Image Stabilization Control Apparatus Preventing Light Shielding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image pickup systems face issues with light shielding and inadequate imaging performance due to maximum correction amounts set for image sensor and lens unit stabilization, leading to suboptimal image stabilization and potential light loss.

Innovation Solution

A control apparatus and method that determines a balanced image stabilization ratio between the lens unit and image sensor by calculating and adjusting the moving amounts of both components based on stored sensitivity and drivable amounts, ensuring maximum image stabilization without exceeding the imageable area, thus preventing light shielding and maintaining imaging performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the correction amount of either the image sensor or lens unit is set to maximum, then the image stabilization range is expanded, but light is shielded in the image

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage stabilization rangeVSAvoidlight shielding
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent dynamically adjusts the correction ratio between image sensor and lens unit based on multiple parameters including angular velocity magnitude, zoom position, and focus position. By changing these parameters, the system optimizes the distribution of correction amounts to prevent light shielding while maintaining stabilization effectiveness. For example, when angular velocity exceeds a threshold, the system switches to a different correction ratio to avoid excessive correction that would cause light shielding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The correction ratio is not fixed but dynamically adjusted during operation. The control apparatus continuously monitors shaking conditions and adjusts the correction ratio in real-time. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to expand stabilization range when needed while preventing light shielding by reducing correction amounts when shaking is severe or when optical constraints are approached.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If the correction ratio is determined based on correcting ranges only, then the stabilization is simplified, but imaging performance deteriorates due to light shielding

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol simplicityVSAvoidimaging performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses multiple parameters (angular velocity, zoom position, focus position) to determine correction ratio instead of relying solely on correcting ranges. This multi-parameter approach maintains relatively simple control logic while significantly improving imaging performance by preventing light shielding through more nuanced adjustment of stabilization parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The control apparatus incorporates feedback from angular velocity sensors and optical system state (zoom and focus positions) to continuously adjust the correction ratio. This feedback mechanism allows the system to maintain simple automated control while achieving optimal imaging performance by adapting to real-time conditions and avoiding light shielding scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If both image sensor and lens unit perform image stabilization at maximum correction, then the overall stabilization effect is maximized, but the imageable area is exceeded causing light loss

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestabilization effectVSAvoidimageable area
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The system adjusts the correction ratio between image sensor and lens unit based on parameters including angular velocity magnitude, zoom position, and focus position. When the combined correction would exceed the imageable area, the system modifies the correction ratio to reduce total correction amount, thereby maintaining stabilization effectiveness while preventing light loss from exceeding the imageable area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of always applying maximum correction from both image sensor and lens unit, the system applies partial correction by dynamically adjusting the correction ratio. This partial action approach ensures that the combined correction remains within the imageable area boundaries, preventing light loss while still providing effective stabilization through coordinated partial corrections from both components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3843377B1Control apparatus, lens apparatus, image pickup apparatus, and image pickup system
Publication Date: 2022.10.12 CANON KK
  • EP3843377B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3843377B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3843377B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A control apparatus configured to control at least one of a first driver that drives an image sensor for a first image stabilization and a second driver that drives a lens for a second image stabilization includes at least one processor or circuit configured to execute a plurality of tasks including a determination task configured to determine a ratio between the first image stabilization by the first driver and the second image stabilization by the second driver, using information on a changing amount of an imageable area of an optical system including the lens relative to a unit correcting angle of the second image stabilization, and information on a correcting angle of the first image stabilization relative to a unit driving amount of the image sensor.