Lens unit, imaging device, and control method

An imaging device comprising:

• a lens unit;
• and
• imaging circuitry,
• wherein the lens unit includes
• a plurality of focus lenses arranged in sequence such that light passes through the plurality of focus lenses in the sequence,
• a plurality of actuators respectively corresponding to the plurality of focus lenses and configured to move each of the plurality of focus lenses, and
• control circuitry configured to
• control the plurality of actuators to control movement of the plurality of focus lenses according to a first rule in a case of a position of at least one of the plurality of focus lenses being outside a designated range of optical performance, the first rule being different from a second rule in a case of the position all of the plurality of focus lenses being inside the designated range, the second rule being based on a positional relationship between the plurality of focus lenses, and
• perform control to change a movement direction of at least one of the focus lenses based on a change of the position of each of the plurality of focus lenses from being inside the designated range to being outside the designated range.

A control method comprising:

• controlling, via control circuitry and a plurality of actuators, movement of a plurality of focus lenses according to a first rule in a case of a position of at least one of the plurality of focus lenses being outside a designated range of optical performance, the first rule being different from a second rule in a case of the position all of the plurality of focus lenses being inside the designated range, the second rule being based on a positional relationship between the plurality of focus lenses;
• and
• performing control, via the control circuitry, to change a movement direction of at least one of the focus lenses based on a change of the position of each of the plurality of focus lenses from being inside the designated range to being outside the designated range, wherein
• the plurality of focus lenses are arranged in sequence such that light passes through the plurality of focus lenses in the sequence.

A lens unit comprising:

• a plurality of focus lenses arranged in sequence such that light passes through the plurality of focus lenses in the sequence;
• a plurality of actuators respectively corresponding to the plurality of focus lenses and configured to move each of the plurality of focus lenses;
• and
• control circuitry configured to
• control the plurality of actuators to control movement of the plurality of focus lenses according to a first rule in a case of a position of at least one of the plurality of focus lenses being within an exterior range outside a designated range of optical performance, the first rule being different from a second rule in a case of the position all of the plurality of focus lenses being inside the designated range, and
• perform control to change a movement direction of at least one of the focus lenses based on a change of the position of each of the plurality of focus lenses from being inside the designated range to being outside the designated range,
• wherein the designated range is a subset of the exterior range which represents the full range of physical movement of the plurality of focus lenses.