JP2006039343A - Automatic focus/exposure control device of imaging system and method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make each of a plurality of main objects 32 and 33 comparatively proper brightness when the plurality of the main objects exist. <P>SOLUTION: The main object 32 is detected from among the objects existing in a photographing range 30. Automatic focusing control processing is performed so that a focus is on the main object 32. When the main object 34 exists as well as the main object 32, automatic exposure control processing is performed so that both of the objects 32 and 34 have proper brightness. Even when the plurality of the main objects exist in the photographing range, object images expressing any main object have comparatively proper brightness. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic focusing / exposure amount control apparatus and method for an imaging system.

In the automatic exposure amount control of the camera, there is one that makes the brightness of the subject portion existing in the center portion of the photographing range appropriate. There is also a camera that is provided with a line-of-sight detection device so that the brightness of the subject portion ahead of the cameraman's line of sight is appropriate (Patent Document 1).
JP-A-3-107932

  In any of these automatic exposure amount controls, when there are a plurality of main subjects within the photographing range, it is not considered that any of the plurality of main subjects has an appropriate brightness.

  An object of the present invention is to achieve relatively appropriate brightness even when there are a plurality of main subjects.

  An automatic focusing / exposure control device for an imaging system according to the present invention includes a solid-state electronic imaging device that outputs image data representing a subject image formed on a light-receiving surface, and a subject image is formed on the light-receiving surface of the solid-state electronic imaging device. An image pickup lens that is movable on the optical axis, and a plurality of divided images obtained by dividing a subject image represented by image data output from the solid-state electronic image pickup device into a plurality of regions. Main part image detecting means for detecting a plurality of main part images corresponding to the respective main subject images of the subject image, the main part image of any one of the plurality of main part images detected by the main part image detecting means; A focus control device that adjusts the position of the imaging lens so that it is in focus, and a plurality of main partial images detected by the main partial image detection means, Based on to a plurality of main portion image data, characterized by comprising an exposure amount control unit for controlling the amount of exposure to the light receiving surface of the solid-state electronic image sensing device.

  The present invention also provides a method suitable for the automatic focusing / exposure amount control apparatus of the imaging system. That is, in this method, a solid-state electronic imaging device that outputs image data representing a subject image formed on the light receiving surface, and a subject image is formed on the light receiving surface of the solid-state electronic imaging device and moved on the optical axis. In an imaging system having a flexible imaging lens, a plurality of main subject images out of a number of divided images obtained when a subject image represented by image data output from the solid-state electronic imaging device is divided into a number of regions. Detecting a plurality of main partial images corresponding to the respective main subject images, and adjusting the position of the imaging lens so that one of the detected main partial images is in focus. The exposure amount on the light receiving surface of the solid-state electronic imaging device is controlled based on a plurality of main part image data representing the detected plurality of main part images.

  According to the present invention, among a plurality of divided images obtained when a subject image obtained by imaging a subject is divided into a number of regions, a plurality of main subject images corresponding to the respective main subject images of the plurality of main subject images are obtained. A partial image is detected. Thus, the position of the imaging lens is adjusted so that the plurality of main partial images detected corresponding to the plurality of main subject images are in focus. The exposure amount on the light receiving surface of the solid-state electronic imaging device is controlled based on a plurality of main part image data representing a plurality of main part images. Even when there are a plurality of main subjects within the imaging range, each of the plurality of main subject images representing the plurality of main subjects has a relatively appropriate brightness. The exposure amount may be controlled so that only a specific main subject image has an appropriate brightness among the plurality of main subject images.

  The exposure amount control device controls, for example, the exposure amount to the light receiving surface of the solid-state electronic imaging device based on the image data of the main partial image and the image data of divided images existing around the main partial image. To do. When the detected main partial image is a part of the main subject image, the exposure amount can be controlled using the image data of the divided images existing around the main partial image, so that the entire main subject image is relatively appropriate. Can be bright.

  Depth of field determination means for determining whether or not the subject has a shallow depth of field, and exposure by the exposure amount control device when the depth of field is determined to be shallow by the depth of field determination means You may make it further provide the 1st control means to stop quantity control. It is possible to prevent the exposure amount control from being performed based on an image in a specific divided area that is not suitable for the exposure amount control. In this case, exposure control will be performed by center-weighted exposure control, multipoint evaluation value exposure control, or the like.

