JP7625381B2 - Optical Instruments - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to optical devices such as lens devices that can be operated by touch.

As a lens device (interchangeable lens) with improved operability for the user, Patent Document 1 discloses one in which the focus distance, focal length, aperture value, operating mode, etc. can be selected by touching one of multiple touch areas with a finger. This lens device is provided with discrete convex indicators that allow the user to tactilely recognize the touch area that has been touched without having to visually check the exterior part on which the touch areas are provided.

JP 2013-57837 A

However, while the discrete indicators disclosed in Patent Document 1 are effective for touching each touch area, they do not have the function of guiding smooth, continuous touch operations on multiple touch areas, such as for focusing.

The present invention provides an optical device that allows the user to perform continuous, smooth touch operations without having to visually inspect the exterior.

An optical device according to one aspect of the present invention includes an outer tube , an operation detection unit, an operation guide unit, and a processing means. The operation detection unit has a finite length, and detects the position of a touch operation on the outer tube only in the longitudinal direction of the operation detection unit . The operation guide unit is provided on the outer tube , has a shape that extends continuously along the longitudinal direction of the operation detection unit, and guides the finger of a user performing a touch operation . The operation detection unit and the operation guide unit extend at an angle with respect to the circumferential direction of the outer tube. The processing means is characterized in that it performs a process selected from a first process according to an absolute position of the touch operation and a second process according to a relative change amount of the position of the touch operation.

The present invention allows users to easily perform continuous, smooth touch operations without having to visually check the exterior.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a camera system including an interchangeable lens according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the camera system. 5A and 5B are diagrams illustrating a relationship between a touch position and detected position information according to the first embodiment. 5A and 5B are diagrams illustrating the relationship between a touch position and a focus position in the first embodiment. 5A and 5B are diagrams illustrating the relationship between a touch position, detected absolute position information, and ISO sensitivity in the first embodiment. 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating a relationship between a touch position and detected absolute position information in the second embodiment. 13A and 13B are diagrams showing modified examples of the operation guide portion. 13 is a diagram showing the relationship between a touch position and detected absolute position information in the third embodiment.

The following describes an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 shows the configuration of a camera system including an interchangeable lens (optical device: hereinafter simply referred to as a lens) 2 and a camera (imaging device) 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 shows the external appearance of the camera system.

The camera 1 has an image sensor 13 such as a CCD sensor or CMOS sensor that photoelectrically converts (captures) the subject image formed by the lens (image capture optical system) 2, a camera CPU 11 that controls the image capture, and a setting value display unit 12 that displays various setting values.

The lens 2 is detachably connected to the camera 1 and capable of communicating with it. The lens 2 has an exterior tube 21 as an exterior part, and an operation detection unit 22 that detects the position (touch position) of the user's finger contacting the exterior tube 21 (touch operation). The lens 2 further has an operation guide unit 211 that guides the user's finger performing a touch operation on the area of the exterior tube 21 where the operation detection unit 22 is provided (hereinafter referred to as the touch area).

The operation detection unit 22 extends in an arc shape on the outer tube 21 at an angle to the circumferential direction, and has a finite length (i.e., it has both ends in the longitudinal direction). The operation detection unit 22 outputs a detection signal according to the touch position.

The operation guide section 211 has a convex (protruding) shape that extends continuously in an arc along the touch area (operation detection section 22) so that the user can easily and smoothly perform a touch operation on the touch area without visually checking the touch area. The operation guide section 211 also has a finite length. FIG. 2 shows a case in which the operation guide section 211 is provided so as to extend overlapping the operation detection section 22. However, it may be provided so as to extend adjacent to the operation detection section 22.

The lens 2 also has a signal processing circuit 23 that generates detection position information from the detection signal output from the operation detection unit 22. The lens 2 also has a plurality of optical elements 24 that constitute the imaging optical system, a drive unit 25 that drives the focus lens and aperture of the plurality of optical elements 24, and a lens CPU 26 as a control means. The signal processing circuit 23 and the lens CPU 26 constitute the processing means. The camera CPU 11 and the lens CPU 26 are capable of communicating with each other.

