JP2004354794A - Optical apparatus with imaging function - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable to confirm an imaging area at imaging while suppressing the complication and increasing of an apparatus scale. <P>SOLUTION: The binoculars equipped with a camera are provided with a pair of right and left observation optical systems 10 and 10, an imaging optical system 21 with a zooming function of varying imaging magnification and a transmission type liquid crystal display panel 40 arranged in the optical path of one of the observation optical systems 10, and a control part 30 for controlling the display contents on the display panel 40. The binoculars are controlled by the control part so that an imaging area frame 42 which is made variable in accordance with variation of the imaging magnification is displayed on the display panel 40 in the visual field 15 of the observation optical system 10 where an image with magnification independent from that of the imaging optical system 21 is shown. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an optical device with an imaging function including an observation optical system and an imaging optical system having a zoom function for changing an imaging magnification, and in particular, improves operability of a user when shooting using the zoom function. The present invention relates to an apparatus suitable for:
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional optical device with an imaging function, for example, there is an optical device described in Patent Document 1 below.
[0003]
This apparatus is provided with an auxiliary optical system having a wide field of view in order to confirm an imaging area at the time of imaging by the imaging optical system, in addition to an imaging optical system having a zoom function, and an image taken by the imaging optical system and an auxiliary optical system. The image taken by the optical system is simultaneously displayed on a viewfinder composed of a panel display.
[0004]
This device includes a CCD and an image processing circuit for electronically processing an image captured by an imaging optical system, and a CCD and an image processing device for electronically processing an image captured by an auxiliary optical system. It has a processing circuit and a memory for temporarily storing an image processed by the image processing circuit.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-5-14518
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the prior art, in order to display not only an image taken by the imaging optical system but also a wide-field image taken by the auxiliary optical system in the viewfinder, a CCD and an image processing device for the auxiliary optical system are used. It is necessary to provide a circuit, a memory, and the like, and there is a problem that the device is complicated, the manufacturing cost is increased, and the device is enlarged.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional problem, and it is possible to confirm an imaging area at the time of imaging while suppressing the complexity of the apparatus and the size of the apparatus, and further increasing the manufacturing cost due to these. It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical device with an imaging function that can be used.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an optical device with an imaging function according to the invention according to claim 1,
In an optical device with an imaging function including an observation optical system and an imaging optical system having a zoom function of changing an imaging magnification,
The observation optical system does not follow a change in imaging magnification due to the zoom function, and an image with a unique magnification is obtained,
Within the field of view of the observation optical system, a display means for displaying an image, an imaging magnification detecting means for detecting an imaging magnification by the zoom function, and an imaging area which is changed by a change in the size of the imaging area displayed on the display means. A position of a frame, a storage unit in which a relationship between the imaging magnification is stored, and using the relationship stored in the storage unit, according to the imaging magnification detected by the imaging magnification detection unit, Display control means for determining the position of the frame of the imaging area in the display area of the display means, and displaying the frame of the imaging area at the determined position in the display area for the display means. It is characterized by having.
[0009]
Further, in place of the optical device with an imaging function of the invention according to claim 1, an optical device with an imaging function for achieving the above object is provided.
In an optical device with an imaging function including an observation optical system and an imaging optical system having a zoom function of changing an imaging magnification,
The observation optical system does not follow a change in imaging magnification due to the zoom function, and an image with a unique magnification is obtained,
Display means for displaying an image in the field of view of the observation optical system, and display control means for displaying on the display means an imaging area that changes in accordance with a change in the imaging magnification of the imaging optical system. And
[0010]
In order to achieve the above object, an optical device with an imaging function according to the invention according to claim 2,
The optical device with an imaging function according to claim 1,
The display means is provided in an optical path of the observation optical system and has an optically transparent display panel.