  A two-stroke type shutter release button, the focus control device and the focus control device for adjusting the position of the imaging lens and controlling the exposure amount in response to pressing of the first step of the shutter release button. Second control means for controlling the exposure amount control device; time elapse detection means for detecting whether or not a time period from the first-stage depression of the shutter release button to the second-stage depression has exceeded a predetermined time; The exposure amount control based on the plurality of main partial image data is performed in response to the passage of a predetermined time or more being detected by the time lapse detection means based on the second pressing of the shutter release button. Re-exposure control means for controlling the exposure control device to stop and perform re-exposure amount control, and re-exposure control by the re-exposure control means Flip and may further include a recording control means for recording the image data output from the solid-state electronic image sensing device.

  If the second stage is pressed when a certain amount of time has passed since the first release of the shutter release button, the so-called focus lock function is considered to have been used. When focus locking is performed, the subject is imaged by changing the camera angle after focusing on a specific subject within the photographing range. When taking an image using focus lock, the camera angle changes even if the exposure is controlled so that the brightness of the plurality of main subject images detected as described above is appropriate. , The positions of a plurality of main subjects may be displaced, and the brightness of the plurality of main subject images may not be appropriate. For this reason, the exposure amount control by the exposure amount control device is stopped. Center-weighted exposure control is performed.

  A two-stroke type shutter release button, the focus control device and the focus control device for adjusting the position of the imaging lens and controlling the exposure amount in response to pressing of the first step of the shutter release button. Second control means for controlling the exposure amount control device, and in response to depression of the shutter release button in the second stage, the imaging direction and the shutter release when the shutter release button is depressed in the first stage -Direction change amount detection means for detecting whether or not the change amount with the imaging direction when the button is pressed in the second stage is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, and detecting that the change amount is greater than or equal to the predetermined value by the direction change amount detection means In response to this, the exposure control device is controlled to stop the exposure amount control based on the plurality of main partial image data and perform the re-exposure amount control. That re-exposure control means, and in response to the re-exposure control by the re-exposure control means may be further provided with a recording control means for recording the image data output from the solid-state electronic image sensing device.

  When the imaging direction is changed, it is considered that imaging using the focus lock described above is performed. For this reason, the exposure amount control by the exposure amount control device is stopped as described above. In this case also, center-weighted exposure control is performed.

  FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention and is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a digital still camera.

  The overall operation of the digital still camera is controlled by the CPU 14.

  The digital still camera includes a two-stroke type shutter release button 7. Signals indicating the first-stage depression and the second-stage depression of the shutter release button 7 are given to the CPU 14. Further, the digital still camera includes a mode setting dial 15 for setting various modes such as an imaging mode and a reproduction mode, and switches 17 for various settings. Signals output from the mode setting dial 15 and the switches 17 are also input to the CPU 14. The digital still camera also includes a strobe light emitting device 8.

  The digital still camera according to this embodiment also includes a timer 9 for measuring time and an electronic compass 10 for detecting an imaging direction by the digital still camera.

  When the imaging mode is set by the mode setting dial 15, the light condensed by the imaging lens 1 movable on the optical axis enters the light receiving surface of the CCD 3 through the diaphragm 2. The position of the imaging lens 1 is moved by a lens motor 18. The imaging lens 1 is positioned so that the subject image is focused on the light receiving surface of the CCD 3. The aperture opening of the aperture 2 is controlled by an aperture motor 19.

  By imaging the subject, a video signal representing the subject image is output from the CCD 3 and supplied to the analog / digital conversion circuit 4. The video signal is converted into digital image data by the analog / digital conversion circuit 4 and input to the image processing circuit 5. Predetermined image processing such as gamma correction is performed in the image processing circuit 5 and input to the automatic white balance control circuit 13. Image data subjected to white balance control (adjustment) in the automatic white balance control circuit 13 is given to the display device 6. A subject image obtained by imaging is displayed on the display screen of the display device 6.

  In the digital still camera according to this embodiment, automatic focusing control processing and automatic exposure control processing can be performed. For this purpose, the digital still camera includes an AF (auto focus) control circuit 11 and an AE (auto exposure) control circuit 12. As will be described in detail later, an automatic focusing control process and an automatic exposure control process are performed in response to the first release of the shutter release button 7. In response to pressing of the shutter release button 7 in the second stage, the image data obtained as described above is given to the memory card 16 and recorded.

  In the digital still camera according to this embodiment, when there are a plurality of main subjects in the photographing range, images are taken so that both of the plurality of subjects have a relatively appropriate exposure amount. Of course, only a specific subject (specified by a cameraman or automatically determined) among a plurality of main subjects may be set to an appropriate exposure amount.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the AF control circuit 11.

