Methods for start-up lens

1. Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates generally to methods for start-up lens, and, more particularly to methods for improving start-up fluency of a lens.

2. Description of the Related Art

FIGS. 1 , 2 and 3 show a lens 10 and a control system 20 . The lens 10 can move along an axis L 1 . The control system 20 controls the lengthening and shortening of the lens 10 .

The lens 10 comprises a base 1 , a guided tube 2 telescoped to the base 1 , an inner tube 3 inside the guided tube 2 , a lens chamber unit 4 inside the inner tube 3 , and a drive unit 5 driving the movement of the lens 10 . The drive unit 5 comprises a motor 51 set on the base 1 .

Referring to FIGS. 1 , 2 and 4 , when the system starts up, the motor 51 drives the lens 10 from a stowing position H 1 to a standby position H 2 , and a reset point O, a first turning point A, a second turning point B, and a third turning point C are defined in sequence during the movement. During the lengthening of the lens 10 , the lens chamber unit 4 progresses in a straight line between the reset point O and the first turning point A, progresses and revolves on its own axis between the first turning point A and the second turning point B, and progresses in a straight line between the second turning point B and the third turning point C.

As shown in FIGS. 2 , 3 and 4 , the control system 20 comprises a position detection unit 21 coupled to the lens 10 , a reset point detection unit 22 , a micro-processing unit 23 coupled to the position detection unit 21 and the reset point detection unit 22 , and a motor control unit 24 coupled to the micro-processing unit 23 and the motor 51 .

If the base 1 senses the lens 10 controlled by the control system 20 to move through the reset point O, a reset point signal is output to the micro-processing unit 23 , and the micro-processing unit 23 can determine the position of the reset point O. If the motor 51 continues to rotate, a rotation signal is output to the micro-processing unit 23 for determining the extending position of the lens 10 .

During start-up of the system, the micro-processing unit 23 outputs a first signal T 1 to the motor control unit 24 , and the motor control unit 24 outputs a corresponding first command C 1 in response to the first signal T 1 . The first command C 1 rotates the motor 51 with a first angular velocity ω 1 , driving the guided tube 2 to rotate and leave the base 1 . Simultaneously, the inner tube 3 and the lens chamber unit 4 are driven to rotate and leave the base 1 , causing the lens 10 to lengthen from the stowing position H 1 to the standby position H 2 .

In the above method, the micro-processing unit 23 outputs the first signal T 1 to the motor control unit 24 , and the motor control unit 24 outputs the first command C 1 corresponding to the first signal T 1 , where the first command C 1 is a fixed voltage rotating the motor 51 at a fixed angular velocity. Conventionally, the lens can be driven to move, but drawbacks result.

First, the lens lengthening is not fluent since the lengthening speed between the first and second turning points A and B is slower than other routes (the reset point O to the first turning point A, and second turning point B to the third turning point C). Second, noises may be generated during the switch of lengthening speeds at the first, second, and third turning points.

Methods for start-up lens are provided.

In an embodiment of a method for start-up lens for use in a lens comprising an optical component, and a control system controlling a drive unit to drive the lens moving from a stowing position to a standby position along an axis, where a reset point, a first turning point, a second turning point, and a third turning point are defined in sequence during the movement. The drive unit rotates at a first angular velocity to drive the lens to lengthen in a first route, where the first route is from the stowing position to a first switch point, and the first switch point is between the first turning point and the second turning point. The drive unit rotates at a second angular velocity to drive the lens to continue lengthening in a second route, where the second route is from the first switch point to a second switch point, and the second switch point is between the first switch point and the second turning point. The drive unit rotates at a third angular velocity to drive the lens to lengthen in a third route, where the third route is from the second switch point to the standby position.

Methods for start-up lens may take the form of program code embodied in a tangible media. When the program code is loaded into and executed by a machine, the machine becomes an apparatus for practicing the disclosed method.

The invention will become more fully understood by referring to the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a 3D diagram illustrating a telescopic lens at a reset position;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the lens at the reset position;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a conventional control system controlling lens lengthening and shortening;

FIG. 4 shows the relationship between lens position and time during lens lengthening, explaining the variation of lengthening speed;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a first embodiment of a control system implementing a method for start-up lens;

FIG. 6 shows the variation of lens lengthening speed between routes according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a second embodiment of a control system implementing a method for start-up lens; and

FIG. 8 shows the variation of lens lengthening speed between routes according to the second embodiment.

Methods for start-up lens are provided. It is understood that similar components in the embodiments are used the same reference numbers.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a first embodiment of a control system implementing a method for start-up lens. The system can be applied in a capturing device comprising a telescopic lens, such as a camera. The lens 10 comprises an optical component, and hardware structure thereof is similar to that in FIGS. 1 and 2 . For example, as shown in FIG. 5 , the lens 10 is controlled by a control system 20 . The inner structure and connection relationships of the control system 20 are similar to those in FIG. 3 , but different in control signal, command, and angular velocity. For simplicity, the drive unit is implemented using a motor 51 in this embodiment, but is not limited thereto. As shown in FIGS. 1 , 5 and 6 , the method for improving start-up fluency of lens comprises the following steps.

