Television – Camera – system and detail – Optics
Reexamination Certificate
1997-09-08
2004-10-05
Garber, Wendy R. (Department: 2612)
Television
Camera, system and detail
Optics
Reexamination Certificate
active
06801259
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus and a phototaking lens used therein and, more particularly, to an image pickup apparatus such as a TV camera which is suitably used to attain focusing of the phototaking lens by selecting a control signal (operation signal) from a focus demand attached to the phototaking lens or a camera control unit (CCU) mounted on the camera body.
2. Related Background Art
The conventional methods of manual focusing (to be referred to as the “focus function” hereinafter) of a phototaking lens include the method of manually operating the focus ring (which is directly performed by the hand of a cameraman) and the method of electrically operating the focus mechanism of the phototaking lens by using an actuator such as a motor. When the focus mechanism of the phototaking lens is to be electrically operated in a TV camera or the like, focusing is directly performed from the phototaking lens side, or focusing is performed on the CCU (Camera Control Unit) mounted in a relay station electrically connected to the phototaking lens.
FIG. 8
is a block diagram for explaining focusing to be performed in a conventional TV camera.
Referring to
FIG. 8
, focusing of a phototaking lens
901
is performed from a demand
903
connected to the phototaking lens
901
or from a control knob
905
on a CCU
904
at the relay station
902
side. An R/L switch
906
on the CCU
904
is operated to choose between using the demand
903
of the phototaking lens
901
and using the control knob
905
of the CCU
904
. “R” of the R/L switch
906
represents remote control, i.e., an operation from the control knob
905
of the CCU
904
. “L” of the R/L switch
906
represents local control, i.e., an operation from the demand
903
connected to the phototaking lens
901
.
In the image pickup apparatus having a conventional focus mechanism, the R/L switch on the CCU is operated to switch the focusing operation between the demand operation of the phototaking lens and the CCU. This arrangement poses the following problem.
Assume that a TV crew is shooting for a relay broadcast of a golf tournament, while the phototaking lens is set near the green of the 18
th
hole, and the CCU is mounted in a relay car near the club house. Normally, the cameraman who operates the phototaking lens performs focusing by operating the demand connected to the phototaking lens while watching the TV monitor. In this case, focusing is performed when the R/L switch of the CCU is set at “L”. In some cases, however, an operator performs fine focusing by using the CCU in the relay car while watching the monitor. In this case, focusing is performed after the R/L switch of the CCU is switched from “L” to “R”. If, however, the operator forgets to switch the R/L switch back from “R” to “L” after focusing with the CCU is complete, the cameraman cannot perform focusing at the phototaking lens side, which may pose a problem in shooting a TV program. In practice, the cameraman and the staff in the relay car exchange information through a network, such as an intercom, and hence serious trouble is unlikely to occur. This is, nevertheless, a drawback in terms of the utility of the photographing equipment system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an image pickup apparatus suited for a TV camera, in particular, and a phototaking lens used therein, which can smoothly and reliably perform focusing and zooming of the phototaking lens by using a detection means for detecting the operation states of the demand (focus demand) of the phototaking lens and the control knob of a CCU and automatically switching focusing and zooming control on the basis of a signal from the detection means, without using an R/L switch in the CCU of the relay station, as has been used in the prior art.
According to the present invention, there is provided an image pickup apparatus for driving a moving lens in accordance with first and second command signals, comprising first detection means for detecting the first command signal, second detection means for detecting the second command signal, selection means for selecting one of the first and second command signals on the basis of output signals from the first and second detection means, and driving means for driving the moving lens on the basis of the command signal selected by the selection means.
The selection means includes a plurality of algorithms. The apparatus includes a setting means for selectively setting these algorithms. The selection means selects a command signal in accordance with the algorithm set by the setting means.
The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4404595 (1983-09-01), Ushiro et al.
patent: 4942417 (1990-07-01), Miyazawa et al.
patent: 5206732 (1993-04-01), Hudson
patent: 5227829 (1993-07-01), Imanari et al.
patent: 0 405 051 (1991-01-01), None
patent: 0 439 219 (1991-07-01), None
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Fitzpatrick ,Cella, Harper & Scinto
Tillery Rashawn N.
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