[0011]
An optical device with an imaging function according to the invention according to claim 3 for achieving the object,
The optical device with an imaging function according to claim 2,
As the observation optical system, for the left and right eyes of the observer, has a pair of left and right observation optical system,
The display panel is arranged only in the optical path of one observation optical system of the pair of left and right observation optical systems.
[0012]
In order to achieve the above object, an optical device with an imaging function according to the invention according to claim 4,
The optical device with an imaging function according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A mode switching unit for switching between an area display mode for displaying the imaging region and an image display mode for displaying an image taken by the imaging optical system, wherein the display control unit is configured to control the area display by the mode switching unit. When one of the mode and the image display mode is set, the display means displays the display content corresponding to the mode.
[0013]
To achieve the above object, an optical device with an imaging function according to the invention according to claim 5,
The optical device with an imaging function according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
Focusing means for automatically focusing the imaging optical system,
The storage means stores the frame of the AF detection area which changes according to a change in the size of an area (hereinafter, referred to as an AF detection area) used when the focusing means focuses in the visual field of the observation optical system. The relationship between the position in the display area and the imaging magnification is stored,
The display control means uses the relationship regarding the AF detection area stored in the storage means, and according to the imaging magnification detected by the imaging magnification detection means, The position of the frame of the AF detection area is obtained, and the display means displays the frame of the AF detection area at the obtained position in the display area.
[0014]
In order to achieve the above object, an optical device with an imaging function according to the invention according to claim 6,
The optical device with an imaging function according to claim 5,
The display control means changes a color of an area image indicating the AF detection area before and after focusing by the focusing means.
[0015]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of an optical device with an imaging function according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0016]
The optical device with an imaging function of the present embodiment is a pair of binoculars with a camera, and includes a pair of left and right observation optical systems 10 and 10, an imaging unit 20, and a casing 19 that covers these, as shown in FIGS. Have. The observation optical system 10 has an objective lens 11, a focus lens 12, an erect prism 13, and an eyepiece 14. A transmissive and dot type liquid crystal display panel 40 is arranged between the erecting prism 13 and the eyepiece 14 of one of the pair of left and right observation optical systems 10 and 10. The imaging unit 20 includes an objective lens 22, a zoom lens 23, and a focus lens 24 that form an imaging optical system 21, a zoom lens driving unit 25 a that moves the zoom lens 23, and a zoom lens that detects the position of the zoom lens 23. An image formed by the imaging optical system 21 is provided with a position detection unit (imaging magnification detection unit) 26a, a focus lens driving unit 25b that moves the focus lens 24, a focus lens position detection unit 26b that detects the position of the focus lens 24. It has an image sensor (CCD) 27 for capturing an image and other various circuits and elements.
[0017]
From the casing 19, a zoom button 37, a mode switching / recording button 38, and a power button 39 are exposed, and a part of the focus knob 17 for moving the focus lens 12 of the observation optical system 10 is exposed. A diopter adjustment mechanism 18 is provided in the eyepiece of one of the pair of left and right observation optical systems 10 and 10. The mode switching / recording button 38 is half-pressed to switch the display mode, which will be described later, and is fully pressed, to record an image.
[0018]
The imaging unit 20 includes, in addition to the imaging optical system 21, the imaging device 27, the various buttons 37, 38, and 39 described above, an image processing unit 28 that performs image processing on image data from the imaging device 27, as shown in FIG. A compression / decompression unit 29 for compressing the image data processed by the image processing unit 28 and restoring the compressed image data, and temporarily storing the image data before compression processing in the compression / decompression unit. A high-frequency component extraction circuit 32 for extracting a high-frequency component from a luminance signal from the image processing unit 28, and a rectification detection of the high-frequency component extracted by the high-frequency component extraction circuit 32 to evaluate an evaluation value necessary for auto-focusing. And a control circuit for obtaining the moving amount of the imaging zoom lens 23 from the evaluation value from the detection circuit 33 and controlling the display contents on the liquid crystal display panel (display means) 40. (Display control means) 30, a storage section (storage means) 34 in which data necessary for display on the liquid crystal display panel 40 is stored, and a card slot 35 in which a flash memory card 36 is mounted. ing.
