KR20150024732A - Digital imaging apparatus and Method for detaching lens therefrom - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for automatically changing a lens, and a method for separating a replacement lens from a camera body by electronically controlling a locking unit after closing a mechanical shutter when recognizing a lens replacement signal through a lens replacement recognition unit mounted on the replacement lens .

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a digital imaging apparatus and a method for detaching lens therefrom,

The present invention relates to a lens-exchange imaging apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for separating a replacement lens from a lens-changing imaging apparatus.

In general, a digital camera has a DSLR (interchangeable lens type) camera that exchanges lenses, and a high-end (10 megapixel or more) digital camera that is similar in appearance to the DSLR camera and has enhanced manual and zoom functions. It is largely divided into the most popular compact digital cameras, and some types combine high-end and DSLR.

At this time, the DSLR (interchangeable lens) camera using the interchangeable lens has a wide angle, a standard, a sub-telephoto, a telephoto, a zoom and a converter optical system depending on the type of lens, and a CCD camera Recently, as the price of the product has changed more economically, CMOS cameras using CMOS imaging devices have been released.

In addition, the optical system of the interchangeable lens used in the conventional digital camera is very complicated due to the characteristics of the market, and the price is also high. However, as the market is getting bigger, the area of users is spreading from experts to general people, We are trying to diversify and miniaturize to make it easier to carry.

US 7,508,442

In the present invention, it is desired to automatically exchange lenses in a lens exchange type imaging apparatus.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the image photographing apparatus includes a lens replacement recognizing unit mounted on the exchange lens barrel and recognizing a lens exchange signal for separating the exchange lens from the camera body; A lens mount for mounting the exchange lens; A locking unit mounted on the lens mount and controlling the interchangeable lens to be detachably attached to the camera body; A lens information communication unit located in a front portion of a camera body and receiving a lens exchange signal transmitted from the lens exchange recognition unit when the exchange lens is detachably attached to the camera body to exchange data of the exchange lens; A mechanical shutter control unit for controlling the mechanical shutter to close the mechanical shutter before the interchangeable lens is separated from the camera body upon receiving the lens exchange signal from the lens information communication unit; And an automatic lens attaching / detaching unit for electronically controlling the lock unit when receiving the lens exchange signal from the lens information communicating unit to release the exchange lens and the lock state of the camera body.

Preferably, when the manual lens detachment button is depressed, the detachable lens and the latch of the camera body are physically inserted into the lens mount, And the lock state is released.

Preferably, the locking unit is implemented as a solenoid, and the automatic lens attaching / detaching unit electronically controls the locking unit when receiving the lens replacement signal from the lens information communicating unit to lock the camera body Is released.

Preferably, the locking unit is implemented as a digital door lock. When the automatic lens detachable unit receives the lens replacement signal from the lens information communication unit, the automatic locking and releasing unit electronically controls the locking unit operating motor to move the pole in a downward direction And the lock state of the camera body and the exchange lens is released.

Preferably, the lens exchange recognizing unit is implemented as a touch screen and is mounted on the exchange lens barrel. In this case, when the specific gesture is recognized on the touch screen, it is recognized as the lens replacement signal to separate the exchange lens from the camera body, and the specific gesture is a gesture previously set by the user.

Preferably, when the user recognizes a multi-touch of a predetermined type on the touch screen, the control unit recognizes the interchangeable lens as the lens exchange signal for separating the interchangeable lens from the camera body.

Preferably, the lens exchange recognizing portion is implemented in a switch form and mounted on the exchange lens barrel, in which case the switch is in the form of a slide movement, a push type push, or a combination of the slide movement and the push type push operation And recognizes the interchangeable lens as the lens exchange signal for separating the interchangeable lens from the camera body when the interchangeable lens is operated as at least one of the interchangeable lenses.

As a still another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a method of automatically separating a replacement lens from a video imaging apparatus recognizes a lens replacement signal for separating the replacement lens from a camera body in a lens replacement recognition unit mounted on an exchange lens barrel section ; Controlling the interchangeable lens so that the interchangeable lens can be attached to and detached from the camera body from a locking device mounted on one side of a lens mount for mounting the interchangeable lens; Receiving a lens exchange signal transmitted from the lens exchange recognition unit when the exchange lens is detachably attached to the camera body in order to exchange data of the exchange lens, ; Controlling the mechanical shutter control unit to close the mechanical shutter before the interchangeable lens is separated from the camera body upon receiving the lens replacement signal from the lens information communication unit; And releasing the lock state of the exchange lens and the camera body by electronically controlling the lock unit upon receiving the lens exchange signal from the lens information communication unit in the automatic lens attaching / detaching unit .

