JP2000050126A - Digital camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the operability of an automatic focus function and a zoom function when an image pickup part is attachably/detachably installed in a camera main body part. SOLUTION: The camera 1 is provided with an image pickup means 3 having a hotographing lens 301, an image pickup element 303 which photoelectrically converts an object which is image-picked up by the photographing lens 301 and lens driving means M1 and M2 driving the photographing lens 301, and with a camera main body part 2 on which the image pickup part 3 is attachably/detachably installed. Operation means 9, Z1 and Z2 operating the lens driving means are installed in the camera main body part 2. Thus, the operation means operating the lens driving means can be operated while the camera main body part 2 is supported. The other operation members of the camera main body part 2 and the lens driving means are installed in the same camera main body part 2, the operation members are closely arranged and the operability of the whole camera 1 improves.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a digital camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a digital camera, there is a digital camera in which an image pickup unit having a photographing lens and an image pickup device for photoelectrically converting a subject image formed by the photographing lens is detachably attached to a camera body. This digital camera has an advantage that the degree of freedom of displacement of the imaging unit is increased by connecting the imaging unit and the camera main body with a cable, so that the imaging can be performed at a free angle.

Recently, an image pickup unit having an auto focus (hereinafter sometimes referred to as AF) function and a zoom function has been proposed. Such an autofocus function and a zoom function are such that a lens drive unit such as an autofocus motor or a zoom motor is provided in the imaging unit, and the lens drive unit is operated to drive the photographing lens. I have.

However, conventionally, since a switch as operating means for operating these lens driving means is provided in the image pickup unit similarly to the lens driving means, there are the following disadvantages.

[0005]

That is, in a case where an image pickup unit and a camera body unit are connected by a cable to perform photographing,
Since the imaging unit is separated from the camera body, it is very inconvenient to operate the operation unit on the imaging unit side while supporting the camera body. In addition, other operation members such as a shutter button are provided on the camera body,
Since these operating members and the operating means for operating the lens driving means are not at a short distance, the operability of the entire camera is reduced.

The present invention has been made in view of such a technical background, and improves the operability of an autofocus function, a zoom function, and the like in a digital camera in which an imaging unit is detachably mounted on a camera body. That is the task.

[0007]

An object of the present invention is to provide an image pickup unit having a photographing lens, an image pickup device for photoelectrically converting a subject image formed by the photographing lens, and lens driving means for driving the photographing lens. A digital camera comprising: a camera main body to which the imaging unit is detachably mounted, wherein an operation means for operating the lens driving means is provided in the camera main body. Is done.

According to this digital camera, the operating means for operating the lens driving means can be operated while supporting the camera body, which is convenient. In addition, the lens driving means is provided in the same camera body with respect to the other operation members of the camera body, and these operation members are arranged at a short distance, thereby improving the operability of the entire camera.

Preferably, the camera body includes display means for updating and displaying the photographed image at predetermined intervals, and control means for stopping updating of the image on the display means during operation of the lens driving means. It is good to have. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the live view image displayed on the display unit from being disturbed and difficult to see due to noise during the operation of the lens driving unit.

[0010] Alternatively, the camera body comprises display means for updating and displaying the photographed image at predetermined intervals, and control means for stopping display of the image on the display means while the lens driving means is operating. May be configured. By doing so, it is possible to prevent an image disturbed by noise during operation of the lens driving means from being displayed on the display means.

Further, when the lens driving means is an auto-focus driving means, and the operating means is a shutter button, operating the shutter button automatically operates the auto-focus driving means. The operability is further improved.

The photographing lens and the lens driving means are a zoom lens and a zoom lens driving means. The camera main body includes a display means for updating and displaying a photographed image at a predetermined interval, and a display means for the zoom lens driving means. During operation,
When a display control means for enlarging an image and displaying it on the display means is provided, the zoom lens driving means is operated by the operation means on the camera body side while confirming the zoom state with the enlarged image. Operability when zooming is improved.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS <Description of Digital Camera> A digital camera according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

The digital camera 1 is, as shown in FIG.
It is composed of a box-shaped camera body 2 and a rectangular parallelepiped imaging unit 3. The imaging unit 3 is detachably mounted on the right side of the camera body 2 when viewed from the front, and is rotatably mounted in a plane parallel to the right side.

