JP2014027352A - Camera, camera system, electronic apparatus and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem that a digital camera having an interchangeable lens, of which the position of a zoom lens and the like can be only manually adjusted, and which is attached to a camera body, cannot be adjusted about the position of a zoom lens and the like by remote operation and the zoom operation is difficult.SOLUTION: In a digital camera 10a, an interchangeable lens 20a of which the position of a zoom lens 200 can be only adjusted by manual operation via a zoom ring 201 and the like is attached to a camera body 30. In the case where the digital camera 10a is remotely operated by use of a mobile communication terminal 40, electronic zoom processing is performed instead of zoom operation by the position change in the zoom lens 200.

Description

  The present invention relates to a camera, a camera system including the camera and an external terminal, an electronic device such as the external terminal, and a program executed by the electronic device.

  A digital camera that can be remotely operated via a portable communication terminal is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-133867 describes a zoom operation of a digital camera using a mobile communication terminal.

  An interchangeable lens type digital camera in which an interchangeable lens is detachably attached to a camera body is well known. An interchangeable lens is provided with an optical system such as a zoom lens, and an interchangeable lens in which the position of the zoom lens or the like can be adjusted only manually is known.

Japanese Patent No. 4771481

  In a digital camera in which an interchangeable lens that can only be manually adjusted for the position of the zoom lens or the like is mounted on the camera body, the position of the zoom lens or the like cannot be adjusted by remote control, making zoom operation difficult.

  The camera according to the present invention captures an image of a subject that has passed through the photographing optical system, a photographing optical system including at least a manually driven zoom lens, a generation unit that generates information about the position of the zoom lens in the optical axis direction, and the like. An imaging unit that outputs a captured image, a receiving unit that receives an adjustment signal indicating a change in the focal length of the imaging optical system from an external terminal, and an electronic device that generates a first image in which a part of the captured image is enlarged or reduced Zoom means and control means for causing the electronic zoom means to generate a first image based on the position of the zoom lens in the optical axis direction and the adjustment signal when the receiving means receives the adjustment signal from the external terminal. It is characterized by that.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to perform a zoom operation even when an interchangeable lens whose position such as a zoom lens can be manually adjusted is attached to the camera body.

It is a block block diagram of the camera system by one embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the interchangeable lens of the camera system by one embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram of the camera body of the camera system by one embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram of the portable communication terminal used in order to operate remotely the digital camera of the camera system by one embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the operation screen for remote control of the digital camera displayed on the display part of a portable communication terminal. It is a figure for demonstrating an electronic zoom means. It is a figure used for description about the calculation method of the trimming area in an electronic zoom means. It is a function flowchart in the process performed at the time of remote operation start of a digital camera. It is a flowchart regarding an electronic zoom means. It is a flowchart regarding the process which calculates the estimated position of a zoom lens. It is a figure for demonstrating the restriction | limiting provided in an electronic zoom means. It is a figure which shows an example of the focus area set in the imaging screen. It is a figure which shows the modification of the operation screen for remote control of a digital camera.

(Camera system configuration)
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a camera system according to an embodiment of the present invention. A camera system 1 illustrated in FIG. 1A is a camera system having an interchangeable lens digital camera 10 a and a mobile communication terminal 40, and the digital camera 10 a performs wireless communication with the mobile communication terminal 40. Hereinafter, the interchangeable lens digital camera 10b and the portable communication terminal 40 illustrated in FIG. 1B may be treated as the camera system 1.

  A digital camera 10a and a digital camera 10b shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B respectively have a camera body 30, and an interchangeable lens is detachably attached to the camera body 30. The interchangeable lens 20a is attached to the camera body 30 of the digital camera 10a, and the interchangeable lens 20b is attached to the camera body 30 of the digital camera 10b.

  The interchangeable lenses 20a and 20b incorporate an optical system such as a zoom lens 200 and a focus lens (not shown). The interchangeable lenses 20a and 20b can change the focal length, the angle of view, and the like of the interchangeable lenses 20a and 20b by driving the zoom lens 200 in the optical axis direction.

  In the interchangeable lens 20a, the position of the zoom lens 200 is manually adjusted using the zoom ring 201. On the other hand, in the interchangeable lens 20b, the position of the zoom lens 200 is electrically driven using a driving unit such as a motor 1000. Note that the interchangeable lens 20a cannot electrically drive the zoom lens 200, and the interchangeable lens 20b is not particularly limited for manual adjustment of the zoom lens 200.

  The camera body 30 and the mobile communication terminal 40 exchange data using wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) or Wi-Fi. The mobile communication terminal 40 includes a display unit 400 that displays an operation screen and the like. The user can remotely operate the digital cameras 10 a and 10 b while looking at the display unit 400. Data exchange between the camera body 30 and the portable communication terminal 40 will be described later.

(Configuration of interchangeable lenses 20a and 20b)
FIG. 2A is a block diagram of the interchangeable lens 20a. An interchangeable lens 20a illustrated in FIG. 2A includes a zoom lens 200, a zoom ring 201, an encoder 202, a lens side CPU 203, a lens side ROM 204, a lens side contact portion 205, a focus lens drive unit 206, and an aperture drive unit 207. Is provided.

  The encoder 202 detects the position of the zoom ring 201, detects the position of the zoom lens 200, and outputs the position information of the zoom lens 200 to the lens side CPU 203. The lens ROM 204 stores lens information related to the interchangeable lens 20a. The lens side CPU 203 outputs the lens information and the position information of the zoom lens 200 detected by the encoder 202 to the camera body 30 side via the lens side contact portion 205.

  The lens information regarding the interchangeable lens 20a described above includes information such as the open F value of the interchangeable lens 20a, the focal length for each position of the zoom lens 200, and the model of the interchangeable lens 20a.

  In addition to the lens shown in FIG. 2A, the interchangeable lens 20a includes a diaphragm, a focus lens, and the like. The focus lens driving unit 206 is controlled by the lens side CPU 203 and drives a focus lens (not shown) in the optical axis direction. The aperture driving unit 207 is controlled by the lens side CPU 203 and is used to adjust the size of an aperture (not shown).

  FIG. 2B is a block diagram of the interchangeable lens 20b. The interchangeable lens 20b illustrated in FIG. 2B is different from the configuration of the interchangeable lens 20a in that it includes a motor 1000 for moving the position of the zoom lens 200 and does not include the zoom ring 201 and the encoder 202. .