Preferably, when the manual lens detachment button mounted on the outer portion of the lens mount on which the locking device is mounted is mounted in the form of a physical button, the latches of the exchange lens and the camera body are physically released, The method comprising the steps of:

Preferably, the lens exchange recognizing unit is implemented as a touch screen type and mounted on the interchangeable lens barrel unit. When recognizing at least one of a preset gesture, a multi-touch or a combination of a gesture and a multitouch on the touch screen, And recognizes the lens change signal as the lens change signal to be separated from the camera body.

Preferably, the lens exchange recognizing unit is implemented in a switch form and mounted on the exchange lens barrel, and the switch operates in the form of a slide movement, a push type push, or a combination of the slide movement and the push type push operation And the lens change signal is a signal indicating that the exchange lens should be detached from the camera body when it is operated as at least one of the lens change signals.

The present invention discloses a method for automatically and conveniently exchanging lenses. Thus, it is possible to reduce an accident that the exchange lens is dropped or the camera body is dropped in the process of exchanging the conventional exchange lens, and the desired lens can be quickly replaced during photographing to photograph a desired one.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a digital image photographing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a front view of a digital image photographing apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 3 shows an example of a case where the digital image pickup apparatus is combined with the interchangeable lens, as a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 4 shows an example in which a camera body and an interchangeable lens communicate with each other as a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
5 to 6 illustrate an example of recognizing the lens exchange signal in the lens exchange recognition unit (Fig. 3, 300) in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

It is noted that the technical terms used herein are used only to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the invention. It is also to be understood that the technical terms used herein are to be interpreted in a sense generally understood by a person skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs, Should not be construed to mean, or be interpreted in an excessively reduced sense.

Further, when a technical term used herein is an erroneous technical term that does not accurately express the spirit of the present invention, it should be understood that technical terms that can be understood by a person skilled in the art are replaced. In addition, the general terms used in the present invention should be interpreted according to a predefined or prior context, and should not be construed as being excessively reduced.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a digital image photographing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

1, the digital image capturing apparatus 100 includes an optical unit 11 for inputting an optical signal from a subject, an image pickup element for converting an optical signal input through the optical unit 11 into an electric signal 12), and an input signal processing section (13) for performing signal processing such as noise reduction processing and digital signal conversion processing on the electric signal provided from the image pickup element (12). A motor 14 for driving the optical unit 11 and a driving unit 15 for controlling the operation of the motor 14. [

The digital image photographing apparatus 100 includes a user input unit (UI) 20 for inputting an operation signal of a user, an SDRAM 30 for temporarily storing data of an input image, data for arithmetic processing, A flash memory 40 for storing algorithms and setting data necessary for the operation of the image capturing apparatus 100, and an SD / CF / SM card 50 as a recording apparatus for storing image files.

The digital image photographing apparatus 100 is equipped with a liquid crystal display device (LCD) 60 as a display device. The audio signal processing unit 71 performs processing for converting sound into a digital signal or processing for changing an analog signal to a digital signal of a sound source and processing for generating an audio file, a speaker 72 for outputting sound, And a microphone 73 for input. The digital image capturing apparatus 100 includes a digital signal processor (DSP) 80 for controlling the operation of the digital image capturing apparatus 100.

Each component will be described in more detail.

The optical unit 11 may include a lens for condensing the optical signal, a diaphragm for adjusting the amount (amount of light) of the optical signal, a shutter for controlling the input of the optical signal, and the like. The lens includes a zoom lens for controlling the angle of view to be narrowed or widened according to a focal length, a focus lens for focusing the subject, etc. These lenses may be each composed of one lens, . The shutter may be provided with a mechanical shutter that moves the shield up and down. Alternatively, instead of the separate shutter device, the supply of the electric signal to the image pickup device 11 may be controlled to serve as a shutter.

The motor 14 for driving the optical unit 11 drives the position of the lens, the opening and closing of the diaphragm, the operation of the shutter, and the like in order to perform operations such as autofocus, automatic exposure adjustment, diaphragm adjustment, .

The motor (14) is controlled by a driving unit (15). The driving unit 15 controls the operation of the motor 14 according to a control signal input from the DSP 80.