  When the shutter release button 7 is pressed in the first stage, the image data output from the image processing circuit 5 is input to the AF control circuit 11. The image data input to the AF control circuit 11 is supplied to an OB (optical black) correction circuit 21 and corrected so that a predetermined level becomes an optical black level. The image data output from the OB correction circuit 21 is input to the AFl filter calculation circuit 22 and the AFh filter calculation circuit 24. Both the AFl filter calculation circuit 22 and the AFh filter calculation circuit 24 extract high frequency components of image data necessary for automatic focusing control.

  FIG. 3 shows the characteristics of the AFl filter arithmetic circuit 22 and the AFh filter arithmetic circuit 24. The AFl filter arithmetic circuit 22 has a characteristic (for low frequency) through which image data with a frequency component lower than the high frequency component through which the AFh filter arithmetic circuit 24 passes. The AFh filter calculation circuit 24 has a characteristic (for high frequency) through which image data having a frequency component higher than the high frequency component through which the AFl filter calculation circuit 22 passes.

  Returning to FIG. 2, relatively low-frequency image data among the high-frequency components that have passed through the AF1 filter arithmetic circuit 22 is supplied to the noise removal / integration circuit 23. The noise removal / accumulation circuit 23 removes noise from high-frequency component image data. The image data from which the noise has been removed is integrated to obtain a low frequency AF evaluation value. Similarly, the noise removal / accumulation circuit 23 removes noise from the high-frequency component image data and integrates the relatively high-frequency image data among the high-frequency components that have passed through the AFh filter arithmetic circuit 24. A high frequency AF evaluation value is obtained. In the automatic focusing control, a low frequency AF evaluation value or a high frequency AF evaluation value is used. In automatic focusing control, either a low-frequency AF evaluation value or a high-frequency AF evaluation value (focusing data) may be used. When the subject is dark or has low contrast, the characteristics of the high-frequency AF evaluation value corresponding to the focus position, which will be described later, do not appear clearly. Focus control is performed using the characteristics of the low-frequency AF evaluation value. It will be.

  4A shows the relationship between the shooting range and the subject image within the shooting range, and FIG. 4B shows the weighting coefficient.

  Referring to (A), it is assumed that one main subject image (main subject) 32 exists within the photographing range 30. The shooting range 30 is divided into a number of sections 31. A determination value H (obtained by Equation 1) indicating the degree to which the main subject image 32 exists is calculated for each image in the multiple sections 31.

H = F1 × F2 × F3 Formula 1
However, F1 is a quantification that there are many main subjects at the center of the shooting range, a membership function indicating the median angle of view, and F2 is used to use a reliable AF evaluation value. A membership function indicating the reliability of the AF evaluation value, F3, is a membership function related to the distance to the subject existing in each section 51 (that is, a membership function related to the AF evaluation value). The AF evaluation value is obtained by the AF control circuit 11 described above.

  The section 31 where the determination value H is the maximum is the section where the main subject image 32 exists, and is the focusing target area 33. An in-focus area 33 is determined corresponding to the main subject 32 included in the shooting range 30, and is set in the digital still camera.

  In the digital still camera according to this embodiment, the main subject image (main partial image) 32 is focused using the image data representing the image (main partial image) in the focus target area 33. Although the control is performed, for the exposure control, not only the image data representing the image in the focus target area 33 but also the image data representing the image in the section (area) 31 around the focus target area 33 is used. It is done. Of course, it is needless to say that the exposure amount control may be performed using only the image data representing the image in the focusing target area 33.

  For this reason, in this embodiment, a weighting coefficient is defined for each region 31 as shown in FIG. This weighting coefficient is set so as to increase as the section is closer to the focusing target area 33. For example, an image in the focus target area has a weighting coefficient of 64, an image in an area adjacent to the focus target area has a weighting coefficient of 32, and an image in an area two away from the focus target area has a weighting coefficient of 16 The image in the region 3 away from the focus target region has a weighting coefficient of 4, the image in the region 4 away from the focus target region has the weighting coefficient 1, and the image in the other region has a weighting coefficient. 0. Using these weighting coefficients, exposure amount control is performed as described later.

  FIG. 5 shows the relationship between the position of the imaging lens 1 and the AF evaluation value.

