Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.

Hiroyuki Kawamura

Hiroshi Mizumura

Shinya Yajima

Hiroshi Kato

Atsushi Kanayama

Keiji Kaneko

Kunio Tsuzuki

In a TV control apparatus, a focus controller and a zoom controller are used to adjust a flange back focal length of a master lens. If a select switch switches the function of a focus controller from a focus lens control function to a master lens control function, a control signal is transmitted as a master lens control signal to a CPU from the focus controller. The master lens is controlled in accordance with the control signals. The focus lens is at a standstill during this period. The focus controller is also used as a master lens controller. If the zoom is at a wide-angle side, the focus controller is switched to the master lens controller, and if the zoom is at a telephoto side, the master lens controller is switched to the focus controller. If a flange back focal length adjustment switch is turned on and the zoom controller sets the zoom at the wide-angle side, the focus controller functions as a controller for adjusting the position of the master lens group. On the other hand, if the zoom is set at the telephoto side, the function of the focus controller is switched to the focus control function for adjusting the position of the focus lens group. This makes it possible to blur an image by operating the controller at hand.

TV lens control apparatus

In a TV lens system including a TV lens apparatus and a control unit, CPUs of the TV lens apparatus and the control unit monitor intervals between received data in serial communication in a digital control mode. If the data transmission stops for a predetermined time or the received data has an error, the CPUs determine that the communication is abnormal and switch the control modes of the TV lens system from the digital control mode to an analog control mode by operating switching devices. Display units show that the system has been switched to the analog control mode. If the CPUs detect the communication being abnormal, they may display abnormality of the communication on the display units to inform the user of the abnormality of the communication so that the user can switch the control modes by manually operating analog setting switches. Information indicating the abnormality of the communication is stored in an EEPROM, and presented to the user when the TV lens system starts to operate afterward.

TV lens system

A lens unit is attached to a body of a TV camera, and a main power supply of the camera body supplies power to motors that drive movable lenses of the lens unit. When the lens unit becomes unused, specifically, when the main power supply is turned off, or when the lens unit becomes detached from the camera body, a power supply switching part of the lens unit switches the power supply to an auxiliary power supply provided in the lens unit to allow the lens unit to operate. Then, a control circuit moves a focus lens and a zoom lens to an infinity end and a wide angle end, respectively, or to predetermined security positions, so as to prevent the deterioration of the operability and optical performance of the lens unit due to vibrations and shocks during transportation of the lens unit. Thereafter, the auxiliary power supply is turned off.

Lens unit of TV camera

When an initialization switch of the TV lens is turned on, an iris is opened and a zoom lens group is moved to a telephoto end automatically. An AF function moves a focus lens group to focus the TV lens according to a focus evaluation value obtained from a video signal. Then, the zoom lens group is moved to a wide end, and the AF function moves a master lens group to focus the TV lens according to the focus evaluation value. The focusing with the focus lens group while the zoom lens group is placed at the telephoto end and the focusing with the master lens group while the zoom lens group is placed at the wide end are repeated alternately several times. Thus, the flange back length of the TV lens can be adjusted automatically.

TV lens with function of automatically adjusting flange back length

A TV camera lens device includes a flange back length control signal for moving a master lens group to a position of the proper flange back length in accordance with the operation of a flange back length control. It further includes a macro control signal generating device for outputting a macro control signal for moving the master lens group to a preset macro position where the master lens group is to be positioned during the macro-shooting. Then, either one of the flange back length control signal and the macro control signal is made to take preference in accordance with the operation of a selector switch, and the selected control signal is input to a control circuit. Incidentally, the macro position may be relatively defined as referenced from the position of the proper flange back length.

TV camera lens device

There are provided a position control signal generating means and a rate control signal generating means for driving a master lens group. One of these two means is validated by means of a changeover switch. A macro-shooting controller including the rate control signal generating means also serves as a zoom controller. After the position control signal generating means is validated to adjust a flange back length, the rate control signal generating means is validated, and then the master lens group moves to a macro-shooting position, etc. Thereafter, if the position control signal generating means is validated again by means of the changeover switch, the master lens group automatically returns to the previously-adjusted position of the proper flange back length.

TV camera lens with flange back length controller

An image blur correcting apparatus is controlled in accordance with panhead data signals received from a panhead apparatus to save energy while compensating the performance of the panhead apparatus with an image blur correcting function of the image blur correcting apparatus. The panhead apparatus outputs a variety of panhead data signals such as a panhead identification signal representing the type of the panhead apparatus, a signal representing the panning or tilting operation, a signal representing a panning or tilting speed, and a signal representing a panning or tilting position. The image blur correcting apparatus receives the panhead data signals through a signal transmission part, and automatically turns on or off the image blur correcting function and adjusts a sensitivity, in accordance with the performance of the panhead apparatus and the panning/tilting speed and/or positions.

Image blur correcting apparatus for use in camera

A TV camera lens of the present invention is provided with a position-control signal generating means for outputting a position-control signal representing a position where a master lens group should be positioned, and a rate-control signal generating means for outputting a rate-control signal representing a rate at which the master lens group should be moved. A position/rate control changeover means validates one of the position-control signal generating means and the rate-control signal generating means. A control circuit drives a motor to move the master lens group according to the rate-control signal or the position-control signal which is validated by the position/rate control changeover means. The TV camera lens is also provided with a limit circuit. A limit position, at which the master lens group stops when the master lens group moves under the rate control, is set to a proper flange back length position, which is adjusted under the position control. Thus, the master lens group can return to a previously-adjusted flange back length position under the rate control without fail.

TV camera lens driving device and TV camera lens

A focus control device of the type including a first sensor circuit arranged to detect the degree of manipulation of a focus operating circuit to produce a lens displacement command signal, a second sensor circuit arranged to detect the current position of a focusing lens to produce a signal indicative of a current lens position, and a comparator arranged to compare the output signals of the first and second sensor circuit to produce a servo control signal according to a difference between the two sensor signals thereby to control the operation of the focusing lens, characterized in that the focus control device comprises an output signal characteristics converting circuit adapted to convert the characteristics of the servo control signal into compliance with a characteristics curve varying with high- and low-pitch inclinations toward the nearest subject distance and infinite ends of the focusing range, respectively.

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Omiya, Japan

Hiroyuki Kawamura