Abstract: A diaphragm control apparatus is provided with a controller. When a photographing lens is attached to a camera body and a power switch is turned from ON to OFF, a drive motor first moves a diaphragm device to a minimum aperture, and thereafter the drive motor is switched from power ON to OFF. Thus, any damage to the inside of camera body due to sunlight entering into the opening of the diaphragm device can be prevented, and also the structure of camera body can be simplified by reducing the number of parts.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes a setting unit for enabling a user to set control values, a display unit for displaying the control values, an obtaining unit for obtaining an aperture value of a lens unit based on luminous information of an object image and the control values set by the user, and a calculation unit for calculating a signal for controlling an aperture of the lens unit according to the aperture value, wherein when the aperture value of the lens unit is a first aperture value, a value based on the first aperture value is displayed and a signal corresponding to the first aperture value is calculated, and when the aperture value of the lens unit is a second aperture value, a value based on the second aperture value is displayed and a signal corresponding to a third aperture value which is different from the second aperture value is calculated.

Abstract: An aperture control device includes: an aperture first driving member that controls an aperture of a diaphragm through which light flux passes; an aperture second driving member that drives the aperture first driving member; a motor that drives the aperture second driving member; a detection device that detects start of movement of the aperture first driving member caused by the aperture second driving member driven by the motor; and a motor control device that controls an aperture value of the diaphragm by controlling a rotational amount of the motor after the detection device detects the start of movement of the aperture first driving member.

Abstract: In an imaging apparatus including a stepping motor that drives a diaphragm, a favorable moving image exposure control is carried out while reducing electrical power required for holding the diaphragm position. When a rotor and the magnetic poles of a stator do not face each other in a first mode, a control unit of the stepping motor drives the rotor to a facing position, and shuts off the current in a coil. When the diaphragm driving does not occur in a second operation mode, the control unit shuts off the current in the coil at the state where the rotor of the motor and the magnetic poles of the stator face each other. A holding current to be supplied to the motor is shut off in the first and second. The program profile of a diaphragm drive method and an exposure control is switched depending on the type of an imaging lens unit.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a three-phase brushless DC motor providing a high torque and performs stable operations which can be used even when an installation space is restricted. To achieve the object, the present invention adopts an inner rotor-type three-phase brushless DC motor in which an inner rotor-type three-phase brushless DC motor comprising a rotor provided with a plurality of magnetic poles divided equally in a circumferential direction at an outer peripheral of the rotor and a stator separately arranged along an outer peripheral of the rotor, wherein the stator is provided with M?n (wherein, n is an integer equal to or larger than 1) of stator sections each provided with three stator poles each having different phases, and the relationship between number of magnetic poles provided in the rotor and the total number of stator poles is made different from the conventional one.

Abstract: An aperture control device includes: an aperture first driving member that controls an aperture of a diaphragm through which light flux passes; an aperture second driving member that drives the aperture first driving member; a motor that drives the aperture second driving member; a detection device that detects start of movement of the aperture first driving member caused by the aperture second driving member driven by the motor; and a motor control device that controls an aperture value of the diaphragm by controlling a rotational amount of the motor after the detection device detects the start of movement of the aperture first driving member.

Abstract: A diaphragm control apparatus is provided with a controller. When a photographing lens is attached to a camera body and a power switch is turned from ON to OFF, a drive motor first moves a diaphragm device to a minimum aperture, and thereafter the drive motor is switched from power ON to OFF. Thus, any damage to the inside of camera body due to sunlight entering into the opening of the diaphragm device can be prevented, and also the structure of camera body can be simplified by reducing the number of parts.

Abstract: In an imaging apparatus including a stepping motor that drives a diaphragm, a favorable moving image exposure control is carried out while reducing electrical power required for holding the diaphragm position. When a rotor and the magnetic poles of a stator do not face each other in a first mode, a control unit of the stepping motor drives the rotor to a facing position, and shuts off the current in a coil. When the diaphragm driving does not occur in a second operation mode, the control unit of a stepping motor shuts off the current in the coil at the state where the rotor of the motor and the magnetic poles of the stator face each other. A holding current to be supplied to the motor is shut off in the first and second. The program profile of a diaphragm drive method and an exposure control is switched depending on the type of an imaging lens unit.

Abstract: In an imaging apparatus including a stepping motor that drives a diaphragm, a favorable moving image exposure control is carried out while reducing electrical power required for holding the diaphragm position. For moving image exposure control, a determination unit determines the presence or absence of the diaphragm driving. When a rotor and the magnetic poles of the stator do not face to each other in the first operation mode, the control unit of a stepping motor drives the rotor to a facing position, and shuts off the current in a coil. When the diaphragm driving does not occur in the second operation mode, the control unit of a stepping motor shuts off the current in the coil at the state where the rotor of the motor and the magnetic poles of the stator face to each other. A holding current to be supplied to the motor is shut off in the first and second operation modes, whereby the lower power consumption can be realized.

