Patent ID: 12210270

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The exemplary embodiment of the disclosure is described below in detail based on the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the drawings shown below are drawn on a scale different from the actual one in order to make the present embodiment easily understandable.

Embodiment 1

FIG.1is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an optical apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

1. An Optical Apparatus of this Embodiment

[Configuration of Optical Apparatus]

An optical apparatus300consists of an interchangeable lens (a lens apparatus)100and a camera body (a camera apparatus)200configured to be mountable/detachable to/from the interchangeable lens100.

First, a specific configurations of the interchangeable lens100and the camera body200will be described.

The interchangeable lens100is mechanically and electrically connected to the camera body200through a mount (not shown). The interchangeable lens100receives electric power from the camera body200through a power supply terminal (not shown) provided on the mount described above. Power received from the camera body200is then used to control various actuators and a lens microcomputer111, which will be described later. The camera body200communicates with the interchangeable lens100through a communication terminal (not shown) provided on the mount described above, and controls the interchangeable lens100by communicating control commands.

[Configuration of Camera Body]

The configuration of the camera body200is described. The camera body200is provided with an image pickup element201including a phase-difference AF sensor and the like, a signal processing circuit202, a record processing unit203, a display unit204, an operation unit205and a camera microcomputer206. The camera body200of embodiment 1 is provided with a camera preset button (a second registering operation unit)210, a camera recall button (a second recall operation unit)211, a second focus storage unit (a third storage unit)212and a third focus storage unit (a second storage unit)213.

The image pickup element201photoelectrically converts an object image formed by an image pickup optical system in the interchangeable lens100and outputs an electrical signal (an analog signal). An A/D conversion circuit (not shown) converts the analog signal from the image pickup element201into a digital signal.

The signal processing circuit202performs various image processing's on the digital signal from the A/D conversion circuit to generate an image signal. The signal processing circuit202also generates, from image signal, a contrast state of the object image, that is, a focus information indicating a focus state of the image pickup optical system and a brightness information indicating an exposure state.

The signal processing circuit202outputs the image signal to the display unit204, and the display unit204display image signal as a live view image used for checking composition, focus state, etc. Specifically, the display unit204is a rear liquid crystal display or an electronic viewfinder of the camera body200. Furthermore, the signal processing circuit202outputs the image signal to the record processing unit203, and the record processing unit203stores the image signal as a still image or a moving image data in an external memory or the like.

The camera microcomputer206as a camera controller controls the camera body200in response to an inputs such as an imaging instruction switch and various setting switches of the operation unit205. The camera microcomputer206also processes operations of the camera preset button210and the camera recall button211, which are the operation units that operate the focus preset function which is a feature of the disclosure.

The camera microcomputer206transmits, to lens microcomputer111via camera communication unit (camera communication unit), a control command regarding focusing operation of the focus lens105in response to the AF information generated from the output of a phase difference detection pixel (not shown) provided in the image pickup element. The second focus storage unit212and the third focus storage unit213are storage units of focus position information associated with the focus preset function, described below.

[Configuration of Interchangeable Lens]

The configuration of the interchangeable lens100will be described. The interchangeable lens100has an image pickup optical system, a drive unit that is a driving unit of the image pickup optical system, a controller that controls the drive unit, a detector that detects a position of the optical element, a focus lens operation ring110, the lens microcomputer111, and a focus position sensor112. Furthermore, a lens preset button (a first registering operation unit)130, a lens recall button (a first recall operation unit)131, and a first focus storage unit (a first storage unit)132are provided as configurations for realizing the focus preset function of this embodiment.

The lens microcomputer111is a controller for controlling an operation of each part in the interchangeable lens100. The lens microcomputer111receives a control command sent from the camera body200via the lens communication unit and receives a request to transmit a lens data or a request to receive a camera data. In addition, the lens microcomputer111performs controlling of the lens corresponding to the control command, transmits the lens data corresponding to the transmission request to the camera body200, and receives a data from the camera when receiving a reception request. The lens microcomputer111performs a light quantity adjustment and a focus adjustment processing, which will be described later, in response to commands related to light quantity adjustment and focusing among control commands.

The image pickup optical system includes a field lens101, a zoom lens102for zooming, an aperture stop unit103for adjusting an amount of light, an image stabilization lens104, and a focus lens105for focusing.

The zoom lens102is movable in an optical axis direction indicated by a dashed line inFIG.1, and is driven in the optical axis direction by the user operating the zoom operation ring connected to a zoom mechanism (not shown). The zoom lens102is moved to perform zooming that changes a focal length of the image pickup optical system. A zoom lens position detector106detects a zoom lens position using a position detector such as a variable resistance and outputs a position data to the lens microcomputer111. The output position data is used to generate a focal length information in the lens microcomputer111.

