JP2001157087A - Image pickup device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image pickup device, capable of speedily switching a dust mode for displaying foreign matters on a CCD and a cleaning mode for cleaning the foreign matter. SOLUTION: At selecting of dust mode for displaying the foreign matters on the CCD, when there is dust, e.g. on the CCD, dust 906 is displayed on an LCD monitor device 901. At the time of rotating a sub electronic dial 903 while pressing a menu button 902 at this time, icons for CLEANING and DONE are displayed alternately by reversing white/black. At the time of releasing the button 902, when a desired icon is reverse-displayed, setting is completed. For example, at releasing of the button 902 when a CLEANING icon 904 is displayed in reverse, the dust mode is shifted directly to the cleaning mode, thereby cleaning operation can be started, soon after the dust is confirmed.

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 provided with image pickup means for picking up an object, a solid-state image pickup device for picking up an image of the object, and display means for displaying an image. It is about taking.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, many digital cameras for recording a still image using a solid-state image sensor such as a CCD have come to market. A digital camera eliminates the need for a film conventionally used as a recording medium. Instead, an image is formed on an image sensor such as a CCD, and the image data is recorded on an external storage device such as a CF card or a hard disk device. Will do. Unlike a film, the external storage device can be written and erased as many times as possible, so that the expenditure on consumables is small and very convenient.

[0003] Most of these digital cameras are equipped with an LCD monitor device capable of displaying a photographed image at any time using a liquid crystal display device, and a portable large-capacity external storage device. The use of a digital camera equipped with these two devices not only eliminates the need for a film as a recording medium that has been conventionally used as a consumable item, but also enables the quality of an image captured by an LCD monitor device to be confirmed at the shooting site. , Image data that is not satisfactory can be deleted on the spot, or re-photographed as necessary, so that it is possible to edit the external storage device at the so-called shooting site,
Compared to silver halide photography, it can be said that the efficiency of photography has increased dramatically.

However, in the above-described conventional digital camera, if foreign matter such as dust irrelevant to the subject exists near the image forming surface of the image pickup device such as a CCD (for example, on a cover glass), this also occurs. There was a problem that the image was also reflected.

[0005] In the conventional silver halide film, there is also a problem that the dust is reflected when dust is present on the film. However, in the case of the film, since the film moves every frame, the same dust is reflected on all the frames. It is very rare to put in.

However, in the case of an image pickup device such as a CCD, any mechanical movement is not required after photographing, so that once dust adheres, similar dust appears on many frames.
Therefore, the photographer must always pay great attention to the attachment of dust on the image pickup device such as the CCD, and spends a lot of labor on checking and cleaning dust.

In particular, since an image pickup device such as a CCD is disposed relatively deep inside the camera, it is not easy to check for dust.

Further, in a single-lens reflex digital camera, not only is it easy for dust to enter by attaching and detaching a lens, but also in many single-lens reflex digital cameras,
In many cases, a focal plane shutter is disposed immediately before an image sensor such as a CCD, so that dust easily adheres particularly to an image sensor such as a CCD. In a digital camera, confirmation and cleaning of dust adhering to an image pickup device such as a CCD are major issues.

Therefore, a function (cleaning mode) for checking dust on the CCD with an LCD monitor device and a function for cleaning the CCD to remove dust on the CCD (cleaning mode) are provided. Cameras have also been supplied to the market. These digital cameras are
By making full use of the dust mode, you can easily check the adhesion of foreign matter such as dust on the CCD using an LCD monitor.
Also, if the cleaning mode is fully used, the camera can be maintained in the bulb state and the surface of the CCD cover glass can be cleaned from the lens mount side, which is very convenient.

FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 show a part of the back of a digital camera when a dust mode or a cleaning mode is selected in the conventional example.

In FIG. 13, reference numeral 1301 denotes an LCD monitor device which displays a photographed image and a menu screen. 1302
Is a menu button, and 1303 is a sub electronic dial. When displaying an image on the LCD monitor device 1301, initial setting of the camera, and selecting each mode, the user turns the sub electronic dial 1303 while pressing the menu button 1302 to select a desired mode.
When the desired mode is selected, the menu button 1302
Release to complete the selection.

