Lens barrel unit

Abstract

A lens barrel unit includes gyro sensors that detect vibration. The gyro sensors are disposed around a CCD mounting portion within a range over which the lens barrel unit is projected along the optical axis of a photographic optical system. This positional arrangement allows the lens barrel unit to be provided as a compact retractable unit, and ultimately achieves miniaturization of the camera.

Description

[0001] The disclosure of the following priority application is herein incorporated by reference: [0002] Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-431889 filed Dec. 26, 2003 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] 1. Field of the Invention [0004] The present invention relates to a lens barrel unit that is built into a camera capable of executing blur correction to correct an image blur caused by unsteady hand movement. [0005] 2. Description of the Related Art [0006] A camera in which blur correction control is executed to correct image blur caused by unsteady hand movement or the like normally includes a vibration sensor that detects vibration in the camera. The blur correction control is executed by driving a blur correction optical system or an image-capturing element based upon the results of the detection provided by the vibration sensor. [0007] Japanese Laid Open Patent Publication No. H 9-160107 discloses a camera with a built-in lens barrel unit, which uses a non-interchangeable lens. I...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0023] The following is an explanation of a lens barrel unit achieved in an embodiment of the present invention, given in reference to the drawings.

[0024]FIG. 1 is a vertical section of an area around the center of an optical axis in a camera having a lens barrel unit 2 achieved in the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a horizontal section of the area around the center of the optical axis in the camera shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the camera uses a non-interchangeable lens with the lens barrel unit 2 built therein. In a single lens reflex camera in which an interchangeable lens is used, a vibration sensor used to detect vibration is mounted between, for instance, a photographic optical system of the interchangeable lens and a mounting portion of the interchangeable lens at a position outside the optical path so as not to block the light flux.

[0012] It is preferable that the vibration detection device includes two vibration sensors; and the vibration sensors are both disposed in the area surrounding the image-capturing element mounting portion within the range in which the lens barrel unit is projected along the optical axis of the photographic optical system. The two vibration sensors may be mounted on a sensor board constituted of a hard board; and the sensor board may be fixed onto a member constituting the image-capturing element mounting portion as an integrated part thereof. The two vibration sensors may also be mounted on a hard board which is disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to the optical axis and in the area surrounding the image-capturing element mounting portion within the range in which the lens barrel unit is projected along the optical axis of the photographic optical system.

[0024]FIG. 1 is a vertical section of an area around the center of an optical axis in a camera having a lens barrel unit 2 achieved in the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a horizontal section of the area around the center of the optical axis in the camera shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the camera uses a non-interchangeable lens with the lens barrel unit 2 built therein. In a single lens reflex camera in which an interchangeable lens is used, a vibration sensor used to detect vibration is mounted between, for instance, a photographic optical system of the interchangeable lens and a mounting portion of the interchangeable lens at a position outside the optical path so as not to block the light flux.

[0012] It is preferable that the vibration detection device includes two vibration sensors; and the vibration sensors are both disposed in the area surrounding the image-capturing element mounting portion within the range in which the lens barrel unit is projected along the optical axis of the photographic optical system. The two vibration sensors may be mounted on a sensor board constituted of a hard board; and the sensor board may be fixed onto a member constituting the image-capturing element mounting portion as an integrated part thereof. The two vibration sensors may also be mounted on a hard board which is disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to the optical axis and in the area surrounding the image-capturing element mounting portion within the range in which the lens barrel unit is projected along the optical axis of the photographic optical system.

[0013] The lens barrel unit according to the first aspect further comprises a terminal unit that achieves an electrical connection with an external device, and at least one of an adjustment operation and an inspection operation related to a blur correction operation is executed based upon detection results provided by the vibration detection device with power supply and control communication achieved via the terminal unit.

Problems solved by technology

However, if the vibration sensor is disposed at a distance from the lens barrel unit, as in the camera described above, the adjustment and inspection of the blur correction mechanism cannot be performed unless the lens barrel unit is already mounted in the camera.

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