Imager apparatus

a technology of imager and apparatus, applied in the field of imager apparatus, can solve the problems of affecting the speed of rapid-sequence photographing, affecting the effect of image quality,

Inactive Publication Date: 2008-07-03
OLYMPUS CORP
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

As the shield is so vibrated, the release-time lag increases, resulting in a decrease in the speed of rapid-sequence photographing.
Consequently, the apparatus is not user-friendly.
When the glass dust shield is vibrated to remove dust from it, air vibrates, making noise.
If the air vibrates at a frequency that falls in the audio range, it makes a noise.
Dust may stick while the shutter remains open.
If the user selects low-quality image data that dust scarcely influences, however, it is useless to remove dust from the glass dust shield.
In a particular case, the user may want to take as many pictures as possible at the expense of image quality.
Then, it is not desirable to remove dust each time a picture is taken.
As dust is repeatedly removed, the battery that supplies power to the camera system is deprived of more electric energy.
This may disable the user to take a desired number of pictures.
In another specific case, the user may try to shorten the time for rapid-sequence photographing, at the expense of image quality.

Method used

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  • Imager apparatus
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Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

first embodiment

[0210]FIG. 15 is a flowchart explaining a method of driving Bucom 150 incorporated in the camera system according to a first embodiment of the invention.

[0211]Bucom 150 starts operating when the power-supply switch on the camera is turned on. In Step S100, a process of booting the camera system is carried out. First, the power-supply circuit 153 is controlled, supplying power to the circuit units of the camera system. Further, the circuit units are initialized.

[0212]Step S101 is a process of determining whether the lens unit 12, which is an exchange lens, has been attached to or removed from the camera body 11. This process is periodically performed as Bucom 150 repeatedly communicates with the Lucom 205.

[0213]If it is determined in Step S101 that the lens unit 12 has been attached to the camera body 11, that is, if YES in Step S102, the process goes from Step S102 to Step S103. In Step S103, a dust-shielding process (removal of dust) is carried out. The nonvolatile memory 129 store...

second embodiment

[0230]FIG. 16 is a flowchart explaining how Bucom 150 operates in a camera system according to a second embodiment of the invention.

[0231]Bucom 150 starts operating when the user operates the power-supply SW on the camera. In Step S200, a process of booting the camera system is carried out. The power-supply circuit is controlled, supplying power to the circuit units of the camera system. Also, the circuit units are initialized.

[0232]Step S201 is performed to detect that the lens unit 12 is attached to the camera body 11. More specifically, Bucom 150 periodically communicates with Lucom 205 to determine whether the lens unit has been attached to the camera body.

[0233]That is, if it is detected in Step S201 that the lens unit 12 has been attached to the camera body 11, it is YES in Step S202. Thus, the process goes from Step S202 to Step S203, in which dust shielding (i.e., removal of dust) is effected. The nonvolatile memory 129 stores the count value to be set in the N-scale counter...

third embodiment

[0250]FIG. 17 is a flowchart explaining how Bucom 150 operates in a camera system according to a third embodiment of this invention.

[0251]Bucom 150 starts operating when the user operates the power-supply SW on the camera. In Step S300, a process of booting the camera system is carried out. The power-supply circuit 153 is controlled, supplying power to the circuit units of the camera system. Also, the circuit units are initialized.

[0252]Step S301 is performed to detect that the lens unit 12 is attached to the camera body 11. More specifically, Bucom 150 periodically communicates with Lucom 205 to determine whether the lens unit has been attached to the camera body.

[0253]That is, it is determined in Step S302 whether the lens unit 12 has been attached to the camera body 11. If YES in Step S302, the process goes from Step S302 to Step S303, in which dust shielding (i.e., removal of dust) is effected. The nonvolatile memory 129 stores the count value to be set in the N-scale counter, w...

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Abstract

In an imager apparatus, an optical member protecting an imaging element is vibrated. Dust is thereby removed from the optical member. A vibration member can vibrate the optical member in a plurality of conditions. A photographing-mode setting unit sets a photographing mode. A vibration-condition changes unit changes the condition in which the vibration member vibrates the optical member, in accordance with the photographing mode set by the photographing-mode setting unit.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 771,705, filed Feb. 4, 2004, which is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from prior Japanese Patent No. 2003-030876, filed Feb. 7, 2003; 2003-039531, filed Feb. 18, 2003; 2003-054642, filed Feb. 28, 2003; and 2003-056216, filed Mar. 3, 2003, the entire contents of all of which are incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to an imager apparatus.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]Hitherto, a technique of shielding dust from optical apparatuses has been proposed. The technique consists in vibrating a protective glass plate (glass dust shield) to remove dust from the glass dust shield. An example of this technique is disclosed in, for example, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2002-204379. In the example, a piezoelectric element is used as means for vibrating ...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & AuthorityApplications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): H04N5/225G03B17/50
CPCH04N5/2254H04N23/52H04N23/55H04N23/811
InventorITO, JUNICHI
OwnerOLYMPUS CORP