As shown in FIG. 2, the imaging section 3 has a length substantially the same as the length of the camera body 2 in the height direction, and is substantially the same as the width of the camera body 2. The main body 3A has a vertically-long rectangular parallelepiped shape having the following dimensions.
A mounting portion 3B for mounting the device on a protruding portion is provided. The imaging section 3 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape in which the imaging section main body 3A is long in one direction, and can be set along the side surface of the camera main body 2 during storage. It is possible to employ a zoom lens 301 that is long in the axial direction.

A mechanism for mounting the imaging section 3 on the camera body 2 by the mounting section 3B will be described later.

As shown in FIG. 2, a macro zoom lens 301 is disposed inside the image pickup section main body 3A, and a CCD is provided at an appropriate position behind the macro zoom lens 301.
(Charge Coupled Device) An imaging circuit 302 including a color area sensor 303 is provided. In addition, a dimming circuit 304 including a dimming sensor 305 that receives the reflected light of the flash light from the subject is provided at an appropriate position in the imaging unit 3. Light control sensor 305
Are arranged at appropriate positions on the front end face of the mounting portion 3B.

The image pickup section 3 includes an image pickup section main body 3A.
2, a zoom motor M for changing the zoom ratio of the macro zoom lens 301 as shown in FIG.
1, and a motor M2 for performing auto focus, and further, as shown in FIG. 3, a lock release lever 307 that enables the image pickup section 3 to be detached from the camera body section 2.
Is provided.

Further, the image pickup unit 3 includes a photographing lens 301.
AF (Automatic Foc)
using) sensor 316 is disposed. As the AF method, an external light passive method performed by a lens shutter camera is adopted.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the camera body 2 is, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal).
l Display), a mounting portion 17 for the memory card 8, and a connection terminal 13 to which a personal computer is externally connected. The image signal mainly captured by the imaging section 3 is subjected to predetermined signal processing. Later, L
It performs processing such as display on the CD display unit 10, recording on the memory card 8, transfer to a personal computer, and the like.

Next, a mechanism for mounting the image pickup unit 3 to the camera body 2 will be described.

On the right side of the camera body 2 as viewed from the front, as shown in FIG. 4, a connection plate 23 to which the imaging unit 3 is detachably mounted is rotatable in a plane parallel to the right side. It is provided in. The rotation of the connection plate 23 causes the imaging unit 3 attached to the camera body 2 to rotate within a range of approximately ± 90 with respect to the rotation reference position A. Note that 500 in FIG.
Indicates a rotation supporting portion of the connection plate 23.

FIG. 5 shows the mounting surface 308 of the mounting portion 3B.
As shown in the figure, four engagement claws 310a to 31
A rectangular hole 309 provided with 0 d is provided, and the connection plate 23 is fitted into the hole 309 so that the imaging unit 3 is mounted on the camera body 2.

On the mounting surface of the connection plate 23, a connection terminal portion 234 having a plurality of connection terminals is provided, and in the hole 309 of the mounting portion 3B, the connection terminal portion 234 faces the connection terminal portion 234 of the connection plate 23. Terminal part 3 provided with a plurality of connection terminals
When the imaging unit 3 is attached to the camera body 2 via the connection plate 23, the imaging unit 3 and the camera body 2 are electrically connected via the connection terminal units 234 and 334. It has become so.

The connection plate 23 is provided with rectangular recesses 231a and 231b at appropriate positions on both long sides, and is provided on one side of a surface on which the connection terminal portion 234 is not provided (hereinafter, this surface is referred to as a back surface). A groove is formed at each of the corners and at a position continuous with the concave portions 231a and 231b, and the engaging portions 23 with which the engaging claws 310a to 310d of the mounting portion 3B engage respectively.
2a, 232b, 232c, and 232d are provided. In addition, a groove is formed at an appropriate position on the long side where the concave portion 231a is formed on a surface on which the connection terminal portion 234 is provided (hereinafter, this surface is referred to as a surface), and the key member 311 of the mounting portion 3B is formed.
Is provided with an engaging portion 233 into which the is fitted.

The mounting section 3B of the imaging section 3 is mounted on the connection plate 23 of the camera body 2 in the following procedure. That is, first, the mounting surface 308 of the mounting portion 3B is arranged in parallel with the connection plate 23 such that the engagement claws 310c and 310d of the hole 309 face the recesses 231a and 231b of the connection plate 23, respectively. Is pressed against the connection plate 23.
At this time, the engagement claws 310c and 310d are fitted into the recesses 231a and 231b of the connection plate 23, respectively, while the key member 311 is pressed against the surface of the connection plate 23 and the spring 31 is pressed.
2 moves to the unlock position against the urging force of
B is pressed until the back surface of the connection plate 23 becomes the same as the mounting surface 308 of the mounting portion 3B. Thereafter, when the mounting portion 3B is moved to the rear end side (the direction B in FIG. 5), the engaging claws 310a to 310d of the mounting portion 3B engage with the engaging portions 232a to 232d of the connection plate 23, respectively, and the mounting portion 3B is mounted. Portion 3B is connection plate 2
3, the key member 311 is moved to the lock position by the urging force of the spring 312 and fitted into the engagement portion 233, and the state of attachment of the imaging unit 3 to the connection plate 23 is locked.

