Patent Description:
There are known an image capturing device and an interchangeable lens provided with an image stabilization device that detects vibration and drives a movable lens or an image sensor so as to correct image blur caused by the vibration. The image stabilization function of this type is called an optical image stabilization function.

An angular velocity sensor (gyro sensor) is generally used as a method of detecting vibration, and the lens or the image sensor is driven in a direction to cancel the vibration based on detected angular velocity. In recent years, as a frame rate and image processing speed of an image capturing apparatus increase, there has been also known a technique of analyzing shifts between frames of images and calculating a motion vector to detect vibration.

<CIT> discloses an image capturing apparatus that transfers a motion amount obtained by motion detection means of the camera main body to the lens unit at a predetermined timing. In this image capturing apparatus, during zooming operation of the variable magnification optical system of the lens unit, control means of the camera unit controls to stop the operation of the motion detection means or to set the input or output to the motion detection means to <NUM>, or to ignore the output of the motion detection means. Then, shake information is processed based only on a shake amount detected by the lens unit.

Also, <CIT> discloses the following interchangeable lens type camera system. First, the movement of images is detected using the image signal on the camera main body, and movement correction information for correcting the movement of the images is transmitted to the lens unit in synchronization with the vertical synchronization signal. The lens unit receives the movement correction information in synchronization with the vertical synchronization signal, converts it into a drive signal for driving the correction means for correcting the movement of the image, and supplies it to the correction means.

In a case of sending motion information from the camera main body to the lens unit, if it is attempted to transmit motion information that reflects the current information of the lens unit (current focal length information, zoom state, etc.), there arise problems such that accuracy deteriorates due to a time lag caused by lens communication for acquiring lens unit information, and that tuning suitable for each lens becomes difficult.

In <CIT>, the control of the motion detection means is changed in the camera body during the zooming operation of the variable magnification optical system of the lens unit. However, since determination on this change of control requires information on the magnification changing operation of the variable magnification optical system of the lens unit, the accuracy of the information on the lens unit is reduced due to a time lag caused by lens communication with the lens unit.

In addition, in <CIT>, movement correction information is transmitted from the camera main body to the lens unit, and the lens unit converts it into a drive signal for driving the correction means. Here, since the image stabilization characteristics are different depending on the type of the lens, it is difficult to perform tuning suitable for each lens on the camera body. Prior art is disclosed in document <CIT> describing an image pickup apparatus and a control method thereof as well as in document <CIT> describing an image stabilization apparatus, a control method thereof, and an image capture apparatus as well as in document <CIT> describing an image shake correction device, an image pickup apparatus, and a control method.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above situation, and, when performing image stabilization control using an anti-vibration unit of a lens unit attached to a camera main body, reduces deterioration of accuracy due to a time lag caused by lens communication for acquiring current information of the lens unit, thereby improving a degree of freedom of image stabilization control in the lens unit.

According to the present invention, provided is a lens apparatus as specified in claims <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, and a lens apparatus as specified in claim <NUM>.

Further, according to the present invention, provided is an image capturing apparatus as specified in claim <NUM> and an image capturing apparatus as specified in claim <NUM>.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, provided is a control method as specified in claim <NUM> and a control method as specified in claim <NUM>. Moreover, according to the present invention, provided is a system as specified in claim <NUM>.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail in accordance with the accompanying drawings. First, items common to the respective embodiments will be described.

<FIG> is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image capturing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As an example, the image capturing system according to the present embodiment is a lens interchangeable digital camera mainly for capturing still images and moving images. It should be noted that the present invention can be applied not only to a digital camera, but also to various image capturing systems.

The image capturing system shown in <FIG> is composed of a lens unit <NUM> and a camera main body <NUM> as a camera main body <NUM>, and the lens unit <NUM> is mounted on the camera main body <NUM> so as to be detachable and communicable.