  A graph is obtained by calculating the AF evaluation value at each position while the imaging lens 1 is gradually moved from the start position. For each image in each region 31 described above, a graph of high frequency AF evaluation value-imaging lens position characteristic and a graph of low frequency AF evaluation value-imaging lens position characteristic are obtained. As the degree of focusing increases, the AF evaluation value increases. The position of the imaging lens 1 that gives the AF value AF1 of the peak of the AF evaluation value-imaging lens position characteristic graph obtained based on the image in the focusing target area 33 described above is the focusing position (S1 focusing position). Determined as P.

  FIG. 6A also shows the relationship between the shooting range and the subject image within the shooting range, and FIG. 6B shows the weighting coefficient.

  Referring to (A), it is assumed that one main subject image 34 exists within the photographing range 30. The shooting range 30 is divided into a number of sections 31. As described above, the determination value H is calculated for each image in each section 31 according to Equation 1. The section 31 having the largest calculated determination value H is the in-focus target area 35 in which the main subject image 34 exists (main subject).

  With reference to (B), a weighting coefficient is defined for each region 31. As described above, this weighting coefficient is also set so as to increase as it is closer to the focusing target area 35.

  FIGS. 7A and 7B also show the relationship between the shooting range and the subject image within the shooting range, and FIG. 7B shows the weighting coefficient.

  In (A), two main subject images 33 and 35 exist within the photographing range 30. One main subject image 33 is the same as the main subject image 33 shown in FIG. 4A and exists at the same position, and the other main subject image 35 is the same as the main subject image 35 shown in FIG. In the same position.

  In the digital still camera according to this embodiment, when there are a plurality of main subject images in the shooting range as described above, the focus control is performed so that any one of the plurality of main subjects is in focus. However, the exposure amount control is such that the exposure amounts of both of the plurality of main subjects are relatively appropriate.

  Focus control is performed by either image data representing an image in the focusing target area 33 of one main subject image 32 or image data representing an image in the focusing target area 35 of the other main subject image 34. Data is used. Of the two image data, focus control is performed so that the image represented by the used image data is in focus. On the other hand, in the exposure control, both image data representing an image in one focusing target area 33 and image data representing an image in the other focusing target area 35 are used. Exposure amount control is performed so that each of the two image portions represented by the two used image data has a relatively appropriate brightness.

  Referring to (B), the weighting coefficient is also set when there are a plurality of main subject images within the shooting range 30. Even when there are a plurality of main subject images, the closer to the in-focus target area 33 or 35, the larger the weighting coefficient. Since there are a plurality of main subject images, a plurality of weighting coefficients can be obtained for each region. The larger weighting coefficient among the plurality of weighting coefficients is adopted as the weighting coefficient.

  8 and 9 are flowcharts showing the processing procedure when the digital still camera is set to the imaging mode.

  In the digital still camera according to this embodiment, as described above, the focus target area, which is the area where the main subject image exists, is detected in response to the first release of the shutter release button, and the focus is adjusted. Focus control is performed so that the image in the target area is in focus. When there are a plurality of main subject images, focusing control is performed so that the image in the focusing target area where the determination value H is the largest is focused as described above. When the depth of field of the subject is deep (not shallow), exposure amount control is performed according to the number of main subject images. That is, when it is determined that there is one main subject image and one focus target area, the exposure amount control is performed so that the brightness of the image in the one focus target area is appropriate. Is called. When it is determined that there are a plurality of main subject images and a plurality of focus target areas, exposure amount control is performed so that the brightness of each image in the plurality of focus target areas is relatively appropriate. Is called.

  When the depth of field is shallow, the above-described exposure amount control is stopped, and center-weighted exposure amount control (exposure amount control so that the brightness of the central portion in the photographing range is appropriate) is performed. Also, if a predetermined time or more has elapsed between the first release of the shutter release button and the second release, it is determined that the camera angle has been changed using the so-called focus lock function. Since the positional relationship between the shooting range and the main subject is also changed, the exposure amount control described above is stopped and the center-weighted exposure amount control is performed.

  When the imaging mode is set and the shutter release button 7 is pressed in the first stage (YES in step 40), the timer 9 starts timing (step 41). As described above, the focus target area is detected (step 42). It is assumed that the focusing target area is set based on multipoint AF.