When the image pickup section 3 is detached from the connection plate 23, the key release member 307 is operated in the direction away from the mounting surface 308 (direction C in FIG. 6) to move the key member 311 to the lock release position (indicated by a chain line). Position) and move the key member 3
11 is disengaged from the engaging portion 233, and in this state, the mounting portion 3B is relatively moved with respect to the connection plate 23 in the direction opposite to the direction B in FIG. It is performed by moving in a direction away from the camera.

Returning to FIG. 1, on the front surface of the camera body 2, a grip portion 4 is provided at an appropriate position on a left end portion, and a built-in flash 5 is provided at an appropriate upper portion on a right end portion. As shown in FIG. 3, on the upper surface of the camera body 2, switches 6 and 7 for frame advance for reproducing a recorded image are provided substantially at the center. The switch 6 is a switch (hereinafter, referred to as an UP switch) for advancing the recorded image in the direction in which the frame number increases (the direction of the photographing order).
The switch 7 is a switch (hereinafter, referred to as a DOWN switch) for advancing the recorded image in the direction of decreasing the frame number. Further, an erasure switch D for erasing an image recorded on the memory card 8 is provided on the left side of the DOWN switch 7 when viewed from the rear side, and a shutter button 9 is provided on the right side of the UP switch 6. The shutter button 9 also functions as an operation member of the autofocus motor, as described later.

As shown in FIG. 3, an LCD display for displaying a captured image on a monitor (corresponding to a viewfinder) and displaying and reproducing a recorded image is provided substantially at the center of the left end of the camera body 2, as shown in FIG. 10 are provided. Also, L
A compression ratio setting slide switch 12 for switching and setting a compression ratio K of image data recorded on the memory card 8 is provided below the CD display unit 10. A power switch PS and a flash unit are provided above the LCD display unit 10. A mode setting switch 11 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as FL) and the like are arranged. Also, on the side of the camera body 2,
Connection terminal 13 to which a personal computer is externally connected
Is provided.

The digital camera 1 has an "automatic flash mode" in which the built-in flash 5 is automatically fired in accordance with the subject brightness as a mode relating to flash emission, and a "forced mode" in which the built-in flash 5 is forcibly fired regardless of the subject brightness. A flash mode and a flash inhibition mode for inhibiting the flash of the built-in flash 5 are provided. Each time the FL mode setting switch 11 is pressed, each of the automatic flash mode, the forced flash mode, and the flash disabled mode is cyclically switched. Switches to
One of the modes is selected and set.

In the digital camera 1, two kinds of compression ratios K, １ ／ and 1/20, can be selectively set by the compression ratio setting switch 12.
Is slid to the right, a compression ratio K = 1/8 is set, and to the left, a compression ratio K = 1/20 is set. In this embodiment, two types of compression ratios K
Can be selectively set, but three or more types of compression ratios K may be selectively set.

Further, a photographing / playback mode setting switch 14 for switching between a "photographing mode" and a "playback mode" is provided at the upper right end of the rear surface of the camera body 2.
The photographing mode is a mode in which a photograph is taken, and the playback mode is a mode in which a photographed image recorded in the memory card 8 is
This is a mode for reproducing and displaying on the display unit 10. The shooting / playback mode setting switch 14 also includes a two-contact slide switch. For example, sliding to the right sets the playback mode, and sliding to the left sets the shooting mode.

A zoom button Z1 (tele direction) and a zoom button Z2 (wide direction) for causing the photographing lens 301 to perform a zoom operation are provided at the right end on the rear surface of the camera body 2. By pressing each button, the overall control unit 211 drives the zoom motor M1 via the zoom motor drive circuit 215, moves a part of the photographing lens 301, and changes the focal length while maintaining focus. By disposing these zoom buttons on the camera body 2 side, together with the above-described UP switch 6, DOWN switch 7, shutter button 9, FL mode setting switch 11, compression ratio setting switch 12, photographing / playback mode setting switch 14, etc. Most of the operation members are concentrated and arranged in a short distance range of the camera body 2, which is extremely convenient for operation of the camera.

