Control apparatus for image blur prevention employing an angular velocity and an image field sensor

• US 5,619,030 A
• Filed: 05/13/1996
• Issued: 04/08/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Shiomi, Yasuhiko
• Primary Examiner(s): ALLEN, STEPHONE B
• Application Number:
  US08/647,262
• Time in Patent Office: 330 Days
• Field of Search: 250/201.1, 354/400, 354/432, 354/202, 348/208
• US Class Current: 250/201.1
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2205/0015 by displacing one or more optical elements normal to the optical axis
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2205/0069 using electromagnetic actuators, e.g. voice coils
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2217/005 Blur detection
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 5/00 Adjustment of optical system relative to image or object surface other than for focusing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/68 for stable pick-up of the scene, e.g. compensating for camera body vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/6811 based on the image signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/6812 based on additional sensors, e.g. acceleration sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/687 by shifting the lens or sensor position

Abstract

A control apparatus for image blur prevention includes a ontroller, which uses an output from at least one of first and second image blur detection portions (e.g., a mechanical sensor and an electrical sensor) having different image blur detection frequency characteristics, in accordance with the frequency of an image blur, whereby the two detection portions compensate for each other, and image blur prevention can be more precisely performed for image blurs in a wider frequency range.

Claims

1. A control apparatus for controlling image blur prevention using at least one of a first image blur detection signal from a first image blur detection device that detects at least image blur in a first frequency range and a second image blur detection signal from a second image blur detection device that detects at least image blur in a second frequency range, said control apparatus comprising:

a control device that controls image blur prevention using at least one of the first and second image blur detection signals, said control device changing a manner of use of the first and the second detection signals in accordance with a frequency of the image blur.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus comprises the first image blur detection device.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus comprises the second image blur detection device.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means comprises means for utilizing an output of the first image blur detection portion for image blur prevention of image blur in a first frequency range, and for utilizing an output of the second image blur detection portion for image blur prevention of image blur in a second frequency range different from the first frequency range.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means comprises means for combining an image blur signal in a first frequency range and an image blur signal in a second frequency range different from the first frequency range, and thereby, for forming an image blur signal, wherein the image blur signal in the first frequency range is outputted from the first image blur detection portion and the image blur signal in the second frequency range is outputted from the second image blur detection portion.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control device comprises means for using the output from the first image blur detection device in order to prevent image blur in the first frequency range, and for using the output from the second image blur detection device in order to prevent image blur in the second frequency range.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first image blur detection device comprises means for actually detecting an image blur in a first frequency range, and the second image blur detection device comprises means for actually detecting an image blur in a second frequency range different from the first frequency range.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said control device comprises means for forming a signal for image blur prevention by combining the outputs from the first and the second image blur detection devices.

9. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the first frequency range is a range higher than a predetermined frequency, and the second frequency range is a range lower than the predetermined frequency.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first image blur detection device comprises means for detecting a fluctuation of the apparatus.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the first image detection device comprises a mechanical sensor for detecting fluctuation of the apparatus.

12. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second image blur detection device comprises means for detecting a movement of an image on a photoelectric conversion element.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the second image blur detection device comprises an electrical sensor for detecting movement of the image on the photoelectric conversion element.

14. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control device comprises means for driving an image blur prevention device for preventing image blur in accordance with an output from at least one of the first and the second image blur detection devices.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the image blur prevention portion comprises means for preventing an image blur by deflecting a light beam upon movement in an optical path.

16. An image blur prevention apparatus for preventing image blur using at least one of a first image blur detection signal from a first image blur detection device that detects at least image blur in a first frequency range, and a second image blur detection signal from a second image blur detection device that detects at least image blur in a second frequency range, said image blur prevention apparatus comprising:

an image blur prevention device which performs image blur prevention using at least one of the first and the second detection signals, said image blur prevention device changing a manner of use of the first and the second detection signals in accordance with a frequency of the image blur.