Abstract: A diaphragm control apparatus incorporated in a camera body, to which an interchangeable lens equipped with a diaphragm apparatus is detachably attached, the diaphragm apparatus including a diaphragm operatively-associated rod for driving an adjustable diaphragm to open and shut the adjustable diaphragm, and the diaphragm control apparatus including a slide member that is driven to move the diaphragm operatively-associated rod, the diaphragm control apparatus includes a diaphragm drive mechanism including a stepping motor and a lead screw which is driven to rotate by the stepping motor, wherein the slide member is moved by rotation of the lead screw, a position detector for detecting a position of the slide member, and a controller for adjusting an excitation phase of the stepping motor based on a stop position of the slide member detected by the position detector.

Abstract: An aperture control device includes: an aperture first driving member that controls an aperture of a diaphragm through which light flux passes; an aperture second driving member that drives the aperture first driving member; a motor that drives the aperture second driving member; a detection device that detects start of movement of the aperture first driving member caused by the aperture second driving member driven by the motor; and a motor control device that controls an aperture value of the diaphragm by controlling a rotational amount of the motor after the detection device detects the start of movement of the aperture first driving member.

Abstract: An aperture control device includes: an aperture first driving member that controls an aperture of a diaphragm through which light flux passes; an aperture second driving member that drives the aperture first driving member; a motor that drives the aperture second driving member; a detection device that detects start of movement of the aperture first driving member caused by the aperture second driving member driven by the motor; and a motor control device that controls an aperture value of the diaphragm by controlling a rotational amount of the motor after the detection device detects the start of movement of the aperture first driving member.

Abstract: A diaphragm control apparatus is provided in a camera body, in which a controller drives a stepping motor to move the slider away from an origin position, thereafter drives the stepping motor in the opposite direction toward the origin position, and thereafter detects the slider position after holding the stepping motor for a first waiting time upon a distance from the slider to the origin position becoming less than slider-moving distance for one step of the stepping motor. The controller causes the stepping motor to enter a free state upon a lapse of the first waiting time and detects the slider position upon a lapse of a second waiting time to set an initial excitation pattern from a difference between the slider position detected during the first waiting time and the slider position detected in the free state thereof and from the moving distance of the slider.

Abstract: A diaphragm control apparatus in a camera body includes a stepping motor, a lead screw thereof, wherein a slider is driven by the lead screw, a position detector, and a controller. When the stepping motor is in a free state, the slider allows a diaphragm operatively-associated rod to move to an initial position. The controller detects the slider origin position when the stepping motor is in the free state and drives the stepping motor stepwise to move the slider away from the origin position against a biasing force of a resilient biaser, and drives the stepping motor stepwise to move the slider toward the origin position while detecting the slider position; and sets an initial excitation pattern of the stepping motor upon a distance from the detected slider position to the origin position becoming less than a slider moving distance for one step of the stepping motor.

Abstract: A diaphragm control apparatus in a camera body includes a stepping motor; a lead screw thereof, wherein a slider is driven by the lead screw; a position detector; and a controller. When driving the stepping motor by a predetermined number of steps in a direction to move the slider away from an origin position, the controller detects the slider position before driving the stepping motor stepwise as the origin position via the position detector, and thereafter detects a stepping position of the slider to compare the stepping position with the origin position each time the stepping motor is driven by one step, and counts the number of steps based from the moment at which the stepping position of the slider exceeds a predetermined position in the direction to move the slider away from the origin position against the biasing force of the resilient biaser.

Abstract: A vane driving device includes: a board having an opening; a blade changing an area of the opening, having a cam slot, and being elastically deformable; and a drive member transmitting a drive force from a drive source to the blade, and having a drive pin engaging the cam slot. The drive member is stopped by contacting the drive pin with at least one of end portions of the cam slot, when the blade is located in a fully opened state or in a small aperture state.

Abstract: An aperture control device includes: an aperture first driving member that controls an aperture of a diaphragm through which light flux passes; an aperture second driving member that drives the aperture first driving member; a motor that drives the aperture second driving member; a detection device that detects start of movement of the aperture first driving member caused by the aperture second driving member driven by the motor; and a motor control device that controls an aperture value of the diaphragm by controlling a rotational amount of the motor after the detection device detects the start of movement of the aperture first driving member.

Abstract: A diaphragm control apparatus is provided in a camera body, in which a controller drives a stepping motor to move the slider away from an origin position, thereafter drives the stepping motor in the opposite direction toward the origin position, and thereafter detects the slider position after holding the stepping motor for a first waiting time upon a distance from the slider to the origin position becoming less than slider-moving distance for one step of the stepping motor. The controller causes the stepping motor to enter a free state upon a lapse of the first waiting time and detects the slider position upon a lapse of a second waiting time to set an initial excitation pattern from a difference between the slider position detected during the first waiting time and the slider position detected in the free state thereof and from the moving distance of the slider.