As shown in FIG. 7, a battery loading chamber 18 and a card loading chamber 17 for the memory card 8 are provided on the bottom of the camera body 2, and the loading ports of both loading chambers 16, 17 are clamshell shells. It is closed by a lid 15 of the type. The digital camera 1 according to this embodiment includes:
The drive source is a power supply battery formed by connecting four AA batteries in series.

Next, the internal configuration of the image pickup section 3 will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.

The CCD 303 is a macro zoom lens 30
The light image of the object formed by the step 1 is represented by R (red), G
(Green) and B (blue) color component image signals (signals composed of a signal sequence of pixel signals received by each pixel) are photoelectrically converted and output. The timing generator 314 includes the CCD 30
3 to generate various timing pulses for controlling the driving of the third driving circuit.

The exposure control in the image pickup section 3 is performed by adjusting the exposure amount of the CCD 303, that is, the charge accumulation time of the CCD 303 corresponding to the shutter speed, since the stop is a fixed stop. If an appropriate shutter speed cannot be set when the subject brightness is low,
By adjusting the level of the image signal output from the CD 303, improper exposure due to insufficient exposure is corrected.
That is, when the luminance is low, the exposure control is performed by combining the shutter speed and the gain adjustment. The level adjustment of the image signal is performed in the gain adjustment of the AGC circuit in the signal processing circuit 313.

The timing generator 314 generates a drive control signal for the CCD 303 based on the reference clock transmitted from the timing control circuit 202.
The timing generator 314 generates clock signals such as integration start / end (exposure start / end) timing signals and light-receiving signal readout control signals (horizontal synchronization signal, vertical synchronization signal, transfer signal, etc.) for each pixel. Output to the CCD 303.

The signal processing circuit 313 performs predetermined analog signal processing on an image signal (analog signal) output from the CCD 303. The signal processing circuit 313
It has a DS (correlated double sampling) circuit and an AGC (auto gain control) circuit. The CDS circuit reduces the noise of the image signal, and the level of the image signal is adjusted by adjusting the gain of the AGC circuit.

The light control circuit 304 controls the light emission amount of the built-in flash 5 in flash photography to a predetermined light emission amount set by the overall control unit 211. In flash photography, the reflected light of flash light from the subject is received by the light control sensor 305 at the same time as the start of exposure, and when the amount of received light reaches a predetermined light emission amount, the light control circuit 3
An emission stop signal is output from 04 to the FL control circuit 214 via the overall control unit. The FL control circuit 214 forcibly stops light emission of the built-in flash 5 in response to the light emission stop signal, whereby the light emission amount of the built-in flash 5 is controlled to a predetermined light emission amount.

The above-mentioned image pickup section 3 and the camera body section 2 described below are provided at a connection terminal section 334 of the image pickup section 3.
334a, 334b, 334c, 334d, 334e,
7 groups of connection terminals composed of 334f and 334g, and 2 groups provided on the connection terminals 234 of the camera body 2.
34a, 234b, 234c, 234d, 234e, 2
Electrical connection is made by seven groups of connection terminals consisting of 34f and 234g.

Next, the internal configuration of the camera body 2 will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.

In the camera body 2, the A / D converter 205 converts each pixel signal of the image signal into a 10-bit digital signal. The A / D converter 321 is
Each pixel signal (analog signal) based on an A / D conversion clock input from the timing generator 314
Into a 10-bit digital signal.

The timing control circuit 202 includes a reference clock, a timing generator 314, and an A / D converter 20.
5 is generated. The timing control circuit 202 is controlled by the overall control unit 211.

The black level correction circuit 206 corrects the black level of the A / D converted pixel signal (hereinafter referred to as pixel data) to a reference black level. Further, a white balance circuit (hereinafter referred to as a WB circuit) 207 adjusts the white balance after γ correction,
The level conversion of the pixel data of each of the R, G, and B color components is performed. The WB circuit 207 uses the level conversion table input from the overall control unit 211 to generate R, G, B
The level of the pixel data of each color component is converted.

The conversion coefficient (gradient of the characteristic) of each color component in the level conversion table is set by the overall control unit 211 for each captured image.

The γ correction circuit 208 corrects the γ characteristics of the pixel data. The γ correction circuit 208 has six types of γ correction tables having different γ characteristics, and performs γ correction of pixel data using a predetermined γ correction table according to a shooting scene and shooting conditions.

