Imaging apparatus having an optical zoom lens and an electronic zoom circuit

Abstract: Smooth interlocking operation of optical zooming means and electronic zooming means are realized by storing an amount of mechanical play of the optical zooming means to a play memory and then calculating the amount of mechanical play of the optical zooming from both such stored the amount of mechanical play and the lens drive control information to change the interlocking operation starting point of the optical zooming means and electronic zooming means.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus, and particularly to an imaging apparatus including an optical zooming function and an electronic zooming function. Description of Related Art A zoom lens drive mechanism utilizing a stepping motor is already popular as a typical means for moving an optical zoom lens along the optical axis. In such zoom lens drive mechanism, the zoom lens position is detected by forming an open loop with an optical zooming means, an optical zooming means control means and a stepping motor and always watching the number of driving steps of the stepping motor with the optical zooming control means in order to equivalently watching the zoom lens position of the optical zooming means. Moreover, according to the Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. HEI6-273658, it is described that the optical zooming means and electronic zooming means can be smoothly interlocked for operation, on the occasion of transition to the electronic zooming means from the optical zooming means or to the optical zooming means from the electronic zooming means, by varying the magnifying power changing rate of the electronic zooming means and providing a parallel operating section where the optical zooming means and electronic zooming means operate in parallel within a video camera having realized simultaneous introduction of both optical zooming means and electronic zooming means. In addition, it is also described in the same official gazette that the optical zooming means and electronic zooming means can be interlocked smoothly by changing the parallel operating sections for each zooming rate. When a zoom lens is to be driven with a stepping motor via gears or the like, a mechanical play is generated at the engaging portions, etc. of gears. In this case, when the amount of play is zero, the zoom lens position can equivalently be watched by watching the number of the drive steps of the stepping motor with an optical zooming control means. However, if the amount of play increases, the error generated at the zooming position which the optical zooming control means obtains also increases. Moreover, when the driving direction is inverted, the lens must be driven exceeding the amount of play. The amount of play also fluctuates depending on the manufacturing process. Here, there is a problem that if the optical zooming control means is designed in the same specifications, the amount of play is not always equal and it also changes depending on temperature. This mechanical play also results in deviation of the parallel operating section for the optical zooming means and electronic zooming means from the optimum position during the interlocking operation of such optical and electronic zooming means. Under this condition, the optical zooming means and electronic zooming means can no longer be interlocked for the operation even with the technique described in the Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. HEI6-273658. Therefore, the object of the present invention is to solve these problems explained above, by taking these points into consideration, through the smooth interlocking operation between the optical zooming means and electronic zooming means by storing typical values of an amount of mechanical play of the optical zooming means into a memory, calculating the amount of mechanical play of the optical zooming means from the amount of mechanical play stored and lens driving control information and then changing the starting point of interlocking operation of the optical zooming means and electronic zooming means. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to attain the object of the present invention explained above, the imaging apparatus of the present invention to form an image format on the imaging surface of a solid state imaging device through the predetermined optical system and to output the image format after it has been converted to an image signal is structured to comprise an optical zooming means for moving a zoom lens of the optical system along the optical axis to magnify and reduce the image of an object formed on the imaging surface, an optical zooming control means for controlling the optical zooming means with an open loop, and electronic zooming means for magnifying and reducing an output image while changing the extraction size of the image format on the imaging surface, an electronic zooming control means for making control to continuously magnify and reduce an output image of the electronic zooming means, a memory means for storing amount of mechanical play of the optical zooming means and a play calculating means for calculating amount of mechanical play of the optical zooming means based on the amount of play stored in the memory means and control result of the optical zooming control means, whereby the optical zooming means and the electronic zooming means are interlocked with each other to operate smoothly by changing, at the time of starting interlocking operation of the optical zooming means and the electronic zooming means, the starting point of the interlocking operation depending on the amount of mechanical play of the optical