JP7134737B2 - IMAGING SYSTEM, IMAGING DEVICE, LIGHTING DEVICE, AND CONTROL METHOD - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an imaging system having an imaging device and an illumination device.

If the brightness of the subject is low and proper exposure cannot be obtained by changing exposure control values such as shutter speed, aperture value, and ISO sensitivity, an automatic strobe device, which is a lighting device, is used to illuminate the subject and take a picture. A camera having a light emitting function is known.

Further, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-100001, the amount of light emission at the time of shooting is calculated from the result of pre-flash, and the amount of light emission at the time of shooting is compared with a predetermined amount of light emission. A method of emitting light and correcting the difference with ISO sensitivity is disclosed.

JP 2009-276525 A

However, since the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 automatically corrects the ISO sensitivity, when combined with the automatic flash function, the ISO sensitivity changes with respect to the exposure control value determined by the automatic flash function. Auto flash photography may not be possible. On the other hand, depending on the exposure control value when shooting with flash, the required amount of light emission increases, and when performing continuous shooting with the lighting device emitting light, there is a risk that the shooting interval will become longer due to the charging of the lighting device and heat dissipation control. .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to enable setting of photographing conditions according to user's intention when using an illumination device.

In order to achieve the above object, an imaging system according to the present invention includes an imaging device and a lighting device, wherein the imaging device determines light emission of the lighting device based on a photometry result and a first mode for automatically setting the light emission amount of the device and automatically setting the photographing sensitivity; a second mode for automatically setting the photographing sensitivity with priority given to raising the photographing sensitivity over the mode of (1); a second selection means capable of selecting a corresponding first light emission mode and a second light emission mode corresponding to the second mode; It is characterized by comprising control means for controlling so that the other of the second mode and the first light emission mode is not selected when one of the light emission modes is selected.

According to the present invention, it is possible to set the photographing conditions according to the user's intention when using the illumination device.

1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an imaging system according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the operation of the imaging system according to the embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a diagram showing operations of the strobe device 300 regarding transmission and reception of information between the camera body 100 and the strobe device 300 according to the embodiment of the present invention;

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an imaging system according to an embodiment of the present invention, which includes a camera body section 100, a lens section 200, and a strobe device 300. As shown in FIG. A detachable lens unit 200 is attached to the front surface of a camera body 100 as an imaging device. A strobe device 300 which is a detachable lighting device is attached to the upper surface of the camera body 100 , and the camera body 100 and the strobe device 300 are electrically connected via a strobe contact group 109 . In the following embodiments, an imaging system in which a lens unit and a strobe device are detachable from a camera body will be described. It's okay.

First, the configuration of the camera body 100 will be described. A camera control section 101 is a microcomputer that controls the operation of each section of the camera main body section 100 according to a program stored in a memory.

The imaging device 102 is a CMOS sensor or a CCD sensor that converts light from an object incident through the imaging lens 202 into an electrical signal to generate image data, and outputs the generated image data to the camera control unit 101 .

A shutter 104 is arranged between the image sensor 102 and the photographing lens 202 and operates according to instructions from the camera control unit 101 . The shutter 104 is composed of a front curtain and a rear curtain composed of a plurality of shutter blades, and when the front curtain runs and the shutter opening opens, the imaging element 102 is exposed, and when the rear curtain runs and the shutter opening closes, an image is captured. Element 102 is shielded from light. Note that the exposure time control of the image sensor 102 may use a so-called electronic shutter instead of at least one of the front curtain and the rear curtain of the shutter 104 .

The camera operation unit 105 includes operation members operated by the user, detects operations performed by the user via buttons, switches, dials, connected devices, etc. attached to the camera body unit 100, and responds to operation instructions. The resulting signal is output to the camera control unit 101 . For example, the camera operation unit 105 outputs an instruction signal (hereinafter referred to as SW1 signal) issued when the user half-presses the release button and an instruction signal (hereinafter referred to as SW2 signal) issued when the release button is fully pressed. is output to the camera control unit 101 . Further, by operating the camera operation unit 105, the light emission shooting mode of the camera body unit 100 can be selected. The selectable flash shooting modes include an automatic flash shooting mode that determines flash emission based on the results of metering the subject and automatically sets the amount of flash emitted by the strobe device, and a flash mode that automatically sets the flash output of the strobe device based on the results of metering. There is a forced flash shooting mode that automatically sets the flash amount.

