Control apparatus, lens apparatus, imaging apparatus, control method, and storage medium

Abstract

The invention discloses a control apparatus, a lens apparatus, an imaging apparatus, a control method, and a storage medium. A focus lens control apparatus includes: a control unit configured to, in a case where a position of a zoom lens is changed during driving of the focus lens, change a specified target position of the focus lens to a target position corresponding to the changed position of the zoom lens based on trajectory information, the trajectory information indicates a relationship between a position of the variable magnification lens and a position of the focus lens in focus at a position of the variable magnification lens lens, and changes a driving speed of the focus lens in a case where the position of the variable magnification lens changes, and changes a driving speed of the focus lens in a case where the position of the variable magnification lens changes. The focus lens is positioned to reduce a difference between a specified time of arrival at which the focus lens reaches the specified target position and a calculated time of arrival at which the focus lens reaches the specified target position.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] One aspect of the embodiments relates to a control device, a lens device, a camera device, a control method, and a storage medium. Background Art

[0002] Zoom tracking control is known as a technology for reducing fluctuations in the focus position of the same subject associated with the movement of a variator lens. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2019-66556 discloses a control device configured to drive a focus lens based on a correction amount for zoom tracking control and a correction amount for controlling the focus state of a moving subject. Even when a moving subject is photographed during a zoom operation, the control device can maintain the focus state of the moving subject with high precision while reducing focus fluctuations caused by zoom fluctuations.

[0003] The control device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2019-66556 cannot implement an operation of gradually focusing on a specific subject by slowly zooming in (zoomin) within a predetermined time during motion image shooting. Summary of the invention

[0004] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a control device for a focusing lens includes: a control unit configured to: when the position of a variator lens changes during driving of the focusing lens, change the designated target position of the focusing lens to a target position corresponding to the changed position of the variator lens based on trajectory information, the trajectory information indicating the relationship between the position of the variator lens and the position of the focusing lens focused at the position of the variator lens, and when the position of the variator lens changes, change the driving speed of the focusing lens to reduce the difference between the designated arrival time of the focusing lens reaching the designated target position and the calculated arrival time of the focusing lens reaching the designated target position. A lens device and a camera device having the above-mentioned control device also constitute another aspect of the present disclosure. A control method corresponding to the above-mentioned control device also constitutes another aspect of the present disclosure. A non-temporary computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the above-mentioned control method also constitutes another aspect of the present disclosure.

[0005] Further features of various embodiments of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] Figure 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an imaging system according to each example.

[0007] Figure 2 The relationship between the zoom position and the focus position in each example is shown.

[0008] Figure 3A and Figure 3B A method for calculating an in-focus position of a focus lens according to various examples is described.

[0009] Figure 4 The drive information of the time-specified focus drive in each example will be described.

[0010] Figure 5 The locus of time-specified focus driving in the case where the zoom position does not change in each example is described.

[0011] Figure 6 The trajectory of the time-specified focus drive in Example 1 is explained.

[0012] Figure 7 is a flowchart showing time-specified focus drive control according to Example 1.

[0013] Figure 8 The trajectory of the time-specified focus drive in Example 2 is explained.

[0014] Fig. 9 is a flowchart showing time-specified focus drive control according to Example 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] In the following, the term "unit" may refer to a software context, a hardware context, or a combination of a software context and a hardware context. In the software context, the term "unit" refers to a function, application, software module, function, routine, instruction set, or program that can be executed by a programmable processor such as a microprocessor, a central processing unit (CPU), or a specially designed programmable device or controller. The memory contains the following instructions or programs, which, when executed by the CPU, cause the CPU to perform operations corresponding to the unit or function. In the hardware context, the term "unit" refers to a hardware element, circuit, component, physical structure, system, module, or subsystem. According to a specific embodiment, the term "unit" may include a mechanical component, an optical component, or an electronic component, or any combination thereof. The term "unit" may include an active (e.g., transistor) component or a passive (e.g., capacitor) component. The term "unit" may include: a semiconductor device having a substrate and other material layers having various conductivity concentrations. It may include: a CPU or a programmable processor that can execute a program stored in a memory to perform a specified function. The term "unit" may include: a logic element (e.g., AND, OR) implemented by a transistor circuit or any other switching circuit. In a combination of software context and hardware context, the term "unit" or "circuit" refers to any combination of software context and hardware context as described above. In addition, the term "element", "component", "part" or "device" may also refer to a "circuit" that is integrated with or not integrated with packaging materials.