When selecting the dust mode and the cleaning mode, first, in FIG. 13, when a menu button 1302 is pressed, a menu screen is displayed as shown in FIG. Here, the sub electronic dial 1303 is rotated,
When Main Menu 1304 is selected (characters are inverted between black and white) and the menu button 1302 is released, the screen switches to the main menu screen (FIG. 14, described later). To exit the menu screen, rotate the sub electronic dial 1303 to select DONE 1305 (characters are inverted between black and white), and release the menu button 1302 to return to the normal standby state.

The Main Menu of 1304 described above.
When is selected, the screen switches to the main menu screen of FIG. In FIG. 14, 1401, 1402, 140
Reference numeral 3 denotes an LCD monitor, a menu button, and a sub electronic dial, as in FIG. Main M
When "enu" is selected, a main menu screen is displayed as shown in FIG. To select the dust mode, rotate the sub electronic dial 1403 to turn on Dus in 1404.
t (characters are inverted between black and white) and press Menu button 1
When 402 is released, a dust mode is set.

FIG. 15A shows the LC in the dust mode.
4 shows a display state of the D monitor device. In FIG. 15A, when the dust mode is ended, DONE is selected with the sub electronic dial, and the menu button 1402 is released, thereby terminating the dust mode.

Referring to FIG. 14, when the cleaning mode is selected, the sub electronic dial 1403 is rotated to select "Cleaning" of 1405 (characters are inverted between black and white), and when the menu button 1402 is released, the cleaning mode is set. Become. FIG. 15B shows a display state of the LCD monitor device in the cleaning mode. FIG.
When the cleaning mode is ended in (b) of FIG.
When ONE is selected with the sub electronic dial and the menu button 1402 is released, the cleaning mode ends. In FIG. 14, when exiting the main menu,
Rotate sub electronic dial 1403 to select DONE 1406 (characters are inverted between black and white), and press menu button 1
When 402 is released, it returns to the normal standby state.

[0016]

However, the prior art described above has the following problems.

If dust is confirmed during the dust mode operation and cleaning is to be immediately performed in the cleaning mode, the dust mode is temporarily terminated, the main menu is selected again, and the cleaning mode is selected from the main menu. Had to choose and do the cleaning work. Also, if you want to check in the dust mode immediately after cleaning is completed while the cleaning mode is in operation, exit the cleaning mode once, select the main menu again, and select the dust mode from the main menu. I had to check the trash. Therefore, the switching between the dust mode and the cleaning mode is very complicated, and the operation requires time.

The present invention has been made under such circumstances, and a first object of the present invention is to provide a CCD camera.
You can easily check the adhesion state of foreign matter such as dust on the image sensor using an LCD monitor device, and then switch to the cleaning mode with the minimum necessary camera operation, and quickly clean the dust on the CCD. An object of the present invention is to provide an imaging device capable of performing the following.

A second object of the present invention is to shift to a dust mode by operating the camera with a minimum necessary during a cleaning mode operation for cleaning dust and the like on an image pickup device such as a CCD. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image pickup apparatus capable of easily confirming the attached state of foreign matters such as dust on an image pickup device such as a CCD using an LCD monitor device.

[0020]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to the present invention, an image pickup apparatus is provided with the following (1), (2), and (3).
Configure as follows.

(1) A photographing means for photographing a subject, a solid-state image pickup device for photographing the subject, a first image pickup control means for forming a subject image passing through the photographing means on the solid-state image pickup device, Second imaging control means for capturing an image of a foreign substance near the imaging device; image display means for displaying an image signal of a subject imaged by the first and second imaging control means; A cleaning control means for controlling a camera for removing the image, in the screen of the image display means displaying an image signal of a subject imaged by the second imaging control means, An imaging apparatus comprising: a dust mode switching control unit having an icon switchable to the cleaning control unit.

(2) In the image pickup apparatus described in (1), the dust mode switching control means switches to the second image pickup control means in a screen of the image display means displaying a cleaning control means. Imaging device with possible icons.