The lens CPU 26 performs a first process of discretely setting (changing) the imaging parameter value according to the absolute touch position (absolute position) as a process according to the touch position detected by the operation detection unit 22. The lens CPU 26 also performs a second process of continuously changing the imaging parameter value according to the relative amount of change (touch operation amount) and the change direction (touch operation direction) of the touch position. The lens CPU 26 selectively performs the first process and the second process. The camera CPU 11 similarly selectively performs the first process and the second process. The imaging parameter (value) is information for controlling the operation related to imaging of the lens 2 or the camera 1. The first process and the second process are selected according to the imaging parameter assigned to the touch operation on the touch area or by the user. The imaging parameter will be described in detail later.

In the first process, an upper limit value is selected as the imaging parameter value by a touch operation while the user is touching one end (hereinafter referred to as guide end) 211a of the operation guide section 211 in the longitudinal direction. A lower limit value is selected as the imaging parameter value by a touch operation while the user is touching the other guide end 211b of the operation guide section 211 in the longitudinal direction. By using the guide ends 211a and 211b as indicators in this way, the user can select the upper limit value or the lower limit value as the imaging parameter value without hesitation even without visually checking the touch area. Then, by changing the touch position within a range along the operation guide section 211, the imaging parameter value can be changed between the upper limit value and the lower limit value.

On the other hand, in the second process, continuously changeable imaging parameter values such as focusing and ISO sensitivity are continuously changed according to the amount and direction of touch operation.

Figure 3 shows a cross section of the operation guide unit 211 and the operation detection unit 22 (touch area). Figure 3 also shows the detected position information Y obtained from the signal processing circuit 23 according to the touch position X.

The operation detection unit 22 is a capacitance sensor having multiple mutually independent detection electrodes 22a. The signal processing circuit 23 performs a center of gravity calculation from the capacitance of each detection electrode 22a to identify the touch position. When the user touches position x0 in the touch area, the signal processing circuit 23 sends detection position information y0 to the lens CPU 26.

The length of the operation guide section 211 is set so that the guide ends 211a, 211b are located a predetermined length W inward from both ends of the operation detection section 22 (detection electrodes 22a). In order to perform center of gravity calculation from the detection electrodes 22a, it is necessary to detect capacitance with multiple detection electrodes 22a. For this reason, the predetermined length W is set to a length necessary to obtain detection position information Y when the user touches the guide ends 211a, 211b of the operation guide section 211.

In this embodiment, a capacitance sensor is used for the operation detection unit 22, but other sensors such as a resistive film type may be used as long as they can detect the touch position.

The lens CPU 26 performs a process selected from the first process and the second process described above. The lens CPU 26 also changes the process depending on which of the multiple imaging parameters (hereinafter referred to as touch operation target parameter) is assigned to the touch operation on the touch area. The lens CPU 26 selects whether to perform a process using the detection position information in the lens CPU 26 according to the imaging parameter, or to transmit the detection position information or information obtained by converting the detection position information to the camera CPU 11. The multiple imaging parameters are displayed on the setting value display unit 12 of the camera 1, and the user can select the touch operation target parameter from among them. Examples of the multiple imaging parameters and the processes corresponding to them are as follows. For an imaging parameter that is compatible with only one of the first and second processes, when that imaging parameter is selected as the touch operation target parameter, the first or second process is automatically selected. For an imaging parameter that is compatible with both the first and second processes, the user selects the first or second process on the setting value display unit 12.
Focus position (focus distance) → first process, second process Aperture value → first process, second process ISO sensitivity → first process, second process Shutter speed → first process White balance → first process Imaging mode → first process Continuous shooting speed → first process Exposure compensation value → first process Image processing filter → first process Note that, for imaging parameters that are adjusted among analog (continuous) options such as the focus position, the adjustment sensitivity can be reduced by adjusting according to the relative movement amount rather than the absolute position of the touch operation. Also, for imaging parameters that are adjusted among digital (discrete) options such as the ISO sensitivity and aperture value, the adjustment can be performed quickly by adjusting according to the absolute position.

