US5200860A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Lens position control device
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1992-07-16
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Granted: 1993-04-06
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Expires: 2012-07-16
Abstract
Abstract A lens position control device for a lens system, including a variator and a compensator which also serves as the focusing lens, comprises a detecting circuit for detecting positions of the variator and the compensator, a memory circuit for storing a plurality of pieces of information representing the manners in which the movement of the compensator is to be controlled in accordance with the positions of the variator and the compensator detected by the detecting circuit, the information concerning with at least the speed and the moving direction, a first control circuit responsive to operation of the zoom actuator for controlling the movements of the variator and the compensator, the first control means controlling the movement of the compensator in accordance with the information stored in the memory circuit, and a second control circuit responsive to detection of when the continuously read two pieces of information read out from the memory circuit come to differ from each other in the moving direction for controlling the movement of the compensator in a different manner from that indicated by the read information.
Inventors
- 👤 Masahide Hirasawa
- 👤 Hirofumi Suda
- 👤 Naoya Kaneda
- 👤 Hiroyuki Wada
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 20:14
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B7/00; G02B7/02; G02B7/04; G02B7/10; G02B7/102
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
227 words
A lens position control evice comprising: (a) a first lens group movable along an optical axis, for performing a function of varying an image magnification; (b) a second lens group movable along the optical axis, for performing a function of compensation at the time of the variation of the image magnification and a function of focusing, a movement of direction of said second lens gruop being erversed when said first lens group moves to vary the image magnification from a wide angle end to a telephoto end; (c) detecting means for detecting positions of said first lens group and said second lens group; (d) a memory circuit for memorizing movement control information for said second lens group set in accordance with position information of said first and said second lens groups obtained by said detecting means, said movement control information including at least moving speed information and moving direction information; and (e) control means for controlling movements of said first lens group and said second lens group in response to detection of an image magnification varying operation, said control means (1) controlling the movement of said second lens group on the basis of said moving control information read out from said memory circuit, and (2) prohibiting a rapid reversal of the movement direction of said second lens group when said first lens group varies the image magnification.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
227 words
A lens position control evice comprising: (a) a first lens group movable along an optical axis, for performing a function of varying an image magnification; (b) a second lens group movable along the optical axis, for performing a function of compensation at the time of the variation of the image magnification and a function of focusing, a movement of direction of said second lens gruop being erversed when said first lens group moves to vary the image magnification from a wide angle end to a telephoto end; (c) detecting means for detecting positions of said first lens group and said second lens group; (d) a memory circuit for memorizing movement control information for said second lens group set in accordance with position information of said first and said second lens groups obtained by said detecting means, said movement control information including at least moving speed information and moving direction information; and (e) control means for controlling movements of said first lens group and said second lens group in response to detection of an image magnification varying operation, said control means (1) controlling the movement of said second lens group on the basis of said moving control information read out from said memory circuit, and (2) prohibiting a rapid reversal of the movement direction of said second lens group when said first lens group varies the image magnification.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said control means stops said second lens group at least once when reversing its movement.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said detecting means includes an encoder.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said control means includes a motor for moving said second lens group, and wherein said detecting means detects the position of said second lens group by computing drive pulses of said motor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
A device according to claim 4, further comprising additional control means for forcibly moving said second lens group to an initial position, said additional control means being capable of detecting an absolute position of said second lens group by said drive pulses.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
59 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the moving speed information of said second lens group stored in said memory circuit comprises information corresponding to the positions of said second lens group such that said second lens group is controlled at different speeds according to a variation of the object distance even when the focal length is the same.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
A device according to claim 1, further comprising focus means for detecting an in-focus state of said second lens group, said control means for moving said second lens group at a moving speed corrected from said moving speed stored in said memory circuit on the basis of outputs of said focus means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
143 words
A lens position control device comprising: (a) a first lens group movable along an optical axis, for performing a function of varying an image magnification; (b) a second lens group movable along the optical axis, for performing a function of compensation at the time of variation of the image magnification and a function of focusing; (c) detecting means for detecting positions of said first lens group and said second lens group; and (d) control means for controlling a moving speed and a moving direction of said second lens group on the basis of (1) position information of said first and said second lens groups obtained by said detecting means, and (2) predetermined positional information of said first and second lens group, said control means, when reversing the moving direction of said second lens group, stopping said second lens group for a predetermined time.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
143 words
A lens position control device comprising: (a) a first lens group movable along an optical axis, for performing a function of varying an image magnification; (b) a second lens group movable along the optical axis, for performing a function of compensation at the time of variation of the image magnification and a function of focusing; (c) detecting means for detecting positions of said first lens group and said second lens group; and (d) control means for controlling a moving speed and a moving direction of said second lens group on the basis of (1) position information of said first and said second lens groups obtained by said detecting means, and (2) predetermined positional information of said first and second lens group, said control means, when reversing the moving direction of said second lens group, stopping said second lens group for a predetermined time.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
A device according to claim 8, wherein said detecting means includes an encoder.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
A device according to claim 8, wherein said control means includes a motor for moving said second lens group, and wherein said detecting means detects a position of said second lens group by computing drive pulses of said motor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
A device according to claim 10, further comprising additional control means for forcibly moving said second lens group to an initial position, said additional control means being capable of detecting an absolute position of said second lens group by said drive pulses.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device according to claim 8, wherein said control means causes said first lens group to be moved uniformly at a previously set speed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device according to claim 8, further comprising drive means for moving said first lens group uniformly at a previously set speed.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
58 words
