Camera

• US 20040081441A1
• Filed: 05/12/2003
• Published: 04/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Nonaka, Osamu, Sato, Tatsuya, Nakata, Koichi
• Granted Patent: US 6,810,207 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 396/52
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 13/34 Power focusing
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/00 Details of cameras or camera bodies; Accessories therefor lens hoods or caps G03B11/04
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 5/00 Adjustment of optical system relative to image or object surface other than for focusing

Abstract

A camera according to the present invention comprises a sensor array wherein multiple pixels are arrayed in the base-length direction, a focusing unit for performing focusing of the camera based on the image output from the sensor array, a first detection unit for detecting the movement of the image signals in the base-length direction, a second detection unit for detecting the change in a predetermined pixel signal of the image signals over time, and a movement detection unit for performing movement detection based on the output from the first and second detection units.

Claims

1. A camera comprising:

a sensor array wherein a plurality of pixels are arrayed in the base-line-length direction thereof;

a focusing unit for performing focusing of the camera based on the image output from the sensor array;

a first detection unit for detecting the movement of the image signals in the base-line-length direction;

a second detection unit for detecting the change with regard to time in a predetermined pixel signal of the image signals; and

a movement detection unit for performing movement detection based on the output from the first and second detection unit.

2. The camera according to claim 1, wherein, of the output signals from the pixels of the sensor array, the predetermined pixel signal from the second detection unit exhibits maximal change in data over time.

3. The camera according to claim 1, wherein in the event that the result detected from the first detection unit is less than a predetermined value, the result output from the second detection unit is used.

4. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the image used by the first detection unit for detection of the change in the base-length direction is a high-contrast region where the change in the image is maximal among the image signals in the event of comparing the output from adjacent pixels.

5. A camera comprising:

an AF sensor for outputting subject image data, wherein, in the event that comparison is made between subject image data output from the AF sensor at predetermined intervals, and detection of blurring due to the movement of hands is performed based on the image offset amount from the subject image data, the usage range of the subject image data is differentiated from the range at the time of distance measuring.

6. The camera according to claim 5, wherein the usage range of the subject image at the time of detection of blurring due to the movement of hands is wider than the usage range at the time of distance measuring.

7. The camera according to claim 5, wherein, at the time of distance measuring, the usage range of the subject image data is switched according to the photography lens and the focal distance of the photography lens, and at the time of detection of blurring due to the movement of hands, the usage range of the subject image data is set to be constant, independent of the focal distance of the photography lens.

8. The camera according to claim 5, further comprising a display unit, wherein in the event that blurring due to the movement of hands greater than a predetermined value is detected, display of occurrence of blurring due to the movement of hands is given on the display unit.

9. A camera comprising:

a sensor array wherein a plurality of photo-receiving elements are arrayed;

a focusing unit for performing focusing of the camera based on the subject image data in a first range of the sensor array; and

a blurring-due-to-movement-of-hands detection unit for detecting blurring due to the movement of hands based on the subject image data in a second range of the sensor array;

wherein the first range and the second range are different.

10. The camera according to claim 9, wherein the second range is wider than the first range.

11. The camera according to claim 9, wherein the first range is switched according to the focal distance of the photography lens, and the second range is constant all at times.

12. A camera comprising:

an AF sensor for outputting subject image data; and

a control unit for selecting the usage range of the subject image data used for detection of blurring due to the movement of hands according to the focal distance of the photography lens, in the event that comparison is made between subject image data output from the AF sensor in predetermined intervals, and detection of blurring due to the movement of hands is performed based on the image offset amount from the subject image data.

13. The camera according to claim 12, wherein the control unit switches the blurring judgment value according to the focal distance of the photography lens, in the event that comparison is made between subject image data output from the AF sensor at predetermined intervals, and detection of blurring due to the movement of hands is performed based on the image offset amount from the subject image data.

14. The camera according to claim 13, wherein in the event that the focal distance of the photography lens is on the short focus side, the movement judgment value is-set to a value with low sensitivity for the detection of the movement, and in the event that the focal distance of the photography lens is on the long focus side, the movement judgment value is set to a value with high sensitivity for the detection of the movement.