The aperture stop unit103is configured with a sensor such as aperture stop blades and a photo interrupter. A state of the aperture stop blade is detected by the sensor and output to the lens microcomputer111. In response to a command from the lens microcomputer111, an aperture stop control unit107outputs a drive signal to drive an actuator such as a stepping motor and a voice coil motor. Thus, the light quantity is adjusted by the aperture stop unit103.

The image stabilization lens104is moved in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the image pickup optical system to reduce an image blur caused by shaking or the like. In response to a vibration detected by a vibration sensor (not shown) such as a vibration gyroscope, the image stabilization lens controller108, which is a controller, outputs a drive signal to drive an image stabilization actuator by a command from the lens microcomputer111. Thus, the image stabilization is performed to control a shift movement of the image stabilization lens104.

The focus lens105is movable in the optical axis direction indicated by the dashed line in the figure. A position of the focus lens105is detected using the focus position sensor112such as a photo interrupter, and the detected position data is output to the lens microcomputer111. Based on a command from the lens microcomputer111, a focus lens controller109outputs a drive signal to drive the focus driving unit113and performs the focus adjustment by moving the focus lens105.

[Focus Function (AF/MF)]

As a focus function that drives the focus lens105to adjust focus, an AF that automatically adjusts focus, an MF that manually adjusts focus, and a focus preset that moves the focus lens to a preset position, which is a feature of the disclosure, are provided.

To execute the focus function, the lens communication unit transmits a focus position information to the camera microcomputer206in response to a request to transmit the lens data and receives a focus driving command in response to a request to receive the camera data.

The focus position information is an information generated by the lens microcomputer111based on the information from the focus position sensor112. The focus position information is composed of information such as image pickup distance information (optical characteristic information, in-focus distance, object distance) and address information (digital address information) which is a digital value that is obtained by dividing a movement range of the focus lens105.

In AF, the camera microcomputer206calculates the in-focus position of the focus lens105based on the focus information and the focus position information generated based on the image plane phase difference pixels in the image pickup element201and transmits the focus driving command to the lens microcomputer111via the camera communication unit. In response to the focus driving command, the lens microcomputer111outputs a command to the focus lens controller109to drive the focus driving unit113to control the focus adjustment action.

In MF, the lens microcomputer111outputs a command to the focus lens controller109to drive the focus driving unit113to control the focus adjustment operation according to the amount of operation of the focus lens operation ring110.

2. About Focus Preset Function

The focus preset function of the camera body200and the interchangeable lens100of embodiment 1 will be described with reference toFIGS.1to3.

[About Focus Preset Function in Camera Body200]

In the focus preset function in the camera body200, a focus position is stored in the second focus storage unit212as a second registered position by an operation of the camera preset button210. When a camera recall button211is operated, a recall of the focus position (the second registered position) is executed.

When the camera preset button210is operated, the camera microcomputer206acquires a focus position information from the lens microcomputer111via the camera communication unit and makes the second focus storage unit212to store the acquired focus position information. At that time, as shown inFIG.2, a camera preset display, which is an operation information of the camera preset button210, and a camera preset position display, which is a display of the stored position information, are displayed in the display unit204.

When the camera recall button211is operated, the camera microcomputer206transmits a focus driving command to the lens microcomputer111via the camera communication unit such that the focus lens105moves to the focus position stored in the second focus storage unit212. At that time, as shown inFIG.3, a camera recall display is displayed on the display unit204. In response to the focus driving command, the lens microcomputer111outputs a command to the focus lens controller109to drive the focus driving unit113and controls the focus adjustment action.

[Focus Preset Function of the Interchangeable Lens100]

When the lens preset button130is operated, a focus position is stored in the first focus storage unit132as the first registered position. When the lens recall button131is operated, a recall of the focus position (the first registered position) is executed.

When the lens preset button130is operated, the lens microcomputer111acquires the focus position from the focus position sensor112and makes the first focus storage unit132store its position information (the first registered position).

When the lens recall button131is operated, the lens microcomputer111transmits a command to the focus lens controller109to drive the focus driving unit113to move the focus lens105to the focus position stored by the first focus storage unit132.

3. Display of Focus Preset Function to the Camera Body200by the Interchangeable Lens100

A display in the camera body200when the focus preset function is executed in the interchangeable lens100according to this embodiment will be described with reference toFIGS.4to7.

The camera body200outputs a transmission request of lens data to perform a display regarding the preset function on the display unit204and receives lens preset information in response. The lens preset information consists of a lens preset operation information that notifies the operation of the lens preset button130and lens recall operation information that notifies the operation of the lens recall button131.

When the camera communication unit receives the lens preset information, the flow from S100as shown inFIG.4is executed.

In S101, if the lens preset information is the lens preset operation information, the camera microcomputer206acquires the focus position information in S102. Then, in S103, the camera microcomputer206stores a focus position information in the third focus storage unit213, and makes the display unit204display the lens preset display as shown inFIG.5in S104.