(3) The image pickup apparatus according to (1) or (2), wherein the image pickup apparatus is a digital camera of a lens interchangeable type and a focal plane shutter type.

[0024]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to an embodiment of a single-lens reflex digital camera. Note that the present invention is not limited to a still image capturing device such as the single-lens reflex digital camera, but can be similarly implemented in the form of a moving image capturing device. The present invention is not limited to the single-lens reflex type, but can be similarly implemented in the form of another type of lens-interchangeable digital camera.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the structure of a "single-lens reflex digital camera" which is Embodiment 1.
FIG. 2 is a rear view showing the configuration of the digital camera, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the configuration of the digital camera. In each figure, reference numeral 100 denotes a camera body, and 111 denotes an eyepiece window for finder observation. 1 and 2, reference numeral 112 denotes an AE.
An (auto exposure) lock button 113 is a AF (auto focus) AF point selection button. Reference numeral 114 denotes a release button for performing a shooting operation, and reference numeral 115 denotes a multi-function signal input electronic dial for inputting a numerical value to the camera and switching a shooting mode in combination with other operation buttons. .

1 and 2, reference numeral 117 denotes a photographing mode selection button, 118 denotes an AF mode selection button, and 11 denotes an AF mode selection button.
Reference numeral 9 denotes a light metering mode selection button, which also functions as a light control correction button. 2 and 3, reference numeral 120 denotes an LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor device (image display means) for displaying a captured image. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 121 denotes a monitor switch for turning on / off the LCD monitor device 120.

The LCD monitor 120 according to the present embodiment
Is a transmissive type, the image cannot be visually recognized only by driving the LCD monitor device, and the backlight illuminating device 214 is always required on the back surface as shown in FIG. LCD monitor device 120 and backlight illumination device 2
Reference numeral 14 denotes an image display unit.

In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, reference numeral 116 denotes a sub electronic dial having functions similar to those of the input electronic dial 115 for selecting photographing conditions and the like of the digital camera. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 122 denotes a dial lock switch for locking an input function of the sub electronic dial 116, and reference numeral 123 denotes a main switch for inhibiting all operations of the digital camera. 124 is an LCD monitor device 1
The menu button for selecting a mode at the time of displaying an image on the camera 20 or at the time of initial setting of the camera. When selecting each mode, rotate the sub electronic dial 116 while pressing the menu button 124 to set the desired mode. Select the mode. When the desired mode is selected, the menu button 12
Release 4 to complete the selection. This menu button 124
The sub electronic dial 116 is also used for setting a dust mode and selecting an icon when switching to the cleaning mode on a screen displaying the dust mode.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 140 denotes an external display device comprising a liquid crystal display device having an external display function for displaying photographing conditions and the like.

As shown in FIG. 3, the photographing lens 200 (photographing means) is interchangeable with respect to the camera body 100 via a main body mount 202, and constitutes a photographing means. 3, reference numeral 201 denotes a photographing optical axis; and 203, a quick return mirror. Quick return mirror 2
Numeral 03 denotes a position (oblique position) where the subject light from the photographing lens 200 is provided (obliquely provided) in the photographing optical path to the finder optical system and is retracted outside the photographing optical path (retreat position). And can be moved between them, and is in the oblique position in the figure.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 204 denotes a focusing plate which forms an image of subject light guided to a finder optical system. 205 is a condenser lens for improving the viewfinder visibility, 206 is a pentagonal roof prism, and focus plate 2
The object light passing through the lens 04 and the condenser lens 205 is guided to an eyepiece 208 and a photometric sensor 207 for finder observation. Reference numeral 111 denotes an eyepiece window for finder observation.

Reference numerals 209 and 210 denote a rear curtain and a front curtain which constitute a shutter. When the rear curtain 209 and the front curtain 210 are opened, a CCD which is a solid-state image pickup device arranged rearward.
(Imaging means) The necessary exposure is given to 212. C when shooting
The image data stored in the CD 212 is sent to a recording unit described later through an image processing circuit (not shown) provided separately.