[0019]
When the rectangular liquid crystal display panel 40 is viewed from the eyepiece 14 of the observation optical system 10, the outer edge of the rectangular liquid crystal display panel 40 is rectangular in the visual field 15 as a maximum imaging area frame (fixed) 41 as shown in FIG. It is provided so that it can be seen thinly. As shown in FIG. 5B, the maximum imaging area frame 41 matches the size of the imaging area frame 42 when the zooming function is set to the wide end. Here, the liquid crystal display panel 40 is disposed only in one of the pair of left and right observation optical systems 10, 10, but the liquid crystal display panel 40 is disposed in both of the pair of observation optical systems 10, 10. May be. However, in the case where the liquid crystal display panels 40 are arranged in both the observation optical systems 10, 10, the images displayed on the liquid crystal display panels 40, 40 are not displaced, so that they can be seen as one image. In addition, it is necessary for the observer to adjust the interpupillary distance of the binoculars very accurately, which is not preferable in terms of the usability of the observer. In other words, in the case of binoculars, it is preferable to dispose the liquid crystal display panel 40 only on one observation optical system 10 as in the present embodiment, from the viewpoint of usability for the observer.
[0020]
Next, an operation of the binoculars with a camera according to the present embodiment and an operation accompanying the operation will be described.
[0021]
When observing a certain object with the camera-equipped binoculars of the present embodiment, after adjusting the interpupillary distance, the binoculars are turned to the object and the focus knob 17 is operated as in the case of ordinary binoculars. Focus on. At this time, part of the light that has passed through the objective lens or the like of one observation optical system 10 also reaches the eyepiece 14 through the transmission type liquid crystal display panel 40 that is disposed in the optical path of the observation optical system 10. That is, the camera-equipped binoculars of the present embodiment can be used as ordinary binoculars.
[0022]
When it is desired to photograph the target object 44 in the visual field 41 shown in FIG. 5A, first, the power button 38 is turned on. When the power button 38 is turned on, the control unit 30 causes the liquid crystal display panel 40 to display the imaging area frame 42 corresponding to the imaging magnification, as shown in FIG. An area frame (hereinafter, referred to as an AF detection area frame) 43 is also displayed. Immediately after the power is turned on, since the zoom lens 23 is set to be at the wide end, the maximum imaging area frame 49 of the transmissive liquid crystal display panel 40 is displayed as the imaging area frame 42. The AF detection area frame 43 is not essential in the present invention.
[0023]
When the user wants to photograph the object 44 in the field of view 15 at a predetermined magnification, the user then presses the zoom button 37. When the zoom button 37 is pressed, the control unit 30 detects this, and the zoom lens driving unit 25a is driven for the time during which the zoom button 37 is pressed, the zoom lens 23 moves, and the shooting magnification changes.
[0024]
In the field of view of the observation optical system 10, the actual imaging area frame 42 and the AF detection area frame 43 decrease as the imaging magnification changes to the telephoto side, as shown in FIG. Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the display address of the imaging area frame 42 and the display address of the AF detection area frame 43 displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 40 are changed according to the imaging magnification.
[0025]
Specifically, the relationship shown in FIG. 7 described above, that is, the relationship between the addresses of the corners of the imaging region frame 42 and the AF detection region frame 43 and the imaging magnification is stored in the storage unit 34 in advance, and the control unit 30 When the current lens position, that is, the imaging magnification, is recognized by a signal from the zoom lens position detection unit (imaging magnification detection unit) 26a, the imaging area frame 42 and the AF detection area frame corresponding to the imaging magnification are referred to the storage unit 34. The display addresses of the corners 43 are obtained, and the imaging area frame 42 and the AF detection area frame 43 are moved so that the corners of the imaging area frame 42 and the AF detection area frame 43 are located at the positions of the obtained addresses. (B) Display as shown in (c).
