JP2000059674A - Digital camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely and accurately perform protection and position control of an image pickup unit. SOLUTION: Inside a main body 2 of a camera, an image pickup unit is provided at a position facing an opening 5 so as to be vertically and horizontally turned through a drive member 26 composed of a piezoelectric element. In the state of turning of the main switch of a camera, the image pickup unit is set at a prescribed position so as not to expose a photographing lens 231 from the opening 5 and while shielding the opening 5 with the main body 23 of a unit the protection of the photographing lens 231 and the light shielding of an imaging device are performed. When the main switch is turned on, the image pickup unit is automatically set at a prescribed position so as to expose the photographing lens 231 from the opening 5 and to direct its optical axis toward the front and photographing is enabled. Since the image pickup unit is automatically set to the shielded position of the opening 5 and the exposing position of the photographing lens 231 corresponding to the state change of the main switch, protection and position control can be surely performed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital camera which photoelectrically converts a subject into an image signal by an image pickup device, and more particularly to an image pickup unit which is rotatably provided on a camera body and which is arranged in the optical axis direction of the image pickup unit. The present invention relates to a digital camera capable of shooting an object in a direction other than the front direction by changing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in digital cameras, CC
In order to increase the effective resolution of an image sensor such as D (Charge Coupled Device), the subject is divided into a plurality of parts, captured after being enlarged, and these partial images are combined so as to be combined to create a captured image of the entire subject. A digital camera that can do this has been proposed. In such digital cameras, generally, a shooting mode (hereinafter, referred to as a shooting mode) for performing a normal shooting operation
This is called normal shooting mode. ) And a photographing mode in which a photographed image with higher definition than the photographed image in the normal photographing mode is obtained (hereinafter, referred to as a high-definition photographing mode). A captured image of the entire subject is created by pasting and combining the partial images.

In such a digital camera, an image pickup unit having a zoom lens is provided in the camera body so as to be rotatable up, down, left and right, and by changing the optical axis direction of the image pickup unit, the subject can be divided into a plurality of parts. There has been proposed a configuration in which a subject image can be optically enlarged and captured by changing the zoom ratio of a zoom lens by dividing the image.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned conventional digital camera, the optical axis direction of the image pickup unit is automatically changed only in photographing in the high-definition photographing mode, and a partial image of the subject is photographed. Since the optical axis direction of the image pickup unit is fixed to the front direction and the same photographing as that of a normal camera is performed, in the normal photographing mode, the photographer sets the optical axis direction of the image pickup unit to a desired direction. It is not possible to shoot for.

However, if the photographer can freely set the optical axis direction of the image pickup unit so that the photographer can freely set the zoom ratio of the zoom lens, for example, the photographing method and operability in the normal photographing mode can be improved. Is wide and convenient. In addition, the optical axis changing function of the imaging unit can be effectively used.

However, if the photographer can simply set the direction of the optical axis of the imaging unit, the photographer can freely set the direction of the optical axis of the imaging unit in front of the camera as in normal photographing. Each time the photographer must set the optical axis direction of the imaging unit, the operability may be reduced. Therefore, it is preferable to provide a mechanism that can reset the imaging unit to a predetermined reference position (for example, a position where the optical axis direction is in front of the camera).
In this case, a method in which a reset button is provided and the photographer operates the reset button to reset the imaging unit to the reference position can be considered, but this method is more preferable because the operation member of the camera body increases. Is
For example, it is better to automatically reset the imaging unit to the reference position in conjunction with occurrence of a predetermined event related to imaging, such as activation of the camera by a power switch or termination of the imaging operation by a release instruction.

If the photographer can freely set the optical axis direction of the image pickup unit, the power switch is turned off with the optical axis direction of the image pickup unit oriented in an arbitrary direction, and the camera is mounted on the camera case. It may be stored.
In consideration of protecting the lens of the imaging unit when the camera is housed, it is preferable to provide a protective cover on the exposed portion of the lens of the imaging unit.

Conventionally, as a method for protecting a lens of a camera,
A protective cap is attached to the front end of the lens, the lens can be retracted inside the camera body, and a barrier or slide cover is provided at the opening on the front of the camera body. If the cap is lost, the lens cannot be protected. In addition, the method of providing the barrier and the slide cover complicates the structure of the opening on the front surface of the camera body and, in a configuration requiring a driving member such as a barrier, drives the barrier and the like together with the driving member of the imaging unit around the imaging unit. It is necessary to arrange the members, miniaturization of the camera,
There is a disadvantage that it is against cost reduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above technical background and problems, and in a digital camera capable of manually changing the optical axis direction of an imaging unit, the imaging direction of the imaging unit at the time of starting the imaging is simply set. An object of the present invention is to provide a digital camera capable of protecting a lens of an imaging unit during non-shooting with a simple structure.

[0010]

According to the present invention, there is provided an image pickup device for photoelectrically converting a subject light image into an image signal at a position facing the opening in a camera body having an opening for taking in subject light. A digital camera in which an imaging unit comprising a unit and an optical unit for forming the light image of the subject on the imaging surface of the imaging unit is rotatably provided so as to change its optical axis direction. Instruction means for instructing the optical axis direction of the imaging unit; driving means for rotating the imaging unit; position detection means for detecting a rotation position of the imaging unit; State changing means for changing the image pickup unit to the optical state by driving the driving means based on the detection information of the position detecting means when the state is changed to the photographable state by the state changing means. Stage is that a position control means for setting a position opposed to the opening (claim 1).

The predetermined position where the optical means faces the opening of the camera body is preferably a position where the optical axis direction of the optical means is perpendicular to the opening surface of the opening. ).

According to the above configuration, the imaging unit is driven in accordance with the instruction of the instruction means, and its optical axis direction is set in the specified direction. When the imaging unit is oriented in an arbitrary direction and is in a shooting-impossible state, and is set to an imaging-capable state by the state changing unit, the imaging unit is set based on the position information of the imaging unit detected by the position detection unit. When driven, the optical means is automatically set at a predetermined position facing the opening. That is, when the image capturing unit is ready to take a picture, the optical unit of the image capturing unit is exposed from the opening, and the image of the subject can be captured.

In particular, when the image pickup unit is ready for photographing, the direction of the optical axis of the image pickup unit is set in a direction perpendicular to the opening surface of the opening (that is, in the front direction with respect to the camera body), and immediately the normal camera photographing is performed. Becomes possible.

According to the present invention, there is provided an image pickup means which photoelectrically converts a subject light image into an image signal and captures the image at a position facing the opening in a camera body provided with an opening on the front surface, and an image pickup surface of the image pickup means. An optical unit for forming an optical image of the subject in a unit is rotatable so that the optical axis direction can be changed, and the optical unit is not at a position facing the opening. A digital camera in which the imaging unit is provided so as to cover the opening,
Instructing means for instructing the optical axis direction of the imaging unit, driving means for rotating the imaging unit, position detecting means for detecting a rotating position of the imaging unit, and changing a photographable state to a photographing impossible state When the state is changed to a photographing disabled state by the state changing unit, the driving unit is driven based on the detection information of the position detecting unit, and the optical unit faces the opening. And a position control means for setting the position to a predetermined position.

According to the above arrangement, when the photographing is disabled, the image pickup unit is driven based on the position information of the image pickup unit detected by the position detection means, and the optical means is automatically moved to a predetermined position not facing the opening. Is set. That is, the imaging unit is set at a position where the optical unit is not exposed from the opening, and the opening is automatically blocked by the imaging unit.

Further, according to the present invention, in the digital camera described above, there is provided a power supply means for supplying power, and a switching means for switching and setting the supply and stop of the power supply, and the state changing means is the switching setting means. (Claim 4).

According to the above configuration, when the power supply is changed from the power supply stopped state to the power stopped state, the optical means of the image pickup unit is automatically exposed from the opening, and the object can be immediately picked up. When the power supply state is changed to the power supply stop state, the imaging unit is set at a position where the optical unit is not exposed from the opening, and the opening is automatically shielded by the imaging unit.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A digital camera according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3 are views showing an appearance of a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view seen from a front side, FIG. 2 is a perspective view seen from a rear side,
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state where the display unit is detached from the camera body. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a main part showing an arrangement position of the imaging unit 22 in the camera body.

A digital camera 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a photographing lens including a zoom lens and a CCD (Charge Coupled Device).
ice) and an image sensor consisting of
An image pickup unit 22 is supported rotatably up, down, left, and right with respect to the front direction of the camera body (a direction perpendicular to the front surface 2a of the camera body 2). Direction), it is possible to photograph a subject in an arbitrary direction within a predetermined angle range with respect to the front direction.

Further, as a photographing mode, a mode in which a normal photographing operation is performed (hereinafter, referred to as a normal photographing mode) and a mode in which a photographed image having higher definition than a photographed image in the normal photographing mode (hereinafter, a high photographing mode). (Referred to as a fine shooting mode).

In the normal photographing mode, one photographed image is recorded in a flash memory as a recording medium by one release operation. In this embodiment, however, one photographed image is recorded as described later.
Exposure control is performed a predetermined number of times (for example, three times) at predetermined time intervals (for example, 0.1 second intervals) in a single release operation (that is, a plurality of images are continuously captured), and these captured images are obtained. Of these, a preset captured image (for example, the first captured image) is automatically recorded in the flash memory. Then, according to the photographer's instruction, the photographed image desired by the photographer (for example, the second photographed image) can be replaced with the automatically recorded photographed image or recorded in the flash memory in addition to the photographed image. I can do it.

The above-described shooting control in the normal shooting mode is similar to the bracket shooting function of the silver halide camera. In a silver halide camera, bracket shooting is usually performed when a photographer sets a mode, but the present embodiment is different in that bracket shooting is always performed in a normal shooting mode. Therefore, in the following description, bracket shooting in the normal shooting mode is referred to as “auto bracket shooting”.
It is distinguished from bracket photography in a silver halide camera.

Further, high-resolution imaging mode, the entire image G and the object Q four portions divided partial images G _A subject Q as shown in FIG. 5, G _B, G _C, and G _D Ingest,
Four partial images G _A to G based on the entire image G of the subject Q
It is one which allows creating a whole image of higher definition than the entire image G of the subject Q object by laminating synthesize G _D. Then, in this high-definition shooting mode, the subject Q is directed to the optical axis direction of the imaging unit 22 in the front direction (the direction of o in FIG. 5) by one release operation.
Is captured, and the imaging unit 2
The optical axis direction 2 and the imaging magnification are set in a predetermined direction (directions a, b, c, and d in FIG. 5) and a predetermined magnification (1.8 to 1.9).
Twice about) and only 4 times with automatic change by performing an image pickup operation so that the partial image G _A ~G _D of the object Q is taken.

Although the object Q is divided into four parts in the present embodiment, the number of divisions is not limited to this.
It can be divided into an appropriate number. Also,
In the present embodiment, only partial images G _{A to} G _D of subject Q are taken in from the viewpoint of reducing the image processing load on digital camera 1, and these partial images G _{A to} G _D are combined and synthesized by a computer or the like. The processing is performed by an image processing system.

Returning to FIG. 1, the digital camera 1 has a vertically long rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the camera body 2 has one narrow side surface 2.
a forms the front surface of the camera body, and the other side surface 2b forms the rear surface of the camera body. A display unit 3 (hereinafter, referred to as an LCD display unit 3) having a display screen composed of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) above the left side surface 2c as viewed from the rear of the camera can be opened and closed with respect to the camera body 2, and ,
It is detachably provided (see FIGS. 2 and 3). That is, a mounting plate 10 made of a magnetic material such as iron or nickel is attached to the upper front end of the left side surface 2 c of the camera body 2 by a hinge mechanism (not shown) so as to be openable and closable, while being attached to the right end of the display surface of the LCD display unit 3. A strong magnet M is embedded and this magnet M
The LCD display unit 3 is detachably attached to the attachment plate 10 by the suction force of the above.

The camera body 2 and the LCD display section 3 are electrically connected to each other by a cable 11 which can be housed in the camera body 2 by a winding mechanism (not shown). Power and display image data are transmitted to the LCD display unit 3 from the
Operation signals of various switches provided on the D display unit 3 are transmitted from the LCD display unit 3 to the camera body 2 via the cable 11. That is, the LCD display unit 3
By detaching the camera from the camera body 2, it is possible to take a picture by remote control.

A flash 4 is provided at an appropriate position on the front surface 2a of the camera body, and an opening 5 for exposing a photographing lens 231 of the image pickup unit 22 is provided below the flash 4. The imaging unit 22 is provided at a position facing the opening 5 in the camera body 2 so as to be able to change the direction of the optical axis L, as shown in FIG. The structure of the imaging unit 22 will be described later.

A pair of operation buttons 6 and 7 (hereinafter, zoom operation buttons 6 and 7) for changing the focal length of the photographing lens 231 are provided at appropriate places on the rear surface 1b of the camera body.
That. ) Are arranged side by side, and a release button 8 for instructing photographing is provided below the operation lever.
(Hereinafter, referred to as an optical axis changing lever 9). The optical axis changing lever 9 has a multi-function, and changes a display image of a plurality of images taken by auto bracketing on the LCD display unit 3 and reproduces the image on the LCD display unit 3 in the reproduction mode as described later. Also used to change frames.

The flash 4 comprises a xenon discharge tube,
Automatic light emission at low brightness. Opening 5
Defines a range in which the photographing lens 231 of the image pickup unit 22 can be exposed (that is, a changeable range in the optical axis direction in which photographing is possible). In the present embodiment, the range is such that the optical axis direction of the photographing lens 231 can be changed by ± 20 ° with respect to the front direction in the horizontal plane and the vertical plane. Therefore,
In the photographable state, the photographing lens 231 is
The rotation of the imaging unit 22 is controlled within a range that can be exposed from. On the other hand, in the shooting impossible state, the shooting lens 2
The image pickup unit 22 is rotated to a predetermined position where the image pickup unit 31 is not exposed from the opening 5 (for example, a predetermined position where the optical axis direction of the photographing lens 231 is obliquely downward). Is to be shielded.

The zoom operation button 6 is an operation member for changing the focal length of the imaging lens 231 of the imaging unit 22 to the telephoto (tele) side, and the zoom operation button 7 is the focal length of the imaging lens 231 of the imaging unit 22. Is an operation member for changing to the wide-angle (wide) side. When the zoom operation buttons 6 and 7 are continuously operated, the focal length of the photographing lens 231 is continuously changed in a corresponding direction at a predetermined change speed, and when the operation is released, the focal length of the photographing lens 231 is set to the focal length at the time of release. The focal length is set.

The operation of the release button 8 is detected by switches S1 and S2 described later. The switch S1 is turned on by a half-press operation of the release button 8, thereby preparing for a photographing operation (preparation for focus adjustment, setting of an exposure control value, etc.), and the switch S2 is turned on by a full-press operation of the release button 8. The exposure control is performed according to the set exposure control value. In the normal shooting mode, since the auto bracket shooting is performed as described above, the exposure control is repeated a predetermined number of times at a predetermined time interval set in advance. In the high-definition shooting mode, a predetermined number of exposure controls are performed by automatically changing the optical axis direction and the shooting magnification of the shooting lens 231.

