Apparatus for detecting hand movement of an optical device

• US 6,630,951 B1
• Filed: 06/10/1999
• Issued: 10/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Suzuki, Akira
• Primary Examiner(s): Garber, Wendy R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Toppin, Catherine J.
• Application Number:
  US09/329,341
• Time in Patent Office: 1,580 Days
• Field of Search: 348/208.5, 348/208.1, 348/208.2, 396/53, 396/54
• US Class Current: 348/208.5
• 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: G03D 5/00 Liquid processing apparatus in which no immersion is effected; Washing apparatus in which no immersion is effected G11B9/00, G11B11/00 take precedence; application of liquids in general B05
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/68 for stable pick-up of the scene, e.g. compensating for camera body vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/6811 based on the image signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/6812 based on additional sensors, e.g. acceleration sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/686 with a variable apex prism
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/687 by shifting the lens or sensor position

Abstract

A hand movement detecting apparatus for a body having imaging elements and an optical unit therein. The hand moment detecting apparatus includes a mechanical movement detecting device for detecting a mechanical moving amount of the body and generating a mechanical movement signal indicating the mechanical moving amount when hand movement occurs, and an image movement detecting device for detecting a moving amount of an object image formed on the imaging elements and generating an image movement signal indicating the image moving amount in response to the mechanical movement signal.

Claims

1. A hand movement detecting apparatus for a body including imaging elements and an optical unit, comprising:

a mechanical movement detecting device configured to detect a mechanical moving amount of the body and to generate a mechanical movement signal indicating the mechanical moving amount when hand movement occurs; and

an image movement detecting device configured to detect a moving amount of an object image formed on the imaging elements and to generate an image movement signal indicating the moving amount in response to the mechanical movement signal.

2. A hand movement correction apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said image movement detecting device is further configured to form a plurality of object images on the imaging elements during the hand movement and to detect the image moving amount based on a pair of object image signals generated by the imaging elements.

3. A hand movement detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

said image movement detecting device is further configured to detect the image moving amount by detecting a difference in phase of waveforms of the pair of the object image signals.

4. A hand movement detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

said image movement detecting device is further configured to determine a timing of a formation of the object image based on the mechanical movement signal.

5. A hand movement detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

said image movement detecting device is further configured to generate a plurality of object image signals by periodically forming a plurality of object images on the imaging element, and to select a pair of object image signals to compare and detect the image moving amount.

6. A hand movement detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

said image movement detecting device is further configured to change an angle of an optical axis of the optical unit based on the movement signal, and said image movement detecting device is further configured to detect the image moving amount by detecting object image signals generated after the change of the optical axis.

7. A hand movement detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

said image movement detecting device is further configured to detect a second image moving amount moved in a direction different from a previously detected direction after detecting said image moving amount.

8. A hand movement detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

said mechanical movement detecting device is further configured to output a signal as the movement signal indicating an inclination level of the body to the gravity direction.

9. A hand movement detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said mechanical movement detecting device is further configured to output a signal indicating a velocity angle of the body as the mechanical movement signal.

10. A hand movement detecting apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, further comprising:

a hand movement correcting device configured to correct hand movement based on the image movement signal and the mechanical movement signal.

11. A hand movement detecting apparatus for a body including imaging elements and an optical unit, comprising:

mechanical movement means for detecting a mechanical moving amount of the body and for generating a mechanical movement signal indicating the mechanical moving amount when hand movement occurs; and

image movement detecting means for detecting a moving amount of an object image formed on the imaging elements and for generating an image movement signal indicating the moving amount in response to the mechanical movement signal.

12. A hand movement correction apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

said image movement detecting means forms a plurality of object images on the imaging elements during the hand movement and detects the image moving amount based on a pair of object image signals generated by the imaging elements.

13. A hand movement detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

said image movement detecting means detects the image moving amount by detecting a difference in phase of waveforms of the pair of the object image signals.

14. A hand movement detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

said image movement detecting means determines a timing of a formation of the object image based on the mechanical movement signal.

15. A hand movement detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

said image movement detecting means generates a plurality of object image signals by periodically forming a plurality of object images on the imaging element, and selects a pair of object image signals to compare and detect the image moving amount.

16. A hand movement detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

said image movement detecting means changes an angle of an optical axis of the optical unit based on the movement signal, and said image movement detecting means detects the image moving amount by detecting object image signals generated after the change of the optical axis.

17. A hand movement detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

said image movement detecting means detects a second image moving amount moved in a direction different from a previously detected direction after detecting said image moving amount.

18. A hand movement detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

said mechanical movement detecting means outputs a signal as the movement signal indicating an inclination level of the body to the gravity direction.

19. A hand movement detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

said mechanical movement detecting means outputs a signal indicating a velocity angle of the body as the mechanical movement signal.

20. A hand movement detecting apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19, further comprising:

hand movement correcting means for correcting hand movement based on the image movement signal and the mechanical movement signal.