The image pickup element 12 receives an optical signal input from the optical section 11 and forms an image of the subject. A CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) sensor array, a CCD (charge coupled device) sensor array, or the like can be used as the image pickup device 12.

The input signal processing unit 13 may further include an A / D converter for digitizing an electric signal supplied from the CCD as an analog signal. Further, it is possible to provide a circuit for performing signal processing for adjusting the gain or shaping the waveform of the electric signal provided from the image pickup device 12. [

The DSP 80 reduces the noise of the input image data and performs a gamma correction, a color filter array interpolation, a color matrix, a color correction, and color enhancement can be performed. In addition, the image data generated by the image signal processing can be compressed to generate an image file, or the image data can be recovered from the image file.

The DSP 80 can control each component according to a user's control signal input through the UI 20. [ The DSP 80 receives the lens change signal transmitted from the lens change recognition unit (see FIGS. 3 and 300) of the interchangeable lens through the lens information communication unit (FIGS. 2 and 240) and controls the mechanical shutter control unit 90 and the automatic lens The detachable portion 93 can be controlled.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, when the DSP 80 receives the lens replacement signal through the lens information communication unit (FIGS. 2 and 240), the DSP 80 controls the mechanical shutter control unit 90 to close the mechanical shutter, The switching lens and the camera main body can be separated by operating the operating unit of the lock unit (FIG. 2, 210) through the unit 93 to electronically control the pole downward. This will be described in detail with reference to Figs. 2 to 4.

2 is a front view of a digital image photographing apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 3 shows an example of a case where the digital image pickup apparatus is combined with the interchangeable lens, as a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4 shows an example in which a camera body and an interchangeable lens communicate with each other as a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, a shutter-release button 11, a mode dial 15, and a lens unit 17 are provided in front of the digital image processing apparatus.

The shutter release button 11 of the digital image photographing apparatus is opened and closed to expose an image capturing element (e.g., a CCD or COMS) to light for a predetermined period of time and interlocked with a diaphragm (not shown) And the image is recorded on the image capturing element by exposure.

The shutter-release button 11 generates the first and second image pickup signals by the photographer input. When the shutter-release button 11 is input as a half-shutter signal, the digital image processing device controls the amount of light by adjusting the focus. At this time, the display portion is lit with a green light. When the focus of the shutter-release button 11 is focused and the amount of light is adjusted, the shutter-release button 11 as a full shutter signal is input to photograph the image.

3 and 13 are input to designate a set value while looking at the viewfinder or the display unit 25, and the shutter speed, the aperture value, and the like can be set using the jog dial 13.

The mode dial 15 is input for selection of a shooting mode. In DSLR and high-end models of digital image-taking devices, the mode dial (15) has an AUTO (Auto) mode for minimizing user settings and for quickly and easily recording images according to the purpose of use, , SCENE mode, which is used to easily set the optimal camera settings according to the shooting conditions, EFFECT mode, which is used to give special effects to video shooting such as continuous shooting scene shooting, and various functions including aperture and shutter speed, A / S / M mode, and the like, and is not limited to the above modes. In addition, in the case of a high-end model, the video shooting mode, which is used for shooting and storing a moving image for a time period allowed by a storage space such as a memory card in the mode dial (15) And a voice recording mode for recording and storing only voice.

The lens unit 17 receives light from an external light source and processes the image. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the lens unit 17 includes a mount portion 230 on which a replacement lens is mounted, a lock portion 210 mounted on the lens mount portion and detachably attachable to the camera body A manual lens detachment button 220 disposed in the form of a physical button on the right side of the mount and separating the interchangeable lens from the camera body when the button 220 is pressed, a lens mount index 240 and the like. The mounting portion 230 may be provided with a plurality of electrical contacts for performing an electrical connection with the interchangeable lens, or a coupler for performing mechanical connection.

As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the locking device 210 can be implemented as a solenoid. In this case, when the lens exchange signal is received from the lens information communication unit (Figs. 2 and 240), the automatic lens attaching / detaching unit (Figs. 1 and 93) electronically controls the lock unit 210, Lock state can be electronically released.

As another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the lock unit 210 can be implemented in the form of a digital door lock. The configuration of the digital door lock will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs and will not be described herein. The automatic lens attaching / detaching portion (Figs. 1 and 93) electronically controls the pawl operation motor to receive the lens replacement signal from the lens information communication portion (Figs. 2 and 240) to control the pawl to move downward, The lock state of the camera body can be electronically released.

