Lens Apparatus Controller for Seamless Manual-Automatic Iris Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lens apparatuses face challenges in seamlessly switching between manual and automatic operations, particularly in adjusting optical members like the iris, due to communication timing issues between the camera and lens apparatuses, leading to unintended changes in optical member states.

Innovation Solution

A lens apparatus with an input device for selecting an operation device and a controller that performs a first control based on input commands and a second control based on the optical member's state when no input is received, ensuring seamless switching by maintaining the present position of optical members during operation mode changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the lens apparatus uses stored past command values for automatic operation, then the automatic operation can be maintained, but the optical member state becomes inconsistent with the current manual operation state

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperation consistencyVSAvoidpresent value information

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The lens apparatus stores the present value of the optical member state at the moment of operation mode switching before returning to automatic operation. This preliminary action ensures that when communication occurs, the stored present value is used as the command value, preventing inconsistency between manual and automatic operation states.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If the lens apparatus switches operation mode between communication cycles, then operational flexibility is improved, but the optical member cannot be seamlessly controlled from the present value

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperation mode switchingVSAvoidseamless control

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The lens apparatus introduces an intermediary storage mechanism that holds the present value of the optical member state at the time of mode switching. This intermediary storage acts as a bridge between manual and automatic operation modes, ensuring seamless control continuity even when mode switching occurs between communication cycles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Extent of automation

If the lens apparatus drives the iris based on stored past commands, then automatic operation is maintained, but the iris state diverges from the manual operation present value

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic operationVSAvoidiris position accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The lens apparatus implements a feedback mechanism where the present value of the iris state at mode switching is stored and fed back as the command value during automatic operation. This feedback ensures that the iris position accuracy is maintained and consistent with the manual operation state, preventing divergence.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS10904443B2Lens apparatus and image pickup apparatus that controls driving of an optical member therein based on command source

Publication Date: 2021.01.26 CANON KK

AI summary

Provided is a lens apparatus including: an optical member; an input device configured to perform input for selecting an operation device for operating a state of the optical member; and a controller configured to perform, in a case where a command is input from the selected operation device, a first control of the state of the optical member based on the input command; and perform, in a case where a command is not input from the selected operation device, a second control of the state of the optical member based on a state of the optical member at a time when the input for selecting the operation device is performed.