zooming means calculated by the play calculating means. Otherwise, the imaging apparatus of the present invention comprising each means explained above is structured so that the electronic zooming means and said optical zooming means are interlocked with each other to smoothly operate by providing a period for previously canceling, with said optical zooming means, the mechanical play of said optical zooming means calculated by said play calculating means before starting the interlocking operation of said electronic zooming means and said optical zooming means. Moreover, the present invention comprises a temperature detecting means for detecting temperature and the play calculating means compensates for amount of mechanical play of the optical zooming means depending on the detection result of the temperature detecting means. Moreover, in the present invention, a part of the structural elements is not comprised within the imaging apparatus body and an external control circuit or an external memory or the like are used. As explained above, the present invention realizes an imaging apparatus which assures smooth interlocking operation of the optical zooming means and electronic zooming means by providing the period for changing the interlocking operation starting point of the optical zooming means and electronic zooming means or previously canceling a play by storing a mechanical play of the optical zooming means into the play memory and calculating the mechanical play of the optical zooming means from the amount of such stored mechanical play and the lens drive control information. [BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS] The present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which; Fig. 1 is a block diagrams showing a structure of an imaging apparatus of the preferred embodiment of the present invention Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing profiles of engagement of gears for driving a zoom lens Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing movement of zoom lens by the present invention when a play is generated Fig. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing change rate of magnification during transition to the electronic zooming from the optical zooming in the present invention Fig. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a changing rate of magnification during transition to the optical zooming from the electronic zooming in the present invention Fig. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a changing rate of magnification during transition to the optical zooming from the electronic zooming in the present invention Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiment A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an imaging apparatus relation to an embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as the present embodiment). In this figure, numeral 101 designates a lens unit; 102, a zoom lens; 103, a solid state imaging device (hereinafter referred to as imaging device); 104, a signal processing circuit; 105, a zoom lens drive gear (hereinafter referred to as gear); 106, a stepping motor for driving the zoom lens; 107, an optical zooming control circuit; 108, an electronic zooming control circuit; 109, a play calculating circuit; 10A, a play memory; 10B, a temperature detecting circuit. The zoom lens 102 in this present embodiment can provide the zooming effect up to three times in maximum and is driven in controllable via a gear 105 by driving the stepping motor 106 with an optical zooming control signal 112 from the optical zooming control circuit 107. In this case, the optical zooming control circuit 107 always watches the optical zooming control signal 112 to calculate in which step from the zero reset position the stepping motor 106 is located as the optical zooming position. Moreover, the light beam obtained via the zoom lens 102 is converted into an electrical signal by the imaging device 103 and is then inputted to the signal processing circuit 104. The signal processing circuit 104 magnifies and reduces image format with the electronic zooming control signal 116 from the electronic zooming control circuit 108 and outputs a video signal 111. Next, a mechanical play of the optical zooming means will be explained. Fig. 2 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing a profile of engagement of gear 105. Rotation of the stepping motor 106 is transmitted from the gear a 201 to the zoom lens 102 via the gear b 202. Here, during the forward rotation, no play is generated between the gear a 201 and gear b 202 as shown in Fig. 2(a). In this case, gear thread a 203 of gear a 201 is placed in contact in the forward direction with the gear b 202 to rotate the gear b 202. Here, when the driving direction is inverted, play 211 is generated, immediately after the inversion of rotating direction, between the gear a 201 and gear b 202 as shown in Fig. 2(b). In this case, since the gear thread a 203 of the gear a 201 is not placed in contact in the inverse direction with the gear b 202, the gear b 202 cannot be rotated. For example, if amount of play 211 is assumed as 20 steps, when the stepping motor 106 is driven for 20 steps after inversion of rotating direction, the gear thread a 203 of the gear a 201 is placed in the inverse direction with the gear b 202 as shown in Fig. 2(c). When the stepping motor 106 is driven for 20 steps or more, the gear thread a 203 of the gear a 201 is placed in contact with the gear b 202. Thereby, the gear b 202 is rotated to drive the zoom lens 101. Namely, when the rotating direction is inverted, if the stepping motor 106 is not driven exceeding the amount of play, the zoom lens 102 does not