The image memory 209 is a memory for storing pixel data output from the gamma correction circuit 208. The image memory 209 has a storage capacity for one frame. That is, in the image memory 209, the CCD 303
In the case of having pixels in rows and m columns, it has a storage capacity for pixel data of n × m pixels, and each pixel data is stored in a corresponding pixel position.

The VRAM 210 is a buffer memory for image data reproduced and displayed on the LCD display unit 10. VR
The AM 210 has a storage capacity for image data corresponding to the number of pixels of the LCD display unit 10.

In the shooting standby state, each pixel data of the image picked up by the image pickup unit 3 every 1/30 (second) is A
After undergoing predetermined signal processing by the / D converters 205 to γ correction circuit 208, the signals are stored in the image memory 209, transferred to the VRAM 210 via the overall control unit 211, and displayed on the LCD display unit 10. (Live view display). Thus, the photographer can visually recognize the subject image from the image displayed on the LCD display unit 10. Also,
In the reproduction mode, the image read from the memory card 8 is subjected to predetermined signal processing by the overall control unit 211, transferred to the VRAM 210, and reproduced and displayed on the LCD display unit 10.

The card I / F 212 is an interface for writing image data to the memory card 8 and reading image data. Also, communication I / F2
Reference numeral 13 denotes an interface conforming to, for example, the USB standard for externally connecting the personal computer 19 so that communication is possible.

The FL control circuit 214 has a built-in flash 5
This is a circuit for controlling the light emission. The FL control circuit 214
The built-in flash 5 based on the control signal of the overall control unit 211
The presence or absence of light emission, the amount and timing of light emission,
The light emission amount of the built-in flash 5 is controlled based on the light emission stop signal input from the light control circuit 304.

The RTC 219 is a clock circuit for managing the shooting date and time. It is driven by another power source (not shown).

The auto-focus motor drive circuit 214 drives the auto-focus motor M2 in the image pickup unit 3, and the zoom motor drive circuit 215 drives the zoom motor M1.

The operation unit 250 includes the UP switch 6, the DOWN switch 7, the shutter button 9, the FL mode setting switch 11, the compression ratio setting switch 12, the photographing / playback mode setting switch 14, the zoom button Z1,
Z2 and the like.

When the zoom buttons Z1 and Z2 are pressed, the zoom motor drive circuit 215 controlled by the general control unit 211 drives the zoom motor M1 in the telephoto direction or the wide direction according to the pressing time. While the tele-direction zoom button Z1 is being pressed, an image enlarged to a predetermined magnification is displayed on the display unit 1 under the control of the overall control unit 211.
A digital zoom display of 0 is performed.

The shutter button 9 is a two-stage switch capable of detecting a half-pressed state (S1) and a depressed state (S2) as employed in a silver halide camera. When the shutter button 9 is set to the S1 state in the standby state, according to the distance measurement data output from the AF sensor 316,
The overall control unit 211 controls the AF motor M2 via the AF motor drive circuit 214, so that the photographing lens 30
When the shutter button 9 is released, the focus is locked at that position. As described above, by using the shutter button 9 also as an operation switch of the AF motor M2, it is possible to surely execute the auto focus process at the time of the shutter operation,
This prevents the shutter from being released when the subject is out of focus.

The overall control section 211 is composed of a microcomputer, and controls the driving of each member in the image pickup section 3 and the camera main body section 2 in an organic manner to control the photographing operation of the digital camera 1 in an integrated manner. is there.

As shown in FIG. 9, the overall control section 211 includes a luminance determination section 211a for setting an exposure control value (shutter speed (SS)) and a shutter speed setting section 211b.

The luminance judging section 211a judges the brightness of a subject in an imaging standby state by using an image captured by the CCD 303 every 1/30 (second). That is, the luminance determination unit 211a determines whether the image memory 2
The brightness of the subject is determined using the image data that is renewed and stored in step 09.

The luminance determining section 211a is provided in the image memory 209.
Is divided into nine blocks, and the luminance data representing each block is calculated using the pixel data of the G (green) color component included in each block.

The shutter speed setting section 211b is a shutter speed (integration time of the CCD 303) based on the result of the brightness determination of the subject by the brightness determination section 211a.
Is set. Shutter speed setting unit 21
1b has a table of shutter speed SS.

The shutter speed SS is initially set to 1/128 (second) when the camera is started, and in a shooting standby state, the shutter speed setting unit 211b initializes according to the result of the brightness determination of the subject by the brightness determination unit 211a. The value is changed and set one step at a time to the high-speed side or the low-speed side.