15. The camera according to claim 12, wherein in a case that the focal distance of the photography lens is equal to or greater than a predetermined focal distance, in the event that the contrast is low within the usage range of the subject image data used for detection of blurring due to the movement of hands, the usage range of the subject image data is expanded so as to perform detection of blurring due to the movement of hands.

16. A camera comprising:

a photography lens;

a sensor array wherein a plurality of photo-receiving elements are arrayed;

a focusing unit for performing focusing of the camera based on subject image data output from the sensor array; and

a blurring-due-to-movement-of-hands detection unit for performing detection of blurring due to the movement of hands based on the subject image data in a predetermined range of the sensor array;

wherein the predetermined range is changed according to the focal distance of the photography lens.

17. The camera according to claim 16, further comprising a judgment unit for making judgment whether or not the subject is low in contrast based on the subject image data, wherein in the event that judgment is made that the subject is low in contrast, the predetermined range is expanded so as to perform detection of blurring due to the movement of hands.

18. A camera comprising:

a sensor array, wherein a plurality of photo-receiving elements are arrayed, for outputting subject image data formed of output signals from the respective photo-receiving elements thereof;

a first calculation unit for calculating the image offset amount between the subject image data output at a first timing and the subject image data output at a second timing different from the first timing by a predetermined time period;

a second calculation unit for calculating the sum of the absolute values of the differences between the output signals from the respective photo-receiving elements at the first timing and those at the second timing; and

a blurring-due-to-movement-of-hands judgment unit for making judgment whether or not blurring due to the movement of hands is caused, based on the output from the first calculation unit and/or the output from the second calculation unit.

19. The camera according to claim 18, wherein, in the event that at least one of the output from the first calculation unit and the output from the second calculation unit is greater than the corresponding predetermined judgment value, the blurring-due-to-movement-of-hands judgment unit makes judgment that blurring due to the movement of hands is caused.

20. The camera according to claim 18, wherein, in the event that the output from the first calculation unit is less than the predetermined judgment value, the blurring-due-to-movement-of-hands judgment unit makes judgment with regard to blurring due to the movement of hands based on the output from the second calculation unit.

21. The camera according to claim 18, further comprising a sensor for detecting blurring due to the movement of hands, wherein in the event that the subject image data output from the sensor array is low in contrast, judgment is made whether or not blurring due to the movement of hands is caused, using the output from the sensor.

22. The camera according to claim 21, wherein the sensor constitutes an acceleration sensor for detecting acceleration in the direction orthogonal to the array direction of the photo-receiving elements of the sensor array.

23. The camera according to claim 18, further comprising a sensor for detecting blurring due to the movement of hands, wherein in the event that the subject image data output from the sensor array is low in luminance, judgment is made whether or not blurring due to the movement of hands is caused, using the output from the sensor.

24. The camera according to claim 23, wherein the sensor constitutes an acceleration sensor for detecting acceleration in the direction orthogonal to the array direction of the photo-receiving elements of the sensor array.

25. A camera comprising:

a sensor array, wherein a plurality of photo-receiving elements are arrayed, for outputting subject image data formed of output signals from the respective photo-receiving elements thereof;

a first calculation unit for calculating the image offset amount between the subject image data output at a first timing and the subject image data output at a second timing different from the first timing by a predetermined time period;

a blurring-due-to-movement-of-hands detection sensor for detecting blurring due to the movement of hands in the direction different from the photo-receiving element array direction of the sensor array; and

a blurring-due-to-movement-of-hands judgment unit for making judgment whether or not blurring due to the movement of hands is caused in the photo-receiving element array direction based on the output from the first calculation unit, and making judgment whether or not blurring due to the movement of hands is caused in the direction different from the photo-receiving element array direction based on the output from the blurring-due-to-movement-of-hands detection sensor.

26. The camera according to claim 25, wherein the blurring-due-to-movement-of-hands detection sensor detects blurring due to the movement of hands in the direction orthogonal to the photo-receiving element array direction.

27. The camera according to claim 25, wherein the blurring-due-to-movement-of-hands detection sensor constitutes an acceleration sensor.

