Abstract: There is provided an auto focus system capable of, when manual operation is performed for moving the position of an AF area, which is an area to be targeted by auto focus (AF), while the AF area is automatically tracking a predetermined object, instantaneously changing the object to be targeted by AF by moving the AF area in accordance with the manual operation. An AF area controller is provided with a track ball for moving the position of the AF area by manual operation. A tracking device gives the position of the AF area for causing the AF area to automatically track a predetermined target object, to the AF area controller. The AF area controller causes the AF area to automatically track a predetermined target object by giving the position of the AF area given by the tracking device to an AF processing section of a lens device for performing AF.

Abstract: A position determining device for a control knob includes a relative position determiner and an absolute position determiner. The standard output data of the potentiometer corresponding to the rotational limits of the control knob is recorded in a ROM during manufacturing of the device. Since the device is activated until the potentiometer reaches one of the limits, the operating amount of the control knob is determined in accordance with absolute position data outputted from the potentiometer. When the potentiometer reaches one of the rotational limits of the control knob, the standard data corresponding to the rotational limits is read from the ROM and set as an initial value for the determination by the rotary encoder. Thereafter, the operated amount of the control knob is determined in accordance with relative position data outputted from the rotary encoder.

Abstract: A drive unit is installed in, for example, a manually operated cinema photographing lens and connected to a system controller so that the system controller can electrically control the focus, zoom, and iris of the photographing lens. When a select switch of the system controller or a PC is used to specify the type of the photographing lens, the system controller executes a process adapted to the type of the photographing lens.

Abstract: A selection device which permits or prohibits serial communication is provided in a lens apparatus capable of performing serial communication to suppress the serial communication although a camera body can perform the serial communication. Thus, a safe operation of the system can be guaranteed. At the same time, the processing speed of the processing circuit in the lens apparatus can be reduced, thereby successfully reducing the power consumption.

Abstract: The auto focus system obtains focus information on a lens-interchangeable camera body of a TV camera and sends the focus information to a lens apparatus mounted on the camera body. The lens apparatus controls an auto focus based on the focus information. It is thereby possible to control the focus on adequate conditions according to optical specifications of the lens apparatus and so on.

Abstract: The lens control unit determines the operated amount of a control knob with a CPU through a rotary encoder and a counter, and outputs control signals corresponding to the operated amount through a D/A converter and a communication IC. In the initial state, the lens control unit is set in an analog mode, and outputs the control signal in the analog form. If a lens device controlled by the lens control unit has a serial communication function, the lens device transmits a pulse signal or a mode switch signal with an unexpected frequency for an analog signal to the lens control unit by superimposing the pulse signal on an answer signal. The lens control unit counts pulses included in the pulse signal with a counter to detect the mode switch signal. If the counted value of the counter reaches a predetermined value, the lens control unit shift to a digital mode and thereafter outputs the control signal in the digital form.

Abstract: The lens information display apparatus is provided that allows the cameraman to check required lens information while looking at a viewfinder. A transmissive LCD panel is mounted in front of a screen of the viewfinder, and a control unit for controlling the image displayed on the LCD panel is attached to the bottom surface of the viewfinder. The control unit obtains lens information from a lens apparatus of a television camera system and causes the LCD panel to display images (characters and/or graphics) representing the lens information so that the lens information is displayed as superimposed on the image on the viewfinder.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: In the auto focus system, focus evaluation values indicating a degree of sharpness of images are sought from a plurality of image pickup devices placed at positions of different light path lengths, a travel distance converging to zero as a focus of a picture-taking lens approaches a focusing position is sought by using a difference or a ratio between the two focus evaluation values, and the focus is moved to a new moving target position which is a value of a current moving target position having the travel distance added thereto so as to securely move the focus to the focusing position by stable operation of the focus suited to characteristics of the focus evaluation values.

Abstract: Auto focus control is exerted based on a focus evaluation value indicating a degree of sharpness of an image obtained from a plurality of image pickup devices placed at positions of different light path lengths. There is provided a device which makes a correction on sensitivity of the focus evaluation value obtained from each image pickup devices. It is thereby possible to make an adequate correction on a sensitivity of the focus evaluation value so as to exert the auto focus control with high accuracy. It is also possible to automatically make a correction on the sensitivity of the focus evaluation value and eliminate troublesome labor. All or a part of signal processing for the auto focus control is performed by a single processing part by time-sharing. Thereby, a circuit scale can be miniaturized and power consumption can be reduced.

Abstract: The control unit sets up the center and an insensitive zone of a zoom seesaw switch provided in a drive unit of an ENG lens by an electrical processing. The control unit is capable of dispensing with a mechanical adjustment of the center and the insensitive zone of the zoom seesaw switch in assembling the product, and the assembly of the product is thus simplified. On turning on a center setting switch while the zoom seesaw switch is released from the operation, an operational position of the zoom seesaw switch at that time is accurately set as the center that brings the moving rapidity of the zoom lens to zero. On setting an insensitive zone size by an insensitive zone setup device, the moving rapidity of the zoom lens becomes zero whenever the operational position of the zoom seesaw switch is within the insensitive zone. Any of these settings is carried out by a processing of a CPU.