In the lens unit <NUM>, a zoom lens <NUM> moves in the optical axis direction to perform zooming. A zoom driving unit <NUM> drives the zoom lens <NUM> upon receiving a command from a lens control unit <NUM> described later. A diaphragm <NUM> adjusts the amount of light by changing its aperture diameter. A diaphragm driving unit <NUM> drives the diaphragm <NUM> upon receiving a command from the lens control unit <NUM>. A shift lens (hereinafter referred to as "correction lens") <NUM> as an image stabilization optical element performs optical image stabilization for reducing image blur by shifting in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis. Upon receiving a command from the lens control unit <NUM>, an optical image stabilization control unit <NUM> controls shift driving of the correction lens <NUM>, that is, optical image stabilization. The optical image stabilization control unit <NUM> and the correction lens <NUM> constitute an image stabilization unit in the lens unit <NUM>.

Further, focus adjustment is performed by moving a focus lens <NUM> in the optical axis direction. A focus driving unit <NUM> receives a command from the lens control unit <NUM> and controls driving of the focus lens <NUM>. The zoom lens <NUM>, the diaphragm <NUM>, the correction lens <NUM>, and the focus lens <NUM> constitute an imaging optical system.

A lens operation unit <NUM> has various switches and the like operated by a user. A lens vibration detection unit <NUM> detects the lens vibration (angular velocity) such as camera shake applied to the lens unit <NUM>, and outputs a lens vibration signal representing lens vibration to the lens control unit <NUM>. The lens control unit <NUM> includes a CPU and the like and controls the operation of the entire lens unit <NUM>. Further, the lens control unit <NUM> communicates with a camera control unit <NUM> of the camera main body <NUM> via a lens communication unit <NUM> provided in the lens unit <NUM> and a camera communication unit <NUM> provided in the camera main body <NUM>. The lens communication unit <NUM> and the camera communication unit <NUM> have a communication circuit that enables communication of notification and information (data) between the lens control unit <NUM> and the camera control unit <NUM> via a plurality of communication channels.

In the camera main body <NUM>, a shutter driving unit <NUM>, which receives a command from the camera control unit <NUM>, drives a shutter <NUM> to open and close so as to control the exposure of an imaging unit <NUM>. The imaging unit <NUM> includes an image sensor such as a CMOS sensor, photoelectrically converts a subject image formed by the imaging optical system, and outputs an electric signal (image signal). A signal processing unit <NUM> performs various video processing on the image signal output from the imaging unit <NUM> to generate a video signal. An image processing unit <NUM> performs processing according to its purpose of the video signal.

A display unit <NUM> displays an image based on the video signal output from the image processing unit <NUM>. A storage unit <NUM> records various data such as video signals. A power supply unit <NUM> supplies power to the entire camera main body <NUM> and the lens unit <NUM>. A camera operation unit <NUM> includes various switches operated by the user and outputs an operation signal corresponding to the operation to the camera control unit <NUM>.

A camera motion detection unit <NUM> detects vibration such as camera shake applied to the camera main body <NUM> as a motion vector obtained by analyzing inter-frame images (video signals), and outputs a camera motion signal corresponding to the camera shake to the camera control unit <NUM>. The motion vector detected here is represented by the number of pixels constituting the image sensor of the imaging unit <NUM>. The camera control unit <NUM> has a CPU and controls the entire image capturing system. The camera control unit <NUM> communicates with the lens communication unit <NUM> of the lens unit <NUM> via the camera communication unit <NUM>. That is, in a state in which the lens unit <NUM> is attached to the camera main body <NUM> and is electrically connected, mutual communication is performed via the lens communication unit <NUM> and the camera communication unit <NUM>.

Next, the operation of the image capturing system configured as described above will be described. The lens operation unit <NUM> includes an optical image stabilization switch capable of selecting on/off of optical image stabilization by the optical image stabilization control unit <NUM>. When the user turns on the optical image stabilization switch, the lens control unit <NUM> or the camera control unit <NUM> instructs the optical image stabilization control unit <NUM> to start the image stabilization operation. Upon receiving this instruction, the optical image stabilization control unit <NUM> performs control of the optical image stabilization operation (image stabilization control) using the correction lens <NUM> until the user turns off the optical image stabilization switch.

