JP2008022059A - Image capturing apparatus and image capturing apparatus control method - Google Patents

Abstract

A low-cost configuration has an anti-shake function and can protect an apparatus from an impact.
A process image processing unit detects motion vectors at a plurality of points in time from image data (100), calculates an acceleration G based on the detected amount of change in the motion vector (102), and calculates Based on the acceleration G, the frequency T is detected (104). When the acceleration G is equal to or less than the threshold value K and the frequency T is equal to or less than the threshold value T0, it is detected that the digital camera is falling (106), and the lens is retracted, The zoom lens drive circuit motor is driven to retract the lens barrel, and the lens barrier drive circuit motor is driven by the lens barrier closing process to close the lens barrier (108). Further, the aperture opening process is performed, and the motor of the aperture drive circuit is driven to open the aperture (110).
[Selection] Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a photographing apparatus and a method for controlling the photographing apparatus, and more particularly to a photographing apparatus having a camera shake prevention function and a method for controlling the photographing apparatus.

  Conventionally, in a photographing apparatus such as a digital camera, in order to prevent image quality deterioration due to camera shake, a camera shake prevention function that detects a motion vector due to camera shake from image data obtained by a CCD and corrects the image data based on the motion vector. An attached photographing device is used.

  Further, in order to protect the photographing apparatus from an impact caused by dropping or the like, an impact protection operation is performed by detecting the impact or acceleration by a dedicated sensor.

For example, an imaging device is known that detects the presence or absence of an impact by an impact detection circuit when an external impact is applied to the device, obtains a static torque that can withstand the impact, and prevents movement of the lens group due to the impact. (Patent Document 1).
JP 2001-83398 A

  However, if an imaging device equipped with a camera shake prevention function is provided with an impact detection circuit like the imaging device described in Patent Document 1, the number of parts of the device increases and the manufacturing cost increases. There's a problem.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and provides a photographing apparatus and a photographing apparatus control method capable of protecting the apparatus from an impact while having an anti-shake function with a low-cost configuration. For the purpose.

  In order to achieve the above object, an imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes an imaging unit that forms an image of a subject, and an imaging unit that captures the subject image formed by the imaging unit and generates image data. A motion vector detection means for detecting a motion vector from the image data, a calculation means for calculating an acceleration generated in the apparatus based on the motion vector detected by the motion vector detection means, and a detection by the motion vector detection means. When the acceleration calculated by the calculation unit is equal to or less than a predetermined value by moving at least one of the imaging unit and the photographing unit according to the motion vector, and preventing camera shake, And a protection means for protecting the device from the impact of dropping.

  In addition, an imaging apparatus control method according to the present invention includes an imaging unit that forms a subject image, and an imaging unit that captures the subject image formed by the imaging unit and generates image data. A motion vector is detected from the image data, an acceleration generated in the device is calculated based on the detected motion vector, and the imaging means is determined according to the detected motion vector. And at least one of the photographing means is moved to prevent camera shake, and when the calculated acceleration is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the apparatus is protected from a drop impact.

  According to the present invention, a motion vector is detected from the image data generated by the photographing unit, and at least one of the imaging unit and the photographing unit is moved according to the detected motion vector to prevent camera shake. Further, based on the detected motion vector, an acceleration generated in the own apparatus is calculated, and when the calculated acceleration is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the own apparatus is protected from a drop impact.

  Therefore, it is necessary to provide a new configuration for drop detection by calculating the acceleration based on the motion vector detected to prevent camera shake and protecting the device from the impact of the fall according to the acceleration. Therefore, it is possible to protect the device from a drop impact while having a camera shake prevention function with a low-cost configuration.

  The photographing apparatus further includes frequency detection means for detecting the frequency of vibration of the own apparatus based on the acceleration, and the protection means is a frequency whose acceleration is equal to or less than a predetermined value and detected by the frequency detection means. However, when the frequency is equal to or lower than a predetermined frequency as the lower limit value of the frequency of vibration generated during camera shake, the device can be protected from the impact of dropping. As a result, based on the acceleration and vibration frequency, the fall of the own device is detected and the own device is protected, so that the fall of the own device is erroneously detected and the malfunction is caused to protect the own device. Can be prevented.

