Motion compensation device for an optical system and method

• US 5,974,270 A
• Filed: 12/24/1997
• Issued: 10/26/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Inventors: Imura, Yoshio, Kanbayashi, Hideki
• Primary Examiner(s): PERKEY, WILLIAM B
• Application Number:
  US08/998,028
• Time in Patent Office: 671 Days
• Field of Search: 396/55, 348/208
• 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 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

Abstract

A motion compensation device, suitable for an optical system such as a camera, has a blurring motion compensation unit to compensate for blurring motion by driving an image blurring motion compensation optical system in a direction generally perpendicular to the optical axis. The device can lock the image blurring motion compensation optical system by a locking member even if there is no power supply. This is accomplished by using a magnet which attracts an iron piece mounted on a blurring motion compensation lens frame, and lock members which lock the blurring motion compensation lens frame. When an operation mode changeover switch changes over from the ON position to the OFF position, a contact unit of this operation mode changeover switch locks a coupling member of a lock ring. Accordingly, because the magnet attracts the iron piece even when there is no power supply, the blurring motion compensation lens frame can be locked by the lock ring.

Claims

1. A motion compensation device, suitable for an optical system, comprising:

a blurring motion compensation unit to compensate for blurring motion by driving a blurring motion compensation optical system in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis to correct blurring; and

a locking actuation member, operating entirely mechanically by sliding along a lens barrel, to cause locking and unlocking of said blurring motion compensation optical system without requiring a power supply or electricity.

2. A motion compensation device as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a movement unit to move said blurring motion compensation optical system in the optical axis direction; and

said locking actuation member causes locking of said blurring motion compensation optical system independent of a movement position of said blurring motion compensation optical system.

3. A motion compensation device as recited in claim 1, wherein said locking actuation member further comprises:

a blurring motion compensation operation changeover member to change over the operation of said blurring motion compensation unit among a plurality of operating modes comprising locking, unlocking and engaging the blurring motion of compensation unit; and

a coupling unit to couple said blurring motion compensation operation changeover unit and to cause locking of said blurring motion compensation optical system.

4. A motion compensation device as recited in claim 3, wherein said coupling unit further comprises:

a coupling member extending in the direction of motion of said blurring motion compensation optical system and disposed in said blurring motion compensation optical system or in said blurring motion compensation operation changeover member; and

a contact member to come into contact with a linkage member, disposed in said blurring motion compensation operation changeover member or in said blurring motion compensation optical system;

said coupling member or said contact member locking said blurring motion compensation optical system, switching said blurring motion compensation operation changeover member to the changeover operation in said specific operation mode, and making contact with said contact member or said coupling member.

5. A motion compensation device as recited in claim 4, wherein said coupling unit further comprises:

a moving member;

a support member supported by said blurring motion compensation optical system or by said operation changeover member; and

said contact member, being in said support member, comes into contact with said moving member.

6. A motion compensation device, suitable for an optical system, comprising:

a blurring motion compensation unit to compensate for blurring motion by driving a blurring motion compensation optical system in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis;

a locking member to lock and unlock said blurring motion compensation optical system; and

a locking actuation member to cause locking and unlocking of said blurring motion compensation optical system by use of said locking member independent of the operation of said blurring motion compensation optical system, wherein said locking member and said locking actuation member operate entirely mechanically by sliding along a lens barrel without the use of a power supply or electricity by a sliding movement.

8. A motion compensation device as recited in claim 6, wherein said locking actuation member further comprises:

a blurring motion compensation operation changeover member to change over the operation of said blurring motion compensation unit between a plurality of operating modes comprising locking, unlocking and engaging the blurring motion of compensation unit; and

a coupling unit to couple said blurring motion compensation operation changeover member and to cause locking of said blurring motion compensation optical system by use of said locking member.

9. A motion compensation device as recited in claim 8, wherein said coupling unit further comprises:

a coupling member extending in the direction of motion of said blurring motion compensation optical system and disposed in said blurring motion compensation optical system or in said blurring motion compensation operation changeover member; and

a contact member which comes into contact with said coupling member and disposed in the blurring motion compensation operation changeover member or in the blurring motion compensation optical system;

said coupling member or said contact member locking said blurring motion compensation optical system by use of said locking member and switching said blurring motion compensation operation changeover member to the changeover operation in a specific operation mode.

10. A motion compensation device as recited in claim 9, wherein said coupling unit further comprises:

a moving member;

a support member supported by said blurring motion compensation optical system or by said operation changeover member; and

said contact member, being in said support member, comes into contact with said moving member.