  Similarly to the interchangeable lens 20a, the lens ROM 204 stores lens information related to the interchangeable lens 20b. The lens information regarding the interchangeable lens 20b includes information such as the open F value of the interchangeable lens 20b, the focal length for each position of the zoom lens 200, and the model of the interchangeable lens 20b.

(Configuration of camera body 30)
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the camera body 30. The camera body 30 illustrated in FIG. 3 includes a camera-side contact unit 300, a camera-side CPU 301, an imaging unit 302, a wireless communication unit 303, an image display unit 304, an image recording unit 305, an audio input unit 306, an operation unit 307, and a mount. Part 308.

  The camera side contact portion 300 is connected to the lens side contact portion 205 of the interchangeable lens 20a when the interchangeable lens 20a is attached to the mount portion 308. The camera-side CPU 301 communicates with the lens-side CPU 203 of the interchangeable lens 20a via the camera-side contact unit 300. The lens information output to the lens side contact portion 205 of the interchangeable lens 20a and the position information of the zoom lens 200 are input to the camera side CPU 301 via the camera side contact portion 300.

  The camera-side CPU 301 calculates the focal length of the interchangeable lens 20a based on the position information and lens information of the zoom lens 200, and calculates the angle of view of the interchangeable lens 20a from the focal length. Further, the camera-side CPU 301 determines whether the interchangeable lens mounted on the mount unit 308 is an interchangeable lens that cannot electrically drive the zoom lens 200 based on the interchangeable lens type included in the lens information (whether it is the interchangeable lens 20a or not). Whether it is the lens 20b). In addition, the camera side CPU 301 issues a drive instruction for the focus lens and the diaphragm via the camera side contact unit 300.

  The camera-side CPU 301 controls the operation of the digital camera 10a by controlling the imaging unit 302, the wireless communication unit 303, the image display unit 304, the image recording unit 305, the audio input unit 306, the operation unit 307, and the like.

  The imaging unit 302 includes an imaging element, captures a subject image that has passed through the interchangeable lens 20a or the interchangeable lens 20b, and outputs a captured image. The imaging unit 302 can output, for example, a captured image having a recording pixel number (4000 × 2000) equivalent to 4K2K.

  The camera-side CPU 301 includes an electronic zoom unit 310 and can execute an electronic zoom process for enlarging a part of a captured image output from the imaging unit 302. Details of the electronic zoom processing will be described later.

  The wireless communication unit 303 performs wireless communication using Wi-Fi or the like. The camera-side CPU 301 exchanges various information (image information such as a through image, menu information, lens information, etc.) or operation signals with the mobile communication terminal 40 via the wireless communication unit 303. The camera-side CPU 301 receives an operation signal input from the mobile communication terminal 40 via the wireless communication unit 303 and controls each unit of the digital camera based on the operation signal. Controlling each part of the digital camera based on the operation signal input from the mobile communication terminal 40 in this way is referred to as remote operation.

  The image display unit 304 is a liquid crystal monitor or the like disposed on the back surface of the camera 30. In the image display unit 304, for example, a through image based on a captured image output from the imaging unit 302, a menu screen, and the like are displayed. The camera-side CPU 301 sets so that the image display unit 304 does not display various images during remote operation by the mobile communication terminal 40. The image display unit 304 may be an electrical view finder (EVF).

  The image recording unit 305 is a non-volatile recording medium such as a memory card, and records still image data and moving image data based on the captured image output from the imaging unit 302. The voice input unit 306 includes a microphone and detects voice when shooting a moving image. The operation unit 307 is an operation member such as a release switch or a touch panel provided in the image display unit 304.

(Configuration of mobile communication terminal 40)
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the mobile communication terminal 40. A mobile communication terminal 40 illustrated in FIG. 4 is, for example, a smartphone, and includes a display unit 400, a terminal-side CPU 401, a storage unit 402, an operation unit 403, and a wireless communication unit 404. The terminal-side CPU 401 controls the display unit 400, the storage unit 402, the operation unit 403, and the wireless communication unit 404. The storage unit 402 stores a control program for the control CPU 401 and an application for the camera system 1. On the display unit 400, an operation screen (described later) of the application for the camera system 1 stored in the storage unit 402 is displayed. The operation unit 403 is an operation member for operating the mobile communication terminal 40 and is a touch panel provided on the display unit 400. The operation unit 403 may be a keyboard or switches. The wireless communication unit 404 performs wireless communication using Wi-Fi or the like. The terminal-side CPU 401 exchanges various information (through image information, menu information, lens information, etc.) or operation signals with the digital camera 10 a via the wireless communication unit 404.

(Remote operation of digital cameras 10a and 10b)
A case where the user remotely operates the digital camera 10a or the digital camera 10b using the mobile communication terminal 40 will be described. The user can remotely operate the digital cameras 10a and 10b by executing the application for the camera system 1 on the mobile communication terminal 40. Here, both the digital camera 10a and the mobile communication terminal 40 are already activated, and the digital camera 10a or the digital camera 10b starts capturing a subject image by the imaging unit 302 and displays a through image on the image display unit 304. Shall. When the terminal-side CPU 401 of the mobile communication terminal 40 starts executing the application for the camera system 1, the mobile communication terminal 40 starts wireless communication with the camera body 30 via the wireless communication unit 404.

  When communication between the mobile communication terminal 40 and the camera body 30 is established, the camera body 30 transmits a through image to the mobile communication terminal 40 via the wireless communication unit 303. On the other hand, when communication between the mobile communication terminal 40 and the camera body 30 is established, the mobile communication terminal 40 displays an operation screen illustrated in FIG.

  FIG. 5 is a display example of the operation screen of the application for the camera system 1. An operation screen 500 illustrated in FIG. 5 displays an image display area 501, a shooting button 502, a telephoto zoom button 503, a wide-angle zoom button 504, a playback switching button 505, and a menu button 506.

  In the image display area 501, an image such as a through image or a reproduced image of recorded image data or a menu image transmitted from the camera body 30 side is displayed. The user can visually check the through image displayed in the image display area 501 and determine whether or not it is necessary to change the setting of the digital camera 10a or 10b.

