JP2007093467A - Connection circuit and lens position detector of hall element, imaging element position detector, and imaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To apply a simplified signal processing circuit to an imaging device or the like, capable of detecting the difference between Hall output voltages of two Hall elements without using a differential signal processing circuit. <P>SOLUTION: An input terminal of the connection circuit is constituted by connecting a positive pole input terminal 1a of a first Hall element 1 and a positive pole input terminal 2a of a second Hall element 2 and by connecting a negative pole input terminal 1c of the first Hall element 1 and a negative pole input terminal 2c of the second Hall element 2. The output terminal of the connection circuit is composed of the negative pole output terminal 1d of the first Hall element 1 and the negative pole output terminal 2d of the second Hall element 2 connected to each other and two output terminals of the positive pole output terminal 1b of the first Hall element 1 and the positive pole output terminal 2b of the second Hall element 2. The difference between the Hall output voltages is detected by connecting the input terminals of the two Hall elements in parallel and connecting the output terminals in series in a subtractive manner, without using the differential signal processing circuit for detecting the difference between the Hall output voltages of the two Hall elements. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a connection circuit having two four-terminal Hall elements, a lens position detection device, an imaging element position detection device, and an imaging device, and more specifically, a connection circuit for Hall elements used in a position detection device and the like, and The present invention relates to a lens position detection device, an image sensor position detection device, and an imaging device.

  Conventionally, a magnetic sensor for a pointing device used as an input means of information equipment such as a cellular phone, particularly a magnetic sensor with a pointing control circuit that detects a coordinate by detecting a change in a magnetic field by moving a magnet. well known.

  Optical sensors, pressure-sensitive sensors, variable resistance systems, and magnetic detection systems have been put to practical use as pointing device sensors. Among them, in recent years, small, long-life magnetic detection type magnetic sensors have become promising. Yes. In particular, a magnetic sensor incorporating a Hall element is increasingly used for pointing devices such as mobile phones because of its small size and simple structure.

  Therefore, a magnetic sensor with a pointing control circuit that reduces the area occupied by the pointing control circuit that processes the output of the magnetic sensor has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this patent document 1, a pointing control circuit is formed at the center of a substantially rectangular IC chip, and hall elements are provided at the four corners of the peripheral portion of the pointing control circuit. And a pointing control circuit are integrated.

  FIG. 4 is a terminal connection diagram of a position sensor using a conventional Hall element, and FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining position detection using the Hall element. As shown in FIG. 5, the two Hall elements according to the change in the magnetic flux density due to the lateral movement of the permanent magnets 23 arranged opposite to the two Hall elements 22, 22 arranged at intervals. The Hall output voltages of 22 and 22 change respectively. The position of the permanent magnet 23 can be detected by obtaining the difference in the Hall output voltage by the differential signal processing circuit 21 as shown in FIG.

  In other words, the position sensor using the conventional Hall element shown in FIG. 4 includes a Hall element connection circuit having two 4-terminal Hall elements 11 and 12, and the first Hall element 11 has a positive input terminal 11a. And the negative input terminal 11c, the positive output terminal 11b, and the negative output terminal 11d. The second Hall element 12 includes a positive input terminal 12a, a negative input terminal 12c, a positive output terminal 12b, and a negative output terminal 12d. It is made up of.

  The positive input terminal 11a of the first hall element 11 and the positive input terminal 12a of the second hall element 12 are connected, the negative input terminal 11c of the first hall element 11 and the negative electrode of the second hall element 12 are connected. The input terminal 12c is connected to serve as the input terminal of the connection circuit, and the positive output terminal 11b and the negative output terminal 11d of the first Hall element 11 are connected to the first differential amplifier 21a of the differential signal processing circuit 21. The positive output terminal 12b and the negative output terminal 12d of the second Hall element 12 are connected to the second differential amplifier 21b of the differential signal processing circuit 21, and the first differential amplifier 21a and the second differential amplifier 21b are connected to each other. The amplifier 21b is connected to the third differential amplifier 21c. With such a connection circuit, a difference in Hall output voltage between the first Hall element 11 and the second Hall element 12 is obtained from the third differential amplifier 21c.