[0016] Referring now to the drawings, a detailed description of examples according to the present disclosure will be given.

[0017] Now refer to Figure 1 , a description will be given of the imaging system 10 according to various examples. Figure 1 1 is a configuration diagram of an imaging system 10. The imaging system 10 is a lens interchangeable camera system including a lens device (interchangeable lens) 100 and a camera body (imaging device) 200 to which the lens device 100 is detachably attached, and the imaging system 10 can provide still image shooting and moving image shooting. The lens device 100 and the camera body 200 are mechanically and electrically connected via a mount (not shown), and power supply and mutual communication between the lens device 100 and the camera body 200 are performed through terminals provided on the mount. The examples are not limited to this type, and can be applied to imaging devices in which the lens device and the camera body are integrated.

[0018] The lens device 100 includes: an optical system (zoom lens) 101, which is configured to form a subject image on an image sensor 201 in a camera body 200; and a lens control unit (control device) 105, which is configured to communicate with a camera control unit 207 in the camera body 200. The optical system 101 includes a variator lens 102, an aperture stop (aperture) 103, and a focus lens 104. When a user operates a zoom operation ring (not shown), the variator lens 102 can move along the optical axis OA. The focal length of the optical system 101 changes (magnification changes) as the variator lens 102 moves. The focus lens 104 moves during focusing.

[0019] The lens control unit 105 is a computer having a CPU, and is electrically connected to each of a memory (storage unit) 106, a zoom position detector 107, an aperture driver 108, and a focus driver 109. The lens control unit 105 controls the driving of the focus lens 104 to reduce the focus fluctuation accompanying the movement of the variator lens 102. The lens control unit 105 includes an acquisition unit 105a and a control unit 105b. The acquisition unit 105a acquires trajectory information about the relationship between the position of the variator lens 102 and the position of the focus lens 104 focused at the position. The control unit 105b drives the focus lens 104 based on the driving information including the information about the designated target position of the focus lens 104 and the information about the designated arrival time. The control unit 105b can acquire the driving information according to the operation of the focus position storage button (operation unit) (not shown) of the lens device 100. Alternatively, the control unit 105b can acquire the driving information by communicating with the camera body 200.

[0020] The memory 106 includes a read only memory (ROM) or a random access memory (RAM) or the like, and stores locus information indicating a relationship between a zoom position and a focus position of the focus lens 104 focused at the zoom position.

[0021] The zoom position detector 107 detects the zoom position using a zoom position sensor such as a variable resistor, and outputs data on the detected zoom position to the lens control unit 105. The data on the zoom position is data on the position of the variator lens 102 or the operating position of the zoom operation ring, but is not limited to these examples. For example, the data on the zoom position may be data on the focal length corresponding to the position of the variator lens 102 or the operating position of the zoom operation ring.

[0022] The aperture driver 108 includes an aperture actuator such as a stepping motor or a voice coil motor for driving the aperture stop 103, and an aperture sensor such as a Hall element for detecting the driving position of the aperture stop 103. The focus driver 109 has a focus actuator such as a stepping motor, an ultrasonic motor, or a voice coil motor, and a focus position sensor such as an encoder for detecting the position of the focus lens 104 in the optical axis direction. The aperture actuator of the aperture driver 108 and the focus actuator of the focus driver 109 are controlled by the lens control unit 105 which receives an aperture drive command or a focus drive command from the camera control unit 207.

[0023] The camera body 200 has an image sensor 201 , a signal processing unit 202 , a recording processing unit 203 , an electronic viewfinder (EVF) 204 , a display unit 205 , a defocus detector 206 , a camera control unit 207 , and a memory 208 .