Abstract: A focus detecting system for determining the focus state of an adjustable focus imaging lens includes a first beamsplitter for separating light for image production and light for detection of the focus state of the adjustable focus imaging lens in the ratio of 2:1. Only two focus state detecting elements are used, each of which receives from a second beamsplitter one-sixth of the amount of light that enters the adjustable focus imaging lens. Light receiving surfaces of the two focus state detecting elements are equidistant from image planes that are conjugate to an image plane for image production. The focus state detecting elements operate in the contrast mode using high frequency components of video signals to produce evaluation values that indicate an in-focus state of the imaging system by being equal. In one embodiment, the images that the focus state detecting elements detect are not reverted.

Abstract: The lens apparatus permits rapid focusing by the operator demanding an autofocus start-up direction to carry out AF in the direction in an AF mode. When a start of the AF mode is instructed, an AF standby state of waiting for the operator to demand the AF start-up direction by operating a focus operation member, thereby permitting the operator to properly demand the AF start-up direction, and permitting the demand to be appropriately detected. When automatically switching from the state where the operator operates the focus operation member to the AF, condition of the switching is that a focus evaluation value exceeds a predetermined threshold based on the operation of the focus operation member, or that an operation amount of the focus operation member is changed more then a predetermined amount, thereby permitting further rapid focusing and improvement of operability.

Abstract: The lens information display apparatus is provided that allows the cameraman to check required lens information while looking at a viewfinder. A transmissive LCD panel is mounted in front of a screen of the viewfinder, and a control unit for controlling the image displayed on the LCD panel is attached to the bottom surface of the viewfinder. The control unit obtains lens information from a lens apparatus of a television camera system and causes the LCD panel to display images (characters and/or graphics) representing the lens information so that the lens information is displayed as superimposed on the image on the viewfinder.

Abstract: The CPU of the lens drive unit obtains new data to be stored in an EEPROM from a personal computer. The CPU confirms with a supplied voltage confirmation circuit that voltage supplied from a power source to the lens drive unit is sufficient to reprogram the contents of the EEPROM. When the voltage of the power source is sufficient, a reprogramming voltage is applied from a reprogramming voltage applying device to the EEPROM, and the contents of the EEPROM are reprogrammed with the new data obtained from the personal computer. If the voltage of the power source is insufficient, the reprogramming of the contents of the EEPROM is not performed.

Abstract: The lens apparatus permits rapid focusing by the operator demanding an autofocus start-up direction to carry out AF in the direction in an AF mode. When a start of the AF mode is instructed, an AF standby state of waiting for the operator to demand the AF start-up direction by operating a focus operation member, thereby permitting the operator to properly demand the AF start-up direction, and permitting the demand to be appropriately detected. When automatically switching from the state where the operator operates the focus operation member to the AF, condition of the switching is that a focus evaluation value exceeds a predetermined threshold based on the operation of the focus operation member, or that an operation amount of the focus operation member is changed more then a predetermined amount, thereby permitting further rapid focusing and improvement of operability.

Abstract: The CPU of the lens drive unit obtains new data to be stored in an EEPROM from a personal computer. The CPU confirms with a supplied voltage confirmation circuit that voltage supplied from a power source to the lens drive unit is sufficient to reprogram the contents of the EEPROM. When the voltage of the power source is sufficient, a reprogramming voltage is applied from a reprogramming voltage applying device to the EEPROM, and the contents of the EEPROM are reprogrammed with the new data obtained from the personal computer. If the voltage of the power source is insufficient, the reprogramming of the contents of the EEPROM is not performed.

Abstract: The control unit sets up the center and an insensitive zone of a zoom seesaw switch provided in a drive unit of an ENG lens by an electrical processing. The control unit is capable of dispensing with a mechanical adjustment of the center and the insensitive zone of the zoom seesaw switch in assembling the product, and the assembly of the product is thus simplified. On turning on a center setting switch while the zoom seesaw switch is released from the operation, an operational position of the zoom seesaw switch at that time is accurately set as the center that brings the moving rapidity of the zoom lens to zero. On setting an insensitive zone size by an insensitive zone setup device, the moving rapidity of the zoom lens becomes zero whenever the operational position of the zoom seesaw switch is within the insensitive zone. Any of these settings is carried out by a processing of a CPU.

Abstract: A zoom control connector, to which a zoom controller is connected, is disposed at the bottom of a drive unit of an ENG lens. When connecting the connector with the zoom controller, a unit discrimination circuit connects a changeover circuit with an A/D converter, and an analog control signal outputted from the zoom controller is converted into a digital signal to be sent to a CPU. In contrast, when connecting the connector with a personal computer, the unit discrimination circuit connects the changeover circuit with a communication IC, and a digital control signal outputted from the personal computer is sent to the CPU through serial communication. Thus, the CPU can execute respective control in accordance with the control signal from the zoom controller or the personal computer received through one connector.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus not requiring the change of manual and automatic operations, preventing a lens from unexpectedly moving under manual operation, and making it possible to perform manual operation when a driving speed is low even under automatic operation. The apparatus has an automatic manual-and-automatic-operation change mode for automatically driving a lens by a zoom switch in a predetermined direction by connecting a zooming ring to a zoom motor through a clutch mechanism and connecting or disconnecting the clutch mechanism by a clutch-operating motor, and making it possible to automatically perform manual operation when the zoom switch is not operated. Moreover, the apparatus has a manual-operation mode for enabling only manual operation in addition to the change mode so that automatic operation is not performed even if an operator touches the zoom switch.