IMAGER APPARATUS

• US 20080158406A1
• Filed: 12/17/2007
• Published: 07/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: ITO, Junichi
• Application Number:
  US11/957,516
• Publication Number:
  US 20080158406A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/335
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/52 Elements optimising image sensor operation, e.g. for electromagnetic interference [EMI] protection or temperature control by heat transfer or cooling elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/811 by dust removal, e.g. from surfaces of the image sensor or processing of the image signal output by the electronic image sensor

Abstract

In an imager apparatus, an optical member protecting an imaging element is vibrated. Dust is thereby removed from the optical member. A vibration member can vibrate the optical member in a plurality of conditions. A photographing-mode setting unit sets a photographing mode. A vibration-condition changes unit changes the condition in which the vibration member vibrates the optical member, in accordance with the photographing mode set by the photographing-mode setting unit.

Claims

1. An imager apparatus comprising:

an imaging unit which includes an imaging element, an optical low pass filter located in front of the imaging element, and an optical member located in front of the optical low pass filter, the optical member being vibrated to remove dust from the optical member;

a vibration member which vibrates the optical member for a predetermined time;

a photographing-condition setting unit which sets a photographing condition; and

a vibration-time changing unit which changes the predetermined time for which the vibration member vibrates the optical member, in accordance with the photographing condition set by the photographing-condition setting unit.

2. An imager apparatus comprising:

an imaging unit which includes an imaging element, an optical low pass filter located in front of the imaging element, and an optical member located in front of the optical low pass filter, the optical member being vibrated to remove dust from the optical member;

a vibration member which vibrates the optical member;

a photographing-condition setting unit which sets a photographing condition; and

a vibration-timing setting unit which sets a timing at which the vibration member is operated, in accordance with the photographing condition set by the photographing-condition setting unit,

wherein the photographing-condition setting unit sets exposure time or selects an exposure operation in a bulb state.

3. An imager apparatus comprising:

an imaging unit which includes an imaging element, an optical low pass filter located in front of the imaging element, and an optical member located in front of the optical low pass filter, the optical member being vibrated to remove dust from the optical member;

a vibration member which vibrates the optical member;

a photographing-condition setting unit which sets a photographing condition; and

an operation-timing setting unit which sets a timing at which the vibration member is operated, in accordance with the photographing condition set by the photographing-condition setting unit,

wherein the operation-timing setting unit causes the vibration member to operate during an exposure operation of the imaging element, in accordance with the condition set by the photographing-condition setting unit.

4. An imager apparatus comprising:

an imaging unit which includes an imaging element, an optical low pass filter located in front of the imaging element, and an optical member located in front of the optical low pass filter, the optical member being vibrated to remove dust from the optical member;

a vibration member which vibrates the optical member;

a photographing-condition setting unit which sets a photographing condition; and

an operation-timing setting unit which sets a timing at which the vibration member is operated, in accordance with the photographing condition set by the photographing-condition setting unit,

wherein the operation-timing setting unit causes the vibration member to intermittently operate during an exposure operation of the imaging element, in accordance with the condition set by the photographing-condition setting unit.

5. An imager apparatus comprising:

an imaging unit which includes an imaging element, an optical low pass filter located in front of the imaging element, and an optical member located in front of the optical low pass filter, the optical member being vibrated to remove dust from the optical member;

a vibration member which vibrates the optical member;

a photographing-condition setting unit which sets a photographing condition; and

a vibration-time changing unit which changes the predetermined time for which the vibration member vibrates the optical member, in accordance with the photographing condition set by the photographing-condition setting unit, wherein the vibration-time changing unit increases the predetermined time, when the photographing-condition setting unit sets a high resolution as a resolution for images to be photographed.