The control system 20 drives the motor 51 to rotate at a first angular velocity ω 1 , driving the lens 10 to lengthen in a first route I. The first route I is from the stowing position H 1 to a first switch point S 1 . The first switch point S 1 is between the first turning point A and the second turning point B. Specifically, in the first route I, the micro-processing unit 23 receives signals from the position detection unit 21 and the reset point detection unit 22 , and determines a terminal point of the first route I accordingly. At this time, the micro-processing unit 23 outputs a first signal T 1 to the motor control unit 24 , and the motor control unit 24 outputs a first command C 1 correspondingly. For example, the driving voltage for the first command C 1 may be 4.4V, and the PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) for the first command C 1 comprises at least two duty cycles such as 85% and 70%. The duty cycles can be switched in different time units, or a specific period such as 5 ms, such that the first angular velocity ω 1 is a mix velocity driving the lens 10 to lengthen.

The control system 20 drives the motor 51 to rotate at a second angular velocity ω 2 , driving the lens 10 to lengthen in a second route II. The second route II is from the first switch point S 1 to a second switch point S 2 . The second switch point S 2 is between the first switch point S 1 and the second turning point B. The second angular velocity ω 2 may exceed the first angular velocity ω 1 . Specifically, in the second route II, the micro-processing unit 23 receives signals from the position detection unit 21 , and determines a start point and a terminal point of the second route II accordingly. At this time, the micro-processing unit 23 outputs a second signal T 2 to the motor control unit 24 , and the motor control unit 24 outputs a second command C 2 correspondingly. For example, the driving voltage for the second command C 2 may be 4.4V, and the PWM for the second command C 2 comprises at least one duty cycles such as 100%. The motor 51 rotates at the second angular velocity ω 2 according to the driving voltage and PWM for the second command C 2 , driving the lens 10 to lengthen.

The control system 20 drives the motor 51 to rotate at a third angular velocity ω 3 , driving the lens 10 to lengthen in a third route III. The second route II is from the second switch point S 2 to the standby position H 2 . The third angular velocity ω 3 may be smaller than the second angular velocity ω 2 , and the first angular velocity ω 1 exceeds the third angular velocity ω 3 . Specifically, in the third route III, the micro-processing unit 23 receives signals from the position detection unit 21 , and determines a start point and a terminal point of the third route III accordingly. At this time, the micro-processing unit 23 outputs a third signal T 3 to the motor control unit 24 , and the motor control unit 24 outputs a third command C 3 correspondingly. For example, the driving voltage for the third command C 3 may be 3V, and the PWM for the second command C 2 comprises at least two duty cycles such as 85% and 65%. The duty cycles can be switched in different time unit, or a specific period such as 5 ms, such that the third angular velocity ω 3 is a mix velocity driving the lens 10 to lengthen.

The invention has following advantages.

First, the micro-processing unit 23 generates various signals (T 1 , T 2 and T 3 ) for respective routes, and the motor control unit 24 outputs various commands (C 1 , C 2 and C 3 ) accordingly to the motor 51 . The motor 51 can rotate at various angular velocity (ω 1 , ω 2 and ω 3 ) corresponding to the commands (C 1 , C 2 and C 3 ), driving the lens to lengthen. For example, the motor 51 can rotate at an angular velocity exceeding the first angular velocity and the third angular velocity in the second route II between the first turning point A and the second turning point B (ω 2 >ω 1 and ω 2 >ω 3 ). In this way, the lengthening speed of the lens during the entire start-up process will be more average, improving the lengthening fluency of lens.

Second, the motor 51 can rotate at various angular velocities in respective routes. For example, the motor 51 can rotate at an angular velocity smaller than the second angular velocity in the first and second routes comprising the first, second and third turning points (A, B and C) (ω 1 <ω 2 and ω 3 <ω 2 ). In this way, noise generated during speed switch at the turning points can be reduced.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a second embodiment of a control system implementing a method for start-up lens. The system can be applied in a capturing device comprising a telescopic lens, such as a camera. The lens 10 comprises an optical component, and hardware structure thereof is similar to that in FIGS. 1 and 2 . For example, as shown in FIG. 5 , the lens 10 is controlled by a control system 20 . The inner structure and connection relationships of the control system 20 are similar to those in FIG. 3 , but different in control signal, command, and angular velocity. For simplicity, the drive unit is implemented using a motor 51 in this embodiment, but is not limited thereto. As shown in FIGS. 1 , 7 and 8 , the method for improving start-up fluency of lens comprises the following steps.