A camera display unit 106 displays photographing information and photographed images on a display screen such as a liquid crystal panel or an organic EL panel according to instructions from the camera control unit 101 .

The camera control section 101 controls the operation of the camera body section 100 and gives instructions to the lens section 200 and the strobe device 300 based on the output signal of the camera operation section 105 . When the SW1 signal is output from the camera operation unit 105, the camera control unit 101 drives the image sensor 102 to acquire image data, and measures the brightness of the subject from the acquired image data. Then, exposure control values such as shutter speed, aperture value, and ISO sensitivity to be used at the time of photographing are determined from the measurement results. The determined exposure control value is displayed on the display screen of the camera display unit 106 . When the SW2 signal is output from the camera operation unit 105, the camera control unit 101 drives the aperture 203 of the lens unit 200, sets the sensitivity (ISO sensitivity) of the image sensor 102, and controls the shutter 104 to capture an image. The exposure of element 102 is initiated. After the exposure, the camera control unit 101 displays the captured image on the display screen of the camera display unit 106 based on the image data acquired from the image sensor 102, and writes the image data to the image storage unit 107 such as a memory card. control.

Next, the configuration of the lens unit 200 will be described.

A lens control unit 201 is a microcomputer that controls the operation of each unit of the lens unit 200 according to a program stored in memory. The photographing lens 202 is composed of a single lens or a plurality of lenses including a focus lens for adjusting focus, and forms a subject image on the image sensor 102 . Furthermore, an aperture 203 is provided for adjusting the amount of light incident on the imaging device 102 . A lens control unit 201 controls an imaging lens 202 and a diaphragm 203 according to instructions from the camera control unit 101 via a mount contact group 103 .

Next, the configuration of the strobe device 300 will be described.

A strobe control unit 301 is a microcomputer that controls the operation of each unit of the strobe device 300 according to a program stored in memory. The strobe control unit 301 can communicate with the camera control unit 101 via the strobe contact group 109 , receives light emission instructions and camera information from the camera control unit 101 , and transmits strobe information to the camera control unit 101 . The light emitting unit 302 includes a discharge tube as a light source, a light emitting capacitor, a light emitting circuit, and a light emitting optical system, and can emit flash light. Note that the light source may be one capable of emitting light continuously, such as an LED.

A strobe operation unit 303 includes an operation member operated by a user, detects an operation performed by the user via buttons, dials, or the like attached to the strobe device 300, and outputs a signal corresponding to the operation instruction to a strobe control unit. 301. For example, when the user operates the strobe operation unit 303, the camera automatically determines the amount of light emitted. You can set the light mode and the manual light emission mode in which the user specifies the light emission amount. The continuous shooting priority automatic flash control mode is a mode that prioritizes suppression of the amount of light emission over the automatic flash control mode so that continuous light emission is possible over the automatic flash control mode.

A strobe display unit 304 displays a light emission mode or the like on a display screen such as a liquid crystal panel or an organic EL panel according to an instruction from the strobe control unit 301 . The optical pulse receiving unit 305 receives optical pulses emitted from other strobe devices or light emitting units of communication devices, and outputs reception results to the strobe control unit 301 .

The light emitting unit 302 drives the light emitting circuit according to instructions from the strobe control unit 301, and emits light by discharging the energy charged in the light emitting capacitor to the discharge tube. to irradiate. The amount of light emission may be set by a user operation on the strobe operation unit 303 or may be obtained by communication from the camera control unit 101 via the strobe contact group 109 . The strobe control unit 301 can receive a control signal from the camera control unit 101 via the strobe contact group 109 and cause the light emitting unit 302 to emit light in synchronization with the exposure operation of the camera body unit 100 . In addition, the strobe control unit 301 converts data into a predetermined pattern, drives the light emitting unit 302, and emits light pulse patterns toward other strobe devices and communication devices, thereby enabling other strobe devices and communication devices to emit light. Data can be sent to the device. The strobe controller of the strobe device on the receiving side can receive data by analyzing the pattern of the light pulses received by the light pulse receiver. For example, when the received data is a light emission command, the strobe control section of the strobe device on the receiving side drives the light emission section to emit light according to the light emission command.