28. A camera comprising:

a sensor array, wherein a plurality of photo-receiving elements are arrayed, for outputting image signals of the subject;

a first detection unit for detecting the movement of the image signals output from the sensor array in the photo-receiving element array direction;

a second detection unit for detecting the change in the image signals output from the sensor array;

a vibration detection unit for performing detection of the vibration based on the detected results from the first detection unit and/or the second detection unit; and

a notifying unit for giving a notice of vibration detection information according to the output from the vibration detection unit, wherein the notifying format is differentiated between a case of detecting the vibration based on the detected results from the first detection unit, and a case of detecting the vibration based on the detected results from the second detection unit.

29. The camera according to claim 28, wherein, in the event that the notifying unit gives a notice of the vibration detection information based on the detected results from the first detection unit, the notice is given with a grade corresponding to the magnitude of the vibration.

30. The camera according to claim 28, wherein, in the event that the notifying unit gives a notice of the vibration detection information based on the detected results from the second detection unit, the notice is given in an on/off manner corresponding to the magnitude of the vibration.

31. The camera according to claim 28, wherein the vibration detection unit detects the vibration in the photo-receiving element array direction based on the output from the first detection unit, and the vibration in the direction orthogonal to the photo-receiving element array direction based on the output from the second detection unit.

32. The camera according to claim 28, wherein the first detection unit detects the moved amount of the image signals over time in the photo-receiving element array direction, and the second detection unit detects the change in the image signal shape over time.

33. A camera comprising:

a movement detection/computation unit for detecting the movement state of the camera, and performing computation of the moved amount;

an exposure start determination unit for determining exposure start operation of the camera based on the output from the movement detection/computation unit;

a notifying unit for giving a notice of information with regard to the movement state occurring in the camera based on the output from the movement detection/computation unit;

an exposure operation unit for performing exposure operations based on the determination result from the exposure start determination unit;

a mode setting unit which can set either of the notifying mode wherein the notifying unit gives a notice, or the notice exposure operation mode wherein exposure operation is performed based on the determination result from the exposure start determination unit, and wherein a notifying is also performed by the notifying unit;

wherein the notifying unit gives a notice with notifying format which is differentiated between a case that the notifying mode has been set, and a case wherein the notice exposure operation mode has been set.

34. The camera according to claim 33, wherein the notifying unit gives a notice in the event that the movement occurring in the camera is equal to or greater than a predetermined judgment value,

and wherein in the event that the notifying mode has been set, the judgment value is small as compared with a case wherein the notice exposure operation mode has been set.

35. The camera according to claim 33, wherein the notifying unit updates the information with regard to the movement state occurring in the camera at predetermined intervals, and gives a notice,

and wherein in the event that the notifying mode has been set, the update period of notifying is short as compared with a case wherein the notice exposure operation mode has been set.

36. A camera comprising:

a movement detection/computation unit for detecting the movement state of the camera, and performing computation of the moved amount;

a blurring reduction unit for reducing deterioration of the image due to the movement based on the output from the blurring detection/computation unit;

a notifying unit for notifying of information with regard to the movement state occurring in the camera based on the output from the movement detection/computation unit;

a mode setting unit which can set either of the notifying mode wherein the notifying unit gives a notice, or the blurring reduction notifying mode wherein the blurring reduction unit performs blurring reduction operations, and wherein also the notifying unit gives a notice;

wherein the notifying unit gives a notice with a notifying format which is differentiated between a case that the notifying mode has been set, and a case that the blurring reduction notifying mode has been set.

37. The camera according to claim 36, wherein the notifying unit gives a notice in the event that the movement occurring in the camera is equal to or greater than a predetermined judgment value,

and wherein in the event that the notifying mode has been set, the judgment value is small as compared with a case wherein the blurring reduction notifying mode has been set.

38. The camera according to claim 36, wherein the motifying unit updates the information with regard to the movement state occurring in the camera at predetermined intervals, and gives a notice,

and wherein in the event that the notifying mode has been set, the update period of notice is short as compared with a case wherein the blurring reduction notifying mode has been set.