JP3101589B2 - Interchangeable lens type camera system, camera and lens unit - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an interchangeable lens type camera system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the development of cameras and video camera systems has been remarkable, and interchangeable lens type camera systems which have various functions and are interchangeable with cameras have also been provided in video cameras.

On the other hand, a blur correction function has attracted attention as one of camera functions. In other words, by using interchangeable lenses,
Lenses having various characteristics are mounted, and when a lens having a long focal length is mounted, image quality degradation particularly due to camera shake becomes a very serious problem.

[0004] In addition, camera shake is a serious problem even for users who are not skilled in camera operation, and the shake correction function is a very important function in an interchangeable lens system.

[0005]

Incidentally, in the interchangeable lens type camera system, the control and drive systems are divided between the camera side and the lens side, and there are various forms for realizing the blur correction function. In order to realize a shake correction function in an interchangeable lens type camera system, it is necessary to determine an optimal form from both the characteristics of the shake correction function and the control of the interchangeable lens.

[0006] That is, the blur correction function is roughly classified into an optical type which optically corrects a motion and an electronic type which corrects a motion by changing an image reading range from a memory or the like. Has won.

On the other hand, in a device such as a video camera that mainly captures moving images and has an image pickup means, the circuit can be simplified by detecting a movement from the image pickup signal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an interchangeable lens type camera system having a detachable lens unit and an optimal form for applying a blur correction function.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a system capable of performing smooth control even when elements for blur correction are separated, such as a detection unit on the camera side and a correction unit on the lens unit side.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an interchangeable lens type camera system comprising a camera body and a lens unit detachable from the camera body. An imaging unit; a motion detection unit that detects a motion of an image from an imaging signal output from the imaging unit; and a motion correction information for correcting a motion of the image based on an output of the motion detection unit. Camera-side control means for outputting in synchronization with a synchronization signal, wherein the lens unit has a correction means for correcting the movement of the image, and the motion correction information output from the camera-side control means. An interchangeable lens camera comprising: a lens-side control unit that receives a signal in synchronization with the vertical synchronization signal, converts the drive signal into a drive signal for driving the correction unit, and supplies the drive signal to the correction unit. It is to the stem.

The present invention also provides an interchangeable lens type camera in which a lens unit having a motion compensating means for compensating the motion of an image due to blur is detachable.
A motion detecting unit that detects a motion of an image from an imaging signal output from the imaging unit; and a motion correction information for correcting the motion of the image based on an output of the motion detecting unit, and synchronizes with a vertical synchronization signal. The camera is further provided with camera-side control means for supplying the image data to the lens unit and driving the motion correction means.

Further, the present invention provides an image pickup means, a movement detection means for detecting a movement of an image from an image pickup signal outputted from the image pickup means, and a correction of the movement of the image based on an output of the movement detection means. A lens unit detachable from a camera body having camera-side control means for calculating motion correction information for synchronizing with a vertical synchronizing signal and outputting the information in synchronization with a vertical synchronizing signal; Lens-side control means for receiving the motion correction information output from the side control means in synchronization with the vertical synchronization signal, converting the information into a drive signal for driving the correction means, and supplying the drive signal to the correction means. It is a lens unit.

[0013]

[0014]

[0015]

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the communication system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing a system configuration of a camera and a lens as described above. FIG. 2 is a timing chart for explaining data communication between the camera and the lens.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a temporal relationship between transmission data from the camera side to the lens side and return data from the lens side to the camera side, and FIG. 4 is a code configuration inside each communication data. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the control operation on the camera side and the lens side, and FIG. 6 is a block diagram for explaining the functions on the camera side and the lens side, respectively.

FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b) show a combination of camera system configurations. As shown in FIG. 1 (a), cameras A and B having different functions and lenses C and D are shown. Consider the combination between

As shown in FIG. 1B, the camera A
The functions of the AF block 101 for performing F, the AE block 102 for performing AE, and the AZ block 103 for performing AZ can be controlled, and the camera B can control only the function of the AE block 111 for performing AE. I do.

