Photographing apparatus with shake detection function

• US 6,600,876 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2001
• Issued: 07/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd. (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd. (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Sato, Tatsuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Adams, Russell
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, Arthur A
• Application Number:
  US09/993,118
• Publication Number:
  US 20020061189A1
• Time in Patent Office: 622 Days
• Field of Search: 396/52, 396/53, 396/54, 396/55, 396/301, 396/302, 396/303
• US Class Current: 396/55
• 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

Abstract

This invention provides a photographing apparatus with a shake detection function that can instantaneously execute shake detection operation while suppressing current consumption in non-use. More specifically, the photographing apparatus with the shake detection function according to this invention is characterized in that a standby shift determination unit changes, in accordance with the photographing mode state set by a photographing mode setting unit, a time used to determine whether to shift the photographing apparatus to a low-power consumption mode.

Claims

1. A photographing apparatus with a shake detection function, comprising:

a shake detection unit configured to detecting a shake state of the photographing apparatus;

a shake detection control unit configured to controlling shake detection operation in said shake detection unit;

a shake prevention function unit configured to preventing a shake of the photographing apparatus on the basis of a control output from said shake detection control unit;

a photographing mode setting unit configured to setting a first photographing mode that uses a function of said shake prevention function unit and a second photographing mode that does not use the function of said shake prevention function unit;

a manipulation unit which is manipulated by a user of the photographing apparatus;

a timepiece unit configured to measuring a time elapsed after said manipulation unit is manipulated; and

a standby shift unit configured to shifting the photographing apparatus to a low-power consumption state on the basis of a timepiece output from said timepiece unit, said standby shift unit changing a time until shift to the low-power consumption state in accordance with a photographing mode set by said photographing mode setting unit.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a shift time to the low-power consumption state in the first photographing mode is longer than a shift time in the second photographing mode.

3. The photographing apparatus of claim 2 wherein the shift time in the first photographing mode is finite.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said shake prevention function unit indicates a shake state level on the basis of an output from said shake detection unit.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said shake prevention function unit permits photographing operation when a shake generated in the photographing apparatus is not larger than a predetermined level.

6. The photographing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the time until shift to the low-power state is finite.

7. A photographing apparatus with a shake detection function, comprising:

a shake detection unit configured to detecting a shake state of the photographing apparatus;

a shake state determination unit configured to determining the shake state of the photographing apparatus on the basis of an output from said shake detection unit;

a manipulation unit which is manipulated by a user of the photographing apparatus;

a timepiece unit configured to measuring a time elapsed after said manipulation unit is manipulated; and

a standby shift unit configured to shifting the photographing apparatus to a low-power consumption mode on the basis of a timepiece output from said timepiece unit, said standby shift unit changing a time until shift of the photographing apparatus to the low-power consumption mode in accordance with a determination result of said shake state determination unit.

8. The photographing apparatus of claim 7 wherein the time until shift of the photographing apparatus to the low-power consumption mode is finite.

9. A photographing apparatus with a shake detection function, comprising:

shake detection means for detecting a shake state of the photographing apparatus;

shake prevention means for preventing a shake of the photographing apparatus on the basis of an output from said shake detection means;

photographing mode setting means capable of setting a first photographing mode in which said shake prevention means is operated, and a second photographing mode in which said shake prevention means is not operated;

manipulation means which is manipulated by a user of the photographing apparatus; and

standby shift means for shifting the photographing apparatus to a low-power consumption mode a predetermined time after said manipulation means is manipulated;

wherein the predetermined time is changed in accordance with a photographing mode set by said photographing mode setting means, and a time in the first photographing mode is longer than a time in the second photographing mode.

10. The photographing apparatus of claim 9 wherein the predetermined time is finite.

11. A photographing apparatus with a shake detection function, comprising:

a shake detection means for detecting a shake state of the photographing apparatus;

shake detection control means for controlling shake detection operation in said shake detection means;

shake prevention means for preventing a shake of the photographing apparatus on the basis of a control output from said shake detection control means;

photographing apparatus control means for controlling the whole photographing apparatus;

photographing mode setting means for setting a photographing mode in which photographing operation using a function of said shake prevention means is performed;

a manipulation key for being manipulated to perform photographing operation in the photographing apparatus;

manipulation setting input means, incorporated in said photographing apparatus control means, for receiving inputs from said photographing mode setting means and said manipulation key;

first timepiece means, incorporated in said photographing apparatus control means, for measuring a time elapsed after input manipulation via said manipulation setting input means;

first operation state setting means, incorporated in said photographing apparatus control means, for determining whether to shift the photographing apparatus to a low-power consumption mode on the basis of manipulation setting information from said manipulation setting input means and a timepiece output from said first timepiece means;

second operation state setting means, incorporated in said shake detection control means, for determining an operation state of said shake detection control means on the basis of an instruction from said first operation state setting means; and

second timepiece means, incorporated in said shake detection control means, for measuring a time after said second operation state setting means receives the instruction from said first operation state setting means;

wherein said first operation state setting means determines whether to shift said photographing apparatus control means to the low-power consumption mode on the basis of a timepiece result of said first timepiece means, and said second operation state setting means determines whether to shift said shake detection control means to the low-power consumption mode on the basis of a timepiece result of said second timepiece means.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said second operation state setting means shifts said shake detection control means to the low-power consumption mode after at least said first operation setting means shifts said photographing apparatus control means to the low-power consumption mode.

13. A photographing apparatus with a shake detection function, comprising:

a shake detection means for detecting a shake state of the photographing apparatus;

shake detection control means for controlling shake detection operation in said shake detection means;

shake prevention means for preventing a shake of the photographing apparatus on the basis of a control output from said shake detection control means;

photographing apparatus control means for controlling the whole photographing apparatus;

photographing mode setting means for setting a photographing mode in which photographing operation using a function of said shake prevention means is performed;

a manipulation key for being manipulated to perform photographing operation in the photographing apparatus;

manipulation setting input means, incorporated in said photographing apparatus control means, for receiving inputs from said photographing mode setting means and said manipulation key;

first timepiece means, incorporated in said photographing apparatus control means, for measuring a time elapsed after input manipulation via said manipulation setting input means;

first operation state setting means, incorporated in said photographing apparatus control means, for determining whether to shift the photographing apparatus to a low-power consumption mode on the basis of manipulation setting information from said manipulation setting input means and a timepiece output from said first timepiece means;

second operation state setting means, incorporated in said shake detection control means, for determining an operation state of said shake detection control means on the basis of an instruction from said first operation state setting means; and

second timepiece means, incorporated in said shake detection control means, for measuring a time after said second operation state setting means receives the instruction from said first operation state setting means;

wherein said first operation state setting means determines whether to shift said photographing apparatus control means to the low-power consumption mode on the basis of a timepiece result of said first timepiece means, and said second operation state setting means determines whether to stop said shake detection sensor on the basis of a timepiece result of said second timepiece means.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said second operation state setting means shifts said shake detection control means to the low-power consumption mode after at least said first operation setting means shifts said photographing apparatus control means to the low-power consumption mode.