7. A motion compensation device as recited 6, further comprising:

a movement unit to move said blurring motion compensation optical system in the optical axis direction; and

said locking actuation member causes locking of said blurring motion compensation optical system by using said locking member independent of a movement position of said blurring motion compensation optical system.

11. A motion compensation device, suitable for an optical system, comprising:

a blurring motion compensation unit to compensate for blurring motion by driving a blurring motion compensation optical system in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis; and

a locking member to lock and unlock said blurring motion compensation optical system;

a control unit to control the operation of said locking member; and

a locking actuation member to cause locking and unlocking of said blurring motion compensation optical system by using said locking member, independent of the control operation of said control unit, wherein the locking member and the locking actuation member operate entirely mechanically without the use of a power supply or electricity by sliding along a lens barrel.

12. A motion compensation device as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

a movement device to move said blurring motion compensation optical system in the optical axis direction;

said locking actuation member to cause the locking of said blurring motion compensation optical system using said locking member, independent of the movement position of said blurring motion compensation optical system.

13. A motion compensation device as recited in claim 11, wherein said locking actuation member further comprises:

a blurring motion compensation operation changeover member to change over the operation of said blurring motion compensation unit among a plurality of operating modes comprising locking, unlocking and engaging the blurring motion of compensation unit; and

a coupling unit coupled to said blurring motion compensation operation changeover member and causes locking of said blurring motion compensation optical system by use of said locking member, independent of the control operation of said control unit.

14. A motion compensation device as recited in claim 13, wherein said coupling unit further comprises:

a coupling member extending in the direction of motion of said blurring motion compensation optical system and disposed in said blurring motion compensation optical system or in said blurring motion compensation operation changeover member;

a contact member to come into contact with said coupling member, disposed in the blurring motion compensation operation changeover member or in the blurring motion compensation optical system;

said coupling member or said contact member locking said blurring motion compensation optical system by use of said locking member and switching said blurring motion compensation operation changeover member to the changeover operation in a specific operation mode.

15. A motion compensation device as recited in claim 14, wherein said coupling unit further comprises:

a moving member;

a support member supported by said blurring motion compensation optical system or by said operation changeover member; and

said contact member, being in said support member, comes into contact with said moving member.

16. A method of motion compensation, comprising the steps of:

compensating for blurring motion by driving a blurring motion compensation optical system in a direction orthogonally to the optical axis; and

locking said unlocking said blurring motion compensation optical system without requiring a power supply or the use of electricity through the use of an entirely mechanical mechanism by sliding along a lens barrel.

17. A method of motion compensation as recited in claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

moving said blurring motion compensation optical system in the optical axis direction; and

locking said blurring motion compensation optical system independent of a movement position of said blurring motion compensation optical system.

18. A method of motion compensation as recited in claim 16, wherein said locking step further comprising the steps of:

changing over the operation of said blurring motion compensation optical system among a plurality of operating modes;

switching said changeover operation to a specific operating mode modes comprising locking, unlocking and engaging the blurring motion of compensation unit; and

locking said blurring motion compensation optical system.

19. A method of motion compensation, comprising the steps of:

compensating for blurring motion by driving a blurring motion compensation optical system in a direction orthogonally to the optical axis; and

locking and unlocking said blurring motion compensation optical system independent of the operation of said blurring motion compensation optical system using an entirely mechanical sliding mechanism without the use of a power supply or electricity.

20. A method of motion compensation as recited in claim 19, further comprising the steps of:

moving said blurring motion compensation optical system in the optical axis direction; and

locking said blurring motion compensation optical system independent of a movement position of said blurring motion compensation optical system.

21. A method of motion compensation as recited in claim 19, wherein said locking step further comprising the steps of:

changing over the operation of said blurring motion compensation unit among a plurality of operating modes;

switching said blurring motion compensation operation changeover operation to a specific operating mode comprising locking, unlocking and engaging the blurring motion of compensation unit; and

locking said blurring motion compensation optical system.

22. A method of motion compensation, comprising the steps of:

compensating for blurring motion by driving a blurring motion compensation optical system in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis;

locking said blurring motion compensation optical system;

controlling the operation of said locking step of said blurring motion compensation optical system; and

actuating locking of said blurring motion compensation optical system independent of said step of controlling the operation of said locking step through an entirely mechanical sliding mechanism without the use of a power supply or electricity.

23. A method of motion compensation as recited in claim 22, further comprising the steps of:

moving said blurring motion compensation optical system in the optical axis direction; and

locking said blurring motion compensation optical system independent of a movement position of said blurring motion compensation optical system.