The optical axis changing lever 9 can be tilted in four directions, up, down, left and right. By tilting the optical axis changing lever 9, the optical axis direction of the image pickup unit 22 can be changed in the tilting direction. ing. For example, when the optical axis changing lever 9 is tilted upward, the imaging unit 22 is rotated in the elevation direction at a predetermined speed until the tilt is released, and when the optical axis changing lever 9 is tilted downward, The imaging unit 22 is rotated in the depression angle direction at a predetermined speed until the tilt is released. Note that the optical axis direction of the imaging unit 22 can be changed in a permissible range (± 20 ° with respect to the front direction).
When the imaging unit 22 reaches the limit position of the allowable range, the rotation operation is automatically stopped.

An LCD panel 12 is provided at the center of the back surface of the LCD display unit 3. In addition, LC of the LCD display unit 3
An LCD panel 12 is provided so that a photographing operation can be performed by remote control while watching the live view image displayed on the D panel 12.
A recording / playback mode switch 13, a shooting mode switch 14, a bracket shooting confirmation button 15, zoom operation buttons 16, 17, a release button 18, optical axis change buttons 19a to 19d, an erase button 20, and a main switch 21 Is provided. The optical axis change button 1
9a to 19d are also multifunctional like the optical axis changing lever 9.

A recording / reproducing mode switch 13 is provided below the left peripheral portion of the LCD display unit 3 and switches between a recording mode for photographing and a reproducing mode for reproducing and displaying an image recorded in the flash memory on the LCD panel 12. To set. The recording / reproduction mode switch 13 comprises a two-contact slide switch. For example, when the knob is slid to the left, the recording mode is set, and when the knob is slid to the right, the reproduction mode is set.

The photographing mode switch 14 is provided below the recording / reproducing mode switch 13 and switches between the normal photographing mode and the high-definition photographing mode.
The shooting mode switch 14 is also the recording / playback mode switch 1
Similar to 3, a two-contact slide switch is provided. For example, when the knob is slid to the left, the normal shooting mode is set, and when the knob is slid to the right, the high definition shooting mode is set.

The bracket photographing confirmation button 15 is provided at the left end of the lower peripheral portion of the LCD display unit 3, and is a mode for confirming the contents of the auto bracket photographing in the normal photographing mode and changing the recorded image (hereinafter referred to as a confirmation mode). ) Is set and canceled. The bracket photographing confirmation button 15 is also multifunctional, and functions as an operation button for instructing the attribute change of a recorded image photographed in the high-definition photographing mode in the reproduction mode. Incidentally, the partial image G _A ~G _D of a plurality of object Q taken by the high-resolution photographing mode so as to identify that it is an image for bonding synthetic flash denoted by the information about the shooting mode as attribute data The attribute change of the shot image in the high-definition shooting mode, which is recorded in the memory, means that each partial image G _{A to} G _D
Is changed so that the information regarding the shooting mode can be equivalently treated as an image shot in the normal shooting mode.

The bracket photographing confirmation button 15 is constituted by a push switch. When the button is pressed immediately after the photographing is completed in the recording mode, the setting and release of the confirmation mode are alternately input each time the button is pressed. Also, when the bracket shooting confirmation button 15 is pressed in the playback mode, every time the bracket shooting confirmation button 15 is pressed, LC
The image file corresponding to the photographed image in the high definition photographing mode displayed on the D display unit 3 is changed to the image file of the photographed image in the normal photographing mode.

The zoom operation buttons 16 and 17 are provided in the center of the lower peripheral portion of the LCD display unit 3 and perform the same functions as the zoom operation buttons 6 and 7 provided on the camera body 2, respectively. . Also, release button 1
8 is provided at the right end of the lower peripheral portion of the LCD display unit 3;
These are operation buttons that perform the same function as the release button 8 provided on the camera body 2.

The optical axis changing buttons 19a to 19d are provided substantially at the center of each of the upper, lower, left and right peripheral portions of the LCD display unit 3, and operate buttons having the same function as the optical axis changing lever 9 provided on the camera body 2. It is. Optical axis change button 19
The operations of the buttons a to 19d correspond to the tilting operations of the optical axis changing lever 9 in the up, down, left, and right directions. Therefore, for example, in the recording mode, the optical axis change button 19a
When the pressing operation is performed, the imaging unit 22 is rotated in the elevation direction at a predetermined speed until the pressing operation is released, and when the optical axis change button 19b is pressed, the imaging unit 22 is maintained at the predetermined speed until the pressing operation is released. The imaging unit 22 is turned in the depression angle direction. The allowable range (± 2 with respect to the front direction)
The point that the optical axis direction of the imaging unit 22 is manually changed within the range of 0 °) is the same as the case of the optical axis changing lever 9.

The erase button 20 is an operation button provided on the upper left peripheral portion of the LCD display unit 3 and instructing erasure of an image recorded in the flash memory. The main switch 21 is provided below the erase button 20 and supplies / stops power.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the imaging unit, FIG. 7 is a plan view of the imaging unit, and FIG. 8 is a right side view of the imaging unit.

The image pickup unit 22 has a unit main body 23, a U-shaped first support frame 24 which supports the unit main body 23 so as to be swingable in the vertical direction, and an L-shape which supports the unit main body 23 so as to be rotatable in the horizontal direction. Driving member 2 for rotating the second support member 25 and the unit body 23 in up, down, left, and right directions.
6. It is composed of position detecting members 27 and 28 for detecting the rotational position of the unit main body 23.

The unit body 23 has a capsule shape in which both ends of a cylinder are covered with hemispheres, and has a circular window 23c at the center of one hemisphere for exposing the taking lens 231. In the unit main body 23, a photographing lens 231 is disposed on the center axis so as to face the window 23c, and an image pickup unit having an image pickup device including a CCD (not shown) is disposed at a position behind the photographing lens 231. .

The photographing lens 231 is, for example, 5 mm to 15 mm.
It is composed of a zoom lens whose focal length can be changed in the range of mm. The photographing lens 231 is, as shown in FIG.
It has a lens 231a movable in the optical axis direction for changing the focal length, and the focal length is controlled by controlling the position of the lens 231a. The focal length adjusting lens 231a is an electric motor 232
(Hereinafter referred to as zoom motor 232) rotor 232
It is fixed to a nut member 234 screwed to a rod-shaped screw member 233 directly connected to a. Zoom motor 23
When the second member 2 is driven, the screw member 233 rotates, whereby the nut member 234 moves straight in the axial direction of the screw member 233, and the lens 231a moves back and forth on the optical axis.

The zoom motor 2 is provided on the lens 231a.
An encoder 235 is provided for detecting the position of the lens 231a that moves linearly by using the lens 32. The encoder 235 is composed of a brush 235b, which is fixed to a code plate 235a provided below the screw member 233 and a nut member 234, and has a plurality of contact pieces whose tips are pressed against the code plate 235a. Zoom motor 23
2, the brush 235b slides on the code plate 235a, and a code signal (for example, a 4-bit signal) indicating the position is output from the brush 235b, and the signal is decoded. By doing so, the position of the lens 231a (that is, the focal length corresponding to the position) is detected. In this embodiment, the focal length can be detected in units of 1 mm in the range of 5 mm to 15 mm.

The imaging unit has a CCD and a signal processing circuit for performing predetermined analog signal processing on an image signal (analog signal) output from the CCD. The signal processing circuit includes a CD for reducing sampling noise of an image signal.
An S circuit (correlated double sampling circuit) and an AGC circuit (automatic gain adjustment circuit) for amplifying an image signal are included.

Pins 23d and 23e project from substantially the center of both side surfaces of the cylindrical portion of the unit body 23, and these pins 2d and 23e protrude.
3d and 23e are loosely fitted into holes 24a and 24b (see FIG. 6) formed at appropriate positions on both ends of the first support frame 24, so that the unit main body 23 can rotate on the first support frame 24 in a vertical plane. Supported. A hole (not shown) is formed substantially at the center of the lower surface of the cylindrical portion of the unit body 23 and substantially at the center of the first support frame 24, and protrudes from an appropriate position of the long side portion 25 a of the second support 25. The unit body 23 and the first support frame 24 are rotatably supported on the second support 25 in a horizontal plane by loosely fitting the pin 25c thus set in these holes.

Further, a driving member 26 is protruded at an appropriate position above the short side portion 25b of the second support 25, and the tip of the driving member 26 is in contact with the center of the hemispherical surface 23b on the rear side of the unit body 23. . As shown in FIG. 10, the driving member 26 has PZs on four sides of a quadrangular prism-shaped elastic member 261 respectively.
While attaching the piezoelectric elements 262 to 265 such as T,
The laminated piezoelectric element 266 and the contact piece 267 are attached to the upper end surface. The contact piece 267 includes the unit body 23
A projection 267a for making contact with the hemisphere 23b is formed.

When an orthogonal coordinate system xyz is set for the driving member 26 as shown in FIG. 10, a pair of piezoelectric elements 262 and 264 provided in the x-axis direction vibrate the tip of the driving member 26 in the xz plane. A pair of piezoelectric elements 263 and 265 provided in the y-axis direction is a drive source for vibrating the distal end of the drive member 26 in the yz plane. That is, when a sine wave voltage having a phase inverted to each other is applied to the piezoelectric element 262 and the piezoelectric element 264, when the piezoelectric element 262 contracts, the piezoelectric element 264 expands, and the tip of the driving member 26 tilts in the + x direction, Conversely, when the piezoelectric element 262 expands, the piezoelectric element 264 contracts and the tip of the driving member 26 is inclined in the −x direction, so that the tip of the driving member 26 vibrates in the xz plane. Similarly, the piezoelectric element 263 and the piezoelectric element 265
When a sinusoidal voltage whose phase is inverted with respect to the above is applied, the tip of the driving member 26 vibrates in the yz plane by the same mechanism.

The laminated piezoelectric element 266 is connected to the driving member 2.
6 is a drive source for extending the z-axis in the z-direction. That is, when a sine wave voltage is applied to the laminated piezoelectric element 266, the laminated piezoelectric element 266 expands and contracts in the thickness direction, so that the tip of the driving member 26 vibrates in the z-axis direction.

Therefore, as shown in FIG.
2 and the piezoelectric elements 264 are driven by sinusoidal voltages e1 and e2 whose phases are inverted with respect to each other.
6 with respect to the drive voltage e1 for the piezoelectric element 262 is 90
When driven by the sine wave voltage e3 whose phase is delayed, the tip of the driving member 26 performs a motion in which vibration in the x-axis direction and expansion and contraction in the z-axis direction are combined, and performs an elliptic motion in the xz plane. (See the rotation arrow in FIG. 10). The piezoelectric element 263 and the piezoelectric element 265 are driven by a sine wave voltage whose phase is inverted with respect to each other, and the laminated piezoelectric element 266 is connected to the piezoelectric element 263.
In the case of driving with a sine wave voltage delayed by 90 ° with respect to the driving voltage with respect to, the tip of the driving member 26 performs an elliptical motion in the yz plane by the same mechanism. And
The phase of the drive voltage of the multilayer piezoelectric element 266 is
When the driving voltage for 2 or 263 is advanced by 90 °, the rotation direction of the elliptical motion in the xz plane or the yz plane becomes 9
The opposite is the case when the phase is delayed by 0 °.

Therefore, when the xz plane coincides with the horizontal plane, the piezoelectric elements 262 and 264 are driven by the sinusoidal voltages e1 and e2 whose phases are inverted with each other, and the laminated piezoelectric element 266 is driven. A sine wave voltage e3 delayed by 90 ° from the drive voltage e1 for the piezoelectric element 262.
When driven by the hemisphere 23 on the rear end side of the unit body 23
Since the contact piece 267 of the drive member 26 abutted on the pin b makes an elliptical motion in a horizontal plane, for example, in a counterclockwise direction, the unit main body 23 rotates clockwise in the horizontal plane about the pin 25c by this elliptical motion. When the phase of the drive voltage e3 of the laminated piezoelectric element 266 is advanced by 90 ° with respect to the drive voltage e1 of the piezoelectric element 262, the contact piece 267 of the drive member 26 performs an elliptical motion clockwise in the horizontal plane. Due to this elliptical motion, the unit main body 23 rotates counterclockwise in the horizontal plane about the pin 25c.

On the other hand, the piezoelectric element 263 and the piezoelectric element 265 drive a sine wave voltage whose phase is inverted with respect to each other, and the laminated piezoelectric element 266 drives the sine wave having a 90 ° phase delay with respect to the driving voltage for the piezoelectric element 263. When driven by a wave voltage (or a sine wave voltage with a 90 ° phase advance), the unit main body 23 is driven by the pins 23d and 23e by the same mechanism.
Around the clockwise (or counterclockwise) in the vertical plane.

A position detecting member 27 is provided on the right side when viewed from the front of the unit body 23, and a position detecting member 28 is provided on the lower side (see FIGS. 7 and 8).
The position detecting member 27 detects the rotational position of the unit body 23 in the yz plane (vertical plane), and the position detecting member 28 in the xz plane (horizontal plane) of the unit main body 23.
Is to detect the rotational position at.

The position detecting member 27 includes a magnetic head 271 and an arc-shaped magnet scale 27 as shown in FIG.
2 and a position detection circuit (not shown). The magnet scale 272 is fixed to the right side of the unit main body 23, while the magnetic head 271 is positioned at the end of the first support frame 24 at a position facing the magnet scale 272.
The magnetic head 271 is mounted so as to move relatively on the magnet scale 272 when the unit main body 23 rotates in a vertical plane. The position detection circuit is provided at an appropriate position in the camera body 2.

The magnet scale 272 has three tracks 272a, 272b, 272c, and two outer tracks 272a, 272b are provided with a plurality of magnetic poles m1, m2 of S and N poles at a predetermined angular pitch Δα ( For example, in the track 272b, the magnetic poles m1 and m2 are alternately magnetized so that the distance d between the magnetic poles m2 is 200 μm) and the adjacent magnetic poles m1 and m2 between the two tracks have the same polarity.

The adjacent S formed on the track 272a
The boundary position between the magnetic pole m1 of the pole and the magnetic pole m1 of the N pole corresponds to the scale position of the arc-shaped scale, and the boundary position between the magnetic pole m2 of the adjacent S pole formed on the track 272b and the magnetic pole m2 of the N pole is also determined. This corresponds to the scale position of the arc-shaped scale.
Two tracks 272a and 27 corresponding to the same scale
The reason why 2b is provided is that the rotation direction of the imaging unit 22 can be detected and the rotation angle α can be detected at a pitch of Δα / 2. That is, each boundary position of the magnetic pole m1 of the track 272a or the track 272b
By detecting each boundary position of the magnetic pole m2, the rotation amount (or the rotation angle α) from the reference position R can be detected,
By electrically shifting the phase of the detection timing of the boundary position between the magnetic poles m1 of the track 272a and the timing of detecting the boundary position between the magnetic poles m2 of the track 272b by π / 2, the rotation amount can be changed at an angular pitch of Δα / 2. Is detected.

When the position of the image pickup unit 22 where the optical axis L of the image pickup unit 22 is in the front direction is referred to as a “center position”, the reference position R indicates that the image pickup unit 22 moves from the center position in a vertical plane. This is a position rotated downward by 40 °.

A pair of S-pole and N-pole magnetic poles m3 are magnetized at appropriate positions at one end of the innermost track 272c. A pair of magnetic poles m3 formed on the track 272c
Is the scale reference position R of the tracks 272a and 272b.
Is to give. Accordingly, these magnetic poles m3 are also magnetized at positions having the same polarity as the magnetic pole m2 adjacent to the track 272b.

