JP2000227542A - Image pickup device and control method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily focus a selected body to be photographed without setting a focusing range before carrying out remote control photography in an image pickup device provided with an automatic focusing function capable of executing remote control photographing. SOLUTION: In this image pickup device, visual light ray and infrared ray emitted from light emitting elements 3 and 4 of a remote control transmitter 2 are received by an image pickup element 6 and a light receiving element 5 and the image pickup action is controlled by a micro computer 9 according to the infrared ray signal received at the light receiving element 5. Furthermore, the image pickup is carried out by moving (setting) a distance range for automatic focus to the position of the visual light ray received at the image pickup element 6.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus such as a digital still camera having an automatic focusing function which can be operated remotely, and a control method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the number of cameras capable of releasing a shutter using a remote control (hereinafter, referred to as a remote control) device has been increasing, for example, in a case where the photographer himself is photographed by the camera. When the shutter of the camera is controlled by a remote controller, the autofocus (autofocus) distance measurement area is fixed at the center of the screen, or fixed at a position arbitrarily set by a photographer while looking through a viewfinder.

For example, when photographing a person (photographer), the camera is fixed with a tripod or the like. When the auto-focus distance measurement area of the camera is fixed at the center, the user stands in front of the camera and moves so as to enter the distance measurement area. As a result, the user can take a picture with his or her focus.

When a subject is not placed at the center, another subject moves to the same distance as the distance between the subject and the camera at the center. As a result, it is possible to take a picture in which the target subject is focused.

[0005] In the case of a model in which the distance measurement area can be set arbitrarily, the photographer sets the distance measurement area to a desired position while looking at the viewfinder, moves to the position, and operates the remote controller. As a result, it is possible to take a picture in which the target subject is focused.

[0006]

However, in the conventional imaging apparatus as described above, the subject needs to be in the center when the ranging area is fixed at the center, and when the ranging area is at the edge of the subject screen. Accurate focus could not be obtained.

[0007] Further, even in a model that can move the ranging area arbitrarily, it takes time to set it, and when the photographer attempts to photograph himself using a remote controller, he or she must move to the ranging area. There was a contradiction that it was necessary to check with the viewfinder, and there was a possibility that the shooting would fail.

[0008] Further, in a model capable of manual focusing, it is possible to set a distance to take a picture, but it is difficult to measure the distance accurately because the subject, which is the subject, is not at a position where the subject is photographed. It was troublesome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and has as its object to easily focus on a desired subject without setting a ranging area before shooting with a remote controller. It is an object of the present invention to provide an imaging device capable of performing the above.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an image pickup apparatus capable of reliably recognizing a light emitting position of a remote control within a photographing range.

[0011]

An image pickup apparatus and a control method therefor according to the present invention are configured as follows.

(1) A remote control device capable of simultaneously emitting infrared light and visible light, having a light receiving element for receiving infrared light from the remote control device, and receiving visible light and imaging light from the remote control device. An image sensor, and control means for controlling an imaging operation based on an infrared signal received by the light receiving element, and a distance measurement area for automatic focus adjustment at a position of visible light from a remote control device received by the image sensor. Moved.

(2) A remote control device capable of simultaneously emitting infrared light and visible light, a light receiving element for receiving infrared light from the remote control device, and a visible light and an image pickup light from the remote control device. An image sensor, and control means for controlling an imaging operation by an infrared signal received by the light receiving element, the image sensor has a plurality of distance measurement areas for automatic focus adjustment in an imaging screen, An area in which the signal level changes at the same time as the infrared light receiving timing among the plurality of divided areas is determined, and a distance measurement area for automatic focus adjustment is moved to the position of the determined area.

(3) Infrared light and visible light emitted simultaneously from the remote control device are received by the light receiving element and the imaging element, and the imaging operation is controlled by the infrared signal received by the light receiving element. The distance measurement area for automatic focus adjustment was moved to the position of, and an image was taken.

(4) Infrared light and visible light emitted simultaneously from the remote control device are received by the light receiving element and the imaging element, and the imaging operation is controlled by the infrared signal received by the light receiving element. For the purpose of the present invention, a plurality of distance measuring areas are divided and held in the imaging screen, an area in which the signal level is converted at the same time as the infrared light receiving timing is determined in the plurality of divided areas, and the position of the determined area is determined. First, the distance measurement area for automatic focus adjustment was moved to capture an image.