[0026]
As described above, in the present embodiment, since the imaging region frame 42 corresponding to the imaging magnification is displayed in the observation image having a wide visual field, the imaging region can be easily recognized. Further, in the present embodiment, even if the imaging magnification changes, the size of the wide-field observation image in which the imaging area frame 42 is displayed does not change. Due to the change, it is less likely to be out of the field of view, and the tracking of the object becomes easy. Moreover, in the present embodiment, the transmission type liquid crystal display panel 40 as the display means is arranged in the observation optical system 10 and the image pickup area frame 42 is displayed on the display panel 40. In order to combine the above and the like, elements and various circuits for electronically processing an image taken by the observation optical system 10 are not required, and the complexity and size of the apparatus can be suppressed, and as a result, Manufacturing costs can also be reduced.
[0027]
The control unit 30 obtains the amount of movement of the focus lens 24 based on the differential value of the evaluation value in order to focus on the target object with respect to the movement of the zoom lens 23, and provides this to the focus lens driving unit 25b. . The evaluation value is obtained by extracting a luminance signal obtained from the image sensor 27 via the image processing unit 28 by the high-frequency component extraction unit 32 and rectifying and detecting this by the detection circuit 33. The control unit 30 employs a “hill-climbing method” for this focusing operation, and differentiates the evaluation value with the focus lens position (X) as shown in FIG. The lens moving amount is obtained, and the lens moving direction is obtained from the positive or negative of the differential value. The control unit 30 finally moves the focus lens 24 so that the differential value of the evaluation value is 0, that is, the evaluation value is maximized.
[0028]
When the control unit 30 recognizes that the evaluation value is maximized and the target is focused, the control unit 30 changes the color of the AF detection area 43 displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 40. For example, when out of focus, the AF detection area 43 is displayed in light green, and when in focus, the AF detection area 43 is displayed in green.
[0029]
When the mode switching / recording button 39 is half-pressed while focusing on the target object, the display mode of the liquid crystal display panel 40 is switched from the area display mode to the image display mode, and the control unit 30 operates as shown in FIG. As described above, the image acquired by the imaging element 37 is displayed on the entire maximum imaging area frame 41 of the liquid crystal display panel 40. When the display mode is the area display mode, the image viewed from the eyepiece 14 of the observation optical system 10 changes in accordance with this change in magnification when the imaging magnification is on the telephoto side as shown in FIGS. Although the imaging area frame 42 becomes smaller and the position of the imaging area frame 42 can be easily recognized, the image in the imaging area frame 42 is actually what image while the image in the imaging area frame 42 remains small. Or difficult to understand in detail. Thus, in the present embodiment, if there is a mode switching instruction, the mode is switched to the image display mode, and the image acquired by the image sensor 27, that is, the image corresponding to the imaging magnification is displayed on the entire liquid crystal display panel 40. I have. In this image display mode, the imaging region frame 42 is not displayed. However, since the entire region of the image corresponding to the imaging magnification is the imaging region, the imaging region frame 42 is not required even if the imaging region display is not particularly performed. This is because the area can be recognized. However, the imaging area frame 42 may be displayed even in the image display mode.
[0030]
When the mode switching / recording button 39 is fully pressed, the control unit 38 stores the image acquired by the image sensor 27 in the flash memory card 36.
[0031]
When the imaging is completed and the power button 38 is turned off, the display of the imaging area frame 42 and the AF detection area 43 is ended.
[0032]
In the above embodiment, the imaging area frame 42 is displayed by turning on the power button 38 and the display of the imaging area frame 42 is ended by turning off the power button 38. The imaging region may be displayed, and the display of the imaging region frame 42 may be terminated when a predetermined time has elapsed after the operation of the zoom button is completed and when the recording button 39 is fully pressed. In the above description, an image corresponding to the imaging magnification is displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 40 arranged in the observation optical system 10. However, a liquid crystal display panel that can be directly viewed with the naked eye is provided on the surface of the casing 19, and The image corresponding to the magnification may be displayed on the liquid crystal display panel.