Looking at the lens side, lens C
Has an AF block 121, an AE block 122, and an AZ block 123, and can operate each function. The lens D includes an AF block 131, an AE block 1
32, and each function can be operated.

Here, when the camera A and the lens C are combined by being connected by a serial communication line DL, the functions of AF, AE, and AZ can be performed as functions, and the camera A and the lens D can be connected to the serial communication line DL. When combined by connecting with DL, the functions of AF and AE can be performed as functions, and in the case of the other two combinations using camera B, only AE operation can be performed.

Therefore, in order to surely maintain compatibility with lenses having different functions, that is, in the example of FIG. 1, cameras A and B and lenses C and D are controlled based on a common format. It is necessary to exchange the mutual data of the information and the detection information indicating the driving state via the communication line DL, and an appropriate common format is required.

In the embodiment described below, it is possible to easily transmit and receive control information and detection information indicating a driving state in units of controlled units, regardless of the number or type of controlled units on the lens side. The compatibility can be completely maintained even if the number of controlled units of the lens to be used increases or decreases.

First, the configuration on the camera side and the lens side will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a lens, and 2 denotes a camera. These are detachably mounted by a mount unit 3. When connected, initialization information is provided by electric contacts arranged on the mount unit 3. A communication transmission line 4 which forms the above-mentioned communication line DL for performing various kinds of communication including control information is formed.

In the lens unit 1, a focusing lens 5 for performing focus adjustment, and a variable magnification for zooming.
A lens group including a zoom lens 6, a diaphragm 7, a relay lens 8, and the like for performing zooming is provided, and a focusing lens, a zoom lens, a motor for driving the diaphragm, and a driving circuit. Are respectively disposed.

These driving units are supplied from the camera side via the communication transmission line 4 by a control microcomputer 12 as lens side control means for integrally controlling all controls on the lens side. Drive control is performed based on the control information.

The operating states of the focusing lens, the zoom lens, and the aperture are respectively set to a focus encoder.
After being detected by the encoder 13, zoom encoder 14 and aperture encoder 15 and taken into the lens-side microcomputer 12, it performs predetermined processing as necessary, and then via the communication transmission line 4. Sent to the camera.

On the other hand, an image pickup device 16 such as a CCD for photoelectrically converting a subject image formed by the connected lens 1 into a video signal is output from the image pickup device 16 in the camera 2. A preamplifier 17 for amplifying the obtained video signal to a predetermined level, and performing predetermined processing such as predetermined gamma correction, blanking processing, and addition of a synchronization signal on the output signal of the preamplifier 17 to convert the signal into a standardized television signal A signal processing circuit 18 for detecting the focus state based on the high frequency component of the luminance signal from the video signal
A circuit 19, an AE circuit 20 for comparing the average value of the luminance signal levels of the video signals with a preset reference level and outputting a signal for controlling the aperture so that the luminance signal level is always equal to the reference level; A control microcomputer 21 as a camera-side control means for controlling all functions of the camera side, a zoom switch 22 for generating a command for operating a zoom lens, an AZ mode setting switch 23, and the like. Is arranged.

A focus state detection signal output from the AF circuit 19, an aperture state detection signal output from the AE circuit 20,
The operation signals of the zoom switch 22 and the AZ mode setting switch are respectively supplied to the microcomputer 21 and a predetermined operation is performed with reference to the information on the operation state returned from the lens side. After being converted into a format to be supplied, it is transmitted to the lens side via the communication transmission line 4 to control the lens side.

To briefly explain each function, the AF circuit 19 converts the high-frequency component of the luminance signal in the video signal, which changes according to the focus state, into a high-pass filter 191.
, Detected by a detection circuit 192 and converted to a DC level, a peak value is detected by a peak hold circuit 193 at predetermined intervals, and converted to a digital signal by an AD conversion circuit 194. To supply. The microcomputer 21 detects the peak value of the high-frequency component every predetermined period, controls the focusing lens in a direction in which the value is maximized, and obtains control information for driving the focusing lens with reference to aperture information from the lens side. The calculation is performed in consideration of the depth and output to the lens side.