The magnetic head 271 is a magnet scale 2
It has magnetoresistive elements 271a, 271b, 271c for detecting magnetic poles m1, m2, m3 formed on each of the 72 tracks 272a, 272b, 272c. The magnetic resistance element 271a and the magnetic resistance element 271c have the same rotational position on the magnet scale 272 (FIG. 12).
In this case, the magnetoresistive element 271b is arranged at a position corresponding to the rotational position n).
1c is disposed at a position shifted clockwise by half the angle pitch Δα. The reason why the position of the magnetoresistive element 271b is shifted with respect to the magnetoresistive element 271a is that
This is to electrically shift the detection timing of the boundary position between the magnetic poles m1 of the track 272a and the detection timing of the boundary position between the magnetic poles m2 of the track 272b by π / 2.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the position detecting circuit. The position detection circuit 273 includes three waveform shaping circuits 273a, 273b, 273c, a phase detection circuit 273d, a signal change detection circuit 273e, and a counter 2
73f. Waveform shaping circuits 273a, 273
73b and 273c have magnetoresistive elements 271a,
The magnetic pole detection signals of 271b and 271c are input. The output signals Sg1 and Sg2 of the waveform shaping circuits 273a and 273b are output from a phase detection circuit 273d and a signal change detection circuit 273, respectively.
e and the output signal Sg3 of the waveform shaping circuit 273c.
Is input to the reset terminal of the counter 273f.
The signal Sg4 output from the phase detection circuit 273d is input to the +/- terminal of the counter 273f, and the signal Sg5 output from the signal change detection circuit 273e is output to the counter 27b.
It is input to the 3f count terminal. Then, angle data (that is, data of the rotation angle α from the reference position R in FIG. 12) is detected from the OUT terminal of the counter 273f.

When the magnetic head 271 is relatively moved on the magnet scale 272 by the rotation operation of the imaging unit 22, the magnetic resistance elements 271a, 271b, 271c
Tracks 272a, 272b, 272c respectively.
The magnetic field generated by the magnetic poles m1, m2, and m3 is detected. Tracks 272a and 272b have magnetic poles m1 and m2
Are alternately formed N and S, so that the magnetoresistive element 27
From 1a and 271b, signals that change in a sinusoidal manner at a predetermined cycle are output. Further, since a pair of N and S magnetic poles m3 are formed at predetermined positions on the track 272c, when the magnetoresistive element 271c passes through the position where the magnetic pole m3 is formed, it changes in a sinusoidal manner. Is output for one cycle.

The waveform shaping circuits 273a, 273b, 273
c is a magnetoresistive element 271a, 271b, 271 respectively.
The waveform of the sine wave signal output from c is shaped into a rectangular wave signal. Further, the phase detection circuit 273d is connected to the output signal Sg1 of the waveform shaping circuit 273a and the waveform shaping circuit 27.
It detects the phase relationship with the output signal Sg2 of FIG. 3b (for example, the relationship between the phase of the signal Sg1 and the phase of the signal Sg2, leading or lagging). This phase relationship detection signal S
g4 is the magnetic head 27 for the magnet scale 272.
1 shows a relative movement direction (that is, a rotation direction of the imaging unit 22).

The signal change detection circuit 273e detects a change in the output signals Sg1 and Sg2 (ie, a change from S pole detection to N pole detection, for example). The detection signal Sg5 indicates the amount of movement (or rotation angle α) of the magnetic head 271 with respect to the magnet scale 272 by 100.
It is detected in μm units (or Δα / 2 units).

The magnetoresistive element 271a and the magnetoresistive element 27
1b means that the detection positions of the magnetic head 271 are 9
Since the phase is shifted by 0 °, as shown in FIG. 14, the output signal Sg1 of the waveform shaping circuit 273a and the output signal Sg2 of the waveform detecting circuit 273b are shifted in phase by π / 2. Moreover, depending on whether the moving direction of the magnetic head 271 with respect to the magnet scale 272 is clockwise or counterclockwise, the relationship between the phase of the signal Sg1 and the phase of the signal Sg1 is reversed. That is, when the magnetic head 271 moves clockwise with respect to the magnet scale 272, the magnetic head 271 moves the magnet scale 272a from right to left in FIG.
The phase of the signal Sg1 with respect to g2 becomes a lag phase (see the detection timing of the reference position R in FIG. 14), and the magnetic head 271
Moves counterclockwise with respect to the magnet scale 272 (in FIG. 14, when the magnetic head 271 moves the magnet scale 272a from left to right), the phase of the signal Sg1 with respect to the signal Sg2 is advanced.

Accordingly, the phase detection circuit 273b outputs a high-level signal when the phase of the signal Sg1 with respect to the signal Sg2 is advanced (when the imaging unit 22 is rotating counterclockwise), for example. When the phase of the signal Sg1 with respect to Sg2 is a lagging phase (when the imaging unit 22 is rotating clockwise), a low-level signal is output. Note that the high / low relationship of the output signal of the phase detection circuit 273b may be reversed.

The signal change detection circuit 273e outputs the output signals S of the waveform shaping circuits 273a and 273b.
It detects the rise and fall of g1 and Sg2, and outputs a pulse signal each time it is detected. The pulse trains detecting the signal changes of the signal Sg1 and the signal Sg2 are obtained by detecting the movement of the magnetic head 271 on the magnet scale 272 at a pitch of 200 μm. The pulse trains detecting the signal change of the signal Sg1 and the signal change of the signal Sg2, respectively. Since the detection timing is shifted by π / 2 from the pulse train in which the pulse train signal is detected, the pulse train signal Sg5 output from the signal change detection circuit 273e.
Indicates that the movement of the magnetic head 271 on the magnet scale 272 is detected at a pitch of 100 μm (that is, the rotation of the imaging unit 22 is pitched by an angle Δα / 2).

Accordingly, in the counter 273f, the detection signal Sg3 of the reference position R output from the waveform shaping circuit 273a.
After resetting the count value by (signal change signal), the number of pulses Nm input to the count terminal is counted, and the count value Nm is multiplied by an angle Δα / 2 to calculate the number of pulses from the reference position R of the imaging unit 22. The moving angle α is calculated, and the angle data is output from the OUT terminal. The rotation direction of the imaging unit 22 is determined from the level of the signal Sg4 input to the +/− terminal, and data on the rotation direction is also output from the OUT terminal.

The position detecting member 28 is also the position detecting member 2.
7, and the position detecting member 28 detects the rotational position of the imaging unit 22 in the horizontal plane by the same mechanism as described above. The reference position R in the position detecting member 28 is a position where the imaging unit 22 has been rotated rightward by 40 ° from the center position in the horizontal plane.

In the above configuration, when the main switch 21 is turned on, the recording mode is initialized, and the image pickup unit 22 first automatically shifts to the center position (ie, the photographing position) as shown by the solid line in FIG. 15 and FIG. The lens 231 is exposed from the opening 5 and its optical axis L is set to a position where it is in the front direction). In the recording mode, the user changes the optical axis changing lever 9 or the optical axis changing buttons 19a to 19a.
By the operation of 9d, the imaging unit 22 is set to an arbitrary position within a range of approximately ± 20 ° (corresponding to the above-described allowable range) in each of the upper, lower, left, and right directions from the center position, and shooting is performed.

When the main switch 21 is turned off, as shown by a dashed line in FIG.
Is automatically set to a position rotated downward by about 40 ° with respect to the center position, and the opening 5 is shielded by the front hemispherical surface 23 a of the unit body 23. Note that the imaging unit 22 may be set at a position rotated by about 40 ° other than the downward direction with respect to the center position, and the opening 5 may be shielded by the front hemisphere 23 a of the unit main body 23. In the present embodiment, the imaging unit 22 is rotated until the reference position R is detected by each of the position detection members 27 and 28 in consideration of the easiness of drive control of the imaging unit 22, and as shown in FIG. The imaging unit 22 is set at a position rotated by 40 ° in the lower right direction.

As described above, since the opening 5 is shielded by the unit main body 23 without providing a barrier or a slide cover in the opening 5, the shielding mechanism for the opening 2 is simplified, and when the camera is stored. Since the unit main body 23 is securely stored in the camera main body 2, dirt or dust does not adhere to the photographing lens 231 with a simple configuration, and unnecessary light does not enter the imaging unit through the photographing lens 231. It has become.

In this embodiment, the piezoelectric element is used as the driving member of the image pickup unit 22, but a motor such as a stepping motor may be used as the driving member. In this case, for example, the imaging unit 22 may be directly driven by directly connecting the rotors of the stepping motors to the rotation axis in the vertical plane and the rotation axis in the horizontal plane of the imaging unit 22, respectively.
The driving force of the stepping motor may be transmitted to the rotation shaft via a driving force switching transmission member including a gear and a cam to indirectly drive the imaging unit 22 by the motor.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the digital camera 1. In the figure, the same members as those described above are denoted by the same reference numerals. The imaging unit 239 in the unit main body 23 corresponds to an imaging unit including the above-described imaging device and signal processing circuit. The zoom drive unit 237 controls the driving of the focal length adjusting lens 231a in the photographing lens 231. The zoom motor 232, the screw member 233, and the nut member 234 described above.
This corresponds to a driving mechanism composed of The zoom drive unit 237 controls the position of the lens 231a by driving the zoom motor 232 based on a control signal from the control unit 213.

The lens position detecting section 238 detects the position of the lens 231a for adjusting the focal length, and has the above-mentioned encoder 235 and a decoder for decoding the code code output from the encoder 235 into position information. I have. The position information output from the lens position detector 238 is input to the controller 213.

The unit driving section 201 is provided with the image pickup unit 22
, And includes the above-described drive member 26 and a drive circuit for the drive member 26. The unit driving unit 201 controls the position of the imaging unit 22 by driving the driving member 26 based on a control signal from the control unit 213.

The unit position detecting section 202 detects the rotational position of the image pickup unit 22, and has the above-described position detecting members 27 and 28 and a position detecting circuit. Information on the rotation direction and the rotation amount of the imaging unit 22 output from the unit position detection unit 202 is input to the control unit 213.

The FL control section 203 controls the light emission of the flash 4. The FL control unit 203 includes a light emission energy storage circuit and a light emission timing control circuit, and controls light emission of the flash 4 based on a control signal from the control unit 213. When the photographing is a predetermined low-luminance photographing, a light emission command signal is output from the control unit 213 and the FL control unit 203
Automatically flashes the flash 4 during shooting.

The power supply section 204 includes a power supply battery and a DC / DC converter, and generates and supplies power required for various electric circuits. The power supply unit 204 also controls power supply based on a control signal from the control unit 213.

The switch group 205 includes zoom operation buttons 6 and
7. The operation of the release button 8 and the optical axis changing lever 9 is detected, and the detection signal is input to the control unit 213.

The switch group 205 includes switches S1 and S
2, SZO, SZO, SU, SD, SR, SL. The contents of the switches S1 to SL are as follows. S1: a switch for detecting a half-pressed state of the release button 8. S2: A switch for detecting a full-press state of the release button 8. SZI: a zoom-in switch for detecting the pressed state of the zoom operation button 6. SZO: a zoom-out switch for detecting a pressed state of the zoom operation button 7. SU: a switch for detecting the upward tilt state of the optical axis changing lever 9. SD: a switch for detecting a downward tilt state of the optical axis changing lever 9. SR: a switch for detecting the rightward tilting state of the optical axis changing lever 9. SL: a switch for detecting a leftward tilting state of the optical axis changing lever 9.

The A / D conversion unit 206 converts an image signal (analog signal) output from the imaging unit 239 into a digital signal having, for example, an 8-bit configuration (hereinafter, this image signal is referred to as image data). .

The timing generator 207 is connected to the imaging unit 2
A timing pulse for performing a time series process of the imaging operation of 39 and the pixel data constituting the captured image in the imaging unit 239 and the A / D conversion unit 206 is generated.
The timing generator 207 has a reference clock,
This reference clock is frequency-divided to generate a timing pulse of a predetermined frequency, which is input to the imaging unit 239 and the A / D conversion unit 206, respectively. Also, the start of the integration operation of the CCD /
An end timing signal is generated and input to the imaging unit 239. The timing generator 207 generates a timing signal based on a control signal from the control unit 213, and inputs the timing signal to the imaging unit 239 and the A / D conversion unit 206.

The signal processing unit 208 has a signal processing circuit such as a black level correction circuit, a white balance circuit, and a γ correction circuit. The signal processing unit 208 corrects the black level of the image data output from the A / D conversion unit 206 and adjusts the white balance. And predetermined signal processing such as gradation correction.

A random access memory (RAM) 209 temporarily stores image data output from the signal processing unit 208. The RAM 209 has a storage capacity for five captured images. The reason why a plurality of captured images can be stored in the RAM 209 in this way is to enable capturing of a partial image in the high-resolution shooting mode described above. Since the storage capacity of the RAM 209 is sufficient, the auto bracket shooting is performed in the normal shooting mode.

The recording / reading processing unit 211 records the image data stored in the RAM 209 in the flash memory 212 and reads out the captured image recorded in the flash memory 212 for reproduction on the LCD display unit 3. is there. The recording / read processing unit 211 records or reads an image based on a control signal from the control unit 213.

The decompression / compression processing unit 210 compresses the image data stored in the RAM 209 when recording the image data in the flash memory 212 and executes the compression of the flash memory 2.
The image data (compressed data) read from the memory 12 is expanded. The decompression / compression processing unit 210 includes the control unit 2
13 based on a control signal, for example, JPEG (Joint
Photographic Coding Experts Group) compresses / decompresses image data. The compression method is JPEG
The format is not limited to, for example, MPEG (Movi)
ng Picture Coding Experts Group).

The flash memory 212 is a nonvolatile rewritable external storage medium. M as an external storage medium
Other types of storage media such as D, PC card, and hard disk card may be used. The flash memory 212 is detachable from the camera body 2.

In the following description, RAM for image data is used.
In order to distinguish between temporary storage in 209 and storage in the flash memory 212, the former will be referred to as "storage" and the latter will be referred to as "recording".

The control section 213 centrally controls the photographing operation of the digital camera 1. The control unit 213 includes a microcomputer, and includes the camera body 2 and the LC
The photographing operation is controlled by organically controlling the driving of each member in the D display unit 3. The control unit 213 has a focus adjustment function (A
F function) and an exposure control function (AE function)
The focus position is detected using the image data stored in the image data 209, the brightness of the subject is detected, and the exposure time of the CCD corresponding to the shutter speed is set based on the brightness of the subject.

In the photographing standby state, the control unit 213 drives the imaging unit 239 at a predetermined cycle to capture a live view image (video image) into the RAM 209, and sequentially outputs the captured images to the LCD display unit 3. Is displayed on the LCD panel 12. That is, a viewfinder display is performed on the LCD panel 12. When shooting is instructed by the release button 8 (or 18), focus adjustment and CC
After setting the exposure time of D, the subject is photographed with this exposure time, and the photographed image is recorded in the flash memory 212.

Display control section 301 in LCD display section 3
Is for controlling image display on the LCD panel 12. The display control unit 301 has a display image memory corresponding to the number of pixels of the LCD panel 12, and the control unit 213 performs a thinning process on the image data for reproduction and transfers the image data to the display control unit 301. . The display control unit 301 displays the reproduced image on the LCD panel 12 by writing the image data into the image memory. The display control unit 3
Reference numeral 01 denotes a D / A conversion circuit for converting image data written in the image memory into a video signal, and the video signal generated by the D / A conversion circuit is output to a VIDEO signal terminal. Therefore, by connecting a display device such as a CRT via the VIDEO terminal, the same image as the image displayed on the LCD panel 12 can be reproduced and displayed on the display device.

