JP3414516B2 - Signal processing module and anti-shake camera using it - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a signal processing module used in a camera or the like for detecting a blur condition,
In particular, the present invention relates to a signal processing module that corrects the effects of offset / drift components of a blur detection sensor and a blur prevention camera that uses the signal processing module.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, it has been hoped that an image pickup apparatus such as a camera will reduce the influence of camera shake during shooting, and various techniques have been proposed to realize it.
For example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 63-50729, a plurality of integrators having high-pass filter (HPF) characteristics having different time constants are prepared, and the integrators are switched to use the drift. As a countermeasure, rise characteristics, direct current (D
C) A technique related to a vibration detection device that improves component removal characteristics is disclosed (Prior example 1).

In addition to this, the output of the vibration gyro is taken into the control section through a low-pass filter (LPF) and a non-inverting amplifier, and the HPF time constant is switched, that is, for improving the rising characteristic and removing the DC component. A technique using a switch has been proposed (Prior example 2).

[0004]

However, in the technique according to the prior art example 1 described above, the circuit and machine scale are complicated for fine characteristic changes, and a signal is amplified by an amplifier if necessary after removing the DC component. In that case, there is a problem that the effect of the offset drift component due to this amplifier cannot be removed.

Further, in the technique according to the second prior art, the offset removal may take a saturated blur signal in some cases because the HPF time constant is switched by a simple switch, and the blur correction photographing may fail. It was.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems. An object of the present invention is to change the reference voltage for gyro output amplification based on the output from the vibration gyro, and to send this change information to the control section. The output is to remove the offset drift component of the vibration gyro.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the signal processing module according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises:
Differential amplifying means for differentially amplifying an input signal with respect to a predetermined reference voltage and outputting it; judging means for judging whether or not the differentially amplified signal is within a predetermined range; and the judging means. And a reference voltage shift means for generating a signal for shifting the reference voltage value based on the signal when it is determined that the signal voltage is not within the predetermined range. The signal processing module is characterized in that the output of the differential amplifying means and the shift output of the reference voltage shifting means can be externally output. Furthermore, the blur prevention camera according to the second aspect is a blur prevention camera that uses the signal processing module according to claim 1, and detects the blur state of the camera and outputs the blur information to the signal processing module as blur information output. A detection sensor; and a control means for controlling the camera operation based on the output of the shake detection sensor differentially amplified by the differential amplification means and the output of the reference voltage shift means. Characterize. In addition, in the third aspect
The signal processing module is designed to detect camera shake.
From the blur detection unit to the control unit that performs camera shake prevention operation
It is a module that is installed in the middle of the route and performs signal processing.
The input signal from the shake detection unit to a specified reference voltage.
Differential amplification means for differentially amplifying and outputting to the differential
Determines whether the amplified signal is within the specified range
And the above-mentioned judgment means within the predetermined range
If it is determined that there is no above-mentioned reference voltage based on the above signal
Reference voltage shifting means for generating a signal for shifting a value
And the signal processing module includes
The output of the width means and the shift output of the reference voltage shift means
Is output to the control means.

[0008]

[0009]

That is, in the signal processing module according to the first aspect of the present invention, the input signal is differentially amplified with respect to a predetermined reference voltage by the differential amplifying means and output, and the differential signal is differentially amplified by the judging means. A signal for determining whether or not the signal is within a predetermined range, and shifting the reference voltage value based on the signal when the reference voltage shift means determines that the determination means is not within the predetermined range. According to this signal processing module, the output of the differential amplification means and the shift output of the reference voltage shift means can be externally output. Further, in the blurring prevention camera according to the second aspect, the blurring state of the camera is detected by the blurring detection sensor and is output as the blurring information output to the signal processing module, and the control unit differentially amplifies the output of the blurring detection sensor. The camera operation is controlled based on the output differentially amplified by the means and the output of the reference voltage shift means. The signal processing module according to the third aspect is
The input signal from the shake detection unit is output to a predetermined level by the differential amplifier.
It is differentially amplified with respect to the reference voltage and output.
More differentially amplified signal is within the specified range
It is judged whether or not it is judged by the reference voltage shift means.
When it is determined that the means is not within the predetermined range, the above
A signal that shifts the reference voltage value based on the signal is generated.
According to this signal processing module,
The output of the width means and the shift output of the reference voltage shift means
Is output to the control means.