In the cleaning mode, the quick return mirror 203 is driven to the retracted position (mirror up), the front curtain 210 is opened, and the rear curtain 209 is controlled (not run). Lens mount 20
The dust on the CCD cover glass can be removed from the two sides.

Reference numeral 211 denotes a printed circuit board, and a CCD 212
(Imaging means) is held. This printed circuit board 21
Display board 21 which is another printed board behind 1
5 are arranged. L on the outer surface of the display substrate 215
A CD (liquid crystal display) monitor device 120 and a backlight illumination device 214 are arranged. Reference numeral 216 denotes a hard disk device (recording unit) for recording image data, and 217 denotes a battery (portable power supply). This hard disk device 2
16 and the battery 217 are detachable.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electric circuit configuration of a single-lens reflex digital camera according to the present embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 401 denotes a printed circuit board, a microcomputer 402 for controlling all operations of the camera, and a CCD 4.
The LCD monitor device (image display means) 4 processes the image data output from the LCD 18 and enlarges the dust image.
16 is provided with an image display control circuit 403 for displaying an image and the like.

Reference numeral 405 denotes a switch 1 and a release button 1
14 (see FIG. 1) is a switch that is turned on (ON) in a half-pressed state. When this switch 1 is turned on, the digital camera is in a shooting preparation state. Reference numeral 406 denotes a switch 2, which is turned on when the release button 114 (see FIG. 1) is pressed to the end.
When is turned on, the digital camera starts a shooting operation.

Reference numeral 407 denotes a lens control circuit.
Since this is a single-lens reflex type digital camera, communication with the photographing lens 200 (see FIGS. 1 and 3) and AF
The lens control circuit 407 controls the driving of the photographing lens 200 and the driving of the aperture blade during (auto focus). In FIG. 4, reference numeral 408 denotes an external display control circuit for controlling the external display device 409 and a display device (not shown) in the viewfinder. Reference numeral 410 denotes a switch sense circuit, which functions to transmit signals of a large number of switches including an electronic dial 411 provided in the camera to the microcomputer 402.

Reference numeral 412 denotes a flash emission dimming control circuit.
It is grounded via a contact 412a and controls an external strobe. A distance measurement circuit 413 has a function of detecting a defocus amount of a subject for AF (auto focus). A photometry circuit 414 has a function of measuring the luminance of a subject. A circuit 415 controls the driving of the shutter and the mirror.
The CD 418 is appropriately exposed, and mirror-up and mirror-down control driving is performed. The LCD monitor device 416 and the backlight illumination device 417 constitute an image display means. Reference numeral 419 denotes a storage device (hard disk) serving as a recording unit.

Next, the operation of the digital camera of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a main routine of a flowchart showing a flow of the operation of the digital camera of the present embodiment. First, in step 501 (abbreviated as S501 in the figure, the same applies hereinafter), the main switch 123 (see FIG. 2)
It is determined whether or not is turned on. The ON here is shown in FIG.
When the main switch is in the "A" position. Here, if the main switch 123 is off (OFF) (the position of “L”), the process returns to the start without doing anything and proceeds to step 501 again. In other words, if the main switch is in the "L" position even if batteries are installed,
This means that the process repeats the loop from step 501 to the start and waits. On the other hand, the main switch 123
Is ON (position "A"), the routine proceeds to step 502, where it is determined whether or not each operation switch of the digital camera is turned on. When none of the operation switches is operated, the process returns to the start and proceeds to step 501.