A switch group 302 includes a recording / playback mode switch 13, a photographing mode switch 14, a bracket photographing confirmation button 15, zoom operation buttons 16, 17, a release button 18, optical axis change buttons 19a to 19d, an erase button 20, and a main switch. The operation of the controller 21 is detected, and the detection signal is input to the controller 213 via the cable 11.

The switch group 302 includes switches SM and S
1, S2, SZI, SZO, SU, SD, SR, SL,
SCHG, SDEL, SR / P, and SMOD are included. The contents of each of the switches SM to SMOD are as follows. SM: a switch for detecting a pressing operation of the main switch 21. S1: a switch for detecting a half-pressed state of the release button 18. S2: A switch for detecting the fully pressed state of the release button 18. SZI: a zoom-in switch for detecting the pressed state of the zoom operation button 16. SZO: a zoom-out switch for detecting a pressed state of the zoom operation button 17. SU: a switch for detecting the upward tilt state of the optical axis change button 19a. SD: a switch for detecting a downward tilt state of the optical axis change button 19b. SR: a switch for detecting the rightward tilt state of the optical axis change button 19c. SL: a switch for detecting the leftward tilt state of the optical axis change button 19d.

SCHG: Bracket shooting confirmation button 15
Is a switch for detecting the pressing operation of the button. SDEL: a switch for detecting a pressing operation of the erase button 20. SR / P: a switch for detecting the setting state of the recording / reproduction mode switch 13. SMOD: a switch for detecting the setting state of the photographing mode switch 14.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the camera body 2 and the LCD display section 3 are electrically connected by the cable 11, and the camera body 2 transmits the power and the thinned image data to the LCD display section 3. Since the detection signal of the switch is transmitted from the LCD display unit 3 to the camera body 2, the handling of the signal transmitted through the cable is easier as compared with, for example, a configuration in which the imaging unit and the camera body are connected by a cable. And the amount of data is reduced, thereby simplifying the cable 11 and the circuit configuration for transmitting and receiving signals.

Note that the recording / reproducing processing unit 211 and the flash memory 212 may be arranged in the LCD display unit 3. Also in this case, since the image data transmitted from the camera body 2 to the LCD display unit 3 is compressed by the decompression / compression processing unit 210, the data amount is small and the cable 11
And simplification of the circuit configuration for signal transmission and reception. Also,
In the present embodiment, the camera body 2 and the LCD display unit 3 are connected by a cable, but wireless connection may be made using infrared light or radio waves.

Next, the photographing operation of the digital camera 1 will be specifically described with reference to a flowchart.

FIGS. 19 and 20 are flowcharts showing the main flow of the photographing operation. When the power supply battery is attached to the camera body 2, the main flow is executed.

First, the on / off state of the main switch 21 is determined (# 2). If the main switch 21 is off (NO in # 2), the processing of the subroutine "SM OFF" shown in FIG. 21 is performed. Executed, imaging unit 22
Is set at a predetermined reference position R for shielding the opening 5.

In the subroutine "SM OFF", the imaging unit 22 is rotated rightward with respect to the front in the horizontal plane until the reference position R is detected by the position detecting member 28 (# 40, # 40). After reaching the rotation reference position R in the right direction, the rotation is continued downward in the vertical plane until the position detection member 27 detects the reference position R (# 44, # 46). When the rotation reaches the downward rotation reference position R (that is, when the optical axis direction of the imaging unit 22 reaches a predetermined lower right direction), the driving of the imaging unit 22 is stopped, and This state is maintained until the switch SM is turned on (# 48 loop). This state is a state in which the power supply battery is attached to the camera body 2 and the main switch 21 is turned off (that is, the digital camera 1 is left or stored in a case). As described above, when the digital camera 1 is housed in the case and the photographing is not permitted, the image pickup unit 22 is set at the position where the opening 5 of the camera body 2 is shielded. 231 is suitably protected.

Returning to FIG. 19, if the main switch 21 is turned on (YES in # 2), the setting state of the recording / reproducing mode switch 13 is further discriminated (# 6), and if it is in the reproducing mode. (NO in # 6), the processing of the subroutine "reproduction mode" shown in FIGS. 35 and 36 is executed, and the reproduction processing of the recorded image on the LCD display unit 3 is performed. The processing in the reproduction mode will be described later.

On the other hand, if the recording mode is set (YES in # 6), the processing of the subroutine "imaging unit set" shown in FIG. 22 is executed, and the imaging unit 22 is moved to the center position (that is, the imaging lens 231 is opened. Exposure from 5,
(The position where the optical axis direction is the front direction). In this process, when the main switch 21 is turned on, the drive of the image pickup unit 22 can be controlled easily and with high accuracy by setting the optical axis direction of the image pickup unit 22 to the front direction, and the photographer can take the image. The normal photographing operation can be immediately performed without adjusting the unit 22.

In the subroutine of "imaging unit set", the imaging unit 22 is rotated in the horizontal plane to the right with respect to the front direction until the reference position R is detected by the position detecting member 28 (# 50, # 50). # 52 loop),
Upon reaching the right rotation reference position R, the rotation is continued downward in the vertical plane until the reference position R is detected by the position detection member 27 (loop of # 54 and # 56).
This process is a process of setting the imaging unit 22 to a rotation reference position R in the vertical and horizontal directions (a predetermined position in the lower right corner direction in the present embodiment) for rotation control.

Subsequently, when the imaging unit 22 reaches the downward rotation reference position R, the imaging unit 22 further rotates leftward by a predetermined amount in the horizontal plane and is set to the center position in the horizontal plane. (Loops of # 58 and # 60), rotate upward by a predetermined amount in the vertical plane, set to the center position in the vertical plane (loops of # 62 and # 64), and return to the main routine. In the present embodiment, since the rotation reference position R is a position which is rotated downward by 40 ° and rightward by 40 ° from the center position, the imaging unit 22 moves leftward in the horizontal plane in steps # 58 to # 64. After being turned 40 degrees in the direction
It is rotated upward by 40 ° and set to the center position.

Returning to FIG. 19, when the setting process of the imaging unit 22 is completed, various switches S1, SZI, SZ
O, SU, SD, SR, SL, SMOD, SP / R, S
It is determined whether M has changed (# 10 to # 30).

If there is no change in any of the switches (# 1)
(NO at # 0 to # 24, YES at # 28, # 30), it is determined whether or not the display timer has finished measuring the display time (# 32). The timing of the display timer is to count a predetermined time when the captured image is displayed for a predetermined time on the LCD display unit 3 when a shooting operation is performed in a later-described “S1 ON” process. . The display timer is built in the control unit 213.

When the display time measurement is completed (# 32)
YES), the display of the captured image on the LCD display unit 3 is stopped (# 34), and the process proceeds to step # 10 in order to perform a process of determining whether or not the various switches S1 to SM have changed (hereinafter, referred to as a SW determination process). Return. On the other hand, if the display time has not been counted (NO in # 32), the contents of the flag FIAB are determined (# 36), and if the flag FIAB has been reset to "0" (NO in # 36), Returning to step # 10 to perform the SW determination processing, the flag FIAB is set to "1".
(YES in # 36), it is further determined whether or not the switch SCHG is on (#
38). If the bracket shooting confirmation button 15 is operated and the switch SCHG is not turned on (N in # 38)
O), returning to step # 10 to perform the SW determination process,
If the switch SCHG is on (YE at # 38)
S), the process proceeds to the subroutine "image selection" shown in FIG.

The flag FIAB is a flag for judging whether or not the recorded image can be changed or added in the auto bracket shooting. When the flag FIAB is set to "1", the operation of the bracket shooting confirmation button 15 is performed. The recording image can be changed or added in response to the condition (1). If the recording image is reset to “0”, the recording image cannot be changed or added. Accordingly, the determination of the switch SCHG in step # 38 is a determination as to whether or not the bracket shooting confirmation button 15 has been operated.
The process of the subroutine "image selection" is a process of selecting an image to be changed or added to the recorded image. The process of “image selection” will be described later.

In the SW discriminating process, when the setting state of the recording / reproducing mode switch 13 is switched to the reproducing mode (NO in # 28) or when the main switch SM is turned off (NO in step # 30), step # is performed. Return to 2.

In the SW determination processing, when the zoom operation buttons 6, 7 (or 16, 17) are operated to turn on the switch SZI or the switch SZO (YES in # 12 or # 14), a subroutine shown in FIG. The process of “zoom” is performed, and the zooming process of the photographing lens 231 is performed.

When the process shifts to the “zoom” subroutine,
Zoom in switch SZI or zoom out switch S
It is determined whether or not the ON state of the ZO is continued (#
70, # 86). If the zoom-in switch SZI is on (YES in # 70), it is further determined whether or not the high-resolution shooting mode is set by the shooting mode switch 14 (# 72).

If the normal photographing mode is set (# 7)
2), it is determined whether or not the focal length adjusting lens 231a of the photographing lens 231 is at the telephoto end position (# 74), and the focal length adjusting lens 231a is not at the telephoto end position. If NO (# 74: NO), the focal length adjusting lens 231a is driven to the telephoto side (# 76, # 7).
0 to # 76 loop), lens 231 for focal length adjustment
When a is set at the telephoto end position, the lens 231 is set.
The drive of a is stopped (YES in # 74, # 78). That is, in the normal photographing mode, when the zoom operation button 6 (or 16) is kept pressed, the focal length adjusting lens 231a of the photographing lens 231 is moved to the telephoto side to perform the zoom-in operation. Then, if the zoom operation button 6 (or 16) is still pressed even after the focal length adjusting lens 231a reaches the telephoto end position, the lens 231a is stopped at the end position and the taking lens 23 is stopped.
1 is fixed to the telephoto end (f = 15 mm in the present embodiment).

On the other hand, if the high-definition photographing mode is set (YES in # 72), the focal length f of the photographing lens 231 is set.
Is determined to be 8 mm (# 80). If the focal length f of the photographing lens 231 is smaller than 8 mm (NO in # 80), the focal length adjusting lens 231a of the photographing lens 231 is moved to the telephoto side. (# 82, # 7)
0, # 72, # 80, # 82 loop), photographing lens 2
When the focal length f of the lens 31 reaches 8 mm, the lens 23
The driving of 1a is stopped (YES in # 80, # 84).
That is, in the high-definition photographing mode, the focal length f of the photographing lens 231 is controlled to 8 mm or less.

In the present embodiment, the zoom-in operation in the high-definition photographing mode is limited so that the focal length f of the photographing lens 231 becomes 8 mm or less. Since the focal length f2 for photographing G _{A to} G _D (see FIG. 5) is set to 1.8 to 1.9 times the focal length f1 for photographing the entire image G of the subject Q, the maximum focal length f = 15 mm. This is for easily and reliably controlling the photographing of the entire image G of the subject Q to be photographed first by restricting it to approximately 1/2.

[0116]

[Table 1]

Table 1 shows four representative focal lengths f1 when capturing the entire image, and the angle of view θh1, θv1 in each of the horizontal and vertical directions at that time and partial images for each focal length f1. Focal length f2, horizontal and vertical angles of view θh2, θv2 at that time, and displacement amounts Δθh, Δ from the front in the direction of the optical axis L when capturing a partial image.
9 shows θv and the focal length ratio K (= f2 / f1). An arbitrary focal length f1 other than the representative value of 8 mm or less can be similarly calculated and set.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, since the entire subject is divided into four parts, the focal length f2 of each of the partial images G _{A to} G _{D at} the time of capturing the entire image G is f
The focal length ratio is approximately twice as large as 1, but taking into account the fact that the images are overlapped at the boundary to facilitate lamination and composition, and to prevent the lack of images at the lamination composition position due to camera shake during shooting. K (= f2 / f1) is smaller than twice.

In the table, the horizontal angle of view θhi and the vertical angle of view θ
vi (i = 1, 2) are the angles shown in FIGS. 24 (a) and 24 (b), respectively. In the present embodiment, 4.
Since the CCD 239a of 8 mm × 3.6 mm is used, the horizontal angle of view θhi and the vertical angle of view θvi are each θhi = 2 ·
tan で¹ (2.4 / fi), θvi = 2 · tan ~ ¹ (1.8 / fi). Further, the optical axis displacement amounts Δθh and Δθv are a horizontal tilt angle and a vertical tilt angle when the CCD 239a is tilted, respectively, as shown in FIG.

Returning to FIG. 23, the zoom-out switch SZ
If O is on (NO in # 70, YES in # 86), it is determined whether the focal length adjusting lens 231a of the photographing lens 231 is at the end position on the wide side (# 88). If the focal length adjusting lens 231a is not at the end position on the wide side (NO in # 88), the focal length adjusting lens 231a is driven to the wide side (# 90,
# 86 to # 90 loop), lens 2 for focal length adjustment
The drive of the lens 231a is stopped when 31a is set to the wide end position (YES in # 88, # 9
2).

That is, the zoom operation button 7 (or 1
When 7) is continuously pressed, the lens 231a for adjusting the focal length of the photographing lens 231 is moved to the wide side to perform the zoom-out operation. If the zoom operation button 7 (or 17) is still pressed even when the focal length adjusting lens 231a reaches the end position on the wide side,
The lens 231a is stopped at the end position, and the taking lens 231 is fixed at the wide end (f = 5 mm in the present embodiment). In the zoom-out operation, the photographing lens 23 is used.
Since the focal length f of 1 does not exceed 8 mm, there is no restriction as in the case of the zoom-in operation in the high-definition shooting mode.

Returning to FIG. 19, in the SW discriminating process, the optical axis change lever 9 or the optical axis change buttons 19a to 19d
Is operated to turn on any of the switches SU to SL (YES in any of # 16 to # 22), FIG.
The process of the subroutine “drive imaging unit” shown in FIG. 27 is performed, and the changing process of the imaging unit 22 in the optical axis direction is performed.

When the process proceeds to the subroutine of "drive imaging unit", it is determined whether or not the switch SU is turned on by operating the optical axis changing lever 9 (or the optical axis changing button 19a) (# 100).

If the switch SU is on (YES in # 100), it is further determined whether or not the high-definition photographing mode is set by the photographing mode switch 14 (# 102). If the high-definition shooting mode is set (YES in # 102), it is determined whether or not the imaging unit 22 is at a position displaced upward from the center position by an angle Δθv of less than 10 ° (# 104). Angle Δθv is Δθv
If <10 ° (YES in # 104), the imaging unit 22 is driven upward in the vertical plane (# 108, # 10).
0 to # 104, # 108 loop), imaging unit 22
Reaches a position displaced upward by 10 ° from the center position (NO in # 104), the driving of the imaging unit 22 is stopped (# 110). That is, in the high-definition shooting mode, the optical axis changing lever 9 (or the optical axis changing button 19) is used.
The imaging unit 22 is moved from the center position by 1
It is driven upward within a range of 0 °.

On the other hand, if the normal photographing mode is set (NO in # 102), it is determined whether or not the image pickup unit 22 is at a position displaced upward from the center position by an angle Δθv of less than 20 ° ( # 106), the angle Δθv is Δθv <2
If it is 0 ° (YES in # 106), the imaging unit 22
Are driven upward in the vertical plane (# 108, # 100,
When the imaging unit 22 reaches a position displaced upward by 20 ° from the center position (NO in # 106), the driving of the imaging unit 22 is stopped (# 110). . That is, in the normal shooting mode, the optical axis changing lever 9 (or the optical axis changing button 1)
In response to the operation 9a), the imaging unit 22 is driven upward within a range of 20 ° from the center position.