  The shooting button 502 is a button for instructing the camera body 30 to start shooting a still image or a moving image. The shooting button 502 is also used to instruct the camera body 30 to end shooting of a moving image. When the user operates the shooting button 502, the camera-side CPU 301 records the image displayed in the image display area 501 in the image recording unit 305 as still image data or moving image data having a predetermined number of recording pixels (screen resolution). The predetermined number of recording pixels is, for example, 4K2K (4000 × 2000), FullHD (1920 × 1080), VGA (640 × 480), and the like. The predetermined number of recording pixels can be set in advance by the user.

  The telephoto zoom button 503 and the wide-angle zoom button 504 are used when the user enlarges or reduces an image (through image, reproduced image, etc.) displayed in the image display area 501. However, at the time of shooting, the user wants to use the telephoto zoom button 503 or the wide-angle zoom button 504 to perform a zoom operation of the digital camera. Therefore, when the telephoto zoom button 503 or the wide-angle zoom button 504 is operated via the operation unit 403, an operation signal (referred to as an adjustment signal) corresponding to each zoom button is transmitted to the camera body 30. The camera body 30 receives the adjustment signal via the wireless communication unit 303. The camera side CPU 301 controls each part of the digital camera based on the adjustment signal. At this time, the operation of each part of the digital camera 10a or the digital camera 10b by the camera-side CPU 301 differs depending on whether the interchangeable lens 20a is attached to the camera body 30 or the interchangeable lens 20b.

  When the interchangeable lens 20 b is attached to the camera body 30 that has received the adjustment signal corresponding to the telephoto zoom button 503, the camera CPU 301 receives the position of the zoom lens 200 from the lens CPU 203 via the camera contact 300. Is instructed according to the adjustment signal to move to the tele end side (telephoto side). The lens side CPU 203 receives the instruction via the lens side contact portion 205 and drives the motor 1000 to move the zoom lens 200 to the tele end side. Similarly, when the interchangeable lens 20b is attached to the camera body 30 that has received the adjustment signal corresponding to the wide-angle zoom button 504, the lens-side CPU 203 issues an instruction according to the adjustment signal via the lens-side contact unit 205. Then, the motor 1000 is driven to move the zoom lens 200 to the wide end side (wide angle side). In addition, moving to the tele end side (telephoto side) does not mean moving to the tele end (telephoto end) but moving in the tele end direction. The same applies to the movement toward the wide end side (wide angle side).

  On the other hand, when the interchangeable lens 20a is attached to the camera body 30, even if the telephoto zoom button 503 or the wide angle zoom button 504 is operated by the user via the operation unit 403, the zoom lens 200 is removed because the motor 1000 is not provided. Electric drive is not possible. Therefore, the zoom lens 200 cannot be moved by the digital camera 10a. Therefore, the digital camera 10a executes an electronic zoom process using the electronic zoom unit 310, thereby generating a captured image having the same angle of view as when the position of the zoom lens 200 is adjusted in the interchangeable lens 20a. In other words, the optical zoom by the zoom lens 200 of the interchangeable lens 20a is reproduced in a pseudo manner by the electronic zoom process.

  Therefore, when the interchangeable lens 20a is attached to the camera body 30, when the user selects the telephoto side zoom button 503 using the operation unit 403, the camera body 30 is set whenever the telephoto side zoom button 503 is selected. Increase magnification by electronic zoom processing. When the user selects the wide-angle zoom button 504 using the operation unit 403, the digital camera 10a decreases the enlargement magnification by the electronic zoom process. The electronic zoom process will be described in detail later.

  The reproduction switching button 505 is an image data recorded in the image recording unit 305 of the digital camera 10a or 10b of the subject image from the imaging mode in which the mobile communication terminal 40 captures the subject image using the digital camera 10a or the digital camera 10b. Switch to playback mode for browsing and playback. In the reproduction mode, an image to be reproduced may be displayed on the entire display unit 400 or may be displayed in the image display area 501. The reproduced image is recorded in the recording unit (not shown) of the mobile communication terminal 40, and the image data recorded in the recording unit of the mobile communication terminal 40 is viewed and reproduced. You may make it do.

  The menu button 506 is used for causing the display unit 400 to display a menu screen used by the user for setting the camera system. The user can delete the image data being reproduced or set the number of recording pixels such as 4K2K (4000 × 2000), FullHD (1920 × 1080), VGA (640 × 480), etc. via the menu screen. it can.

(Electronic zoom processing)
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the electronic zoom processing by the electronic zoom unit 310. FIG. 6A shows an example (captured image 600) of the captured image of the subject image captured by the imaging unit 302. FIG. 6B illustrates a trimming area set in the center portion of the captured image 600 during the electronic zoom process. In the electronic zoom process, the image of the trimming area 601 illustrated in FIG. 6 is enlarged so as to have the same size as the captured image 600. In the trimming region 601 illustrated in FIG. 6B, the number of vertical and horizontal pixels is ½ of the number of vertical and horizontal pixels of the captured image 600. That is, when the trimming area 601 is quadrupled, the captured image 600 has the same size. In FIG. 6C, an enlarged image 602 obtained by actually enlarging the trimming area 601 illustrated in FIG. 6B four times is displayed.

  The setting of the trimming area will be described with reference to FIG. Here, a case where the telephoto zoom button 503 is selected by the user, that is, a case where the enlargement magnification is increased in the electronic zoom process will be described as an example. FIG. 7A illustrates a wide end position Pw, a tele end position Pt, and a position P0 of the zoom lens 200 of the interchangeable lens 20a. Further, FIG. 7A shows a position P1 and a position P2 closer to the tele end than the position P0. The focal length of the interchangeable lens 20a at the positions P0, P1, and P2 is stored as lens information.

  The position P0 is the actual position of the zoom lens 200, and is the position where the zoom lens 200 is located when the remote operation using the mobile communication terminal 40 is started. The position P1 is a position on the tele end side next to the position P0 among the positions where the focal length is stored in the lens information. The position P2 is a position on the tele end side next to the position P1 among positions where the focal length is stored in the lens information.