Referring to FIG. 3, the interchangeable lens includes a lens group consisting of a plurality of lenses arranged in series along the optical axis. The lens group includes a focus lens and a zoom lens for performing focus adjustment.

The interchangeable lens communicates with the lens information communication unit 240 provided on the front surface of the camera body. The lens information communication unit 240 receives state information data such as a focal length, an exit pupil position, an aperture value, a focusing distance, and an ambient light amount state of the lens group 21 from the interchangeable lens, DSP 80).

In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the interchangeable lens includes a lens exchange recognition portion (Figs. 3 and 300). The lens exchange recognition unit (FIGS. 3 and 300) can be realized in the form of a switch, a touch screen, a human body sensor, or the like.

As one preferred embodiment of the present invention, an embodiment for automatically exchanging an interchangeable lens in a digital image photographing apparatus will be described in detail as follows.

3 and FIG. 3), a lens mount portion (FIGS. 2 and 230), a lock portion (FIGS. 2 and 210), a lens information communication portion (See FIGS. 1 and 90), an automatic lens detachable portion (FIGS. 1 and 93), and a manual lens detachable button (see FIGS.

As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the user can manually remove the interchangeable lens from the camera body by pressing the manual lens detachment button (Fig. 2, 220) mounted on the camera body. In this case, however, there is a problem that the exchange lens is dropped or the camera body is frequently dropped in the process of separating the exchange lens while pressing the manual lens detachment button (FIG. 2, 220) mounted on the camera body.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, referring to FIG. 4, when the user recognizes a lens exchange signal for separating the interchangeable lens from the interchangeable lens recognition unit (FIGS. 3 and 300) mounted on the interchangeable lens, The lens exchange signal is transmitted to the automatic lens attaching / detaching portion (Figs. 1 and 93) through the lock mechanism portion (Figs. 2 and 240) so that the interchangeable lens can be separated from the camera body by electronically controlling the lock portion .

Preferably, in the present invention, before the interchangeable lens is separated from the camera body, the mechanism shutter control unit (Figs. 1 and 90) controls the mechanical shutter to be closed, thereby preventing dust from entering the sensor during lens exchange.

As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the lens exchange recognition unit (FIGS. 3 and 300) can be implemented in the form of a soft button, a hard button, a soft switch, a hard switch, or the like. In detail, it can be implemented in the form of a switch, a touch screen, and a human body detection sensor.

In one embodiment, when the lens exchange recognition unit (FIG. 3, 300) is implemented in the form of a switch, the user presses the switch, pushes it in slide form or pushes it up and down, The user can recognize the lens exchange signal for separating the interchangeable lens from the camera body.

That is, when the user pushes the switch in the slide manner, it is possible to set the lens exchange signal to detach the exchange lens from the camera body. Thus, the user can set the type of the lens exchange signal in a predetermined form.

As another preferred embodiment, referring to FIGS. 5 to 6, the lens exchange recognition unit (FIGS. 3 and 300) may be implemented in the form of a touch screen. In this case, the user can set a specific gesture among the various gestures shown in FIG. 5 as the lens exchange signal.

For example, a gesture 510 to slide to the right, a gesture 511 to slide to the left, a gesture 520 to slide down to the right, a gesture 521 to slide down, .

In the lens exchange recognition unit (Figs. 3 and 300), only when the specific gesture set by the user matches the lens exchange signal received from the user, the exchange lens is separated from the camera body.

Another example of the lens exchange signal is the multi-touch method as shown in Fig. The user can set the lens change signal as a touch 610 once on the touch screen, touching two different areas 620 and 621 twice or touching different areas 630, 631 and 632 three times .

Also, it is possible for the user to set the lens exchange signal by a combination of the specific gesture shown in FIG. 5 and the multi-touch shown in FIG.

In addition to this, when the user presses a preset area or touches the lens replacement recognition unit (FIG. 3, 300) for a predetermined time or longer, it is possible to set the lens exchange signal. It should be noted that the example described above is only one preferred embodiment of the present invention, but is not limited thereto.

3 and 300) recognizes the lens change signal from the user in the lens change recognition unit (FIGS. 3 and 300) according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the lens change recognition unit (FIG. 2, 240).

