Patent Publication Number: US-2013251356-A1

Title: Imaging device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-066611 filed on Mar. 23, 2012. The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-066611 is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an imaging device equipped with a flash and an image stabilization function. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A conventional imaging device comprises an angular velocity sensor for detecting blur, and an image stabilization function. The image stabilization function reduces blur caused by camera blur or the like and occurring in the captured image data. With this type of imaging device, there is a known configuration in which computation of the amount of blur is not performed, on the basis of the detection result of the angular velocity sensor, during charging when a flash is used (when a booster circuit is used) (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 2005-128224, for example). 
     The reason for this is that the output of the sensor is unstable, being affected by noise from the booster circuit during use of the booster circuit, so there is the risk of a decrease in accuracy in the detection of blur. With a conventional imaging device, during the charging of the flash, the blur detection operation and the flash charging operation are carried out alternately, so that blur detection can be performed even when the flash is being charged. 
     SUMMARY 
     A problem encountered with a conventional imaging device was that since charging and blur detection are carried out alternately, it is fundamentally impossible for both to be carried out at the same time, and this results in lower efficiency. 
     The present invention was conceived in light of the above problem, and it is an object thereof to provide an imaging device with which accuracy can be improved in blur correction during the charging of a flash. 
     The imaging device disclosed herein comprises an imaging component, a transformer circuit, a control circuit, a blur detecting sensor, a memory, and a blur correction controller. The imaging component captures a subject and outputs image data. The transformer circuit is for transforming a power supply voltage. The control circuit controls the transformer circuit. The blur detecting sensor detects blur in the image data. The memory stores information related to a specific frequency range. The blur correction controller performs first blur correction control on the basis of the output of the blur detecting sensor when the frequency of the transformer circuit is outside the specific frequency range while the control circuit is performing control. The blur correction controller performs second blur correction control that is different from the first blur correction control when the frequency of the transformer circuit is within the specific frequency range. 
     The present invention provides an imaging device with which accuracy can be improved in blur correction during the charging of a flash. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram of the configuration of the front face of a digital camera  100  pertaining to Embodiment 1; 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram of the configuration of the rear face of the digital camera  100  pertaining to Embodiment 1; 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram of the electrical configuration of the digital camera  100  pertaining to Embodiment 1; 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart of the processing in imaging mode pertaining to Embodiment 1; 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart of the flash charging operation pertaining to Embodiment 1; 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating battery power supply voltage and the range over which angular velocity sensor coring processing is performed in Embodiment 1; 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart of still picture capture processing pertaining to Embodiment 1; and 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating the setting of the range over which angular velocity sensor coring processing is performed in another embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Selected embodiments will now be explained with reference to the drawings. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that the following descriptions of the embodiments are provided for illustration only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. 
     Embodiment 1 
     With the digital camera  100  of Embodiment 1, in the charging of the flash of the digital camera  100 , control that is different from usual is performed by the blur correction controller when the power supply voltage of the battery is within a specific voltage range. 
     1. Configuration 
     The configuration of the digital camera  100  will be described through reference to the drawings. 
     1-1. Configuration of Digital Camera  100   
       FIG. 1  is a diagram of the configuration of the front face of the digital camera  100 . The digital camera  100  comprises on its front face a lens barrel that contains an optical system  110 , and a flash  160  and so forth. The digital camera  100  comprises on its top face interface components consisting of a shutter button  201 , a zoom lever  202 , a camera ON/OFF switch  203 , and so on. 
       FIG. 2  is a diagram of the configuration of the rear face of the digital camera  100 . The digital camera  100  comprises a liquid crystal monitor  123 , a menu button  204 , a cursor button  205 , a moving picture release button  206 , a mode switch  207 , and other such interface components. 
       FIG. 3  is a diagram of the electrical configuration of the digital camera  100 . The digital camera  100  captures a subject image formed via the optical system  110 , with a CCD image sensor  120 . The CCD image sensor  120  produces image data on the basis of the captured subject image. The image data thus captured undergoes various processing by an AFE (analog front end)  121  and an image processor  122 . The image data thus produced is recorded to a recording medium. Recording media include a flash memory  142 , a memory card  140 , etc. In this embodiment, an example will be described in which the memory card  140  is used as a recording medium. The image data recorded to the memory card  140  is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor  123  according to operation of an interface unit  150  by the user. The various components shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3  will be described in detail below. 