Whether the switch SU is in the off state,
When the state changes from the on state to the off state (NO in # 100), the rotation operation of the imaging unit 22 is stopped (# 112).

Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the switch SD is turned on by operating the optical axis changing lever 9 (or the optical axis changing button 19b) (# 114), and the same imaging unit as in the case of the switch SU is determined. The control of the rotation operation of No. 22 is performed (# 114 to # 126). That is, in the high-resolution shooting mode, the imaging unit 22 is operated in accordance with the operation of the optical axis changing lever 9 (or the optical axis changing button 19b).
Is driven downward within a range of 10 ° from the center position (#
114, # 116, # 118, # 122, # 124),
In the normal shooting mode, the imaging unit 2 is operated in accordance with the operation of the optical axis changing lever 9 (or the optical axis changing button 19b).
2 is driven downward within a range of 20 ° from the center position (# 114, # 116, # 120, # 122, # 12
4). Then, when the switch SD is in the off state or changed from the on state to the off state (NO in # 114), the rotating operation of the imaging unit 22 is stopped (# 126).

Note that the vertical driving range of the image pickup unit 22 in the high-definition photographing mode is limited to Δθv <10 °, as shown in Table 1, when the image pickup at the time of partial image photographing at f1 = 8 mm is performed. This is because the displacement amount | Δθv | of the optical axis L of the unit 22 does not exceed 10 °.
Further, the driving range of the imaging unit 22 in the vertical direction in the normal photographing mode is limited to Δθv <20 °.
If the displacement amount | Δθv | is set to 20 ° or more, the photographing lens 231 of the imaging unit 22 is not exposed to the opening 5 of the camera body 2 and photographing cannot be performed. Therefore,
In both photographing modes, the rotation of the image pickup unit 22 in the vertical plane is restricted in a range that is not substantially necessary for photographing so that a meaningless operation is not performed.

Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the switch SL is turned on by operating the optical axis changing lever 9 (or the optical axis changing button 19c) (# 128). If the switch SL is turned on (YE in # 128)
S) Further, it is determined whether or not the high-resolution shooting mode is set by the shooting mode switch 14 (# 13).
0).

If the high definition shooting mode is set (#
(YES at 130), it is determined whether or not the imaging unit 22 is at a position displaced leftward from the center position by an angle Δθh of less than 7 ° (# 132). If the angle Δθh is Δθh <7 ° (## 132 (YES), the imaging unit 22 is driven leftward in the horizontal plane (# 136, # 128 to # 13)
When the imaging unit 22 reaches a position displaced leftward from the center position by 7 ° (NO in # 132), the driving of the imaging unit 22 is stopped (# 13).
8). That is, in the high-definition shooting mode, the imaging unit 22 is driven leftward within a range of 7 ° from the center position in accordance with the operation of the optical axis changing lever 9 (or the optical axis changing button 19c).

On the other hand, if the normal photographing mode is set (NO in # 130), it is determined whether or not the image pickup unit 22 is at a position displaced leftward from the center position by an angle Δθh of less than 20 ° (step # 130). # 134), the angle Δθh is Δθh <2
If it is 0 ° (YES in # 134), the imaging unit 22
Is driven leftward in the horizontal plane (# 136, # 128,
When the imaging unit 22 reaches a position displaced leftward by 20 ° from the center position (NO in # 134), the driving of the imaging unit 22 is stopped (# 138). . That is, in the normal shooting mode, the optical axis changing lever 9 (or the optical axis changing button 1)
In response to the operation 9c), the imaging unit 22 is driven leftward within a range of 20 ° from the center position.

Also, whether the switch SL is off or not
When the state changes from the ON state to the OFF state (NO in # 128), the rotation operation of the imaging unit 22 is stopped (# 140).

Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the switch SR is turned on by operating the optical axis changing lever 9 (or the optical axis changing button 19d) (# 142), and the same imaging unit as in the case of the switch SL is determined. The control of the rotation operation of No. 22 is performed (# 142 to # 154). That is, in the high-definition shooting mode, the imaging unit 22 is operated in accordance with the operation of the optical axis changing lever 9 (or the optical axis changing button 19d).
Is driven rightward within a range of 7 ° from the center position (# 1).
42 to # 146, # 150, and # 152), in the normal shooting mode, the imaging unit 22 moves rightward within a range of 20 ° from the center position according to the operation of the optical axis changing lever 9 (or the optical axis changing button 19d). (# 142,
# 144, # 148, # 150, # 152). And
When the switch SR is in the off state or changed from the on state to the off state (NO in # 142), the rotation operation of the imaging unit 22 is stopped (# 154).

The driving range of the imaging unit 22 in the left-right direction in the high-definition imaging mode is limited to Δθv <7 °, as shown in Table 1, when the imaging at the time of partial image imaging at f1 = 8 mm is performed. This is because the displacement amount | Δθh | of the optical axis L of the unit 22 does not exceed 7 °. Further, the driving range in the left-right direction of the imaging unit 22 in the normal shooting mode is limited to Δθv <20 °, because when the displacement amount Δθv is set to 20 ° or more, the shooting lens 231 of the imaging unit 22 This is because the image is not exposed to the opening 5 and cannot be photographed. Therefore, in both photographing modes, the rotation of the image pickup unit 22 is restricted in a range that is not substantially necessary for photographing even in the horizontal plane, so that a meaningless operation is not performed.

Returning to FIG. 19, in the SW determination processing, the release button 8 (or 18) is half-pressed, and the switch S
When 1 is on (YES in # 10), FIG.
The processing of the subroutine "S1 ON" shown in FIG. 29 is performed, and the photographing processing is performed.

When the process proceeds to the subroutine "S1 ON", first, the flag FIAB is reset to "0"(# 160). Subsequently, an imaging operation is performed by the imaging unit 239 (# 162). The image signal output from the imaging unit 239 is converted into image data by the A / D conversion unit 206, and then a predetermined signal is output by the signal processing unit 208. The processing is performed and RA
The information is temporarily stored in M209 (# 164). RAM 20
The image data temporarily stored in 9 is immediately read out, thinned out, transferred to the display control unit 301 of the LCD display unit 3 via the cable 11, and displayed on the LCD panel 12 (# 166). That is, live view display is performed on the LCD display unit 3.

Subsequently, exposure adjustment is performed using the image data temporarily stored in the RAM 209 (# 168). In the digital camera 1 according to the present embodiment, the exposure is controlled by controlling the exposure time (charge accumulation time) SS of the CCD 239a with the aperture fixed (for example, Av = 4.0 [Ev]). . And this exposure time SS
Calculates the subject brightness Bv (for example, the average level value of the pixel data of the G color component) using the image data temporarily stored in the RAM 209, and is set based on the subject brightness Bv. That is, in the live view display, a predetermined period (for example, １ ／)
0 seconds), the subject brightness Bv is calculated for each captured image, and it is determined whether or not the subject brightness Bv is within an appropriate range. If the exposure time SS is shortened by one step and it is darker than the appropriate range, the current exposure time SS is extended by one step and the next imaging operation is performed to set the exposure time SS at which the subject luminance Bv falls within the appropriate range. Is done.

Table 2 is a table for controlling the exposure time SS. In Table 2, the shaded exposure time SS (1
1 ms) is an initial setting value set when the camera is started. The minimum value of the exposure time SS is 0.25 ms, and the maximum value is 32 ms.

[0139]

[Table 2]

Table 3 shows an example of a method of adjusting the exposure time SS based on the subject brightness Bv.

In Table 3, the value of the subject luminance Bv is represented by 8-bit data. Brightness level "High",
It is divided into three level ranges of “medium” and “low”, and the average value of the pixel data of the G color component is a “medium” level range (85 to 1).
69), the exposure time SS is not changed as an appropriate range, and the exposure time SS is increased by one step as underexposure when it is in the “low” level range (0 to 84), and “high”.
In the level range (170-255), the exposure time SS is shortened by one step as overexposure. When the exposure time SS is 32 ms and the subject brightness Bv is at the “low” level (when Bv ≦ 84), the flash is automatically fired.

[0142]

[Table 3]

Therefore, when the switch S1 is turned on, the exposure time SS is set to the initial value (11 ms), the first image pickup is performed, and the exposure time SS is set based on the subject brightness value Bv calculated from the picked-up image. Adjustments are made. That is, if 170 ≦ Bv ≦ 255, the exposure time SS is changed to 8.0 [ms], and if 0 ≦ Bv ≦ 84,
The exposure time SS is changed to 16.0 [ms], and 85 ≦ B
If v ≦ 169, the exposure time SS is not changed.

Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the switch S2 is turned on (# 170). If the switch S2 is off (NO in # 170), as long as the switch S1 is kept on ( # 172: YES), Step #
Returning to 162, the operations of imaging, display, and exposure adjustment are repeated (loop of # 162 to # 172). During this time, the switch S1 is turned on without turning on the switch S2.
Is turned off (NO in # 172), the live view display on the LCD display unit 3 is stopped (# 174), and the process returns to the SW determination process of the main flow.

On the other hand, in the live view display, when the release button 8 (or 18) is fully pressed to turn on the switch S2 (YES in # 170), step # 176
The flash memory 212 for capturing and capturing images
Is recorded.

That is, the exposure time SS adjusted immediately before
, An imaging operation is performed by the imaging unit 239 (# 176).
The image signal output from the imaging unit 239 is output from the A / D conversion unit 2
After the image data is converted to image data in step 06, the signal processing section 208 performs predetermined signal processing and temporarily stores the image data in the RAM 209 (# 178). Note that since the RAM 209 has a storage capacity of five sheets as described above, one image data is stored.
The image is stored in the image storage area of the sheet.

The image data temporarily stored in the RAM 209 is immediately read out, thinned out, and
Is transferred to the display control unit 301 of the LCD display unit 3 via the LCD 1 and is displayed on the LCD panel 12 (# 180). That is, the captured image is displayed on the LCD display unit 3 so that the photographer can monitor the captured image.

Subsequently, the setting state of the photographing mode is determined (# 182), and if the high-definition photographing mode is set (YES in # 182), steps # 184 to # 216,
If the high-definition photographing process is performed in # 232 and the normal photographing mode is set (NO in # 182), step # 21
The normal photographing process is performed in 8 to # 232.

In the high-definition photographing process, the photographing lens 231 is zoomed in at a predetermined focal length ratio K (= f2 / f1) (# 184, see Table 1), and the upper left (partial image G _A ) in FIG. , upper right (partial image G _B), the order in photographing operation in the lower right (partial image G _D) and lower left (partial image G _C) is repeated 4 times (# 186～ # 210).

That is, the driving direction and the driving amount of the imaging unit 22 with respect to each of the partial images G _{A to} G _D are determined (# 1).
86), firstly, the imaging unit 22 is driven in the imaging direction of the partial image G _A (direction a in FIG. 5) (# 188). Then, the partial image G _A is captured by the imaging unit 239 (# 190), the captured image is converted into image data by the A / D conversion unit 206, and predetermined signal processing is performed by the signal processing unit 208. Thereafter, the image is temporarily stored in the second image storage area of the RAM 209 (# 192).

[0151] Subsequently, the imaging unit 22 is the partial image G _B
Is driven in the imaging direction (direction of b in FIG. 5) (# 19).
4), the imaging of the partial image G _B is performed by the imaging unit 239, after the captured image of the predetermined signal processing, RAM 20
9 is temporarily stored in the third image storage area (# 1).
96, # 198). Hereinafter, similarly, the imaging unit 22 is sequentially driven in the imaging direction of the partial images G _D and G _C (directions d and c in FIG. 5) (# 200 and # 206), and the respective partial images G and Imaging of _D and G _C is performed (#
202, # 208), and after the predetermined signal processing, the captured image is temporarily stored in the fourth and fifth image storage areas of the RAM 209, respectively (# 204, # 210).

When the imaging of all the partial images G _{A to} G _D is completed, the imaging unit 22 is returned to the center position (#
212), the five image data temporarily stored in the RAM 209 (the image data of the entire subject G and the four partial images G _{A to} G _D captured first) are expanded / compressed by the expansion / compression processing unit 2
After a predetermined compression process is performed in 10, the data is recorded in the flash memory 212 via the recording / reading processing unit 211.
At this time, independent image files are created for the entire image G and the partial images G _{A to} G _D, and the flash memory 21
2 (# 214). Also, the photographing lens 231
Becomes the original focal length (that is, from the focal length f2 for capturing the partial image to the focal length f1 for capturing the entire image).
) And zoom out (# 216). When the image data of the photographed image is recorded, non-image data (for example, information on the photographing mode and information on the photographing date) on the photographed image are also recorded.

FIG. 30 shows a photographing process (steps # 160- # 170, # 176- # 2) in the high-definition photographing mode.
FIG. 16 is a diagram schematically showing the process (No. 16).

In the figure, A, B,
C and D are images included in the partial images G _{A to} G _D , respectively. The display image indicates an image displayed on the LCD display unit 3, and the storage image indicates an image temporarily stored in the RAM 209.

As shown in the figure, when the switch S1 is turned on, the entire subject image is captured, and the captured image is displayed on the LCD.
It is displayed on the display unit 3. When the release is instructed, the entire image G of the subject is captured, and the entire image G
Are stored in the RAM 209 and the LCD display unit 3
Is displayed on the monitor. Subsequently, the partial images G _{A to} G _D are fetched in the order of G _A , G _B , G _D , G _C , and each of the partial images G _A
~G _D are stored in each RAM 209. On the other hand, L
Monitor display of the entire image G is continued on the CD display unit 3,
The monitor display of the partial images G _{A to} G _D is not performed. The reason why the monitor display of the partial images G _{A to} G _D is not performed in this way is that in the high-definition shooting mode, the photographer shoots the entire subject and wants to monitor the shot image (the entire image of the subject). This is because it is normal.

FIG. 31 is a diagram showing the structure of an image file of the entire image G and the partial images G _{A to} G _D recorded in the flash memory 212.

Each image file is composed of a header part AR1 and an image recording part AR2. The header part AR1 contains information on a photographing mode, a photographing date, an image title, and an exposure time SS.
Various information (non-image data) accompanying the recorded image such as is recorded, and the image data of the captured image is recorded in the image recording unit AR2.

As information on the shooting mode, as shown in Table 4 below, shooting mode information, image type information, image position information, frame number and focal length information are recorded as bit data.

[0159]

[Table 4]

The photographing mode information is information for identifying the normal photographing mode and the high-definition photographing mode. The shooting mode information is composed of 1-bit data. For example, if “1” is set, it indicates a high-definition shooting mode, and if “0” is set, it indicates a normal shooting mode. The image type information is information for identifying the whole image and the partial images of the five images shot in the high definition shooting mode.

The image type information is also composed of 1-bit data. For example, if "1" is set, it indicates the entire image, and if "0" is set, it indicates the partial image. The position information is information indicating to which position of the whole image the partial image corresponds. In the present embodiment, since the whole is divided into four, the position information is composed of 2-bit data,
For example, “00”, “01”, “10”, “1” for each of the upper left, upper right, lower left, and lower right positions with respect to the entire image.
Bit data “1” is assigned. The bit data can be arbitrarily assigned.

