back to the second zoom position (S660 to S720).

Also, when the zoom lens is not moved to the first zoom position within the first preset time or does not move to the second zoom position within the second preset time, the zoom operation error is the same as in the second example of the first embodiment described above. The display and release lock are performed (S730 to S760).

According to the present invention operating as described above, even if the zoom position displacement occurs in the camera, compensation is made before the shooting, thereby preventing the focusing error from occurring, thereby producing the effect of photographing a precisely focused image.

In addition, even when the zoom position shift occurs, there is an effect that the photograph of underexposure or overexposure is prevented from being taken.

In addition, since the user can easily know a state in which the zooming operation is not normally performed, the effect of preventing a photographing failure occurs in advance.

In addition, it produces an effect that can improve the reliability of photographing the zoom camera.

Claims (20)

A zoom position detector for detecting a zoom position at which the zoom lens is located and outputting a corresponding electrical signal; A microcontroller detecting a zoom position according to the signal output from the zoom position detector to determine whether the zoom position is changed, and outputting a driving signal for moving the zoom lens to a zoom position before the zoom lens is changed when the zoom position of the zoom lens is changed; ; And a driving unit for moving the zoom lens in accordance with the driving signal. The method of claim 1, It further comprises a zooming switch for moving the zoom lens to tele end or wide end, And the micro controller detects whether the zoom position is changed by detecting the zoom position according to the signal output from the zoom position detector when there is no signal input by the zooming switch. The method of claim 1, It further comprises an information display unit for displaying whether or not an error occurs in the zoom operation, The microcontroller starts to count the first set time when the zoom lens is to be moved to the zoom position before the change, and when the zoom lens is not moved to the zoom position before the change so that the first set time elapses, A zoom position displacement compensation device for a zoom lens, characterized in that for driving the information display unit to display the occurrence of the zoom operation error. The method of claim 3, The microcontroller does not perform a photographing operation even when a signal for performing a photographing operation is applied when a zoom operation error occurs. The method of claim 1, wherein the zoom position detector, And a pulse generator for generating a corresponding pulse signal in response to the movement of the zoom lens, and an initial position detector for detecting an initial position which is a reference for zoom position measurement. The method of claim 5, The microcontroller measures the zoom position of the zoom lens by counting the pulse signal output from the pulse generator based on the signal output from the initial position detector, the zoom position displacement compensation device of the zoom lens. A zoom position detector for detecting a zoom position at which the zoom lens is located; A driving unit for moving the zoom lens; A storage unit for storing a first zoom position of the zoom lens moved by the driving unit; A zoom controller, wherein the zoom controller detects that the zoom position detected by the zoom position detector does not coincide with the first zoom position, and controls the zoom lens to move to the first zoom position. Position displacement compensation device. Multiple switches, including zooming switches, A zoom position detector for detecting a zoom position at which the zoom lens is located; A driving unit for moving the zoom lens; A storage unit for storing a first zoom position of the zoom lens moved by the driving unit according to the zooming switch operation; According to the operation of the zooming switch, the first zoom position where the zoom lens is moved by the driving unit is compared with the second zoom position of the zoom lens detected when the switch except the zooming switch is operated. And a microcontroller for controlling the zoom lens to move to the first zoom position when the second zoom position does not coincide. The method of claim 8, It further comprises an information display unit for displaying whether or not an error occurs in the zoom operation, The microcontroller starts to count the first set time when the zoom lens is to be moved to the first zoom position, and when the zoom lens is not moved to the first zoom position so that the first set time elapses, A zoom position displacement compensation device for a zoom lens, characterized in that for driving the information display unit to display the occurrence of the zoom operation error. The method of claim 9, The microcontroller does not perform a photographing operation even when a signal for performing a photographing operation is applied when a zoom operation error occurs. The method of claim 8, wherein the microcontroller, And when the zoom lens is moved to the first zoom position, driving the driving unit again to move the zoom lens to the second zoom position. The method of claim 11, The microcontroller starts to count the second set time when the zoom lens is to be moved to the second zoom position, and when the zoom lens is not moved to the second zoom position so that the second set time elapses, A zoom position displacement compensation device for a zoom lens, characterized in that for driving the information display unit to display the occurrence of the zoom operation error. The method of claim 12, The microcontroller does not perform a photographing operation even when a signal for performing a photographing operation is applied when a zoom operation error occurs. Detecting a zoom position of the zoom lens; Determining whether the zoom position of the zoom lens is changed; And when the zoom position of the zoom lens is changed, moving the zoom lens to the zoom position before the change again. The method of claim 14, A zoom position displacement compensation method of a zoom lens, characterized in that it detects whether the zoom position of the zoom lens changes when a switch for selecting any function except the zooming switch is operated. The method of claim 14, In the step of moving the zoom lens to the zoom position before the change again, Starting to count the first set time; And indicating that a zoom operation error has occurred, when the zoom lens is not moved to the zoom position before the first change of time has elapsed. The method of claim 16, And a step of not performing a photographing operation even when a signal for performing a photographing operation is applied when a zooming operation error occurs. The method of claim 14, And moving the zoom lens to the changed zoom position again if the zoom lens is moved to the zoom position before the zoom lens is changed. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein when moving the zoom lens to the changed zoom position again, When the second set time starts counting and the zoom lens does not move to the changed zoom position so that the second set time elapses, indicating the occurrence of a zoom operation error, the zoom position of the zoom lens further comprising Displacement compensation method. The method of claim 19, And a step of not performing a photographing operation even when a signal for performing a photographing operation is applied when a zooming operation error occurs.