For example, when the focus position is selected as a touch operation target parameter on the setting value display unit 12 and one of the first and second processes is selected, the camera CPU 11 transmits the focus position and the selected operation to the lens CPU 26. The focus position is changed by the drive unit 25 of the lens 2 driving the focus lens in the imaging optical system, so the detected position information is used for processing by the lens CPU 26. When a touch operation target parameter other than the focus position is selected, the detected position information is transmitted to the camera CPU 11 either as is or after being converted into other information.

The following describes the processing performed in the lens 2 and the camera 1 when the focus position is selected as the touch operation target parameter and the first processing is further selected. When the user touches any position in the touch area, as shown in FIG. 4(a), the signal processing circuit 23 sends detection position information Y corresponding to the detection signal (touch position X) from the operation detection unit 22 to the lens CPU 26. As shown in FIG. 4(b), the lens CPU 26 controls the drive unit 25 to move the focus lens to the focus position (target position) corresponding to the detection position information Y. This causes the focus lens to move to the focus position corresponding to the touch position.

Next, the processing performed in the lens 2 and the camera 1 when the focus position is selected as the touch operation target parameter and the second processing is selected will be described. When the user touches any position in the touch area, the signal processing circuit 23 sends the lens CPU 26 detection position information Y1 corresponding to the touch position X at that time. The signal processing circuit 23 then sends the lens CPU 26 detection position information Y2 corresponding to the touch position X at a time when a predetermined time has elapsed from the previous time. The lens CPU 26 obtains the touch operation direction and the touch operation amount from the difference between the detection position information Y2 and the detection position information Y1, and controls the drive unit 25 to move the focus lens by the movement amount corresponding to the touch operation amount in the optical axis direction on the side corresponding to the touch operation direction. This changes the focus position according to the touch operation direction and the touch operation amount.

Here, the lens CPU 26 uses a conversion table stored in its internal memory to convert the detection position information Y into a focus position Fpos as shown in FIG. 4B. The conversion table converts the detection position information Y when the touch position X is within the end regions K1 and K2 including the guide ends 211a and 211b of the operation guide unit 211 so that the focus position Fpos becomes the near end and the infinity end of the control. In other words, when the touch position X is within the end regions K1 and K2, they are treated as the same touch position. Therefore, when the touch position X is within the end regions K1 and K2, the focus position Fpos does not change from the near end and the infinity end. The widths of the end regions K1 and K2 are set so that the focus position Fpos becomes the near end or the infinity end of the control when the user touches the guide ends 211a and 211b with his or her finger.

The conversion table also converts the detected position information Y when the touch position X is between the end area K1 and the end area K2 into a focus position Fpos that changes continuously (preferably linearly) so that the change in focus sensitivity or focus distance does not cause any discomfort.

With this configuration, the user can continuously change the focus position between the close end and the infinity end by touching the touch area, and can intuitively set the focus position to the close end or the infinity end. For example, the focus position on the close side can be quickly changed to the infinity end.

Next, the processing performed in the lens 2 and the camera 1 when ISO sensitivity is selected as the touch operation target parameter and the first processing is further selected will be described. When the user touches any position in the touch area, the signal processing circuit 23 sends detected position information Y corresponding to the touch position X to the lens CPU 26 as shown in FIG. 5(a). The lens CPU 26 converts the detected position information Y into detected absolute position information Z as shown in FIG. 5(b) and sends it to the camera CPU 11. The camera CPU 11 sets the ISO sensitivity corresponding to the detected absolute position information Z as shown in FIG. 5(c).