[0024] The image sensor 201 converts light from the optical system 101 (a subject image formed by the optical system 101) into an electric signal by photoelectric conversion, and outputs the signal to the signal processing unit 202. In addition to the image pickup pixels, the image sensor 201 also has pixels for detecting the focus position. The signal processing unit 202 performs various processes such as amplification, noise removal, and color correction on the input electric signal, and outputs the image data to the recording processing unit 203. The recording processing unit 203 records the input image data. The recorded image data is displayed on the EVF 204 or the display unit 205.

[0025] The defocus detector 206 detects the focusing state (focus state) of the subject image using the image sensor 201. The defocus detector 206 detects the phase difference between a pair of subject image signals obtained from light incident on a pixel for detecting a focus position of the image sensor 201 through a micro lens that divides a pupil, and calculates a defocus amount corresponding to the detected phase difference. The defocus amount is output to the camera control unit 207.

[0026] The camera control unit 207 is a computer having a CPU, and is electrically connected to the recording processing unit 203, the defocus detector 206, and the memory 208. The camera control unit 207 reads (loads) and executes the program recorded in the memory 208, and communicates information for automatic focus (AF) control with the lens control unit 105. The camera control unit 207 generates a focus drive command using the defocus amount obtained from the defocus detector 206 and the position information of the focus lens 104 obtained from the lens device 100. The examples use the phase difference detection method for AF control, but are not limited to this implementation, and the contrast detection method may be used for AF control.

[0027] The optical system 101 is an inner focus (rear focus) type zoom lens. In the inner focus type zoom lens, when the zoom position is changed (magnification change) in a state where a certain subject distance is focused, the image plane position changes and becomes out of focus. Therefore, in order to correct the change in the image plane position during the magnification change operation (zoom operation), the lens control unit 105 drives and controls the focus lens 104 using the track information stored in the memory 106. Such drive control of the focus lens 104 is called zoom tracking control.

[0028] Now refer to Figure 2 , the relationship between the zoom position and the focus position (focus position) of the focus lens 104 focused at the zoom position for each object distance will be described. Figure 2 The relationship between the zoom position and the focus position is shown. Figure 2 , the horizontal axis represents the zoom position, and the vertical axis represents the focus position. Figure 2 Each curve indicated by a solid line represents the relationship between the zoom position and the focus position for ensuring the focusing accuracy at each object distance. The memory 106 stores the curves as the loci corresponding to each of the plurality of representative object distances.

[0029] At the subject distance Figure 2 When the representative subject distance shown is consistent with that shown in FIG. , the focus position can be obtained using the trajectory information corresponding to the representative subject distance. Figure 2 In the case where the representative subject distance shown is different, the focus position can be obtained by calculation (linear interpolation) using trajectory information corresponding to the representative subject distance near the subject distance. In each example, the memory 106 stores curves as trajectory information, but data on representative points that allow these curves to be drawn by approximation may be stored.

[0030] Now refer to Figure 3A and Figure 3B , a method for calculating the in-focus position of the focus lens 104 in a case where the subject distance is different from the representative subject distance will be described. Figure 3A and Figure 3B A method for calculating the focus position of the focus lens 104 will be described. Figure 3A and Figure 3B , the horizontal axis represents the zoom (lens) position, and the vertical axis represents the focus (lens) position. Figure 3A shows the entire trajectory information, and Figure 3B Show Figure 3A Part of Figure 3AA method for calculating a focus position at a zoom position y between a wide-angle side zoom position x and a telephoto side zoom position z at an object distance A′ between the object distance A and the object distance B will now be described.

[0031] First, data on the focus position at the object distance A and the focus position at the object distance B at the wide-angle side zoom position x are read out, and the ratio b / a between the difference a between the focus positions at the object distances A and B and the difference b between the focus positions at the object distances A and A' is calculated. Then, using the focus positions at the object distances A and B and the ratio b / a, the focus position at the object distance A' at the wide-angle side zoom position x is calculated.

[0032] Next, data on the focus position at the object distance A and the focus position at the object distance B at the telephoto side zoom position z are read out. The ratio b' / a' between the difference a' between the focus positions at the object distances A and B and the difference b' between the focus positions at the object distances A and A' is the same as the ratio b / a. Then, using the focus positions at the object distances A and B and the ratio b' / a' (=b / a), the focus position at the object distance A' at the telephoto side zoom position z is calculated.