17. An optical apparatus to which an image blur prevention device for preventing an image blur is adapted, wherein the image blur prevention device performs image blur prevention using at least one of a first image blur detection signal from a first image blur detection device that detects at least image blur in a first frequency range and a second image blur detection signal from a second image blur detection device that detects at least image blur in a second frequency range, the optical apparatus comprising:

an operation device which causes the image blur prevention device to perform an image blur prevention operation using at least one of the first and the second detection signals, said operation device changing a manner of use of the first and the second detection signals in accordance with a frequency of the image blur.

18. A camera to which an image blur prevention device for preventing image blur is adapted, wherein the image blur prevention device performs image blur prevention using at least one of a first image blur detection signal from a first image blur detection device that detects at least image blur in a first frequency range and a second image blur detection signal from a second image blur detection device that detects at least image blur in a second frequency range, the camera comprising:

an operation device which causes the image blur prevention device to perform an image blur prevention operation using at least one of the first and the second detection signals, said operation device changing a manner of use of the first and the second detection signals in accordance with a frequency of the image blur.

19. A control apparatus for processing a first image blur detection signal from a first image blur detection portion that detects image blur in a first frequency range and a second image blur detection signal from a second image blur detection portion that detects image blur in a second frequency range to control image blur prevention, said control apparatus comprising:

a first input terminal for inputting the first image blur detection signal;

a second input terminal for inputting the second image blur detection signal; and

signal forming means for forming a control signal for image blur prevention by combining outputs from the first and second image blur detection portions having different image blur detection frequency characteristics, said signal forming means forming the control signal based on a difference between the frequency characteristics of the first and the second image blur detection signals.

20. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the first image blur detection portion comprises means for actually detecting an image blur in a first frequency range, and the second image blur detection portion comprises means for actually detecting an image blur in a second frequency range different from the first frequency range.

21. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the first image blur detection portion comprises a mechanical sensor for detecting the fluctuation of the apparatus.

22. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the second image blur detection portion comprises an electrical sensor for detecting the movement of the image on the photoelectric conversion element.

23. An apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising:

driving control means for driving an image blur prevention portion for preventing an image blur in accordance with the signal formed by said signal forming means.

24. An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said apparatus comprises the image blur prevention portion.

25. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said apparatus comprises the first image blur detection portion.

26. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said apparatus comprises the second image blur detection portion.

27. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said apparatus is arranged in a camera.

28. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said apparatus is arranged in an optical device.

29. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said signal forming means comprises means for combining an image blur signal in a first frequency range and an image blur signal in a second frequency range different from the first frequency range, and thereby, for forming an image blur signal, wherein the image blur signal in the first frequency range is outputted from the first image blur signal and the image blur signal in the second frequency range is outputted from the second image blur detection portion.

30. An apparatus adapted to an image blur prevention device for performing image blur in accordance with at least one of an output from a first image blur detection device and an output from a second image blur detection device different from the first image blur detection device, said apparatus comprising:

an operation device for controlling a manner of response to the output of one of the first and the second image blur detection devices in accordance with the state of the other one of the first and the second image blur detecting devices.

31. An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the first image blur detection device requires a lapse of time to attain a stable output state after a start operation, and the second image blur detection device does not require a substantial lapse of time to attain stable output after a start operation, and said operation device comprises means for changing a relationship of a connection between the second image blur detection device and the image blur prevention device in accordance with a state of the first image blur detection device.

32. An apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said operation device comprises means for causing the image blur prevention device to perform image blur prevention in accordance with the output from the second image blur detection device at least until the image blur prevention device achieves a stable state after a start operation.

33. An apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the operation device comprises means for causing the image blur prevention device to perform image blur prevention in accordance with the output from the second image blur detection device until at least a predetermined time has elapsed after at least the first image blur detection device is started.

34. An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the first and the second image blur detection devices have different image blur detection characteristics.

35. An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the first and the second image blur detection devices detect an image blur state in substantially the same direction.

36. An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the first image blur detection device comprises a mechanical sensor for detecting fluctuation of the apparatus.