The AE circuit 20 compares the light amount information obtained by integrating the luminance signal component YC-separated by a low-pass filter or the like in the signal processing circuit by the integration circuit 201 with a preset reference amount level. Circuit 202
, And the difference information is converted into a digital signal by the AD conversion circuit 203 and supplied to the microcomputer 21 to drive the aperture so that the luminance signal level matches the reference level. Generate control signals.

On the lens side, an aperture driving unit in the lens is driven based on the control signal. As a result, the amount of light input to the camera changes, and a control loop is formed so that an appropriate aperture value is finally obtained.

The AZ mode operates by operating the AZ mode switch, and corrects the change in the subject distance by changing the magnification to keep the angle of view constant.
When the subject distance changes due to the AF operation or the like, the zoom encoder information, that is, the focal length information and the focus information supplied from the lens side by the micro computer 21.
The change of the subject distance is determined based on the cas encoder information, that is, the subject distance information, the magnification for correcting the change of the angle of view due to the change of the distance, that is, the zoom lens control information is calculated and transmitted to the lens side. I do.

On the lens side, based on this information,
The driving of the zoom lens is controlled so that the angle of view of the subject in the imaging screen is kept constant.

The functions of the lens and the camera are as described above. Next, changes in the system due to various combinations of the lens and the camera will be described in order.

First, the basic configuration of the communication system will be described with reference to FIG.

In various data communications in the system as described above, there are initial communications for initializing the system prior to control data communications and control communications for actual control data communications.

Communication of necessary information is performed while switching these communication modes.

The timing at which these communication switching operations are performed may be, for example, at the time when the camera determines the type and function of the lens in the initial communication, shifts to actual drive control, and for some reason during control. This is the point in time when the camera needs the initial data of the lens again. As for the latter, for example, a case where the lens is replaced during operation or the like can be assumed.

First, assuming that the initial communication word number is X, the initial communication word number X is X = Wh + Wi, where Wh is the word number of the header portion and Wi is the word number actually used for the initial communication command. Become.

The number of words Y in the control communication can be controlled (need to be) by the functions of the camera and lens connected at that time, and each function such as AF, AE, and AZ (hereinafter these functions will be referred to as units). Y) = Wh + (n × Wc), where n is the number of units in (i) and Wc is the number of control words for one unit.

The magnitude relation between the numbers X and Y of the communication words is not determined uniformly. When the number of units controllable as a system is small, X> Y, and the controllability as a system is obtained. X if the number of units is large
<Y, and in the middle of these, X = Y in some cases.

Therefore, when the type of communication changes from the initial communication to the control communication or from the control communication to the initial communication, the required number of communication words also changes.

In general, in a synchronous communication system, the communication master can always keep track of the number of communication words, but the communication slave cannot keep track of the number of communication words. For this reason, in an ordinary synchronous communication system, communication is performed with a fixed number of communication words regardless of the presence or absence of data in order to avoid confusion of the system.

However, in the system described above, when communication is performed with the number of communication words constant, the maximum value of the system must be set as the number of communication words.

Therefore, in this case, referring back to FIG. 1B, there is no problem in the case of the combination of the camera A and the lens C, but in the case of the combination of the camera B and the lens D. Therefore, communication words that are not directly related to control must be transmitted, and unnecessary communication increases, and processing for the unnecessary communication and the time required for the processing are occupied. It is necessary to have a microcomputer with the capability beyond the capability, which leads to an increase in cost.

When the number of communication words is to be minimized, for example, a means for transmitting the number of words at that time can be provided in a header portion of the communication.

However, even in this case, as the processing on the lens side, it is necessary to decode the communication code during the word interval of the synchronous communication and change the control to the control corresponding to the number of words at that time. Therefore, also in this case, a high processing speed is required on the lens side, and a processing system with a higher performance than necessary is required, which also causes a cost increase.

Therefore, according to the communication system of the present invention, the number of communication words is made variable, the number of communication words is increased only when necessary, and the number of communication words is shortened when unnecessary. Provided is a communication system capable of realizing the functions of a camera and a lens in a minimum necessary communication system and without increasing the cost of a micro computer or the like even when the number of communication words changes depending on the type of communication. Things.