The operation of the imaging system according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart mainly showing the operation of the camera control unit 101. For example, the operation is started when the output signal of the camera operation unit 105 is the SW1 signal.

First, in step S<b>201 , the camera control unit 101 transmits camera information to the strobe device 300 . The camera information transmitted here is information including the flash photography mode set in the camera, and the flash photography modes include an automatic flash photography mode, a forced flash photography mode, and the like.

In step S<b>202 , the camera control unit 101 receives strobe information from the strobe device 300 . The strobe information received here is information including the light emission mode of the strobe device, and information indicating whether the strobe device is set to automatic light adjustment mode, continuous shooting priority automatic light adjustment mode, or manual light emission mode. including. The details of the transmission and reception of information described in steps S201 and S202 will be described later.

In step S203, the camera control unit 101 determines whether or not the light emission mode of the strobe device received in step S202 is the continuous shooting priority automatic light adjustment mode. If it is the continuous shooting priority automatic light adjustment mode, the process proceeds to step S204, and if it is not the continuous shooting priority automatic light adjustment mode, the process proceeds to step S207.

In step S204, the camera control unit 101 determines whether continuous shooting is set. If continuous shooting is set, the process proceeds to step S205, and if not, the process proceeds to step S207. The continuous shooting setting can be set by the user operating the camera operation unit 105 , and the setting values (high speed/low speed of continuous shooting speed, etc.) are displayed on the camera display unit 106 .

In step S205, the camera control unit 101 determines whether it is an automatic setting mode in which the shooting sensitivity (ISO sensitivity) is automatically set or a manual setting mode in which the user sets the ISO sensitivity to an arbitrary value. If it is the automatic setting mode, the process proceeds to step S207, and if it is the manual setting mode, the process proceeds to step S206. The setting values in the ISO sensitivity setting mode and manual setting mode can be set by the user by operating the camera operation unit 105 , and the mode and setting values are displayed on the camera display unit 106 .

In step S206, the camera control unit 101 changes the ISO sensitivity setting mode from the manual setting mode to the automatic setting mode. By automatically setting the ISO sensitivity, the camera control unit 101 can freely change the ISO sensitivity by calculating an exposure control value, which will be described later. Furthermore, the camera control unit 101 prohibits the user from changing the ISO sensitivity. At this time, in order to indicate to the user that the setting of the ISO sensitivity cannot be changed, for example, a warning display such as blinking the ISO sensitivity displayed on the camera display unit 106 or changing the display color may be performed. .

In step S207, the camera control unit 101 performs photometry control for measuring the brightness of the subject. In photometry control, for example, the image sensor 102 is driven to acquire image data, and the brightness of the subject is measured from the acquired image data. In addition, in a configuration having a photometric sensor, the brightness of the subject may be measured from the light reception result of the photometric sensor.

In step S208, the camera control unit 101 determines exposure control values such as shutter speed, aperture value, and ISO sensitivity to be used at the time of shooting from the photometric results obtained in step S207. Further, when the automatic flash photography mode is set, the camera control unit 101 determines whether or not to perform flash photography. When proper exposure cannot be obtained with the exposure control value determined in step S208, the camera control unit 101 determines to perform flash photography.

In step S209, the camera control unit 101 determines whether or not the light emission mode of the strobe device received in step S202 is the continuous shooting priority automatic light control mode. If it is the continuous shooting priority automatic light adjustment mode, the process proceeds to step S210; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S211.

In step S210, the camera control unit 101 adds a predetermined value to the ISO sensitivity calculated in step S208, and determines the result of the calculation as a new ISO sensitivity. Note that the calculation of adding a predetermined value to the ISO sensitivity calculated in step S208 is an example of a method for increasing the ISO sensitivity, and a different method may be used. For example, by using in step S210 the second program diagram in which the ISO sensitivity is higher than the first program diagram used in step S208, the ISO sensitivity calculated in step S210 is higher than the ISO sensitivity calculated in step S208. You can make it higher. Also, the predetermined value used in step S209 may be a fixed value or a value that varies according to the ISO sensitivity calculated in step S208.

The camera control unit 101 displays the shutter speed, aperture value, and ISO sensitivity calculated in steps S208 and S210 on the camera display unit 106. FIG. By displaying it on the camera display unit 106, the user can confirm the exposure control value at the time of shooting.