If any one of the operation switches is turned on in step 502, the flow advances to step 503 to execute processing corresponding to the turned on operation switch on the microcomputer 402.
(See FIG. 4). This process is, for example, a process of operating each operation member of the digital camera to change a shooting mode, read a shot image, set a dust mode, and set a cleaning mode. As a result of executing step 503, it is determined in step 504 whether or not the cleaning mode has been set. If the cleaning mode has been set, step 505
To execute the CLEANING routine. CLE
The ANING routine will be described later. If the cleaning mode has not been set, the process proceeds to step 506, and in step 506, it is determined whether the dust mode has been set. If the dust mode has been set, the process proceeds to step 507, and it is determined whether the switch 2 has been turned on. The switch 2 is operated by a release button 114 (FIG. 1).
) Is a switch that is turned on when the switch is pressed to the end. When this switch 2 is turned on, the digital camera starts a photographing operation. If the switch 2 is off, the process returns to the start without doing anything, and is executed again from the step 501. When the switch 2 is turned on, the process proceeds to the next step 508, where it is determined whether or not a lens is mounted.
In step 09, the photographing lens is operated to the infinity end. This is a method in which a subject image passing through a photographing lens 200 (see FIG. 3 and photographing means) is incident on a CCD, which is a solid-state image sensor.
This is because an image is not formed on the image forming section 212 (refer to FIG. 3, the imaging unit). By doing so, the CCD 212 as the image pickup device
Only foreign substances such as dust adhering to the cover glass can be imaged. After the photographing lens is operated to the infinity end in step 509, the process proceeds to an image pickup processing routine in step 510 to execute photographing in the dust mode. Step 5
The imaging processing routine of No. 10 will be described later. if,
If the lens is not mounted in step 508, step 509 is skipped and the process proceeds to step 510. Next, step 511 is an image display routine for displaying the image captured in step 510 on the LCD monitor device (image display means). The image display routine will be described later.
2 (see FIG. 3, imaging means), if foreign matter (dust or the like) is attached in the vicinity, the photographer can easily recognize the foreign matter with the LCD monitor device. The display state is shown in FIG. FIG. 9 shows the back of the digital camera.
In FIG. 9, reference numeral 906 denotes a state in which a foreign substance (dust or the like) attached near the CCD 212 is displayed.
In this embodiment, an image captured by the CCD is
It is displayed on the monitor device. Details of FIG. 9 will be described later.

On the other hand, if the mode is not the dust mode in step 506, the flow advances to step 512 to determine whether or not the switch 1 has been turned on. This switch 1 is the release button 11
4 (see FIG. 1) is a switch that is turned on when the switch is half-pressed. When the switch 1 is turned on, the digital camera enters a shooting preparation state. If switch 1 is off, the process returns to step 501, and if switch 1 is on, the digital camera proceeds to the next step 513.

In step 513, a photometric (AE) operation and a distance measuring (AF) operation are respectively performed, and the photographing lens 200 (see FIGS. 1 and 3) as a photographing means is driven to perform focusing.

Next, at step 514, it is determined whether or not the switch 2 has been turned on. When the switch 2 is turned on, the process proceeds to the next step 515, and the digital camera starts a photographing operation. Here, the photographing operation is performed in the step 510.
Execute the same imaging processing routine as in step 515, but
Then, a normal subject photographing operation is performed. On the other hand, switch 2
If is turned off, the process returns to step 512, and steps 512 to 514 are repeated. Step 515
The imaging processing routine will be described later. Step 5
At 16, the image of the photographed subject is displayed on the LCD monitor device (image display means).

Steps 512 to 515 correspond to the first image pickup control means, and steps 507 to 510 correspond to the second image pickup control means. The difference between the two is that the first imaging control means controls a normal imaging operation for imaging a subject, and the second imaging control means captures an image of a foreign substance (dust, etc.) placed carelessly near the CCD. Controls the shooting operation. In particular, in the second imaging control means, if the photographing lens is mounted, the photographing lens 200 (see FIG. 3,
The photographing means 200 is operated to the infinity end and the photographing lens 200 is operated.
The image of the subject incident through the
By not forming an image on the D212 (see FIG. 3, imaging means), only foreign substances such as dust adhering to the cover glass of the CCD 212 as the imaging element can be imaged.