Then, if the focus preset position display setting is ON in S105, the camera microcomputer206display the focus position information stored in third focus storage unit213at the lens preset position display in the display unit204in S106.

When the detected lens preset information is lens recall operation information in S101, the camera microcomputer206makes the lens recall display be displayed on the display unit204in S107as shown inFIG.6.

In Embodiment 1, the camera preset position display and the lens preset position display are displayed on the display unit204as triangular marks added on a distance bar which is to notify a focus position with one end being a close end and with the other end being an infinity end.

InFIG.7, a state in which both the camera preset position display and the lens preset position display are displayed is shown. By displaying each position display of the camera body200and the interchangeable lens100separately above and below the distance bar, the user can easily recognize which operation causes a movement to which position.

The focus position information stored in the third focus storage unit213in Embodiment 1 is not used as a focus driving command, but is used to grasp a rough position through the distance bar. Therefore, the focus position information need not be the detail of the image pickup distance information or the address information, but can be a resolution required for display of the distance bar, such as a100segmented zone information. The zone information is obtained as information of a region including a position detected by the focus position sensor112where the regions are defined by dividing the movement range of the focus lens105into several regions (zones). This is because the focus position information used here is not used for a focus driving command. Therefore, the acquisition, processing and display of the focus position information can be simplified.

According to the optical apparatus of Embodiment 1, it is easy to recognize which focus preset operation has been performed, the interchangeable lens100or the camera body200.

Embodiment 2

Difference of the optical apparatus according to Embodiment 2 from Embodiment 1 will be explained with reference toFIGS.8and9. Embodiment 2 differs from Embodiment 1 in that the focus preset position information is added as a lens preset information item in the lens data transmission request made by the camera microcomputer206via a communication means.

The focus preset position information is focus position information stored in the first focus storage unit132, and used for the focus driving command. The focus preset position information is acquired by the camera microcomputer206from the lens microcomputer111in response to a request to send the lens data from the camera microcomputer206to the lens microcomputer111.

In S202ofFIG.8, the focus preset position information is acquired from the interchangeable lens100and stored in the third focus storage unit213instead of the focus position information in S102of Embodiment 1.

A focus position information that varies according to AF and MF is used in Embodiment 1, while the focus preset position information which is stored in the first focus storage unit132is used in Embodiment 2. In Embodiment 1, if a lens preset operation is performed while the focus lens105is driven, a time lag between the user operation and the S102can cause a minute error between information stored in the first focus storage unit132and information stored in the third focus storage unit213. In Embodiment 2, the generation of errors can be suppressed by acquiring the focus preset position information. Therefore, a detailed lens preset position display can be performed as shown inFIG.9. The detailed preset position display can simplify the operation of the user when picking up of moving images and the like since detailed numerical reenactments of the focus position can be recognized.

Other Embodiment

In Embodiment 1, in order to recognize the camera preset position display and the lens preset position display separately, a display with the distance bar and the triangle landmarks is adopted. However, a bar of the preset position may be provided in the distance bar as ‘A’ and ‘B’ shown inFIG.10. In that case, the camera and the lens can be recognized, for example, by changing display colors of ‘A’ and ‘B’. Whether or not each of the camera and the lens registered a preset position can be displayed even not registered a position information, as shown inFIG.11. “A′” and “B′” inFIG.11enable the registration status to be checked by, for example, the presence or absence of blinking.

Also, it is not necessary that a display related to the focus preset in the image pickup state is always displayed, and the user may be able to check it via a menu screen. A display ofFIG.9of Embodiment 2 can be displayed not only when the focus preset operation is performed but also when being selected it in the menu screen.

These embodiments are to reduce an area of display with respect to the focus preset function in the display unit. By reducing the display area, the users can focus more on the picking up images.

In this case, the camera preset button210, the camera recall button211, the lens preset button130, and the lens recall button131are described as separate operating parts, but it is not necessary to provide each of these buttons separately.

For example, a modified embodiments can be adopted, such as a single operating member in which a recall is performed when being pressed for a short period of time and a preset is performed when being pressed for a long period of time, and a selector switch which switches the function of the operating member between a recall and a preset.

The camera preset button210and the camera recall button211are not necessarily provided as a physical control but can be provided as a touch icon displayed on the display unit204as shown inFIG.12.

These embodiments are modifications for the optimization of the operation units in the optical apparatus, and they are used according to a frequency of use of the focus preset function by users in the product.

While the above embodiment contains examples of setting/registering and recalling presets for focus (focus lens unit), the disclosure is not limited to this. The same can be applied to setting/registering and recalling presets for optical system, including at least one of focus, zoom (zoom lens unit) and the aperture stop, to enjoy the effects of the aspect of the embodiments.

Although the exemplary embodiment of the disclosure has been described above, the disclosure is not limited to these embodiment, and various modifications and modifications can be made within the scope of its gist.

While the disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-047760, filed Mar. 24, 2022, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.