In step S211, the camera control unit 101 determines whether or not a shooting instruction has been issued. For example, if the user fully presses the release button and the SW2 signal is turned ON, it is determined that a photographing instruction has been issued. If it is determined that a photographing instruction has been issued, the process proceeds to step S212; otherwise, the process returns to step S201 and repeats the process.

In step S212, the camera control unit 101 performs shooting using the shutter speed, aperture value, and ISO sensitivity calculated in steps S208 and S210, and ends this process. At the time of photographing, when the forced light emission photographing mode is set or when the automatic light emission photographing mode is set and it is determined that light emission photographing is performed, light emission by the stroboscope device can be performed in synchronization with photographing. When the light emission mode of the strobe device is the automatic light control mode or the continuous shooting priority automatic light control mode, the camera control unit 101 determines the amount of light emitted from the strobe and transmits it to the strobe control unit 301 via the strobe contact group 109 . For example, the amount of strobe light emission is determined by obtaining image data by driving the image sensor 102 at the same time that pre-light emission is performed from SW2 operation to photographing, and obtaining image data, shutter speed, aperture value, and ISO sensitivity at the time of photographing. is determined using a known method from

Next, the operation of the strobe device 300 regarding transmission and reception of information between the camera body 100 and the strobe device 300 will be described using the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 3 is a sequence mainly related to steps S201 and S202 in FIG.

In step S<b>301 , the strobe control unit 301 displays a light emission mode selection screen on the strobe display unit 304 according to the user's operation on the strobe operation unit 303 . The light emission modes to be displayed include an automatic light control mode, a continuous shooting priority automatic light control mode, and a manual light emission mode. The user can select an arbitrary light emission mode from the displayed light emission modes using the strobe operation unit 303 . The method of setting the light emission mode may be selection using a dial without displaying the light emission mode selection screen.

In step S<b>302 , the strobe control unit 301 changes (sets) the light emission mode according to the user's operation on the strobe operation unit 303 .

In step S<b>303 , the strobe controller 301 determines whether the strobe device 300 is connected to the camera body 100 via the strobe contact group 109 . If it is determined that it is connected to the camera main unit 100, the process proceeds to step S304; otherwise, step S303 is repeated.

In step S<b>304 , the strobe control unit 301 receives camera information from the camera body unit 100 . The camera information received here is information including the light emission shooting mode set in the camera.

In step S305, the strobe control unit 301 determines whether or not the light emission mode changed in step S302 is the continuous shooting priority automatic light control mode. If the continuous shooting priority automatic light adjustment mode is selected, the process proceeds to step S306; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S308.

In step S306, the strobe control unit 301 determines whether or not the connected camera body unit 100 is set to the automatic flash shooting mode from the camera information received in step S304. If the camera main unit 100 is set to the automatic flash photography mode, the process proceeds to step S307; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S308.

In step S307, the strobe control unit 301 changes the light emission mode to the automatic light control mode. The light emission mode may be changed temporarily or continuously. Temporary change means changing the flash mode to auto flash mode only while connected to the camera, and returning the flash mode to continuous shooting priority auto flash mode when it detects that the camera is disconnected. It's a nice action.

In step S308, the strobe control unit 301 transmits strobe information including information indicating the light emission mode set to the camera control unit 101, and ends this processing.

As described above, when the flash mode of the strobe device is the continuous shooting priority automatic flash control mode, the ISO sensitivity is increased (increased) to reduce the amount of light emitted by the strobe device, making it suitable for continuous shooting. Flash shooting can be performed using the exposure control value and the amount of light emitted. In addition, since the change of the ISO sensitivity is completed before the photographing instruction is issued, the user can photograph while confirming the photographing sensitivity before photographing.

Furthermore, even if the ISO sensitivity is set to manual setting mode, if it detects that the strobe device is in the continuous shooting priority automatic flash control mode, the ISO sensitivity can be changed to automatic setting, allowing the user to set the ISO sensitivity themselves. No more time to change.