Next, in the flow chart showing the operation flow of the digital camera shown in FIG.
0, the imaging processing routine of step 515 will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of the operation of the imaging processing routine. When this imaging processing routine is executed, the quick return mirror (indicated by reference numeral 203 in FIG. 3) operates in step 601, so that the mirror is raised, and the quick return mirror is retracted outside the imaging optical path.
Next, in step 602, the CCD 212 serving as an image pickup means
In step 603, the exposure of the CCD 212, that is, the front curtain 210 (see FIG. 3) and the rear curtain 209 (see FIG. 3) respectively run. Then, in step 604, the accumulation of the CCD 212 (see FIG. 3) is completed, and in the next step 605, the image signal is read out from the CCD 212 and temporarily stored in an internal memory built in an image processing circuit (not shown). You. In the next step 606, the reading of all image signals is completed, and in step 607, the quick return mirror (shown by 203 in FIG. 3) operates, so-called mirror down, and the quick return mirror passes the subject light to the finder optical system. To the position (oblique position) leading to the above, and a series of imaging operations ends.

Next, in the flowchart of FIG. 5 showing the operation flow of the digital camera of this embodiment,
The image display routine of step 511 will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of the operation of the image display routine. When this image display routine is executed, first, in step 701, a captured image is displayed on the LCD monitor device. The display state is shown in FIG. FIG. 9 shows the back of the digital camera when foreign matter (dust and the like) on the CCD is displayed on the LCD monitor device. 9, 901 is an LCD monitor device (120 in FIG. 2), 902 is a menu button (124 in FIG. 2), 903 is a sub electronic dial (11 in FIG. 2).
6). In FIG. 9, reference numeral 904 denotes an icon for selecting a cleaning mode displayed on the LCD monitor device 901. A DONE icon 905 is selected when the dust mode is ended. 906 is CC
This shows a state in which foreign matter (dust or the like) attached near D212 is displayed. This state is the dust mode and L
Dust and two icons (CL
EANING icon 904, DONE icon 90
5) is displayed.

In step 702 of FIG. 7, CLEANIN
It is determined whether the G icon 904 has been selected. Here, when the CLEANING icon 904 is selected,
Proceeding to step 703, the CLEANING routine is executed. The CLEANING routine will be described later. On the other hand, if CLEANING has not been set, the flow advances to step 704 to determine whether the DONE icon 905 has been selected. Here, the DONE icon 9
If 05 has been selected, the routine proceeds to return and this routine ends. That is, the processing in the dust mode ends, and the process returns to the start in FIG. 5 to enter the normal standby mode.
On the other hand, if the DONE icon 905 has not been selected in step 704, the process returns to step 701. That is, if no icon is selected, step 70
The display of the image is continued by repeating 1, 702 and 704.

Next, an icon selection method will be described with reference to FIG.
When the sub electronic dial 903 is rotated while pressing the menu button 902, CLEANING and D
The ONE icon is switched alternately, and each icon is displayed in black and white inverted. When the desired icon is highlighted and the menu button button 902 is released, the selection is completed.

With these menu buttons 902, sub electronic dial 903, and CLEANING icon 904,
It constitutes "dust mode switching control means".

Next, in the flowchart showing the operation flow of the image display routine of FIG.
The CLEANING routine of FIG.
Explanation will be made using 0.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of the operation of the CLEANING routine, which is the cleaning control means. When this CLEANING routine is executed, first in step 801, CLEANIN is executed.
A screen indicating the G mode is displayed on the LCD monitor device. The display state is shown in FIG. FIG.
It shows the back of the digital camera when a screen indicating the NING mode is displayed on the LCD monitor device.
10, 1001 is an LCD monitor device (120 in FIG. 2), 1002 is a menu button (12 in FIG. 2).
4), 1003 is a sub electronic dial (116 in FIG. 2)
It is. In FIG. 10, reference numeral 1004 denotes a DONE icon selected when terminating the CLEANING mode displayed on the LCD monitor device 1001.

