# US 10,321,041 B2 · Imaging apparatus, control method of imaging apparatus, and non-transitory storage medium storing control method of imaging apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,321,041 B2 - Document ID: US10321041B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/435,439 - Filed: 2017-02-17 - Published: 2017-08-24 - Granted: 2019-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2016-02-18 - Assignees: Olympus Corporation - Applicants: Olympus Corporation - Inventors: Tetsuo Kikuchi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10321041B2 ## CPC - H04N 23/672: {based on the phase difference signals} - H04N 23/63: by using electronic viewfinders - H04N 23/75: by influencing optical camera components - H04N 23/673: {based on contrast or high frequency components of image signals, e.g. hill climbing method} - H04N 25/704: Pixels specially adapted for focusing, e.g. phase difference pixel sets - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract An imaging apparatus includes a photographic lens, an imager, a diaphragm, a drive unit, and a control unit. The imager receives light fluxes passing through the photographic lens to generate an imaging signal. The diaphragm regulates the light fluxes passing through the photographic lens and received by the imager. The drive unit drives the diaphragm. The control unit performs still image continuous photography and displays a live-view image on a display unit during each main exposure of the still image continuous photography. The control unit controls a start timing of the driving of the diaphragm for the main exposure performed by the drive unit while the live-view image is displayed during each main exposure of the still image continuous photography, in accordance with a drive speed of the diaphragm. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An imaging apparatus comprising: a photographic lens; an imager configured to receive light fluxes passing through the photographic lens to generate an imaging signal; a diaphragm configured to regulate the light fluxes passing through the photographic lens and received by the imager; a drive unit configured to drive the diaphragm; and a control processor configured to perform still image continuous photography and display a live-view image on a display unit during each main exposure of the still image continuous photography, wherein the control processor is further configured to control, in accordance with a drive speed of the diaphragm, a start timing of the driving of the diaphragm for the main exposure performed by the drive unit while the live-view image is displayed during each main exposure of the still image continuous photography, delay the start timing of the driving of the diaphragm when the drive speed of the diaphragm is higher than a predetermined value, and perform an exposure operation for the live-view image by the imager by the delayed start timing of the driving of the diaphragm, wherein the predetermined value is the drive speed of the diaphragm corresponding to a time necessary for an exposure operation for the live-view image of one frame, and the time which delays the start timing of the driving of the diaphragm is longer than the time necessary for the exposure operation for the live-view image of one frame. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control processor is further configured to control the start timing of the driving of the diaphragm so that the driving of the diaphragm is completed in conformity to the start timing of the main exposure or by a timing earlier than the start timing of the main exposure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the photographic lens includes a focus lens, the control processor is further configured to control an exposure operation for autofocus which is performed during the still image continuous photography by operating the imager, control a movement of the focus lens on the basis of image data acquired by the exposure operation for autofocus, and control a start of the movement of the focus lens in accordance with the start timing of the control operation of the diaphragm. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the control processor is further configured to alternate the exposure operation for the live-view image with the exposure operation for autofocus. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the control processor is further configured to perform the exposure operation for the live-view image and the exposure operation for autofocus in the same frame. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the diaphragm is configured so that the drive speed thereof is changeable, and the control processor is further configured to instruct to change the drive speed of the diaphragm before instructing to start the main exposure by a photographer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the photographic lens and the diaphragm are provided in a lens unit, the lens unit further comprising a storage unit to store information regarding the drive speed of the diaphragm, and a lens communication unit which communicates with the control unit, and the control processor is further configured to acquire the information regarding the drive speed of the diaphragm from the storage unit via the lens communication unit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The imaging apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the information regarding the drive speed of the diaphragm is information indicating a speed higher or lower than a predetermined value or information indicating a driving time corresponding to a predetermined amount of driving of the diaphragm. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The imaging apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the lens unit further comprises a focus lens, and a focus lens control unit which controls a movement of the focus lens, the control processor is further configured to control an exposure operation for autofocus which is performed during the still image continuous photography by operating the imager, control the movement of the focus lens via the focus lens control unit on the basis of image data acquired by the exposure operation for autofocus, and instruct the focus lens control unit via the lens communication unit to start the movement of the focus lens in accordance with the start timing of the control operation of the diaphragm. ### Claim 10 A control method of an imaging apparatus, the imaging apparatus comprising a photographic lens, an imager which receives light fluxes passing through the photographic lens to generate an imaging signal, a diaphragm which regulates the light fluxes passing through the photographic lens and received by the imager, and a display unit which displays on the basis of the imaging signal, the control method comprising: performing still image continuous photography by the imager, and displaying a live-view image on the display unit during each main exposure of the still image continuous photography; and controlling, in accordance with a movement speed of the diaphragm, a start timing of the movement of the diaphragm for the main exposure while the live-view image is displayed during each main exposure of the still image continuous photography, wherein controlling the start timing of the movement of the diaphragm comprises delaying the start timing of the movement of the diaphragm when the movement speed of the diaphragm is higher than a predetermined value which is the movement speed of the diaphragm corresponding to a time necessary for an exposure operation for the live-view image of one frame, and wherein the time which delays the start timing of the movement of the diaphragm is longer than the time necessary for the exposure operation for the live-view image of one frame. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The control method according to claim 10, wherein controlling the start timing of the movement of the diaphragm comprises controlling the start timing of the movement of the diaphragm so that the movement of the diaphragm is completed in conformity to the start timing of the main exposure or by a timing earlier than the start timing of the main exposure. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The control method according to claim 10, wherein the photographic lens includes a focus lens, the control method further comprising controlling an exposure operation for autofocus which is performed during the still image continuous photography by operating the imager, and controlling a movement of the focus lens on the basis of image data acquired by the exposure operation for autofocus, and the movement of the focus lens being started in accordance with the start timing of the movement of the diaphragm. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The control method according to claim 12, wherein the exposure operation for the live-view image alternates with the exposure operation for autofocus. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The control method according to claim 12, wherein the exposure operation for the live-view image and the exposure operation for autofocus are performed in the same frame. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The control method according to claim 10, wherein the diaphragm is configured so that the drive speed thereof is changeable, and the control method further comprising changing the drive speed of the diaphragm before instructing to start the main exposure by a photographer. ### Claim 16 A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a processor executable code, which when executed by at least one processor, performs a control method of an imaging apparatus comprising a photographic lens, an imager which receives light fluxes passing through the photographic lens to generate an imaging signal, a diaphragm which regulates the light fluxes passing through the photographic lens and received by the imager, and a display unit which displays on the basis of the imaging signal, the control method comprising: performing still image continuous photography by the imager, and displaying a live-view image on the display unit during each main exposure of the still image continuous photography; and controlling, in accordance with a movement speed of the diaphragm, a start timing of the movement of the diaphragm for the main exposure while the live-view image is displayed during each main exposure of the still image continuous photography, wherein controlling the start timing of the movement of the diaphragm comprises delaying the start timing of the movement of the diaphragm when the movement speed of the diaphragm is higher than a predetermined value which is the movement speed of the diaphragm corresponding to a time necessary for an exposure operation for the live-view image of one frame, and wherein the time which delays the start timing of the movement of the diaphragm is longer than the time necessary for the exposure operation for the live-view image of one frame.