The overall control unit 211 sets an appropriate shutter speed SS according to the shooting scene,
In order to perform filtering correction (described later), a scene determination unit 211c that determines four types of shooting scenes of “low-brightness scene”, “medium-brightness normal scene”, “medium-brightness backlight scene”, and “high-brightness scene” is provided. ing. A “low-brightness scene” is a scene that normally requires auxiliary light using a flash, such as indoor shooting or nighttime shooting, and a “medium-brightness normal scene” is illumination light (including natural light and artificial light) for a main subject. ) Is a scene that can be photographed without auxiliary light because the light is normal and the brightness is appropriate. The “medium brightness backlight scene” is a scene in which the overall brightness is appropriate, but the flash light is preferable because the illumination light for the main subject is backlight, and the “high brightness scene” is, for example, a clear sea scene. It is a very bright scene as a whole, like shooting at a ski resort.

Further, the overall control unit 211 determines whether the captured image is a normal photographed image of a landscape, a person, or the like (hereinafter, this type of captured image is referred to as a natural image) or a character drawn on a white board or the like. And an image such as a chart (hereinafter, an image similar to a binary image of this type is referred to as a character image).

The image determining unit 211e is provided with an image memory 209
A histogram of the luminance data at each pixel position is created based on the pixel data constituting the captured image stored in the storage device, and the content of the captured image is determined based on the histogram. In general, a histogram of luminance data of a captured image is a so-called one-peak distribution having a single peak value with a small bias in the luminance distribution in the case of a natural image. In the case of a character image, a bias in the luminance distribution is observed in each of a white background portion and a black character portion.
Mountain distribution. Therefore, the image determination unit 211e determines whether the histogram of the luminance data of the captured image has a single peak distribution,
It is determined whether the captured image is a natural image or a character image by determining whether the image is a mountain distribution. Then, this determination result is also stored in the memory 211d.

The overall control unit 211 includes a filter unit 211f for performing a filtering process and a recorded image generating unit 211g for generating a thumbnail image and a compressed image in order to perform the recording process of the photographed image. In order to reproduce the displayed image on the LCD display unit 10,
A reproduction image generation unit 211h that generates a reproduction image is provided.

The filter section 211f corrects the high-frequency component of the image to be recorded by a digital filter to correct the image quality related to the contour. Filter section 211
f is a digital filter for performing standard contour correction for each of the compression ratios K = 1/8 and 1/20, and two types of digital filters for enhancing the contour and the contour for the standard contour correction. A total of five types of digital filters, two types of digital filters to be weakened, are provided.

The recording image generation unit 211g is provided in the image memory 2
The pixel data is read from 09 and a thumbnail image and a compressed image to be recorded on the memory card 8 are generated. The recording image generation unit 211g reads pixel data for every eight pixels in both the horizontal direction and the vertical direction while scanning from the image memory 209 in the raster scanning direction, and sequentially transfers the pixel data to the memory card 8, thereby obtaining the thumbnail image. Is recorded on the memory card 8 while generating.

The recording image generation unit 211g reads out all pixel data from the image memory 209 and converts these pixel data into JPE data such as two-dimensional DCT transform and Huffman coding.
A predetermined compression process according to the G method is performed to generate image data of a compressed image, and the compressed image data is recorded in the main image area of the memory card 8.

In the photographing mode, when photographing is instructed by the shutter button 9 in the photographing mode, the overall control unit 211 displays the thumbnail image of the image taken into the image memory 209 after the photographing instruction and the compression ratio set by the compression ratio setting switch 12. A compressed image compressed according to the JPEG method by K is generated, and tag information (frame number, exposure value, shutter speed, compression ratio K, shooting date, flash on / off data at the time of shooting, scene information, etc.) , And information on the image determination result) are stored in the memory card 8.

As shown in FIG. 10, 40 frames of images can be recorded at a compression ratio of 1/20 of the images recorded by the digital camera 1, and each of the frames 81 to 85 is compressed in a JPEG format with a tag portion. High-resolution image data (6
40 × 480 pixels) and image data for thumbnail display (80 × 60 pixels) are recorded. In each frame unit,
For example, it can be handled as an image file in EXIF format.