[0033]
Further, the display panel 40 is a transmissive liquid crystal display panel, but other display means may be used as long as it is transmissive, for example, a transmissive EL (Electroluminescence) panel.
[0034]
In the above embodiments, the binoculars with a camera are taken as an example of the optical device with an imaging function. However, the present invention may be applied to a digital camera or a digital video camera. In this case, an observation optical system is separately provided as an auxiliary finder for these cameras, and a display means is arranged in the observation optical system.
[0035]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, it is not necessary to electronically process an image taken by an observation optical system in order to combine an observation image and a captured image, so that it is possible to suppress the complexity of the apparatus and the size of the apparatus. As a result, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view of binoculars with a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a view taken in the direction of the arrow II in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a transparent plan view of binoculars with a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a circuit block diagram of an imaging unit according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an image change in a visual field of an observation optical system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a graph showing a relationship between a focus lens position and an evaluation value in one embodiment according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a graph showing a relationship between an imaging magnification and a display address of a corner of each area according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Observation optical system 20 ... Imaging unit 21 ... Imaging optical system 23 ... Zoom lens 24 ... Focus lens 27 ... Imaging element 30 ... Control part 40 ... Transmissive liquid crystal display panel 42 ... Imaging area frame 43 ... AF detection area frame.

Claims (6)

In an optical device with an imaging function including an observation optical system and an imaging optical system having a zoom function of changing an imaging magnification,
The observation optical system does not follow a change in imaging magnification due to the zoom function, and an image with a unique magnification is obtained,
Display means for displaying an image in the field of view of the observation optical system,
Imaging magnification detecting means for detecting an imaging magnification by the zoom function,
Storage means for storing a relationship between a position of a frame of the imaging area that changes according to a change in the size of the imaging area displayed on the display means and the imaging magnification;
Using the relationship stored in the storage unit, a position of a frame of the imaging area in a display area of the display unit is determined according to the imaging magnification detected by the imaging magnification detection unit, and the display is performed. Display control means for displaying a frame of the imaging area at a determined position in the display area,
An optical device with an imaging function, comprising: The optical device with an imaging function according to claim 1,
The display means is disposed in an optical path of the observation optical system, has an optically transparent display panel,
An optical device with an imaging function, characterized in that: The optical device with an imaging function according to claim 2,
As the observation optical system, for the left and right eyes of the observer, has a pair of left and right observation optical system,
The display panel is disposed only in the optical path of one observation optical system of the pair of left and right observation optical systems,
An optical device with an imaging function, characterized in that: The optical device with an imaging function according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
An area display mode for displaying a frame of the imaging area, and a mode switching unit for switching between an image display mode for displaying an image taken by the imaging optical system,
The display control means, when one of the area display mode and the image display mode is set by the mode switching means, causes the display means to display display contents according to the mode. ,
An optical device with an imaging function, characterized in that: The optical device with an imaging function according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
Focusing means for automatically focusing the imaging optical system,
The storage means stores the frame of the AF detection area which changes according to a change in the size of an area (hereinafter, referred to as an AF detection area) used when the focusing means focuses in the visual field of the observation optical system. The relationship between the position in the display area and the imaging magnification is stored,
The display control means uses the relationship regarding the AF detection area stored in the storage means, and according to the imaging magnification detected by the imaging magnification detection means, Determining the position of the frame of the AF detection area, and causing the display means to display the frame of the AF detection area at the determined position in the display area;
An optical device with an imaging function, characterized in that: The optical device with an imaging function according to claim 5,
The display control means changes a color of an area image indicating the AF detection area before focusing by the focusing means and after focusing.
An optical device with an imaging function, characterized in that:

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