  In the above control method, when the acceleration is equal to or lower than the predetermined value, at least one of the lens barrel retracting, the lens barrier closing, the aperture opening, the power supply stop to the memory, and the hard disk head retracting is performed. It can be carried out. Accordingly, the lens barrel can be retracted and the lens barrier can be closed to protect the lens, and the aperture itself can be protected by opening the aperture. Further, by stopping the power supply to the memory, it is possible to prevent data damage due to an abnormal voltage generated in the memory, and by retracting the head of the hard disk, it is possible to prevent damage to the hard disk head and the recording surface.

  The imaging apparatus further includes an imaging control means for extending or retracting the imaging means, and the protection means protects the imaging means by the imaging control means so as to protect the imaging means from a drop impact. Can be retracted. As a result, it is possible to prevent the image forming means from being damaged by the impact of dropping in the state where the image forming means is extended.

  In addition, the photographing apparatus further includes a recording unit that records the image data generated by the photographing unit, and the protection unit can control the storage unit so as to protect the recording unit from a drop impact. As a result, it is possible to prevent the recording means from being damaged by the impact of the drop and the recorded data from being erased.

  According to the imaging device and the control method of the imaging device according to the present invention, the acceleration is calculated based on the motion vector detected for preventing camera shake, and the device is protected from the impact of dropping according to the acceleration. Accordingly, since it is not necessary to provide a new configuration for the fall detection, it is possible to obtain an effect of having a camera shake prevention function with a low cost configuration and protecting the device from the impact of the fall.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. A case where the present invention is applied to a digital camera will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, on the front of the digital camera 10 according to the first embodiment, a lens 12 for forming a subject image and a strobe 44 that emits light to irradiate the subject as necessary during photographing. In addition, a lens barrier 15 for protecting the lens 12 is provided in the housing of the digital camera 10 so that it can be inserted and removed.

  In addition, a lens barrel 13 is provided so as to surround the lens 12, and the lens barrel 13 is extended or retracted (retracted).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the digital camera 10 includes a lens unit including a lens 12, a zoom lens 14, and an optical correction method camera shake correction lens 16 for performing camera shake correction, and a diaphragm 18. A configured optical unit 20 is provided.

  The zoom lens 14 moves in conjunction with the lens barrel 13 driven by the motor of the zoom lens drive circuit 21. The lens barrel 13 moves between the retracted position and the extended position. Further, the camera shake correction lens 16 is driven by a motor of the camera shake correction drive circuit 22 and operates so as to shift the optical axis, thereby correcting the shift of the optical axis due to camera shake and preventing camera shake. The diaphragm 18 is driven by a motor of the diaphragm drive circuit 23 so as to open and close the diaphragm 18. The zoom lens drive circuit 21, the camera shake correction drive circuit 22, and the aperture drive circuit 23 are controlled by a main CPU 40 described later.

  The lens barrier 15 is inserted and removed by a motor of the lens barrier drive circuit 25, and the lens barrier drive circuit 25 is controlled by the main CPU 40.

  Further, the digital camera 10 performs various analog signal processing on the charge coupled device (hereinafter referred to as “CCD”) 24 disposed behind the optical axis of the optical unit 20 and the input analog signal. An analog signal processing unit 26 is provided.

  Further, the digital camera 10 is provided with an analog / digital converter (hereinafter referred to as “ADC”) 28 for converting an input analog signal into digital data, and this digital data is output to a main CPU 40 described later. Various digital signal processing is performed on the digital data.

  The output terminal of the CCD 24 is connected to the input terminal of the analog signal processing unit 26, and the output terminal of the analog signal processing unit 26 is connected to the input terminal of the ADC 28. Accordingly, the analog signal indicating the subject image output from the CCD 24 is subjected to predetermined analog signal processing by the analog signal processing unit 26, converted into digital image data by the ADC 28, and then input to the main CPU 40.

  In addition, the digital camera 10 includes a main CPU 40 that controls the operation of the entire digital camera 10, a memory 48 that includes an SDRAM (Synchronous DRAM) that temporarily stores image data obtained by shooting, and the memory 48. And a memory interface 46 for controlling access to the. The main CPU 40 is connected to an EEPROM 47 in which various programs including a program for realizing an imaging system protection operation processing routine to be described later are stored.

  Further, the digital camera 10 includes an external memory interface 50 for enabling the digital camera 10 to access a memory card 52 formed of, for example, portable smart media (Smart Media (registered trademark)), and digital image data. And a compression / decompression processing circuit 54 for performing compression processing and decompression processing on the.