The frame number is information for identifying the number of the whole image accompanying the partial image. A frame number composed of 4-bit data is assigned to each captured image. In Table 4, since the frame number of the entire image G is “####”, the partial images G _A to frame number for the G _D also is "####". The information on the focal length indicates the focal length of the photographing lens 231 at the time of photographing.
In the high-definition shooting mode, as shown in Table 1, the entire image is captured at the focal length f1, and the partial image is captured at the focal length f2.
(= K · f1), the corresponding focal length f1 or f2 is recorded in each image file, for example, as 4-bit data.

As described above, all image data are recorded in the flash memory 212 as independent image files regardless of the photographing mode. In each image file, information on the photographing mode is recorded in the header AR1. Therefore, the partial image G _i (i =
A, B, C, not the relationship with the other partial image G _i and the overall image G in this connection even D) is unclear, for example, partial images G _A ~ by a computer system
And it is capable of searching reliably image even when creating the overall image G 'by combining G _D.

Returning to FIG. 29, when zooming out of the focal length of the photographing lens 231 is completed, a display timer for counting the monitor display time of the captured image on the LCD display unit 3 starts counting (# 232), and the SW The process returns to the determination processing (see FIG. 19).

On the other hand, when the process shifts to the normal photographing process in step # 182, the photographing operation is performed twice consecutively (# 21).
8, # 222), each captured image is converted into image data by the A / D conversion unit 206, and predetermined signal processing is performed by the signal processing unit 208, and then the second and third images are stored in the RAM 209. Each area is temporarily stored (# 220, # 220)
224). This continuous shooting is the above-described auto bracket shooting.

Subsequently, the imaging unit 22 is returned to the center position (# 226), and the image data stored in the RAM 209 is temporarily stored in the RAM 209.
After the image data stored in the first image storage area of the image data is subjected to a predetermined compression process by the decompression / compression processing unit 210, the flash memory 212 is transmitted via the recording / readout processing unit 211. Is recorded as an independent image file (# 228). Then, the flag FIAB is set to "1"(# 230), and after the counting of the display timer is started (# 232), the process returns to the SW determination process (see FIG. 19).

The setting of the flag FIAB shifts to the subroutine "image selection" shown in FIG. 32 in the above-mentioned step # 38, in which the recorded image can be changed or added to the flash memory 212 based on the operation of the bracket photographing confirmation button 15. It is to be.

Here, the processing of the subroutine "image selection" will be described. When the process proceeds to the “image selection” subroutine, the optical axis change lever 9 (or the optical axis change button 1
9a to 19d), the switches SU, SD, S
It is determined whether one of L and SR has been turned on (# 240, # 244, # 248, # 254). If none of the switches is on, it is determined whether or not the switch SCHG is on by operating the bracket shooting confirmation button 15 (# 258).
If CHG is not turned on (NO in # 258),
Returning to step # 240, the switches SU, SD, SL,
The determination of the change in SR is repeated, and if the switch SCHG is on (YES in # 258), the process returns to the SW determination process (see FIG. 19).

If it is determined that the switches SU, SD, SL, and SR have changed, the switch SU is turned on (Y in # 240).
ES), the image displayed on the LCD display unit 3 is changed to the immediately preceding captured image (# 242), and if the switch SD is turned on (YES in # 244), the image is displayed on the LCD display unit 3 Is changed to the next captured image (# 256).

If the switch SL is on (YES in # 248), the first image file recorded in the flash memory 212 is deleted (# 250).
The captured image displayed on the LCD panel 12 is recorded in the image file (# 252). Further, the switch S
If R is on (# 254), the captured image displayed on the LCD panel 12 is newly recorded in addition to the first image file recorded in the flash memory 212 (# 256). .

FIG. 33 is a diagram schematically showing the above-mentioned "image selection" processing. At the end of shooting in the normal shooting mode, the first captured image (first image) stored in the RAM 209 is displayed on the LCD panel 12 and recorded in the flash memory 212, as shown in FIG. (See the processing of # 180 and # 228). In this state, when the switch SD is turned on by the downward operation of the optical axis changing lever 9 (or the optical axis changing button 19b), the first sheet → second sheet → third sheet → 1 each time as shown by a white arrow. The images displayed on the LCD panel 12 are changed in the order of the sheets (descending order). On the other hand, the upward movement of the optical axis changing lever 9 (or the optical axis changing button 19a) causes the switch SU
Is turned on, the image displayed on the LCD panel 12 is changed in the order of the first sheet → the third sheet → the second sheet → the first sheet (ascending order) as shown by the black arrow.

Further, for example, when the second photographed image is displayed on the LCD panel 12, the switch S is operated by the leftward operation of the optical axis changing lever 9 (or the optical axis changing button 19c).
When L is turned on, the first captured image recorded in the flash memory 212 is erased, and instead, the second captured image is recorded in the flash memory 212. Further, for example, when the switch SR is turned on by the rightward operation of the optical axis changing lever 9 (or the optical axis changing button 19d) in a state where the third captured image is displayed on the LCD panel 12, the data is recorded in the flash memory 212. In addition to the first captured image, the third captured image is also stored in the flash memory 21.
2 is recorded.

As described above, in the normal photographing mode, photographing is performed three times consecutively even if the photographer performs only one release operation, and the photographed images are temporarily stored in the RAM 209, and the photographed images are first recorded. The photographed image is recorded in the flash memory 212. Then, when the photographer performs the next release operation without operating the bracket photographing confirmation button 15, the photographing is performed again three times continuously, and the photographed images are temporarily stored in the RAM 209, and firstly, The photographed image is recorded in the flash memory 212.

Therefore, the photographer can operate the release button 8 (or 1) without operating the bracket photographing confirmation button 15.
As long as 8) is operated, the first shot image is recorded in the flash memory 212, so that the auto bracket shooting function is substantially implicit, and a normal shooting operation (one shooting with one release operation) is performed. Is performed. On the other hand, after photographing, the photographer presses the bracket photographing confirmation button 1
5 to enter a check mode in which the image can be changed, the auto bracket shooting function becomes apparent, and the flash memory 212 is operated in accordance with the operation of the optical axis changing lever 9 (or the optical axis changing buttons 19a to 19d) by the photographer. The recorded contents can be changed or added.

That is, since the photographer can select the use of the auto bracket photographing function immediately after the photographing is completed, the photographing result is determined as necessary or not, and a better photographed image is determined according to the result of the determination. Since it can be changed or added, shooting failures are reduced and operability is improved.

In this embodiment, in auto bracket shooting, continuous shooting is simply performed three times. However, continuous shooting is performed by slightly changing the exposure time SS in each shooting. Is also good. Further, in each photographing, continuous photographing may be performed by slightly changing the focal position of the photographing lens 231, slightly changing the focal length, or changing the optical axis direction of the imaging unit 22. Also,
Since the capacity of the RAM 209 can be stored up to five,
It is also possible to perform continuous shooting and select a recorded image from these shot images.

Returning to FIG. 20, in the SW discriminating process, if the photographing mode switch 14 is operated and the high-definition photographing mode is set (YES in # 24), the subroutine "lens check" shown in FIG. Then, the position of the imaging unit 22 and the focal length of the photographing lens 231 are adjusted (# 26).

In the subroutine "lens check", it is determined whether or not the focal length f of the photographing lens 231 exceeds 8 mm (# 260). If f> 8 mm (YES in # 260), photographing is performed. The photographing lens 231a for adjusting the focal length of the lens 231 is driven to the wide side to a position where f = 8 mm (# 262, # 264, # 2)
66).

If f ≦ 8 mm (NO in # 260),
It is determined whether the position of the imaging unit 22 is shifted by ± 7 ° or more with respect to the vertical plane including the center position in the horizontal plane (# 268). If there is a position shift of ± 7 ° or more (# 26)
(YES in Step 8), the imaging unit 22 is driven in the horizontal plane and set in the vertical plane including the center position (# 270, # 2)
72, # 274).

Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the position of the imaging unit 22 is shifted by ± 10 ° or more with respect to the horizontal plane including the center position in the vertical plane (# 276), and there is a positional shift of ± 10 ° or more. (YES in # 276), the imaging unit 2
2 is driven in the vertical plane to be set in the horizontal plane including the center position (# 278, # 280, # 282), and the process returns to the main flow.

In the lens check process, the imaging unit 22 is set at the center position in the high-definition photography mode.
As shown in the figure, the focal length f of the taking lens 231 is 8 mm.
Since the whole image G of the subject is captured by setting as follows,
The position of the imaging unit 22 and the focal length f of the imaging lens 231 are adjusted so that imaging in the high-definition imaging mode is enabled. That is, the focal length f of the photographing lens 231 is set to the maximum value of 8 mm, and the imaging unit 2 when the optical axis direction of the imaging unit 22 is f = 8 mm.
2 is not within the range of the displacement amounts Δθh and Δθv in the optical axis direction, the imaging unit 22 is set at the center position (the position where the optical axis direction is the front direction), and the photographer manually sets the focal length f.
Even if is not changed, the position of the imaging unit 22 and the focal length f of the photographing lens 231 are automatically set to a predetermined position and a predetermined focal length so that high-definition photographing can be performed reliably.

Next, the processing in the reproduction mode will be described. When the process proceeds to the “reproduction mode” subroutine shown in FIG.
Frame No. recorded in the 1 is read out by the recording / reading processing unit 211 and decompressed by the decompression / compression processing unit 210, and then transferred to the display control unit 301 in the LCD display unit 3 via the cable 11, and (# 290).

Subsequently, the switches SM, SP / R, SU,
The presence or absence of a change in SD, SR, SL, SCHG, and SDEL is sequentially determined (# 292, # 294, # 296, #
300, # 304, # 314, # 322, # 336).

If there is no change in any of the switches, the flow returns to step # 292 to determine whether or not the switches SM to SDEL have changed (hereinafter, referred to as RSW determination processing).
(# 292, # 294, # 286, # 30)
0, # 304, # 314, # 322, # 336 loop).

In the RSW determination process, the main switch SM is turned off (NO in # 292), or the recording /
When the setting of the reproduction mode switch 13 is switched to the recording mode (YES in # 294), the process returns to step # 2 of the main flow (see FIG. 19).

When the switch SU is turned on by operating the optical axis changing lever 9 (or the optical axis changing button 19a) in the state where the reproduction mode is maintained (YE in # 296).
S), the next frame number from the flash memory 212. Is read out by the recording / reading processing section 211 and decompressed by the decompression / compression processing section 210, transferred to the display control section 301 in the LCD display section 3 via the cable 11, and transmitted to the LCD panel 12. It is reproduced and displayed (# 298).

When the switch SD is turned on by operating the optical axis changing lever 9 (or the optical axis changing button 19b) (YES in # 300), the previous frame No. is read from the flash memory 212. Is a recording / readout processing unit 211
After being decompressed by the decompression / compression processing unit 210, it is transferred to the display control unit 301 in the LCD display unit 3 via the cable 11 and reproduced and displayed on the LCD panel 12 (# 302).

That is, as shown in FIG. 37, every time the switch SU is turned on, the captured image recorded in the flash memory 212 has a frame number increasing direction (ascending direction).
Each time the switch SD is turned on, the frame numbers are sequentially reproduced on the LCD panel 12 in the direction of decreasing the frame number (in descending order). In this case, the No. captured in the high-definition photography mode. For the images of Nos. 4 and 5, only the entire image G is reproduced on the LCD panel 12, and the partial images G _i (Nos. 4-1 to 4-
4, No. 5-1 to 5-4) are not reproduced on the LCD panel 12. The reason why the is not carried out the reproduction of the partial image G _i, the operator captured image (i.e., in the high-resolution photographing mode subject the entire image) it is considered that the requesting monitor, synthetic Partial image G _i
I try not to play. LCD panel 1
In the image reproduced in No. 2, the borders W1, W2 (No. 1, N
o. 4) to make the color of the border W1 of the image shot in the normal shooting mode and the color of the border W2 of the whole image shot in the high-definition shooting mode different.
The operator can identify which shooting mode the image was shot.

Returning to FIG. 35, when the switch SR is turned on by operating the optical axis changing lever 9 (or the optical axis changing button 19d) (YES in # 304), the image reproduced and displayed on the LCD panel 12 is photographed. Based on the information on the mode, it is determined whether or not the image is an image captured in the high-resolution shooting mode (# 306). If the image is not a high-resolution shooting image (NO in # 306), the process proceeds to step # 314. If the image is a high-definition image (YE in # 306)
S), it is determined whether or not the image is the whole image G based on the information on the shooting mode (# 308).

[0190] Then, if the reproduced image is the entire image G (YES in # 308), first photographed partial images G _A is recorded from the flash memory 212 / read processing unit 211
, And are decompressed by the decompression / compression processing unit 210, transferred to the display control unit 301 in the LCD display unit 3 via the cable 11, and reproduced and displayed on the LCD panel 12 (# 310). Also, if the reproduced image is a partial image G _i (i
= A, B, C, D) (NO in # 308), the reproduced partial image G from the flash memory 212
_The partial image Gi taken after _i is recorded / read out by the recording / reading processing unit 21.
1 and decompressed by the decompression / compression processing unit 210, transferred to the display control unit 301 in the LCD display unit 3 via the cable 11, and reproduced and displayed on the LCD panel 12 (# 312).

That is, if the image reproduced and displayed on the LCD panel 12 is a high-resolution photographed image, every time the switch SR is turned on, G _A (upper left image), G _B (upper right image), G _D
(Lower right image), order the partial image G _i of G _C (lower left image) is reproduced and displayed on the LCD panel 12 cyclically. For example, in FIG. When the operator tilts the optical axis changing lever 9 to the right (or presses the optical axis changing button 19d) in a state where the whole image G of No. 4 is displayed on the LCD panel 12, each time No. 4 is operated. 4-1 → N
o. 4-2 → No. 4-3 → No. 4-4 → No. Order partial image G _i of 4-1 is reproduced on the LCD panel 12 cyclically.

[0192] Even edging is performed when the partial image G _i is displayed on the LCD panel 12, by varying the color of the border at the time of reproduction of the entire image of the normal imaging images and high resolution photographic image, the operation who is to be identified to be a reproduction of the partial image G _i.

In this embodiment, the display image on the LCD panel 12 is provided with borders W1 and W2 of different colors so that the contents of the reproduced image can be identified. The content of the reproduced image may be identified by displaying a pictogram or the like.

Returning to FIG. 36, when the switch SL is turned on by operating the optical axis changing lever 9 (or the optical axis changing button 19c) (YES in # 314), the image reproduced and displayed on the LCD panel 12 is photographed. It is determined whether or not the image is a high-definition photographed image based on the information on the mode (# 316). If the image is not a high-definition photographed image (# 3)
16 NO), the process proceeds to step # 322, if the high-resolution captured image (YES in # 316), whether or not the reproduction image of the LCD panel 12 on the basis of the information about the shooting mode is the partial image G _i is determined Is performed (# 318).

[0195] Then, if the reproduced image is the entire image G (NO at # 318), the process proceeds to step # 322, if the reproduced image is a partial image G _i (YES in # 318), the flash memory 212 The whole image G corresponding to the partial image G _A is read by the recording / reading processing unit 211 and decompressed by the decompression / compression processing unit 210, and then transmitted to the display control unit 301 in the LCD display unit 3 via the cable 11. It is transferred and reproduced and displayed on the LCD panel 12 (# 32
0).

That is, the image reproduced and displayed on the LCD panel 12 is a partial image G _i taken in the high-resolution shooting mode.
, When the switch SL is turned on, the LCD panel 1
Overall image G 2 of reproduced image corresponding to the partial image G _i
Is switched to. For example, in FIG. 4-
In a state where the first partial image G _A is displayed on the LCD panel 12, the left tilting of the optical axis changing lever 9 (or pressing the optical axis changing button 19c) is performed by the operator, N
o. 4 is reproduced on the LCD panel 12.
Note that the LCD panel 12 has No. When the operator again tilts the optical axis changing lever 9 to the left (or presses the optical axis changing button 19c) while the entire image G of 4 is reproduced, the display on the LCD panel 12 is not changed. No.
4 is maintained.

When the playback mode is maintained, the switch SCH is operated by operating the bracket shooting confirmation button 15.
When G is turned on (YES in # 322), it is determined whether or not the image is a high-definition photographed image based on information on the photographing mode of the image reproduced and displayed on the LCD panel 12 (# 324). If it is not a detail shot image (# 3
If NO in step S 324, the process proceeds to step # 336. If the image is a high-definition photographed image (YES in step # 324), it is determined whether or not the reproduced image on the LCD panel 12 is the entire image G based on the information on the photographing mode. (# 326).

If the reproduced image is the entire image G (YES in # 326), the “photographing mode information” of the photographing information recorded in the header portion of the image file corresponding to the reproduced image in the flash memory 212 The content is changed from the "high-resolution shooting mode" to the "normal shooting mode"(# 328). That is, the bit data indicating the shooting mode information is changed from “1” to “0” (see Table 4).

[0199] The image Fairu of four partial images G _i associated with the entire image G in the flash memory 212 is erased all (# 330). Further, if the reproduced image is a partial image G _i (NO in # 326), the image file of the partial image G _i is copied to the flash memory 212 (# 332), recorded in the header portion of the copied image file The content of the “photographing mode information” of the information on the photographed is changed from “high-definition photographing mode” to “normal photographing mode” (# 334).

That is, when the image reproduced and displayed on the LCD panel 12 is the whole image G photographed in the high definition photographing mode, when the switch SCHG is turned on, the whole image G recorded in the flash memory 212 and the whole image G image file of a set high-definition shooting mode consisting of a partial image G _i associated with the image G is to change the image file of the entire image G in the image file of the normal mode, the partial image G _i
By deleting the image file, the image file is changed to the image file in the normal shooting mode.

When the switch SDEL is turned on by operating the erase button 20 while the reproduction mode is maintained (YES in # 336), the switch SDEL is turned on based on the information on the photographing mode of the image reproduced and displayed on the LCD panel 12. It is determined whether or not the image is a high definition photographed image (# 33)
8) If the image is not a high-resolution photographed image (NO in # 338),
The image file corresponding to the reproduced image in the flash memory 212 is deleted (# 340).

If the image is a high-definition photographed image (YE in # 338)
S), it is determined whether or not the reproduced image is the entire image G based on the information on the shooting mode (# 342). If the reproduced image is the entire image G (YES in # 342), the flash memory 2 is determined.
12 image files of the entire image G and the entire image G
And an image file of four partial images G _i associated with is all erased (# 344, # 346). LCD panel 12
If the reproduced image is a partial image G _i (in # 342 N
O), the image file of the partial image G _i of the flash memory 212 is erased (# 348), the image file of another partial image G _i and the overall image G related to the partial image G _i of the flash memory 212 header The content of the “shooting mode information” of the shooting-related information recorded in the section is changed from “high-definition shooting mode” to “normal shooting mode” (#
350, # 352).

For example, in FIG.
Is the frame number No. If it is 4-1 partial image G _A, the image file of the partial images G _A flash memory 212 is erased, the frame number No. 4-2,4-3,
Other partial image G _B of 4-4, G _D, G _C and the frame number N
o. The content of the “shooting mode information” recorded in the header of the image file of the entire image G of No. 4 is changed to the “normal shooting mode”.

Next, an entire image having higher definition than the entire image G is created by pasting and combining the images using the entire image G and the partial images G _{A to} G _D captured in the high-resolution shooting mode. The method will be described.

In this embodiment, in order to reduce the processing load of the image synthesizing process at the time of photographing, the image synthesizing process is performed by a dedicated image processing device or an image processing device configured by a computer system after the photographing. . Accordingly, a high-definition image creation system is configured by combining the above digital camera 1 and the image processing apparatus. The digital camera 1 may be provided with an image composition processing function described below, and the digital camera 1 alone may constitute a high-definition image creation system. In this digital camera 1, the whole image G and the partial images G _{A to} G _D stored in the RAM 209 after photographing are pasted together to form the whole image G.
An entire image with higher definition is created, and the high-resolution captured image is recorded in the flash memory 212.

FIG. 38 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the image processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 includes a control unit 31, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 32, a RAM,
(Random Access Memory) 33, image memory 34, GU
It comprises an I (Graphical User Interface) 35, an I / F 36, an input device 37, a display device 38, and an external storage device 39. The control unit 31, the ROM 32, the RAM 33, the image memory 34, the GUI 35, and the I / F 36 are built in the apparatus main body 30, and the input device 37 and the display device 38
Is connected to the control unit 31 via the GUI 35, and the external storage device 39 is connected to the control unit 31 via the I / F 36.

The control unit 31 controls the whole image G and the partial image G
And it executes the bonding composition processing of the image using a _A ~G _D. The control unit 31 includes an image file input / output processing unit 311 and an image combining unit 312 for performing image combining processing.

The image file input / output processing unit 311 includes a color image (electric image) of the image file input from the input device 37 and a recording medium (for example, the external recording device 39 or the like) in which the image file is stored. In this case, a process of reading from an internal storage device and a process of outputting image data after image synthesis to a predetermined output destination (a recording medium, a printer or other peripheral device) input from the input device 37 are performed.

The image synthesizing unit 312 performs a bonding synthesizing process using the entire image G and the partial images G _{A to} G _D read from the flash memory 212 via the external storage device 39, and performs a high-definition subject. This is for creating an entire photographed image. The image synthesizing unit 312 enlarges the entire image G and determines the size of the synthesized image (that is, the frame of the synthesized image), as described later, while determining a predetermined size to be synthesized from each of the partial images G _{A to} G _D. A partial image of the region is extracted, and the extracted images of the partial images G _{A to} G _D are combined so as to be pasted on the enlarged whole image G ′ within the frame to create a high-definition whole image G ″.

[0210] The ROM 32 is a memory in which a processing program of an image synthesizing process described later is stored. RAM33
Is for temporarily storing various data calculated by the image synthesizing process. Further, the image memory 34
In order to perform the image synthesizing process, the image data read from the flash memory 212 is stored. The image memory 34 has a storage capacity of at least 15 image data, and image data constituting the entire image G and the partial images G _{A to} G _D are stored by being separated into R, G, and B color components. You.

The display device 38 performs various displays (including a monitor display of a high-definition image after image synthesis) such as a work menu, a processing state, and a processing result.
It comprises an electronic display display such as a Ray Tube) and an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). On the display device 38, an image correction item is displayed as an icon in a work menu, and an operator can perform an image combining process described later by selecting the icon.

The external storage device 39 stores the flash memory 2
The flash memory 21 is detachable.
2 for reading the image file recorded in the flash memory 212 and writing the newly created image file in the flash memory 212.

FIG. 39 is a flowchart showing an image synthesizing process in the image synthesizing unit 312. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a procedure of image synthesis. In FIG. 40, the partial images G _{A to} G _D are obtained by enlarging the dotted lines a, b, c, and d with respect to the entire image G, and the hatched portions of each image are cut from the frame of the entire image G. The protruding part is shown.

In the image synthesizing process, the flash memory 212
The image files (five image files of the whole image G and the partial images G _{A to} G _D ) of the high-definition photographed image recorded in the image synthesizing apparatus are read out to the image memory 34 in the image synthesizing apparatus, and the processing procedure shown in FIG. , A high-definition composite image is created.

First, image data is read from the image file of the entire image G, and enlargement processing is performed (# 360,
FIG. 40A). The enlargement process is intended to match the size of the entire image G on the size of the partial image G _i, is what determines the frame of the image after the synthesis. That is, the size of the composite image is determined in advance.

[0216] partial image G _i, so has been taken is enlarged at a magnification of focal length ratio K for the entire image G as shown in Table 4, the entire image G is the focal length ratio K in this enlargement process It is enlarged by.

[0217] Incidentally, the focal distance ratio K can be obtained by reading the information on imaging mode that is recorded in the image file of the partial image G _i. If the partial image G _i if not used the recorded focal length ratio K in the image file and the partial image G _i focal length ratio K in the image file of the has not been recorded, the size of the partial image G _i or the entire image G By performing the correlation operation while changing the size, the enlargement magnification of the entire image can be set. In this method, the partial image G
When capturing _i , the distance to the subject changes due to movement of the digital camera 1 for some reason, and each partial image G _i
There is an advantage that the calculation of the matching position and the image synthesis can be appropriately performed even when the sizes of the images slightly deviate from each other.

[0218] Then, the partial image G _A image data from the image file is read out, the partial image G _A and enlarged overall image G '(hereinafter, larger overall image G' that.) Correlation calculation between the The enlarged whole image G ′ and the partial image G _A in the enlarged whole image G ′ are performed based on the calculation result.
Are calculated (hereinafter, this position is referred to as a matching position) (# 362). Then, the corresponding picture synthesized as paste part of partial image G _A matching position of the calculated expanded overall image G 'is performed (see (b) of # 364, Fig. 40). That is, the image data of the matching position of the enlarged entire image G 'is replaced by the image data of the corresponding position of the partial image G _A.

The above-described correlation operation is performed, for example, on the enlarged whole image G '.
A plurality of feature points included in the image are extracted, and as shown in FIG. 41, the partial image G _A is compared with the enlarged whole image G ′ while performing geometric transformation such as translation, rotation, and enlargement / reduction. Thus, the geometric conversion amount that maximizes the degree of overlap of the feature points is calculated. As described above, the image data at the matching position of the enlarged whole image G ′ is divided into the partial images G _{A to} G _D.
Since the composite image is created by substituting the image data of the partial image G, the geometric transformation amount calculated by the correlation operation indicates the composite position (that is, the matching position) in the composite processing of each of the partial images G _{A to} G _D. It is information to give.

In FIG. 41, g1, g2, g
3 and g4 are positions where the upper left, upper right, lower right and lower left partial images G1, G2, G3 and G4 have the highest degree of overlap in the enlarged whole image G0 (that is, the matching position).
Is shown. The upper left partial image G1 shows the case where the matching position g1 is calculated by the parallel movement method using the character string C1 of "ABC" or the rectangle C2 as a feature point, and the upper right partial image G2 is enlarged using the rectangle C3 as a feature point. The case where the matching position g2 is calculated by the / reduction method is shown. The lower right partial image G3 is a thick line C4 or a thick line C
4 shows a case where the matching position g3 is calculated by the rotational movement method using the edge portion of No. 4 as a feature point. In the lower left partial image G4, the matching position g4 is calculated by the luminance conversion method using the rectangle C2 or the thick line C4 as a feature point. Shows the case.

The characteristic point is an area having characteristic image information such as a specific character or character string, a specific line, a specific geometric shape (for example, a triangle, a circle, an ellipse, etc.), a specific edge portion, or the like. Image data. Characters and character strings as feature points are extracted by known character recognition methods, geometric figures as feature points are extracted by known texture analysis, and edge portions as feature points are extracted by known edge detection methods. You.

The degree of overlap of the feature points is determined by the correlation value between the image data constituting the feature points of the enlarged whole image G0 and the image data of the pixel positions of the geometrically transformed partial images G1 to G4 corresponding to the feature points, and the like. The determination is made using the absolute value sum of the difference between the image data or the square sum of the difference between the two image data.

[0223] Returning to Figure 39, followed by the partial image G image data from the image file _B is read, correlation calculation between the partial image G _B enlarge the entire image G 'is performed, based on the calculation result matching position of the enlarged entire image G 'is calculated for the partial image G _B Te (# 366). Then, the corresponding picture synthesized as paste part of partial image G _B matching the calculated position of the enlarged entire image G 'is performed (see (c) of # 368, Fig. 40).
That is, the image data of the matching position of the enlarged entire image G 'is replaced by the image data of the corresponding position of the partial image G _B.

[0224] Hereinafter, the same method in the partial image G _C, enlarged whole image G for G _D 'matching position of are calculated respectively (# 370, # 374), the enlarged whole image G' image data of the matching positions of Each of the partial images G _C ,
Is replaced with the image data of the corresponding position of the G _D (#
372, # 376, and (d) and (e) in FIG. 40), and a high-definition composite image (captured image of the entire subject) G ″ is created.

In the above embodiment, the size of the composite image G ″ (ie, the frame of the composite image G ″) is determined by enlarging the entire image G, and the partial image G _i is pasted within the frame. Although the images are combined so as to be attached, after pasting and combining only the partial images G _i , unnecessary portions around the combined image G ″ (the partial images G _{A to} G _{D in} FIG. May be determined to determine the size of the composite image G ″.

However, in the former method, a high-definition whole image G ″ is created by replacing the image data of the enlarged whole image G ′ with the image data of the partial images G _{A to} G _D. Unnecessary image data (hatched portions of the partial images G _{A to} G _{D in} FIG. 40) outside the frame of the combined image G ″ is removed at the time of replacement, and the combining process is easier than the latter method.

[0227] Further, as shown in FIG. 42, for example if the partial image G _C and the image on the bonding portion between the partial image G _D there is a portion P that do not overlap, in the latter method the partial image G of the composite image G " missing bonding portion P to the image data of _C and the partial image G _D occurs, but will not be able to create a substantially synthesized image G ", in the method according to the present embodiment,
The image data at the matching position of the enlarged whole image G ′ is replaced with the image data at the corresponding position of the partial images G _{A to} G _D ,
As shown in FIG. 43, the composite image G "partial image G _C and partial image G _D and the bonding portion P overall image G enlargement in '
, The definition of this portion P is slightly lower than the definition of the surroundings, but the inconvenience that the synthesized image G ″ cannot be created due to the lack of image data is eliminated. .

By the way, some photographing lenses have a characteristic that the amount of light at the peripheral portion of the lens is smaller than the amount of light at the central portion. When a subject is photographed using a photographing lens having such characteristics, the photographed image is an image having a larger luminance deviation at the periphery of the screen than at the center of the screen as shown in FIG.

[0229] When taken with a high resolution imaging mode, since each of the partial image G _i having a luminance distribution as shown in FIG. 44, the entire image G "is of the synthesized high-resolution, Figure 45
As shown in (1), the brightness distribution is such that bright portions and dark portions appear alternately in the screen. Although the definition is improved, the brightness distribution becomes unnatural, and the overall image quality is significantly reduced. Further, it may be a color shift occurs at the boundary portion of the bonding in the case where a difference in white balance between the partial images G _i occurs, image quality is degraded by the color shift.

As described above, in the high-definition photographing mode, the deterioration of the image quality of the photographed image based on the light transmission characteristic of the photographing lens is further increased by the image synthesis. It is desirable to correct the luminance distribution and suppress image quality degradation.This image correction processing is performed by providing an image correction unit 313 in the control unit 31 as necessary as shown by a virtual line in FIG. The image distribution unit 313 can correct the luminance distribution of the image G ″ synthesized by the image synthesis unit 312.

FIG. 46 is a conceptual diagram showing an image correction method for suppressing the above-described image quality deterioration.

In the image correction, first, the enlarged whole image G ′ and the composite image G ″ are converted into a small block B of (8 × 8) pixels, for example.
LK (see FIG. 46A), and each block BL
The pixel data g _R , R, G, B for each K
Average values of g _G and g _B R1 _AV , G1 _AV , B1 _AV , R2 _AV , G
2 _AV, B2 calculates the _AV (see (b) of FIG. 46). Next, the shift amounts of the pixel data g _R , g _G , and g _B of the composite image G ″ are calculated such that the average values are equal between the corresponding blocks BLK of the enlarged whole image G ′ and the composite image G ″ (FIG. 4
6 (c)). For this shift amount, for example, differences ΔR _AV , ΔG _AV , and ΔB _AV between the average values of the corresponding blocks BLK of the enlarged whole image G ′ and the composite image G ″ can be used.

[0233] Then, the composite image G "pixel data g _R of, g _G, g _B to the shift amount ΔR _AV, ΔG _{A V,} by adding the .DELTA.B _AV composite image G" to correct the (in FIG. 46 ( d)). As a result of this correction, the average value of the pixel data of the small blocks of the composite image G ″ becomes substantially equal to the average value of the pixel data of the small blocks of the enlarged whole image G ′, and as shown in FIG. The luminance distribution of the corrected composite image G ″ is similar to the luminance distribution of the enlarged whole image G ′.

In the present embodiment, the small block BLK
(8 × 8) pixels are exemplified as the size of the small block BLK, but the size and shape of the small block BLK can be arbitrarily set. If the size of the small block BLK is too large, the magnitude relationship of the pixel data among the pixels is not corrected in the same block BLK, so that the discontinuity of the luminance change becomes remarkable at the boundary of the block BLK. On the other hand, if the size of the small block BLK is too small, if the position shift occurs between the enlarged whole image G ′ and the composite image G ″, the pixel data greatly changes due to the image correction, and the composite image The problem that the image quality of G ″ is deteriorated occurs. Therefore, the size and shape of the small block BLK may be appropriately determined in consideration of these problems and the light transmission characteristics of the photographing lens.

Next, the procedure of the above-described image correction performed by the image correction section 313 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, the enlarged whole image G ′ is divided into (x × y) small blocks BLK (# 380). continue,
The composite image G ″ is divided into (x × y) small blocks BLK (# 382). Subsequently, count values a and b for counting the number of rows x and the number of columns y of the small blocks BLK, respectively.
Are set to "1"(# 384).

Subsequently, with respect to the small block BLK (1,1) in the first row and the first column of the enlarged whole image G ', the pixels included in the small block BLK (1,1) for each of the R, G, B color components. Average value R1 _AV (1,1), G1 of data g _i (i = R, G, B)
_AV (1,1), B1 _AV (1,1) is calculated (# 386). Similarly, for the small block BLK (1,1) in the first row and the first column of the composite image G ″, the R, G, B The small block BLK for each color component
Average values R2 _AV (1,1), G2 _AV (1,1), and B2 _AV (1,1) of pixel data g _i (i = R, G, B) included in (1,1) are calculated. (# 388). Note that (1, 1) indicates that the block is a small block BLK in one row and one column. Hereinafter, a
(A, b) is attached to the small block BLK in the row b column.

Subsequently, the average values R1 _AV (1,1) and G1 _AV (1,1)
1), B1 _AV (1,1) and average values R2 _AV (1,1), G2 _AV (1,1)
1), B2 _AV (1,1) using shift amounts ΔR _AV (1,1), ΔG _AV
(1,1), ΔB _AV (1,1) are calculated (# 390). In addition,
The shift amounts ΔR _AV (a, b), ΔG _AV (a, b), and ΔB _AV (a, b) are
For example, ΔR _AV (a, b) = R2 _AV (a, b) −R1 _AV (a, b), ΔG
_AV (a, b) = G2 _AV (a, b) −G1 _AV (a, b), ΔB _AV (a, b) = B
2 _AV (a, b) −B1 _AV (a, b).

Subsequently, the pixel data g _i (1,1) of each color component of the small block BLK (1,1) in one row and one column of the composite image G ″ is shifted by the shift amounts ΔR _AV (1,1), ΔG _AV (1,1), correction is performed using ΔB _AV (1,1) (# 392) Note that the correction data g _R ′ (a,
b), g _G ′ (a, b) and g _B ′ (a, b) are g _R ′ (a, b) =
g _R (a, b) + ΔR _AV (a, b), g _G ′ (a, b) = g _G (a, b) + ΔG
_AV (a, b), g _B ′ (a, b) = g _B (a, b) + ΔB _AV (a, b)

Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the count value a is equal to the number of rows x (# 394). If a <x (##
(NO in 394), the count value a is incremented by 1, and the process returns to step # 386, and the above-described correction processing is performed on the small block BLK (a + 1, b) in the (a + 1) row and the b column. Since a + 1 = 2, step # 386
And the above-described correction processing is performed on the small block BLK (2, 1) of 2 rows and 1 column. Thereafter, similarly, (3, 1),
(4,1),... Each small block BL in the first column of (x, 1)
The above-described correction processing is sequentially performed on K (a, 1) (a = 3, 4,... X).

When the image correction is completed for the small block BLK (a, 1) in the first column, a = x is satisfied in step # 394, and the flow advances to step # 398 to set the count value b to the number of columns y.
Is determined, and if b <y (# 3
98, the count value a is set to “1”, the count value b is incremented by “1”, and the process returns to step # 386 to return to the small block BLK (1, b +) of one row (b + 1) column. The correction processing described above is performed for 1).
Since b + 1 = 2, the flow returns to step # 366, and the small blocks BLK (a, 2) in the second column (a = 1, 2,...)
The above-described correction processing is sequentially performed for x) (# 38)
6-396 loops).

Subsequently, the above-described image correction is sequentially performed on the small blocks BLK (a, b) in each column by the same method (loop of # 386 to # 402), and all the small blocks BLK (a, b) (a = 1,2, ... x, b = 1,2, ... y)
When the image correction for is completed (YES in # 398),
The process ends.

In the above embodiment, a dedicated image processing apparatus equipped with an image synthesizing program has been described. However, as shown in FIG. 48, an image synthesizing program and an image correcting program are stored in a floppy disk, a magnetic tape, or the like. Magnetic recording media, CD-ROMs, optical disc cards,
It is stored in an external recording medium 43 such as an optical recording medium such as a magneto-optical disk and read into the computer main body 41 via the external storage device 42, or by reading into the computer main body 41 via a network such as the Internet. Alternatively, the image processing device 40 using a computer system may be constructed.

As described above, the imaging unit 22 can be rotated up, down, left, and right, and the imaging unit 2 can be rotated by the optical axis changing lever 9 (or the optical axis changing buttons 19a to 19d).
In the digital camera 1 in which the optical axis direction can be adjusted, when the main switch 21 is turned on, the image pickup unit 22 is automatically set to the center position, so that it is possible to immediately shoot in the front direction, The rotation control of the imaging unit 22 based on the instruction of the optical axis changing lever 9 (or the optical axis changing buttons 19a to 19d) can be easily and accurately performed.

When the main switch 21 is turned off, the imaging unit 22 is rotated to a predetermined position where the photographing lens 231 is not exposed from the opening 5, and the imaging unit 2 is turned off.
Since the opening 5 is shielded by the second unit main body 23, the opening 5 can be surely shielded without providing a special shielding member, preventing dust and dirt from adhering to the photographing lens 231 and The light shielding of the image sensor can be reliably performed.

[0246]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In a digital camera in which an imaging unit is rotatably provided at a position facing the opening in a camera body provided with an opening for taking in subject light in the front, the camera is changed from a shooting impossible state to a shooting enabled state. Then, the optical unit of the imaging unit is exposed from the opening, and the optical axis direction is automatically set to the front direction, so that even if the imaging unit is in an arbitrary direction and the shooting is not possible, When the state is changed to the photographable state, the photographing can be immediately performed without adjusting the optical axis direction of the imaging unit.

When the state of the camera is changed from the photographable state to the photographable state, the optical unit of the image pickup unit is set to a position not to be exposed from the opening, and the opening is shielded by the image pickup unit. In addition, the automatic closing mechanism of the opening can be simplified, and dirt and dust can be prevented from adhering to the optical means of the imaging unit, and light shielding of the imaging device can be reliably performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view showing an appearance of the digital camera according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state where a display unit is detached from a camera body.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a main part showing an arrangement position of an imaging unit in a camera body.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a subject and a shooting range in shooting in a high-definition shooting mode.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the imaging unit.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the imaging unit.

FIG. 8 is a right side view of the imaging unit.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a mechanism for detecting a focal length of a photographing lens.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a structure of a driving member that drives the imaging unit.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a waveform of a driving voltage applied to a piezoelectric element of a driving member.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a structure of a position detecting member.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a position detection circuit.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a waveform of an output signal of the position detection circuit.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a setting position of an imaging unit when a main switch is turned on / off.

FIG. 16 is a main part perspective view showing a state where the imaging unit is set at a center position.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of an essential part showing a state where the imaging unit is set at a position for blocking an opening in the lower right direction with respect to the front direction.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a digital camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a main flow of a photographing operation of the digital camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a main flow of a photographing operation of the digital camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart of a subroutine “SM OFF”.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart of a subroutine “imaging unit set”.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart of a subroutine “zoom”.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a horizontal angle of view θh and a vertical angle of view θv.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a displacement amount Δθh in the horizontal direction and a displacement amount Δθv in the vertical direction.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart of a subroutine “drive imaging unit”.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart of a subroutine “drive imaging unit”.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart of a subroutine “S1 ON”.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart of a subroutine “S1 ON”.

FIG. 30 is a diagram schematically illustrating a photographing process in a high-definition photographing mode.

FIG. 31 is a diagram showing a configuration of an image file.

FIG. 32 is a flowchart of a subroutine “image selection”.

FIG. 33 is a diagram schematically showing a process of selecting a recorded image in a normal shooting mode.

FIG. 34 is a flowchart of a subroutine “lens check”.

FIG. 35 is a flowchart of a subroutine “reproduction mode”.

FIG. 36 is a flowchart of a subroutine “reproduction mode”.

FIG. 37 is a diagram for describing a display image on the LCD display unit in a recording image reproduction process.

FIG. 38 is a block diagram of an embodiment of an image processing apparatus for creating a high-definition image.

FIG. 39 is a flowchart showing an image synthesis process.

FIG. 40 is a diagram showing a processing procedure of image synthesis.

FIG. 41 is a diagram for explaining a correlation calculation process.

FIG. 42 is a diagram illustrating a composite image in a case where only a partial image is simply stuck together when there is a partial image having no overlapping portion of the image in the bonding portion.

FIG. 43 is a diagram illustrating a combined image in a case where there is a partial image having no overlapping portion of the image in the pasting portion, and the corresponding portion of the entire image is combined so as to be replaced with the partial image.

FIG. 44 is a diagram illustrating a luminance distribution of an image photographed by a photographing lens having a characteristic that a light amount in a lens peripheral portion is smaller than a light amount in a lens central portion.

FIG. 45 is a diagram illustrating a luminance distribution in a case where a high-definition image is created by combining images photographed by a photographing lens having a characteristic in which a light amount at a lens peripheral portion is smaller than a light amount at a lens central portion.

FIG. 46 is a diagram illustrating the concept of an image correction method.

FIG. 47 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of image correction.

FIG. 48 is a diagram showing an image processing device constructed by a computer system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Digital camera 2 Camera main body 201 Unit drive part (drive means) 202 Unit position detection part (position detection means) 203 FL control part 204 Power supply part 205 Switch group 206 A / D conversion part 207 Timing generator 208 Signal processing part 209 RAM 210 Decompression / compression processing unit 211 Recording / reading processing unit 212 Flash memory 213 Control unit 3 LCD display unit 301 Display control unit 302 Switch group 4 Flash 5 Opening unit 6, 7, 16, 17 Zoom operation button 8, 18 Release button 9 Light Axis change lever (instruction means) 10 Mounting plate 11 Cable 12 LCD panel 13 Recording / playback mode switch 14 Shooting mode switch 15 Bracket shooting confirmation button 19a-19d Optical axis change button (instruction means) 20 Erase button 21 May Switch (state changing unit) 22 Imaging unit 23 Unit main body 231 Shooting lens (optical unit) 232 Zoom motor 237 Zoom drive unit 238 Lens position detection unit 239 Image pickup unit (imaging unit) 24 First support frame 25 Second support 26 Drive Members 27, 28 Position detecting member 271 Magnetic head 272 Magnet scale 273 Position detecting circuit 30 Image processing device main body 31 Control unit 32 ROM 33 RAM 34 Image memory 35 GUI 36 I / F 37 Input device 38 Display device 39 External storage device 40 Computer System 41 Computer main body 42 External storage device 43 External recording medium M Magnet

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Minoru Kuwana 2-3-13 Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka City Inside Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd. (72) Shinya Matsuda 2-3-2 Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi No. 13 Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Tetsuro Kamihara 2-3-13 Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takashi Matsuo 2-chome Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi No. 3-13 Osaka Kokusai Building Minolta Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takashi Kondo 2-13-13 Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka City F-term in Osaka Kokusai Building Minolta Co., Ltd. 5C022 AA13 AB62 AC03 AC06 AC13 AC32 AC33 AC42 AC69 5C053 FA08 FA27 GA11 GB08 GB36 GB37 KA03 KA21 KA24 KA25 LA11 5C076 AA02 AA12 AA16 AA17 AA19 AA21 AA22 AA24 AA36 BA01 BA0 6 BB06 BB32

Claims (4)

[Claims] An image pickup means for photoelectrically converting a subject light image into an image signal at a position facing the opening in a camera body provided with an opening for taking in subject light on a front surface, and an image pickup surface of the image pickup means An optical unit for forming an optical image of the subject light image as a unit, a digital camera rotatably provided so as to be able to change its optical axis direction, the optical axis of the imaging unit Instructing means for instructing a direction, driving means for driving the imaging unit based on an instruction from the instructing means, position detecting means for detecting a rotational position of the imaging unit, and changing a photographing impossible state to a photographable state. State changing means; and when the state is changed to a photographable state by the state changing means, the driving means is driven based on the detection information of the position detecting means to drive the image pickup unit to the light. Digital camera means, characterized in that a position control means for setting a predetermined position opposed to the opening. 2. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined position where the optical means faces the opening of the camera body is such that the optical axis direction of the optical means is perpendicular to the opening surface of the opening. A digital camera, which is located at a certain position. 3. An image pickup means which photoelectrically converts an object light image into an image signal and captures the image at a position facing the opening in a camera body provided with an opening on the front surface, and the object light is provided on an image pickup surface of the image pickup means. An imaging unit formed as a unit with optical means for forming an image, is rotatable so as to be able to change its optical axis direction, and when the optical means is not at a position facing the opening, the imaging unit Is a digital camera provided so as to be able to cover the opening, and instructing means for instructing an optical axis direction of the imaging unit; driving means for rotating the imaging unit; and a rotation position of the imaging unit. Position detecting means for detecting the state of the camera, state changing means for changing the photographable state to the photographing impossible state, and, when the state is changed to the photographing impossible state by the state changing means, based on the detection information of the position detecting means. Can by driving the drive means digital camera, characterized in that the imaging unit is the optical means and a position control means for setting the predetermined position not opposed to the opening. 4. The digital camera according to claim 1, further comprising: a power supply unit for supplying power; and a switching unit for switching and setting the supply and stop of the power supply. A digital camera, which is switching setting means.