IMAGING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR, AND EXTERNAL DEVICE

• US 20180255223A1
• Filed: 03/02/2018
• Published: 09/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Ichihara, Atsushi
• Granted Patent: US 10,511,784 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/663 for controlling interchangeable camera parts based on electronic image sensor signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/667 Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/67 Focus control based on electronic image sensor signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/6812 based on additional sensors, e.g. acceleration sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/6815 by distinguishing pan or tilt from motion
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/682 Vibration or motion blur correction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/684 performed by controlling the image sensor readout, e.g. by controlling the integration time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/73 by influencing the exposure time

Abstract

An imaging apparatus includes a shake detection unit in the main body and detects an amount of the shaking. A system control unit acquires frequency information by communication from an external device mounted on the main body. If the system control unit determines that a drive frequency of the external device mounted on the main body interferes with a drive frequency of the shake detection unit in a case where a mode that supports panning is set and panning of the imaging apparatus is performed, it corrects a shutter speed for panning and suppresses the influence caused by the interferences.

Claims

1. An imaging apparatus having a main body on which an external device can be mounted comprising:

a detector configured to detect shake of the main body; and

a controller configured to control an exposure time of an imaging unit based on a detection signal generated by the detector and frequency information of the external device mounted on the main body.

2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the controller changes the exposure time that corresponds to the detection signal in accordance with the frequency information.

3. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2,

wherein the controller changes the exposure time that corresponds to the detection signal depending on whether or not a drive frequency of the detector interferes with the frequency indicated in the frequency information.

4. The imaging apparatus according to claim 3,

wherein, if a difference between the drive frequency of the detector and the frequency indicated in the frequency information is equal to or less than a threshold value, the control unit determines that the external device mounted on the main body interferes with the detector due to the driving.

5. The imaging apparatus according to claim 4,

wherein the controller changes a correction amount for the setting of the exposure time based on the difference.

6. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a setting unit configured to set a mode that supports a panning,

wherein, if the controller determines that a mode that supports a panning is set and panning or tilting is performed based on the detection signal, the controller sets the exposure time for the panning.

7. The imaging apparatus according to claim 6,

wherein, if the controller determines that the mode that supports panning is set, and the panning or the tilting is performed, and the drive frequency of the shake detection unit interferes with the frequency indicated in the frequency information, the controller changes a correction amount for the setting of the exposure time in response to the angular velocity of panning or tilting detected by the detector.

8. The imaging apparatus according to claim 7,

wherein the controller sets the correction amount for the setting of the exposure time in a case where the angular velocity is low so as to be larger than the correction amount for the setting of the exposure time in a case where the angular velocity is high.

9. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the controller changes the correction amount for the setting of the exposure time in response to an operation state or an operation speed of a mechanism unit provided in the external device.

10. The imaging apparatus according to claim 9,

wherein the controller sets the correction amount in a case where the operation speed is high so as to be larger than the correction amount in a case where the operation speed is low.

11. The imaging apparatus according to claim 9,

wherein the mechanism unit in the external device is one of a plurality of mechanism units, and

wherein the controller sets the correction amount in a case where the mechanism units are operating so as to be larger than the correction amount in a case where one of the mechanism units is operating.

12. The imaging apparatus according to claim 11,

wherein the external device includes a first mechanism unit that performs focus adjustment and a second mechanism unit that performs image shake correction,

wherein the controller sets the correction amount in a case where the first and second mechanism units are operating so as to be larger than the correction amount in a case where either the first or second mechanism unit is operating.

13. An external device that can be mounted on the main body of the imaging apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the frequency information is transmitted to the controller of the main body.

14. The external device according to claim 13,

wherein the external device is a lens device including a mechanism unit that drives a lens.

15. The external device according to claim 14,

wherein the frequency information includes information related to a drive frequency of the mechanism unit for driving the lens.

16. The external device according to claim 13, further comprising:

a light emitter.

17. The external device according to claim 16,

wherein the frequency information includes information related to a drive frequency of a charging circuit for charging energy that causes the light emitter to emit lights.

18. A control method executed by an imaging apparatus having a main body on which an external device can be mounted comprising:

acquiring a detection signal about shake of the main body and frequency information for the external device mounted on the main body; and

controlling an exposure time of an imaging unit based on the detection signal and the frequency information.