[0010]

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of a signal processing module according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, when the signal processing module 1 receives the signal VIN corresponding to the camera shake state of the camera, the signal processing module 1 amplifies and outputs the signal VIN to the outside.

To explain the internal structure of the signal processing module 1, the amplifier 2 is provided with two positive and negative input sections, and one input section receives the signal VIN corresponding to the camera shake state of the camera. A predetermined voltage corresponding to the output state of the amplification section 2 is input to the other input section. The difference between the voltages of the two input sections is amplified by a predetermined amplification degree, output as a signal VOUT1 to the outside, and used as camera shake information. This output is also sent to the amplified output determination unit 3 in the signal processing module 1.

The amplified output judging section 3 judges whether the amplified output of the amplifying section 2 is within a predetermined range. Here, when the output of the amplifying unit 2 is equal to or more than the predetermined range, and when the output is less than or equal to the predetermined range, information indicating that is sent to the state storage unit 4, and information regarding the output state of the amplifying unit 2 is stored. It The information stored in the state storage unit 4 is further sent to the reference voltage generation unit 5. The reference voltage generator 5 generates a predetermined voltage based on the information stored in the state memory 4. This generated voltage is sent to one of the input sections of the amplification section 2 described above, and is output to the outside as a signal VOUT2 as the output of the amplification section 2, that is, information associated with camera shake information.

The voltage generated here is changed only when the output of the amplification section 2 is judged to be above a predetermined range or below a predetermined range by the above-mentioned amplified output judging section 3, and this voltage change, that is, a predetermined voltage. The voltage is generated by the output signal VO of the amplifier 2.
The UT 1 is performed so as not to deviate from the above-mentioned predetermined range.

As described above, in the signal processing module 1, when the input signal VIN corresponding to the camera shake state is amplified and output as the signal VOUT1, the signal processing module 1 does not deviate from the predetermined range. Feedback is applied within 1, and a signal VOUT2 corresponding to this feedback is also output. The actual calculation of blurring information and control based on this information (blurring prevention measures)
The blur information calculation is performed by a signal V, which is performed by a control unit (not shown).
It is performed based on OUT1 and VOUT2. This will be described later.

Next, FIG. 2 shows a more detailed structure of the signal processing module 1 described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 2, amplifiers 11A and 11B are amplifiers 2 in FIG.
Equivalent to. Further, the comparators 12A and 12B and the fixed voltage generators 13A and 13B correspond to the amplified output determination unit 3 in FIG. Here, the output signal VOU of the amplifier 11A
T1 is output to the outside and the comparators 12A, 1
It is also sent to 2B.

In the comparator 12A, the output signal VOUT1 of the amplifier 2 is compared with the output signal VA of the fixed voltage generator 13A, and in the comparator 12B, the amplifier 2 is output.
Output signal VOUT1 is compared with the output signal VB of the fixed voltage generator 13B.

Then, in the comparator 12A, VOUT
When 1> VA, the comparator 12B outputs VOUT1 <
At the time of VB, the comparator output changes from low level "L" to high level "H", and the signal becomes U / D.
(Up / down) It is sent to the counter 14. This U /
The D counter 14 corresponds to the state storage unit 4 in FIG. 1 and is a counter of several bits. Here, when the output of the comparator 12A described above changes from low level "L" to high level "H", a count down signal,
When the output of the comparator 12B changes from low level "L" to high level "H", it becomes a count-up signal.

An initial data storage unit 17 is connected to the U / D counter 14, and the stored contents of the initial data storage unit 17 are sent to the U / D counter 14 as initial data when the signal processing module 1 is activated. . In the U / D counter 14, the count data is changed with respect to the initial data each time the above-mentioned count-up signal or count-down signal is sent. The count data content of the U / D counter 14 is always DAC (D /
A converter 15). This DAC15 and the DAC
The IV conversion unit 16 for converting the current output of 15 into a voltage,
It corresponds to the reference voltage generator 5 in FIG.

The DAC 15 is the above-mentioned U / D counter 14
It has a bit configuration (number) corresponding to the number of bits of
The current output corresponding to the count data content of the U / D counter 14 is output to the IV converter 16. When the current output of the DAC 15 is converted into a voltage by the IV conversion unit 16, this signal VOUT3 is sent as feedback information to one input unit of the amplification unit 11A, and as described above, it depends on the camera shake state. The signal VIN is differentially amplified.