     The optical system  110  is constituted by a focus lens  111 , a zoom lens  112 , an aperture  113 , a shutter  114 , and so on. The various lenses that make up the optical system  110  can be constituted by any number of lenses or by any number of groups of lenses. 
     The focus lens  111  is used to adjust the focal state of the subject. The zoom lens  112  is used to adjust the field angle of the subject. The aperture  113  is used to adjust the amount of light that is incident on the CCD image sensor  120 . The shutter  114  is used to adjust the exposure time for light incident on the CCD image sensor  120 . An OIS lens  115  is able to move according to the angular velocity detected by an angular velocity sensor  170  (an example of a blur detecting sensor). Consequently, the OIS lens  115  corrects the amount of blur of the digital camera  100 . The focus lens  111 , the zoom lens  112 , the aperture  113 , the shutter  114 , and the OIS lens  115  are each driven by a DC motor, a stepping motor, or another such drive unit, according to a control signal issued from the controller  130 . 
     The CCD image sensor  120  captures a subject image formed by the optical system  110 , and thereby produces image data. The CCD image sensor  120  produces a new frame of image data at regular time intervals when the digital camera  100  is in imaging mode. The CCD image sensor  120  is an example of an imaging component. 
     The AFE  121  subjects the image data read from the CCD image sensor  120  to noise suppression by correlated double sampling, amplification to the input range width of an A/D converter by analog gain controller, and A/D conversion by A/D converter. The AFE  121  then outputs the image data to the image processor  122 . 
     The image processor  122  subjects the image data outputted from the AFE  121  to various kinds of processing. Examples of the various processing include smear correction, white balance correction, gamma correction, YC conversion processing, electronic zoom processing, compression processing, and expansion processing. The various processing is not, however, limited to what is listed here. The image processing unit  122  stores the image information that has undergone the various processing in a buffer memory  124 . The image processor  122  may be a hard-wired electronic circuit, or may instead be a microprocessor that uses a program, etc. Also, the image processor  122  may be constituted by a single semiconductor chip along with the controller  130 . 
     The liquid crystal monitor  123  is provided to the rear face of the digital camera  100 . The liquid crystal monitor  123  displays images on the basis of image data processed by the image processor  122 . The images displayed on the liquid crystal monitor  123  include through-images and/or recorded images. Through-images are displayed on the liquid crystal monitor  123  by having the CCD image sensor  120  continuously output to the liquid crystal monitor  123  a new frame of image data at regular time intervals. Usually, when the digital camera  100  is in imaging mode, the image processor  122  produces a through-image on the basis of image data produced by the CCD image sensor  120 . The user can capture images while checking the composition of the subject by referring to the through-image displayed on the liquid crystal monitor  123 . A recorded image is an image obtained by reducing the resolution of high-resolution image data recorded to the memory card  140 , for display on the liquid crystal monitor  123 , when the digital camera  100  is in imaging mode. The high-resolution image data recorded to the memory card  140  is produced by the image processor  122  on the basis of the image data produced by the CCD image sensor  120  after the user has operated the release lever. 
     A battery  125  supplies power to the various components and operates as a power supply. The power supply lines to the various components are not shown in the drawings. 
     The controller  130  controls the overall operation of the entire digital camera  100 . The controller  130  records to the memory card  140  the image data that has been processed by the image processor  122  and the stored in the buffer memory  124 . The controller  130  is constituted by a ROM that stores a program, a CPU that executes the program and thereby subjects various kinds of information to processing, and so forth. The ROM stores programs related to file control, autofocus control (AF control), auto exposure control (AE control), blur correction control (OIS control), light emission control of the flash  160 , and so forth. The ROM also stores a program for the overall control of the entire digital camera  100 . The controller  130  acquires a blur signal from the angular velocity sensor  170 , and controls the OIS lens  115 . Specifically, the controller  130  operates as a blur correction controller  131 . The controller  130  also controls the charging of the flash  160 . Specifically, the controller  130  also operates as a charging controller  132  (an example of a control circuit). 
     The blur correction controller  131  acquires an angular velocity value from the angular velocity sensor  170 . This angular velocity value is used as a blur signal. The blur correction controller  131  also corrects blur by driving the OIS lens according to the acquired angular velocity value. 
     The charging controller  132  monitors the charging state of the flash  160 , and performs charging when the remaining charge is low. The charging controller  132  is also able to acquire the power supply voltage of the battery  125 . 