  On the other hand, the digital camera 10 includes a timing generator (not shown) that mainly generates a timing signal for driving the CCD 24 and supplies the timing signal to the CCD 24. The driving of the CCD 24 is controlled by the main CPU 40 via the timing generator. .

  Further, various switches (generally referred to as “operation unit 56” in FIG. 1) such as a release switch, a power switch, a mode switch, a cross cursor switch, a zoom switch, and a menu switch are connected to the main CPU 40. Can always grasp the operation state of the operation unit 56.

  In addition, the digital camera 10 is provided with a charging unit 42 that is interposed between the digital camera 10 and the electric power for causing the electronic flash 44 to emit light.

  The digital camera 10 also includes an LCD interface 36 that generates an image signal for displaying on the LCD 38 a subject image or a menu screen indicated by the digital image data and supplies the image signal to the LCD 38.

  In addition, in the LCD interface 36, a pixel array conversion process for converting the pixel array of the subject image indicated by the image data, a pixel number conversion process for converting the number of pixels of the subject image into the number of pixels of the LCD 38, and the LCD 38 for the subject image Various processes such as a gamma process and a sharpness process corresponding to the characteristics and the like are executed. Since the operation of the LCD interface 36 as described above is conventionally known, further description thereof is omitted.

  Further, the digital camera 10 includes, for example, a rechargeable battery, and supplies power to each part of the digital camera 10 based on a power control signal input from the main CPU 40, or stops supplying power. A power supply unit 68 is provided.

  Further, the digital camera 10 is provided with a process image processing unit 58 for performing various image processing on image data obtained from the ADC 28 and image data read from the memory 48 and the memory card 52. The image processing unit 58 detects a motion vector from image data that is a through image obtained from the ADC 28.

  The motion vector may be detected by a conventionally known motion vector detection method. For example, from the image data that is two still images continuous at a certain time point, a predetermined representative point in the image data at the previous time point is detected later. A point corresponding to this representative point in the image data at the time point may be searched, and a vector starting from the position of the representative point and ending at the position of the searched point may be detected as a motion vector.

  The ADC 28, the LCD interface 36, the main CPU 40, the memory interface 46, the compression / decompression processing circuit 54, and the process image processing unit 58 are connected to each other via a system bus BUS. The main CPU 40 controls the operation of the LCD interface 36, the compression / decompression processing circuit 54, and the process image processing unit 58, and accesses the memory 48 and the memory card 52 via the memory interface 46 or the external memory interface 50.

  Next, the operation of the digital camera 10 according to the first embodiment will be described. First, when the power of the digital camera 10 is turned on, the lens barrier 15 is opened by the lens barrier drive circuit 25, and the motor of the zoom lens drive circuit 21 is driven to extend the lens barrel 13, and the zoom lens 14 is driven. In addition, the lens 12 is moved to the extended position, and the opening degree of the diaphragm 18 is controlled.

  Then, when shooting a subject, the process image processing unit 58 detects a motion vector from the image data that is a through image, and when camera shake is detected based on the motion vector, camera shake correction is performed according to the motion vector. The motor of the drive circuit 22 is driven to move the camera shake correction lens 16 to cancel the optical axis shift due to camera shake so that an analog signal indicating a subject image in which camera shake is prevented is output from the CCD 24. Then, the image data indicating the subject image is acquired from the ADC 28.

  Next, an imaging system protection operation processing routine for protecting the optical unit 20 from impact caused by dropping will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, in step 100, the process image processing unit 58 detects motion vectors at a plurality of time points, and in step 102, based on the detected change amount of the motion vector, the acceleration G generated in the digital camera 10 is calculated. In step 104, the frequency T is detected based on the calculated acceleration G.

  Here, the calculated acceleration is an acceleration corresponding to gravity when the digital camera 10 is stationary, and when the digital camera 10 is falling, the acceleration is reduced. When the digital camera 10 is raised, the acceleration is increased.

  Further, acceleration and vibration frequency at the time of hand shake, impact by dropping, and frequency at dropping will be described. When the camera shakes, the acceleration is small and the vibration frequency is low. When the shock is caused by dropping, the acceleration is large and the vibration frequency is high. In addition, the acceleration at the time of dropping is close to 0, and the frequency of vibration is lower than that at the time of camera shake.

  For example, the acceleration at the time of impact due to dropping is 20 G or more, the acceleration at the time of camera shake is 0.5 G to 20 G, and the acceleration at the time of dropping is 0.5 G or less. Further, the vibration frequency at the time of impact due to dropping is 20 Hz or more, the vibration frequency at the time of camera shake is 3 Hz to 20 Hz, and the vibration frequency at the time of dropping is 3 Hz or less.