The voltage output of the IV converter 16 is once sent to the amplifier 11B. Here, it is amplified a predetermined number of times with a predetermined voltage not shown in FIG. 2, and the amplified output is the signal VO.
It is output to the outside as UT2. Here, the output signal VOUT3 of the I-V conversion unit 16 is amplified a predetermined number of times to obtain the signal VOU.
The reason for external output as T2 will be described with reference to FIG. 4, so description thereof will be omitted here.

Although the voltage applied to the amplifying section 2 is amplified here, the output deviates from the predetermined range when the signal corresponding to the camera shake state is amplified as described with reference to FIG. There is no difference in that the information corresponding to the information (voltage) to which the feedback is applied is externally output so as not to do so. With the above configuration, the same operation as described with reference to FIG. 1 is possible.

Next, FIG. 3 shows a detailed configuration of the signal processing module 1 described with reference to FIG. This is a specific configuration different from FIG. Here, description of the same parts as those in FIG. 2 is omitted. In FIG. 3, FIG.
The portion corresponding to the reference voltage generating section 5 is the DAC 15,
2 is different from FIG. 2 in that the multiplexer 18 and the voltage varying unit 19 are used instead of the IV converting unit 16.

In FIG. 3, the count data of the U / D counter 14 is sent to the multiplexer 18. As described above, this data is based on the output state of the amplifier 11A. A plurality of output lines from the multiplexer 18 are connected to the voltage variable unit 19, and one output line is selected according to the input data of several bits sent from the U / D counter 14. The voltage varying unit 19 generates a predetermined voltage based on the output line state selected by the multiplexer 18.

Specifically, according to the state of the output line from the multiplexer 18, a known switching unit,
A predetermined voltage is generated by switching and using the resistor that determines the amplification degree of the voltage generating amplifier. The voltage generated here is sent as a signal VOUT3 to one input section of the amplification section 11A and fed back as a signal VOUT3 as described in the description of FIG. 2, and as described above, it is differential with the signal VIN corresponding to the camera shake state. Is amplified. In addition, the amplification unit 11B
Is amplified by a predetermined voltage with a predetermined voltage not shown in FIG. 3, and the amplified output is output to the outside as a signal VOUT2. According to the configuration of FIG. 3, the same effect as that of FIG. 2 can be obtained.

Next, referring to the time chart of FIG. 5, the comparator in the signal processing module 1 based on the input / output state of the signal processing module 1 described in FIG. 2, U /
The states of the D counter and DAC output will be described.

FIG. 5A shows an output according to the camera shake state,
That is, the signal VI input to one input section of the amplifier section 11A
5 (b) shows the state of N, FIG. 5 (b) shows the output after amplification in the amplification section 11A, that is, the state of the signal VOUT1 that is output to the outside and sent to the comparators 12A and 12B, and FIG. Output signal VOUT1 of section 11A
And the output signal VA of the fixed voltage generator 13A are compared, and V
When OUT1> VA, the output state of the comparator 12A is changed from low level "L" to high level "H". 5D shows the output signal VOUT1 of the amplifier 11A and the output signal VOUT of the fixed voltage generator 13B.
B is compared, and when VOUT1> VB, the output state of the comparator 12B that outputs a signal from low level “L” to high level “H” is shown. FIG. Hold that state, and further DAC
15 shows the state of the count data QA to QE of the U / D counter 14 which outputs the state to FIG. 5, and FIG. 5 (f) shows that the DAC 15 generates a predetermined current based on the output state of the U / D counter 14. The state of the voltage VOUT3 that has been current-voltage converted by the IV converter 16 is shown, and FIG.
The output VOUT3 of the −V conversion unit 16 is amplified a predetermined number of times by the amplification unit 11B and output to the outside as an amplified output signal VOUT.
The state of 2 is shown. The horizontal axis represents time.

In the signal processing module 1, the output of the camera shake detection unit according to the camera shake state shown in FIG.
The signal VIN is input to one input portion of 1A. This and the signal VOUT3 from the IV conversion unit 16 are differentially amplified by a predetermined factor, and the output as originally shown by the broken line in FIG. 5B is obtained. However, the actual output of the amplification unit 11A becomes the output signal VOUT1 as shown by the solid line in FIG. This will be further described below.