     The controller  130  may be a hard-wired electronic circuit, but may instead be a microcomputer or the like. Also, the controller  130  may be constituted by a single semiconductor chip along with the image processor  122 . Also, the ROM need not be configured internally to the controller  130 , and may instead be constituted externally to the controller  130 . 
     The buffer memory  124  is a memory unit that functions as a working memory for the image processing unit  122  and/or the controller  130 . The buffer memory  124  is a DRAM (dynamic random access memory) or the like. The flash memory  142  also functions as an internal memory for recording image data and digital camera  100  setting information, etc. 
     A card slot  141  is a connection means that allows the memory card  140  to be removed. The card slot  141  allows the memory card  140  to be electrically and mechanically connected. The card slot  141  may also have the function of controlling the memory card  140 . 
     The memory card  140  is an external memory internally comprising a recorder such as a flash memory. The memory card  140  allows the recording of data such as a detailed history log or image data processed by the image processor  122 . 
     The interface unit  150  refers collectively to control buttons, control dials, and so forth provided to the exterior of the digital camera  100 , which are operated by the user. For example, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the shutter button  201 , the moving picture release button  206 , the zoom lever  202 , the camera ON/OFF switch  203 , the menu button  204 , the cursor button  205 , the mode switch  207 , and so forth correspond to the interface unit  150 . The manipulation component  150  sends signals corresponding to operational commands to the controller  130  when operated by the user. 
     The shutter button  201  is a two-stage push button that can be pushed half-way down or all the way down. When the shutter button  201  is pressed half-way down by the user, the controller  130  executes AF (auto focus) control or AE (auto exposure) control, and decides on the imaging conditions. When the shutter button  201  is then pressed all the way down by the user, the controller  130  performs imaging processing. The controller  130  records image data captured at the point when the button was pressed all the way down as a still picture to the memory card  140 , etc. Hereinafter, the phrase “the shutter button  201  is pressed” shall mean that it is pressed all the way down. 
     The moving picture release button  206  is a push button that is used to direct the start and end of moving picture recording. When the moving picture release button  206  is pressed by the user, the controller  130  successively records image data produced by the image processor  122  as a moving picture to the memory card  140 , etc., on the basis of the image data produced by the CCD image sensor  120 . The recording of the moving picture ends when the moving picture release button  206  is pressed again. 
     The zoom lever  202  is a lever that automatically returns to its center position and is used to adjust the field angle between the wide angle end and the telephoto end. When the zoom lever  202  is operated by the user, a signal is sent to the controller  130  directing it to drive the zoom lens  112 . Specifically, when the zoom lever  202  is operated to the wide angle end side, the controller  130  drives the zoom lens  112  so that the subject is captured at a wide angle. Similarly, when the zoom lever  202  is operated to the telephoto end side, the controller  130  drives the zoom lens  112  so that the subject is captured in telephoto. 
     The camera ON/OFF switch  203  is a push button operated by the user to supply power to the various components of the digital camera  100 . When the camera ON/OFF switch  203  is pressed by the user while the power is off, the controller  130  supplies power to the components that make up the digital camera  100 , which actuates these components. When the camera ON/OFF switch  203  is pressed by the user while the power is on, the controller  130  halts the supply of power to the components. 
     The menu button  204  is a push button. When the digital camera  100  is in imaging mode or reproduction mode, and the menu button  204  is pressed by the user, the controller  130  displays a menu screen on the liquid crystal monitor  123 . The menu screen is used to set various conditions for imaging and reproduction. The information set on the menu screen is recorded to the flash memory  142 . When the menu button  204  is pressed after various condition setting categories have been selected, this button also functions as an enter button. 
     The cursor button  205  is a push button provided in the up, down, left, and right directions. The user presses the cursor button  205  in one direction to select the various condition categories displayed on the liquid crystal monitor  123 . 
     The mode switch  207  is a push button provided in the up and down directions. The user presses the mode switch  207  in one direction to switch the state of the digital camera  100  to imaging mode or reproduction mode. 
     The flash  160  includes a booster transformer  160   a  for charging a capacitor by raising the power supply voltage of the battery. The flash  160  emits light from a xenon tube by using the charge stored in the capacitor according to a command from the controller  130 . 
     2. Operation 
     2-1. Imaging Operation of Digital Camera  100   
     The imaging control of the digital camera  100  will be described in the following. The digital camera  100  executes processing that assigns capture time and imaging information with respect to captured image data, and records this image data.  FIG. 4  is a flowchart of imaging control when the digital camera  100  is in imaging mode. The digital camera  100  can capture both moving pictures and still pictures in imaging mode. The capture of a still picture will be described here as an example of capture in imaging mode. 