operate. Therefore, if the physical position of zoom lens 102 (hereinafter referred to as physical lens position) is the same, an error in amount of play may be generated in the optical zooming position (hereinafter referred to as calculated lens position) calculated by the optical zooming control circuit 107. Next, a method of calculating amount of play in the play calculating circuit 109 will be explained with reference to Fig. 3. First, it is assumed, as shown in Fig. 3(a), that the initial physical lens position of zoom lens 102 is located in the wide angle side than the zero reset position and zero reset is detected by driving the zoom lens 102 in the zero reset direction when the power switch is turned on. In this case, since zero reset has been executed by driving the zoom lens 102 in the wide angle side, there is no play in the wide angle side between the gear a 201 and gear b 202 but a certain amount of play is generated in the telephoto side. Here, amount of play is assumed as 20 steps. The optical zooming control circuit 107 sets the calculated lens position during zero resetting to zero and equivalently controls position of the zoom lens 102 by subtracting one (-1) for each drive of one step when the lens is moved to the wide angle side or by adding one (+1) for each drive of one step when the lens is moved to the telephoto side. Next, as shown in Fig. 3(b), when the zoom lens is driven by 10 steps to the wide angle side from the zero reset position, both physical lens position and calculated lens position are indicated as -10 because there is no play in the wide angle direction. However, when the zoom lens is driven, on the contrary, by 10 steps to the telephoto side from the zero reset position as shown in Fig. 3(c), the physical lens position does not move because of existence of play. Namely, the physical lens position is 0 but the calculated lens position becomes 10, resulting in mismatching between these lens positions. In this case, amount of play becomes 10 steps in the telephoto side and also 10 steps in the wide angle side. Moreover, as shown in Fig. 3(d), when the lens is driven by 30 steps to the telephoto side from the zero reset position, the maximum amount of play of 20 steps can be canceled resulting in the physical lens position of 10 steps and calculated lens position of 30 steps. In this case, play of 20 steps exists only in the wide angle direction. As explained above, amount of play in the telephoto side and wide angle side can always be calculated from the stored amount of play, driving direction and the number of driving steps and thereby an error between the calculated lens position and the physical lens position. In above example, the initial position of the zoom lens 102 when the power switch is turned on is assumed to be located in the telephoto side, but when the lens is located in the wide angle side, it can be thought that there is no play in the telephoto side at the zero reset position but play is generated in the wide angle side. Next, interlocking of the optical zooming operation and electronic zooming operation will be explained. For the smooth zooming operation, it is desirable that change of magnification of zooming operation (hereinafter referred to as changing rate of magnification) is constant. Magnification used here is indicated by decibel [dB] and wide angle end is defined to the reference point in 0 dB. Changing rate of magnification means a change of magnification in the unit time. When this changing rate of magnification changes in such a manner not assumed by a user of the imaging apparatus, the zooming rate unnaturally changes. Therefore, it is desirable for interlocking operation of the optical zooming and electronic zooming that changing rate of magnification is kept constant. Fig. 4 shows an ideal example of transition to the electronic zooming from the optical zooming. The vertical axis defines the changing rate of magnification per field, while the horizontal axis defines the time (field). First, Fig. 4(a) shows an example where there is no mechanical play in the optical zooming means. The optical zooming control circuit 107 controls the zoom lens 102 to gradually reduce the moving speed and finally stop. Meanwhile, the electronic zooming control circuit 108 actuates, when the optical zooming position signal 113 transmitted from the optical zooming control circuit 107 reaches the interlocking operation control starting position, the electronic zooming and gradually raises the speed. The interlocking operation starting position is predetermined to make constant the changing rate of magnification. Thereby, the changing rate of magnification always becomes constant and the zooming rate never changes. Next, Fig. 4(b) shows the condition that an error is generated between the calculated lens position and physical lens position due to the mechanical play generated. If the physical lens position is assumed as -20 steps for the calculated lens position, the optical zooming stops at the position leading 20 steps against the calculated lens position. Meanwhile, when the electronic zooming is started from the interlocking operation starting position which is predetermined under the condition that there is no play, the changing rate of magnification changes as shown in Fig. 4(b), resulting in unnatural zooming operation. In the present invention, following compensation is carried out to eliminate such disadvantage. The play calculating circuit 109 calculates mechanical plays in the wide angle side and telephoto side from a play signal a117 from the play memory 10A and an optical zooming control signal 112 from the optical zooming control circuit 107. The electronic zooming control circuit 