Following the solid line locus VOUT1 of FIG. 5B, VOUT1> VA at timing P0.
Under this condition, as described above, the comparator 12A
Output changes from low level "L" to high level "H" as shown in FIG. 5C, and is sent to the U / D counter 14 as a count down signal. In response to this, U / D
The counter 14 decrements the data content at this point.

If the U / D counter 14 is composed of 5 bits and the count data contents of QA to QE before the timing T0 is (100000) b, the count down signal at the timing T0 is received. ((01
1111) b. As described above, the content counted by the U / D counter 14 is sent to the DAC 15, and the IV converter 16 performs current-voltage conversion to generate the predetermined voltage VOUT3.

Although FIG. 5 (f) shows the state of VOUT3, VOUT3 is VREF before timing T0.
If it is [V], the count data content in the U / D counter 14 is counted down at the timing T1, and the current generated in the DAC 15 also receives this, and T
It is smaller than before 0, and as shown in FIG.
It becomes F-1 × VG, and the voltage (VOUT3) decreases by 1 × VG compared to before T0. This VOUT3 is sent to the amplification unit 11A as described above, and is differentially amplified with the output of the camera shake detection unit generated according to the camera shake state shown in FIG.

Here, if the relational expression in the amplifier 11A is VOUT1 = -A * (VIN-VOUT3) (1) (where A is the amplification factor in the amplifier 11A), VO
As UT3 drops, the voltage level of VOUT1 drops.

As a result, the signal VO shown in FIG.
The trajectory of UT1 is timing T as shown by the solid line.
At time 0, it decreases from VA to around VB. Where V
When B itself decreases, VOUT1 <VB this time, and the comparator 12B may output a count-up signal.

Therefore, VOUT3 is generated in the IV converter 16 in response to the state of the count data of the U / D counter 14 so that the potential becomes slightly higher than VB. As a result, VOUT1 <VA, so the output of the comparator 12A changes from the high level “H” to the low level “L”, and when VOUT1> VA again, the output of a further count down signal is output. Is possible.

Further, when the amplification factor "A" of the amplification section 11A is increased by the above equation (1), there is a possibility that VOUT1 <VB depending on the degree of change of VOUT3.
The voltage change level of UT3 cannot be made too large.

Here, this VOUT3, that is, the amplifier 11
The (voltage) information to be fed back to A needs to be output to the outside together with the output VOUT1 of the amplifier 11A for the actual calculation of the blur information. However, this V
When the voltage change level of OUT3 is small, when it is output to the outside, it is easily affected by noise, and there is a possibility that this information cannot be accurately determined outside.

Therefore, in the amplifying section 11B shown in FIG. 2, the VOUT of the IV converting section 16 is output with reference to the voltage level VREF.
3 is amplified a predetermined number of times and externally output as VOUT2. This is shown in FIG. 5 (g) and FIG. 5 (f).
Compared with the voltage level VREF, the voltage level VREF is amplified by a predetermined number of times, and "VREF-1 × VG" becomes "VREF-."
You can see that it is 1 x VGG ".

As described above, the amplification section 11A
When the output level of V is equal to or higher than the predetermined voltage VA, the comparator 12A, the U / D counter 14, the DAC 15, and the IV conversion unit 16 operate to change the supply voltage to the amplification unit 11A (the feedback condition is changed. Then, the output VOUT1 of the amplifier 11A becomes equal to or lower than the predetermined voltage VA.

Following the trajectory of VOUT1 in FIG. 5A, VOUT1 is VOUT1> VA at the timing T1 as in the case of T0. At this timing, T
As in the case of 0, the comparator 12A outputs a countdown signal to the U / D counter 14. As a result, the count data in the U / D counter 14 becomes (01
From (111) b to (01110) b.

In response to this state change, the current generated in the DAC 15 decreases as compared with the previous state, and accordingly, the voltage VOUT3 generated in the IV conversion unit 16 decreases as compared with the previous state. Therefore, the output VOUT1 of the amplification unit 11A decreases to the vicinity of VB again. As a result, the blur information after the actual amplification at the timing T2 is shown in FIG.
In contrast to VT1 on the wavy line in (b), VOUT1 and VOUT2 (=
VREF-2 × VGG), but VOUT2 is as shown in FIG.
Since the information corresponds to "VR" in (b), it is possible to know the actual shake state VT1 after amplification from VOUT1 and VOUT2 externally.