In addition, when the camera is set to the automatic flash photography mode, the flash mode of the strobe device is automatically changed to the automatic flash photography mode and the corresponding automatic flash photography mode, enabling excellent automatic flash photography. be able to. Also, the user does not have to bother to change the light emission mode by himself. If the strobe device's flash mode is set to the continuous shooting priority automatic flash mode, the camera's flash shooting mode will automatically change to the continuous shooting priority automatic flash shooting mode and the corresponding forced flash shooting mode. good too. That is, when either one of the camera's automatic flash photography mode and the strobe device's continuous shooting priority automatic flash mode is selected, the other of the camera's automatic flash photography mode and the strobe device's continuous shooting priority automatic flash mode is selected. is not selected.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist. For example, at least part of the processing executed by the camera control unit in the above embodiments may be executed by the strobe control unit, or at least part of the processing executed by the strobe control unit may be executed by the camera control unit. You may do so.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 camera body 101 camera control unit 105 camera operation unit 106 camera display unit 300 strobe device 301 strobe control unit 302 light emitting unit 303 strobe operation unit 304 strobe display unit

Claims (7)

An imaging system having an imaging device and an illumination device,
The imaging device is
A first mode in which light emission determination of the lighting device is performed based on the result of photometry and the light emission amount of the lighting device is automatically set and shooting sensitivity is automatically set; and determination of light emission of the lighting device is performed based on the result of photometry. a first selection means capable of selecting a second mode for automatically setting the light emission amount of the lighting device and automatically setting the photographing sensitivity with priority given to making the photographing sensitivity higher than in the first mode; has
The lighting device
a second selection means capable of selecting a first emission mode corresponding to the first mode and a second emission mode corresponding to the second mode;
The imaging system is
Having control means for controlling so that when either one of the second mode and the first light emission mode is selected, the other of the second mode and the first light emission mode is not selected. An imaging system characterized by: An imaging device capable of luminescence photography using a lighting device,
A first mode in which light emission determination of the lighting device is performed based on the result of photometry and the light emission amount of the lighting device is automatically set and shooting sensitivity is automatically set; and determination of light emission of the lighting device is performed based on the result of photometry. a selection means capable of selecting a second mode for automatically setting the amount of light emitted from the lighting device and automatically setting the photographing sensitivity with priority given to making the photographing sensitivity higher than in the first mode;
receiving means for receiving information about the light emission mode of the lighting device;
and control means for controlling so that the second mode is not selected when the reception means receives that the light emission mode of the lighting device corresponds to the first mode. imaging device. Display means for displaying modes selectable by the selection means,
The control means receives from the reception means that the light emission mode of the lighting device corresponds to the first mode and that the light emission mode corresponds to the second mode. 3. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the form of display of selectable modes by said display means is changed depending on the situation. When the reception means receives that the light emission mode of the lighting device corresponds to the first mode, the control means causes the display means to display information indicating that the second mode cannot be selected. 4. The imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the image is displayed on the . A first mode in which light emission determination of the lighting device is determined based on the photometry result, and the light emission amount of the lighting device is automatically set and the shooting sensitivity is automatically set; A second mode for automatically setting the light emission amount of the lighting device and automatically setting the photographing sensitivity with priority given to making the photographing sensitivity higher than in the first mode. a device,
selection means capable of selecting a first emission mode corresponding to the first mode and a second emission mode corresponding to the second mode;
transmitting means for transmitting information about the first and second light emission modes to a connected imaging device;
and a control unit that does not cause the connected imaging device to transmit that the transmission unit has the second light emission mode when the first light emission mode is selected by the selection unit. lighting equipment. The control means causes the transmission means to transmit information indicating the second light emission mode to the connected imaging device when the second light emission mode is selected by the selection means. 6. A lighting device according to claim 5. A control method for an imaging system having an imaging device and a lighting device, comprising:
A first mode in which light emission determination of the lighting device is performed based on the result of photometry and the light emission amount of the lighting device is automatically set and shooting sensitivity is automatically set; and determination of light emission of the lighting device is performed based on the result of photometry. a first selection step capable of selecting a second mode for automatically setting the light emission amount of the lighting device without setting the light emission amount of the illumination device and automatically setting the photographing sensitivity with priority given to making the photographing sensitivity higher than that in the first mode; When,
a second selection step capable of selecting a first emission mode corresponding to the first mode and a second emission mode corresponding to the second mode;
In the first selecting step and the second selecting step, when one of the second mode and the first light emitting mode is selected, the second mode and the first light emitting mode are selected. A control method for an imaging system, characterized in that the other of the modes is prevented from being selected.

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