108 calculates an error between the physical lens position and calculated lens position with a play signal b115 from the play calculating circuit 109 and changes the interlocking operation starting position as shown in Fig. 4(c) depending on such error. Thereby, the changing rate of magnification can be kept constant during transition to the electronic zooming from the optical zooming operation and change of the zooming speed can also be prevented. Next, transition to the optical zooming from the electronic zooming will be explained with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 (a) shows the condition that there is no mechanical play in the optical zooming means. The electronic zooming control circuit 108 stops finally the zooming operation by gradually reducing the zooming speed. Meanwhile, the optical zooming control circuit 107 starts the optical zooming operation and gradually raises the zooming speed when the electronic zooming position signal 114 transmitted from the electronic zooming control circuit 108 reaches the interlocking operation starting position. The interlocking operation starting position is previously determined to provide the constant changing rate of magnification. In this case, since magnification is gradually reduced, the changing rate of magnification is expressed as a negative value. Thereby, the changing rate of magnification becomes constant and the zooming rate is never changed. Next, when a mechanical play is generated, following compensation is carried out. The play calculating circuit 109 calculates mechanical plays in the wide angle side and telephoto side from a play signal a117 from the play memory 10A and an optical zooming control signal 112 from the optical zooming control circuit 107. The optical zooming control circuit 107 changes the interlocking operation starting position a shown in Fig. 5(b) depending on the amount of play in the wide angle side with the play signal b115 from the play calculating circuit 109. Thereby, the changing rate of magnification can be kept constant during transition to the optical zooming from the electronic zooming and change of zooming speed can also be prevented. Next, the second method for preventing change of changing rate of magnification during transition to the optical zooming from the electronic zooming will then be explained. In the method explained previously, change of the changing rate of magnification has been prevented by changing the interlocking operation starting position, but in the second method, the interlocking operation starting position is never changed. As shown in Fig. 6, the optical zooming control circuit 107 provides the period for compensating the zooming drive as much as a play in the wide angle side of the play signal b115 from the play calculating circuit 109 before the electronic zooming position signal 114 reaches the interlocking operation starting position from the electronic zooming control circuit 108 and previously sets the play in the wide angle side to zero. During this period, zooming drive is made as much as the play and therefore the changing rage of magnification in the optical zooming is zero. Thereafter, the changing rate of magnification during transition to the optical zooming from the electronic zooming can be kept constant by starting again the optical zooming from the predetermined interlocking operation starting position. The optical zooming control circuit 107 can freely set, only before the start of the interlocking operation, the position of the period for zooming drive as much as the play. The ideal example for controlling the changing rate of magnification to zero has been explained above and it is also explained additionally that as a result of above compensation, any problem is not generated under the condition that change of changing rate of magnification can be controlled to such a degree as resulting in no visible change of the zooming speed. Next, change in amount of play due to temperature change will be explained. The structural elements such as a gear expands or compresses depending on the ambient temperature. Particularly, a material such as plastic is used, such expansion or compression is distinctive. Namely, when shape of the gear 105 changes depending on temperature, resultant mechanical play also changes. Therefore, in the present invention, the play calculating circuit 109 executes the temperature compensation of play depending on the temperature characteristic of play using the temperature signal 118 from the temperature detecting circuit 10B. Thereby, the amount of play can be calculated more accurately. Moreover, in above example, the structural elements are all comprised within the imaging apparatus body, but it is also possible that a part of the structural elements, for example, the play memory 10A may be used as the external apparatus. That is, a memory, for example, of a personal computer or a portable information terminal or the like can be used as an external memory. Finally, the amount of play to be stored in the play memory 10A will be explained. As already explained previously, amount of play fluctuates depending on manufacturing process. The same design does not always result in the same amount of play. If the visible zooming speed is in such a degree as zero, it is enough that a typical value of fluctuation is previously stored in the play memory 10A. Such typical value may be set as the maximum value. Moreover, it may be stored after it is measured with a measuring apparatus for each imaging apparatus. In addition, it is also possible that it is measured at the zero reset position for every turn-on of the power switch and is then stored in the play memory 10A.