37. An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the second image blur detection device comprises an electrical sensor for detecting movement of the image on a photoelectric conversion element.

38. An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said apparatus comprises the first image blur detection device.

39. An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said apparatus comprises the second image blur detection device.

40. An image blur prevention apparatus for performing image blur prevention in accordance with at least one of an output from a first image blur detection device and an output from a second image blur detection device different from the first image blur detection device, the apparatus comprising:

an image blur prevention device which prevents image blur in accordance with at least one of the output from the first image blur detection device and the output of the second image blur detection device; and

an operation device for controlling a manner of response to the output from one of the first and the second image blur detection devices in accordance with a state of the other one of the first and the second image blur detection devices.

41. An optical apparatus to which an image blur prevention device is adapted, wherein the image blur prevention device performs image blur prevention in accordance with at least one of an output from a first image blur detection device and an output from a second image blur detection device different from the first image blur detection device, the apparatus comprising:

an operation device for controlling a manner of response to the output from one of the first and the second image blur detection device in accordance with a state of the other one of the first and the second image blur detection devices.

42. A camera to which an image blur prevention device is adapted, wherein the image blur prevention device performs image blur prevention in accordance with at least one of an output from a first image blur detection device and an output from a second image blur detection device different from the first image blur detection device, the camera comprising:

an operation device for controlling a manner of response to the output from one of the first and the second image blur detection devices in accordance with a state of the other one of the first and the second image blur detection devices.

43. A control apparatus for processing a first image blur detection signal from a first image blur detection portion that detects image blur in a first frequency range and a second image blur detection signal from a second image blur detection portion that detects image blur in a second frequency range to control image blur prevention, said control apparatus comprising:

a first input terminal for inputting the first image blur detection signal;

a second input terminal for inputting the second image blur detection signal; and

control means for processing the first and second image blur detection signals to control image blur prevention, said control means comprising means for outputting a control signal using at least one of first and second image blur detection portions, in accordance with a frequency of an image blur.

44. An apparatus according to claim 43, wherein the first and second image blur detection portions have different detection characteristics from each other.

45. An apparatus according to claim 44, wherein the first and second image blur detection portions have different frequency detection characteristics from each other.

46. A control apparatus for processing a first image blur detection signal from a first image blur detection portion that detects image blur in a first frequency range and a second image blur detection signal from a second image blur detection portion that detects image blur in a second frequency range to control image blur prevention, said control apparatus comprising:

a first input terminal for inputting the first image blur detection signal;

a second input terminal for inputting the second image blur detection signal; and

a control portion for processing the first and second image blur detection signals, in real time, to cause one image blur prevention portion to perform an image blur prevention operation in a predetermined direction in accordance with both signals.

47. An apparatus according to claim 46, wherein said apparatus comprises the first image blur detection portion.

48. An apparatus according to claim 46, wherein said apparatus comprises the second image blur detection portion.

49. An apparatus according to claim 46, wherein said apparatus is arranged in a camera.

50. An apparatus according to claim 46, wherein said apparatus is arranged in an optical device.

51. An apparatus according to claim 46, wherein the apparatus comprises the image blur prevention portion.

52. A control apparatus for processing a first image blur detection signal from a first image blur detection portion that detects image blur in a first frequency range and a second image blur detection signal from a second image blur detection portion that detects image blur in a second frequency range to control image blur prevention, said control apparatus comprising:

a first input terminal for inputting the first image blur detection signal;

a second input terminal for inputting the second image blur detection signal; and

a control portion for processing the first and second image blur detection signals of the first and second image blur detection portions having different frequency characteristics from each other so as to be simultaneously utilized for image blur prevention.

53. An apparatus according to claim 52, wherein said apparatus comprises the first image blur detection portion.

54. An apparatus according to claim 52, wherein said apparatus comprises the second image blur detection portion.

55. An apparatus according to claim 52, wherein said apparatus is arranged in a camera.

56. An apparatus according to claim 52, wherein said apparatus is arranged in an optical device.