The control system 20 drives the motor 51 to rotate at at least two angular velocities, driving the lens 10 to lengthen in a first route I. For example, the motor 51 drives the lens 10 to lengthen based on a first preceding angular velocity ω 11 and a first subsequent angular velocity ω 12 . The first preceding angular velocity ω 11 may exceed the first subsequent angular velocity ω 12 . The first route I is from the stowing position H 1 to a first switch point S 1 . The first switch point S 1 is between the first turning point A and the second turning point B. It is noted that the first route I further comprises a first preceding route I 1 and a first subsequent route I 2 (two sub-routes). The first preceding route I 1 is from the stowing position H 1 to a third switch point S 3 , where the third switch point S 3 is between the reset point O and the first turning point A. The first subsequent route I 2 is from the third switch point S 3 to the first switch point S 1 . Specifically, in the first preceding route I 1 and the first subsequent route I 2 , the micro-processing unit 23 receives signals from the position detection unit 21 and the reset point detection unit 22 , and determines terminal points of the first preceding route I 1 and the first subsequent route I 2 accordingly. At this time, the micro-processing unit 23 outputs a first preceding signal T 11 and a first subsequent signal T 12 to the motor control unit 24 , and the motor control unit 24 outputs a first preceding command C 11 and a first subsequent command C 12 correspondingly. For example, the driving voltage for the first preceding command C 11 and the first subsequent command C 12 may be both 4.4V, and the duty cycles of PWM for the first preceding command C 11 and the first subsequent command C 12 are 80% and 60%, respectively, driving the motor 51 to rotates at the first preceding angular velocity ω 11 and the first angular subsequent velocity ω 12 .

The control system 20 drives the motor 51 to rotate at a second angular velocity ω 2 , driving the lens 10 to lengthen in a second route II. The second route II is from the first switch point S 1 to a second switch point S 2 . The second switch point S 2 is between the first switch point S 1 and the second turning point B. The second angular velocity ω 2 may exceed the first preceding velocity ω 11 and the first subsequent velocity ω 12 . Specifically, in the second route II, the micro-processing unit 23 receives signals from the position detection unit 21 , and determines a start point and a terminal point of the second route II accordingly. At this time, the micro-processing unit 23 outputs a second signal T 2 to the motor control unit 24 , and the motor control unit 24 outputs a second command C 2 correspondingly. For example, the driving voltage for the second command C 2 may be 4.4V, and the duty cycle of PWM for the second command C 2 may be 100%. The motor 51 rotates at the second angular velocity ω 2 according to the driving voltage and PWM for the second command C 2 , driving the lens 10 to lengthen.

The control system 20 drives the motor 51 to rotate at at least two angular velocities, driving the lens 10 to lengthen in a third route III. For example, the motor 51 drives the lens 10 to lengthen based on a third preceding angular velocity ω 31 and a third subsequent angular velocity ω 32 . The third preceding angular velocity ω 31 exceeds the third subsequent angular velocity ω 32 . The third route III is from the second switch point S 2 to the standby position H 2 . The third preceding angular velocity ω 31 and the third subsequent angular velocity ω 32 are smaller than the second angular velocity ω 2 . The third route III further comprises a third preceding route III 1 and a third subsequent route III 2 (two sub-routes). The third preceding route III 1 is from the second switch point S 2 to a fourth switch point S 4 , where the fourth switch point S 4 is between the second turning point B and the third turning point C. The third subsequent route III 2 is from the fourth switch point S 4 to the standby position H 2 . Specifically, in the third preceding route III 1 and the third subsequent route III 2 , the micro-processing unit 23 receives signals from the position detection unit 21 , and determines start points and terminal points of the third preceding route III 1 and the third subsequent route III 2 accordingly. At this time, the micro-processing unit 23 outputs a third preceding signal T 31 and a third subsequent signal T 32 to the motor control unit 24 , and the motor control unit 24 outputs a third preceding command C 31 and a third subsequent command C 32 correspondingly. For example, the driving voltage for the third preceding command C 31 and the third subsequent command C 32 may be both 3V, and the duty cycles of PWM for third preceding command C 31 and the third subsequent command C 32 are 30% and 20%, respectively, driving the motor 51 to rotate at the third preceding velocity ω 31 and the third subsequent velocity ω 32 .

The second embodiment may have the same advantages in the first embodiment.

In lens mechanism, noise may be easily generated at the turning points during lens lengthening and shortening. In the invention, the turning points are separated into different routes, and respective control signals and commands with various voltages and PWMs are generated for respective routes. The motor can rotate at different angular velocities in respective routes, improving the lengthening fluency of lens, and reducing the noise during lens lengthening.

Methods for start-up lens, or certain aspects or portions thereof, may take the form of program code (i.e., executable instructions) embodied in tangible media, such as products, floppy diskettes, CD-ROMS, hard drives, or any other machine-readable storage medium, wherein, when the program code is loaded into and executed by a machine, such as a computer, the machine thereby becomes an apparatus for practicing the methods. The methods may also be embodied in the form of program code transmitted over some transmission medium, such as electrical wiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via any other form of transmission, wherein, when the program code is received and loaded into and executed by a machine, such as a computer, the machine becomes an apparatus for practicing the disclosed methods. When implemented on a general-purpose processor, the program code combines with the processor to provide a unique apparatus that operates analogously to application specific logic circuits.

While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Those who are skilled in this technology can still make various alterations and modifications without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention. Thus, the scope of the invention shall be defined and protected by the following claims and their equivalents.