When the lens exchange signal is received through the lens information communication unit (FIGS. 2 and 240), a signal is transmitted to the control unit (FIGS. 1 and 80), and the control unit (FIGS. 1 and 80) drives the mechanical shutter control unit 90 first, The shutter is closed and then the automatic lens attaching / detaching portion (Figs. 1 and 93) is controlled to separate the interchangeable lens and the camera body.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments, but, on the contrary, It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims (15)

A lens replacement recognizing unit mounted on the exchange lens barrel for recognizing a lens exchange signal for separating the exchange lens from the camera body;
A lens mount for mounting the exchange lens;
A locking unit mounted on the lens mount and controlling the interchangeable lens to be detachably attached to the camera body;
A lens information communication unit located in a front portion of a camera body and receiving a lens exchange signal transmitted from the lens exchange recognition unit when the exchange lens is detachably attached to the camera body to exchange data of the exchange lens; And
And an automatic lens attaching / detaching unit for electronically controlling the lock unit when the lens exchange signal is received from the lens information communicating unit to release the exchange lens and the lock state of the camera body. . The method according to claim 1,
And a manual lens detachment button mounted on an outer portion of the lens mount on which the locking device is located in the form of a physical button. When the manual lens detachment button is pressed, the detachment of the exchange lens and the camera body is physically released And the lock state is released. The locking device according to claim 1,
And the automatic lens attaching / detaching unit electronically controls the lock unit when receiving the lens replacement signal from the lens information communicating unit to release the lock state of the exchange lens and the camera body. Image capturing device. The locking device according to claim 1,
Wherein the automatic lens attaching / detaching unit is electrically connected to the interchangeable lens unit and the interchangeable lens unit so as to downwardly move the pawl in a downward direction by electronically controlling the locking unit operation motor when the automatic lens attaching / And releases the lock state of the camera body. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lens change recognizing unit
Wherein the camera body is mounted on the interchangeable lens barrel by being implemented as a touch screen. 6. The method of claim 5,
And recognizes a specific gesture on the touch screen as the lens exchange signal to separate the exchange lens from the camera body, and the specific gesture is a gesture set by the user. 6. The method of claim 5,
And recognizes the interchangeable lens as the interchangeable lens signal for separating the interchangeable lens from the camera body when the user recognizes the multitouch of the predetermined type on the touch screen. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lens change recognizing unit
Wherein the switch is mounted on the interchangeable lens barrel. 9. The method of claim 8,
When the switch is operated with at least one of a slide movement, a push-type movement, or a combination of the slide movement and the push-type movement, the lens exchange signal to disconnect the exchange lens from the camera body And recognizes the image. The method according to claim 1,
And a mechanical shutter control unit for controlling the mechanical shutter to close the mechanical shutter before the interchangeable lens is separated from the camera body upon receiving the lens replacement signal from the lens information communication unit. A method for automatically separating a replacement lens from a video imaging device,
Recognizing a lens exchange signal for separating the interchangeable lens from the camera body in a lens exchange recognition unit mounted on the interchangeable lens barrel;
Controlling the interchangeable lens so that the interchangeable lens can be attached to and detached from the camera body from a locking device mounted on one side of a lens mount for mounting the interchangeable lens;
Receiving a lens exchange signal transmitted from the lens exchange recognition unit when the exchange lens is detachably attached to the camera body in order to exchange data of the exchange lens, ; And
And when the automatic lens attaching / detaching unit receives the lens replacement signal from the lens information communicating unit, electronically controlling the locking unit to cancel the lock state of the exchange lens and the camera body . 12. The method of claim 11,
When the manual lens detachment button mounted in the form of a physical button is pressed on an outer portion of the lens mount on which the locking device is located, the locking state of the exchange lens and the camera body is released while the lock is released; ≪ / RTI > 12. The method of claim 11,
Wherein the lens exchange recognizing unit is implemented as a touch screen type and is mounted on the exchange lens barrel unit, and when recognizing at least one of a predetermined gesture, a multitouch, a combination of a gesture and a multitouch on the touch screen, And separating the lens change signal. 12. The method of claim 11,
Wherein the lens exchange recognizing unit is implemented as a switch and is mounted on the exchange lens barrel, and the switch operates at least in the form of a slide movement, a push-type movement, or a combination of the slide movement and the push- And recognizing the interchangeable lens as a lens interchange signal to separate the interchangeable lens from the camera body when operated as one. 12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the steps of: when the mechanical shutter control unit receives the lens replacement signal from the lens information communication unit before releasing the lock state of the camera body, Controlling the shutter to close; ≪ / RTI >

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