<Explanation of Live View Display During Auto Focus Processing and Zoom Processing> Next, a live view display in a standby state according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 11 relates to the auto-focus processing when the shutter button 9 is half-pressed (S1). First, it is checked in step S1100 whether the AF processing flag is on. If not (NO in step S1100), it is determined in step S1101 whether the shutter button 9 has been pressed to the state S1. If it is not pressed (NO in S1101), it is determined in S1102 whether or not zoom processing is being performed, and if it is not in zoom processing (NO in S1102), the image data in the image memory 209 is displayed on the LCD display unit in S1103. After the thinning process is executed in accordance with the number of pixels of 10, the data is transferred to the VRAM 210. Thus, in the shooting standby state, live view display is performed on the LCD display unit 10.

If the button has been pressed to the S1 state in S1101 (YES in S1101), the AF processing flag is set in S1104, the image data in the VRAM 210 is held in S1105, and the data transfer from the image memory 209 to the VRAM 210 is prohibited. . Thereafter, until the AF processing is completed, the image at S1 is continuously displayed on the LCD display unit 10 without being updated.

If it is determined in S1100 that AF processing is being performed (YES in S1100), S1106
In accordance with the distance measurement data output from the AF sensor 316,
An AF process for controlling the AF motor M2 is executed. S11
When the AF processing is completed in 07, the AF processing in-process flag is reset in S1108, and the above-described S1102 and S1103 are performed.
Execute the processing of

When the image pickup unit 3 having a lens drive unit such as an AF motor is made detachable as in this embodiment, the image signal line is also connected to the electrical connection between the main unit 2 and the image pickup unit 3. It is necessary to electrically connect the control signal line of the motor at the same time. For this reason, the control signal of the motor may be mixed into the image signal as noise, and the live view image may be disturbed. By prohibiting the live view during the driving of the AF motor M2 as in the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent the live view image from being unsightly.

Next, the zoom processing will be described with reference to FIG. The problem that the live view image is disturbed due to the motor control signal being mixed into the image signal as noise as described above is the same in the zoom motor M1, and in the present embodiment, the live view is not displayed while the zoom motor M1 is driven. Prohibition.

First, if the value of the variable during zoom processing is 0 in 1200, the flow branches to YES, and it is determined whether or not the zoom button (tele direction) Z1 has been pressed in S1201. NO), S1202
It is determined whether or not the zoom button (wide direction) Z2 has been pressed. If Z2 is not pressed (S120)
2 is NO), it is determined whether or not the AF processing described above is being performed in S1203, and if the AF processing is being performed (YES in S1203).
Nothing is done, but if the AF process is not being performed (NO in S1203), the image data in the image memory 209 is thinned out in accordance with the number of pixels of the LCD display unit 10 in S1204, and then transferred to the VRAM 210. Thus, in the shooting standby state, live view display is performed on the LCD display unit 10.

If the zoom button Z1 is pressed in S1201 (YES in S1201), the variable during zoom processing is set to 1 in S1205, and the counter k is incremented. If the zoom button Z2 is pressed in S1201 (YES in S1202), the variable during zoom processing is set to 2 in S1206. And in any case, S1
207 holds the image data in the VRAM 210. Thereafter, until the zoom processing is completed, V
Data transfer to the RAM 210 is prohibited, and updating of the image is stopped.

If the result of determination in S1200 is that zoom processing is in progress (NO in S1200), the zoom motor M1 is driven in S1208 to perform zoom processing. In S1209, it is determined whether or not the zoom processing has been completed. If the zoom processing has not been completed (NO in S1209), it is determined in S1210 whether the variable during zoom processing is 1. When the variable during zoom processing is 2 (NO in S1210), zoom processing to the wide side is in progress, and the image when the Z2 button is pressed continues to be displayed on the LCD display unit 10 until the zoom processing is completed. . When the zoom processing variable is 1 (YES in S1210), since the zoom is toward the telephoto side, V is set in S1211.
A digital zoom display is performed on the LCD display unit 10 by enlarging the image data held in the RAM 210 by α · k times based on the center of the screen. k is S1205
And is proportional to the time during which the Z1 button is pressed. α is a constant corresponding to the driving speed of the zoom motor and the processing time of the control system.

When the zoom processing is completed (Y in S1209)
ES), the variable during zoom processing and the counter k are returned to 0 in S1212.

By prohibiting the live view while the zoom motor M1 is being driven by the processing shown in FIG. 12, it is possible to prevent the live view image from becoming unsightly, and the digital zoom processing does not impair the realism.