[0033] Finally, the zoom movement amount l, which is the difference between the wide-angle side zoom position x and the zoom position y, and the zoom movement amount m, which is the difference between the zoom position y and the telephoto side zoom position z, are calculated. Then, the focus position at the zoom position y at the object distance A' is calculated using the focus position at the wide-angle side zoom position x and the telephoto side zoom position z at the object distance A' and the movement amount ratio l / (l+m).

[0034] Drive information for time-specific focus drive

[0035] Now refer to Figure 4 , examples (a) to (d) of the drive information specified by the time-specified focus drive command will be described. The time-specified focus drive command is sent from the camera body 200 to the lens device 100. In each example, the time-specified focus drive means driving the focus lens 104 to a target position within a specified time.

[0036] In example (a), the target position (information about the target position) and the arrival time (information about the arrival time) are directly given (specified). In example (b), the target position and the driving speed are given, and the arrival time is calculated using this information. In example (c), the driving speed and the arrival time are given, and the target position is calculated using this information. In example (d), the target position and the image plane moving speed are given, and the arrival time is calculated using sensitivity information indicating the relationship between the driving speed of the focusing lens 104 and the image plane moving speed.

[0037] In each embodiment, the information about the target position or the information about the arrival time may include information about the driving speed of the focus lens 104. In this case, the information about the driving speed is information about the moving speed of the focus lens 104 or information about the moving speed of the image plane of the object caused by the movement of the focus lens 104.

[0038] The information about the designated target position is not limited to the value indicating the physical position of the focus lens 104, and may be indirect information capable of identifying the physical position of the focus lens. The target position may be designated as a value indicating the subject position at a specific zoom position (a value corresponding to a specific zoom position). For example, the target position may be designated as the subject position at the telephoto end, and may be converted into the physical target position of the focus lens 104 using the current zoom position and the trajectory information within the lens device 100.

[0039] The driving information may be specified as a parameter accompanying the driving command, or may be specified in advance. For example, the focus position when the focus position storage command is sent from the camera body 200 may be stored in the lens device 100, and the focus lens 104 may be driven at a predetermined speed (such as a maximum speed) to the focus position stored by the focus driving command.

[0040] Alternatively, the drive information may be specified by communication from the camera body 200, or may be specified by an operating member (operating unit) attached to the lens device 100. For example, the lens device 100 may have operating members such as a focus position storage button and a playback button, and may store the current focus position when the focus position storage button is pressed, and drive the focus lens 104 to the stored focus position at a determined speed when the playback button is pressed.

[0041] Time-determined focus drive control

[0042] Now refer to Figure 5 , the locus of time-specified focus driving in a case where the zoom position does not change will be described. Figure 5 FIG. 2 shows the trajectory of time-specific focus driving when the zoom position does not change. Figure 5 , the horizontal axis represents the zoom position, and the vertical axis represents the focus position. Figure 5 The focus lens 104 is driven from position F0 to position F5 from time T0 to time T5. When the time T0 to time T5 is divided into T1, T2, T3 and T4, the position of the focus lens 104 at time T1, T2, T3 and T4 is respectively F1, F2, F3 and F4.

[0043] In each example, even if the zoom position fluctuates during the time-specified focus driving, the focus lens driving speed is updated (changed) to drive the focus lens 104 to the specified position within the specified time. Two examples of a method of updating the focus lens driving speed in the case where the zoom position changes during the control of the time-specified focus driving will now be described.

[0044] Example 1

[0045] Example 1 according to the present disclosure will now be described. In this example, the driving speed is updated to instantly move the focus lens by the correction amount of the zoom tracking control.

[0046] Figure 6 The trajectory of the time-specified focus driving in this example is explained, and a method of updating the focus driving speed during the time-specified focus driving is shown. Figure 6 , the horizontal axis represents the zoom position, and the vertical axis represents the focus position. Figure 6 A driving trajectory in the case where the zoom position is moved from position Z to position Z′ while the focus position is driven from position F0 to position F5 from time T0 to time T5 is shown.