The camera operation unit <NUM> includes an image stabilization mode selection switch that allows the user to select a normal image stabilization mode and an object image stabilization mode as image stabilization. The normal image stabilization mode is an image stabilization mode in which image stabilization processing is performed according to the movement of the camera, and the object image stabilization mode is an image stabilization mode in which image stabilization processing is performed according to the movement of the subject.

The camera operation unit <NUM> includes a shutter release switch in which the first switch SW1 and the second switch SW2 are sequentially turned on in accordance with the pushing amount. The first switch SW1 is turned on in accordance with a first stroke (for example, half-pressed) of the shutter release switch by the user, and the second switch SW2 is turned on in accordance with the second stroke (for example, full press) of the shutter release switch. The camera control unit <NUM> performs autofocus processing by driving the focus lens <NUM> through the lens control unit <NUM> and the focus driving unit <NUM> in response to the turning on of the first switch SW1. Also, based on luminance information acquired from a video signal, the diaphragm <NUM> is driven by the lens control unit <NUM> and the diaphragm driving unit <NUM> to properly adjust the light amount. Then, in response to the second switch SW2 being turned on, the camera control unit <NUM> controls the imaging unit <NUM> to perform photoelectric conversion of the subject image and controls the signal processing unit <NUM> to generate a video signal (video data). At this time, if the optical image stabilization switch is on, the optical image stabilization is performed as described above. The video data generated in this manner is recorded in the storage unit <NUM>.

The camera operation unit <NUM> also includes a moving image recording switch. When this moving image recording switch is operated by the user, the camera control unit <NUM> starts recording a moving image, and when the moving image recording switch is operated again by the user during the recording, the recording of the moving image is ended. Further, if the user operates the shutter release switch to turn on the first switch SW1 and the second switch SW2 during recording a moving image, a process of acquiring a still image from the moving image being recorded and recording it in the storage unit <NUM> is executed. Further, the camera operation unit <NUM> includes a reproduction mode selection switch capable of selecting a reproduction mode. When the reproduction mode is selected by the operation of the reproduction mode selection switch, the camera control unit <NUM> stops the image stabilization control.

Next, the image stabilization control performed in the image capturing system of this embodiment will be described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>. <FIG> is a block diagram showing a configuration relating to image stabilization control in the configuration of the lens unit <NUM>. <FIG> shows a pitch direction, a yaw direction and a roll direction in the image capturing system. As shown in <FIG>, in the camera main body <NUM>, the optical axis of the imaging optical system is defined as the Z axis, the vertical direction at the upright position of the camera main body <NUM> is defined as the Y axis, and the direction orthogonal to the Y axis and the Z axis is defined as the X axis. The pitch direction is around the X axis (tilt direction), the yaw direction is around the Y axis (pan direction), and the roll direction is around the Z axis (the imaging surface rotates in a plane orthogonal to the optical axis). In other words, the pitch direction is a direction inclined in the direction perpendicular to the horizontal plane, the yaw direction is the direction inclined in the horizontal direction with respect to the vertical plane, and they are orthogonal to each other. Among these directions, in the present embodiment, image stabilization control in the pitch direction and the yaw direction using the correction lens <NUM> will be explained.

In <FIG>, the lens vibration detection unit <NUM> detects an angular velocity using a gyro sensor as a vibration sensor, and outputs a lens vibration signal having a voltage corresponding to the angular velocity.

The lens vibration detection unit <NUM> has a pitch vibration sensor and a yaw vibration sensor (not shown), and outputs a lens vibration signal in each direction.

The configuration after the lens vibration detection unit <NUM> is provided for the pitch direction and the yaw direction respectively. The pitch vibration signal corresponding to the vibration in the pitch direction from the pitch vibration sensor and the yaw vibration signal corresponding to the vibration in the yaw direction from the yaw vibration sensor, both in the lens vibration detection unit <NUM>, are sent to an A/D converter <NUM> as the lens vibration signal. Since the configuration for the image stabilization control shown in <FIG> is the same for the pitch direction and the yaw direction, only the configuration for either direction will be described below.

