Photography – Camera shake sensing
Reexamination Certificate
1997-02-13
2001-07-03
Mahoney, Christopher E. (Department: 2851)
Photography
Camera shake sensing
C396S155000, C396S205000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06256457
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a camera having a vibration compensation device which compensates for image blur produced by shaking or vibrating the camera, and in particular, relates to a to camera having a vibration compensation device which is equipped with a strobe emitting device, a strobe battery, and a strobe charging device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In known cameras, various parts and units are electronic and highly automated, for example autoexposure (AE) mechanisms and autofocus (AF) mechanisms. Another example of an electronic and highly automated function is a vibration compensation device for reducing image blur caused by camera vibration, such as vibrations which occur during hand-held photography. Various vibration compensation devices have been proposed which attempt to compensate for the image blur which occurs when the camera sways, and, particularly when the camera tilts. These known vibration compensation devices are typically activated when a shutter release button is pressed halfway, and use an angular velocity sensor, as a vibration detection unit, to detect vibrations by obtaining the angular velocity of the camera vibration, and thereafter shift a vibration compensation lens system according to the detected vibrations. The vibration compensation lens system, which may encompass all or part of a main optical system in a photographic lens system, is typically shifted in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis and opposite to the detected vibrations. Thus, even in an exposure where the camera shutter speed is slower than that of normal photography, photographs can be taken without image blur.
A problem in using this type of vibration compensation device is that the accuracy of the vibration compensation depends on the photographic operating conditions of the camera. In known cameras which do not have a vibration compensation device and which have a built-in strobe emission unit, when the shutter release button is pressed halfway, photometry and rangefinding are performed, and a strobe battery is charged when it is determined that strobe emission photography is required and that the condenser which comprises the strobe battery is not charged. However, in cameras which have a vibration compensation device and a built-in strobe emission unit, when the determination is made that the strobe battery is uncharged, and the charging operation is started, there is a danger that the operation of the vibration detection unit will malfunction when the source voltage in the control circuit system inside the camera drops. When the source voltage drops in known cameras having a strobe emission unit and a vibration compensation device, the vibration detection unit tends to output erroneous vibration detection signals. This, in turn, creates erroneous movement of the vibration compensation lens system which can increase image blur.
There exists a need for a camera having a vibration compensation system and a strobe battery, or a condenser having a limited capacity, which is housed inside the camera, in which it is possible to operate both the vibration compensation device and the strobe emission unit at the same time and without error.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a camera with a vibration compensation device which does not malfunction when a charging operation of a strobe battery is started.
It is another object of the invention to provide a camera in which charging of a strobe battery is prevented during vibration detection, or alternatively when charging of the strobe battery is performed during vibration detection, and vibration detection is interrupted, the exposure operation is halted.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a vibration compensation device which does not malfunction if a charging operation is started to charge an uncharged strobe battery.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.
Objects of the present invention are achieved in a camera comprising a vibration compensation device which compensates for vibrations in the camera; a strobe emitting device which produces a fill-in light; a strobe battery, connected to the strobe emitting device, to supply power to the strobe emitting device; and a control unit to activate the vibration compensation device and the strobe emitting device, the control unit preventing the strobe battery from charging when the vibration compensation device has been activated.
Objects of the present invention are also achieved in a method of charging a strobe battery for a camera comprising sensing vibrations in a camera, compensating for vibrations of a camera, and stopping sensing vibrations when a strobe battery is being charged.
Objects of the present invention are also achieved in a camera with a vibration compensation device which performs vibration compensation based on vibration detection signals from a vibration detection unit, a strobe-emitting device, which emits photographic fill-in light, and a control device which prohibits charging of a strobe battery while the vibration detection device is operating.
Objects of the present invention are also achieved in a camera having a vibration detection unit, a strobe emission device, a photometric device which measures the subject brightness for determining the exposure, and a control unit that, while a vibration detection unit is operating, stops the operation of the vibration detection unit when photographic fill-in light is needed and when the strobe battery is uncharged.
Objects of the present invention are also achieved in a camera with a vibration compensation device that uses a vibration detection unit having an operation stop command signal generating device as a vibration start signal generating device.
Objects of the present invention are also achieved in a method of flash-photography for a camera comprising detecting vibrations when a release button is pressed halfway, performing photometry and rangefinding, and stopping the detecting of vibrations when a strobe mode is in effect and a strobe battery is started charging.
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patent: 5539496 (1996-07-01), Wakabayashi et al.
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Amanuma Tatsuo
Miyamoto Hidenori
Nakamura Toshiyuki
Mahoney Christopher E.
Nikon Corporation
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