  In step 106, the acceleration G calculated in step 102 is equal to or smaller than a predetermined threshold value K, and the frequency T detected in step 104 is equal to or smaller than a predetermined threshold value T0. It is determined whether or not. Here, the threshold value K is a lower limit value of the acceleration generated in the digital camera 10 at the time of camera shake, and is obtained in advance by an experiment. The threshold value T0 is a lower limit value of the vibration frequency of the digital camera 10 at the time of camera shake, and is obtained in advance by experiments. For example, the threshold value K is 0.5 G, and the threshold value T0 is 3 Hz.

  Here, when the acceleration G exceeds the threshold value K or when the frequency T exceeds the threshold value T0, the process returns to step 100 to detect the motion vector again. On the other hand, when the acceleration G is equal to or less than the threshold value K and the frequency T is equal to or less than the threshold value T0, it is detected that the digital camera 10 is falling, and the process proceeds to step 108. Therefore, for example, even if the acceleration G is equal to or lower than the threshold value, if the frequency T exceeds the threshold value T0, the fall is not detected, so that the malfunction is not performed by executing steps 108 and later described later. Yes.

  In step 108, the zoom lens drive circuit 21 motor is driven by the lens retracting process to retract the lens barrel 13, and the lens barrier drive circuit 25 is closed to drive the lens barrier drive circuit 25 motor. The lens barrier 15 is closed.

  In the next step 110, the aperture 18 is opened, the motor of the aperture drive circuit 23 is driven, the aperture 18 is opened, and the imaging system protection operation processing routine ends.

  When the digital camera 10 falls and collides with the floor surface or the like and receives an impact, the lens barrel 13 is retracted and the lens barrier 15 is closed. The lens 12, the zoom lens 14, and the camera shake correction lens 16 can be prevented from being damaged, and since the aperture 18 is opened, the aperture 18 can be prevented from being damaged by the impact of the fall. The optical unit 20 can be protected from.

  As described above, according to the digital camera of the first embodiment, the acceleration is calculated using the motion vector detected by the process image processing unit to prevent camera shake, and vibration is generated based on the acceleration. Since it is not necessary to provide a new configuration for drop detection by detecting that the device is falling based on acceleration and frequency and protecting it from the impact of the drop, In addition to having a camera shake prevention function, the device can be protected from the impact of dropping.

  In addition, the lens barrel is retracted when a drop is detected, so that the lens barrel is prevented from being damaged due to the impact of the drop when the lens barrel is extended, and the aperture itself is opened by opening the aperture. It can be prevented from being damaged by the impact of dropping, and a precise lens unit and diaphragm can be protected.

  Based on the acceleration and vibration frequency, it detects the fall of its own device and protects its own device. Therefore, it detects that it has fallen at the time of camera shake or shock, and protects itself. Thus, it is possible to prevent malfunction.

  Further, by using the motion vector detected by the process image processing unit for preventing camera shake for the impact protection process, it is possible to reduce the number of components and the development cost.

  Next, a second embodiment will be described. In addition, about the part similar to 1st Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the memory 48 is protected from an impact caused by dropping. When the digital camera 10 is dropped and the wiring provided in the memory 48 is short-circuited due to the impact of dropping, an abnormal voltage is applied to the memory 48, and the data stored in the memory 48 is damaged and disappears. Therefore, the memory 48 needs to be protected.

  Note that the configuration of the digital camera 10 is the same as that of the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  Next, a storage system protection operation processing routine according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, about the process similar to 1st Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  First, in step 100, the process image processing unit 58 detects motion vectors at a plurality of time points, and in step 102, based on the detected change amount of the motion vector, the acceleration G generated in the digital camera 10 is calculated. In step 104, the frequency T is detected based on the calculated acceleration G.

  In step 106, the acceleration G calculated in step 102 is equal to or smaller than a predetermined threshold value K, and the frequency T detected in step 104 is equal to or smaller than a predetermined threshold value T0. If the acceleration G is equal to or less than the threshold value K and the frequency T is equal to or less than the threshold value T0, it is detected that the digital camera 10 is falling, and the process proceeds to step 208. Transition.

  In step 208, the access processing to the memory 48 is stopped, and when reading or writing data from the memory 48 is being performed, reading or writing of data is stopped. In step 210, a power control signal is sent to the power supply unit 68 so as to stop the power supply to the memory 48, the power of the memory 48 is turned off, and the storage system protection operation processing routine ends.

