JPH0683391B2 - Imaging device - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a photographing device such as a video camera.

2. Description of the Related Art With the widespread use of video tape recorders in recent years, there are many opportunities to shoot with a video camera, and there is a demand for a video camera that can perform stable camera work with less image blur even without using a tripod. There is.

Hereinafter, an example of the above-described conventional imaging device will be described with reference to the drawings. Conventionally, this type of photographing apparatus is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 53-64175.
The structure was like the front and side views in the figure. That is,
As a directional gyro, there is a rotor case 1 that contains a rotor that rotates at high speed around the center.
Is supported by the horizontal gimbal 3 and the horizontal gimbal 3 is supported by the vertical gimbal 5 by the left and right gimbal shafts 4. Similarly, in the vertical gyro, the center rotor case 6 is supported by the horizontal gimbal 7 and the vertical gimbal 8, and the video camera 9 and the like are installed on the rotor case 6.
Therefore, by rotating the direction gyro and the vertical gyro at high speed, the video camera 9 is stable even when shooting in a swaying state, and a shot image with little image blur can be obtained.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the above-mentioned configuration, since the gyro that rotates at high speed is used, the device becomes large and the weight also increases. Therefore, the entire device must be installed and used. In addition to the problem of lack of mobility, when handheld shooting is performed and when it is not necessary to prevent image blur, it is sufficient to stop the image blur prevention means such as a gyro. There is a problem that the video camera is no longer fixed at a fixed position, and it is difficult to set a desired shooting direction because it becomes unstable.

Also, when the photographer operates the focus ring of the taking lens to focus the image, or in the case of a lens with a mechanism that can change the angle of view, the zoom ring is operated to change the angle of view. However, there was a problem that the video camera was not fixed at a fixed position and became unstable.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, a photographing apparatus of the present invention is a photographing lens for photographing a subject, a lens barrel for holding the photographing lens, and an optical image from the photographing lens as an electric signal. Photoelectric conversion means, a holding means for integrally holding the photographing lens and the photoelectric conversion means so that their optical axes coincide with each other, and the holding means rotatably supported in the panning direction (or pitching direction). Rotation supporting means, driving means for driving the holding means so that the photographing axis for the subject of the camera body and the optical axis of the photographing lens coincide with each other, control means for controlling the driving means, and an operator on the lens barrel. It is characterized in that it is composed of a detection means for detecting that the touch has been made and a locking means for fixing the holding means at a fixed position by the output of the detection means.

Effect The present invention, by the above-mentioned configuration, does not use a large and heavy gyro as in the past, so it becomes easy to configure a small size and light weight, and a photographer can use it by hand.
Even when the photographer performs manual shooting, the video camera is in a stable state so that the user can operate with peace of mind.

Embodiments Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the entire photographing apparatus, and FIG. 2 is XX of FIG.
FIG. In FIGS. 1 and 2, a taking lens 10 for taking an image of a subject and an image pickup device 11 such as a CCD provided on the focal plane of the taking lens are held by a lens barrel 12. Further, the electric signal converted from the optical image by the image pickup device 11 is converted into a predetermined video signal by the video circuit 13. The ball bearings 14, 1 are respectively provided on the upper part 12a and the lower part 12b of the lens barrel 12.
5 is press-fitted, and rotating shafts 17 and 18 are rotatably fitted to the ball bearings 14 and 15 from above and below the first frame 16, respectively, and the lens barrel 12 is attached to the first frame. It is freely rotatable. Further, a ring-shaped magnet 20 which is magnetized as required is fixed to a lower portion 12b of the lens barrel 12 via a back plate 19 made of a magnetic material. A stator winding 22 adhered to a stator flat plate 21 made of a magnetic material is fixed to the first frame 16 so as to face the magnet 20.

Further, in order to detect the rotational position of the lens barrel 12, a Hall element 21a is provided on the stator flat plate 21 so as to face the magnet 20. Ball bearings 23 and 24 are press-fitted into the left and right of the first frame 16, respectively, and turning shafts 26 and 27 are rotatably fitted into the ball bearings 23 and 24 from the left and right of the second frame 25, respectively. The lens barrel 12 and the first frame 16 are rotatable with respect to the second frame 25. On the right side of the first frame 16 is a back plate made of magnetic material.
A ring-shaped magnet with the required magnetization through 28
29 is fixed. Second facing the magnet 29
A stator winding 31 adhered to a stator flat plate 30 made of a magnetic material is fixed to the frame 25. A Hall element 30a is provided on the stator flat plate 30 so as to face the magnet 29 in order to detect the rotational positions of the first frame 16 and the lens barrel 12 in the tilting direction. An angular velocity sensor 32 for detecting the angular velocity in the panning direction is fixed to the lens barrel 12, and the angular velocity in the tilting direction of the lens barrel 12 and the first frame 16 is detected in the first frame 16. The angular velocity sensor 33 for doing so is fixed. The control circuit 34 so that the output signals of the angular velocity sensors 32 and 33 become zero, the actuator 35 including the magnet 20 and the stator winding 22 that rotate in the panning direction of the lens barrel 12, the lens barrel 12 and First frame
An actuator 36 including a magnet 29 and a stator winding 31 for rotating the 16 in the tilting direction is drive-controlled.