Claims: An imaging apparatus for forming an image on an imaging surface of a solid state imaging device (103) via an optical system (101) and outputting said image as an image format after it is converted to a video signal (111), comprising: an optical zooming device for moving a zoom lens of said optical system along the optical axis and magnifying or reducing an image of an object formed on said imaging surface; an optical zooming controller (107) for controlling said optical zooming device with an open loop; an electronic zooming device for magnifying and reducing an output image by outputting the image format on said imaging surface by changing an extracting size; a memory (10A) for storing an amount of mechanical play of said optical zooming device; a play calculator (109) for calculating amount of mechanical play of said optical zooming means on the basis of the amount of play stored in said memory and the control result of said optical zooming controller, and an electronic zooming controller (108) for controlling an output image of said electronic zooming device to continuously magnify and reduce the output image and changing the interlocking operation starting position so that the magnifying and reducing operations by said optical zooming device and that by said electronic zooming device are smoothly interlocked, in case of interlocking operation of said optical zooming device and said electronic zooming device, depending on the amount of mechanical play of said optical zooming device calculated by said play calculator. An imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a temperature detector (10B) for detecting temperature of said optical zooming device and periphery thereof, wherein said play calculator (109) compensates for the amount of mechanical play of said optical zooming device on the basis of the detection result of said temperature detector (10B). An imaging apparatus for forming an image on an imaging surface of a solid state imaging device (103) via an optical system (101) and outputting said image as an image format after it is converted to a video signal (111), comprising: an optical zooming device for moving a zoom lens of said optical system along the optical axis and magnifying or reducing an image of object formed on said imaging surface; an electronic zooming device for magnifying and reducing an output image by outputting the image format on said imaging surface by changing an extracting size; an electronic zooming controller (108) for controlling an output image of said electronic zooming device to continuously magnify and reduce; a memory (10A) for storing an amount of mechanical play of said optical zooming device; a play calculator (109) for calculating an amount of mechanical play of said optical zooming device on the basis of the play stored in said memory and the control result of said optical zooming controller, and an optical zooming controller (107) for controlling said optical zooming device with an open loop and previously operating said optical zooming device only for the period in which the amount of mechanical play of said optical zooming device calculated by said play calculator is canceled before start of the interlocking operation of said electronic zooming device and said optical zooming device. An imaging apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a temperature detector (10B) for detecting temperature of said optical zooming device and periphery thereof, wherein said play calculator (109) compensates for an amount of mechanical play of said optical zooming device on the basis of the detection result of said temperature detector (10B). An imaging apparatus for detecting an image focused on the imaging surface of an imaging device (103) by an optical system (101) converting it into the predetermined video signal (111) and then outputting the same video signal, comprising: a signal processor (104) for outputting said video signal of a part or all of the output video signal on said imaging surface by electrically processing an output signal of said imaging device; an optical zooming mechanism for changing magnification of said image format by mechanically moving the zoom lens provided in said optical system; a play detector (109) for detecting mechanical play generated in said optical zooming mechanism; and a controller for controlling said signal processor to magnify and reduce output image format of said video signal outputted from said signal processor, changing the image format of said video signal by controlling said optical zooming device with the open loop and changing, in case of interlocking operation of said optical zooming mechanism and said signal processor, the operation period of said signal processor and said control optical zooming mechanism depending on the amount of play detected by said play detector so that a change of image format by said optical zooming mechanism is smoothly continued to change of image format by said signal processor. An imaging apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a temperature detector (10B) for detecting temperature of said optical zooming device and periphery thereof, wherein said play detector compensates for an amount of said play on the basis of the detection result of said temperature detector (10B).

Inventors: TAKAHASHI TAKASHI, UEMURA KAZUNORI, TAKAHASHI, TAKASHI, UEMURA, KAZUNORI
Applicants: HITACHI LTD, HITACHI MICROCOMP SYSTEM LTD, HITACHI MICROCOMPUTER SYSTEM LTD., HITACHI, LTD.
Application year: 1997
Main classification: G02B7
IPC codes: H04N5, G02B7