JP2000312309A - Image pickup device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image pickup device that can accurately and easily focus an object even when employing a monitor with a small number of pixels. SOLUTION: Upon the receipt of an operation sensing signal from an operation sensor 13 as a result of focus adjustment operation by a focus ring 1, a system controller 11 automatically switches a display form of a partial image of an object from a display form of an entire image of the object as a display form on the basis of image data from a buffer memory 8 onto a small-sized monitor 12 of which the number of pixels is smaller than that of a CCD 3. When the focus adjustment by the focus ring 1 is finished and the operation sensing signal is stopped after that, the system controller 11 automatically switches the display form of the entire image of the object from the display form of the partial image of the object as the display form onto the small-sized monitor 12.

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 for forming an image of a subject, such as a video movie camera or an electronic still camera, on an image pickup device through an optical system with a focusing device, converting the output into image data and recording the image data on a recording medium. It concerns the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An imaging apparatus such as a video movie camera or an electronic still camera, which has recently been widely used in ordinary households, basically transfers an object to an imaging device (CCD) through an optical system with a focusing device. It is configured to form an image, convert the output into image data, and record the image data on a recording medium. As a focus adjustment device, an automatic focus adjustment device that can automatically adjust the focus on a subject and perform focusing It has a focus adjustment (autofocus) function.

In this imaging apparatus, when focusing on an object by the automatic focus adjustment function, the state of the focusing is determined by a small monitor provided for visually confirming the state of reflection of the object. You can check. In such an image pickup apparatus, the small monitor usually has a smaller number of pixels than the image pickup element, and the image data of the image pickup element is thinned out and displayed on the small monitor. It is lower than the above image, and it is difficult for the photographer to confirm whether or not the target subject is in focus with a small monitor. One solution to this problem is disclosed, for example, in an electronic still camera described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-244471.

As shown in FIG. 4, a conventional image pickup apparatus such as an electronic still camera passes through a display image generator 43 based on a subject image signal from a CCD 42 corresponding to subject light H1 incident through a lens 41. After a part of the subject image displayed on the small monitor 44 composed of a liquid crystal display unit is designated by the movement switch (SW) 45, a focus adjustment switch (SW) for starting focusing by the automatic focus adjustment function is used. ) 46, a part designated by the subject image on the small monitor 44 is enlarged and displayed on the entire display screen by the display image generating unit 43, and the automatic focusing device 47 focuses on the part. By doing so, the photographer can easily confirm the focus state on the small monitor 44. Is that that.

[0005]

However, in the focusing method in the conventional imaging apparatus such as the above-mentioned electronic still camera, after the focusing portion of the subject image is designated on the small monitor 44 by the movement switch 45, the focusing is performed. By operating the adjustment switch 46 to start focusing and checking the state of focusing on the display image on the small monitor 44, it takes time to complete focusing on the subject. The problem is that the timing of the photo opportunity is missed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems. Even when a small monitor having a smaller number of pixels than an image pickup device is used, the focus can be adjusted accurately, easily and with a small number of operations in a short time. An image pickup apparatus capable of reliably photographing a target object without missing the timing of a photo opportunity at the time of photographing.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an image pickup apparatus according to the present invention, when a focus adjustment operation is started, displays an object on a monitor having fewer pixels than the image pickup element. The display mode of the entire image is automatically switched from the display mode of the partial image to the display mode of the partial image. After that, when the focus adjustment operation is completed, the display mode of the partial image of the subject is automatically changed from the display mode of the partial image of the subject to the display mode of the entire image. Switching is characterized.

As described above, even when a small monitor having a smaller number of pixels than the image pickup device is used, the focus can be adjusted accurately, easily and with a small number of operations in a short time.
The photographer can surely photograph the target subject without missing the timing of a photo opportunity at the time of the photographing.

[0009]

An image pickup apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention forms an image of an object on an image sensor through an optical system capable of adjusting a focus on the object, and outputs the image output from the image sensor. An image pickup apparatus for recording image data obtained by digitizing an image signal corresponding to a subject, a monitor having a smaller number of pixels than the image sensor and displaying a subject image based on the image data, and displaying on the monitor As a form, a configuration is provided that includes a switching unit that switches between a display form of an entire image based on all image data of the subject and a display form of a partial image based on partial image data of the subject in accordance with the operation state of the focus adjustment. .

According to this configuration, the change of the operation state according to the start or the end of the focus adjustment operation causes the display form of the whole image of the subject and the display of the partial image to be displayed on the monitor having fewer pixels than the image pickup device. Automatically switch between forms. An imaging apparatus according to a second aspect is configured such that the switching unit according to the first aspect is switched to a display mode of a partial image only during a focus adjustment operation as a display mode on a monitor.