To lock the lens barrel 12, use the lock switch 38.
When turned on, power is supplied from the control circuit 34 to the motor 40 fixed to the lock base 39, and the motor 40 rotates. The rotational force of the motor 40 is transmitted to a lock gear 44 provided on a lock shaft 43 via a reduction mechanism composed of idler gears 41 and 42 planted on a lock base 39. Lock shaft 43
Is slidably engaged with the support member 45, and the cam groove 45a provided on the support member 45 engages with the cam pin 43a provided on the lock shaft 43 to guide the movement of the lock shaft 43. There is.

Further, the end shape of the lock shaft 43 is spherical, and the lens barrel 12
The lens barrel 12 is locked by coming into contact with the conical recess 46 provided in the rear portion.

With the above-mentioned structure, further wrap the wires around the focus ring 47 and the zoom ring 48 at a specified interval.
49a, so that a weak current flows, and the other wire 4
9b is configured so as to be connected to the detection circuit 49 (note that the electric wire configured in this way is wound around the area where the finger can touch). Therefore, when a finger touches the focus ring 47 or the zoom ring 48, a weak current flows through the electric wire 49b connected to the detection circuit 49 through the operator's finger, and the weak current flows to focus the operator's finger. Ring 4
7 or the touch on the zoom ring 48 is detected by the detection circuit 49, which causes the control circuit 34 to lock the lens barrel 12.

When no current flows, that is, when the focus ring 47 or the zoom ring 48 is not touched by a human finger,
Moreover, when the video camera of the present invention is used with the image blur prevention effect turned on, the lens barrel 12 is unlocked.

Regarding the imaging device configured as described above, the first
The operation will be described with reference to FIGS.

When hand-held shooting is performed with a video camera, the video camera shakes due to camera shake or fatigue, which causes shaking of a shot image (so-called image blur). The shaking of the lens barrel 12 caused by this video camera is detected by the angular velocity sensor 32 (panning direction), 33
(Tilting direction), the control circuit 34 supplies power to the stator windings 22 and 31 of the actuators 35 and 36 so as to make the outputs from the angular velocity sensors 32 and 33 zero. Lens barrel for absolute coordinates
12 shakes are eliminated and horizontal and vertical image blur can be reduced. For example, if the lens barrel 12 shakes in the tilting direction (direction of arrow I in FIG. 1),
The control circuit 34 uses an actuator so that the output of the angular velocity sensor 33 that detects the swing in the tilting direction becomes zero.
By supplying power to the stator winding 31 of 36 to control the drive in the direction opposite to the arrow I direction, image blur in the tilting direction can be prevented. Similarly, in the panning direction, image blur can be prevented. If image blurring occurs in the diagonal direction, the angular velocity sensor 32 (panning direction),
The angular velocity sensor 33 (tilting direction) detects the shake amount (angular velocity) to detect the angular velocity sensors 32, 3 in both directions.
The control circuit 34 supplies power to the stator windings 22 and 21 of the actuators 35 and 36 so that the output from 3 becomes zero, so that image blurring in an oblique direction can be prevented.

Focus ring 47 or zoom ring of the shooting lens
When the detection circuit 49 detects that a human finger is touching 48, or when carrying it, it is effective in preventing image blur.
When the lock switch 38 is turned on to turn it off, the control circuit 34 supplies power to the motor 40
Rotate 40. The torque of the motor 40 is the idler gear.
A cam pin 43a provided on the lock shaft 43, which is transmitted to a lock gear 44 provided on the lock shaft 43 via a reduction mechanism composed of 41 and 42.
Is configured to move the lock shaft 43 in the optical axis direction (direction of arrow H) using the cam groove 45a of the support member 45 as a guide to bring the lock shaft 43 into contact with the conical recess 46 provided in the rear portion of the lens barrel 12. Lock the lens barrel 12.