JP 2004-70543 A

  However, in recent years, with the miniaturization of electronic devices, the integration of elements on a substrate has progressed, and further simplification of signal processing circuits is required. The conventional connection circuit having two 4-terminal Hall elements as shown in FIG. 4 requires a differential signal processing circuit having three differential amplifiers, and the signal processing circuit cannot be simplified. was there.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to detect a difference between Hall output voltages of two Hall elements without using a differential signal processing circuit. In addition, it is an object of the present invention to provide a hall element connection circuit, a lens position detection device, an image sensor position detection device, and an image pickup device that can simplify a signal processing circuit.

  The present invention has been made to achieve such an object. In a connection circuit having two four-terminal Hall elements, the positive input terminal (1a) of the first Hall element (1) and the second The positive input terminal (2a) of the Hall element (2) is connected, and the negative input terminal (1c) of the first Hall element (1) and the negative input terminal (2c) of the second Hall element (2) are connected. Connected to be an input terminal of the connection circuit, the positive output terminals (1b, 2b) among the output terminals of the first Hall element (1) and the second Hall element (2) or the negative side The output terminals (1d, 2d) are connected to each other, and the remaining two output terminals are used as output terminals of the connection circuit.

  In other words, by connecting the input terminals of the two Hall elements in parallel and connecting the output terminals in series in a subtractive manner, it is possible to detect the difference between the Hall output voltages of the two Hall elements as in the prior art. The signal processing circuit is simplified by detecting the difference in Hall output voltage without using the differential signal processing circuit.

  Further, the invention according to claim 2 is a lens position detecting device, in the vicinity of the peripheral surface of the lens barrel (30) housing the lens (30a) arranged to be movable on the optical path, and the lens ( The position of the lens (30a) is detected by using the connection circuit of the Hall elements (1, 2) according to claim 1 arranged along the moving direction of 30a).

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the lens (30a) is a zoom lens that makes a focal length variable.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second or third aspect of the invention, the lens (30a) is a focus lens that adjusts a focal point with respect to a subject.

  The invention according to claim 5 is an imaging apparatus, wherein the lens (30a) is accommodated in the lens barrel (30) and is movably disposed on the optical path, and the position of the lens (30a) is determined. The connection circuit of the Hall elements (1, 2) according to claim 1, wherein the drive control means (33) outputs a drive control signal of the lens (30a) based on a position signal from the connection circuit, And lens driving means (34, 35) for positioning the lens (30a) by a drive control signal output from the drive control means (33).

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect of the present invention, the lens (30a) is a zoom lens that makes a focal length variable.

  The invention described in claim 7 is the invention described in claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the lens (30a) is a focus lens that adjusts the focus on the subject.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the imaging device (36) according to the seventh aspect of the present invention, wherein a light receiving surface is arranged at a position where the focus lens is in focus at a rear end portion of the barrel (30). ), A signal processing unit (37) for generating a digital image signal from the image signal of the image sensor (36), and a removable storage medium (38) for storing image data from the signal processing unit (37) ).

  The invention according to claim 9 is an image sensor position detecting device, comprising an image sensor (36) having a light receiving surface arranged at a position where a lens (30a) arranged on an optical path is in focus, 2. The imaging device (1) using the connection circuit of the Hall elements (1, 2) according to claim 1 arranged in the vicinity of the imaging device (36) so as to be movable in a plane including the imaging device (36). 36) is detected.

  The invention according to claim 10 is an imaging device, wherein the imaging device (36) is arranged to be movable in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis direction at a rear end portion in the lens barrel (30). 2. A connection circuit for the Hall elements (1, 2) according to claim 1 for detecting a position of the image pickup element (36), and a drive control signal for the image pickup element (36) based on a position signal from the connection circuit. Drive control means (33) for outputting the image sensor and image sensor drive means (35a, 35b) for positioning the image sensor (36) by the drive control signal output from the drive control means (33). It is characterized by.

  According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the tenth aspect of the present invention, a signal processing unit (37) that generates an image signal of a digital signal from an image signal of the imaging element (36), and the signal processing unit And a removable storage medium (38) for storing the image data from (37).