  When the telephoto zoom button 503 is operated by the user, it is desirable that the zoom lens 200 is driven toward the tele end toward the position Pt. In addition, when the user operates the wide-angle zoom button 504, it is desirable that the zoom lens 200 is driven toward the wide end toward the position Pw. When the telephoto zoom button 503 is selected when an interchangeable lens that cannot electrically drive the zoom lens 200 is mounted, such as the interchangeable lens 20a, the camera side CPU 301 determines the actual position P0 of the zoom lens 200 and the telephoto side. Based on the operation amount of the zoom button 503 and the wide-angle side zoom button 504, a desired position (for example, position P1) of the zoom lens 200 is estimated. Here, the operation amount of the telephoto zoom button 503 and the wide-angle zoom button 504 are, for example, the number of operations and the operation time of the telephoto zoom button 503. Based on the lens information, the focal length f1 corresponding to the estimated position is estimated. Hereinafter, the focal length corresponding to the estimated position is referred to as an estimated focal length.

  As described above, the lens information includes the focal length for each position of the zoom lens 200. The position P0 of the zoom lens 200 is detected by the encoder 202 and transmitted from the interchangeable lens 20a together with lens information. The camera-side CPU 301 calculates the estimated focal length f1 of the zoom lens 200 by searching for lens information based on the position P0 and the operation amounts of the telephoto zoom button 503 and the wide-angle zoom button 504.

The camera CPU 301 calculates the estimated angle of view θ1 by calculating the following expression (1) based on the estimated focal length f1. L0 in the following equation (1) is the frame size of the image sensor included in the imaging unit 302, and is a constant set in advance for each camera body 30. The relationship between the estimated focal length f1, the estimated field angle θ1, and the frame size L0 is illustrated in FIG.
θ1 = 2 × tan ⁻¹ (L0 / (2 × f1)) (1)

The camera CPU 301 also calculates the actual focal length f0 of the interchangeable lens 20a for the actual position P0 of the zoom lens 200. Then, the camera CPU 301 calculates the partial range L1 of the frame size L0 using the following equation (2) based on the focal length f0 and the estimated field angle θ1. FIG. 7B shows the focal length f0 and the partial range L1.
L1 = 2 × f0 × tan (θ1 / 2) (2)

  The camera CPU 301 sets the trimming range based on the ratio between the frame size L0 and the partial range L1. For example, the trimming range is set so that the diagonal length of the trimming region 601 is L1 / L0 times the diagonal length of the captured image 600.

  When the user has adjusted the position of the zoom lens 200 to the wide end Pw before the start of remote operation, the optical zoom from the wide end Pw to the tele end Pt by the zoom lens 200 is reproduced in a pseudo manner by electronic zoom processing. be able to.

  Note that when the estimated position of the zoom lens 200 is set to a position on the wide end side with respect to the actual position of the zoom lens 200, cropped imaging is reproduced by reducing the captured image 600 to L0 / L1 times. Can do. FIG. 7C is a diagram illustrating a reduced image 603 obtained by reducing the captured image 600.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart relating to processing executed jointly by the terminal-side CPU 401 of the mobile communication terminal 40 and the camera-side CPU 301 of the camera body 30 when the mobile communication terminal 40 starts executing an application for the camera system 1. is there.

  Assume that the interchangeable lens 20a is attached to the camera body 30 at the start of the processing of FIG. Assume that the camera-side CPU 301 has acquired the lens information of the interchangeable lens 20a and the information regarding the position of the zoom lens 200 via the camera-side contact 300 before the processing of FIG. The camera-side CPU 301 determines which one of the interchangeable lens 20a and the interchangeable lens 20b is attached based on information regarding the interchangeable lens type included in the lens information.

  When the process of FIG. 8 is started, the terminal-side CPU 401 starts the process of step S10a. On the other hand, the camera side CPU 301 starts the process of step S10b. In steps S <b> 10 a and S <b> 10 b, the terminal-side CPU 401 and the camera-side CPU 301 establish wireless communication using the wireless communication unit 404 and the wireless communication unit 303.

  When establishing the wireless communication, the camera-side CPU 301 proceeds to step S11b, and starts transmitting image data of a through image, an enlarged image, or a reduced image by the wireless communication established in step S10b. On the other hand, when establishing the wireless communication, the terminal-side CPU 401 proceeds to step S11a and starts receiving image data of a through image, an enlarged image, or a reduced image transmitted from the mobile communication terminal 40.

  In step S12, the operation screen 500 is displayed on the display unit 400. At this time, a through image, an enlarged image, or a reduced image transmitted from the camera body 30 side is displayed in the image display area 501.

  In step S <b> 13, the terminal-side CPU 401 determines whether the user has operated the operation screen 500 via the operation unit 403. If step S13 is affirmed, the process on the mobile communication terminal 40 proceeds to step S14a. If a negative determination is made in step S13, the process on the mobile communication terminal 40 side proceeds to step S12.

  In step S14a, the terminal-side CPU 401 transmits an operation signal to the operation performed by the user. In step S <b> 14 b, the camera side CPU 301 determines whether or not an operation signal is transmitted from the mobile communication terminal 40. If step S14b is positively determined, the process on the camera body 30 side proceeds to step S17b. If the determination in step S14b is negative, the processing on the camera body 30 side proceeds to step S15. In step S15, the camera-side CPU 301 determines whether or not an operation signal has been received from the mobile communication terminal 40 for a predetermined time (for example, 5 minutes) or longer. If the determination in step S15 is affirmative, the process on the camera body 30 side proceeds to step S16. If a negative determination is made in step S15, the process on the camera body 30 side proceeds to step S14b.

  In steps S17a and S17b, the terminal-side CPU 401 and the camera-side CPU 301 cooperate to execute a process corresponding to the operation performed on the operation screen 500 by the user in step S13.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart relating to processing executed by the camera-side CPU 301 in step S17b when the telephoto zoom button 503 or the wide-angle zoom button 504 is operated by the user. Note that the camera-side CPU 301 acquires the lens information of the interchangeable lens 20a and the information related to the position of the zoom lens 200 before the processing of FIGS.

  In step S <b> 20, the camera side CPU 301 estimates the estimated position of the zoom lens 200 based on the actual position P <b> 0 of the zoom lens 200 and the operation amounts of the telephoto side zoom button 503 and the wide angle side zoom button 504. An example of the process in step S20 will be described later.

