JP2001100264A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a power source from being wastefully consumed when an optical shake correction means in a photographing optical system is actuated in the midst of observation through an electronic finder before exposing film. SOLUTION: This camera is provided with the optical shake correction means 4 detecting the shake of a camera main body 1, driving an optical device 2a in the photographing optical system and performing the shake correction of an optical image formed by luminous flux passing through the photographing optical system; an exposure means 6 exposing the optical image formed by the luminous flux passing through the photographing optical system on the film 7; an image pickup means 11 electronically picking up the optical image formed by the luminous flux passing through the photographing optical system; a display means 14 such as the electronic finder for displaying image information picked up by the image pickup means; an image processing shake correction means performing the shake correction by the image processing of the image information displayed on the display means; and a control means stopping the actuation of the optical shake correction means when a picture is displayed on the display means before exposing the film by the exposure means.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera having both a function of correcting an optical shake of an optical image to be exposed on a film and a function of correcting an image displayed on a display means such as an electronic viewfinder by image processing. It is.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a camera having a function of correcting an image blur caused by a camera shake of a photographer has been proposed. As one of the shake correction systems mounted on such a camera, an image is captured by an image sensor. 2. Description of the Related Art There is a shake correction system based on image processing that extracts an image portion that cancels out image shake from an image stored in an image memory and enlarges and displays the image portion at a regular size.

FIG. 5 shows a general configuration of a video camera equipped with the shake correction system. The image sensor 101 converts an optical image formed by the lens 100 into an electric signal and outputs the electric signal to the A / D converter 102. The A / D converter 102 converts an output from the image sensor 101 into a digital signal and sends the digital signal to the image processing circuit 104. The image processing circuit 104 includes a memory control circuit 105 that controls the image memory 103, a motion amount detection circuit 106, and an electronic zoom circuit 107.

When the entire range of the captured image W shown in FIG. 6 is stored in the image memory 103, first, the image processing circuit 1
04 reads out the central image portion Ro from the captured image W. Then, the electronic zoom circuit 107 enlarges the central image portion Ro to the same size as the captured image W and outputs the same to the interpolation processing circuit 108.

Here, when the motion amount detection circuit 106 detects the motion of the image, as shown in FIG.
Shifts the extracted portion from the captured image W in a direction to offset the movement, and reads out the shifted image portion Rxy. Then, the electronic zoom circuit 107 enlarges the newly extracted image portion Rxy to the same size as the captured image W and outputs it to the interpolation processing circuit 108.

[0006] The interpolation processing circuit 108 is an electronic zoom circuit 1
Pixel data that is insufficient due to image enlargement by 07 is interpolated and output to the D / A converter 109. D / A converter 10
9 converts the image data interpolated by the interpolation processing circuit 108 into an analog signal and outputs the analog signal to a monitor (electronic viewfinder EVF) 110. D / A converter 10
The image data output from 9 is a moving image signal in which the image shake is reduced, and the monitor 110 displays a moving image in which the image shake is reduced.

As another shake correction system, as proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 5-66444,
There is also an optical shake correction system that shifts a shake correction lens in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis of a lens barrel based on an output corresponding to a shake amount from a shake detection unit.

Further, in recent years, there has been proposed a film photographing camera equipped with an electronic viewfinder such as a liquid crystal monitor together with an optical viewfinder. With this camera, the photographer can take his / her eyes off the optical viewfinder, check the subject image and shooting composition from a position slightly away from the camera through the electronic viewfinder, and check the image taken with the film on the electronic viewfinder display. There is an advantage.

[0009]

However, when such a camera is equipped with a shake correction system based on image processing, the advantage that an object such as a subject can be observed without image shake with an electronic viewfinder before film exposure. However, it cannot suppress image blur during observation with an optical viewfinder or film exposure.

[0010] Further, when an optical shake correction system is mounted, it is possible to observe a subject or the like without image shake even when observing with an electronic viewfinder or when observing with an optical viewfinder, and further suppresses image shake during film exposure. Although there is an advantage that it can be done, if the finder observation time before shooting is long, the optical shake correction system will always be activated during that time, so compared to the case where the image processing shake correction system is activated. There is a disadvantage that power consumption is increased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a camera capable of suppressing image blur both at the time of finder observation before film exposure and at the time of film exposure and suppressing power consumption even when the finder observation time is long.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, a camera according to the first aspect of the present invention detects a shake of a camera body, drives an optical element in a photographing optical system, and shakes an optical image. Optical shake correction means for performing correction, exposure means for exposing an optical image to a film, imaging means for electronically capturing an optical image, display means for displaying image information captured by the imaging means, and display Image processing shake correction means for performing shake correction by image processing of image information displayed on the means, and optical shake when an image is displayed on a display means such as an electronic viewfinder before film exposure by the exposure means. And control means for stopping the operation of the correction means.

That is, image blurring during film exposure (and image blurring during optical finder observation when an optical finder is provided) is reliably suppressed by the optical blur correction means. Further, when an image is displayed on the display unit before the film exposure, it is assumed that the photographer is observing the subject or the like through the display unit, and the optical shake correction unit is deactivated (for example, the optical shake correction unit). Power supply to the display means), image blurring of the image displayed on the display means can be reliably suppressed by the image processing shake correction means, and unnecessary power consumption can be suppressed even when the observation time is long. Becomes

In the camera according to the second aspect of the present invention, an optical shake correcting means for detecting the shake of the camera body, moving the optical element in the photographing optical system in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis, and correcting the shake of the optical image. An optical viewfinder that forms an optical image for viewfinder observation using a part of the light beam that has passed through the imaging optical system, a viewfinder detecting unit that detects whether or not a photographer is looking through the optical viewfinder, and an optical viewfinder. Exposure means for exposing a film, imaging means for electronically capturing an optical image, display means for displaying image information captured by the imaging means, and shake of the image information displayed on the display means by image processing Image processing shake correction means for correcting, and before the film exposure by the exposure means, it was detected by the finder detection means that the photographer was not looking through the optical finder To come, there is provided a control means for stopping the operation of the optical blur correction means.

That is, the image blur at the time of observing the subject or the like with the optical finder (when it is detected that the photographer is looking through the optical finder) and at the time of film exposure are surely suppressed by the optical blur correcting means. Further, when it is detected that the photographer is not looking through the optical viewfinder before the film exposure, it is assumed that the photographer is observing the subject or the like through the display means, and the optical shake correction means is deactivated (for example, By shutting off the power supply to the shake correcting means), the image processing of the image displayed on the display means is surely suppressed by the image processing shake correcting means, and unnecessary power consumption is suppressed even when the observation time becomes long. Becomes possible.

In the second aspect of the present invention, when the photographer detects that the photographer is looking into the optical viewfinder, the display means is set to the non-display state, so that wasteful power consumption can be further suppressed. .

[0017]

1 and 2 show a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a layout diagram of a camera, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the camera.

First, in FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a camera body, and reference numeral 2 denotes a photographing lens mounted on the camera body 1.
Reference numeral 3 denotes a shake detector including an angular velocity sensor or an angular acceleration sensor for detecting the amount of camera shake in each of the yaw and pitch directions, and reference numeral 4 denotes an optical device which shifts and drives the lens 20 in the yaw direction and the pitch direction to optically correct the camera shake. This is a lens correction unit.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a fixed half mirror, which divides the light beam of the photographing lens 2 into a light beam reflected to the optical finder system and a light beam transmitted to the film 7 side. Reference numeral 6 denotes a shutter (exposure means).

Reference numeral 8 denotes a reticle, which is disposed at a position equivalent to the film 7 in the reflection direction of the mirror 5. Reference numeral 9 denotes a pentaprism, and 10 denotes a half mirror or a prism that splits the light beam emitted from the pentaprism 9. One half of the split light beam is guided to the image sensor 11, and the remaining split light beam is guided to the eyepiece 12. An eyeball detection unit 13 includes a photo sensor and the like, and detects that the photographer is looking through the optical viewfinder by detecting reflected light from the eyeball when the photographer looks through the eyepiece 12 of the optical viewfinder system. A switch (finder detecting means).

Reference numeral 14 denotes an electronic viewfinder (EVF) which is composed of a liquid crystal or a CRT or the like, processes an image (electronic image) picked up by the image pickup device 11 and monitors the image.

Next, in FIG. 2, reference numeral 21 denotes a CPU, which controls the entire camera. The output from the camera shake detector 3 is input to the CPU 21 via the camera shake detection circuit 22.

Reference numeral 23 denotes an actuator for driving the optical lens correction unit 4, and reference numeral 24 denotes a drive circuit for the actuator 23. The drive circuit 24 is controlled by the CPU 21.

Reference numeral 25 denotes a circuit for outputting focal length information of the photographing lens 2 mounted on the camera body 1. When the photographing lens 2 is a zoom lens, a focal length corresponding to a zoom state is controlled by a zoom encoder or the like (not shown). Information to CPU2
Transmit to 1.

Reference numeral 31 denotes a camera shake correction switch, which is operated by the photographer to select whether or not to perform camera shake correction.

An EVF switch 32 is operated by the photographer to select whether or not to display an electronic image on the monitor (EVF) 14.

When the EVF switch 32 is ON, an optical image from the photographing lens 2 is picked up by the image pickup device 11 and converted and output as an electric signal.

Reference numeral 26 denotes an A / D converter for converting an analog output of the image sensor 11 into a digital signal. 27 is A /
An image signal processing circuit (vibration correcting means by image processing) which takes in the signal digitized by the D converter 26 and records it in the image memory 28. This image signal processing circuit 27
Is functionally provided with a memory control circuit for controlling the image memory 28, an electronic zoom circuit, and the like, and is controlled by the CPU 21.

The CPU 21 calculates the direction and magnitude of a shake vector based on information from the camera shake detector 3 and the camera shake detection circuit 22 and output from the focal length information output circuit 25. From which address on the image memory 28 the output is read by the image signal processing circuit 27 based on the direction and magnitude of the shake vector, that is, the imaging screen W
An extracted portion Rxy of (see FIG. 6) is determined, and a camera shake correction process is performed by electronic image processing.

Reference numeral 29 denotes an interpolation processing circuit for performing interpolation processing on pixel data necessary for an image electronically enlarged in accordance with shake correction by the image signal processing circuit 27. Reference numeral 30 denotes an interpolation processing circuit 29.
Is a D / A converter that converts the output of the above into an analog signal and outputs it to the monitor 14.

When the camera shake correction switch 31 is ON and
When the VF switch 32 is ON, the monitor 14 displays an electronic image obtained by enlarging the extracted portion Rxy. On the other hand, when shooting (during film exposure) or when the camera shake correction switch 31 is OFF and the EVF switch 32 is ON.
In this case, the entire imaging screen W is displayed without performing the shake correction processing.

Reference numerals 33 and 34 denote switches set to release buttons (not shown). Reference numeral 33 denotes a first switch for turning on the camera when the release button is half-pressed to activate the camera circuit. Reference numeral 34 denotes a full release button. This is a second switch that is turned on when pressed, and starts the exposure operation on the film 7.

Next, the operation of the camera will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, when a power supply (not shown) is turned on in step (S1), the CPU 21 performs a predetermined initialization operation. Next, in step (S2), the first switch 3
Check the status of step 3 and if it is ON, step (S3)
Proceed to. In step (S3), the state of the EVF switch 32 is checked. If the switch is OFF, it is determined that the photographer intends to perform photographing only by optical finder observation, and the process proceeds to the normal photographing mode. Alternatively, it is determined that one or both of the monitors (EVF) 14 are to be observed, and the monitor (EVF) 14 is turned on in step (S4), and the image processing circuit 27 is turned on.
Is operated to display an image captured by the image sensor 11 on the monitor (EVF) 14 in real time.