[0047] At time T0, the focus lens 104 is at position F0, and the variator lens is at position Z. Assume that a time-specified focus drive command designating a target position F5 and reaching time T5 is sent from the camera body 200, and the zoom position is changed at the same time. First, the zoom position at time T1 is predicted using the current zoom position and the past zoom position. The trajectory information is used to calculate the target position F5 at the predicted zoom position and the correction drive amount required for zoom tracking control. The drive amount for the time-specified drive is calculated so that the focus lens moves the remaining drive amount in the remaining time except for the zoom tracking correction drive amount. The drive speed from time T0 to time T1 is determined using the zoom tracking correction drive amount and the drive amount of the time-specified drive of the current cycle. The focus lens 104 is driven at the determined drive speed. After time T1, the focus lens 104 is similarly driven while updating the drive speed.

[0048] Therefore, updating the driving speed of the focus lens 104 so that the focus lens 104 immediately moves by the correction amount due to zoom tracking can drive the focus lens 104 to a specified position within a specified time while reducing focus fluctuation caused by zoom fluctuation.

[0049] Figure 7 is a flowchart showing the drive speed update process according to the present example. This process is executed at predetermined time intervals (control cycles) until the time-specified focus drive is completed. The predetermined time may be constant or may be changed according to the processing state.

[0050] First, in step S701, the lens control unit 105 obtains the current zoom position detected by the zoom position detector 107 and stores it in the memory 106. Next, in step S702, the lens control unit 105 estimates the zoom position after a predetermined time (zoom position of the next cycle) using the current zoom position acquired in step S701 and the past zoom position stored in the memory 106.

[0051] Next, in step S703, the lens control unit 105 updates the final target position of the focus lens 104 in the time-specified focus drive stored in the memory 106 to a value (position) corresponding to the estimated zoom position. The final target position may be updated using the zoom position after the predetermined time estimated in step S702 and the trajectory information stored in the memory 106.

[0052] Next, in step S704, the lens control unit 105 determines the correction amount of zoom tracking control after a predetermined time (zoom tracking correction amount corresponding to the estimated zoom position). The correction amount is determined using the zoom position after a predetermined time estimated in step S702 and the track information stored in the memory 106.

[0053] Next, in step S705, the lens control unit 105 updates the remaining time of the time-specified focus drive stored in the memory 106. Next, in step S706, the lens control unit 105 determines the drive amount for the time-specified focus drive using the final target position updated in step S703 and the zoom tracking correction amount determined in step S704.

[0054] Next, in step S707, the lens control unit 105 determines the driving speed of the focus lens 104. The driving speed may be determined using the zoom tracking correction amount determined in step S704, the driving amount for time-specified focus driving determined in step S706, and the remaining time updated in step S705.

[0055] As described above, in this example, in the case where the position of the variator lens 102 is changed while the focus lens 104 is driven, the lens control unit 105 (control unit 105b) changes the designated target position to a target position corresponding to the changed position of the variator lens 102 based on the trajectory information. Then, the lens control unit 105 changes the driving speed of the focus lens 104 to reduce the difference between the designated arrival time and the arrival time in the case where the position of the variator lens 102 is changed. The lens control unit 105 may change the driving speed so that the designated arrival time coincides with the arrival time in the case where the position of the variator lens is changed.

[0056] In the case where the position of the variator lens 102 is changed while the focus lens 104 is driven, the lens control unit 105 may change the driving speed so as to drive the focus lens 104 with the driving amount required to reduce the focus fluctuation based on the trajectory information, and drive the focus lens 104 with the remaining driving amount other than the driving amount in the remaining time. More specifically, assuming that the first driving amount is set as the driving amount for zoom tracking correction of the zoom position of the next cycle, the second driving amount is set as the driving amount of the current cycle, so that in the remaining time, the focus lens 104 is moved to the final target position of the zoom position of the next cycle by the amount obtained by subtracting the first driving amount from the remaining driving amount. Then, the focus lens 104 is driven with the total driving amount of the first driving amount and the second driving amount. That is, the focus fluctuation from the current cycle to the next cycle is predicted, and the focus lens 104 is driven with the correction amount in the current cycle.