As a result, even if the camera shake detection unit output in FIG. 5A largely fluctuates from the reference level due to offset drift or the like, the camera shake detection unit output can be output at a relatively high magnification (high accuracy). Therefore, it is possible to handle a wide range.

Further following the trajectory of VOUT1 in FIG. 5A, VOUT1 is at timing 2 and this time VO
UT1 <VB. At this timing, in the comparator 12B, VOUT1 and the fixed voltage generator 12B
Output voltage VB is compared, and the condition of VOUT1 <VB is satisfied, the output of the comparator 12B is low level "L".
Goes to a high level "H" and is output to the U / D counter 14 as a count-up signal (see FIG. 5).
(See (d)).

In response to this, the U / D counter 14 outputs the current count data (01110) b as (01
111) b. In response to this state change, the current generated by the DAC 15 increases as compared with the previous state, and accordingly I
The voltage VOUT3 generated in the −V conversion unit 16 increases as compared with the previous state. The voltage generated here is sent to the amplification unit 11A, and the output VOUT1 of the amplification unit 11A rises to around VA.

This will be described with reference to FIG. 4. The count data states (QA to QE) of the U / D counter 14 shown in FIG. 5E, the DAC 15, and the I-V conversion unit 16 generate the data. The voltage VOUT3 and the amplified output VOUT2 from the amplifier 11B are changed to the same states as those between the timings T0 and T1.

Next, at the timing T3, VOUT1 is restored again.
Since <VB, as in the case of the timing T2, as shown in FIG.
Since the count-up signal output from the fixed voltage generator 13B in (d) is output to the U / D counter 14, the count data state (QA to QE of the U / D counter 14 is the same as in the case described above. ), DAC15, and I
The voltage VOUT3 generated by the −V converter 16 and the amplifier 11
Amplified output VOUT2 (= VREF + 1 × VG
G) is changed. These output states are as shown in FIG. 4, and are the same as the states before the timing T0.

As described above, the output VOUT1 of the amplifier 11A is compared with the voltage VA at the comparator 12A,
The voltage VB is constantly compared by the comparator 12B, and the count-up and count-down signals are output to the U / D counter 14 according to the magnitude relation. U / D
In response to this, the counter 14 receives the count data (QA
~ QE) has been changed, D based on this count data
The outputs of the AC 15, the IV converter 16, and the amplifier 11B are changed.

As a result, the output VOUT of the amplifier 11A
1 always falls within the predetermined range of the voltages VA to VB. As a result, even if the output of the camera shake detection unit alone in FIG. 5A largely fluctuates from the reference level due to offset drift or the like, the output of the camera shake detection unit is at a relatively high magnification (high accuracy), and It can be handled in a wide range. The description of the operation after the timing T4 is omitted.

Next, FIG. 4 shows the structure of an anti-shake camera using the signal processing module 1 described above, and will be described. In the figure, shake detection units 21X and 21Y that output according to the camera shake state of the camera are arranged corresponding to the X axis (vertical axis) and the Y axis (horizontal axis) on the image plane, respectively. The output of this blur detection unit is VXIN and VYI.
As N, the signal processing module 1 described so far
Sent to. By the way, the signal processing module 1 is basically the same as the signal processing module described in FIGS. 1 to 3.
2 (for two axes of the image planes X and Y). Here, VXIN and VYIN correspond to the VIN input to the amplification unit 11A described above.

On the other hand, the output of the signal processing module 1 is sent to the CPU 22 to control the blurring state and the blurring prevention measure based on the blurring calculation result. here,
Information transmitted from the signal processing module 1 to the CPU 22 includes VXOUT, VYOUT, VXREB, VYR.
EB, and VXOUT and VYOUT correspond to the amplified output VOUT1 of the amplification unit 11A in the signal processing module 1 described above, and VXREB and VY
REB corresponds to the output VOUT2 of the amplification unit 11B in the signal processing module 1 described above.

This VXOUT, VYOUT, VXRE
B and VYREB are analog voltage values, which are A / D converted and fetched by the control unit 22. Further, the control unit 22 sends a “CEN” signal to the signal processing module 1,
The signal processing module 1 is activated by this CEN signal.