Next, in step (S5), the state of the camera shake correction switch 31 is checked, and if it is ON, the state of the eyeball detection switch SW13 is checked in step (S6). When the eyeball detection switch 13 is ON, it is determined that the photographer is observing the optical viewfinder,
In step (S7), the monitor (EVF) 14 is turned off while the image processing circuit 27 is operated, and the drive circuit 24 and the actuator 23 are operated based on the detection results of the camera shake detector 3 and the camera shake detection circuit 22. The optical shake correction unit 4 is driven to optically perform camera shake correction. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step (S9).

When the eyeball detection switch 13 is turned off in step (S6), it is determined that the photographer is looking away from the optical viewfinder and observing the monitor (EVF) 14 in step (S8). Proceed to). In step (S8), when the optical shake correction unit 4 is operating, the drive circuit 24 and the actuator 2
3. Stop the operation of 3 (cut off the power supply), and
In addition, the result of performing the above-described camera shake correction based on the image processing based on the detection result of the camera shake detection circuit 22 is displayed on the monitor (EVF) 14. Then, step (S9)
Proceed to.

In step (S9), the second switch 34 is
When the state of the FF is detected, it is determined that the photographer does not have the photographing intention yet, and the process returns to step (S2). On the other hand, the second switch 3
When it is detected that 4 is in the ON state, the photographer determines that the photographer has a photographing intention and proceeds to step (S10).

In step (S10), if camera shake correction by image processing has been performed, this is stopped, and if optical camera shake correction is not in operation, detection by camera shake detector 3 and camera shake detection circuit 22 is performed. By operating the drive circuit 24 and the actuator 23 based on the result, the optical shake correction unit 4 is driven, and optical shake correction is performed. That is, at the time of the release operation by turning on the second switch 34, only the optical camera shake correction is performed.

Then, in step (S11), the shutter 6 is operated for a predetermined time to expose the film 7, and further in step (S12), the monitor (EV)
F) Turn ON the 14 and display the image information synchronized with the exposure on the monitor (EVF) 14 as a photographed still image.

Thereafter, returning to step (S2), the state of the first switch 33 is confirmed. If the first switch 33 is turned on, it is determined that continuous photographing is to be performed, and the same operation is repeated.

If the first switch 33 is turned off, it is determined that photographing is to be stopped or terminated, and the process waits for about 10 seconds. In step (S13), if the camera shake is corrected by optical or image processing, the camera shake detector 3 and the camera shake detection circuit 22 stop the camera shake detection, and the drive circuit 24 and the actuator 23 perform the optical camera shake. The driving of the correction unit 4 is stopped. Further, an image processing circuit 27 and a monitor (EV)
F) Turn 14 off.

If it is determined in step (S5) that the state of the camera shake correction switch 31 is OFF, the process proceeds to step (S14) as photographing without camera shake correction. If camera shake correction by optical or image processing has been performed in step (S14), the camera shake detector 3 and the camera shake detection circuit 22 stop the camera shake detection, and the optical shake correction unit 4 by the drive circuit 24 and the actuator 23.
Stop driving. Further, the image processing in the image processing circuit 27 is stopped. Then, step (S15)
Then, as in step (S6), the state of the eyeball detection switch 13 is confirmed. When the eyeball detection switch 13 is ON, it is determined that the photographer is observing the optical viewfinder, and the monitor (EVF) 14 is turned OFF while the image processing circuit 27 is operated in step (S16). The process proceeds to step (S17).

If the eyeball detection switch 13 is turned off in step (S15), it is determined that the photographer is watching the monitor (EVF) 14 with his / her eyes away from the optical viewfinder. Proceed to S17).

In step (S17), step (S
Similarly to 9), when the second switch 34 detects the OFF state, the process returns to step (S2) assuming that the photographer has no intention to photograph. When detecting that the second switch 34 is in the ON state, the photographer determines that the photographer has a photographing intention and proceeds to step (S11).

When the state of the EVF switch 32 is OFF in step (S3) described above, that is,
The normal photographing mode set when the photographer intends to photograph only by optical viewfinder observation will be described with reference to FIG. First, in step (S20),
When the camera shake correction is performed by optical or image processing, the camera shake detection by the camera shake detector 3 and the camera shake detection circuit 22 is stopped, and the drive of the optical shake correction unit 4 by the drive circuit 24 and the actuator 23 is stopped. Further, the image processing circuit 27 and the monitor (E
VF) 14 is turned off.

Further, in step (S21), as in step (S5), the state of the camera shake correction switch 31 is detected, and when it is ON, the state of the eyeball detection switch 13 is confirmed in step (S22). Also, OFF
If so, the process proceeds to step (S25).

In step (S22), the eyeball detection switch 1
When 3 is ON, it is determined that the photographer is observing the optical viewfinder, and the process proceeds to step (S23). In step (S23), the drive circuit 24 and the actuator 23 are operated based on the detection results of the camera shake detector 3 and the camera shake detection circuit 22, the optical shake correction unit 4 is driven, and the camera shake is optically corrected. Proceed to S25). If the eyeball detection switch 13 is turned off in step (S22), the process proceeds to step (S24) on the assumption that the photographer has taken his / her eyes away from the optical viewfinder. In step (S24), when the optical shake correction unit 4 is operating, the operation by the drive circuit 24 and the actuator 23 is stopped, and the process proceeds to step (S25).

In step (S25), step (S
Similarly to 9) and step (S17), when the second switch 34 detects the OFF state, the process returns to step (S2) assuming that the photographer does not have the photographing intention yet. On the other hand, when it is detected that the second switch 34 is in the ON state, the photographer determines that there is a photographing intention and proceeds to step (S26), operates the shutter 6 for a predetermined time, exposes the film 7, and proceeds to step (S2). Return.

Although the present embodiment has been described with reference to the case where the camera shake is corrected by image processing based on the information from the camera shake detector 3 and the camera shake detection circuit 22, as described in the related art, the motion amount detection is performed. Camera shake correction by image processing may be performed so as to cancel the amount of motion obtained by the circuit.

In this embodiment, the case where the eyeball detection switch 13 is provided to detect that the photographer is looking into the optical viewfinder has been described.
In a camera equipped with a line-of-sight detection device that detects the line of sight of the photographer (for example, the rotation angle of the eyeball) in the viewfinder,
The gaze detection device may be used to detect that the user is looking through the optical viewfinder.

Further, in this embodiment, a camera having both an optical viewfinder and an electronic viewfinder has been described. However, the present invention can be applied to a camera having only an electronic viewfinder. In the present embodiment, a case has been described in which a part of the light beam passing through the taking lens is guided to the optical finder. However, the present invention can be applied to a camera having a dedicated finder optical system separately from the taking lens.

[0051]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, image blurring during film exposure (and image blurring during optical finder observation when an optical finder is provided) can be ensured by the optical blur correcting means. Can be suppressed. Further, when an image is displayed on the display means before the film exposure, the photographer is observing the subject or the like through this display means, and the operation of the optical shake correction means is stopped. Image blur of the displayed image can be reliably suppressed by the image processing shake correcting unit, and unnecessary power consumption can be suppressed even when the observation time is long.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the image blur at the time of observing a subject or the like with the optical viewfinder (when detecting that the photographer is looking into the optical viewfinder) and at the time of exposing the film are corrected by the optical shake correcting means. Can be reliably suppressed. Further, when it is detected that the photographer is not looking through the optical viewfinder before the film exposure, it is assumed that the photographer is observing the subject or the like through the display means, and the operation of the optical shake correction means is stopped. While image blurring of the image displayed on the means is reliably suppressed by the image processing shake correcting means, useless power consumption can be suppressed even if the observation time is long.