  When the digital camera 10 falls and collides with the floor surface or the like and receives an impact, access to the memory 48 is also stopped and the power supply is turned off. Since the data stored in the memory 48 can be prevented from being damaged without being applied to the memory 48, the memory 48 can be protected from the impact of dropping.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, when a fall is detected, the memory is turned off, the memory is damaged by the impact of the drop, and an abnormal voltage is applied to the memory. The data in the memory can be protected by preventing data corruption due to the above.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the memory for temporarily storing the image data is protected has been described. However, the external memory card may be protected similarly. In this case, similarly to the memory, when a fall is detected, the access is stopped and the power to the memory card is turned off.

  Next, a third embodiment will be described. In addition, about the part similar to 1st Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The third embodiment is different from the second embodiment in that the memory is not a semiconductor memory but a hard disk. In addition, since the other structure of the digital camera which concerns on 3rd Embodiment is the same as that of 1st Embodiment, description is abbreviate | omitted.

  Next, a storage system protection operation processing routine according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, about the process similar to 1st Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  First, in step 100, the process image processing unit 58 detects motion vectors at a plurality of time points, and in step 102, based on the detected change amount of the motion vector, the acceleration G generated in the digital camera 10 is calculated. In step 104, the frequency T is detected based on the calculated acceleration G.

  In step 106, the acceleration G calculated in step 102 is equal to or smaller than a predetermined threshold value K, and the frequency T detected in step 104 is equal to or smaller than a predetermined threshold value T0. If the acceleration G is equal to or less than the threshold value K and the frequency T is equal to or less than the threshold value T0, it is detected that the digital camera 10 is falling, and the process proceeds to step 308. Transition.

  In step 308, the access processing to the hard disk is stopped, and when reading or writing data from the hard disk is being performed, reading and writing of data is stopped. In step 310, the hard disk is controlled so that the head of the hard disk is retracted to the parking position, and the storage system protection operation processing routine ends.

  When the digital camera 10 falls and collides with the floor surface or the like and receives an impact, access to the hard disk is stopped and the head is also retracted to the parking position. Since it is possible to avoid the head and the recording surface from being damaged by colliding with the recording surface, the hard disk and stored data can be protected from the impact of dropping.

  As described above, according to the digital camera of the third embodiment, when a fall is detected, the hard disk head is retracted to prevent damage to the hard disk head and recording surface. The hard disk and recorded data can be protected.

  Next, a fourth embodiment will be described. In addition, about the structure similar to 1st Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the digital camera 10 according to the fourth embodiment, the process of protecting the optical unit 20 in the imaging system protection operation processing routine according to the first embodiment when the fall is detected, and the second embodiment The processing for protecting the memory 48 of the storage protection operation processing routine according to the embodiment and the processing for protecting the hard disk of the storage protection operation processing routine according to the third embodiment are performed.

  As described above, when the fall is detected based on the acceleration G and the frequency T, the optical unit 20 is protected, and the memory 48 is a semiconductor memory. Similarly, processing for protecting the memory 48 is performed. On the other hand, when the memory 48 is a hard disk, a process for protecting the hard disk is performed as in the third embodiment.

  When the digital camera 10 falls and collides with a floor surface or the like and is subjected to an impact, the lens barrel 13, the lens 12, the zoom lens 14, and the camera shake correction lens 16 can be prevented from being damaged by the impact of the fall. Further, it is possible to avoid the diaphragm 18 from being damaged by the impact of the fall. In the case where the memory 48 is a semiconductor memory, an abnormal voltage is not applied to the memory 48 due to the impact of dropping, and the data stored in the memory 48 can be prevented from being damaged. In this case, damage to the head and recording surface of the hard disk can be avoided.

  Next, a fifth embodiment will be described. In addition, about the structure similar to 1st Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The fifth embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that image pickup device movement type camera shake correction that moves the CCD 24 to prevent camera shake is employed.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the optical unit 620 of the digital camera 610 according to the fifth embodiment includes a lens 12, a zoom lens 14, and a diaphragm 18, and no camera shake correction lens is provided.

  Further, the digital camera 610 is provided with a camera shake correction drive circuit 622 including a motor for moving the CCD 24. The camera 24 is moved by moving the CCD 24 by the motor of the camera shake correction drive circuit 622 in accordance with the deviation of the optical axis due to camera shake. It comes to prevent. Further, the camera shake correction drive circuit 622 is controlled by the main CPU 40.

