INTERCHANGEABLE LENS, CAMERA SYSTEM, AND ITS CONTROL METHOD

• US 20090251548A1
• Filed: 11/09/2006
• Published: 10/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Honjo, Kenichi, Sakaue, Shigeo, Azuma, Makoto
• Granted Patent: US 8,159,542 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/208.400
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/14 interchangeably
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/20 visible in viewfinder
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 19/12 Reflex cameras with single objective and a movable reflector or a partly-transmitting mirror
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2205/0007 Movement of one or more optical elements for control of motion blur imaging systems in general using optical elements for stabilisation of the position of the image G02B27/64
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2205/0046 Movement of one or more optical elements for zooming for optical zoom lenses in general G02B7/10
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2205/0053 Driving means for the movement of one or more optical element
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2217/005 Blur detection
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2217/185 providing indication that the picture may be blurred
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 5/00 Adjustment of optical system relative to image or object surface other than for focusing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/634 Warning indications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/663 for controlling interchangeable camera parts based on electronic image sensor signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/67 Focus control based on electronic image sensor signals

Abstract

To provide an interchangeable lens, a camera body, a camera system, and a method for controlling the same, with which a highly efficient and stable image blur correction effect can be obtained. A camera system (1) has a camera body (10) and an interchangeable lens (20) which is attachable to and detachable from the camera body (10). The camera body (10) has an imaging unit (120) for imaging a subject through the interchangeable lens (20), and a sequence microcomputer (100) capable of sending and receiving information to and from a lens microcomputer (200) and for controlling the imaging operation of an imaging unit (120). The interchangeable lens (20) includes a shake detection unit (201) for detecting shake in the camera system (1), an image blur correction device (210) for adjusting the optical path from a subject to the camera body (10) and thereby correcting the blurring of an image caused by shaking of the camera system (1), and the lens microcomputer (200) capable of sending and receiving information to and from the sequence microcomputer (100), and for controlling the drive of the image blur correction device (210) according to the amount of shake detected by the shake detection unit (201). The imaging optical system of the interchangeable lens (20) includes an aperture unit (206) which can adjust the imaging condition. The lens microcomputer (200) actuates the shake correction device (210) once a first set time has elapsed since the receipt of an adjustment command from the sequence microcomputer (100).

Claims

1. A camera system for imaging a subject, comprising:

a camera body having an imaging unit for imaging the subject, and a body control unit for controlling the operation of the imaging unit; and

an interchangeable lens being attachable to and detachable from the camera body, and including a shake detection unit for detecting shake in the camera system, an image blur correction unit for adjusting the optical path from the subject to the camera body and thereby correcting the blurring of an image caused by shaking of the camera system, a lens control unit for controlling the drive of the image blur correction unit according to the amount of shake detected by the shake detection unit, and an imaging optical system for conducting the optical image of the subject to the imaging unit,

wherein the body control unit can send and receive information to and from the lens control unit,

the imaging optical system includes a condition adjustment unit which can adjust an imaging condition, and

the lens control unit starts an adjustment operation in the condition adjustment unit based on an adjustment command sent from the body control unit for adjusting the imaging condition, and actuates the image blur correction unit once a first set time has elapsed since the receipt of the adjustment command.

2. The camera system according to claim 1,

wherein the condition adjustment unit includes an aperture adjustment unit which can adjust an aperture in the imaging optical system,

the body control unit sends the adjustment command almost simultaneously with the start of the exposure preparation, and

the lens control unit starts an adjustment operation in the aperture adjustment unit based on the adjustment command.

3. The camera system according to claims 2,

wherein the body control unit sends the required exposure preparation time from the start of the exposure preparation until the completion thereof in the camera body to the lens control unit, prior to sending the adjustment command, and

the lens control unit determines the first set time based on the exposure preparation time and a required correction stabilization time from the actuation of the image blur correction unit until a predetermined image blur correction effect is obtained.

4. The camera system according to claim 2,

wherein the first set time is set in advance in the lens control unit.

5. The camera system according to claim 4,

wherein the first set time is zero, and

the lens control unit actuates the image blur correction unit almost simultaneously with the time which the adjustment operation is started in the aperture adjustment unit, based on the adjustment command.

6. The camera system according to claim 1,

wherein the condition adjustment unit includes a focus adjustment unit which can adjust the focus position of the imaging optical system, and

the lens control unit starts an adjustment operation in the focus adjustment unit based on the adjustment command.

7. The camera system according to claim 6,

wherein the body control unit sends a second set time from the start of the adjustment operation of the condition adjustment unit until the completion of the exposure preparation to the lens control unit, prior to sending the adjustment command, and

the lens control unit determines the first set time based on the second set time and a required correction stabilization time from the actuation of the image blur correction unit until a predetermined image blur correction effect is obtained.

8. The camera system according to claim 3,

wherein the camera body further includes an information display unit for displaying information related to the camera body, and

the body control unit includes a time counting unit for performing a time count from the point when the adjustment command is sent to the lens control unit until the exposure of the imaging unit is begun, and a warning unit for displaying a warning on the information display unit if the time count in the time counting unit is shorter than the exposure preparation time.

9. The camera system according to claim 7,

wherein the camera body further includes an information display unit for displaying information related to the camera body, and

the body control unit includes a time counting unit for performing a time count from the point when the adjustment command is sent to the lens control unit until the exposure of the imaging unit is begun, and a warning unit for displaying a warning on the information display unit if the time count in the time counting unit is shorter than the second set time.

10. An interchangeable lens which is used in a camera system for imaging a subject and is attachable to and detachable from a camera body including an imaging unit for imaging the subject and a body control unit for controlling the imaging operation of the imaging unit, the interchangeable lens comprising:

a shake detection unit for detecting shake in the camera system;

an image blur correction unit for adjusting the optical path from the subject to the camera body and thereby correcting the blurring of an image caused by shaking of the camera system;

a lens control unit for controlling the drive of the image blur correction unit according to the amount of shake detected by the shake detection unit; and

an imaging optical system for leading the optical image of the subject to the imaging unit;

wherein the lens control unit which can send and receive information to and from the body control unit,

the imaging optical system includes a condition adjustment unit which can adjust an imaging condition, and

the lens control unit starts an adjustment operation in the condition adjustment unit based on an adjustment command sent from the body control unit for adjusting the imaging condition, and actuates the image blur correction unit once a first set time has elapsed since the receipt of the adjustment command.

11. A method for controlling a camera system including a camera body having an imaging unit for imaging a subject and a body control unit for controlling the operation of the imaging unit, and an interchangeable lens which is attachable to and detachable from the camera body and has a shake detection unit for detecting shake in the camera system, an image blur correction unit for adjusting the optical path from the subject to the camera body and thereby correcting the blurring of an image caused by shaking of the camera system, a lens control unit for controlling the drive of the image blur correction unit according to the amount of shake detected by the shake detection unit, and an imaging optical system for leading the optical image of the subject to the imaging unit, the method comprising:

a step in which the imaging condition is adjusted by a condition adjustment unit which can adjust the imaging condition of the imaging optical system, based on an adjustment command from the body control unit; and

a step in which the image blur correction unit is actuated once a first set time has elapsed since the lens control unit received the adjustment command.