The calculation of the blur information by the CPU 22 will be described below with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. In FIG. 6, the CPU 22 performs initialization (step S1), and it is determined whether or not the anti-shake shooting mode is selected as the shooting mode of the camera by an unillustrated anti-shake shooting mode selection unit. If the anti-shake shooting mode is selected, the process proceeds to step S3, and if not selected, step S2 is repeated (step S2). Then, the signal CEN for the signal processing mode 1 is changed from low level "L" to high level "H". As a result, the signal processing module 1 is activated (step S3).

Next, the CPU 22 sets one loop time of the blur processing loop timer. This loop timer is
The CPU 22 is used to execute camera shake detection (AD sampling), AD result calculation, shake prevention measures, etc. within a predetermined cycle (step S4). Then, the blur processing loop timer set in step S4 is started (step S5).

Subsequently, the output from the signal processing module 1 is amplified output VXOUT, VYOUT of the blur signal,
And information VXRE corresponding to the voltage generated for changing the output level of the above-mentioned camera shake signal amplified output
B and VYREB are A / D converted and fetched. This will be described later with reference to FIG. 7 (step S6).

Then, in step S6, the amplified outputs VXOUT and VYO of the hand-shake signal which are AD-converted and taken in.
In the signal processing module 1, the level of the UT is entangled with the values of the information VXREB and VYREB corresponding to the voltage generated to change the output level of the hand-shake signal amplified output that is similarly AD-converted and captured. The changed amount is corrected and accurate blur information data is calculated. This will be described later with reference to FIG. 8 (step S7).

Subsequently, based on the accurate blur information data obtained by correcting the calculated level change, the vibration information D
The HPF calculation for removing the C component, the LPF calculation for removing the high frequency noise component, and the blur prediction calculation based on the blur data up to the present are performed. Since these calculations are described in detail in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-43655 by the present applicant, the description thereof will be omitted here (step S8).

Next, a camera shake prevention measure is taken based on the shake removal calculated in step S8. As the blur prevention measure here, for example, a method of eccentric or tilting a part of the photographing optical system (not shown in the text) based on the calculation result in order to correct the sound due to the current blur state of the camera can be considered. Further, a method of performing an exposure operation at a timing when the blur is relatively small based on the calculation result can be considered (step S9).

Further, it is determined whether or not the blur processing loop timer started in step S5 has passed a predetermined time. If the predetermined time has not passed, step S10 is repeated until the time passes. When the time has passed, the process proceeds to step S11 (step S10).

Then, it is determined whether or not the anti-shake photography mode has been canceled. This is determined in order to deal with the case where the anti-shake photography mode is canceled during the detection and calculation of the shake. Here, when it is determined that the shake prevention mode is canceled, the process proceeds to step S12. Otherwise, the process returns to step S4, and the blurring calculation based on the information from the signal processing module 1 and the preventive measure based on the calculation result are repeated (step S11).

Then, the signal CEN for the signal processing module 1 is changed from low level "L" to high level "H". As a result, the signal processing module 1 is stopped, and the analog voltage information output related to the blur such as VXOUT, VYOUT, VXREB, and VYREB described above is stopped.
Thus, the process returns to step S2 (step S1
2). By the above operation, a series of blur information acquisition,
A calculation and a blur prevention measure based on the calculation result are performed.

Next, FIG. 7 shows information VXREB corresponding to the voltage generated for changing the output levels of the camera shake signal amplified outputs VXOUT, VYOUT and the camera shake signal amplified output in step S6 of FIG. , A sub-routine "A" that is executed when AD-converting VYREB
It is a flow chart which shows operation of D ".

In using the AD conversion function of the CPU 22, an instruction to activate the AD converter is executed (step S21), the AD data "VXOUT" is fetched (step S22), and the fetched "VXOUT" is changed to "A".
The data is transferred to a RAM called "DXDATA" (step S2
3). Then, the AD data "VXREB" is fetched (step S24), and the fetched "VXREB" is transferred to the RAM "ADXREB" (step S24).
25).

Then, "VYOUT" which is AD data.
Is imported (step S26), and the imported "VYOU
T "is transferred to the RAM" ADYDATA "(step S27), AD data" VYREB "is loaded (step S28), and the loaded" VYR "is loaded.
EB "is transferred to the RAM" ADYREB "(step S29), the AD converter started in step S21 is stopped, and the process proceeds to step S7 in FIG. 6 (step S3).
0).

