Imaging apparatus

• US 20050168586A1
• Filed: 01/27/2005
• Published: 08/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Tsubusaki, Akihiro
• Granted Patent: US 8,059,156 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/208.990
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32496 Changing the task performed, e.g. reading and transmitting, receiving and reproducing, copying facsimile mode changing H04N1/333
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/58 Means for changing the camera field of view without moving the camera body, e.g. nutating or panning of optics or image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/68 for stable pick-up of the scene, e.g. compensating for camera body vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/687 by shifting the lens or sensor position

Abstract

In an imaging apparatus, a control unit can operate in one of a first mode which corresponds to an image capturing mode and which controls an image-blur correcting unit, and a second mode corresponding to a playback mode. When the image capturing mode is switched to the playback mode, the control unit operates in the first mode during a predetermined time after switching to the playback mode, and then operates in the second mode after the predetermined time period has elapsed. This makes it possible to immediately obtain an anti-shake effect even if the playback mode is switched to the image capturing mode.

Claims

1. An imaging apparatus capable of operating in at least one of an image capturing mode to capture an image and a playback mode to playback the captured image, comprising:

an image-blur correcting unit configured to correct blurring of the captured image; and

a control unit controlling the image-blur correcting unit,

wherein the control unit controls the image-blur correcting unit to operate in at least one of a first mode corresponding to the image capturing mode, and a second mode corresponding to the playback mode, and

wherein the control unit controls the image-blur correcting unit so that, responsive to the image apparatus switching operation from the image capturing mode to the playback mode, the image-blur correcting unit operates in the first mode during a predetermined time after switching to the playback mode, and then operates in the second mode after the predetermined period has elapsed.

2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an operating member facilitating switching between the image capturing mode and the playback mode.

3. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, responsive to the imaging apparatus being set to the playback mode at activation of the imaging apparatus, the control unit operates in the second mode, and wherein, responsive to the imaging apparatus switching from the image capturing mode to the playback mode after activation of the imaging apparatus, the control unit operates in the first mode during the predetermined time after switching to the playback mode, and then operates in the second mode after lapse of the predetermined time.

4. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, responsive to the imaging apparatus switching from the image capturing mode to the playback mode, the control unit performs time measurement, and the control unit operates in the first mode until a value obtained by the time measurement is less than the predetermined time, and operates in the second mode after the value is equal to or greater than the predetermined time.

5. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in the second mode, the control unit stops driving the image-blur correcting unit.

6. The imaging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the image-blur correcting unit corrects blurring by driving an optical element of the imaging apparatus, and

wherein, in the second mode, the control unit controls the image-blur correcting unit to stop driving the optical element.

7. The imaging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the image-blur correcting unit includes a sensor operable to detect shaking of the imaging apparatus, and

wherein, in the second mode, the control unit stops operation of the sensor.

8. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image-blur correcting unit corrects blurring by driving an optical element of the imaging apparatus, and

wherein, in the second mode, the image-blur correcting unit drives the optical element in a driving range shorter than that in the first mode.

9. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in the second mode, the image-blur correcting unit has power consumption less than that in the first mode.

10. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined time is set based on a setting by a manufacturer or a user.

11. A method of controlling an imaging apparatus operable in an image capturing mode and a playback mode, the method comprising the following steps:

determining whether the imaging apparatus is set to the image capturing mode or the playback mode at activation of the imaging apparatus;

if it is determined that the imaging apparatus is set to the image capturing mode at activation, activating an anti-shaking mode of the imaging apparatus and then initiating image capturing;

determining whether the image capturing mode has been switched to the playback mode;

if it is determined that the image capturing mode has been switched to the playback mode, measuring a time value from time of switching to the playback mode;

if the time value measured in the measuring step is equal to or greater than a predetermined time, deactivating the anti-shaking mode of the imaging apparatus;

if the time value measured in the measuring step is less than the predetermined time, determining whether the playback mode as been switched to the image capturing mode; and

if it is determined that the image playback mode has been switched to the image capturing mode, initiating image capturing.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the step of activating the anti-shaking mode includes:

receiving a current position of an optical element of the imaging apparatus;

calculating a target position of the optical element; and

driving the optical element from the current position received in the receiving step to the target position calculated in the calculating step.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the step of activating the anti-shaking mode includes setting to a first power mode.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the step of deactivating the anti-shaking mode includes stop driving the lens element.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the step of deactivating the anti-shaking mode includes reducing a range of driving the lens element.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein the step of deactivating the anti-shaking mode includes setting to a second power mode.

17. The method according to claim 13, further comprising setting the predetermined time based on a setting by a manufacturer or a user.