  Since the other configuration of the digital camera 610 is the same as that of the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  Next, the operation of the digital camera 610 according to the fifth embodiment will be described.

  When shooting a subject, the process image processing unit 58 detects a motion vector from image data that is a through image, and when a camera shake is detected by the detected motion vector, a camera shake correction drive circuit is detected according to the motion vector. The motor 622 is driven to move the CCD 24 in accordance with the optical axis deviation caused by camera shake, so that the optical axis deviation caused by the camera shake is canceled, and an analog signal indicating a subject image in which camera shake is prevented is output from the CCD 24. To.

  Similarly to the imaging system protection operation processing routine according to the first embodiment, a motion vector is detected by the process image processing unit 58, the acceleration G calculated based on the motion vector, the detected frequency T, and Based on the above, a fall is detected, and a process for protecting the optical unit 20 from the impact of the fall is performed.

  As described above, according to the digital camera of the fifth embodiment, the acceleration is calculated and the vibration is calculated using the motion vector detected by the process image processing unit for the image sensor movement type camera shake correction. Since it is not necessary to provide a new configuration for drop detection by detecting that the device is falling based on acceleration and frequency and protecting it from the impact of the drop, In addition to having a camera shake prevention function, the device can be protected from the impact of dropping.

  In addition, although the case where the image sensor moving method camera shake correction is adopted has been described as an example, the optical correction method camera shake correction and the image sensor moving method camera shake correction described in the first embodiment are combined to prevent camera shake. It may be. In this case, when camera shake is detected, the camera shake correction lens is moved, and the CCD is moved to cancel the optical axis shift due to camera shake.

It is the front view and top view which show the digital camera which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the main structures of the electric system of the digital camera which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the content of the imaging system protection operation processing routine of the digital camera which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the content of the memory | storage system protection operation processing routine of the digital camera which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the content of the memory | storage system protection operation processing routine of the digital camera which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the main structures of the electric system of the digital camera which concerns on the 5th Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10,610 Digital camera 12 Lens 13 Lens barrel 14 Zoom lens 15 Lens barrier 16 Camera shake correction lens 20, 620 Optical unit 21 Zoom lens drive circuit 22, 622 Camera shake correction drive circuit 23 Aperture drive circuit 24 CCD
25 Lens Barrier Drive Circuit 40 Main CPU
48 Memory 52 Memory Card 58 Process Image Processing Unit 68 Power Supply Unit

Claims (6)

An imaging means for forming a subject image;
Photographing means for photographing the subject image formed by the imaging means to generate image data;
Motion vector detection means for detecting a motion vector from the image data;
Calculation means for calculating an acceleration generated in the device based on the motion vector detected by the motion vector detection means;
Camera shake prevention means for preventing camera shake by moving at least one of the imaging means and the imaging means according to a motion vector detected by the motion vector detection means;
Protection means for protecting the device from a drop impact when the acceleration calculated by the calculation means is equal to or less than a predetermined value;
An imaging device including: A frequency detecting means for detecting a frequency of vibration of the device based on the acceleration;
When the acceleration is equal to or lower than the predetermined value and the frequency detected by the frequency detection means is equal to or lower than a frequency that is predetermined as a lower limit value of a frequency of vibration that occurs during camera shake, The photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is protected from a drop impact. Further comprising an imaging control means for extending or retracting the imaging means,
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the protection unit retracts the imaging unit by the imaging control unit so as to protect the imaging unit from a drop impact. A recording unit that records the image data generated by the photographing unit;
4. The photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the protection unit controls the storage unit so as to protect the recording unit from a drop impact. An imaging device control method comprising: imaging means for imaging a subject image; and imaging means for imaging the subject image formed by the imaging means to generate image data,
Detecting a motion vector from the image data;
Based on the detected motion vector, calculate the acceleration generated in the device itself,
According to the detected motion vector, moving at least one of the imaging means and the photographing means to prevent camera shake,
A method of controlling a photographing apparatus, wherein the apparatus is protected from a drop impact when the calculated acceleration is equal to or less than a predetermined value.   When the acceleration is equal to or less than the predetermined value, at least one of retracting a lens barrel, closing a lens barrier, opening an aperture, stopping power supply to a memory, and retracting a head of a hard disk is performed. Item 6. A method for controlling an imaging apparatus according to Item 5.

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