Next, FIG. 8 shows VXOUT, VYOUT, VXREB, VYREB in step S7 in FIG.
9 is a flow chart showing an operation of a subroutine "data correction" for correcting the amount of level change in the signal processing module 1 on the basis of, and performing accurate calculation of blur information data.

In step S23 of FIG. 7, "ADXDA
The blur information corresponding to the image plane X axis transferred to TA "is read (step S31), and the blur signal amplified output corresponding to the image plane X axis transferred to" ADXREB "is output in step S25 in FIG. The level change information is read (step S32), and A read in step S42
The value of DXREB is normalized (step S33). This is ADXREB, that is, the value of VXOUT is (g) in FIG.
In the above, the voltage value is based on the voltage level “VREF”, and it is necessary to normalize it for the convenience of the calculation performed in the next step. Where ADXREB = VXOUT = VOU
T2 = VREF, that is, U / D counter 1 in FIG. 5 (e)
4 count data (QA to QE) is (10000)
In the case of b, ADXREB = ± 0. This is possible with the following equation.

ADXREB ← ka × (ADXREB−VREF) (2) Here, “ka” is a coefficient for performing this equation. As described above, if ADXREB = VXOUT = VREF, ADXREB = ± 0. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, when the count data (01111) b of the U / D counter 14 in FIG.
OUT2 (that is, ADXREB) is “VREF-1 × VG
G ″, and the result of equation (2) is ADXREB = −1 × V
It becomes GG × ka. Here, ADX with respect to the value of VGG
If "ka" is set so that the value of REB can be converted into an integer,
ADXREB, that is, information about the level change can be easily handled. For example, as described above, the count data of the U / D counter 14 in FIG.
1) b, VOUT2 = ADXREB = V in FIG.
In the case of REF-1 × VGG, the result of equation (2) is ADXR.
At EB = -1, the count data of the U / D counter 14 is (10010) b, VOUT2 = ADXREB = VR.
When EF + 2 × VGG, the result of equation (2) is ADXRE.
Make B = + 2.

Then, the actual blur information data in which the level change in the signal processing module 1 is corrected by the following arithmetic expression is calculated by the following equation (step S34). ADXX ← ADXDATA + kb × ADXREB (3) As described above, ADXREB is stored data meaning the current level change state normalized in step S33, and may be a value corresponding to ADXREB = ± 0. For example, "ADXDATA" read in step S31
The value of is the calculation result “ADXX”. here,
“Kb” indicates the output of the blur detection unit 22 and the signal processing module 1
Is a coefficient corresponding to the level change amount in the state of being amplified by the amplification unit 11A in each of the timings T0 ...
Level change amount at (VA → near VB, VB →
This is information corresponding to (around VA). For example, if the level is changed to the minus side by one step, ADXREB =-
1 and the level change 1 is applied to the blur data “ADXDATA” before the level shift read in step S41.
The number of steps is subtracted to become "ADXX".

Next, the result ADXX calculated in step S34 is transferred to the RAM (step S35).
In steps S36 to S40, similar processing to that of S31 to S35 described above is performed for the Y axis of the image plane. In this way, when step S40 ends, step S in FIG.
Go to 8.

As described above with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 6 to 8, the camera shake information can be detected and calculated using the signal processing module 1 described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. This makes it possible to handle the output of the shake detection unit with a relatively high magnification (high accuracy) and in a wide range.

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, when the camera shake state is detected and the camera shake signal processing module amplifies it to a desired state, the amplification result is output and the amplification output is set to a predetermined value. Feedback is applied within the signal processing module so as not to deviate from the range, and information corresponding to this feedback is also output together. As a result, even if the output of the shake detection unit alone fluctuates significantly from the reference level due to offset, drift, etc., the output of the shake detection unit can be output at a relatively high magnification (high accuracy).
Therefore, it is possible to handle a wide range.

In differentially amplifying the output of the shake detection unit, the reference voltage is directly generated by the DA converter output. As a result, it is possible to accurately change the level of the differential amplification output. Further, in differentially amplifying the output of the blur detection unit, a reference voltage is generated by the multiplexer and the amplifier output. As a result, it is possible to accurately change the level of the differential amplification output.

Further, the reference voltage when changing the level of the output is amplified by differentially amplifying the output of the blur detection unit, and is output together with the differentially amplified output. This allows
It becomes possible to accurately output the differential amplification output level change information without being affected by noise or the like.