     When the digital camera  100  has been put in imaging mode by operation of the mode switch  207  by the user, the controller  130  performs initialization processing required for still picture recording (S 401 ). When the initialization processing is finished, the charging controller  132  acquires the charging voltage of the flash  160  and the voltage of the battery  125 . The charging controller  132  then changes the flash on the basis of the charging voltage of the flash  160  and/or the voltage of the battery  125  (S 402 ). The charging of the flash will be described in detail below through reference to the flowchart in  FIG. 5 . 
     The controller  130  repeats processing to check input by the user and display processing. These include checking the state of the mode switch  207  (S 404 ), displaying a through-image (S 408 ), and monitoring the pressing of the shutter button  201  (S 409 ). 
     In step  404  (S 404 ), if the state of the mode switch  207  is not imaging mode (No in S 404 ), the processing related to imaging mode is ended. On the other hand, if the state of the mode switch  207  in step  404  is imaging mode (Yes in S 404 ), the controller  130  performs display processing of a through-image according to settings related to display that are currently set (S 408 ). Also, if it is detected in step  409  (S 409 ) that the shutter button  201  has been pressed (Yes in S 409 ), the controller  130  performs still picture imaging processing (S 411 ). This still picture imaging processing will be described in detail below through reference to the flowchart in  FIG. 7 . 
     If the pressing of the shutter button  201  has not been detected (No in S 409 ) in step  409  (S 409 ), the controller  130  repeatedly executes the processing from step S 402  on. If the still picture imaging processing of step S 411  has ended, the controller  130  repeatedly executes the processing form step S 402 . 
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart of the flash charging operation. The charging controller  132  acquires the charging voltage value of the flash  160 , and stores it in the buffer memory  124 . The charging voltage value is the voltage value at both ends of the light emitting capacitor of the flash  160 . The charging controller  132  determines whether or not this charging voltage value is at or above a full-charge voltage value stored in the flash memory  142  (S 501 ). If the charging voltage value is at or above the full-charge voltage value (Yes in S 501 ), the charging controller  132  does not charge the flash  160 . 
     If the charging voltage value of the flash  160  is less than the full-charge voltage value (No in S 501 ), the charging controller  132  acquires the power supply voltage value of the battery  125  and stores it in the buffer memory  124 . The charging controller  132  then determines whether or not the power supply voltage value of the battery  125  is within a specific voltage range stored in the flash memory  142  (S 502 ). 
     If the power supply voltage value of the battery  125  is outside the specific voltage range (No in S 502 ), the charging controller  132  charges the flash  160  without performing angular velocity sensor coring processing (S 504 ). In the charging operation, the charging controller  132  boosts the voltage from the battery  125  and supplies it to the light emitting capacitor of the flash  160 . The charging controller  132  then changes until the charging voltage value of the light emitting capacitor of the flash  160  reaches the full-charge voltage value stored in the flash memory  142 . 
     On the other hand, if the power supply voltage value of the battery  125  is within the specific voltage range (Yes in S 502 ), the blur correction controller  131  performs the angular velocity sensor coring processing (S 503 ). In this angular velocity sensor coring processing, the blur correction controller  131  stores the output signal of the angular velocity sensor  170  in the buffer memory  124 , and subtracts a specific voltage value stored in the flash memory  142  from the voltage value corresponding to the output signal of the angular velocity sensor  170 . Executing angular velocity sensor coring processing thus lowers the angular velocity sensor output signal level for blur correction. 
     The reason for performing angular velocity sensor coring processing will now be explained. To charge the capacitor used for light emission in the flash  160 , the power supply voltage of the battery  125  must be boosted to the full-charge voltage of the capacitor. To boost the power supply voltage, a FET (Field Effect Transistor)  165  for booster control is connected to the booster transformer  160   a . The FET  165  for booster control is driven at a frequency corresponding to the power supply voltage of the battery  125 , and as a result the full-charge voltage is outputted from the booster transformer  160   a  (secondary side of the booster transformer  160   a ). The booster transformer  160   a  and the FET  165  for booster control are examples of a transformer circuit. 