  In step S21, the camera side CPU 301 calculates an estimated focal length f1 corresponding to the estimated position of the zoom lens 200 estimated in step S20 based on the lens information. In step S22, the camera side CPU 301 calculates an estimated field angle θ1 based on the estimated focal length f1 calculated in step S21. In step S23, the camera side CPU 301 calculates the partial range L1 based on the estimated field angle θ1 calculated in step S22, and sets the trimming range.

  In step S24, the camera-side CPU 301 determines whether the estimated position of the zoom lens 200 estimated in step S20 is between the positions Pw to P0 or P0 to Pt. When the estimated position of the zoom lens 200 is between the positions Pw to P0, the process proceeds to step S29, and when the estimated position of the zoom lens 200 is between the positions P0 to Pt, the process proceeds to step S25.

  In step S25, the camera-side CPU 301 determines whether or not the number of pixels in the trimming range set in step S24 is greater than or equal to a predetermined number of recording pixels. If a positive determination is made in step S25, the process proceeds to step S28, and if a negative determination is made, the process proceeds to step S26.

  When the user selects the shooting button 502 when an enlarged image or reduced image in the trimming range is displayed in the image display area 501, still image data or moving image data based on the enlarged image or reduced image is stored in the image recording unit 305. To be recorded. At this time, depending on the number of pixels in the trimming range, there is a concern about degradation of image quality. Therefore, in step S25, when the number of pixels in the trimming range is less than a predetermined number of recording pixels, processing for determining whether or not the number of pixels included in the trimming range has decreased is performed. In other words, if there is a concern about image quality deterioration, a restriction is placed on the electronic zoom process to prevent image quality deterioration. The predetermined recording pixel number may be a predetermined standard pixel number such as VGA, HD, or FullHD, or may be a pixel number arbitrarily set by the user.

  In step S26, the camera-side CPU 301 discards the trimming range newly set in step S24, and generates an enlarged image or a reduced image using the trimming range before setting a new trimming range. By generating an enlarged image or a reduced image using the trimming range before setting a new trimming range, it is possible to prevent recording of image data that may cause deterioration in image quality.

  In step S <b> 27, the camera-side CPU 301 transmits warning information to the mobile communication terminal 40 that the trimming range cannot be trimmed because the number of pixels in the trimming range is less than the predetermined number of recording pixels. At this time, when receiving the warning information, the mobile communication terminal 40 displays a predetermined warning inside the operation screen 500.

  In step S28, the camera-side CPU 301 enlarges the image in the trimming range calculated in step S24, and generates an enlarged image (for example, the enlarged image 602 in FIG. 6). The enlarged image is transmitted to the mobile communication terminal 40 instead of the through image. In the image display area 501 of the operation screen 500 displayed on the display unit 400 of the mobile communication terminal 40, this enlarged image is displayed instead of the through image.

  When the shooting button 502 is operated while an enlarged image is displayed in the image display area 501, the camera-side CPU 301 displays the enlarged image as still image data or moving image data having a predetermined number of recording pixels. To record.

  In step S29, the camera-side CPU 301 reduces the through image based on the size of the trimming range set in step S23, and generates a reduced image (reduced image 603 in FIG. 7C). The reduced image is transmitted to the mobile communication terminal 40 instead of the through image. In the image display area 501 of the operation screen 500 displayed on the display unit 400 of the mobile communication terminal 40, this reduced image is displayed instead of the through image.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart relating to the processing in step S20 of FIG. When the process shown in FIG. 10 is started, the telephoto zoom button 503 or the wide angle zoom button 504 is operated by the user. In the example of FIG. 10, the number of operations of the telephoto zoom button 503 is used as the operation amount of the telephoto zoom button 503 and the wide-angle zoom button 504.

  In step S201, the camera side CPU 301 determines whether the button operated by the user is the telephoto side zoom button 503 or the wide angle side zoom button 504 based on the operation signal received in step S14b of FIG. If the telephoto zoom button 503 is operated, the process proceeds to step S202. On the other hand, if the wide-angle zoom button 504 has been operated, the process proceeds to step S203.

  In step S202, the camera-side CPU 301 increases the number of operations of the telephoto zoom button 503 by a predetermined value (for example, 1). In step S203, the camera-side CPU 301 decreases the number of operations of the telephoto zoom button 503 by a predetermined value (for example, 1).

  In step S <b> 204, the camera side CPU 301 calculates the estimated position of the zoom lens 200 based on the number of operations of the telephoto side zoom button 504 and the actual position P0 of the zoom lens 200. When the number of operations of the telephoto zoom button 504 is zero, the estimated position of the zoom lens 200 coincides with the actual position P0 of the zoom lens 200. When the number of operations of the telephoto zoom button 504 is positive, the position is changed to the tele end side based on the number of operations (for example, position P1, position P2,..., Position Pt in FIG. 7A). Will be changed in the order of When the number of operations of the telephoto zoom button 504 is negative, the telephoto zoom button 504 is changed to the wide end side based on the number of operations.

  With reference to FIGS. 11A and 11B, the case where the number of pixels in the trimming range is less than the predetermined number of recording pixels in step S25, that is, the case where the electronic zoom process is limited will be described. In FIG. 11A, description will be made using three types of digital cameras A, B, and C as an example when the focal lengths are fa, fb, and fc, respectively, when the zoom lens is at the telephoto end. In FIG. 11A, ff is a focal length at which the number of pixels in the trimming range is less than the number of recording pixels corresponding to Full HD when the actual zoom lens is located at the wide end. fv is a focal length at which the number of pixels in the trimming range is less than the number of recording pixels equivalent to VGA when the actual zoom lens is positioned at the wide end. In FIG. 11A, fw <fa <ff <fb <fv <fc.

  In FIG. 11A, it is assumed that the digital cameras A, B, and C are at the wide end. In FIG. 11A, when the digital cameras A, B, and C are at the wide end, an image having a recording pixel number equivalent to 4K2K can be recorded. In FIG. 11A, for digital cameras A, B, and C, the ranges of focal lengths that can be changed by electronic zoom processing are indicated by arrows A0, A1, A2, B0, B1, B2, C0, C1, and C2. It is shown in the figure.