  According to the present invention, the positive input terminal of the first Hall element and the positive input terminal of the second Hall element are connected, and the negative input terminal of the first Hall element and the negative input terminal of the second Hall element are connected. To connect the positive output terminals or the negative output terminals among the output terminals of the first Hall element and the second Hall element, and connect the remaining two output terminals to the connection circuit. Therefore, the difference between the Hall output voltages of the two Hall elements can be detected without using the differential signal processing circuit, and the signal processing circuit can be simplified. The Hall element connection circuit of the present invention is suitable as a Hall element connection circuit used in a position detection device or the like.

  Also, the Hall element connection circuit of the present invention can be applied to a lens position detection device. Furthermore, it is also possible to realize an imaging apparatus incorporating a lens position detection device using the Hall element connection circuit of the present invention.

  Further, the Hall element connection circuit of the present invention can be applied to an image sensor position detecting device. Furthermore, it is also possible to realize an imaging apparatus incorporating an imaging element position detection apparatus using the Hall element connection circuit of the present invention.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a connection diagram for explaining an embodiment of a Hall element connection circuit according to the present invention. Reference numeral 1 is a first Hall element, 1a is a positive input terminal, 1b is a positive output terminal, and 1c is a negative electrode. An input terminal, 1d is a negative output terminal, 2 is a second Hall element, 2a is a positive input terminal, 2b is a positive output terminal, 2c is a negative input terminal, and 2d is a negative output terminal.

  The Hall element connection circuit of the present invention has two four-terminal Hall elements 1 and 2. The positive input terminal 1a of the first Hall element 1 and the positive input terminal 2a of the second Hall element 2 are connected, and the negative input terminal 1c of the first Hall element 1 and the negative input terminal of the second Hall element 2 are connected. 2c is connected to form the input terminal of the connection circuit.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the negative output terminal 1d of the first Hall element 1 and the negative output terminal 2d of the second Hall element 2 are connected to each other, and the positive output of the first Hall element 1 is obtained. The terminal 1b and the two output terminals of the positive output terminal 2b of the second Hall element 2 constitute an output terminal of the connection circuit.

  The positive electrode output terminal 1b of the first Hall element 1 and the positive electrode output terminal 2b of the second Hall element 2 are connected to each other, and the negative electrode output terminal 1d of the first Hall element 1 and the second Hall element 2 are connected. The two output terminals of the negative output terminal 2d may be configured as output terminals of the connection circuit.

  That is, the first Hall element 1 is provided with input terminals 1a and 1c and output terminals 1b and 1d. The second Hall element 2 is provided with input terminals 2a and 2c and output terminals 2b and 2d. Between each input terminal, an input current is applied in the direction from the input terminal 1a or 2a to 1c or 2c, and when a magnetic field is applied, the potential of the output terminal 1b or 2b becomes the potential of the output terminal 1d or 2d. Simultaneously higher or lower than the potential. Further, the input terminals 1a and 2a, 1c and 2c, and the output terminals 1d and 2d are electrically connected, and the Hall output of the first Hall element 1 is output between the output terminals 1b and 2b. A difference output voltage Vr between the voltage and the Hall output voltage of the second Hall element 2 is detected.

  With such a configuration, the difference between the two Hall elements is detected in parallel by connecting the input terminals of the two Hall elements in parallel, and the output terminals are connected in series in a subtractive manner. By detecting the difference in Hall output voltage without using the dynamic signal processing circuit, the signal processing circuit can be simplified.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining an embodiment of an image pickup apparatus using the Hall element of the present invention as a lens position detecting means. In the figure, reference numeral 30 denotes a lens barrel, and 30a denotes a lens (zoom lens, focus lens). , 31 is a Hall element of the present invention, 32 is an amplifying unit, 33 is a microcomputer (control unit), 34 is a lens driver, 35 is a lens actuator, 36 is an image pickup device (CCD; Charge Coupled Device), and 37 is a signal processing unit. , 38 indicate storage media.