  The shutter speeds of the diaphragm 2 and the CCD 3 are set so that the exposure for AF is performed (the exposure setting for AF is performed as necessary in the setting of the exposure, the setting of the focus target area in step 42). (Step 43). Also, the filters of the AFl filter calculation circuit 22 and the AFh filter calculation circuit 24 in the AF control circuit 11 are set (step 44). Subsequently, the imaging lens 1 is moved to the start position of the moving range by the lens motor 9 (step 45). Thereafter, the imaging lens 1 is gradually moved by the lens motor 9, and an AF evaluation value is calculated for each movement position (step 46).

    When the S1 focus position P is determined (step 47), the imaging lens 1 is moved to the determined S1 focus position P (step 48).

  Further, the distance to the subject is measured for each divided area (step 49). It is confirmed whether or not the depth of field of the subject is shallow based on the distance measured for each divided area (step 50). For example, if the distance difference between the farthest distance and the latest distance among the distances obtained for each divided area is greater than or equal to a predetermined distance, it is determined that the depth of field is shallow.

  If the depth of field is not shallow (NO in step 50), it is confirmed whether there are a plurality of main subjects (step 52). If there are a plurality of main subjects (YES in step 52), weighting coefficients are set corresponding to the divided areas in the photographing range as described above according to the positions of the plurality of main subjects (step 55, FIG. 7 ( B)). Based on image data representing images in a plurality of focus target areas corresponding to a plurality of main subjects and image data representing images in areas around the focus target areas, the image data is multiplied by a weighting coefficient to obtain a plurality of The exposure amount is controlled so that the brightness of the main subject image of the main subject image becomes relatively appropriate (step 56). If there is one main subject (NO in step 52), a weighting coefficient is set according to the position of one main subject (see step 53, FIG. 4B, FIG. 6B). Based on image data representing an image in one focusing target area corresponding to one main subject and image data representing an image in an area around the focusing target area, the image data is multiplied by a weighting coefficient, Exposure amount control is performed so that the brightness of the main subject image is appropriate (step 54).

  If the depth of field is shallow (YES in step 50), exposure control is performed based on the subject portion in a specific divided area that does not have the appropriate brightness when the exposure amount is matched, such as a subject in a distant view In order to prevent this, the above-described exposure amount control is stopped. Center-weighted exposure amount control is performed (step 51). However, so-called multi-point AE control (not divided into center-weighted exposure control) (when divided into a large number of divided areas, luminance data is extracted for each image in these divided areas to detect the portion where the main subject exists. AE control so that the brightness of the main subject is appropriate) may be performed.

  When the timer 9 counts that the predetermined time has elapsed with the first stage of the shutter release button pressed (YES in step 57), the cameraman uses the focus lock function to set the camera angle. It is thought that it changed. Since the positional relationship between the shooting range and the main subject is different from that when the shutter release button 7 is pressed in the first stage, the main subject image has an appropriate brightness even if the exposure amount control described above is performed. It may not be. For this purpose, center-weighted exposure amount control is performed (step 58). If the predetermined time has not elapsed, the process of step 58 is skipped. As a result, the subject is exposed by the exposure amount control (steps 54 and 56) described above.

  When the shutter release button 7 is pressed in the second stage (YES in step 59), the subject is exposed with the set exposure amount, and image data obtained by imaging the subject is stored in the memory card 16. Recorded (step 60).

  In the embodiment described above, the timer 9 measures the time from pressing the shutter release button 7 in the first stage to pressing the second stage, and when the predetermined time has elapsed, the focus lock function is used. Center-weighted exposure control is performed. However, the electronic compass 10 is used to detect whether the imaging direction when the shutter release button 7 is pressed in the first stage and the imaging direction when the shutter release button 7 is pressed are changed by a predetermined angle or more. If it is determined that the angle has changed by a predetermined angle or more, the center-weighted exposure amount control may be performed on the assumption that the focus lock function is used.

  In the above-described embodiment, when it is determined that the focus lock function is used, the above-described exposure amount control is stopped and the center-weighted exposure amount control is performed. However, the focus lock function is not necessarily performed. It is not necessary to determine whether or not is used. Further, although it is determined whether the depth of field of the subject is shallow, it is not always necessary to determine whether the depth of field is shallow. Furthermore, the exposure amount control of the main subject image is performed using image data representing an image in the area around the in-focus area, but it is not always necessary to use image data representing the image in the surrounding area. . Further, when the center-weighted exposure amount control is performed, it may be performed in response to the second release of the shutter release button 7.