  Arrows A0, B0, and C0 represent ranges of focal lengths that can be changed by the digital cameras A, B, and C, respectively, when the electronic zoom process is not limited by a predetermined number of recording pixels. Arrows A1, B1, and C1 represent focal length ranges that can be changed by the digital cameras A, B, and C, respectively, when electronic zoom processing is limited by the number of recording pixels corresponding to VGA. Arrows A2, B2, and C2 indicate the focal length ranges that can be changed by the digital cameras A, B, and C, respectively, when the electronic zoom process is limited by the number of recording pixels equivalent to FullHD.

(In the case of digital camera A)
When the electronic zoom process is not limited by a predetermined number of recording pixels, the focal length of the digital camera A at the wide end can be changed from fw to fa by the electronic zoom process to the tele end side (A0). Since the focal length fa is fa <ff <fv, the digital camera A at the wide end has a case where the predetermined number of recording pixels is equivalent to VGA (A1), but is equivalent to FullHD (A2). Is not affected by the limitations of the electronic zoom process.

(For digital camera B)
When the electronic zoom process is not limited by a predetermined number of recording pixels, the focal length of the digital camera B at the wide end can be changed from fw to fb to the tele end side by the electronic zoom process (B0). The focal length fb has a relationship of ff <fb <fv. The digital camera B at the wide end is not affected by the restriction of the electronic zoom process when the predetermined recording pixel number is equivalent to VGA (B1), but when the predetermined recording pixel number is equivalent to FullHD (B2). Subject to limitations of electronic zoom processing. When the predetermined number of recording pixels is equivalent to FullHD as indicated by the arrow B2, the focal length of the digital camera B at the wide end can be changed from the fw to the ff to the tele end side.

(In the case of digital camera C)
When the electronic zoom process is not limited by a predetermined number of recording pixels, the focal length of the digital camera C at the wide end can be changed to the tele end side within the range of fw to fc by the electronic zoom process (C0). . The focal length fc has a relationship of ff <fv <fc. The digital camera C at the wide end is affected by the restriction of the electronic zoom process both when the predetermined number of recording pixels is equivalent to VGA (C1) and when it is equivalent to FullHD (C2). When the predetermined number of recording pixels is equivalent to VGA as indicated by the arrow C1, the focal length of the digital camera C at the wide end can be changed from fw to fv to the tele end side. As indicated by the arrow C2, when the predetermined number of recording pixels is equivalent to FullHD (C2), the focal length of the digital camera C at the wide end can be changed from fw to ff to the tele end side.

  In FIG. 11B, it is assumed that the zoom lenses of the digital cameras B and C are moved to a position P other than the wide end by optical zoom. In FIG. 11B, when the zoom lenses of the digital cameras B and C are at the position P, an image having a recording pixel number equivalent to 4K2K can be recorded. Let fp be the focal length at the position P. In FIG. 11B, the focal lengths ff and fv are illustrated at positions different from those in FIG. 11A by fp−fw. This is because the focal length recorded with the number of recording pixels corresponding to 4K2K has changed from fw to fp.

Arrows B3 and C3 indicate the tele end of the range of focal lengths that can be changed by the electronic zoom processing by the digital cameras B and C at the position P when the electronic zoom processing is not limited by a predetermined number of recording pixels. Only the range on the side is shown.
Arrows B4 and C4 indicate the tele end side of the range of focal lengths that can be changed by the digital zoom processing by the digital cameras B and C at the position P when the electronic zoom processing is limited by the number of recording pixels corresponding to VGA. Only the range is shown.
Arrows B5 and C5 indicate that the digital camera B and C at the position P can be changed by the electronic zoom processing when the electronic zoom processing is limited by the number of recording pixels corresponding to Full HD, respectively. Only the range is shown.

(For digital camera B)
When the electronic zoom process is not limited by a predetermined number of recording pixels, the focal length of the digital camera B at the position P can be changed from fp to fb by the electronic zoom process (B3). In FIG. 11B, since the focal length fb is fb <ff <fv, the digital camera B at the position P has a full HD equivalent even if the predetermined number of recording pixels is equivalent to VGA (B4). Even (B5) is not affected by the limitation of the electronic zoom process.

  In FIG. 11B, the actual position of the zoom lens of the digital camera B is changed from the wide end to the position P, so that the focal length ff is fp-fw from the focal length ff in FIG. Has moved to. For this reason, the magnitude relationship between the focal length fb and the focal length ff is interchanged, and when the predetermined number of recording pixels is equivalent to Full HD, the electronic zoom processing is not affected.

(In the case of digital camera C)
When the electronic zoom process is not limited by a predetermined number of recording pixels, the focal length of the digital camera C at the position P can be changed from fp to fc to the tele end side by the electronic zoom process (C3). The digital camera C at the position P is not affected by the restriction of the electronic zoom processing when the predetermined number of recording pixels is equivalent to VGA (C4), but when the predetermined number of recording pixels is equivalent to FullHD (C5). Subject to limitations of electronic zoom processing. As indicated by the arrow C5, when the predetermined number of recording pixels is equivalent to FullHD, the focal length of the digital camera C at the position P can be changed from the fp to ff to the tele end side.

  In FIG. 11B, since the actual position of the zoom lens of the digital camera C has changed from the wide end to the position P, the focal length fv is closer to the tele end than the focal length fv in FIG. 11A by fp-fw. Has moved to. For this reason, the magnitude relationship between the focal length fc and the focal length fv is interchanged, and when the predetermined number of recording pixels is equivalent to VGA, the electronic zoom processing is not affected.

According to the embodiment described above, the following operational effects can be obtained.
The digital camera 10a according to the present invention is an interchangeable lens type digital camera including an interchangeable lens 20a and a camera body 30. The interchangeable lens 20 a includes a zoom lens 200, a zoom ring 201 for manually adjusting the position of the zoom lens 200, and an encoder 202 that generates information regarding the position of the zoom lens 200. The camera body 30 includes an imaging unit 302, a wireless communication unit 303, and a camera side CPU 301. The imaging unit 302 captures a subject image that has passed through the interchangeable lens 20a and outputs a captured image. The wireless communication unit 303 receives an adjustment signal indicating a change in the focal length of the interchangeable lens 20a transmitted from the mobile communication terminal 40. The camera side CPU 301 includes an electronic zoom unit 310 and generates an enlarged image obtained by enlarging a part of the captured image. Further, when the camera side CPU 301 receives an adjustment signal from the mobile communication terminal 40 via the wireless communication unit 303, the camera side CPU 301 causes the electronic zoom unit 310 to generate an enlarged image based on the position of the zoom lens 200 and the adjustment signal.
Since the digital camera 10a has such a configuration, the electronic zoom unit 310 can be used even when the interchangeable lens 20a that can only manually adjust the position of the zoom lens 200 is attached to the camera body 30. You can zoom in. Moreover, the optical zoom by the zoom lens 200 of the interchangeable lens 20a can be reproduced in a pseudo manner. Therefore, the user can perform a zoom operation that does not feel uncomfortable with the optical zoom even by remote control.

The embodiment described above can be implemented with the following modifications.
(Modification 1) The processes of FIGS. 8 and 9 can also be applied to the digital camera 10b in which the interchangeable lens 20b is attached to the camera body 30. FIG. The above-described embodiment can also be applied to a compact camera that manually operates the zoom lens.
(Modification 2) The present invention can also be applied to a case where an interchangeable lens that cannot be adjusted manually or electrically by the zoom lens 200 is attached to the camera body 30. The present invention can also be applied to a digital camera that adjusts the focal length of an interchangeable lens using an optical system other than the zoom lens 200.
(Modification 3) The electronic zoom process may be executed by the terminal-side CPU 401. That is, the terminal-side CPU 401 receives lens information from the camera-side CPU 301 in advance, sets a trimming range based on the amount of operation of the telephoto zoom button 503 and the wide-angle zoom button 504, and enlarges or reduces an image from a through image. May be generated.

(Modification 4) Image data captured based on the selection of the capture button 502 may be transmitted not only to the image recording unit 305 but also to the mobile communication terminal 40 via the wireless communication unit 303. Further, the number of recording pixels of the image data recorded in the image recording unit 305 and the number of recording pixels of the image data transmitted to the mobile communication terminal 40 may be different. At this time, the number of recorded pixels of the image data to be transmitted to the mobile communication terminal 40 is set to be smaller than the number of recorded pixels of the image data to be recorded in the image recording unit 305, so that the mobile communication terminal 40 transmits the image data to various WEB services Easy to use.

(Modification 5) In FIG. 6B, the trimming area 601 to be enlarged by the electronic zoom process is set at the center of the captured image 600, but it may be set at an arbitrary position in the captured image. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 12, the trimming range may be set so as to include any of a plurality of focus areas 810 set in the imaging screen 800, or the camera-side CPU 301 may The trimming range may be set so as to include the face image extracted by the recognition processing, or the user may be able to set an arbitrary position from the imaging screen using the operation unit 307 or the operation unit 403.

(Modification 6) The camera body 30 may transmit lens information, information on the actual position of the zoom lens 200, and the like to the mobile communication terminal 40 through the wireless communication unit 303 together with a through image. The terminal-side CPU 401 of the mobile communication terminal 40 uses these pieces of information to overlay a bar image indicating information on the position of the zoom lens 200 on the image display area 501 on the through image or the enlarged image, as shown in FIG. Can be displayed. The bar image may be displayed for the first time when the electronic zoom process is started.

  In FIG. 13, an optical zoom bar 701 and an electronic zoom bar 702 are displayed below the enlarged image 602. The shape of the optical zoom bar 701 is a rectangle, and the longitudinal direction of the optical zoom bar 701 represents the position of the zoom lens 200. The left side of the optical zoom bar 701 represents the wide end, and the right side represents the tele end. In the optical zoom bar 701, a zoom position indicator 703 representing the actual position P0 of the zoom lens 200 is displayed. In FIG. 13, the zoom position indicator 703 is illustrated as a black rectangle, and its length in the longitudinal direction is shorter than the length of the optical zoom bar 701. The electronic zoom bar 702 is displayed below the optical zoom bar 701. The shape of the electronic zoom bar 702 is a rectangle, and the longitudinal direction of the electronic zoom bar 702 represents the estimated position of the zoom lens 200 reproduced by the electronic zoom process. The position of the left side of the electronic zoom bar 702 is variable and is the same position as the left side of the zoom position indicator 703. The estimated position of the zoom lens 200 reproduced by the electronic zoom process is displayed by a virtual position indicator 704. In FIG. 13, the virtual position indicator 704 is illustrated as a black rectangle, and the length in the longitudinal direction is shorter than the longitudinal direction of the electronic zoom bar 702. In the electronic zoom bar 702, the estimated position of the zoom lens 200 at which the number of pixels in the trimming range is less than the number of recorded pixels is displayed in a manner different from other positions, as in the limited display 705. The restriction display 705 in FIG. 13 is hatched. The restriction display 705 may be displayed not only in the hatching process but also in a color different from other positions. The position of the zoom lens 200 may be displayed not only by the optical zoom bar 701 and the electronic zoom bar 702 but also by numerical values. Note that the electronic zoom bar 702 may have an area for displaying the estimated position of the zoom lens 200 for displaying a reduced image in the image display area 501 on the left side of the left side.

(Modification 7) In FIG. 10, the camera-side CPU 301 calculates the estimated position (for example, position P1, position P2,..., Position Pt) of the zoom lens 200 based on the number of operations of the telephoto zoom button 503. Decided to do. However, the estimated position of the zoom lens 200 may be calculated based on the operation time of the telephoto zoom button 503 instead of the number of operations of the telephoto zoom button 503. For example, the camera side CPU 301 increases the operation time while the user continues to operate the telephoto zoom button 503 using the operation unit 403 such as a touch panel instead of the process of step S202, and the user replaces the process of step S203. However, the camera-side CPU 301 may reduce the operation time while continuously operating the wide-angle zoom button 504.