A device according to claim 8, wherein said control means varies the moving speed of said second lens group according to information of the position of said second lens group such that said second lens group is controlled at different moving speeds according to a variation of the object distance even when the focal length is the same.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
52 words
A device according to claim 8, further comprising focus means for detecting an in-focus state of said second lens group, said control means for moving said second lens group at a moving speed corrected from the moving speed stored in said memory circuit on the basis of outputs of said focus means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
263 words
A lens position control device, comprising: (a) a first lens group movable along an optical axis, for performing a function of varying an image magnification; (b) a second lens group movable along the optical axis, for performing a function of compensation at the time of the variation of the image magnification and a function of focusing, a movement of direction of said second lens group being reversed when said first lens group moves to vary the image magnification from a wide angle end to a telephoto end; (c) detecting means for detecting positions of said first lens group and said second lens group; (d) a memory circuit for memorizing movement control information for said second lens group set in advance with position information of said first and said second lens groups obtained by said detecting means, said movement control information including moving speed information, moving direction information, and stop information, said stop information being used at a boundary where the moving direction of said second lens group is changed over by the movement of said first lens group in the same direction, or at a boundary where the moving direction information for said second lens group is changed over by a positional change in the same direction of said second lens group; and (e) control means for controlling movements of said first lens group and said second lens group in response to detection of an image magnification varying operation, said control means controlling the movement of said second lens group on the basis of said movement control information read-out from said memory circuit.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
263 words
A lens position control device, comprising: (a) a first lens group movable along an optical axis, for performing a function of varying an image magnification; (b) a second lens group movable along the optical axis, for performing a function of compensation at the time of the variation of the image magnification and a function of focusing, a movement of direction of said second lens group being reversed when said first lens group moves to vary the image magnification from a wide angle end to a telephoto end; (c) detecting means for detecting positions of said first lens group and said second lens group; (d) a memory circuit for memorizing movement control information for said second lens group set in advance with position information of said first and said second lens groups obtained by said detecting means, said movement control information including moving speed information, moving direction information, and stop information, said stop information being used at a boundary where the moving direction of said second lens group is changed over by the movement of said first lens group in the same direction, or at a boundary where the moving direction information for said second lens group is changed over by a positional change in the same direction of said second lens group; and (e) control means for controlling movements of said first lens group and said second lens group in response to detection of an image magnification varying operation, said control means controlling the movement of said second lens group on the basis of said movement control information read-out from said memory circuit.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
A device according to claim 16, wherein said detecting means includes an encoder.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
47 words
A device according to claim 16, wherein said control means controlling the movement of said second lens group includes a motor for moving said second lens group, and wherein said detecting means detects the position of said second lens group by computing drive pulses of said motor.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
42 words
A device according to claim 18, further comprising third control means for forcibly movign said second lens group to an initial position, said third control means being capable of detecting an absolute position of said second lens group by said drive pulses.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device according to claim 16, wherein said control means causes said first lens group to be moved uniformly at a previously set speed.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
218 words
An optical apparatus having a lens position control device, comprising: (a) a first lens group movable along an optical axis, for performing a function of varying an image magnification; (b) a second lens group movable along the optical axis, for performing (1) a function of compensation at the time of the variation of the image magnification, and (2) a function of focusing, a movement of direction of said second lens group being reversed when said first lens group moves to vary the image magnification from a wide angle end to a telephoto end; (c) detecting means for detecting positions of said first lens group and said second lens group; (d) a memory circuit for memorizing movement control information for said second lens group predetermined in accordance with position information of said first and said second lens groups obtained by said detecting means; (e) control means for controlling movements of said first lens group and said second lens group in response to detection of an image magnification varying operation, said control means (1) controlling the movement of said second lens group on the basis of said moving control information read out from said memory circuit, and (2) prohibiting a rapid reversal of the movement direction of said second lens group when said first lens group varies the image magnification.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
218 words
An optical apparatus having a lens position control device, comprising: (a) a first lens group movable along an optical axis, for performing a function of varying an image magnification; (b) a second lens group movable along the optical axis, for performing (1) a function of compensation at the time of the variation of the image magnification, and (2) a function of focusing, a movement of direction of said second lens group being reversed when said first lens group moves to vary the image magnification from a wide angle end to a telephoto end; (c) detecting means for detecting positions of said first lens group and said second lens group; (d) a memory circuit for memorizing movement control information for said second lens group predetermined in accordance with position information of said first and said second lens groups obtained by said detecting means; (e) control means for controlling movements of said first lens group and said second lens group in response to detection of an image magnification varying operation, said control means (1) controlling the movement of said second lens group on the basis of said moving control information read out from said memory circuit, and (2) prohibiting a rapid reversal of the movement direction of said second lens group when said first lens group varies the image magnification.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
An optical apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said control means stops said second lens group at least one when reversing its movement.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
46 words
An optical apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said memory circuit memorizes stop information, said stop information being used at a boundary where the moving direction of said second lens group is changed over by the movement of said first lens group in the same direction.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
35 words
An optical apparatus according to claim 22, further comprising a motor for moving said lens group, and wherein said detecting means detects the position of said lens group by computing drive pulses of said motor.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
35 words
An optical apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising a motor for moving said lens group, and wherein said detecting means detects the position of said lens group by computing drive pulses of said motor.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
39 words
An optical apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising initiation means for forcibly moving said lens group to an initial position, said initiation means being capable of detecting an absolute position of said lens group by said drive pulses.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-04-05 | 1996-10-05 | 1997-04-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-04-05 | 2000-10-05 | 2001-04-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-04-05 | 2004-10-05 | 2005-04-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |