# US 7,609,314 B2 · Image pickup apparatus, method of controlling the image pickup apparatus, and control program for implementing the method

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- Number: US 7,609,314 B2
- Document ID: US7609314B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/835,386
- Filed: 2007-08-07
- Published: 2008-02-14
- Granted: 2009-10-27
- Earliest claimed: 2006-08-09
- Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
- Inventors: Nobuyuki Inoue
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7609314B2

## CPC

- G03B 17/02: Bodies
- H04N 23/663: for controlling interchangeable camera parts based on electronic image sensor signals
- H04N 23/811: {by dust removal, e.g. from surfaces of the image sensor or processing of the image signal output by the electronic image sensor}
- G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D)
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

An image pickup apparatus which is capable of removing foreign substance, such as dust, attached to an optical member disposed in front of an image pickup element, even when accessories are exchanged in a power-off state of the image pickup apparatus. The type or state of an accessory mounted on the image pickup apparatus, which is detected immediately before a power-off of the image pickup apparatus are stored. When a type or state of a mounted accessory, which is detected immediately after the power-on, is different from the stored type or state of the accessory mounted on the image pickup apparatus, an operation for removing foreign substance attached to the optical member is carried out.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An image pickup apparatus on which and from which an accessory device can be mounted and removed, comprising:
an optical member disposed in front of an image pickup element on a photographic optical axis;
a foreign substance removing unit configured to remove foreign substance attached to said optical member;
an accessory type/state-detecting unit configured to detect at least one of a type and a state of an accessory mounted on the image pickup apparatus, immediately before a power-off of the image pickup apparatus, and detect at least a corresponding one of a type and a state of an accessory mounted on the image pickup apparatus, immediately after a next power-on of the image pickup apparatus;
a determining unit configured to determine whether the at least one of the type and the state of the accessory mounted on the image pickup apparatus, detected immediately before the power-off by said accessory type/state-detecting unit is identical to or different from the at least the corresponding one of the type and the state of the accessory mounted on the image pickup apparatus, detected immediately after the next power-on by said accessory type/state-detecting unit; and
a control unit configured to cause said foreign substance removing unit to operate when said determining unit determines that the at least one of the type and the state of the accessory mounted on the image pickup apparatus, detected immediately before the power-off is different from the at least the corresponding one of the type and the state of the accessory mounted on the image pickup apparatus, detected immediately after the next power-on of the image pickup apparatus.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

An image pickup apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a storage unit configured to store information on at least one of the type and the state of the accessory mounted on the image pickup apparatus, detected immediately before the power-off.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

An image pickup apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the accessory is at least one of an exchangeable photographic lens, an image storing medium for recording a picked-up electronic image, and a power supply.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

An image pickup apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the accessory is at least one of an exchangeable photographic lens, an image storing medium for recording a picked-up electronic image, and a power supply.

### Claim 5

A method of controlling an image pickup apparatus on which and from which an accessory device can be mounted and removed, the image pickup apparatus including an optical member disposed in front of an image pickup element on a photographic optical axis, and a foreign substance removing unit configured to remove foreign substance attached to the optical member, comprising:
an accessory type/state-detecting step of detecting at least one of a type and a state of an accessory mounted on the image pickup apparatus, immediately before a power-off of the image pickup apparatus, and detecting at least a corresponding one of a type and a state of an accessory mounted on the image pickup apparatus, immediately after a next power-on of the image pickup apparatus;
a determination step of determining whether the at least one of the type and the state of the accessory mounted on the image pickup apparatus, detected immediately before the preceding power-off in said accessory type/state-detecting step is identical to or different from the at least the corresponding one of the type and the state of the accessory mounted on the image pickup apparatus, detected immediately after the next power-on in said accessory type/state-detecting step; and
a control step of causing said foreign substance removing unit to operate when it is determined in said determination step that the at least one of the type and the state of the accessory mounted on the image pickup apparatus, detected immediately before the power-off is different from the at least the corresponding one of the type and the state of the accessory mounted on the image pickup apparatus, detected immediately after the next power-on of the image pickup apparatus.

### Claim 6

A computer readable storage medium storing a control program for causing a computer to execute a method of controlling an image pickup apparatus on which and from which an accessory device can be mounted and removed, the image pickup apparatus including an optical member disposed in front of an image pickup element on a photographic optical axis, and a foreign substance removing unit configured to remove foreign substance attached to the optical member, comprising:
an accessory type/state-detecting module for detecting at least one of a type and a state of an accessory mounted on the image pickup apparatus, immediately before a power-off of the image pickup apparatus, and detecting at least a corresponding one of a type and a state of an accessory mounted on the image pickup apparatus, immediately after a next power-on of the image pickup apparatus;
a determination module for determining whether the at least one of the type and the state of the accessory mounted on the image pickup apparatus, detected immediately before the power-off by said accessory type/state-detecting module is identical to or different from the at least the corresponding one of the type and the state of the accessory mounted on the image pickup apparatus, detected immediately after the next power-on by said accessory type/state-detecting module; and
a control module for causing said foreign substance removing unit to operate when said determination module determines that the at least one of the type and the state of the accessory mounted on the image pickup apparatus, detected immediately before the power-off is different from the at least the corresponding one of the type and the state of the accessory mounted on the image pickup apparatus, detected immediately after the next power-on of the image pickup apparatus.