The A/D converter <NUM> converts the lens vibration signal from the lens vibration detection unit <NUM> into angular velocity data as a digital signal. A high pass filter (HPF) <NUM> removes the offset component and the temperature drift component of the angular velocity data and outputs the result.

Meanwhile, camera motion information <NUM> is transmitted from the camera communication unit <NUM> to the optical image stabilization control unit <NUM> via the lens communication unit <NUM>. The camera motion information <NUM> includes an image plane movement amount and reliability information obtained from the camera motion detection unit <NUM> as described later.

The optical image stabilization control unit <NUM> performs the following processing on the received camera motion information <NUM> and adds it to the lens vibration signal. First, the optical image stabilization control unit <NUM> converts the image plane movement amount of the camera motion information <NUM> into angle information using the focal length information of the lens obtained by the zoom driving unit <NUM> (<NUM>). Subsequently, based on the reliability information of the camera motion information <NUM>, it is determined whether the camera motion information can be used (<NUM>), the determination result is input to a filter, a filtering process is performed (<NUM>), and gain control (weighting) is performed (<NUM>) in accordance with the lens control state. Finally, phase compensation is performed using a phase compensation filter (<NUM>), and the output is added to the angular velocity data output from the high-pass filter <NUM>. The processing in <NUM> to <NUM> will be described in detail later with reference to <FIG>.

The added signal is input to an integration unit <NUM>. The integration unit <NUM> performs pseudo integration mainly by a low-pass filter, and integrates the angular velocity data to convert into angular displacement data. A sensitivity multiplication unit <NUM> converts the angular displacement data obtained by the integration unit <NUM> into an optical image stabilization correction amount using sensitivity. This sensitivity has a different value for each focal length, and its value is changed each time the focal length of the imaging optical system changes. In addition, the sensitivity also reflects the correction amount by sensitivity adjustment of the gyro sensor, thereby absorbing variations in sensitivity of the gyro sensor.

A limiter <NUM> limits (clamps) the optical image stabilization correction amount within the movable range of the correction lens <NUM>. This makes it possible to prevent the correction lens <NUM> from reaching and being fixed to the end of its movable range. The output of the limiter <NUM> is input to a subtractor <NUM>, and the output from the subtractor <NUM> is input to a PID control unit <NUM>.

The PID control unit <NUM> performs position control of the correction lens <NUM> in response to an input from the subtractor <NUM>. The position control is performed by a combination of P (proportional) control, I (integral) control, and D (differential) control. A driver unit <NUM> supplies a current for driving the correction lens <NUM> corresponding to a control signal from the PID control unit <NUM> corresponding to the optical image stabilization correction amount to an image stabilization actuator (voice coil motor or the like) (not shown) in the driver unit <NUM>.

A position detection unit <NUM> detects the position of the correction lens <NUM> and outputs a position detection signal having a voltage corresponding to the position. An A/D converter <NUM> converts the position detection signal, which is an analog signal from the position detection unit <NUM>, into a digital signal and outputs it to the subtractor <NUM> as position detection data. The subtractor <NUM> calculates the difference (deviation) between the output from the limiter <NUM> and the output from the A/D converter <NUM>, and outputs the result to the PID control unit <NUM>. As a result, feedback position control of the correction lens <NUM> is performed.

Next, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>. <FIG> is a flowchart showing motion information generation and communication processing performed by the camera control unit <NUM> in the camera main body <NUM>. <FIG> is a flow chart showing communication and image stabilization processing performed by the lens control unit <NUM> in the lens unit <NUM>. A camera control unit <NUM> and a lens control unit <NUM> configured as a computer such as a CPU execute these processes according to a communication and image stabilization control program as a computer program.

In step S101 of <FIG>, the camera control unit <NUM> determines whether motion vector calculation process has ended in the camera motion detection unit <NUM>. If the calculation process is completed, the process proceeds to step S102, and if not completed, the determination of step S101 is repeated.

