Camera with image stabilizing device

• US 5,589,912 A
• Filed: 05/19/1995
• Issued: 12/31/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Shiomi, Yasuhiko
• Primary Examiner(s): ADAMS JR, RUSSELL E
• Application Number:
  US08/444,921
• Time in Patent Office: 592 Days
• Field of Search: 354/410, 354/484, 354/202, 340/636, 320/48
• US Class Current: 396/55
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/40 Testing power supplies testing photovoltaic devices H02S50/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/786 the desired condition being maintained automatically
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/646 compensating for small deviations, e.g. due to vibration or shake movement of one or more optical elements for control of motion blur in cameras, projectors or printers G03B2205/0007; image stabilisation in cameras peculiar to the presence or use of an electronic image sensor H04N23/68
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/00 Details of cameras or camera bodies; Accessories therefor lens hoods or caps G03B11/04
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2217/005 Blur detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/65 Control of camera operation in relation to power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/68 for stable pick-up of the scene, e.g. compensating for camera body vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/6812 based on additional sensors, e.g. acceleration sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/686 with a variable apex prism

Abstract

A camera with an image stabilizing device includes a power supply for the camera, image stabilizing means for preventing image blur of the camera, discrimination means for discriminating a status of the power supply, and control means for varying a manner of discrimination by the discrimination means in accordance with the status of the image stabilizing means.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use with an image blur prevention device including an image blur detection unit and an image blur prevention unit responsive to an output of the image blur detection unit for preventing image blur, the apparatus comprising:

a determination device for determining a state of a power supply for supplying power to the image blur prevention device; and

a control device for controlling the image blur prevention unit in a first control mode or a second control mode, said control device switching between the first control mode and the second control mode in accordance with a determination result of said determination device.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control device comprises means for switching between the first control mode and the second control mode so that the image blur prevention device operates in a substantially similar manner with respect to a predetermined operation, regardless of a change in the state of the power supply.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said control device comprises means for switching between the first control mode and the second control mode so that the image blur prevention device operates in a substantially similar manner with respect to the predetermined operation within a predetermined range which is at least a portion of an operation range of the image blur prevention device, regardless of a change in the state of the power supply.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in the first control mode the image blur prevention unit operates in a first operation range, and in the second control mode the image blur prevention unit operates in a second operation range different from the first operation range.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said determination device comprises means for determining whether a power level of the power supply is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, and said control device comprises means for performing in the first control mode or the second control mode, wherein in the first control mode the image blur prevention unit operates in the first operation range, and in the second control mode the image blur prevention unit operates in the second operation range which is smaller than the first operation range, and wherein said control device comprises means for performing the first control mode when the determination means determines that the power level is greater than or equal to the predetermined value and for performing the second control mode when the determination means determines that the power level is not greater than or equal to the predetermined value.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said determination device comprises means for determining a power level of the power supply.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image blur prevention unit comprises a movable member for image blur prevention, and said control device comprises means for controlling an operation of the movable member in the first control mode and the second control mode.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image blur prevention unit comprises an image blur prevention optical unit for optically preventing image blur, and said control device comprises means for controlling the image blur prevention optical unit in the first control mode and the second control mode.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image blur prevention unit comprises an image blur correction unit for correcting image blur, and said control device comprises means for controlling the image blur correction unit in the first control mode and the second control mode.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control device comprises means for controlling the operation of the image blur prevention unit in accordance with an output of the image blur detection unit in the first control mode and the second control mode.

11. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image blur detection unit comprises means for detecting a fluctuation of a predetermined equipment which generates image blur.

12. An image blur prevention apparatus having an image blur prevention unit operable to prevent image blur in accordance with an output of an image blur detection device to which power is supplied by a power supply, the image blur prevention apparatus comprising:

a determination device for determining a state of the power supply; and

a control device for controlling the image blur prevention unit in a first control mode or a second control mode, and for switching between the first control mode and the second control mode in accordance with a determination result of said determination device.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the apparatus comprises an image blur detection unit.

14. An optical equipment including an image blur prevention device having an image blur detection unit and an image blur prevention unit for preventing image blur in accordance with an output of the image blur detection unit, the optical equipment comprising:

a determination device for determining a state of a power supply for supplying power to the image blur prevention device; and

a control device for controlling the image blur prevention unit in a first control mode and a second control mode, said control device switching between the first control mode and the second control mode in accordance with a determination result of said determination means.

15. A camera including an image blur prevention device having an image blur detection unit and an image blur prevention unit for preventing image blur in accordance with an output of the image blur detection unit, the optical equipment comprising:

a determination device for determining a state of a power supply for supplying power to the image blur prevention device; and

a control device for controlling the image blur prevention unit in a first control mode and a second control mode, said control device switching between the first control mode and the second control mode in accordance with a determination result of said determination means.