Then, by performing synchronous communication between the camera and the lens to perform various control of the system,
As a kind of initial / control command sent from the camera side to the lens side, communication is performed by using a "word length change command" having a word length used from the next communication as an operand as an operand. Before changing the word length, the change of the word length is transmitted to the communication master side or the communication slave side, so that synchronization failure of the communication slave side or an increase in unnecessary processing can be prevented.

In FIG. 1, a system in which a camera A and a lens C are connected is first considered.

In this case, the camera A first inquires about the function of the lens itself, that is, the type of unit such as AF, AE, and AZ. This command is temporarily referred to as a “lens specification request command”.

In FIG. 3, DCTL (Data Camera To
(Lens) indicates a transmission data block from the camera side to the lens side, and DLTC (Data Lens To Camera) indicates a return data block from the lens side to the camera side. The communication between the camera and the lens is performed in synchronization with the vertical synchronization frequency V. According to the present embodiment, the communication is performed every V.

That is, when transmission is performed from the camera side to the lens side at a certain V timing, a reply to the transmission is performed at the next V timing.

Now, it is assumed that the above-mentioned lens specification request command corresponds to the data block DCTL-1 in FIG.

At this time, the lens C receives the DCTL-1 and at the next V timing, the data block DLTC-
At 2, the unit A, ie, what the function is, is returned to the camera A side.

Here, the camera A is the AF unit 101, A
The lens C has an E unit 102, an AZ unit 103, and an AF unit 121, an AE unit 122, and an AZ unit.
It has a unit 123.

That is, according to this combination system, it can be seen that AF control, AE control, and AZ control are possible.

The camera A, if it does not know information on the units of the lens C, such as what operating range each unit has or what control method is possible. Control is not possible. Therefore, in response to the “lens specification request command”,
It is necessary to know the specifications of the unit which the lens C has answered that it has.

The camera A then asks the lens C about its specifications for each unit. This command is temporarily referred to as a "unit specification request command".

Referring to FIG. 3, for example, the "unit specification request command" for the AF unit corresponds to DCTL-3, and the "unit specification request command" for the AE unit corresponds to DCTL-4. Answer of lens C is
As described above, the information is transmitted to the camera A one communication timing later. Although the specific contents of the "unit specification request command" differ for each unit, the maximum and minimum values of the focus distance and the focus
It is like the maximum value or the minimum value of the speed of the cusmotor. For the AE unit, FNo. The AZ unit is similar to the focal length at the telephoto end or the focal length at the wide end.

The "lens specification request command" as described above
The "unit specification request command" is what is called initial communication for taking in necessary information prior to an actual control operation, and the number of communication words is determined in advance.

That is, the command used for the initial communication is used in a common format regardless of the combination of the camera and the lens.

Assuming that the predetermined number of communication words is Wi and that Wi = 8, and that the number of words Wh of the header portion is Wh = 2, the word used for initial communication is Wi. The command number X is X = 2 + 8 = 10.

Next, the camera issues a specific control command to the lens to satisfy the function. This command is issued for each unit to be controlled.

It is assumed that a control command for one unit is composed of, for example, four words. In the combination of camera A and lens C, the number of control target units is AF,
AE and AZ are three units, and n = 3. Therefore,
The number of words X in control communication is the number of words Wh = 2 in the header.
And Y = 2 + 3 × 4 = 14.

In the case of this combination, the number of words increases at the time when the initial communication (10 words) changes to the control communication (14 words).

FIG. 2 shows a timing chart of the communication performed between the camera and the lens.

Here, data transfer between the camera and the lens is performed by synchronous serial communication for convenience of explanation.

Data communication line D from camera to lens
CTL and data communication line DL from lens to camera
Communication between the camera and the lens is performed alternately by the TC,
SCLK (Serial Clock) is a clock signal for serial synchronization, and CS (Chip Select) is a master for serial communication.
From the camera side, which is the side, the serial communication
This is a chip select signal serving as a trigger signal for notifying the lens on the side of the camera of the start of communication.