Next, in step S102, the camera control unit <NUM> converts pixel information of the motion vector obtained in step S101, to image plane movement amount using the frame rate information of the image capturing mode which is information of the imaging unit <NUM> stored in the camera main body <NUM>, and cell pitch information of the image sensor of the imaging unit <NUM>. The frame rate represents a time interval for detecting a motion vector, that is, an interval at which a plurality of images used for detecting a motion vector are obtained, and the cell pitch indicates a length between pixels constituting the image sensor. From these pieces of information, it is possible to convert the motion vector [pix] represented by pixels into image plane movement amount [µm/sec].

In the next step S103, the camera control unit <NUM> generates reliability information corresponding to the image plane movement amount converted in step S102. The reliability information is information generated from error information of motion vectors generated in the camera motion detection unit <NUM> and a transition of camera motion information.

Finally, in step S104, the camera control unit <NUM> transmits the image plane movement amount (motion information) and reliability information as camera motion information to the lens control unit <NUM>.

On the other hand, in step S201 of <FIG>, the lens control unit <NUM> acquires the image plane movement amount and reliability information as the camera motion information from the camera control unit <NUM>. Next, in step S202, the lens control unit <NUM> converts the image plane movement amount acquired in step S201 into angle information using focal length information that is information of the lens unit <NUM>. This process corresponds to the process <NUM> of <FIG>.

Next, in step S203, the lens control unit <NUM> determines the reliability information acquired in step S201. The reliability information includes the error information of motion vectors and information generated from the transition of camera motion information. This reliability information is used to determine whether the image plane movement amount can be used. This process corresponds to the process <NUM> in <FIG>. Further, whether the image plane movement amount can be used or not may be determined by judging the state of zooming by the zoom driving unit <NUM> which is the information of the lens unit <NUM>. If it is determined that the image plane movement amount can be used, the process proceeds to step S204, and if not, the process proceeds to step S205.

In step S204, the lens control unit <NUM> reflects the angle information converted in step S202 in the filter input. On the other hand, in step S205, since it is determined in step S203 that the image plane movement amount cannot be used, the filter input of the angle information is set to <NUM>. This process corresponds to the process <NUM> in <FIG>.

Next, in step S206, the lens control unit <NUM> performs filter control based on the angle information input to the filter in step S204 or S205. The filter control mentioned here is control to lower the gain to ease the reflection if the information input to the filter is a large output more than necessary or if there is a sudden change from the previous value. This tuning is possible in each lens. This process corresponds to the process <NUM> in <FIG>.

In step S207, the lens control unit <NUM> further performs gain setting according to the control state of the lens unit <NUM>. For example, the lens control unit <NUM> controls the gain (weighting) to reflect camera motion information according to the control state of the lens that can be determined using information on the lens unit <NUM>, such as fixed-point shooting on the telephoto side and shooting in the macro region.

In step S208, the lens control unit <NUM> processes the camera motion information from the camera main body <NUM>, processed as described above, with a phase compensation filter, and adds the result to the lens vibration signal of the lens unit <NUM> output from the HPF <NUM>, then the process ends.

As described above, in the first embodiment, in the camera main body <NUM>, the motion vector information is converted into image plane movement amount using information of the imaging unit <NUM> included in the camera main body <NUM>, added with reliability information, and transmitted to the lens unit <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the information of the imaging unit <NUM> is information of a frame rate and a cell pitch.

On the other hand, in the lens unit <NUM>, the information on the image plane movement amount acquired from camera main body <NUM> is converted into the angle information using the focal length which is the information in the lens unit <NUM>, and whether the camera motion information can be used is determined using the reliability information. Furthermore, the gain is controlled in accordance with the control state of the lens unit <NUM>, and the motion information of the camera main body <NUM> is added to the vibration information in the lens unit <NUM>.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, each of the camera main body <NUM> and the lens unit <NUM> generates information using only its own information, and transmits the generated information, thereby avoiding an accuracy drop associated with the lens communication time lag. Further, by sending the motion information which is independent of the information on the lens unit from the camera main body <NUM> to the lens unit <NUM>, it is possible to improve the degree of freedom of control in the lens unit. Furthermore, by adding reliability information to the information of the image plane movement amount, it is possible to control how to reflect the camera motion information in the lens unit <NUM>. In addition, by adding the control state of the lens unit <NUM>, it becomes possible to perform tuning suitable to each lens in the lens unit <NUM>.