In the second aspect of the invention, if the display means is set to the non-display state when it is detected that the photographer is looking into the optical viewfinder, wasteful power consumption can be further suppressed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an optical system of a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an electric circuit block diagram of the camera.

FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart of the camera.

FIG. 4 is an operation flowchart of the camera.

FIG. 5 is an electric circuit block diagram of a conventional camera.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram of shake correction by image processing.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Camera main body 2 Photographing lens 2a Shift lens 3 Camera shake detector 4 Optical shake correction unit 5 Half mirror 6 Shutter 7 Film 8 Focus plate 9 Penta prism 10 Half mirror 11 Image sensor 12 Eyepiece 13 Eyeball detection switch 14 Monitor (EVF) 21 CPU 27 Image signal processing circuit 31 Camera shake correction switch 32 EVF switch

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 5/232 H04N 5/232 Z

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. An optical shake correction means for detecting a shake of a camera body and driving an optical element in a photographing optical system to correct a shake of an optical image, an exposure means for exposing an optical image to a film, and an optical image. Imaging means for electronically capturing the image; display means for displaying image information captured by the imaging means; image processing shake correction means for performing shake correction by image processing of image information displayed on the display means; And a control unit for stopping the operation of the optical shake correction unit when an image is displayed on the display unit before the film exposure by the exposure unit. 2. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the control unit stops the operation of the optical shake correcting unit by cutting off a power supply to the optical shake correcting unit. 3. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the image processing shake correction unit detects a shake of the camera body and performs a shake correction of the image information. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image processing shake correcting means obtains shake information from image information taken by said image pickup means, and performs shake correction of the image information based on the shake information. Or the camera according to 2. 5. The camera according to claim 1, further comprising an optical finder for forming an optical image for finder observation using a part of the light beam passing through the photographing optical system. . 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit activates the optical shake correction unit before an image is displayed on the display unit before film exposure by the exposure unit. 5. The camera according to any one of 5. 7. The camera according to claim 1, wherein said control means activates said optical shake correction means at the time of film exposure by said exposure means. 8. An optical shake correcting means for detecting a shake of a camera body and driving an optical element in a photographing optical system to correct a shake of an optical image, and using a part of a light beam passing through the photographing optical system. An optical viewfinder that forms an optical image for viewfinder observation, a viewfinder detecting unit that detects whether a photographer is looking through the optical viewfinder, an exposure unit that exposes the optical image to a film, Image pickup means for image-capturing, display means for displaying image information picked up by the image pickup means, image processing shake correction means for performing shake correction by image processing of image information displayed on the display means, and the exposure Before the film exposure by the means, and when the finder detecting means detects that the photographer is not looking through the optical finder, the optical shake correction is performed. Camera; and a control means for stopping the operation of the stage. 9. The camera according to claim 8, wherein the control unit stops the operation of the optical shake correcting unit by cutting off a power supply to the optical shake correcting unit. 10. The camera according to claim 8, wherein the image processing shake correction unit detects a shake of the camera body and performs a shake correction of image information. 11. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the electronic shake correcting unit obtains shake information from image information captured by the imaging unit, and performs shake correction of the image information based on the shake information. 9. The camera according to 9. 12. The control means activates the optical shake correction means before the film exposure by the exposure means and when the finder detection means detects that a photographer is looking into the optical finder. The camera according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein: 13. The camera according to claim 8, wherein the control unit activates the optical shake correction unit when the film is exposed by the exposure unit. 14. The control unit sets the display unit to a non-display state before the film exposure by the exposure unit and when the finder detection unit detects that a photographer is looking into the optical finder. The camera according to any one of claims 8 to 13, wherein: