JP5504741B2 - Imaging device - Google Patents

Description

    The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus.

    Conventionally, as a method of controlling the rear liquid crystal of the camera, a method of detecting a photographer's peep into the viewfinder and turning off the rear liquid crystal has been proposed.

    However, the conventional technology only detects an object in the vicinity of the viewfinder and turns off the back LCD, and detects a phenomenon other than the peeping into the viewfinder of the photographer and turns off the back LCD. Yes, it reduced the usability of the camera.

JP-A-9-331472

    An object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus that can perform suitable photographing.

In order to achieve the above object, an imaging apparatus (100) according to a first aspect of the present invention includes:
A first imaging unit (12) capable of imaging a first image formed by the first optical system;
A display screen (2) capable of displaying the first image;
A second optical system (4a) capable of forming an image of an object facing the display screen (2);
A second imaging unit (4) for imaging a second image formed by the second optical system (4a);
A control unit (8) that acquires information about the photographer using the second image and controls display of the display screen (2) based on the information.

The imaging device (100) may include an operation unit (7) that can be operated by a photographer to take an image using the first imaging unit (12).
When the photographer's face is included in the second image acquired before the operation unit (7) is operated, the control unit (8) causes the first imaging unit (12) to Control may be made so that the acquired moving image is displayed on the display screen 2.

The imaging device (100) includes an operation unit (7) that can be operated by a photographer to take an image using the first imaging unit (12).
The control unit (8) displays information related to shooting settings when the photographer's face is included in the second image acquired before the operation unit (7) is operated. You may control so that it may display on (2).

    The control unit (8) displays the first image on the display screen 2 when the photographer's face is included in the second image acquired after the first image is captured. You may control as follows.

    The controller (8) calculates a distance between the display screen (2) and the photographer's face using the second image, and controls the luminance of the display screen 2 according to the distance. good.

The imaging device (100a) includes a posture detection unit (38) that detects the posture of the device,
The control unit (8) may control display of the display screen (2) using the posture detected by the posture detection unit (38) and the second image.

An imaging device (100b) according to a second aspect of the present invention includes a first imaging unit (12) capable of imaging a first image formed by a first optical system,
A display screen (2a) capable of displaying the first image;
Driving units (41 to 44) for driving the display screen (2a);
A second optical system (4a) capable of forming an image of an object facing the display screen (2a);
A second imaging unit (4) for imaging a second image formed by the second optical system (4a);
A control unit (8) that acquires information about the photographer using the second image and controls the drive units (41 to 44) based on the information may be included.

    The control unit (8) detects the movement of the photographer using the second image, and the driving units (41 to 44) so that the display screen (2a) is driven according to the movement of the photographer. ) May be controlled.

    In the above description, in order to explain the present invention in an easy-to-understand manner, the description has been made in association with the reference numerals of the drawings illustrating the embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to this. The configuration of the embodiment described later may be improved as appropriate, or at least a part of the configuration may be replaced with another component. Further, the configuration requirements that are not particularly limited with respect to the arrangement are not limited to the arrangement disclosed in the embodiment, and can be arranged at positions where the functions can be achieved.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic rear view of the digital camera shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the digital camera shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of acquiring information regarding a photographer in the digital camera illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a digital camera according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the digital camera shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation on the camera of the photographer estimated from the positional relationship between the photographer and the digital camera. FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram of a digital camera according to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the digital camera shown in FIG.

First Embodiment First, a digital camera 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a digital camera 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The digital camera 100 includes a camera main body portion 200 provided with the image sensor 12 and the like, and a lens barrel portion 300 provided with the optical member group 28 and the like. The camera body 200 and the lens barrel 300 are mechanically connected via a mount (not shown) and are also electrically connected.

    The outside of the camera body 200 has switches 7 (FIG. 2) for setting the power supply, settings of the digital camera 100, and the like, in addition to the rear liquid crystal 2, the camera 4 for the photographer, and the release button 6.

    The rear liquid crystal 2 is controlled by the CPU 8 to display a live view based on an image signal from the image sensor 12, image data stored in the memory card 20, shooting conditions, and the like.

    The camera 4 for the photographer is a camera for acquiring information about the photographer, and is installed in the immediate vicinity of the upper part of the rear liquid crystal 2. The camera 4 is directed toward the photographer and photographs information about the photographer. The camera 4 for the photographer used in the following embodiments is not particularly limited, but a pan focus camera is preferable. The camera 4 for the photographer includes an image sensor (not shown) such as a CCD or CMOS, an optical system 4a that forms an image on the image sensor, and the like. The optical system 4 a can form an image such as a photographer's face, which is an object facing the rear liquid crystal 2, on the imaging surface of an image sensor included in the camera 4 for the photographer. The image sensor included in the camera 4 for the photographer captures an image of the photographer's face and the like formed by the optical system 4a. The camera 4 for the photographer is controlled by the CPU 8 to take an image and outputs it to the CPU 8. The CPU 8 can acquire an image related to the photographer using the image captured by the camera 4 for the photographer.

    The release button 6 is a push button switch operated by the photographer and functions as an input unit of the digital camera 100. The release button 6 can be operated in two stages, a half-press operation (first release operation) and a full-press operation (second release operation). The release button 6 outputs a half-press signal to the CPU 8 in response to the photographer's half-press operation, and outputs a full-press signal to the CPU 8 in response to the photographer's full-press operation.

    Inside the camera body 200 is a CPU 8, an image sensor drive circuit 10, an image sensor 12, an image processing circuit 14, an image memory 16, an image compression unit 18, a memory card 20, a card interface 22, a focus detection device 24, a quick return mirror. 26.

    The image sensor drive circuit 10 is controlled by the CPU 8 to output a drive signal for driving the image sensor 12. The drive signal controls the accumulation of charges in the image sensor 12 and the reading of the accumulated charges.

    The image sensor 12 receives a drive signal from the image sensor drive circuit 10 and outputs an image signal to the image processing circuit 14. The image sensor 12 is composed of an image sensor such as a CCD or CMOS, and photoelectrically converts an image of a subject formed on the image sensor 12 via the lens barrel unit 300 and outputs an image signal.

    The image processing circuit 14 performs noise processing, A / D conversion, and the like on the image signal input from the image sensor 12 and outputs the result to the image memory 16.

    The image memory 16 is a main storage device that temporarily stores image signals, and is controlled by the CPU 8 to input and output image signals. The image signal input to the image memory 16 is controlled by the CPU 8, compressed directly or by the image compression unit 18, and output to the CPU 8.

    The CPU 8 controls the entire digital camera 100 such as shooting preparation operations such as zooming and focusing, and exposure operations. For example, the CPU 8 performs control so that the optical member group 28 is arranged at an appropriate position based on distance information from the focus detection device 24 when there is an input signal of a half-press operation from the release button 6. Perform focusing control. Further, when there is an input signal for a full-press operation from the release button 6, the quick return mirror 26 is flipped up and a shutter (not shown) is opened to guide the subject image to the image sensor 12 and take a picture.

    The memory card 20 is controlled by the CPU 8 via the card interface 22. The memory card 20 stores shooting results, shooting conditions, and the like.

    The lens barrel unit 300 controls the optical member group 28 for forming an image of a subject on the image sensor 12, the optical member group driving motor 30 for driving the optical member group 28, and the optical member group driving motor 30. An optical member group control circuit 32 and an encoder 34 for detecting the position of the optical member group 28. The lens information circuit 36 has unique information such as the focal length of the lens barrel 300 and the open F number. The lens information circuit 36 is connected to the CPU 8 by passing the camera body 200 and the lens barrel 300 through a mount, and passes the unique information of the lens barrel to the CPU 8.

    Next, the operation of the digital camera 100 according to the first embodiment will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG.

    In step S1, the power switch of the digital camera 100 is turned on, and in step S2, the camera for photographer 4 is activated.

    In step S <b> 3, the camera 4 for the photographer is controlled by the CPU 8 to photograph the photographer direction (FIG. 1) and outputs a photographer image signal to the CPU 8. In step S4, the CPU 8 determines whether the input photographer image signal includes information related to the photographer's face, that is, whether the photographer's face exists within the angle of view of the camera 4 for the photographer. Judge whether or not. If the photographer's face does not exist within the angle of view of the camera 4 for the photographer, the process returns to step S3 and the photographer direction is photographed again. The CPU 8 repeats the procedures of step S3 and step S4 at a predetermined time interval, and detects the photographer's face within the angle of view of the camera 4 for the photographer.

    When the photographer's face is detected within the angle of view of the camera 4 for the photographer in step S4, the CPU 8 activates the rear liquid crystal 2 in step S5 to set the digital camera 100 such as the number of images that can be photographed and the photographing conditions. The image about is displayed. At this time, the reason for displaying the image related to the camera settings is that the photographer confirms the information related to the camera settings such as the number of images that can be taken and the shooting conditions, and adjusts the settings such as the shooting conditions before shooting. It is because it is thought to do.

    In the state in which the rear liquid crystal 2 is activated in step S5, if a half-press signal of the release button 6 is input to the CPU 8 in step S6, the CPU 8 sends the rear liquid crystal 2 to the rear liquid crystal 2 based on the image signal from the image sensor 12 in step S7. Display live view. When the photographer presses the release button 6 halfway while the image relating to the settings of the digital camera 100 is displayed in step S5, the photographer is ready to photograph the subject direction and the photographer shoots while watching the live view. This is because it is considered to be in a state of performing.

    Although not shown in the flowchart shown in FIG. 3, even after the rear liquid crystal 2 is activated in step S4, the CPU 8 operates the camera 4 for the photographer at a predetermined time interval to It continues to detect whether or not the face is within the angle of view of the photographer camera 4. If a photographer's face is detected within the angle of view of the camera 4 for the photographer when a predetermined time has elapsed since the rear liquid crystal 2 is activated, the display on the rear liquid crystal 2 is continued. When the photographer's face is not detected within the angle of view, the rear liquid crystal 2 is turned off. When the back liquid crystal 2 is turned off, the process returns to step S3, and the CPU 8 waits for the photographer to be detected within the angle of view of the camera 4 for the photographer.

    The face detection described above will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. The face detection performed by the camera 100 not only detects whether or not the photographer's face exists within the angle of view of the camera 4 for the photographer, but can also perform more detailed face detection. . For example, in this embodiment, the CPU 8 calculates the distance relationship and the positional relationship between the photographer's face and the photographer-facing camera 4 from the photographer image signal acquired by the photographer-oriented camera 4 to obtain information on the photographer. Is getting. Here, since the camera 4 for the photographer is a pan-focus camera as described above, the distance between the face of the photographer and the camera 4 for the photographer is the photographer image acquired by the camera 4 for the photographer. There is a correlation with the area of the subject with respect to the total area of the signal. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the distance between the camera 4 for the photographer and the subject is calculated by calculating the area of the photographer's face.

    Here, in FIGS. 4A to 4C, the dotted frame is used as a guideline for determining the size of the face area and the face position with respect to the entire area of the photographer image signal, for convenience of explanation. It is a frame added to.

    For example, in FIG. 4A, since the area of the photographer's face relative to the photographer image signal is too small, the CPU 8 has a long distance between the photographer and the back liquid crystal 2, and the photographer tries to see the back liquid crystal 2. The rear liquid crystal 2 is turned off.

    For example, in FIG. 4B, the CPU 8 determines that the distance between the photographer and the rear liquid crystal 2 is the distance that the photographer is going to see the rear liquid crystal 2 from the area of the photographer's face with respect to the photographer image signal. And the rear liquid crystal 2 is turned on.

    For example, in FIG. 4C, since the area of the photographer's face with respect to the photographer image signal is too large, the CPU 8 is close to the distance between the photographer and the rear liquid crystal 2, and the photographer is looking into the viewfinder. In this situation, it is determined that the rear liquid crystal 2 is not seen, and the rear liquid crystal 2 is turned off.

    Although not shown in the examples of FIGS. 4A to 4C, even when the center of the photographer's face is deviated from the center of the photographer image signal, the CPU 8 causes the photographer to hold the rear liquid crystal 2. The rear liquid crystal 2 is turned off when it is determined that it is not in a state of being viewed.

    As described above, the digital camera 100 according to the first embodiment calculates the distance relationship and the positional relationship between the camera 4 for the photographer and the photographer from the photographer image signal acquired by the camera 4 for the photographer. Information is being acquired. By using the information regarding the photographer to assist the operation of the photographer of the digital camera, a digital camera with a highly usable user interface is realized.

    On the other hand, since the digital camera 100 of the first embodiment detects the photographer's face and controls the turning on and off of the back liquid crystal 2, another object is erroneously detected as in the prior art. Can be prevented. Therefore, low power consumption can be realized without impairing the usability of the digital camera.

Second Embodiment Next, a digital camera according to a second embodiment shown in FIG. 5 will be described. The digital camera 100a according to the second embodiment is different in that the posture sensor 38 is provided in the camera body 200a. The posture sensor 38 detects the posture of the digital camera 100a and outputs a posture signal to the CPU 8, and the other configuration is the same as that of the digital camera 100 of the first embodiment, and redundant description is omitted.

    The operation of the digital camera 100a according to the second embodiment will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG.

    When the power of the digital camera 100a is turned on in step S11, the attitude sensor 38 starts detecting the attitude of the digital camera 100a in step S12 and outputs an attitude signal to the CPU 8. When detecting that the orientation of the digital camera 100a is downward from the attitude signal input in step S12, the CPU 8 activates the camera 4 for the photographer in step S13.

    When the photographer camera 4 is activated in step S13, the photographer camera 4 is controlled by the CPU 8 in step S14 to photograph the photographer direction (FIG. 5), and outputs a photographer image signal to the CPU 8. . In step S15, the CPU 8 determines whether or not the input photographer image signal includes information related to the photographer's face, that is, whether or not the photographer's face exists within the angle of view of the camera 4 for the photographer. Judging. Here, when the photographer's face does not exist within the angle of view of the camera 4 for the photographer, the process returns to step S14 to photograph the photographer direction again. The CPU 8 repeats the procedures of step S14 and step S15 at predetermined time intervals, and detects the photographer's face within the angle of view of the camera 4 for the photographer.

    When the photographer's face is detected within the angle of view of the camera 4 for the photographer in step S15, the CPU 8 activates the rear liquid crystal 2 in step 16.

    Here, with reference to FIG. 7, the operation of the photographer, which is estimated from the positional relationship between the photographer and the camera, will be described. In FIG. 7, the photographer holds the camera downward and looks at the rear liquid crystal. In this position, it is considered that the photographer does not prepare for photographing, but confirms camera settings, adjusts settings, or confirms captured images.

    Therefore, in step 17, the CPU 8 determines whether or not shooting has been performed from the time when the power of the digital camera 100a is turned on until the time of step 17, and in response to the determination, the operation required by the photographer is estimated. Yes. If photographing has not been performed, the CPU 8 displays a setting image on the rear liquid crystal 2 in step 18. This is because, as described above, it is considered that the photographer confirms and adjusts the camera settings and the like before photographing.

    If photographing has already been performed, the CPU 8 causes the rear liquid crystal 2 to display the image photographed immediately before in step 19. This is because it is considered that the purpose of viewing the rear liquid crystal 2 after photographing is to see the image photographed immediately before.

    As described above, the digital camera 100a according to the second embodiment receives the posture signal of the digital camera 100a obtained from the posture sensor 38 provided in the camera body 200a in addition to the information about the photographer obtained from the camera 4 for the photographer. In this way, by simplifying the operation of the rear liquid crystal 2, a user interface digital camera with higher usability is realized.

Third Embodiment Next, a digital camera 100b according to a third embodiment shown in FIGS. 8A to 8C will be described. The digital camera 100b according to the third embodiment is different from the digital camera 100 shown in FIG. 1 in that the rear liquid crystal 2a is a movable vari-angle liquid crystal. The CPU 8 controls the orientation of the rear liquid crystal 2a with the four rear liquid crystal driving units 41 to 44. In the present embodiment, since the camera for photographer 4 needs to shoot a wider range than in the first embodiment, it is preferable to have a wide-angle lens such as a fisheye lens. Since other configurations are the same, redundant description is omitted.

    The operation of this embodiment will be specifically described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Here, the procedure from the step S31 to the step S34 until the photographer is detected is the same as the procedure from the step S1 to the step S4 in the first embodiment.

    After detecting the photographer's face in step S34, in step S35, the CPU 8 determines whether or not the photographer's face is within the set range within the angle of view of the photographer camera 4. Here, when the photographer's face is within the setting range within the angle of view of the photographer camera 4, the rear liquid crystal 2a faces the photographer's face. If there is no photographer's face in the field angle setting range of the photographer camera 4, in step S36, the CPU 8 causes the rear liquid crystal drive unit 41 so that the photographer's face falls within the field angle setting range of the rear liquid crystal 2a. ~ 44 are controlled. That is, the CPU 8 controls the rear liquid crystal 2a so as to face the photographer's face.

    When the photographer's face enters the setting range within the angle of view of the camera 4 for the photographer in step S35, the rear liquid crystal 2a is activated in step S37 to display the setting image. This is because, as described above, it is considered that the photographer confirms and adjusts the camera settings and the like before shooting. In a state where the setting image is displayed on the rear liquid crystal 2a, if the release button is half-pressed in step S38, the CPU 8 determines in step S39 that the photographer is ready for shooting and displays a live view.

    Although not shown in the flowchart shown in FIG. 9, even after the photographer's face enters the field angle setting range of the camera 4 for the photographer and the rear liquid crystal 2a is turned on in step S35, the steps S35 and S35 are performed. The procedure of S36 is repeated. That is, the CPU 8 controls the rear liquid crystal driving units (41 to 44) so that the rear liquid crystal 2a always faces the photographer's face in accordance with the movement of the photographer's face.

    Here, the digital camera may be provided with a motion sensor that detects the movement of the digital camera in preparation for the case where the photographer's operation is quick and the photographer's camera 4 cannot follow the photographer. The motion sensor is composed of an acceleration sensor, a gyro, or the like, and has a response speed that sufficiently responds to human motion. If the camera 4 for the photographer loses sight of the photographer, the CPU 8 may control the direction of the camera using the output of the motion sensor that detects this movement.

    In the present embodiment, four drive units are shown to move the rear liquid crystal 2a, but the number of drive units is not particularly limited. Further, the drive unit may have a more movable range, such as a robot arm.

    In the present embodiment, a camera having a fisheye lens is selected as a camera for a photographer so as to have a wide viewing angle. However, for example, the camera is a camera that can shoot all directions including a mirror. May be.

    In addition, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above.

    For example, the luminance of the rear liquid crystal may be adjusted according to the distance between the photographer's face and the rear liquid crystal. By adjusting the brightness of the rear liquid crystal according to the distance between the photographer's face and the rear liquid crystal, for example, even when the photographer's face is away from the rear liquid crystal, the photographer preferably displays the rear liquid crystal display. The contents can be recognized.

    Further, for example, the CPU may acquire information related to the photographer by continuously operating the camera for the photographer to obtain a moving image.

    In addition, for example, the information about the photographer who photographs with the camera for the photographer is not limited to the information about the entire photographer's face, but other feature points such as the distance between eyes, the position of fingers and arms, the face, Information on the direction of the line of sight and further on these operations may be included. That is, the CPU 8 (FIG. 1 and the like) may change the display of the rear liquid crystal 2 by estimating the operation required by the photographer from the photographer's finger and arm images captured by the camera 4 for the photographer. For example, the CPU 8 (FIG. 1 and the like) may acquire information related to the position of the photographer's finger and enlarge a part of the image displayed on the rear liquid crystal 2.

    Further, for example, the function for assisting the user is not limited to the above, and various functions can be provided by using information about the photographer acquired by the camera for the photographer. For example, if it is detected that the photographer has looked into the rear LCD after taking a picture of the subject, the photographed image is displayed, and the focused area is zoomed in or the shooting conditions are displayed. good.

    Further, for example, information regarding a photographer may be registered in advance and compared with information regarding a newly acquired photographer. For example, by registering face information in the above-described embodiment, the possibility of erroneous detection that detects a person other than the photographer is eliminated. In addition, since identity verification is possible, an anti-theft effect can be expected. Furthermore, since the facial features can be compared, it is possible to detect the lateral orientation of the face, and the size of the photographer's face can be specified, so that the distance calculation between the photographer and the rear liquid crystal can be performed with high accuracy.

    Further, for example, in the above-described embodiment, in the calculation of the distance between the photographer's face and the camera for the photographer, the distance is calculated using the area of the photographer's face with respect to the photographer image signal. A dedicated distance sensor may be used for detecting the distance.

    In addition, for example, in the above-described embodiment, the camera for the photographer is installed immediately above the rear liquid crystal, but the installation position of the camera for the photographer is not limited to this, and the camera can be photographed. It only has to be installed.

    Further, for example, the photographing apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described digital camera, and means an entire optical apparatus such as another still camera or a video camera.

2, 2a ... display screen 4 ... second imaging unit 4a ... second optical system 7 ... operation unit 8 ... control unit 12 ... first imaging unit 38 ... attitude detection units 41-44 ... driving units 100, 100a, 100b ... imaging apparatus

Claims (4)

A first imaging unit;
A display screen capable of displaying an image captured by the first imaging unit ;
A second imaging unit that captures the images of those body facing the display screen,
An operation unit that can be operated by the photographer;
When it is detected that the photographer's face is present in the image captured by the second imaging unit, the display screen is turned on to display information relating to shooting settings, and the display screen is turned on. A control unit that performs control to display a live view on the display screen based on an image captured by the first imaging unit when the operation unit is operated in a state ;
Imaging device, characterized in that it comprises a. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1,
In a state in which the display screen is lit, the control unit performs imaging with the second imaging unit at a predetermined time interval, and the photographer's face appears on the image captured with the second imaging unit. An imaging device characterized by continuously detecting whether or not it exists . An imaging apparatus according to claim 2 ,
The control unit turns off the display screen when detecting that the photographer's face does not exist in the image captured by the second imaging unit . An imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein
The image pickup apparatus , wherein the second image pickup unit is a pan-focus camera .

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