  The embodiments and modifications described above are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to these contents as long as the features of the invention are not impaired. Further, the embodiments and modifications described above may be combined and executed as long as the features of the invention are not impaired.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Camera system 10a Digital camera 10b Digital camera 20a Interchangeable lens 20b Interchangeable lens 30 Camera body 40 Mobile communication terminal 200 Zoom lens 201 Zoom ring 202 Encoder 203 Lens side CPU
204 Lens-side ROM
301 Camera side CPU
302 Imaging unit 303 Wireless communication unit 305 Image recording unit 308 Mount unit 310 Electronic zoom unit 401 Terminal side CPU
500 Operation screen 501 Image display area 502 Shooting button 503 Telephoto zoom button 504 Wide angle zoom button 600 Captured image 601 Trimming area

Claims (20)

A photographing optical system including at least a manually driven zoom lens;
Generating means for generating information on the position of the zoom lens in the optical axis direction;
An imaging means for imaging a subject image that has passed through the imaging optical system and outputting a captured image;
Receiving means for receiving an adjustment signal indicating a change in focal length of the photographing optical system from an external terminal;
Electronic zoom means for generating a first image obtained by enlarging or reducing a part of the captured image;
Control means for causing the electronic zoom means to generate the first image based on the position of the zoom lens in the optical axis direction and the adjustment signal when the receiving means receives the adjustment signal from the external terminal; ,
A camera comprising: The camera of claim 1,
The change of the focal length of the photographing optical system indicated by the adjustment signal corresponds to the change of the position of the zoom lens in the optical axis direction when the photographing optical system is driven manually,
The control unit obtains a first image corresponding to a field angle of a captured image captured when the photographing optical system is manually driven based on the position of the zoom lens in the optical axis direction and the adjustment signal. The camera is generated by the electronic zoom means. The camera according to claim 1 or 2,
The camera further comprising image recording means for recording the first image when the control means is generating the first image by the electronic zoom means. The camera according to claim 3.
The image recording means records the first image with a predetermined number of recording pixels,
The camera is characterized in that the control means causes the electronic zoom means to generate the first image based on the position of the zoom lens, the adjustment signal, and the number of recording pixels. The camera according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
When the control means is generating the first image by the electronic zoom means, the first image is transmitted to the external terminal, and the control means is not generating the first image by the electronic zoom means. The camera further comprising transmission means for transmitting the captured image to the external terminal. The camera according to claim 5, wherein
The camera further comprising display means for displaying neither the captured image nor the first image when the transmitting means is transmitting the captured image or the first image to the external terminal. The camera according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
A camera, further comprising setting means for setting a part of the captured image from an imaging screen. The camera according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
A first interchangeable lens and a camera body;
The first interchangeable lens includes the photographing optical system and the generation unit,
The camera body is
The imaging means, the electronic zoom means, and the control means,
The camera further comprising attachment means for detachably attaching the first interchangeable lens. The camera according to claim 8, wherein
In place of the first interchangeable lens, the attachment means can detachably attach a second interchangeable lens that electrically adjusts the position of the zoom lens,
The receiving means receives the adjustment signal from an external terminal as a signal representing a change in focal length of the second interchangeable lens attached to the attachment means,
A camera, further comprising: a mounted lens determining unit that determines whether or not the first interchangeable lens is mounted on the mounting unit. A camera system comprising a camera and an external terminal,
The camera
A photographing optical system including at least a manually driven zoom lens;
Generating means for generating information on the position of the zoom lens in the optical axis direction;
An imaging means for imaging a subject image that has passed through the imaging optical system and outputting a captured image;
An adjustment signal receiving means for receiving an adjustment signal indicating a change in focal length of the photographing optical system from the external terminal;
Electronic zoom means for generating a first image obtained by enlarging or reducing a part of the captured image;
Control means for causing the electronic zoom means to generate the first image based on the position of the zoom lens in the optical axis direction and the adjustment signal when the receiving means receives the adjustment signal from the external terminal; With
The external terminal is
A camera system comprising adjustment signal transmission means for transmitting the adjustment signal to the camera. The camera system according to claim 10.
The change of the focal length of the photographing optical system indicated by the adjustment signal corresponds to the change of the position of the zoom lens in the optical axis direction when the photographing optical system is driven manually,
The control unit obtains a first image corresponding to a field angle of a captured image captured when the photographing optical system is manually driven based on the position of the zoom lens in the optical axis direction and the adjustment signal. A camera system generated by the electronic zoom means. The camera system according to claim 10 or 11,
The camera
When the control means does not generate the first image by the electronic zoom means, the captured image is recorded, and when the control means generates the first image by the electronic zoom means, the first image is recorded. A camera system, further comprising image recording means for recording an image. The camera system according to claim 12,
The image recording means records the first image with a predetermined number of recording pixels,
The control unit sets a part of the captured image to be equal to or more than the number of recording pixels based on the position of the zoom lens and the adjustment signal, and causes the electronic zoom unit to generate the first image. Camera system. The camera system according to any one of claims 10 to 13,
The camera
When the control means is generating the first image by the electronic zoom means, the first image is transmitted to the external terminal, and the control means is not generating the first image by the electronic zoom means. When further comprising image transmission means for transmitting the captured image to the external terminal,
The external terminal is
The camera system further comprising image receiving means for receiving the first image or the captured image transmitted by the image transmitting means. The camera system according to claim 14, wherein
The camera
When the image transmission means is transmitting the captured image or the first image to the external terminal, the image transmission means further includes a first display means for displaying neither the captured image nor the first image,
The external terminal is
2. The camera system according to claim 1, further comprising second display means for displaying the captured image or the first image when the image receiving means is receiving the captured image or the first image. The camera system according to any one of claims 10 to 15,
The camera
A camera system, further comprising setting means for setting a part of the captured image from an imaging screen. The camera system according to any one of claims 10 to 16,
The camera
A first interchangeable lens and a camera body;
The first interchangeable lens includes the photographing optical system and the generation unit,
The camera body is
The imaging means, the electronic zoom means, and the control means,
A camera system further comprising attachment means for detachably attaching the first interchangeable lens. The camera system according to claim 17,
In place of the first interchangeable lens, the attachment means can detachably attach a second interchangeable lens that electrically adjusts the position of the zoom lens,
The adjustment signal receiving means receives the adjustment signal from an external terminal as a signal representing a change in focal length of the second interchangeable lens attached to the attachment means,
The camera
A camera system, further comprising a mounting lens determination unit that determines whether or not the first interchangeable lens is mounted on the mounting unit. An electronic device that communicates with a camera,
Image receiving means for receiving a captured image from the camera;
Electronic zoom means for generating a first image obtained by enlarging or reducing a part of the captured image received by the image receiving means;
An electronic device comprising: A computer in an electronic device that communicates with the camera
Image receiving means for receiving a captured image from the camera;
A program for causing an electronic zoom unit to generate a first image obtained by enlarging or reducing a part of a captured image received by the image receiving unit.

Images