24. A method of motion compensation as recited in claim 22, wherein said locking step further comprising the steps of:

changing over the operation of said blurring motion compensation optical system among a plurality of operating modes;

switching said blurring motion compensation operation changeover operation to a specific operating mode comprising locking, unlocking and engaging the blurring motion of compensation unit; and

locking said blurring motion compensation optical system independent of the control operation.

25. A motion compensation device, comprising:

means for compensating for blurring motion using a blurring motion compensation unit driving a blurring motion compensation optical system in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis;

means for locking and unlocking said blurring motion compensation optical system without a power supply and electricity through an entirely mechanical sliding mechanism.

26. A motion compensation device as recited in claim 25, further comprising:

means for moving said blurring motion compensation optical system in the optical axis direction; and

means for locking said blurring motion compensation optical system independent of a movement position of said blurring motion compensation optical system.

27. A motion compensation device as recited in claim 25, wherein said means for locking further comprises:

means for changing over the operation of said blurring motion compensation unit among a plurality of operating modes;

means for switching said blurring motion compensation operation changeover operation to a specific operating mode comprising locking, unlocking and engaging the blurring motion of compensation unit; and

means for locking said blurring motion compensation optical system.

28. A motion compensation device, comprising:

means for compensating for blurring motion by driving a blurring motion compensation optical system in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis; and

means for locking and unlocking said blurring motion compensation optical system independent of the operation of said blurring motion compensation optical system without the use of a power supply or electricity through an entirely mechanical sliding mechanism.

29. A motion compensation device as recited in claim 28, further comprising:

means for moving said blurring motion compensation optical system in the optical axis direction; and

means for locking said blurring motion compensation optical system independent of a movement position of said blurring motion compensation optical system.

30. A motion compensation device as recited in claim 28, wherein said locking means further comprises:

means for changing over the operation of said blurring motion compensation unit among a plurality of operating modes;

means for switching said blurring motion compensation operation changeover operation to a specific operating mode comprising locking, unlocking and engaging the blurring motion of compensation unit; and

means for locking said blurring motion compensation optical system by use of said locking member.

31. A motion compensation device, comprising:

means for compensating for blurring motion driving a blurring motion compensation optical system in a direction substantially at a right angle to the optical axis;

means for locking and unlocking of said blurring motion compensation optical system;

means for controlling the operation of said means for locking; and

means for actuating locking and unlocking of said blurring motion compensation optical system using said means for locking and unlocking, independent of the control operation of said means for controlling without the use of a power supply or electricity through an entirely mechanical sliding mechanism.

32. A motion compensation device as recited in claim 31, further comprising:

means for moving said blurring motion compensation optical system in the optical axis direction; and

means for locking said blurring motion compensation optical system by said means for locking independent of a movement position of said blurring motion compensation optical system.

33. A motion compensation device as recited in claim 31, wherein said means for locking further comprises:

means for changing over the operation of said means for compensating among a plurality of operating modes comprising locking, unlocking and engaging the blurring motion of compensation unit; and

means for locking said blurring motion compensation optical system independent of the control operation of said means for controlling.

34. A camera comprising:

a camera body having a power supply;

a lens barrel, connectable to said camera body;

a control unit in said camera body to control operation of said camera;

a blurring motion compensation unit in said lens barrel to compensate for blurring motion and having a blurring motion compensation optical system in said lens barrel driveable in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis; and

a locking actuation member to cause locking and unlocking of said blurring motion compensation optical system without requiring said power supply or electricity through an entirely mechanical mechanism by sliding along a lens barrel and independent of said control unit and said blurring motion compensation unit.

35. A camera comprising:

a camera body having a power supply;

a lens barrel, connectable to said camera body;

a control unit in said camera body to control operation of said camera;

a blurring motion compensation unit in said lens barrel to compensate for blurring motion and having a blurring motion compensation optical system in said lens barrel driveable in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis; and

a locking actuation member to cause locking of said blurring motion compensation optical system without requiring said power supply or electricity through an entirely mechanical mechanism by sliding along a lens barrel.

36. A camera comprising:

a camera body having a power supply;

a lens barrel, connectable to said camera body;

a control unit in said camera body to control operation of said camera;

a blurring motion compensation unit in said lens barrel to compensate for blurring motion and having a blurring motion compensation optical system in said lens barrel driveable in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis; and

a locking actuation member to cause locking and unlocking of said blurring motion compensation optical system, independent of said control unit and said blurring motion compensation unit and entirely through the use of a mechanical mechanism by sliding along a lens barrel without the use of a power supply or electricity.