As described above, the repetition cycle of communication is set to the cycle of the vertical synchronizing signal V of the video signal in consideration of performing AF processing and AE processing using the video signal in a video camera or the like. ing.

In the serial communication, 8-bits are set in units of one word and have a constant word interval WS so that an inexpensive microcomputer can be used.

In FIG. 2, DCTL and D
LTC has a positive logic expression, and CS and SCLK have a negative logic expression.

As is apparent from FIG.
When a chip select signal CS is output after a predetermined time in synchronism with the serial clock signal SCLK, data communication DCTL and DLTC between the camera and the lens are alternately performed in units of a predetermined number of communication words in synchronization with the serial clock signal SCLK. It is repeated.

Referring to FIG. 3 together, the relationship between DCTL and DLTC will be further described. In the case where the lens attempts to transmit a response to the command to the camera in the same communication with respect to the command from the camera. Is a DLT for decoding the meaning of DCTL within the word interval WS and returning data corresponding to the content to the camera.
Must be set as C.

In order to realize this, the processing speed must be considerably higher than the processing by the micro computer. Further, the processing method in the lens is considerably restricted due to the processing speed.

For this reason, basically, as shown in FIG. 3, a system in which the lens alternately and repeatedly communicates with the DCTL at the next communication timing by sending the response to the camera as DLTC is adopted. Have been. For example, the lens side response to DCTL-1 is DLTC
-2, and the lens-side answer to DCTL-2 is:
DLTC-3.

Note that DLTC-1 when the DCTL is sent for the first time has no meaning in the form of serial communication since no data request has been received from the camera before that. Has no meaning.

In FIG. 1, the camera A can operate as a comprehensive system depending on whether the lens C is connected to the common data line 14 or the lens D is connected to the common data line. Will be different.

For this reason, when the camera A is connected to the common data line 14, the camera A first checks the function of the lens connected to the opposite side of the common data line 14. After requesting the specific information of the lens from the lens, after the specific information of the lens has been clarified, that is, after recognizing what control can be performed on the lens, it is adapted to each lens. Control will be performed.

Here, communication for requesting information specific to the lens is called "initial communication", and communication for controlling the function of the lens is called "control communication".

The initial communication means that the camera asks the lens about the function of the lens, how the function can be controlled from the camera side, and the operation range of the function by the DCTL, and D on the camera
As described above, the reply is made by LTC. Since the initial communication is used to determine what function the lens has, the number of words required for communication is uniquely determined regardless of the camera or lens. Fixed number of words).

The control communication means that the camera issues a specific control operation instruction in DCTL for various functions of the lens that have been clarified by the initial communication, and the lens side issues a DLTC instruction.
Is to transmit the current state of the function to the camera. In the control communication, since the contents and types to be controlled differ depending on the function of the lens, the number of words cannot always be uniquely determined (variable number of words).

Here, the contents and method of the control communication will be briefly described.

In a so-called camera system in which a camera and a lens are combined, typical functions are AF,
The AE and AZ functions are known. In these various functions, a camera unit generates a control code based on some information,
By operating the corresponding function on the lens side based on the control code, when the state of the lens changes, the content is transmitted to the camera side for recognition.

The camera also refers to the information from the lens, and if necessary, generates a control code for the lens again.

Hereinafter, a specific example of such control will be described for AE control.

As described above, the AE control is performed as follows. The camera converts light input through a lens (including an aperture mechanism) into an electric signal (video signal) through an image sensor (CCD or the like). The converted video signal is
A light amount information obtained by YC separation by a low-pass filter or the like and integrating the luminance signal component is compared with a preset reference amount level, and the diaphragm is driven so as to match the reference amount level. Generates a control signal.

The lens drives a diaphragm mechanism in the lens based on the control signal to change the amount of light input to the camera, and a control loop is formed so as to finally obtain an appropriate diaphragm value. .

The above is an example of the AE control. In the AF control and the AZ control, the camera controls (drives) the lens based on the optical and electrical information obtained through the lens.
The data is output, and the lens drives some drive system based on the data, and as a result, information entering the camera changes, and a loop is formed so that proper control is finally performed. To work.

