Electrical Zoom Lens Control for Smooth Video Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing interchangeable lens camera systems face challenges in performing smooth and constant zooming during moving picture capture, as existing zooming mechanisms rely on manual rotary or rectilinear optical zooming, which limits high-speed and accurate focusing and lens aberration correction.
Innovation Solution
The camera system incorporates a lens unit with electrical zooming capabilities, allowing zooming and focusing operations to be performed from either the camera body or the lens unit, using a control unit that supports interchangeable lenses for seamless integration and operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual rotary or rectilinear optical zooming is used, then the zooming operation can be performed, but smooth and constant zooming during moving picture capture becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical zooming operations with an electrical zooming system. The lens unit includes a zoom drive mechanism that can be controlled electrically from the camera body, enabling smooth and constant zooming during moving picture capture while maintaining high-speed operation capability.
2Ease of operation
If electrical manual focusing is executed by operating a cross key on the camera body, then focusing can be performed, but none of the existing imaging functions other than electrical manual focusing that are assigned to the cross key can be used
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the operation portions between the camera body and the lens unit. The lens unit is equipped with its own operation portions for focusing and zooming, while the camera body provides additional control capabilities. This segmentation allows the cross key on the camera body to be used for electrical manual focusing without disabling other imaging functions, as each side has independent operation capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The operation portions are designed with multi-functionality. The lens unit operation portions can perform both focusing and zooming operations, while the camera body operation portions can also control these functions. This universal design ensures that when electrical manual focusing is active, other imaging functions remain accessible through alternative operation portions.
3Measurement precision
If high-speed and highly accurate focusing is required, then lens control precision must be improved, but the complexity of the control system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a control unit that acts as an intermediary between the operation portions and the lens driving mechanisms. This control unit processes input from either the camera body or lens unit operation portions and coordinates the driving of focusing and zooming lenses, achieving high-speed and highly accurate focusing while managing system complexity through centralized control logic.
Data Source
AI summary
A camera system includes a lens unit, a mount, a camera body, and a control unit. The lens unit includes at least one lens unit operation portion and changes the magnification of an optical image electrically. The mount supports removably the lens unit. The camera body includes at least one camera body operation portion. The control unit controls the lens unit so as to change the magnification of an optical image electrically in response to either one of the operation of the camera body operation portion or the operation of the lens unit operation portion. The control unit controls the lens unit so as to execute an operation that is different from the operation which changes the magnification of an optical image, in response to the other of the operation of the camera body operation portion or the operation of the lens unit operation portion.