Camera AF Frame Movement for Single- and Multi-Axis Lenses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image capturing apparatuses fail to appropriately control the autofocus (AF) frame movement when different lens units with varying characteristics are mounted, affecting operational feel and accuracy.
Innovation Solution
The image capturing apparatus includes an acquisition unit to identify the characteristics of the mounted lens unit and a control unit that adjusts the AF frame movement based on these characteristics, ensuring accurate positioning regardless of the lens unit's optical configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the camera supports multiple lens units with different characteristics, then the versatility and adaptability of the camera system is improved, but the operational consistency and user experience deteriorate due to inconsistent AF frame movement behavior across different lens types
Solution Approach 1:
The camera body dynamically adjusts the AF frame movement amount based on the detected lens unit characteristics. The control unit changes the movement behavior in real-time according to the mounted lens type, making the system adaptive rather than static. This resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to maintain consistent operational feel across different lens units through dynamic parameter adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the movement amount parameter of the AF frame based on lens unit characteristics such as optical axis configuration and projection method. By adjusting this parameter according to the mounted lens type (e.g., single optical axis vs. multiple optical axes, central projection vs. equidistant projection), the system maintains consistent operational consistency while supporting diverse lens units.
2Device complexity
If the AF frame movement amount is fixed regardless of lens type, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision and positioning accuracy deteriorate for certain lens configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The camera body performs preliminary detection of lens unit characteristics before AF frame movement operations. By acquiring information about the mounted lens type in advance and storing the appropriate movement amount parameters, the system prepares the correct settings beforehand, ensuring positioning accuracy without adding complex real-time calculation requirements during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The lens unit provides information about its own characteristics (such as optical axis configuration and projection method) to the camera body, and the camera body automatically adjusts the AF frame movement parameters based on this information. This self-service mechanism allows the system to maintain high positioning accuracy without requiring complex external calibration or manual intervention.
Data Source
AI summary
An image capturing apparatus on which a lens unit is mountable, acquires a characteristic of a mounted lens unit, receives a movement operation; and controls, in accordance with the movement operation, a position of an AF frame indicating a region in which a defocus amount is to be detected for an image capture signal. The apparatus performs control, based on the characteristic of the mounted lens unit, such that, with respect to the same movement amount of the movement operation, an amount of movement of the position of the AF frame is different depending on whether the mounted lens unit is a lens unit having a first characteristic of having an imaging optical system with one optical axis or a lens unit having a second characteristic of having a plurality of imaging optical systems with different optical axes.