Image stabilizing device

• US 5,771,069 A
• Filed: 04/25/1994
• Issued: 06/23/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): SHALWALA, BIPIN H
• Application Number:
  US08/232,860
• Time in Patent Office: 1,520 Days
• Field of Search: 348/207, 348/208, 348/214, 354/70, 354/191, 354/400, 358/479, 396/55, 396/233
• US Class Current: 348/208.11
• 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 2205/0007 Movement of one or more optical elements for control of motion blur
• 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 23/6812 based on additional sensors, e.g. acceleration sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/687 by shifting the lens or sensor position

Abstract

In an imaging stabilizing device, a relative velocity component is detected between a barrel and a correction optical device movably supported with respect to the barrel. When an output signal thereon exceeds a predetermined value, or, when such a condition that the output signal exceeding the predetermined value is repeated predetermined times, a fixing device is actuated to fix the correction optical device with respect to the barrel.

Claims

1. An image blur prevention apparatus comprising:

movable image blur prevention means for preventing an image blur by moving;

locking means for fixing said image blur prevention means by contacting with at least a portion of said image blur prevention means;

detection means for detecting a velocity state of said image blur prevention means; and

control means for operating said locking means in response to the velocity state detected by said detection means.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said movable image blur prevention means includes means for optically preventing the image blur.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said image blur prevention means includes image blur prevention optical means for deflecting a light beam by moving in an optical path.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said locking means includes means for fixing the image blur prevention optical means so that an optical axis of said image blur prevention optical means substantially coincides with an optical axis of the apparatus.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said locking means includes a lock member for fixing said image blur prevention means by contacting with said image blur prevention means and includes driving means for shifting the state of the lock member from a non-fixing state in which said image blur prevention means is not fixed to a fixing state in which said image blur prevention means is fixed.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said detection means includes means for detecting a relative velocity between said image blur prevention means and a fixing portion which is substantially fixed to the apparatus, and said control means includes means for controlling said locking means in accordance with relative velocity detected by said detection means.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said control means includes means for causing said locking means to perform the locking operation in accordance with the relative velocity detected by said detection means being larger than a predetermined value.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means includes means for causing said locking means to perform the locking operation in accordance with the velocity detected by said detection means reaching a predetermined value.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said control means includes means for causing said locking means to perform the locking operation in accordance with the velocity detected by said detection means reaching the predetermined value in a predetermined time.

10. Optical apparatus comprising:

movable image blur prevention means for preventing an image blur by moving;

locking means for fixing said image blur prevention means by contacting with at least a portion of said image blur prevention means;

detection means for detecting a velocity state of said image blur prevention means; and

control means for operating said locking means in response to the velocity state detected by said detection means.

11. A control apparatus for an image blur prevention apparatus having movable image blur prevention means for preventing an image blur by moving so that a focus position of a light beam for forming an image is kept and having locking means for fixing the image blur prevention means by contacting with at least a portion of said image blur prevention means, comprising:

a control portion for operating the locking means in accordance with a velocity state of the image blur prevention means.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said image blur prevention means includes image blur prevention optical means for deflecting a light beam by moving in an optical path.

13. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said locking means includes a lock member for fixing said image blur prevention means by contacting with said image blur prevention means and includes driving means for shifting the state of the lock member from a non-fixing state in which said image blur prevention means is not fixed to a fixing state in which said image blur prevention means is fixed.

14. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the control portion includes means for causing the locking means to perform a locking operation in accordance with the relative velocity between the image blur prevention means and the fixing portion.

15. A light beam deflection apparatus comprising:

light beam deflection means for deflecting a light beam by moving in an optical path;

locking means for fixing said light beam deflection means by contacting with at least a portion of said light beam deflection means;

detection means for detecting a velocity state of said light beam deflection means; and

control means for operating said locking means in response to an output of said detection means.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said light beam deflection means includes means for performing an image blur prevention operation by deflecting the light beam.

17. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said locking means includes a lock member for fixing said light beam deflection means by contacting with said light beam deflection means and includes driving means for shifting the state of the lock member from a non-fixing state in which said light beam deflection means is not fixed to a fixing state in which said light beam deflection means is fixed.

18. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said detection means includes means for detecting a relative velocity between said light beam deflection means and a fixing portion which is substantially fixed to the apparatus, and said control means includes means for causing said locking means to perform a locking operation for fixing said light beam deflection means in accordance with the relative velocity detected by said detection means.

19. An optical apparatus comprising:

light beam deflection means for deflecting a light beam by moving in an optical path;

locking means for fixing said light beam deflection means by contacting with at least a portion of said light beam deflection means;

detection means for detecting a velocity state of said light beam deflection means; and

control means for operating said locking means in response to an output of said detection means.

20. A control apparatus for a light beam deflection apparatus having light beam deflection means for deflecting a light beam by moving in an optical path and having locking means for fixing the light beam deflection means by contacting with at least a portion of said light beam deflection means, comprising:

a control portion for operating the locking means in accordance with a velocity state of the light beam deflection means.

21. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said light beam deflection means includes means for performing an image blur prevention operation by deflecting the light beam.

22. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said locking means includes a lock member for fixing said light beam deflection means by contacting with said light beam deflection means and includes driving means for shifting the state of the lock member from a non-fixing state in which said light beam deflection means is not fixed to a fixing state in which said light beam deflection means is fixed.

23. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the control portion includes means for causing the locking means to perform the locking operation in accordance with the relative velocity between the light beam deflection means and the fixing portion.