Next, the processing performed in the lens 2 and the camera 1 when the ISO sensitivity is selected as the touch operation target parameter and the second processing is selected will be described. When the user touches any position in the touch area, the signal processing circuit 23 sends the lens CPU 26 detection position information Y1 corresponding to the touch position X at that time. After that, the signal processing circuit 23 sends the lens CPU 26 detection position information Y2 corresponding to the touch position X at a time when a predetermined time has passed from the previous time. The lens CPU 26 obtains the touch operation direction and the touch operation amount from the difference between the detection position information Y2 and the detection position information Y1, and transmits them to the camera CPU 11. The camera CPU 11 changes the ISO sensitivity by the change amount corresponding to the touch operation amount to the side corresponding to the received touch operation direction. As a result, the ISO sensitivity is changed according to the touch operation direction and the touch operation amount on the operation guide unit 211.

Here, when the first process is selected, the lens CPU 26 uses the conversion table stored in the internal memory described above to convert the detected position information Y into detected absolute position information Z as shown in FIG. 5B. This conversion table converts the detected position information Y into the lower limit and upper limit of the detected absolute position information Z when the touch position X is within the end regions K1 and K2 including the guide ends 211a and 211b. In other words, when the touch position X is within the end regions K1 and K2, they are treated as the same touch position. Therefore, when the touch position X is within the end regions K1 and K2, the detected absolute position information Z does not change from the lower limit and upper limit. The widths of the end regions K1 and K2 are set so that the detected absolute position information Z is reliably the lower limit or upper limit when the user touches the guide ends 211a and 211b with his or her finger.

The conversion table also converts the detected position information Y when the touch position X is between the end area K1 and the end area K2 into detected absolute position information Z that changes linearly with the change in the touch position X.

With this configuration, the user can continuously change the ISO sensitivity between the lower and upper limits by touching the touch area, and can intuitively set the ISO sensitivity to the lower and upper limits.

In this embodiment, the selection of the imaging parameters and touch operation is described as being performed on the setting value display unit 12 provided on the camera 1, but it may also be possible to perform the selection on the setting value display unit provided on the lens 2.

Fig. 6(a) shows an exploded view of the operation guide unit 211 and the operation detection unit 22 in the second embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the outside of the exterior tube 21. Fig. 6(b) shows a side view of Fig. 6(a). Fig. 6(c) shows detected position information Y obtained from the signal processing circuit 23 according to the touch position X on the touch area. Fig. 6(d) shows detected absolute position information Z output according to the detected position information Y. This embodiment is suitable for the case where the imaging parameter value having a central value is changed by the first process. For example, the exposure compensation value can be changed discretely within the range of +1 to +4 or -1 to -4, with 0 as the central value. Fig. 6(e) shows a modified example viewed from the same direction as Fig. 6(a).

In this embodiment, as shown in Figs. 6(a) and 6(b), a convex portion 211c is provided in the center of the longitudinal direction of the operation guide portion 211 as a central indicator that can be felt by the user with a finger. Even if the convex portion 211c is provided between the guide ends 211a and 211b in this way, the operation guide portion 211 extends continuously between the guide ends 211a and 211b. The central indicator may be provided at a position close to the operation guide portion 211 as shown in Fig. 6(a), or may be provided on the operation guide portion 211. The shape of the central indicator may be any shape that can be felt by the user, and may be a concave shape.

Also, as shown in FIG. 6(e), a notch 211d may be provided in the center of the longitudinal direction of the operation guide portion 211 instead of the convex portion 211c as a central indicator that the user can feel with his/her finger.

In this embodiment, when the first process is selected, the lens CPU 26 uses the conversion table to convert the detected position information Y into the detected absolute position information Z as shown in FIG. 6(c). As with the conversion table shown in FIG. 5(b), this conversion table converts the detected position information Y when the touch position X is within the end regions K1 and K2 including the guide ends 211a and 211b into the lower limit and upper limit values of the detected absolute position information Z. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the detected position information Y when the touch position X is within the central region K3 including the convex portion 211c is converted into the central value of the detected absolute position information Z. Therefore, when the touch position X is within the central region K3, the detected absolute position information Z does not change from the central value. In other words, when the touch position X is within the central region K3, it is treated as the same touch position.