[0057] Example 2

[0058] Example 2 according to the present disclosure will now be described. This example updates the driving speed so that, in the remaining time, the focus lens 104 is moved by the total driving amount including the correction amount for zoom tracking control.

[0059] Figure 8 The description will be made on the trajectory of the time-specified focus drive in this example, and a method of updating the focus drive speed during the time-specified focus drive will be shown. Figure 8 In the example, the horizontal axis represents the zoom position, while the vertical axis represents the focus position. Figure 6 , Figure 8 A driving trajectory in the case where the zoom position moves from position Z to position Z′ while the focus (lens) position is driven from position F0 to position F5 in the period from time T0 to time T5 is shown.

[0060] At time T0, the focus lens 104 is at position F0, and the variator lens 102 is at position Z. Assume that a time-specified focus drive command is sent from the camera body 200 to specify a target position F5 and an arrival time T5, and the zoom position is changed at the same time. First, the zoom position at time T1 is predicted using the current zoom position and the past zoom position. Position F5 at the predicted zoom position is obtained using trajectory information. The drive speed (focus drive speed) from time T0 to time T1 is determined so that the focus lens 104 moves to the update position F5 with the remaining drive amount within the remaining time. The focus lens 104 is driven at the determined drive speed. After time T1, the drive speed is similarly determined. In this example, the total remaining drive amount including the correction amount for zoom tracking control is divided by the remaining time, so the calculation load is smaller than the calculation load in Example 1.

[0061] Fig. 9: is a flowchart showing the drive speed update process according to this example. This process is executed at predetermined time intervals (control cycles) until the time-specified focus drive is completed. The predetermined time may be constant or may be changed according to the processing state.

[0062] First, in step S901, the lens control unit 105 acquires the current zoom position detected by the zoom position detector 107 and stores it in the memory 106. Next, in step S902, the lens control unit 105 estimates the zoom position after a predetermined time (zoom position of the next cycle) using the current zoom position acquired in step S901 and the past zoom position stored in the memory 106.

[0063] Next, in step S903, the lens control unit 105 updates the final target position of the focus lens 104 in the time-specified focus drive stored in the memory 106 to a value (position) corresponding to the estimated zoom position. The final target position may be updated using the zoom position after the predetermined time estimated in step S902 and the trajectory information stored in the memory 106.

[0064] Next, in step S904, the lens control unit 105 updates the remaining time of the time-specifying focus drive stored in the memory 106. Next, in step S905, the lens control unit 105 determines the driving speed of the focus lens 104 using the final target position updated in step S903 and the remaining time updated in step S904.

[0065] As described above, in this example, in the case where the position of the variator lens 102 is changed while the focus lens 104 is driven, the lens control unit 105 (control unit 105b) changes the designated target position to a target position corresponding to the changed position of the variator lens 102 based on the trajectory information. Then, the lens control unit 105 changes the driving speed of the focus lens 104 to reduce the difference between the designated arrival time and the arrival time in the case where the position of the variator lens 102 is changed. The lens control unit 105 may change the driving speed so that the designated arrival time coincides with the arrival time in the case where the position of the variator lens is changed.

[0066] In the case where the position of the variator lens 102 is changed while the focus lens 104 is driven, the lens control unit 105 may change the driving speed so that the focus lens 104 is driven with the remaining driving amount within the remaining time, the remaining driving amount including the driving amount required to reduce the focus fluctuation based on the track information. In other words, the lens control unit 105 determines the driving speed in the current cycle so that the focus lens 104 is moved to the final target position corresponding to the position of the variator lens 102 in the next cycle with the entire remaining driving amount (including the first driving amount for zoom tracking correction of the zoom position in the next cycle) within the remaining time.