Further, in the first embodiment, in the camera main body <NUM>, a motion vector is converted to an image plane movement amount using the frame rate and the cell pitch information which are information of the camera main body <NUM> and transmitted to the lens unit <NUM>. However, in an other example which is not according to the appended claims, the frame rate and cell pitch information may be transmitted to the lens unit <NUM> together with the motion vector (motion information), and the lens unit <NUM> may convert the motion vector into the image plane movement amount. The cell pitch information is information uniquely determined in accordance with the image sensor, and the frame rate is basically the same in the same drive mode. Communication of these pieces of information may be performed at the same timing as the motion information, or may be performed at another timing.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>. <FIG> is a flowchart showing motion information generation and communication processing performed by the camera control unit <NUM> in the camera main body <NUM>. The configuration of the image capturing system in the second embodiment is the same as that described in the first embodiment with reference to <FIG>, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

In the first embodiment, the image plane movement amount and reliability information are transmitted as the camera motion information from the camera control unit <NUM> to the lens control unit <NUM>, and in the lens unit <NUM>, the camera motion information is converted into the angle information using to the lens information of the lens unit <NUM>. In this way, the camera motion information is reflected according to the control state of the lens unit <NUM>. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, the camera main body <NUM> calculates two pieces of motion information of background motion information and subject motion information, and the lens unit <NUM> control to reflect either of the two pieces of motion information according to the set image stabilization mode.

<FIG> is a flowchart showing the motion information generation and communication processing performed by the camera control unit <NUM> in the camera main body <NUM>. <FIG> is a flow chart showing the communication and image stabilization processing performed by the lens control unit <NUM> in the lens unit <NUM>. Similarly to the first embodiment, the camera control unit <NUM> and the lens control unit <NUM> configured as a computer such as a CPU execute these processes according to a communication and image stabilization control program as a computer program.

In step S301 of <FIG>, the camera control unit <NUM> determines whether the motion vector calculation process has ended in the camera motion detection unit <NUM>. If the calculation processing has been completed, the process proceeds to step S302, and if not, the determination of step S301 is repeated.

Next, in step S302, the camera control unit <NUM> converts background motion information of the pixel information of the motion vector obtained in step S301 into an image plane movement amount. The background motion information is obtained by performing histogram processing or the like on the information of motion vectors, and represents movement of the camera main body <NUM>. As in the first embodiment, the background motion information is converted to the image plane movement amount information using frame rate information of the image capturing mode and cell pitch information of the image sensor, which are information of the camera main body <NUM>. Hereinafter, this image plane movement amount is referred to as "background image plane movement amount".

In step S303, the camera control unit <NUM> converts object motion information of the pixel information of the motion vector obtained in step S301 into an image plane movement amount. The subject motion information is motion information different from the background motion information obtained in step S302, and represents the motion of the subject in lens unit <NUM>. Here, as in the first embodiment, the subject motion information is converted to the image plane movement amount information using frame rate information of the image capturing mode and cell pitch information of the imaging sensor, which are information of the camera main body <NUM>. Hereinafter, this image plane movement amount is referred to as "object image plane movement amount".

In the next step S304, the camera control unit <NUM> generates reliability information corresponding to the motion information of the background image plane movement amount and the subject image plane movement amount. The reliability information includes error information of the motion vector generated in the camera motion detection unit <NUM> and information generated from the transition of the camera motion information.

In step S305, the camera control unit <NUM> transmits the image stabilization mode set by the camera operation unit <NUM> to the lens control unit <NUM>. As described above, the image stabilization mode in the second embodiment is either of the normal image stabilization mode in which the image stabilization processing is performed in accordance with the movement of the camera main body <NUM> and the object image stabilization mode in which the image stabilization processing is performed is performed in accordance with the movement of the subject.