It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of a digital still camera. It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of AF control circuit. The characteristics of the AF filter are shown. (A) shows the relationship between the shooting range and the main subject, and (B) is an example of a weighting coefficient. The AF evaluation value-imaging lens position characteristic is shown. (A) shows the relationship between the shooting range and the main subject, and (B) is an example of a weighting coefficient. (A) shows the relationship between the shooting range and the main subject, and (B) is an example of a weighting coefficient. It is a flowchart which shows a part of process sequence of the digital still camera of imaging mode. It is a flowchart which shows a part of process sequence of the digital still camera of imaging mode.

Explanation of symbols

1 Imaging lens 3 CCD
7 Shutter release button 9 Lens motor
11 AF control circuit
12 AE control circuit
14 CPU
16 Memory card
30 Shooting range
31 Split area
32, 34 Main subject (main subject image)
33, 35 Focus target area

Claims (6)

A solid-state electronic imaging device that outputs image data representing a subject image formed on a light-receiving surface;
An imaging lens that forms a subject image on the light receiving surface of the solid-state electronic imaging device and is movable on the optical axis;
Among a plurality of divided images obtained when the subject image represented by the image data output from the solid-state electronic imaging device is divided into a plurality of regions, a plurality of main subject images corresponding to the respective main subject images A main partial image detecting means for detecting a main partial image;
A focus control device for adjusting the position of the imaging lens so that any one of the plurality of main part images detected by the main part image detection means is in focus; and the main part image detection An exposure amount control device for controlling an exposure amount on the light receiving surface of the solid-state electronic imaging device based on a plurality of main portion image data respectively representing a plurality of main portion images detected by the means;
An automatic focusing / exposure amount control device for an imaging system comprising: The exposure control device is
Based on the image data of the main partial image and the image data of the divided images existing around the main partial image, the exposure amount to the light receiving surface of the solid-state electronic imaging device is controlled.
The automatic focusing / exposure amount control device for an imaging system according to claim 1. Depth of field determination means for determining whether or not the subject has a shallow depth of field, and exposure by the exposure amount control device when the depth of field is determined to be shallow by the depth of field determination means First control means for stopping the quantity control;
The automatic focusing / exposure amount control device for an imaging system according to claim 1, further comprising: Two-stroke type shutter release button,
Second control means for controlling the focusing control device and the exposure amount control device so as to adjust the position of the imaging lens and to control the exposure amount in response to pressing of the shutter release button in the first stage. ,
Time elapse detecting means for detecting whether or not the time from the first stage depression of the shutter release button to the second stage depression exceeds a predetermined time;
The exposure amount control based on the plurality of main partial image data is performed in response to the passage of a predetermined time or more being detected by the time lapse detection means based on the second pressing of the shutter release button. Re-exposure control means for controlling the exposure control apparatus so as to stop and perform re-exposure amount control, and image data output from the solid-state electronic imaging device in response to re-exposure control by the re-exposure control means Recording control means for recording on a medium;
The automatic focusing / exposure amount control device for an imaging system according to claim 1, further comprising: Two-stroke type shutter release button,
Second control means for controlling the focusing control device and the exposure amount control device so as to adjust the position of the imaging lens and to control the exposure amount in response to pressing of the shutter release button in the first stage. ,
In response to pressing of the shutter release button in the second stage, an imaging direction when the shutter release button is pressed in the first stage and an imaging direction when the shutter release button is pressed in the second stage Direction change amount detecting means for detecting whether or not the amount of change in the distance is greater than or equal to a predetermined value,
In response to detecting that the change amount is greater than or equal to a predetermined value by the direction change amount detection means, the exposure amount control based on the plurality of main partial image data is stopped and the re-exposure amount control is performed. Re-exposure control means for controlling the exposure control device, and recording control means for recording image data output from the solid-state electronic imaging device on a recording medium in response to re-exposure control by the re-exposure control means;
The automatic focusing / exposure amount control device for an imaging system according to claim 1, further comprising: A solid-state electronic imaging device that outputs image data representing a subject image formed on a light-receiving surface, and an imaging lens that forms a subject image on the light-receiving surface of the solid-state electronic imaging device and is movable on the optical axis In the imaging system
Among a plurality of divided images obtained when the subject image represented by the image data output from the solid-state electronic imaging device is divided into a plurality of regions, a plurality of main subject images corresponding to the respective main subject images Detect the main partial image,
Adjusting the position of the imaging lens so that any one of the detected plurality of main partial images is in focus;
Controlling the exposure amount to the light receiving surface of the solid-state electronic imaging device based on a plurality of main part image data respectively representing a plurality of detected main part images;
An automatic focusing / exposure amount control method for an imaging system.

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