[0067] Other embodiments

[0068] The (multiple) embodiments of the present invention may also be implemented as follows: a computer of a system or device, the system or device reads and executes computer executable instructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on a storage medium (which may also be more completely referred to as a "non-transitory computer-readable storage medium") to perform one or more functions of the above (multiple) embodiments, and / or the system or device includes one or more circuits (e.g., application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs)) for performing one or more functions of the above (multiple) embodiments; and a method performed by a computer of the system or device, for example, reading and executing computer executable instructions from a storage medium to perform one or more functions of the above (multiple) embodiments, and / or controlling the one or more circuits to perform one or more functions of the above (multiple) embodiments. The computer may include one or more processors (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessing unit (MPU)), and may include a network of separate computers or separate processors to read and execute the computer executable instructions. The computer executable instructions may be provided to the computer, for example, from a network or a storage medium. The storage medium may include, for example, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), a memory of a distributed computing system, an optical disk (such as a compact disc (CD), a digital versatile disc (DVD), or a Blu-ray disc (BD) TM ), one or more of a flash memory device and a memory card, etc.

[0069] The embodiments of the present invention may also be implemented by providing software (program) for performing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or device via a network or various storage media, and a computer or a central processing unit (CPU) or a microprocessing unit (MPU) of the system or device reads and executes the program.

[0070] Although the disclosure has described example embodiments, it is to be understood that some embodiments are not limited to the disclosed embodiments.The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.

[0071] Each example can provide a control device that can drive the focus lens to the target position within a specified time during zoom tracking control even if the zoom position changes during driving the focus lens to the target position within the specified time.

Claims

1. A control device for a focusing lens, the control device comprising: A control unit, the control unit being configured as follows: In a case where the position of the variator lens changes during driving of the focus lens, changing the specified target position of the focus lens to a target position corresponding to the changed position of the variator lens based on trajectory information indicating a relationship between the position of the variator lens and the position of the focus lens focused at the position of the variator lens, and When the position of the variator lens is changed, the driving speed of the focus lens is changed to reduce the difference between the designated arrival time of the focus lens at the designated target position and the calculated arrival time of the focus lens at the designated target position.

2. The control device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control unit changes the driving speed so that the designated arrival time coincides with an arrival time when a position of the variator lens is changed.

3. The control device according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the position of the variable power lens changes during driving of the focusing lens, the control unit changes the driving speed based on the trajectory information so that the focusing lens is driven with the driving amount required to reduce focus fluctuations and is driven with the remaining driving amount other than the driving amount for the remaining time.

4. The control device according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the position of the variator lens changes during driving of the focus lens, the control unit changes the drive speed based on the trajectory information within the remaining time so that the focus lens is driven with a remaining drive amount including a drive amount required to reduce focus fluctuation.

5. The control device according to claim 1, characterized in that: the control unit uses driving information for driving the focus lens, the driving information including information about a specified target position of the focus lens and information about a specified arrival time, The information about the designated target position includes a value corresponding to a specific zoom position.

6. The control device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: the control unit uses driving information for driving the focus lens, the driving information including information about a specified target position of the focus lens and information about a specified arrival time, wherein the information about the designated target position or the information about the arrival time includes information about the driving speed of the focus lens, The information on the driving speed includes information on the moving speed of the focus lens or the moving speed of the image plane of the object caused by the movement of the focus lens.

7. A lens device, comprising: An optical system including a variable magnification lens and a focusing lens; as well as A control device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. The lens device according to claim 7, further comprising an operating unit, It is characterized in that The control unit acquires driving information for driving the focus lens according to an operation of the operation unit, and the driving information includes information on a specified target position of the focus lens and information on a specified arrival time for the focus lens to reach the specified target position.

9. The lens device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The control unit acquires the driving information by communicating with the imaging device.

10. A camera device, comprising: Image sensor; as well as A control device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

11. The imaging device according to claim 10, wherein: The control unit acquires the driving information by communicating with a lens device including the variator lens and the focus lens.

12. A method for controlling a focusing lens, the method comprising the following steps: In a case where the position of the variator lens changes during driving of the focus lens, changing the specified target position of the focus lens to a target position corresponding to the changed position of the variator lens based on trajectory information indicating a relationship between the position of the variator lens and the position of the focus lens focused at the position of the variator lens, and When the position of the variator lens is changed, the driving speed of the focus lens is changed to reduce the difference between the designated arrival time of the focus lens at the designated target position and the calculated arrival time of the focus lens at the designated target position. 13 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the control method according to claim 12 .

Images