Here, of the above control systems,
Each functional part present in the lens is called a "unit". It is assumed that the unit has a drive system for changing the control amount of the function and an encoder for detecting a state necessary for transmitting the change amount to the camera.

Returning to FIG. 1, the camera A has AF, AE,
It can be said that the camera having the function of controlling the AZ unit and the camera B can control only the AE unit. The lens C is A
It can be said that the lens D has a unit of F, AE, and AZ, and the lens D has a unit of AF and AE.

FIG. 4 shows the code structure of each of the initial communication and the control communication. CTL (Camera To Len
s) is a transmission block from the camera side to the lens side, LTC
(LensTo Camera) is a block from the lens to the camera.

Each code includes a header section and a command (CTL).
) / Data section (in the case of LTC), and the header section describes what kind of communication the communication is (initial communication, control communication, or other communication), and its communication direction. Indicates the type of command or data content as if it were LTC or CTL.

Then, the header of the CTL code and the LT
The word length of the header of the C code is always constant regardless of the initial communication and the control communication.

As described above, the command / data portion is a portion indicating the actual control from the camera and the driving state from the lens, and is divided into units.

When the same is performed with the combination of the camera A and the lens C, the number of words in the initial communication is 10 words as in the case of the combination of the camera A and the lens C. As a result, the control communication is performed. The number of words is 6 words since it is performed only for the AE unit, and the number of words decreases when the initial communication changes to the control communication.

The camera which is the master side of the serial communication can manage the number of communication words by itself, so that there is no problem, but the lens side which is the slave side of the serial communication suddenly has the word. If the number changes, communication is performed with the previous number of words, so if the number of words changes to a decreasing one, serial processing will not be completed indefinitely. Means that the camera side erroneously captures data transmitted at the next communication timing.

Therefore, in the present invention, when the number of words in the serial communication changes, a "word length change command" is introduced, and the word length after the change is used as an operand of this command. To solve this problem.

This command is naturally sent with the word length before the change. As the processing on the camera side, use this command when you want to change the type of command. On the lens side, when this command is sent from the camera side, change the number of words for serial processing and Wait for communication.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a part related to the present invention of the processing relating to the communication on the camera side and the lens side. 8A shows the processing in the camera A, FIG. 8B shows the processing in the camera B, and FIG.
And processing contents in the lens D.

In FIG. 11A, when the control operation is started, the camera A first performs a predetermined initial process (S1).

The contents include, for example, various controls, initialization of registers used for calculation, setting of serial communication speed, and the like.

After the end of the initial processing, the process enters the initial communication mode (S2). First, the "lens specification request command" is used to confirm what kind of lens is currently connected (S3).

Thus, it is determined which unit the currently connected lens has. After that, for the unit existing in the lens, the specific contents of the unit are obtained by the respective "unit specification request command".

That is, after a lens specification request is made, the presence or absence of an AF unit is first checked based on the result (S4). If an AF unit is present, the specification of the unit is transmitted by a "unit specification request command". (S5).

Similarly, for the AE unit and the AZ unit, the specifications of the existing unit are fetched from the lens side based on the presence / absence thereof (S6).
~ S9).

Next, the specific control is started. When the camera A and the lens C are combined, the number of communication words is 14 as described above. Therefore,"
Change word length change command to "word length after change = 14"
(S10), and transmits to the lens (S11).

Thereafter, AF control, AE control, and AZ control are performed (S12 to S14).

Thereafter, the AF control, the AE control, and the AZ control are repeatedly performed with reference to the return data from the lens side.
If some change occurs on the camera side or the lens side during the control and the initial information of the lens is needed again, S
Then, the "word length change command" is transmitted again to the lens together with the operand "word length after change = 10 (initial communication)" (S15, S16).

When the camera A is combined with the lens D, the number of controllable units is n = 2, so that the number of control communication words is the same as the initial communication, ie, 10 words.
And In such a case, it is not necessary to use the "word length change command", but it is necessary to use the "word length change command" with the operand "word length after change = 10". Obviously there is no problem.
That is, no special system control changes are required.