  As an application of the Hall element 31 of the present invention, in an imaging apparatus such as a video camera or a digital camera, the position of the lens 30a accommodated in the lens barrel 30 is detected by the Hall element 31, and an output signal of the Hall element 31 is obtained. Amplified by the amplifying unit 32, the amplified signal is input to the microcomputer 33, signal processing is performed by the microcomputer 33, the processed signal is input to the lens driver 34, and a step motor is output by the output of the lens driver 34. The actuator 35 can be driven, and the lens 30a connected to the actuator 35 can be driven to rotate. In this way, for example, a zoom lens and a focus lens can be positioned at an optical position.

  The image sensor 36 uses, for example, a CCD or a CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor), and outputs the accumulated charges to the signal processing unit 37. The signal processing unit 37 performs CDS (Correlated Double Sampling) processing, AGC (Automatic Gain Control) processing, and the like on the image signal input from the image sensor 36, and then performs A / D (Analog / Digital) conversion. The image data of the digital signal is generated. Then, camera signal processing such as AF (Auto Focus), AE (Auto Exposure), and AWB (Auto White Balance) is performed on the image data converted into a digital signal to adjust the image data. Thereafter, the image signal is compression-encoded, and the obtained encoded data can be stored in the storage medium 38.

  In other words, the lens position detecting device of the present invention has a hole of the present invention disposed in the vicinity of the peripheral surface of the lens barrel 30 containing the lens 30a movably disposed on the optical path and along the moving direction of the lens 30a. The position of the lens 30a is detected using the connection circuit of the elements 1 and 2. In this case, the lens 30a is a zoom lens that makes the focal length variable or / and a focus lens that adjusts the focus on the subject.

  The imaging device of the present invention includes a lens 30a housed in the lens barrel 30 and arranged to be movable on the optical path, and a connection circuit of the Hall elements 1 and 2 of the present invention for detecting the position of the lens 30a. The microcomputer 33 outputs a drive control signal for the lens 30a based on the position signal from the connection circuit, and includes a lens driver 34 and an actuator 35 for positioning the lens 30a based on the drive control signal output from the microcomputer 33. ing.

  In this case, the lens 30a is a zoom lens that makes the focal length variable or / and a focus lens that adjusts the focus on the subject.

  The image pickup apparatus of the present invention also has an image pickup device 36 in which a light receiving surface is arranged at a position where the focus lens is in focus at the rear end of the lens barrel 30, and an image signal of a digital signal from the image signal of the image pickup device 36. A signal processing unit 37 to be generated and a removable storage medium 38 for storing image data from the signal processing unit 37 are provided.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining an embodiment of an image pickup apparatus using the Hall element of the present invention as an image pickup element position detecting means. Reference numerals 31a and 31b in FIG. Hall elements 35a and 35b corresponding to the Hall element 31 in FIG. 2 indicate imaging element actuators. The other configuration shown in FIG. 2 can be used as it is.

  When shooting with a camera, the camera sometimes takes a blurred photo because it is out of focus due to subtle tremors in the hands. As a countermeasure, a camera shake correction technique is used. As one of them, there is an image sensor shift type camera shake correction in which the imaging element itself is moved in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis direction (XY direction) and adjusted so that the light reaches the original arrival point. The image pickup apparatus shown in FIG. 3 shows an embodiment in which the position of the image pickup element is detected by the Hall element of the present invention and used for camera shake correction.

  That is, the image sensor position detection apparatus according to the present embodiment includes the image sensor 36 in which the light receiving surface is disposed at a position where the lens 30a disposed on the optical path is in focus, and can move in a plane including the image sensor 36. Are arranged in the vicinity of the image sensor 36, and are configured to detect the position of the image sensor 36 using a connection circuit of the Hall elements 31a and 31b.

  In addition, an image pickup apparatus provided with such an image pickup element position detecting device includes an image pickup element 36 that is arranged at a rear end portion in the lens barrel 30 so as to be movable in a plane orthogonal to the optical axis direction, and the image pickup element. A connection circuit for Hall elements 31a and 31b for detecting the position of 36, a microcomputer 33 for outputting a drive control signal for the image sensor 36 based on a position signal from the connection circuit, and a drive control signal output from the microcomputer 33 Are provided with image sensor actuators 35a and 35b for positioning the image sensor 36.