This configuration allows the user to easily set the imaging parameters not only to upper and lower limits, but also to central values.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the first embodiment, the operation guide portion 211 has a convex shape, but the cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the operation guide portion 211' may have a concave shape with curvature as shown in FIG. 7(a), or may have a rectangular concave shape as shown in FIG. 7(b). By providing such a concave operation guide portion 211', it is possible to improve the design of the lens and reduce inconvenience such as the user's finger getting caught on the operation guide portion, compared to the case where a convex operation guide portion 211 is provided.

Figure 8 (a) shows detected position information Y for touch position X in this embodiment, and Figure 8 (b) shows detected absolute position information Z for detected position information Y. The operation guide portion 211' has curved portions at both ends in the longitudinal direction, and end regions K1, K2 are set so that the start point (inflection point) 211a' and end point (corner) 211b' of the curved portion are located inside them. This allows the imaging parameter value to be reliably set to the upper limit or lower limit regardless of whether the user recognizes the start point 211a' or end point 211b' of the curved portion as the guide end.

As described above, according to each embodiment, it is possible to make it easier for a user to perform a touch operation on a touch area without visually checking the touch area. Moreover, since the operation guide portion has a continuous shape, it is possible to perform a touch operation at any position between both ends of the operation guide portion, and to perform continuous, smooth touch operations in any direction. Furthermore, since it is possible to select between a first process and a second process for the touch area, it is possible to easily set various imaging parameter values.

In the above embodiments, an interchangeable lens having a touch area has been described, but the touch area may be provided on a lens-interchangeable camera (optical device) to which the interchangeable lens is connected, or on the lens of a lens-integrated camera (optical device). Also, a touch area may be provided on an optical device other than an interchangeable lens or a camera. In these cases, an operation guide unit is provided along the touch area.
Other Examples
The present invention can also be realized by a process in which a program for implementing one or more of the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or device read and execute the program. The present invention can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that implements one or more of the functions.

The above-described embodiments are merely representative examples, and various modifications and variations are possible when implementing the present invention.

1 Camera 2 Interchangeable lens 21 Exterior barrel 211 Operation guide unit 22 Operation detection unit 23 Signal processing circuit

Claims (7)

An optical device having an outer tube , an operation detection unit, an operation guide unit, and a processing means,
the operation detection unit has a finite length, and detects a position of a touch operation on the outer casing only in a longitudinal direction of the operation detection unit;
the operation guide portion is provided on the outer tube and has a shape extending continuously along a longitudinal direction of the operation detection portion to guide a finger of a user performing the touch operation ;
the operation detection portion and the operation guide portion extend inclined with respect to a circumferential direction of the outer tube ,
The optical device according to claim 1, wherein the processing means performs a process selected from a first process corresponding to an absolute position of the touch operation and a second process corresponding to a relative amount of change in the position of the touch operation. The optical device operates in accordance with the set parameter values,
2. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein the processing means changes the parameter value discretely in response to the absolute position and changes the parameter value continuously in response to the amount of relative change. the optical device is communicatively connected to another optical device;
3. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein the processing means transmits information obtained from a position of the touch operation detected by the operation detection unit to the other optical device. the operation guide portion has a length shorter than that of the operation detection portion,
The optical device according to claim 1 , wherein the processing means treats the positions of the touch operations detected in an end region of the operation detection unit that includes a longitudinal end of the operation guide unit as the same position. the operation guide unit has an index that can be tactilely recognized by a user at a center in a longitudinal direction of the operation detection unit,
The optical device according to claim 1 , wherein the processing means treats the positions of the touch operations detected in a central region of the operation detection portion that includes the index as the same position. The optical device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the optical device is a lens device that is detachably connected to an imaging device. The optical device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the optical device is an imaging device having a lens part in which the operation detection part and the operation guide part are provided.