     At this point, if the frequency at which the charging controller  132  drives the FET  165  for booster control is an integer multiple of the drive frequency of the angular velocity sensor  170 , an angular velocity that does not correspond to the actual orientation change in the camera (that is, noise) may end up being outputted. If this noise is outputted, the blur correction controller  131  determines that this noise is the angular velocity produced by a change in the camera orientation. Therefore, even though there is no blur (the camera is still), the blur correction controller  131  drives the OIS lens  115 . That is, a blurred image is incident on the CCD image sensor  120  despite the fact that the camera is in a still state. Thus, unneeded correction may be performed if the frequency at which the charging controller  132  drives the FET  165  for booster control is an integer multiple of the drive frequency of the angular velocity sensor  170 . 
     In view of this, angular velocity sensor coring processing is executed when the above-mentioned noise is generated. This angular velocity sensor coring processing is processing that lowers the angular velocity sensor output signal level by an amount equivalent to the noise. This processing is executed by the blur correction controller  131 . This processing reduces unnecessary correction caused by noise during flash charging. 
     Noise in the output of the angular velocity sensor  170  can be identified by measuring the frequency at which the FET  165 , for booster control, is driven. Also, since the power supply voltage of the battery  125  corresponds to this frequency; the presence of noise in the output of the angular velocity sensor  170  can also be identified by measuring the power supply voltage of the battery  125 . 
     Here, the blur correction controller  131  measures the power supply voltage of the battery  125 , which is easy to measure, and determines whether or not there is noise in the output of the angular velocity sensor  170 . If there is noise, angular velocity sensor coring processing (processing to cancel out the noise in the angular velocity sensor during flash charging) is executed. Thus having the blur correction controller  131  identify a situation in which noise occurs and execute angular velocity sensor coring processing diminishes unnecessary correction that occurs during flash charging. 
     When the above-mentioned angular velocity sensor coring processing is executed (S 504 ), the charging controller  132  charges the flash  160  (S 504 ). 
       FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating the range over which angular velocity sensor coring processing is performed, and the power supply voltage value of the battery  125 .  FIG. 6  shows the state when the remaining battery charge decreases and the power supply voltage value of the battery is reduced as the usage time (shown on the horizontal axis) increases. In the state in  FIG. 6 , angular velocity sensor coring processing is executed if the power supply voltage value of the battery is within a specific voltage range (within a range of VL to VH, including VL and VH in  FIG. 6 ). On the other hand, angular velocity sensor coring processing is not executed if the power supply voltage value of the battery is outside the specific voltage range (outside the range of VL to VH in the drawing). 
       FIG. 7  is a flowchart of still picture capture processing. When the pressing of the shutter button  201  by the user is detected, the controller  130  temporarily stores a still picture produced by the image processor  122  as image data in the buffer memory  124  on the basis of the image data produced by the CCD image sensor  120  (S 803 ). Next, the controller  130  records this image data to the memory card  140  or another such recording medium (S 809 ), and ends capture processing. 
     3. Conclusion 
     As discussed above, the digital camera  100  in this embodiment comprises the CCD image sensor  120 , a transformer circuit (the booster transformer  160   a  and the FET  165  for booster control) for emitting light from the flash  160 , the charging controller  132 , the angular velocity sensor  170 , the flash memory  142 , and the blur correction controller  131 . The CCD image sensor  120  captures a subject and outputs image data. The transformer circuit is used to transform power supply voltage. The charging controller  132  controls the transformer circuit. The angular velocity sensor  170  detects blur in the image data. The flash memory  142  stores information related to a specific frequency range, such as information related to a specific power supply voltage range. The blur correction controller  131  performs blur correction control on the basis of the output of the angular velocity sensor  170  when the power supply voltage is outside a specific range of power supply voltage (when the frequency of the transformer circuit is outside a specific frequency range) while the charging controller  132  is performing control. The blur correction controller  131  performs blur correction control along with angular velocity sensor coring processing when the power supply voltage is within a specific range of power supply voltage (when the frequency of the transformer circuit is within a specific frequency range) while the circuit controller  132  is performing control. 
     With this configuration, the blur correction controller  131  identifies a situation in which noise is generated, and angular velocity sensor coring processing is performed to cancel out the noise in the angular velocity sensor during flash charging, which means that unnecessary correction that occurs during flash charging can be reduced. 
     4. Other Embodiments 
     The present invention is not limited to or by the above embodiment, and various embodiments are possible. Other embodiments of the present invention will be discussed below. 