FIG. 11B shows the case of camera B. In this case, the difference from FIG. 10A is that camera B has only a function of controlling the AE unit. Therefore, the lens C
The number of communication words for performing the control is 6 words, regardless of whether it is combined with the lens D.

Accordingly, the control flow is based on the flowchart of FIG. 9A, and the unit specifications requirements relating to the AF unit and the AZ unit and the steps S4, S5, S8, S9, and S9 relating to their control. Steps S12 and S14 are omitted. Since the other steps are the same, they are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 13C shows the processing on the lens side.
Regarding the communication processing, both the lens C and the lens D can be represented in a common form.

After the lens side starts operation and performs initial processing (S21), the number of words in the initial communication (= 1)
Wait at 0). Then, data corresponding to the transmitted command of the "initial communication command" or "control communication command" is returned to the camera. That is, if the transmitted command is an initial communication command, data corresponding to the content is returned to the camera (S).
23, S24). If the received command is a control communication command, data representing a state relating to the unit corresponding to the control information is returned to the camera (S25, S26).

The above flow is repeated until the "word length change command" is transmitted to control the lens unit.

When the "word length change command" is transmitted, the operand is changed to "word length change command" at that time.
The word length after the change is set, and the subsequent communication waits with the operand of the word length. As a result, the communication may malfunction even if the word length is changed during operation. And can respond quickly without disrupting the control by disrupting the microcomputer.

Although the interchangeable lens type camera system according to the present invention has been described above, it should be noted that in the system according to the present invention, various operations of the lens are all processed in units, and the lens functions independently. It is possible.

Further, when viewed from the camera side, the configuration of each unit in the lens can be handled as the same regardless of the function of the unit. That is, in the camera system having a detachable lens according to the present invention, if the function is to be expanded in the future, the processing is performed in units of a unit so that the lens / camera system that has been used up to that point can be processed. It is possible to achieve so-called upward compatibility. Such a case will be described with reference to FIG.

That is, in the figure, AF, AE, A
6 are denoted by units U1 to U3, and the same components as those in FIG. 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 14 shows a case where a unit U4 having some new function that can be achieved by developing a new technology or extending to another function is added to the lens / camera system. , Detects camera shake, changes the optical axis of the optical system according to the amount of shake,
Anti-vibration unit (AS: Auto stabilizing)
Shows a case where is newly added.

First, on the camera side, there is provided an image blur detecting circuit 24 as a blur detecting means for detecting a blur amount of an image from a video signal. After being supplied to the communication line 21 and converted into a predetermined data format, the communication line 4
Is transmitted to the lens-side microcomputer 12 via the.

Image blur detecting circuit 2 as blur detecting means
Reference numeral 4 denotes an A / D converter 241, a feature point extraction circuit 242 for extracting feature points of an image from a video signal converted into a digital signal, and feature points extracted by the feature point extraction circuit 242. It comprises a shake amount detecting circuit for detecting a change in a field cycle and detecting the movement, that is, the shake amount.

On the other hand, when looking at the lens side, reference numeral 26 denotes an element as a shake correcting means provided in the lens for achieving the image stabilizing function. For example, a liquid such as silicon is sealed between two parallel glass sheets. The variable apex prism changes the direction of the optical axis by relatively changing the angle between the glass plates. Reference numeral 27 denotes a driving unit for driving the variable apex angle prism 26, and reference numeral 25 denotes an encoder as a detection unit for detecting an operation state of the variable apex angle prism 26.

The drive unit 27 of the new unit U4 is driven and controlled by the microcomputer 12 based on the control information supplied from the camera via the communication transmission line 4, and the drive unit 27 of the new unit U4 The operation state is detected by the operation detection encoder 25, is taken into the lens side microcomputer 12, performs predetermined processing as required, and is transmitted to the camera side via the communication transmission line 4. In other words, it is possible to add a new function to the lens / camera system without affecting the presence or absence of other units or the operation of other units.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the control operation in the present embodiment, which is the same as the flowchart in FIG. 5A except that a control step for the image stabilizing unit U4 is newly added.