Also, use the lock switch 48 to release the operator's finger from the focus ring 47 or zoom ring 48 of the taking lens, or to turn on the image blur prevention effect.
When turned off, the control circuit 34 first supplies power to the motor 40 to rotate the motor 40. The rotational force of the motor 40 is transmitted to the lock gear 44 provided on the lock shaft 43 through the reduction mechanism including the idler gears 41 and 42, and the lock shaft 43
The cam pin 43a provided at the position moves the lock shaft 43 in the optical axis direction (the direction opposite to the arrow H) using the cam groove 45a of the support member 45 as a guide, and has a conical shape provided at the rear part of the lock shaft 43 and the lens barrel 12. The concave portion 46 is separated from the concave portion 46 to bring the lens barrel 12 into the unlocked state and the image blur prevention state.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the photographing lens for photographing the subject, the lens barrel for holding the photographing lens, the photoelectric conversion unit for converting an optical image from the photographing lens into an electric signal, the photographing lens and the photoelectric lens. Holding means for integrally holding the conversion means so that their optical axes coincide with each other, rotation supporting means for rotatably supporting the holding means in a panning direction (or a pitching direction), and a camera body with respect to an object. Driving means for driving the holding means so that the photographing axis and the optical axis of the photographing lens coincide with each other; and control means for controlling the driving means,
Since the detection means for detecting the touch of the operator on the lens barrel and the locking means for fixing the holding means at a fixed position by the output of the detection means, the whole photographing apparatus becomes small and lightweight, and it is easy to carry out. Handheld photography is possible.
In addition, since the shooting axis of the camera body and the optical axis of the shooting lens coincide with each other when locked, it is possible to shoot without a sense of discomfort after locking. Further, when carrying the lens barrel, the lens barrel does not come into contact with the exterior or the like and can be carried with ease.

Also, the photographer can focus ring 47 or zoom ring.
When the lens barrel 12 is touched to operate it, the lens barrel 12 is locked.Therefore, displacement of the optical axis caused by touching the lens barrel 12, improvement of operability, and forgetting to lock the lens barrel 12 Even if the filter is replaced with a new one, since the operator's finger touches the focus ring 47 or the zoom ring 48 when the filter is replaced, the lens barrel 12 is locked, so that the filter can be easily replaced. It should be noted that it may be performed with a screw or the like that has been performed more.

Further, as a detecting means for detecting the contact of the finger, a piezoelectric element is attached to the operation portion of the lens barrel 12, or a change in capacitance caused by a human finger approaching the lens barrel 12 is detected. However, the detection means is not limited to this embodiment.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the taking lens for taking an image of a subject, the lens barrel for holding the taking lens, the photoelectric conversion means for converting an optical image from the taking lens into an electric signal, the taking lens and the photoelectric conversion means. Holding unit for integrally holding the holding unit so that their optical axes coincide with each other, a rotation supporting unit for rotatably supporting the holding unit so as to be rotatable in a panning direction (or a pitching direction), and a photographing axis for a subject of the camera body. Driving means for driving the holding means so as to match the optical axis of the photographing lens, control means for controlling the driving means, detecting means for detecting that the operator has touched the lens barrel, and output of the detecting means. Since the holding means is fixed to a fixed position by the locking means, the overall size and weight of the image capturing apparatus can be reduced.
You can feel free to take handheld photographs. In addition, since the shooting axis of the camera body and the optical axis of the shooting lens coincide with each other when locked, it is possible to shoot without a sense of discomfort after locking. Further, when carrying the lens barrel, the lens barrel does not come into contact with the exterior or the like and can be carried with ease.

Also, when the photographer touches the focus ring or zoom ring to operate it, the lens barrel is locked, so the optical axis shift caused by touching the lens barrel, improvement of the operation system, and lens mirror Even if you forget to lock the barrel and replace the filter, you can easily replace the filter because the lens barrel is locked.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image pickup apparatus in an embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line XX of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a front view of a conventional photographing apparatus, and FIG. 4 is a side view of the conventional photographing apparatus. 10 …… Shooting lens, 11 …… Photoelectric conversion means, 12 …… Lens barrel, 34 …… Control circuit, 35,36 …… Actuator, 3
8 …… Lock switch, 40 …… Motor, 43 …… Lock shaft, 46 …… Conical recess, 47 …… Focus ring, 48
...... Zoom ring, 49 …… Detection circuit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A photographing lens for photographing an object, a lens barrel for holding the photographing lens, a photoelectric conversion unit for converting an optical image from the photographing lens into an electric signal, the photographing lens and the photoelectric conversion unit. And a holding means for integrally holding the holding means so that their optical axes coincide with each other, a rotation supporting means for rotatably supporting the holding means so as to be rotatable in a panning direction (or a pitching direction), and a camera body for photographing an object. Drive means for driving the holding means so that the axis and the optical axis of the photographing lens coincide with each other, control means for controlling the drive means, and detection means for detecting that an operator touches the lens barrel. And a locking means for fixing the holding means at a fixed position by the output of the detection means.