  In addition, a signal processing unit 37 that generates an image signal of a digital signal from an image signal of the image sensor 36 and a removable storage medium 38 that stores image data from the signal processing unit 37 are provided.

It is a connection diagram for explaining one example of a connection circuit of Hall elements according to the present invention. It is a block diagram for demonstrating one Example of the imaging device which used the Hall element of this invention as a lens position detection means. It is a block diagram for demonstrating one Example of the imaging device which used the Hall element of this invention as an image pick-up element position detection means. It is a terminal connection diagram of a position sensor using a conventional Hall element. It is the schematic for demonstrating the position detection using a Hall element.

Explanation of symbols

1, 11 First Hall elements 1a, 2a Positive input terminals 1b, 2b Positive output terminals 1c, 2c Negative input terminals 1d, 2d Negative output terminals 2, 12 Second Hall elements 11a, 12a Positive input terminals 11b, 12b Output terminal 11c, 12c Negative input terminal 11d, 12d Negative output terminal 21 Differential signal processing circuit 21a, 21b, 21c Differential amplifier 22 Hall element 23 Permanent magnet 30 Lens barrel 30a Zoom lens 31, 31a, 31b Hall element 32 Amplifier 33 Microcomputer (control unit)
34 Lens Driver 35 Lens Actuators 35a and 35b Image Sensor Actuator 36 Image Sensor (CCD; Charge Coupled Device)
37 signal processing unit 38 storage medium

Claims (11)

  In a connection circuit having two 4-terminal Hall elements, the positive input terminal of the first Hall element and the positive input terminal of the second Hall element are connected, and the negative input terminal of the first Hall element and the second The negative input terminals of the Hall elements are connected to serve as the input terminals of the connection circuit, and the positive output terminals or the negative output terminals of the output terminals of the first Hall element and the second Hall element are connected to each other. , And the remaining two output terminals are used as the output terminals of the connection circuit.   2. The hall element connection circuit according to claim 1, wherein the lens is disposed in the vicinity of a peripheral surface of a lens barrel that houses a lens that is movably disposed on an optical path and along a moving direction of the lens. A lens position detecting device for detecting the position of the lens.   The lens position detection apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the lens is a zoom lens that makes a focal length variable.   The lens position detection device according to claim 2, wherein the lens is a focus lens that adjusts a focus on a subject.   A lens that is housed in a lens barrel and is movably disposed on an optical path; a hall element connection circuit according to claim 1 that detects a position of the lens; and a position signal from the connection circuit. An image pickup apparatus comprising: drive control means for outputting a lens drive control signal; and lens drive means for positioning the lens by the drive control signal output from the drive control means.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the lens is a zoom lens that makes a focal length variable.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the lens is a focus lens that adjusts a focal point with respect to a subject.   An image sensor in which a light receiving surface is disposed at a position where the focus lens is in focus at a rear end of the lens barrel; a signal processing unit that generates an image signal of a digital signal from an image signal of the image sensor; and the signal processing The imaging apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising: a removable storage medium that stores image data from the unit.   The imaging device according to claim 1, further comprising an imaging device having a light receiving surface disposed at a position where a lens disposed on the optical path is in focus, and disposed in the vicinity of the imaging device so as to be movable in a plane including the imaging device. An image sensor position detecting apparatus, wherein a position of the image sensor is detected using a connection circuit of a Hall element.   The imaging device arranged to be movable in a plane orthogonal to the optical axis direction at a rear end portion in the lens barrel, and a connection circuit for the Hall device according to claim 1 for detecting a position of the imaging device, Drive control means for outputting a drive control signal for the image sensor based on a position signal from a connection circuit, and image sensor drive means for positioning the image sensor based on the drive control signal output from the drive control means. An imaging apparatus characterized by that.   The signal processing unit that generates an image signal of a digital signal from the image signal of the imaging device, and a removable storage medium that stores image data from the signal processing unit. Imaging device.

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