[0016]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image pickup apparatus according to the present invention, and shows a schematic configuration of a digital still camera.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a camera main body, and 2 denotes a remote control transmitter which is a remote control device for remotely controlling the camera main body 1. The light emitting element 3 emits visible light.
And an infrared light emitting element 4 so that visible light and infrared light can be emitted toward the camera body 1 at the same time.
5 is a light receiving element for receiving infrared rays from the remote control transmitter 2, 6 is an image sensor for receiving visible light from the remote control device 2 and imaging light from a subject and converting it into an electric signal, and 7 is an imaging element. Auto focus (auto focus) by focus lens drive unit 8 with lens
Driven for adjustment. 9 is a microcomputer (control means) for controlling the entire camera system, 10 is a signal processing circuit for processing an image signal from the image sensor 6, 11
Denotes a recording medium on which signal-processed image data is written.

In the digital still camera configured as described above, a microcomputer (hereinafter, referred to as a microcomputer) 9 controls an imaging operation based on an infrared signal from the remote control transmitter 2 received by the light receiving element 5. Then, an image is captured by moving the ranging area for autofocus to the position of visible light from the remote control transmitter 2 received by the image sensor 6.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the processing operation of the first embodiment of the present invention based on the above configuration, and is a specific flow from setting the digital still camera to the remote control reception mode to ending the shooting. It is shown.

First, the photographer who is the subject of the subject determines the angle of view for photographing and fixes the camera with a tripod or the like. At this time, it is not necessary to consider the position for focusing.
Next, the photographer sets the camera to the remote control reception mode (step 101). Then, the user moves within the range of the adjusted angle of view, and presses a switch of the remote control transmitter 2 at a position to be focused, for example, in front of his / her own body.

The remote control transmitter 2 simultaneously emits infrared light to be received by the light receiving element 5 from the light emitting element 4 and visible light to be received by the imaging element 6 from the light emitting element 3. Then, the light receiving element 5 of the camera body 1 receives the infrared signal from the remote control transmitter 2 (Step S102), and the imaging element 6 captures an image including visible light emitted by the remote control transmitter 2 (Step 103).

When receiving the infrared signal from the remote control transmitter 2, the microcomputer 9 detects an area where the remote control transmitter 2 emits light from the video signal input to the signal processing circuit 10 (step 104). Then, in order to focus on the subject in the remote control light emitting area on the detected imaging screen, the area for distance measurement is moved to an area within a range determined around the detected remote control light emitting area (setting). )
(Step S105). The area for this distance measurement is
It may be larger or smaller than the detected light emitting area of the remote control transmitter 2.

Next, the camera automatically focuses on the distance measurement area (step 106). And
The image data is automatically written on the recording medium 9 (step 107).

In this way, it is possible to easily focus on a desired position without setting a ranging area before shooting. In other words, the photographer only has to roughly determine the composition, and if the user moves to the shooting range of the camera and operates the remote control, the distance measurement area is easily set at that position, and the shooting with the focus on the target object can be performed. Will be possible.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Although the apparatus configuration of the present embodiment is the same as that of FIG. 1, overlapping description will be omitted. However, the image sensor 6 divides the distance measurement area for autofocus into a plurality of areas in the imaging screen as shown in FIG. 3. A region in which the signal level changes at the same time as the reception timing of the infrared ray from the remote control transmitter 2 among the plurality of divided regions, and moves the ranging region for autofocus to the position of the determined region. To perform imaging.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of this embodiment based on the above configuration. The control processes shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4 and the flowchart of FIG. 2 described above are executed by the microcomputer 9 of FIG. 1 according to a program stored in advance.

First, the photographer who is the subject determines the angle of view for photographing, and fixes the camera with a tripod or the like. At this time, it is not necessary to consider the position for focusing. Next, when the photographer sets the camera to the remote control reception mode (step 201), the image sensor 6 of the camera body 1 starts imaging (step 202), and as shown in FIG. The data obtained by averaging the luminance levels of the respective regions are taken in at regular intervals and stored as divided luminance data (step 203). Then, the photographer moves within the range of the adjusted angle of view, and presses a switch of the remote control transmitter 2 at a position to be focused, for example, in front of his / her body.

The remote control transmitter 2 simultaneously emits infrared light to be received by the light receiving element 5 from the light emitting element 4 and visible light to be received by the imaging element 6 from the light emitting element 3 for a predetermined time. Then, the light receiving element 5 of the camera body 1 receives the infrared signal from the remote control transmitter 2 (step 204),
The imaging device 6 captures an image including visible light emitted by the remote control transmitter 2 (Step 205).

