Camera with an image stabilizing function

• US 5,826,115 A
• Filed: 08/05/1997
• Issued: 10/20/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Shikaumi, Masao, Nagata, Toru, Washisu, Koichi, Sumio, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Perkey, W. B.
• Application Number:
  US08/906,108
• Time in Patent Office: 441 Days
• Field of Search: 359/554-557, 348/219, 348/142, 348/169, 348/369, 348/208, 348/211, 348/213, 396/52-55
• US Class Current: 396/55
• 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: G03B 2217/185 providing indication that the picture may be blurred
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/60 Control of cameras or camera modules
• 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 23/6815 by distinguishing pan or tilt from motion
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/687 by shifting the lens or sensor position

Abstract

A camera has an image stabilizing function which is provided with vibration correcting means for driving an imaging system in at least two non-parallel directions and correcting the vibration of an image, and control means for selecting one of the directions in which the imaging system is driven by the vibration correcting means and controlling the vibration correcting means so that only the action of the vibration correcting means in that direction is singly stopped or that the imaging system is driven at a desired speed only in that direction.

Claims

1. An image blur prevention apparatus for use with a camera and including a signal output circuit which outputs a signal for starting a photographing operation, said apparatus comprising:

an image blur prevention device which prevents image blur;

a setting portion that selectively sets said image blur prevention device in a first operation mode and a second operation mode, wherein in the first operation mode said image blur prevention device performs image blur prevention, and wherein in the second operation mode said image blur prevention device operates such that an aimed direction of an optical device is continuously changed;

a varying portion which varies an operation speed of said image blur prevention device so that said image blur prevention device is capable of varying the aimed direction to follow objects which move at different speeds; and

control means for starting operation of said image blur prevention device in the second operation mode in response to an output signal of said signal output circuit.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a memory which stores information relating to an operation of said image blur prevention device, wherein a content of said memory may be rewritten with information input from at least one other source, and wherein said memory comprises means for storing information relating to an operation different from image blur prevention.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said image blur prevention device is operable such that a photographing direction of a camera is continuously changed based on the information stored in said memory.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a memory which stores information relating to an operation of said image blur prevention device, wherein a content of said memory may be rewritten with information input from at least one other source, and wherein said memory comprises means for storing information relating to a manner of movement of said image blur prevention device, and said varying portion comprises means for causing said image blur prevention device to operate according to the manner of movement information stored in said memory.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said memory comprises means for storing information relating to a direction of operation of said image blur prevention device, and said varying portion comprises means for causing said image blur prevention device to operate according to the direction information stored in said memory.

6. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said memory comprises means for storing information relating to a speed of operation of said image blur prevention device, and said varying portion comprises means for causing said image blur prevention device to operate according to the speed information stored in said memory.

7. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said memory comprises means for changing the stored content of said memory by a user of the apparatus.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the stored content of said memory is changed in accordance with information input by the user related to the operation of said image blur prevention device.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, further a memory which stores information relating to an operation of said image blur prevention device, wherein a content of said memory may be rewritten with information input from at least one other source and, wherein said varying portion comprises means for starting an operation of said image blur prevention device based on information stored in said memory of said image blur prevention device in accordance with an operation for performing photography.

13. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said signal output circuit comprises means for generating said output signal in accordance with an operation of a release operation portion of the camera.

14. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said signal output circuit comprises determination means for determining arrival of an object at a predetermined position in a photographing image plane and means for outputting said output signal in response to a determination that the object has arrived at the predetermined position in the photographing image plane.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said determination means comprises means for determining arrival of the object in a predetermined focusing area in a photographing image plane.

10. An apparatus adapted to an image blur prevention device and including a signal output circuit which outputs a signal for starting a photographing operation, the apparatus comprising:

a setting portion that selectively sets said image blur prevention device in a first operation mode and a second operation mode, wherein in the first operation mode said image blur prevention device performs image blur prevention, and wherein in the second operation mode said image blur prevention device operates such that an aimed direction of the apparatus is continuously changed;

a varying portion which varies an operation speed of said image blur prevention device so that said image blur prevention device is capable of varying the aimed direction to follow objects which move at different speeds; and

control means for starting operation of said image blur prevention device in the second operation mode in response to an output signal of said signal output circuit.

11. An optical equipment to which an image blur prevention device is adapted, said optical equipment comprising:

a signal output circuit which outputs a signal for starting a photographing operation;

a setting portion that selectively sets said image blur prevention device in a first operation mode and a second operation mode, wherein in the first operation mode said image blur prevention device performs image blur prevention, and wherein in the second operation mode said image blur prevention device operates such that an aimed direction of the optical equipment is continuously changed;

a varying portion which varies an operation speed of said image blur prevention device so that said image blur prevention device is capable of varying the aimed direction to follow objects which move at different speeds; and

control means for starting operation of said image blur prevention device in the second operation mode in response to an output signal of said signal output circuit.

12. A camera to which an image blur prevention device is adapted, said camera comprising:

a signal output circuit which outputs a signal for starting a photographing operation;

a setting portion that selectively sets said image blur prevention device in a first operation mode and a second operation mode, wherein in the first operation mode said image blur prevention device performs image blur prevention, and wherein in the second operation mode said image blur prevention device operates such that an aimed direction of the camera is continuously changed;

a varying portion which varies an operation speed of said image blur prevention device so that said image blur prevention device is capable of varying the aimed direction to follow objects which move at different speeds; and

control means for starting operation of said image blur prevention device in the second operation mode in response to an output signal of said signal output circuit.

16. An image blur prevention apparatus adapted for use with a camera including a signal output circuit which outputs a signal for starting a photographing operation and operating image blur prevention means in a first direction and a second direction for preventing image blur, said apparatus comprising:

image blur prevention operation control means for causing said image blur prevention means to perform an image blur prevention operation in the first direction and the second direction in accordance with an output of vibration detection means for detecting a vibration state of said camera and a predetermined operation control signal used for operating said image blur prevention means and stored in a predetermined memory, wherein in the first direction, said image blur prevention operation control means operates said image blur prevention means in response to both the output of said vibration detection means and said predetermined operation control signal stored in said memory, and in the second direction said image blur prevention operation control means performs at least an operation control for operating said image blur prevention means in an operation mode not in response to said predetermined operation control signal but in response to the output of said vibration detection means; and

operation control start means for starting operation control in said operation mode of said image blur prevention operation control means in response to an output signal of said signal output circuit.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said signal output circuit comprises means for generating said output signal in accordance with an operation of a release operation portion of the camera.

18. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said signal output circuit comprises determination means for determining arrival of an object at a predetermined position in a photographing image plane and means for outputting said signal in response to a determination that the object has arrived at the predetermined position in the photographing image plane.

19. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said determination means comprises means for determining arrival of the object in a predetermined focusing area in a photographing image plane.

20. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said image blur prevention operation control means comprises means for causing said image blur prevention means to perform an image blur prevention operation in response to a composite signal provided by addition of an output signal corresponding to the vibration state of said camera and the signal stored in said memory.

21. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein in said operation mode, said image blur prevention operation control means comprises means for causing said image blur prevention means to perform an image blur prevention operation in the first direction in response to both an output of first vibration detection means for detecting a vibration state in the first direction and the signal stored in said memory, and to perform an image blur prevention operation in the second direction in response to an output signal of second vibration detection means for detecting a vibration state in the second direction.

22. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said image blur prevention means comprises means for correcting image blur.

23. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said memory comprises means for storing an operation control signal for causing said image blur prevention means to operate such that an aimed direction of said camera is continuously changed.

24. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said memory comprises means for varying stored information.