# US 9,883,106 B2 · Image pickup apparatus and method of controlling image pickup apparatus

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- Number: US 9,883,106 B2
- Document ID: US9883106B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/052,077
- Filed: 2016-02-24
- Published: 2016-09-01
- Granted: 2018-01-30
- Earliest claimed: 2015-02-27
- Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
- Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
- Inventors: Goro Noto
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9883106B2

## CPC

- H04N 23/687: {by shifting the lens or sensor position}
- G02B 7/04: with mechanism for focusing or varying magnification
- G02B 7/102: {controlled by a microcomputer (cameras with interchangeable lenses G03B17/14)}
- G02B 7/282: {Autofocusing of zoom lenses}
- G02B 7/287: {including a sight line detecting device}
- H02N 2/026: {by pressing one or more vibrators against the driven body}
- H02N 2/062: {Small signal circuits; Means for controlling position or derived quantities, e.g. for removing hysteresis}
- H04N 23/61: based on recognised objects
- H04N 23/631: {Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters}
- H04N 23/667: Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes
- H04N 23/6812: {based on additional sensors, e.g. acceleration sensors}
- H04N 23/69: Control of means for changing angle of the field of view, e.g. optical zoom objectives or electronic zooming
- H04N 23/959: by adjusting depth of field during image capture, e.g. maximising or setting range based on scene characteristics
- G02B 27/64: Imaging systems using optical elements for stabilisation of the lateral and angular position of the image
- H02N 2/00: Electric machines in general using piezoelectric effect, electrostriction or magnetostriction (generating mechanical vibrations in general B06B; piezoelectric, electrostrictive or magnetostrictive devices in general H10N30/00)
- H04N 23/62: Control of parameters via user interfaces
- H04N 23/68: for stable pick-up of the scene, e.g. compensating for camera body vibrations
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- H02N: ELECTRIC MACHINES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

An image pickup apparatus, including: an observation unit configured to observe an object; a detector configured to detect whether or not a user observes the object through use of the observation unit; and a controller configured to control an actuator, the actuator being configured to drive at least a part of an photography optical system and being capable of performing a first operation and a second operation different from the first operation, the second operation being an operation for maintenance of the actuator, wherein, when the detector detects that the user does not observe the object through use of the observation unit, the controller causes the actuator to perform the second operation.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An image pickup apparatus, comprising:
a viewfinder;
a detector configured to detect whether or not a user observes the object through use of the viewfinder, and
a controller configured to control an actuator, the actuator being configured to drive at least a part of a photography optical system and being capable of performing a first operation and a second operation different from the first operation, the second operation being an operation for maintenance of the actuator,
wherein, when the detector detects that the user does not observe the object through use of the viewfinder, the controller causes the actuator to perform the second operation, and when the detector detects that the user observes the object through use of the viewfinder, the controller does not cause the actuator to perform the second operation,
wherein the actuator comprises a vibrator including a piezoelectric element, and
wherein, in the second operation, an AC voltage with a higher frequency than a frequency of an AC voltage to be applied to the piezoelectric element in the first operation is applied to the piezoelectric element.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first operation comprises at least any one of a focus operation, a focal length changing operation, or a shake correction operation.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detector is configured to detect that an eye of the user is close to the viewfinder.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detector is configured to detect a posture of the image pickup apparatus.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detector is configured to detect shake of the image pickup apparatus.

### Claim 6

An image pickup apparatus, comprising:
a display configured to display an image of an object;
a detector configured to detect whether or not a user observes the object through use of the display; and
a controller configured to control an actuator, the actuator being configured to drive at least a part of a photography optical system and being capable of performing a first operation and a second operation different from the first operation, the second operation being an operation for maintenance of the actuator,
wherein, in one of cases where an image of the object is not displayed on the display and where the detector detects that the user does not observe the object through use of the display, the controller causes the actuator to perform the second operation, and in one of cases where the image of the object is displayed on the display and where the detector detects that the user observes the object through use of the display, the controller does not cause the actuator to perform the second operation,
wherein the actuator comprises a vibrator including a piezoelectric element, and
wherein, in the second operation, an AC voltage with a higher frequency than a frequency of an AC voltage to be applied to the piezoelectric element in the first operation is applied to the piezoelectric element.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The image pickup apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the detector is configured to detect a line of sight of the user.

### Claim 8

A method of controlling an image pickup apparatus, comprising:
detecting whether or not a user observes an object through use of a viewfinder;
causing an actuator to perform a second operation when it is detected that the user does not observe the object through use of the viewfinder, the actuator being configured to drive at least a part of a photography optical system and being capable of performing a first operation and the second operation different from the first operation, the second operation being an operation for maintenance of the actuator; and
causing the actuator not to perform the second operation when it is detected that the user observes the object through use of the viewfinder,
wherein the actuator comprises a vibrator including a piezoelectric element, and
wherein, in the second operation, an AC voltage with a higher frequency than a frequency of an AC voltage to be applied to the piezoelectric element in the first operation is applied to the piezoelectric element.

### Claim 9

A method of controlling an image pickup apparatus, comprising:
detecting whether or not a user observes an object through use of a display;
causing an actuator to perform a second operation in one of cases where an image of the object is not displayed on the display and where it is detected that the user does not observe the object through use of the display, the actuator being configured to drive at least a part of a photography optical system and being capable of performing a first operation and the second operation different from the first operation, the second operation being an operation for maintenance of the actuator; and
causing the actuator not to perform the second operation in one of cases where the image of the object is displayed on the display and where it is detected that the user observes the object through use of the display,
wherein the actuator comprises a vibrator including a piezoelectric element, and
wherein, in the second operation, an AC voltage with a higher frequency than a frequency of an AC voltage to be applied to the piezoelectric element in the first operation is applied to the piezoelectric element.

### Claim 10

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon a program for causing a computer to function as a controller configured to cause an actuator to perform a second operation when it is detected that a user does not observe an object through use of a viewfinder, the actuator being configured to drive at least a part of a photography optical system and being capable of performing a first operation and the second operation different from the first operation, the second operation being an operation for maintenance of the actuator, wherein the controller is configured to cause the actuator not to perform the second operation when it is detected that the user observes the object through use of the viewfinder, wherein the actuator comprises a vibrator including a piezoelectric element, and wherein, in the second operation, an AC voltage with a higher frequency than a frequency of an AC voltage to be applied to the piezoelectric element in the first operation is applied to the piezoelectric element.

### Claim 11

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon a program for causing a computer to function as a controller configured to cause an actuator to perform a second operation in one of cases where an image of an object is not displayed on a display and where it is detected that a user does not observe the object through use of the display, the actuator being configured to drive at least a part of a photography optical system and being capable of performing a first operation and the second operation different from the first operation, the second operation being an operation for maintenance of the actuator, wherein the controller configured to cases the actuator not to perform the second operation in one of cases where the image of the object is displayed on the display and where it is detected that the user observes the object through use of the display, wherein the actuator comprises a vibrator including a piezoelectric element, and wherein, in the second operation, an AC voltage with a higher frequency than a frequency of an AC voltage to be applied to the piezoelectric element in the first operation is applied to the piezoelectric element.