Abstract: A diaphragm control apparatus in a camera body includes a stepping motor, a lead screw thereof, wherein a slider is driven by the lead screw, a position detector, and a controller. When the stepping motor is in a free state, the slider allows a diaphragm operatively-associated rod to move to an initial position. The controller detects the slider origin position when the stepping motor is in the free state and drives the stepping motor stepwise to move the slider away from the origin position against a biasing force of a resilient biaser, and drives the stepping motor stepwise to move the slider toward the origin position while detecting the slider position; and sets an initial excitation pattern of the stepping motor upon a distance from the detected slider position to the origin position becoming less than a slider moving distance for one step of the stepping motor.

Abstract: A camera system for driving a diaphragm by a stepping motor including first and second coils and capable of 2-phase driving, includes a display unit configured to display an image signal, a live view control unit configured to display image signals sequentially read from an image sensor in the display unit, and a control unit configured to set only one of the first and second coils to be in an energized state when the live view control unit displays the image signals in the display unit.

Abstract: A diaphragm control apparatus incorporated in a camera body, to which an interchangeable lens equipped with a diaphragm apparatus is detachably attached, the diaphragm apparatus including a diaphragm operatively-associated rod for driving an adjustable diaphragm to open and shut the adjustable diaphragm, and the diaphragm control apparatus including a slide member that is driven to move the diaphragm operatively-associated rod, the diaphragm control apparatus includes a diaphragm drive mechanism including a stepping motor and a lead screw which is driven to rotate by the stepping motor, wherein the slide member is moved by rotation of the lead screw, a position detector for detecting a position of the slide member, and a controller for adjusting an excitation phase of the stepping motor based on a stop position of the slide member detected by the position detector.

Abstract: A camera system for driving a diaphragm by a stepping motor including first and second coils and capable of 2-phase driving, includes a display unit configured to display an image signal, a live view control unit configured to display image signals sequentially read from an image sensor in the display unit, and a control unit configured to set only one of the first and second coils to be in an energized state when the live view control unit displays the image signals in the display unit.

Abstract: An aperture control device includes: an aperture first driving member that controls an aperture of a diaphragm through which light flux passes; an aperture second driving member that drives the aperture first driving member; a motor that drives the aperture second driving member; a detection device that detects start of movement of the aperture first driving member caused by the aperture second driving member driven by the motor; and a motor control device that controls an aperture value of the diaphragm by controlling a rotational amount of the motor after the detection device detects the start of movement of the aperture first driving member.

Abstract: A camera system for driving a diaphragm by a stepping motor including first and second coils and capable of 2-phase driving, includes a display unit configured to display an image signal, a live view control unit configured to display image signals sequentially read from an image sensor in the display unit, and a control unit configured to set only one of the first and second coils to be in an energized state when the live view control unit displays the image signals in the display unit.

Abstract: A driving device includes a stepping motor for causing the light-amount adjusting member to open and close so as to adjust an amount of light passing through an optical system. A driving range where the light-amount adjusting member is actually used for effecting light amount adjustment is set to a range exceeding an electrical angle 360° of the stepping motor. A mechanical abutment portion is provided at a position outside the driving range, and a portion of the light-amount adjusting member is brought into abutment with the mechanical abutment portion when an initial reset of the stepping motor is performed. The light-amount adjusting member is brought to a position a predetermined distance away from the mechanical abutment portion when a light-amount adjusting function of the light-amount adjusting member is stopped.

Abstract: An optical apparatus includes an actuator for driving an optical function member of an interchangeable lens, a storage part (memory) storing a plurality of driving patterns for the actuator in advance, and a controller for controlling the actuator to perform driving using one of the plurality of driving patterns stored in the storage part (memory). The controller selects one of the plurality of driving patterns from the storage part (memory) in accordance with the type of image pickup apparatus on which the interchangeable lens is mounted.

Abstract: An optical apparatus is disclosed, which includes an actuator for driving an optical function member of an interchangeable lens, a storage part (memory) storing a plurality of driving patterns for the actuator in advance, and a controller for controlling the actuator to perform driving by using one of the plurality of driving patterns stored in the storage part (memory). The controller selects one of the plurality of driving patterns from the storage part (memory) in accordance with the type of image pickup apparatus on which the interchangeable lens is mounted.

Abstract: An optical apparatus includes a light quantity adjusting member arranged to vary a quantity of light when the member is moved, a stepping motor arranged to drive the light quantity adjusting member, a luminance detecting part for detecting the luminance of a shooting object on the basis of the quantity of light obtained through the light quantity adjusting member, and a control circuit for driving and controlling the stepping motor in such a way as to make a difference between the luminance of the object detected by the luminance detecting part and a target luminance value smaller, the control circuit being arranged to change the driving speed of the stepping motor to be lowered when the object luminance comes near to the target luminance value.

Abstract: In order to connect a stepping motor driven type camera unit to a camera control unit intended for a DC motor driven type camera apparatus, a camera system includes a lens block provided with a stepping motor for adjusting lens operation, an A/D conversion block for converting a DC control signal ranging from positive to negative polarity into a digital signal to be outputted, a shift direction/velocity calculation block which generates and outputs data on lens shift direction and velocity according to the digital signal from the A/D conversion block, and a pulse signal generation block for outputting a pulse signal according to the data from the shift direction/velocity calculation block.