Finally, in step S306, the camera control unit <NUM> transmits the background image plane movement amount, the subject image plane movement amount, and the reliability information to the lens control unit <NUM> as the camera motion information.

On the other hand, in step S401 of <FIG>, the lens control unit <NUM> acquires the image stabilization mode from the camera control unit <NUM>. Next, in step S402, the lens control unit <NUM> determines whether the image stabilization mode acquired in step S401 is the normal image stabilization mode. If it is the normal image stabilization mode, the process proceeds to step S403, and if it is not the normal image stabilization mode but the object image stabilization mode, the process proceeds to step S404.

In step S403, the lens control unit <NUM> determines that the normal image stabilization mode is selected in step S402, and thus acquires the background image plane movement amount and reliability information from the camera control unit <NUM>.

On the other hand, in step S404, since the lens control unit <NUM> determines that the object image stabilization mode is selected in step S402, and thus acquires the subject image plane movement amount and reliability information from the camera control unit <NUM>.

After the necessary information is acquired in step S403 or S404, the same processing as the processing of S202 onward in <FIG> is performed, and the description is omitted here.

As described above, in the second embodiment, transmission of two types of motion information of the background motion information and the subject motion information detected by the camera main body <NUM> is performed between the lens control unit <NUM> and the camera control unit <NUM>. The camera main body <NUM> transmits the setting information of the image stabilization mode, and the lens obtains the corresponding image plane movement amount according to the image stabilization mode, and adds the motion information of the camera main body to the image stabilization control in the lens.

As a result, in the second embodiment, in addition to the fact that image stabilization control reflecting subject motion information, which is difficult to determine in the lens unit <NUM> alone, becomes possible, the lens unit <NUM> controls to switch motion information. Accordingly, it becomes possible to tune the transition of control suitable to each lens in the lens unit <NUM> at the time of largely switching image stabilization control, such as at the time of image stabilization mode switching.

Also, as in the first embodiment, in the second embodiment, the motion vector is converted into an image plane movement amount in the camera main body <NUM> using the frame rate and the cell pitch information, which are information of the camera main body <NUM>, and transmitted to the lens unit <NUM>. However, in an other example which is not according to the appended claims, the frame rate and cell pitch information may be transmitted to the lens unit <NUM> together with the motion vector (motion information), and the lens unit <NUM> may convert the motion vector into the image plane movement amount. Communication of these pieces of information may be performed at the same timing as the motion information, or may be performed at another timing.

Furthermore, with regard to communication in the image stabilization mode, communication may be performed at the same timing as the motion information, or may be performed at a different timing.

Claim 1:
A lens apparatus (<NUM>) configured to be connectable to an image capturing apparatus (<NUM>) including imaging means (<NUM>), the lens apparatus (<NUM>) comprising:
vibration detection means (<NUM>) configured to detect vibration;
reception means (<NUM>) configured to receive from the image capturing apparatus (<NUM>), when the image capturing apparatus (<NUM>) is connected to the lens apparatus (<NUM>), first motion information and reliability information of the first motion information;
acquisition means (<NUM>) configured to acquire a correction amount,
characterized in that
the acquisition means (<NUM>) acquires the correction amount based on second motion information converted from the first motion information using information of the lens apparatus (<NUM>), the vibration detected by the vibration detection means (<NUM>), and the reliability information, wherein
in a case, where the reliability information represents a reliability lower than a predetermined reliability, the acquisition means (<NUM>) acquires the correction amount using the vibration detected by the vibration detection means (<NUM>) without using the second motion information; and
image stabilization means (<NUM>, <NUM>) configured to perform image stabilization control based on the correction amount,
wherein the first motion information is a movement amount on an imaging plane of the imaging means (<NUM>) obtained by converting a motion vector, which represents a moving amount between a plurality of images captured by a number of pixels that form the imaging means (<NUM>) based on information on the imaging means (<NUM>).