Photographing apparatus

• US 7,480,457 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2005
• Issued: 01/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PENTAX RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD.
• Original Assignee: Hoya Corporation
• Inventors: Uenaka, Yukio, Ogawa, Takahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): MAHONEY, CHRISTOPHER E
• Application Number:
  US11/157,806
• Publication Number:
  US 20050286887A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,308 Days
• Field of Search: 396/20, 396322-323, 396332-336, 396/419, 348/208.11
• US Class Current: 396/322
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 37/00 Panoramic or wide-screen photography; Photographing extended surfaces, e.g. for surveying; Photographing internal surfaces, e.g. of pipe
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/58 Means for changing the camera field of view without moving the camera body, e.g. nutating or panning of optics or image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/635 Region indicators; Field of view indicators
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/698 for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture

Abstract

A photographing apparatus comprises a movable unit, a fixed unit, and a control unit. The movable unit has an imaging device, and can be moved in a first direction. The first direction is perpendicular to an optical axis of a photographing optical system of the photographing apparatus. The fixed unit slidably supports the movable unit in the first direction. The control apparatus controls moving the movable unit to two or more movement-positions in the movable unit'"'"'s movement range, and obtains a wide-angle image signal which is a combination of the two or more image signals being imaged at two or more movement-positions of the movable unit.

Claims

1. A photographing apparatus, comprising:

a movable unit that has an imaging device, and that is movable in a first direction, said first direction being perpendicular to an optical axis of a photographing optical system of said photographing apparatus;

a fixed unit that slidably supports said movable unit for movement in said first direction; and

a control apparatus that controls movement of said movable unit to two or more movement-positions in a movement range of said movable unit, and that obtains a wide-angle image signal which is a combination of two or more image signals being imaged at said two or more movement-positions of said movable unit,

wherein a movement range of an imaging field of said imaging device of said movable unit is within an image circle which is equal to an imaging range of light passing through said photographing optical system.

2. The photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said movable unit is movable in said first direction and in a second direction which is perpendicular to said first direction and to said optical axis;

said fixed unit slidably supports said movable unit for movement in both said first and said second directions; and

a number of said movement positions is four or more.

3. The photographing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said four or more movement positions are first, second, third, and fourth positions;

said first position is where said movable unit contacts a first corner edge point which is an intersection of two edges of the movement range of said movable unit in said first direction, and is one of two edges of the movement range of said movable unit in said second direction;

said second position is where said movable unit contacts a second corner edge point which is another intersection of two edges of the movement range of said movable unit in said first direction, and is one of two edges of the movement range of said movable unit in said second direction;

said third position is where said movable unit contacts a third corner edge point which is an intersection of two edges of the movement range of said movable unit in said first direction, and is one of two edges of the movement range of said movable unit in said second direction; and

said fourth position is where said movable unit contacts a fourth corner edge point which is an intersection of two edges of the movement range of said movable unit in said first direction, and is one of two edges of the movement range of said movable unit in said second direction.

4. The photographing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein an order of the movement of said movable unit to said first, second, third, and fourth positions is clockwise or counterclockwise when viewed from a third direction which is parallel to said optical axis.

5. The photographing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein one of said movable unit and said fixed unit has a first coil which is configured to move said movable unit in said first direction, and has a second coil which is configured to move said movable unit in said second direction;

and

another of said movable unit and said fixed unit has a first magnet which is configured to move said movable unit in said first direction, and has a second magnet which is configured to move said movable unit in said second direction.

6. The photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said imaging device can read out part of the accumulated electric charge;

and

each of said two or more image signals is obtained on a basis of the accumulated electric charge which is read out for the part of the imaging field which is needed for the combination.

7. The photographing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an indicating unit that indicates a wide-angle image based on said wide-angle image signal.

8. The photographing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said movable unit is movable in said first direction and in a second direction which is perpendicular to said first direction and to said optical axis;

said fixed unit slidably supports said movable unit for movement in both said first and said second directions; and

a number of said movement positions is four or more.

9. The photographing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said four or more movement positions are first, second, third, and fourth positions;

said first position is where said movable unit contacts a first corner edge point which is an intersection of two edges of the movement range of said movable unit in said first direction, and is one of two edges of the movement range of said movable unit in said second direction;

said second position is where said movable unit contacts a second corner edge point which is another intersection of two edges of the movement range of said movable unit in said first direction, and is one of two edges of the movement range of said movable unit in said second direction;

said third position is where said movable unit contacts a third corner edge point which is an intersection of two edges of the movement range of said movable unit in said first direction, and is one of two edges of the movement range of said movable unit in said second direction; and

said fourth position is where said movable unit contacts a fourth corner edge point which is an intersection of two edges of the movement range of said movable unit in said first direction, and is one of two edges of the movement range of said movable unit in said second direction.

10. The photographing apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a memory that stores an image signal;

said control unit moving said movable unit to a predetermined imaging position; and

said image signal being obtained by imaging when said movable unit is in said predetermined imaging position.

11. The photographing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said indicating unit indicates a photography frame which shows an imaging field for storing said image signal in said memory on said wide-angle image when said movable unit is in said predetermined imaging position.

12. The photographing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said predetermined imaging position coincides with a center of a movement range of said movable unit and of with the movement range of an imaging field of said imaging device.

13. The photographing apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising an operating unit;

said predetermined imaging position is optionally selected, within the movement range of said movable unit, by use of said operating unit.

14. The photographing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said operating unit has direction keys which are configured to select said predetermined imaging position.