     (A) In the above embodiment, an example was given in which the charging controller  132 , which performs angular velocity sensor coring processing, determined whether or not the power supply voltage value of the battery  125  was within a specific voltage range held in the flash memory  142 . This specific voltage range is set by pre-measuring the power supply voltage value when the angular velocity sensor outputs noise, and storing this in the flash memory  142  for later use. 
     On the other hand, the specific voltage range may be set by measuring the voltage range during the use of the digital camera  100 . For instance, first whether or not the digital camera  100  is in a still state is determined. Whether or not it is in a still state is determined by whether or not the time period in which the output of the angular velocity sensor  170  is at or below a certain level (an example of a second threshold value) in a state in which the flash  142  is not being charged has continued for a certain length of time or longer. If the result of this determination is that the digital camera  100  is in a still state, then charging of the flash  142  is executed. This processing can be executed after use of the flash memory  142  or in a certain mode (test mode) for setting a particular range, for example. 
     If there is a sharp increase in the output of the angular velocity sensor  170  during the above-mentioned charging operation, such as when the output of the angular velocity sensor rises to or above a certain threshold (an example of a first threshold value), this output is assumed to be noise. Therefore, the power supply voltage of the battery  125  at this point is measured and recorded to the flash memory  142 . For example, in  FIG. 8 , the power supply voltage corresponding to noise corresponds to VM. In this case, the specific voltage range is set using this power supply voltage VM as a reference. Here, the upper limit VHa of the specific voltage range is set by adding a specific voltage value dVH to the power supply voltage VM. Also, the lower limit VLa of the specific voltage range is set by subtracting a specific voltage value dVL from the power supply voltage VM. Thus, angular velocity sensor coring processing can be performed just as above by setting a specific voltage range. 
     This measurement operation can be performed as needed, whenever the digital camera  100  is determined to be in a still state. 
     (B) In the above embodiment, an example was given in which control was performed using one certain specific voltage range. Instead, control that takes temperature characteristics into account may be executed. In this case, for example, the voltage range when the angular velocity sensor  170  outputs noise is pre-measured in different temperature environments. The voltage range and the temperatures of the various environments are recorded to the flash memory  142 . In step S 502  in  FIG. 5 , first the temperature near the angular velocity sensor  170  is measured by a temperature sensor (not shown), and the voltage range corresponding to this temperature is read from the flash memory  142 . Consequently, a more suitable voltage range can be set according to the temperature characteristics, so malfunction in blur correction control can be further reduced. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     The present invention provides an imaging device with which accuracy of blur correction during flash charging can be improved. The present invention can also be applied to digital still cameras, video cameras, portable telephones, smart phones, and the like that are equipped with a flash and a blur detecting function. 
     GENERAL INTERPRETATION OF TERMS 
     In understanding the scope of the present disclosure, the term “comprising” and its derivatives, as used herein, are intended to be open ended terms that specify the presence of the stated features, elements, components, groups, integers, and/or steps, but do not exclude the presence of other unstated features, elements, components, groups, integers and/or steps. The foregoing also applies to words having similar meanings such as the terms, “including”, “having” and their derivatives. Also, the terms “part,” “section,” “portion,” “member” or “element” when used in the singular can have the dual meaning of a single part or a plurality of parts. Also as used herein to describe the above embodiment(s), the following directional terms “forward”, “rearward”, “above”, “downward”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “below” and “transverse” as well as any other similar directional terms refer to those directions of the imaging device equipped with the lens barrel. Accordingly, these terms, as utilized to describe the technology disclosed herein should be interpreted relative to the imaging device equipped with the lens barrel. 
     The term “configured” as used herein to describe a component, section, or part of a device includes hardware and/or software that is constructed and/or programmed to carry out the desired function. 
     The terms of degree such as “substantially”, “about” and “approximately” as used herein mean a reasonable amount of deviation of the modified term such that the end result is not significantly changed. 
     While only selected embodiments have been chosen to illustrate the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that various changes and modifications can be made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, the size, shape, location or orientation of the various components can be changed as needed and/or desired. Components that are shown directly connected or contacting each other can have intermediate structures disposed between them. The functions of one element can be performed by two, and vice versa. The structures and functions of one embodiment can be adopted in another embodiment. It is not necessary for all advantages to be present in a particular embodiment at the same time. Every feature which is unique from the prior art, alone or in combination with other features, also should be considered a separate description of further inventions by the applicants, including the structural and/or functional concepts embodied by such feature(s). Thus, the foregoing descriptions of the embodiments according to the present invention are provided for illustration only, and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.