According to this configuration, when the focus adjustment operation is started, the display mode on the monitor having fewer pixels than the image sensor is automatically switched from the display mode of the entire image of the subject to the display mode of the partial image. After that, when the focus adjustment operation is completed, the display mode on the monitor is automatically switched from the display mode of the partial image of the subject to the display mode of the entire image.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, at least the manual adjustment can be performed as the focus adjustment according to the first aspect, and the switching means is displayed as a display form on a monitor only during the focus adjustment operation by the manual adjustment. It is configured to switch to the display mode of the partial image. According to this configuration, when a manual adjustment is started as a focus adjustment operation and a part of a human body such as a fingertip comes into contact with the apparatus, the display form on the monitor having fewer pixels than the image sensor is partially changed from the display form of the entire image of the subject. The display mode is automatically switched to the image display mode. After that, when the manual focus adjustment is completed and a part of the human body is separated from the apparatus, the display mode on the monitor is changed from the display mode of the partial image of the subject to the display mode of the entire image. Automatically switch to.

Hereinafter, an imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. (Embodiment 1) Embodiment 1 corresponding to the first and second aspects of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the imaging device according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a focus adjustment device which is directly connected to the imaging lens 2 and has a ring shape, for example. By moving the focus ring 1, the focus of the subject (not shown) at the time of photographing is adjusted, and the optical image of the subject that has passed through the imaging lens 2 is formed on an image sensor 3 such as a CCD. .

An image signal corresponding to the subject output from the image pickup device 3 based on the image formation is processed by a correlated double sampling circuit (CDS) 4 and an amplifier 5 and then processed.
The image data is converted into digital signal image data by the A / D converter 6, and further converted into data corresponding to the luminance / color difference signal by the digital signal processing circuit (DSP) 7. Thereafter, data corresponding to the luminance / color difference signal is temporarily written into the buffer memory 8 as image data, and the image data read from the buffer memory 8 is recorded on the recording medium 10 after being compressed by the compression circuit 9. .

Further, based on the image data written in the buffer memory 8, an image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the screen of the small monitor 12 in accordance with a control signal from the system controller 11. Here, reference numeral 13 denotes an operation sensor for detecting that the focus ring 1 is in operation, and continuously sends an operation detection signal to the system controller 11 while detecting the operation of the focus ring 1. . And the system controller 1
1 controls the buffer memory 8 while continuing to receive the motion sensing signal from the motion sensing sensor 13 so that a portion corresponding to the central portion of the screen of all the image data in the buffer memory 8 is obtained from the image data. Is sent to the small monitor 12 without thinning.

FIG. 2 shows an example of an image displayed on the screen of the small monitor 12 according to the first embodiment. For example, in the case where the number of pixels of the image sensor 3 is 12 × 12, it is assumed that the image data corresponding to FIG. 2 (b) and FIG. 2 (c),
Assume that it is 6 × 6.

At this time, the 12
An image displayed on the small monitor 12 corresponding to all the image data of × 12 is as shown in FIG. 2B. That is, since the number of pixels of the small monitor 12 is half of the number of pixels of the image sensor 3, the small monitor 12
As shown in FIG. 2B, the entire image obtained by performing the thinning process from the entire image data of FIG. 2A is displayed.

When the motion sensor 13 is the focus ring 1
2C, while the operation sensing signal is being sent to the system controller 11, the image displayed on the small monitor 12 is as shown in FIG. At this time, FIG.
The image of (c) is 6 ×, which is the same size as the number of pixels of the small monitor 12.
The image is obtained by extracting only the image data of the central portion from all the 12 × 12 image data shown in FIG.

Next, when the focus adjustment operation by the focus ring 1 is completed and the operation of the focus ring 1 is stopped,
The motion sensing signal from the motion sensing sensor 13 also stops, and one second after that, the display image on the small monitor 12 is changed to the original image shown in FIG.
Return to the angle of view shown in. The time required to return to the original angle of view is not limited to 1 second, but may be 2 seconds or 3 seconds depending on the stability of the angle of view switching operation.

In this way, the entire image data in the buffer memory 8 is thinned out and displayed on the small monitor 12, so that the entire image can be confirmed. By extracting and displaying only the minutes, it is possible to accurately focus on the subject and to know where the focus has been set. Also, only by detecting the operation of the focus ring 1,
Since the image on the small monitor 12 is switched, focusing can be easily performed. (Embodiment 2) Embodiment 2 corresponding to the invention described in claims 1 and 3 will be described. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the imaging apparatus according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 14 denotes an auto-focus control circuit which performs focusing based on image data input to the DSP 7. Reference numeral 16 denotes a contact sensor attached to the focus ring 1, which has a role of notifying the system controller 11 that, for example, a photographer's hand or fingertip has contacted the focus ring 1. Reference numeral 15 denotes a switch for switching between a manual operation function and an autofocus function as a focus adjustment function.

When the manual operation function is enabled by the switch 15, the auto focus control circuit 14 does not operate. For example, when the photographer's hand touches the focus ring 1, the contact sensor 16 reacts. A contact sensing signal is sent to the system controller 11. Then, the system controller 11 controls the buffer memory 8 while continuing to receive the touch sensing signal from the touch sensing sensor 16, and as shown in FIG. The portion corresponding to the center of the screen is sent to the small monitor 12 without thinning out the image data.

When the photographer's hand leaves the focus ring 1, the contact sensor 16
The system controller 11 stops sending the touch sensing signal to the small monitor 12 so that the small monitor 12
As shown in FIG. 2B, a control signal is sent to display an entire image obtained by thinning out all the image data in the buffer memory 8.

When the auto focus function is enabled by the switch 15, the contact sensor 1
The control signal output from the system controller 11 to the buffer memory 8 is not changed by the signal from the controller 6. As described above, the auto-focus function can be used normally, and the touch sensor 16 works only when the manual operation is performed.
Only the data having the same number of pixels as the number of pixels of the small monitor 12 is extracted and displayed from all the image data therein, so that accurate focusing can be performed. Focus ring 1
The image is switched when the hand or finger touches the
Focusing can be performed without a screen switch.

[0025]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a change in the operation state according to the start or end of the focus adjustment operation allows the object to be displayed on a monitor having fewer pixels than the image sensor. The display mode of the whole image and the display mode of the partial image can be automatically switched.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the focus adjustment operation is started, the display mode on the monitor having a smaller number of pixels than the image sensor is changed from the display mode of the whole image of the subject to the partial image mode. Automatically switch to display mode,
Thereafter, when the focus adjustment operation is completed, the display mode on the monitor can be automatically switched from the display mode of the partial image of the subject to the display mode of the entire image.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when a manual adjustment is started as a focus adjustment operation and a part of a human body such as a fingertip comes into contact with the apparatus, a display form on a monitor having a smaller number of pixels than the image pickup device is obtained. Then, the display mode of the whole image of the subject is automatically switched from the display mode of the partial image to the display mode of the partial image. The display mode of the image can be automatically switched to the display mode of the entire image.

As described above, even when a small monitor having a smaller number of pixels than that of the image pickup device is used, the focus can be adjusted accurately, easily and with a small number of operations in a short time.
The photographer can surely photograph the target subject without missing the timing of a photo opportunity at the time of the photographing. At the end of the focus adjustment operation, the entire image of the subject with the focus adjusted and accurately focused can be displayed on the monitor, and the photographer can confirm the shooting angle of view of the subject without fail. You can understand.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a display image on a small monitor according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an imaging device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a conventional imaging device.

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 focus ring (focus adjustment device) 2 imaging lens 3 CCD (imaging element) 4 CDS (correlated double sampling circuit) 5 amplifier 6 A / D converter 7 DSP (digital signal processing circuit) 8 buffer memory 9 compression circuit 10 recording Medium 11 System controller 12 Small monitor 13 Motion sensor 14 Auto focus control circuit 15 (switch between auto focus function and manual operation function) 16 Contact sensor

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 5/262 G03B 3/00 A

Claims (3)

[Claims] An image data obtained by forming an image of the subject on an image sensor through an optical system capable of adjusting the focus of the subject and digitizing an image signal corresponding to the subject output from the image sensor. A monitor that has a smaller number of pixels than the image sensor and displays a subject image based on the image data, and displays a whole image based on all image data of the subject as a display form on the monitor. An imaging apparatus comprising: a switching unit configured to switch a mode and a display mode of a partial image based on partial image data of the subject according to the operation state of the focus adjustment. 2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the switching unit is configured to switch to a display mode of a partial image only during a focus adjustment operation as a display mode on a monitor. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least manual adjustment is possible as the focus adjustment, and the switching means is configured to switch to a display mode of a partial image only during the focus adjustment operation by the manual adjustment as a display mode on the monitor. The imaging device according to claim 1.