When the microcomputer 9 receives the infrared signal from the remote control transmitter 2, the stored divided luminance data, that is, the divided luminance data before the remote control light emission, and the divided luminance data currently captured by the image sensor 6 are received. That is, the divided luminance data is compared with the divided luminance data during light emission of the remote controller (step 20).
6) The area where the signal level has changed to a high level is separately stored as candidate position information of the remote control light emitting area (step 2).
07). Then, the new luminance data, that is, the divided luminance data during the remote control light emission is stored again (step 20).
8).

When the light emission of the remote control transmitter 2 ends and the infrared signal from the remote control transmitter 2 stops (step 209), an image is picked up by the image sensor 6 (step 210), and the divided image stored again is stored. The luminance data, that is, the divided luminance data during the remote control light emission, is compared with the divided luminance data of the image at that time, that is, the divided luminance data after the remote control light emission is completed (step 211), and an area where the signal level has changed to be low is detected. . Then, a region that matches the stored candidate position information of the remote control light emitting region is determined as a region where the remote control transmitter 2 emits light (step 212).

In this way, it is possible to reliably detect the area on the screen where the video signal changes at the same timing as the infrared signal received by the light receiving element 5.

Next, the microcomputer 9 sets an area for distance measurement to an area within a predetermined range around the detected remote control light emitting area in order to focus on a subject in the detected remote control light emitting area on the screen. Move (set) (step 213). The area for the distance measurement may be larger or smaller than the detected light emitting area of the remote control transmitter 2.

Next, the camera automatically focuses on the distance measurement area (step 214). Then, the image data is automatically written on the recording medium 9 (step 215).

As described above, the light emitting position of the remote control transmitter 2 within the photographing range can be reliably recognized, and photographing can be easily performed with a focus on a desired position. That is, regarding the detection of the position of the visible light received by the image sensor 6, the light emitting area in the screen is determined using the infrared light receiving timing, so that the light emitting position of the remote control transmitter 2 within the shooting range can be reliably determined. It becomes possible to recognize.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention,
There is an effect that a desired subject can be easily focused and photographed without setting a distance measurement area before remote control photographing.

Further, there is an effect that the light emitting position of the remote controller within the photographing range can be surely recognized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an imaging device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of screen division according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation according to a second embodiment;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Camera main body 2 Remote control transmitter (remote control device) 3 Light emitting element 4 Light emitting element 5 Light receiving element 6 Image sensor 7 Lens 8 Focus lens driver 9 Microcomputer (control means) 10 Signal processing circuit 11 Recording medium

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A remote control device capable of simultaneously emitting infrared light and visible light, a light receiving element receiving infrared light from the remote control device, and an imaging device receiving visible light and imaging light from the remote control device. An element, comprising control means for controlling an imaging operation by an infrared signal received by the light receiving element,
An image pickup apparatus, wherein a distance measurement area for automatic focus adjustment is moved to a position of visible light from a remote control device received by the image pickup element. 2. A remote control device capable of simultaneously emitting infrared light and visible light, a light receiving element receiving infrared light from the remote control device, and an imaging device receiving visible light and imaging light from the remote control device. An element, comprising control means for controlling an imaging operation by an infrared signal received by the light receiving element,
The image sensor has a distance measurement area for automatic focus adjustment divided into a plurality of areas in an imaging screen, and determines an area in which a signal level changes simultaneously with the infrared light receiving timing in the plurality of divided areas. An imaging apparatus for moving a distance measurement area for automatic focus adjustment to a position of the determined area. 3. An infrared ray and a visible ray which are simultaneously emitted from a remote control device are received by a light receiving element and an image pickup element, an image pickup operation is controlled by an infrared signal received by the light receiving element, and a visible light ray received by the image pickup element is controlled. A method for controlling an image pickup apparatus, wherein a distance measurement area for automatic focus adjustment is moved to a position and an image is picked up. 4. An infrared light and a visible light emitted simultaneously from a remote control device are received by a light receiving element and an image pickup element, and an image pickup operation is controlled by an infrared signal received by the light receiving element, and the image pickup element is automatically focused. The distance measuring area is divided into a plurality of areas in the imaging screen, and an area in which the signal level is converted at the same time as the infrared light receiving timing is determined in the plurality of divided areas. An imaging apparatus characterized in that an image is taken by moving a distance measurement area for automatic focus adjustment.