Camera with image stabilizing device

• US 5,175,580 A
• Filed: 08/09/1991
• Issued: 12/29/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Shiomi, Yasuhiko
• Primary Examiner(s): ADAMS JR, RUSSELL E
• Application Number:
  US07/743,033
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: 354/410, 354/407, 354/430, 354/70, 354/65, 354/484
• US Class Current: 396/55
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/40 Testing power supplies testing photovoltaic devices H02S50/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/786 the desired condition being maintained automatically
• 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 23/65 Control of camera operation in relation to power supply
• 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 23/686 with a variable apex prism

Abstract

A camera with an image stabilizing device comprises includes a power supply for the camera, image stabilizing means for preventing image blur of the camera, discrimination means for discriminating a status of the power supply, and control means for varying a manner of discrimination by the discrimination means in accordance with the status of the image stabilizing means.

Claims

1. A camera with an image stabilizing device comprising:

(A) a power supply for the camera;

(B) image stabilizing means energized by the power supply of the camera for stabilizing an image of the camera;

(C) discrimination means for discriminating a status of the power supply; and

(D) control means for varying a manner of discrimination by the discrimination means in accordance with the status of the image stabilizing means.

2. A camera according to claim 1 wherein the power supply of the camera includes a battery.

3. A camera according to claim 1 wherein the power supply of the camera energizes an exposure device.

4. A camera according to claim 1 wherein the power supply of the camera energizes a shutter.

5. A camera according to claim 1 wherein the image stabilizing means includes a mechanical operating element.

6. A camera according to claim 1 wherein the control means includes means for varying a discrimination level of the discrimination means.

7. A camera according to claim 6 wherein the control means includes means for varying the discrimination level of the discrimination means toward a stricter level when the image stabilizing means is to be operated.

8. A camera according to claim 1 wherein the control means includes means for varying a discrimination load of the discrimination means.

9. A camera according to claim 8 wherein control means includes means for increasing the discrimination load of the discrimination means when the image stabilizing means is to be operated.

10. A camera according to claim 1 wherein the discrimination means includes means for discriminating a voltage status of the power supply.

11. A camera according to claim 1 wherein the control means includes discrimination means for discriminating whether the image stabilizing means is to be operated or not.

12. A camera according to claim 11 wherein the discrimination means includes means for discriminating a status of a switch to be set when the image stabilizing means is to be operated.

13. A camera according to claim 1 further comprising:

inhibit means for inhibiting an exposure operation in response, to the discrimination by the discrimination means that the status of the power supply is improper.

14. A camera according to claim 1 further comprising:

inhibit means for inhibiting the operation of the image stabilizing means in response to the discrimination by the discrimination means that the status of the power supply is improper when the image stabilizing means is to be operated.

15. A camera according to claim 1 further comprising:

means for inhibiting the operation of the image stabilizing means and effecting the photographing in response to the discrimination by the discrimination means that the status of the power supply is improper when the image stabilizing means is to be operated.

16. A camera according to claim 1 further comprising:

regulation means for regulating the operation of the image stabilizing means in response to the discrimination by the discrimination means that the status of the power supply is improper.

17. A camera according to claim 16 wherein the regulation means includes means for permitting the operation of the image stabilizing means when the swing status is below a predetermined level.

18. A camera according to claim 16 wherein the regulation means includes means for operating the image stabilizing means and conducting the photographing when the swing status is below a predetermined level.

19. An image stabilizing device for a camera comprising:

(A) image stabilizing means energized by a power supply of the camera for stabilizing an image viewed by the camera;

(B) discrimination means for discriminating a status of the power supply; and

(C) control means for varying a manner of discrimination by the discrimination means in accordance with the status of the image stabilizing means.

20. An image stabilizing device for a camera according to claim 19 wherein the power supply of the camera includes a battery.

21. An image stabilizing device for a camera according to claim 19 wherein the power supply of the camera energizes an exposure device.

22. An image stabilizing device for a camera according to claim 19 wherein the power supply of the camera energizes a shutter.

23. An image stabilizing device for a camera according to claim 19 wherein the image stabilizing means includes a mechanical operating element.

24. An image stabilizing device for a camera according to claim 19 wherein the control means includes means for varying a discrimination level of the discrimination means.

25. An image stabilizing device for a camera according to claim 24 wherein the control means includes means for varying the discrimination level of the discrimination means toward a stricter level when the image stabilizing means is to be operated.

26. An image stabilizing device for a camera according to claim 19 wherein the control means includes means for varying a discrimination load of the discrimination means.

27. An image stabilizing device for a camera according to claim 26 wherein control means includes means for increasing the discrimination load of the discrimination means when the image stabilizing means is to be operated.

28. An image stabilizing device for a camera according to claim 19 wherein the discrimination means includes means for discriminating a voltage status of the power supply.

29. An image stabilizing device for a camera according to claim 19 wherein the control means includes discrimination means for discriminating whether the image stabilizing means is to be operated or not.

30. An image stabilizing device for a camera according to claim 29 wherein the discrimination means includes means for discriminating a status of a switch to be set when the image stabilizing means is to be operated.

31. An image stabilizing device for a camera according to claim 19 further comprising:

inhibit means for inhibiting an exposure operation in response to the discrimination by the discrimination means that the status of the power supply is improper.

32. An image stabilizing device for a camera according to claim 19 further comprising:

inhibit means for inhibiting the operation of the image stabilizing means in response to the discrimination by the discrimination means that the status of the power supply is improper when the image stabilizing means is to be operated.

33. An image stabilizing device for a camera according to claim 19 further comprising:

means for inhibiting the operation of the image stabilizing means and effecting the photographing in response to the discrimination by the discrimination means that the status of the power supply is improper when the image stabilizing means is to be operated.

34. An image stabilizing device for a camera according to claim 19 further comprising:

regulation means for regulating the operation of the image stabilizing means in response to the discrimination by the discrimination means that the status of the power supply is improper.

35. An image stabilizing device for a camera according to claim 34 wherein the regulation means includes means for permitting the operation of the image stabilizing means when the swing status is below a predetermined level.

36. An image stabilizing device for a camera according to claim 34 wherein the regulation means includes means for operating the image stabilizing means and conducting the photographing when the swing status is below a predetermined level.