In the above embodiment, the updating of the display on the LCD display section 10 is stopped when the shutter button 9 is in the S1 state in the AF process and when the zoom button Z2 is pressed in the zoom process. However, at these times, the image display on the LCD display unit 10 may not be performed. In that case, S1105 in FIG.
The data holding process of the VRAM 210 of FIG.
The process of clearing the data of the VRAM 210 shown in FIG. 00 is replaced by the process of holding the data of the VRAM 210 in S1207, which is the process following S1206 in FIG.
The processing can be performed by replacing the processing for clearing the data in the VRAM 210 shown in S1400 of No. 3.

By the way, in the above embodiment, the imaging unit 3
Has been described as being detachably connected to the camera body 2 via the connection plate 23, but a configuration in which the imaging unit 3 is detachably connected to the camera body 2 via a cable is also possible.

[0086]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the operating means for operating the lens driving means is provided on the camera body, the operating means can be operated while supporting the camera body. It is possible to make it a convenient and convenient digital camera. In addition, the lens driving means is provided on the same camera body with respect to the other operation members of the camera body, and these operation members are arranged at a short distance to improve the operability of the entire camera. it can.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the updating of the image on the display means is stopped during the operation of the lens driving means, so that the live image displayed on the display means is caused by the noise during the operation of the lens driving means. The inconvenience that the view image is disturbed and is difficult to see can be prevented.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the display of the image on the display means is stopped during the operation of the lens driving means, so that the image disturbed by the noise during the operation of the lens driving means is displayed on the display means. It can be prevented from being displayed.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the lens driving means is an auto-focus driving means, and the operating means is a shutter button. Therefore, when the shutter button is operated, the auto-focus driving means is automatically operated. Operate, and the operability is further improved. Moreover,
Since the camera is compatible with the auto-focusing of the taking lens, it is possible to increase the number of pixels as compared with the pan-focus type, and there is also an effect that it is possible to cope with a large aperture ratio of the zoom lens.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the photographing lens and the lens driving unit are a zoom lens and a zoom lens driving unit, and an image is enlarged and displayed on the display unit during the operation of the zoom lens driving unit. Thus, the user can operate the zoom lens driving unit with the operation unit on the camera body side while checking the zoom state with the enlarged image, and the operability when zooming can be further improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a configuration of an imaging unit of the digital camera in a partially transparent state.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the digital camera.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a connection plate for an imaging unit in the camera body of the digital camera.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the mounting structure of the imaging unit to the imaging unit connection plate.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the mounting plate of the image pickup unit is locked.

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the digital camera.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a control system of the digital camera.

9 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an overall control unit in the block diagram of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a storage structure of an image in a memory card.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an image display process at the time of an autofocus process.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating image display processing at the time of zoom processing.

FIG. 13 shows a modification of the process of FIG.
Is a part of the flowchart of FIG.

14 shows a modification of the process of FIG. 12, and FIG.
Is a part of the flowchart of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ··· Digital camera 2 · · · Camera body 3, 3w · · · · · imaging unit 8 · · · ········· Memory card 9 ················································································································· − ······ Overall control unit 301 ······ Shooting lens 303 ······· Imaging element Z1, Z2 ······· Zoom button (Operation member)

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) The inventor Manabu Inoue F-term in Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd. 2-3-13 Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka 5C022 AB15 AB22 AB66 AC01 AC32 AC42 AC52 AC54 AC74 AC75 AC77 AC78 5C052 GA01 GA09 GB01 GC05 GD02 GD03 GE08 5C053 FA06 FA07 FA27 GA11 GB21 GB36 KA04 KA24 KA25 LA01 LA06 LA11

Claims (5)

[Claims] An imaging unit having a photographic lens, an imaging element for photoelectrically converting a subject image formed by the photographic lens, and a lens driving unit for driving the photographic lens, wherein the imaging unit is detachable. A digital camera, comprising: a camera body to be mounted; and an operation unit for operating the lens driving unit is provided in the camera body. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the camera body includes a display unit that updates and displays the captured image at predetermined intervals, and a control unit that stops updating the image on the display unit while the lens driving unit is operating. The digital camera according to claim 1. 3. The camera body includes a display unit that updates and displays a captured image at predetermined intervals and a control unit that stops displaying an image on the display unit while the lens driving unit is operating. The digital camera according to claim 1. 4. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the lens driving unit is an auto-focus driving unit, and the operation unit is a shutter button. 5. The photographing lens and the lens driving unit are a zoom lens and a zoom lens driving unit. The camera body unit updates a photographed image at a predetermined interval and displays the photographed image. 2. The digital camera according to claim 1, further comprising: display control means for enlarging an image during operation and displaying the image on the display means.