Then, by the differential amplification output information of the output of the blur detection unit from the signal processing module and the level change information of this output, the blur control unit performs an operation for grasping the actual blur state. Be seen. As a result, even if the output of the shake detection unit alone fluctuates significantly from the reference level due to offset, drift, etc., the output of the shake detection unit can be handled at a relatively high magnification (high accuracy) and in a wide range, and accurate shake It is possible to grasp the state.

According to the above embodiment of the present invention, the following configuration can be obtained. (1) Two input sections, one input section receives a signal according to the camera shake state, and an amplifying section for externally outputting an amplifying effect; and an amplified output for judging the magnitude of the output value of the amplifying section. Based on the determination means, the state storage means for storing the determination result of the amplification output determination means, and the input state of the amplification means based on the storage state of the state storage means, and output to the outside. And a reference voltage generating means for generating a voltage for controlling the blur signal processing module. (2) The blur signal processing module according to (1), wherein the reference voltage generating means is a DA converter. (3) The shake signal processing module as described in (1) above, wherein the reference voltage generating means includes a multiplexer and an amplifier. (4) The shake signal processing module according to (1), wherein the reference voltage generating means amplifies the voltage generated by a predetermined amplification degree and outputs the amplified voltage to the outside. (5) The blur signal processing module according to the above (1), wherein the external output voltage of the amplifying means and the voltage generated by the reference voltage generating means and externally output are used for camera shake calculation.

[0074]

According to the present invention, the reference voltage for gyro output amplification is changed based on the output from the vibration gyro,
In addition, by outputting this change information to the control unit, it is possible to provide a signal processing module for removing the offset / drift component of the vibration gyro and an anti-shake camera using the signal processing module.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of a signal processing module according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a more detailed configuration of the signal processing module 1 described in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a more detailed configuration of the signal processing module 1 described in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of an anti-shake camera using the signal processing module 1.

5 is a time chart showing states of a comparator, a U / D counter, and a DAC output in the signal processing module 1 based on the input / output state of the signal processing module 1 described in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for dampening the operation of calculating blur information by the CPU 22.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a sequence of a subroutine “AD”.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a sequence of a subroutine “data correction”.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Signal processing module, 2 ... Amplification part, 3 ... Amplification output determination part, 4 ... State storage part, 5 ... Reference voltage generation part, 11A,
11B ... Amplifying section, 12, 12A, 12B ... Comparator, 13, 13A, 13B ... Fixed voltage generating section, 14 ... U
/ D counter, 15 ... DAC, 16 ... IV converter, 1
7 ... Initial data storage unit, 18 ... Multiplexer, 19 ...
Voltage variable part 21,21X, 21Y ... Camera shake detection part, 2
2 ... Control unit.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03B 5/00 G03B 17/00

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A differential amplification means for differentially amplifying and outputting an input signal with respect to a predetermined reference voltage, and a judgment means for judging whether or not the differentially amplified signal is within a predetermined range. And a reference voltage shifting means for generating a signal for shifting the reference voltage value based on the signal when the judging means judges that the voltage is not within the predetermined range, a signal accommodated in one module. A signal processing module, wherein the signal processing module is capable of externally outputting the output of the differential amplifying means and the shift output of the reference voltage shifting means. 2. A blur prevention camera using the signal processing module according to claim 1, wherein the blur detection sensor detects a blur state of the camera and outputs it to the signal processing module as blur information output, and the blur detection. An anti-shake camera, comprising: a control unit that controls a camera operation based on an output obtained by differentially amplifying an output of a sensor by the differential amplification unit and an output of the reference voltage shift unit. 3. A camera shake detection unit for detecting camera shake
Installed in the middle of the route to the control unit that performs camera shake prevention operation.
Is a module for performing signal processing, which receives an input signal from the shake detection unit with respect to a predetermined reference voltage.
Differential amplifying means for differentially amplifying and outputting the signal and whether the differentially amplified signal is within a predetermined range.
And the judgment means for judging whether or not the judgment means is not within the predetermined range.
When shifting the reference voltage value based on the signal
A reference voltage shift means for generating a signal, and the signal processing module includes the differential amplification means.
The output of the stage and the shift output of the reference voltage shifting means.
A signal processing module characterized by outputting to a control means.
The