That is, the new processing step is a step S17 for checking the presence or absence of an AS unit on the lens side between steps S9 and S10, a process for requesting the specification of the AS unit if there is one, and a further step. S12
Is a process for controlling the AS unit before. Other processes are the same as described above, and a description thereof will be omitted.

[0129]

As described above, in the interchangeable lens type camera system, a blur correction system is provided on the lens unit side, a blur detection system is provided on the camera body side, and the lens unit side is provided by communication between the camera body and the lens unit. Since the image stabilization system is controlled, it is possible to provide an image stabilization system according to the characteristics of each lens unit. Since the motion is detected from the captured image signal, the configuration of the shake detection system can be simplified, and an optimal form of the shake correction function can be realized in the interchangeable lens type camera system.

Even if the camera body and the lens unit are separately provided with a shake detecting means and a shake correcting means, control can be smoothly performed by communicating control information.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a connection diagram of a camera system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a timing chart of serial communication.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a time relationship between a CTL code and an LTC code.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a word configuration of initial communication / control communication.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a processing method related to camera-side and lens-side communication.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram for explaining various functions on the camera and lens side.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing another embodiment in which an anti-vibration unit is newly added to the system configuration of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a control operation in the embodiment of FIG. 7;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Lens unit 2 Camera body 4 Communication line 12 Lens side microcomputer 16 Image sensor 21 Camera side microcomputer 24 Blur detection means 26 Variable vertex angle prism

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-63-260279 (JP, A) JP-A-63-259529 (JP, A) JP-A-1-175373 (JP, A) JP-A-1-194580 (JP) JP-A-2-82113 (JP, A) JP-A-61-74471 (JP, A) JP-A-2-173625 (JP, A) JP-A-2-13901 (JP, A) 63-169614 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03B 5/00 G03B 17/14

Claims (9)

(57) [Claims] 1. An interchangeable lens type camera system comprising a camera body and a lens unit detachable from the camera body, wherein an image pickup means is provided on the camera body side, and an image signal is output from an image pickup signal outputted from the image pickup means. Motion detecting means for detecting the motion of the image, and camera-side control means for calculating motion correction information for correcting the motion of the image based on the output of the motion detecting means and outputting the information in synchronization with a vertical synchronization signal. A correction unit for correcting the movement of the image on the lens unit side, and receiving the movement correction information output from the camera-side control unit in synchronization with the vertical synchronization signal; An interchangeable lens type camera system, comprising: a lens-side control unit that converts the driving signal into a driving signal and supplies the driving signal to the correction unit. 2. The interchangeable lens type camera system according to claim 1, wherein said correcting means is means for optically correcting the movement of an image. 3. The interchangeable lens type camera system according to claim 2, wherein said correction means is a variable apex angle prism. 4. An interchangeable lens-type camera having a detachable lens unit having a motion correcting means for correcting the motion of an image caused by blurring, comprising: an imaging means; and an image movement based on an imaging signal output from the imaging means. A motion detection unit for detecting the motion of the image based on an output of the motion detection unit, and calculating the motion correction information for synchronizing with a vertical synchronization signal to the lens unit; And a camera-side control means for driving the camera. 5. An interchangeable lens camera according to claim 4, wherein said correcting means is means for optically correcting the movement of an image. 6. The interchangeable lens camera according to claim 5, wherein said correction means is a variable apex angle prism. 7. An image pickup means, a movement detection means for detecting a movement of an image from an image pickup signal outputted from the image pickup means,
A lens unit detachably mountable to a camera body having camera-side control means for calculating motion correction information for correcting the motion of the image based on the output of the motion detection means and outputting the information in synchronization with a vertical synchronization signal; A correction unit for correcting the motion of the image, and receiving the motion correction information output from the camera-side control unit in synchronization with the vertical synchronization signal, and converting the information into a drive signal for driving the correction unit. And a lens-side control means for supplying the correction means to the lens unit. 8. The lens unit according to claim 7, wherein said correction means is means for optically correcting the movement of an image. 9. The lens unit according to claim 8, wherein said correction means is a variable apex angle prism.