Control apparatus for image blur prevention

• US 6,163,651 A
• Filed: 11/29/1995
• Issued: 12/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Washisu, Koichi, Shiomi, Yasuhiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Mathews, Alan A.
• Application Number:
  US08/563,750
• Time in Patent Office: 1,847 Days
• Field of Search: 354/70, 354/410, 354/430, 354/400, 354/195.1, 354/202, 348/208, 250/231.1, 250/230, 250/239, 73/653, 73/655, 73/517 A, 73/514.02, 359/554, 359/557, 396/52, 396/53, 396/55
• 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: 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

A control apparatus for image blur prevention, includes a discrimination unit which discriminates an adverse influence on at least one of an image blur detection portion for detecting an image blur, and an image blur prevention portion for preventing an image blur, and performs discrimination irrespective of the state of the image blur detection portion and the state of the image blur prevention portion, and a prevention unit for preventing the adverse influence on at least one of the image blur detection portion and the image blur prevention portion in accordance with the discrimination result of the discrimination unit.

Claims

1. An image blur prevention apparatus comprising:

an image blur prevention device that prevents image blur;

a predicting portion that anticipates a movement of at least one camera component, the movement of which is responsive to operation of an operating portion of a camera and generates a shock fluctuation; and

a control device that controls said image blur prevention device so as to limit a range of operation of said image blur prevention device at a time when said predicting portion anticipates a movement of the at least one camera component that generates a shock fluctuation.

2. A camera to which an image blur prevention apparatus is adapted, said camera comprising:

an operation portion;

at least one component moveable in response to operation of said operation portion, the movement of which generates a shock fluctuation;

a predicting portion that anticipates a movement of said at least one component; and

a control portion that controls the image blur prevention apparatus so as to limit a range of operation of the image blur prevention apparatus at a time when said predicting portion anticipates a movement of the at least one component that generates a shock fluctuation.

3. An image blur prevention apparatus for use with a camera including a member and with a fluctuation detection sensor that generates an output signal having at least a first frequency component and a second frequency component, said apparatus comprising:

a control device that modifies the output signal by limiting the second frequency component when the member of the camera enters a state in which the member generates a shock fluctuation, and thereby forms a driving signal, different than the output signal;

an image blur prevention device for preventing image blur in accordance with the driving signal.

4. A camera for use with a fluctuation detection sensor that generates an output signal having at least a first frequency component and a second frequency component and with an image blur prevention apparatus that prevents image blur in accordance with a driving signal, said camera comprising:

a member capable of generating a fluctuation of said camera; and

a control portion that modifies the output signal of the fluctuation detection sensor by limiting the second frequency component when said member generates a fluctuation and thereby forms a driving signal that is different than the output signal.

5. A camera to which an image blur prevention apparatus and an operating portion is adapted, said camera comprising:

a predicting portion that anticipates generation of a shock fluctuation in the camera in response to an operation of the operating portion that starts photography in said camera; and

a control portion that controls operation of the image blur prevention apparatus so as to limit a range of operation of the image blur prevention apparatus during a time when the shock fluctuation is generated in the camera.

6. A fluctuation detection apparatus for use with a camera having an operating portion, comprising:

a fluctuation detection device that detects a fluctuation of a camera and generates an output signal, said fluctuation detection device having a changeable portion;

a predicting portion that anticipates generation of a shock fluctuation in the camera in response to an operation of the operating portion that starts photography in the camera; and

a control device that controls the changeable portion of said fluctuation detection device in response to a prediction by said predicting portion, so that the fluctuation detection device suppresses an influence of the shock fluctuation on generation of the output signal by said fluctuation detection device.

7. A fluctuation detection apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the changeable portion generates an electromagnetic field.

8. A camera to which a fluctuation detection apparatus including a fluctuation detection device for detecting a fluctuation of the camera is adapted and to which an operating portion is adapted, the fluctuation detection device having a changeable portion and producing an output signal, said camera comprising:

a predicting portion that anticipates generation of a shock fluctuation in the camera in response to an operation of the operating portion that starts photography in said camera; and

a control portion that controls the changeable portion of the fluctuation detection device in response to a prediction by said predicting portion, so that the fluctuation detection device suppresses an influence of the shock fluctuation on generation of the output signal by the fluctuation detection device.

9. A camera according to claim 8, wherein the changeable portion generates an electromagnetic field.