In FIG. 8, in step 801, CLE
After displaying the screen indicating the ANING mode on the LCD monitor device, the mirror is raised in step 802. Next, in step 803, the front curtain is driven to run the front curtain. At this point, the digital camera is in a bulb state. Here, if the lens is mounted, the operator removes the lens and removes dust and dirt on the CCD surface from the lens mount side using a cleaning tool such as a blower. When these cleaning operations are completed, DO shown in FIG.
The user selects the NE icon 1004. The selection method is to hold down the menu button 1002 and
When 003 is rotated by one click, the DONE icon can be selected with the black and white inverted. This state is monitored in step 804 of FIG. Step 804 is executed until DONE is selected. When DONE is selected, the process proceeds to step 805 to drive the first curtain and close the curtain. Next, at step 806, the mirror is lowered, and a series of operations is completed.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, when the dust mode is not set, normal subject photographing is performed, and
When the dust mode is set, if the photographing lens is attached, the photographing lens is driven to the infinity end so that the image of the subject is not formed, and only the dust near the CCD is imaged. Therefore, dust near the CCD can be easily checked by checking the captured image on the image display means.

Further, in this embodiment, the cleaning mode can be immediately shifted on the display screen of the dust mode, so that when the dust is confirmed, the cleaning work can be immediately started, and the work efficiency can be improved. It is convenient.

(Embodiment 2) Next, a "single-lens reflex digital camera" which is Embodiment 2 will be described with reference to FIGS.

The configuration of the digital camera of this embodiment is as follows.
Since FIG. 1 to FIG. 7 and FIG. 9 are the same, description will be made with reference to these drawings.

This embodiment is different from the above-described first embodiment in that, in the flowchart shown in FIG. 5 showing the flow of the operation of the digital camera, CLEANI in step 505 is performed.
Step 703 in the flowchart showing the flow of the operation of the NG routine and the image display routine shown in FIG.
Since this is only the CLEANING routine of
The EANING routine will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the flow of the operation of the CLEANING routine, which is the cleaning control means in this embodiment. This CLEAN
When the ING routine is executed, in step 1101,
First, a screen indicating the CLEANING mode is displayed on the LCD monitor device. The display state is shown in FIG. FIG. 12 shows the screen indicating the CLEANING mode as L.
The rear part of the digital camera when displaying on the CD monitor device is shown. In FIG. 12, 1201 is L
A CD monitor device (120 in FIG. 2), 1202 a menu button (124 in FIG. 2), and 1203 a sub electronic dial (116 in FIG. 2). In FIG.
Reference numeral 04 denotes a DUST icon for selecting a dust mode displayed on the LCD monitor device 1201. 1
Reference numeral 205 denotes a DONE icon selected when terminating the CLEANING mode.

In FIG. 11, at step 1101, a screen showing the above-described CLEANING mode is displayed on the LCD monitor device, and then at step 1102, the mirror is raised. Next, in step 1103, the front curtain is driven to run the front curtain. At this point, the digital camera is in a bulb state. Here, if the lens is mounted, the operator removes the lens and removes dust and dirt on the CCD surface from the lens mount side using a cleaning tool such as a blower. When it is desired to immediately check the state of dust on the CCD in the dust mode after the completion of these cleaning operations, the DUST icon 1204 shown in FIG. 12 is selected. The selection method is to rotate the sub electronic dial 1203 while pressing the menu button 1202,
And DONE icons are alternately switched, and the respective icons are inverted between black and white. When the desired icon is selected and the menu button 1202 is released, the selection ends.

The menu button 1202, sub electronic dial 1203, and DUST icon 1204 constitute "dust mode switching control means".

This state is monitored in steps 1104 and 1105 in FIG. If DUST has been selected, the flow advances to step 1106 to set the dust mode. If the dust mode has not been selected, the process proceeds to step 1105 to determine whether DONE has been selected. If DONE is not selected, step 1
Returning to step 104, steps 1104 to 1105 are repeatedly executed. During this time, the valve state is maintained. If DONE is selected in step 1105, the flow advances to step 1107 to drive the first curtain and close the curtain. Next, in step 1108, the mirror goes down, and a series of operations is completed.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, when the cleaning operation is completed during the operation of the cleaning mode for cleaning dust and the like adhered on the cover glass of the CCD and it is desired to immediately check the state after cleaning. Because you can immediately select the dust mode from the cleaning mode display screen and move to the dust mode with the minimum required camera operation,
LC is used to determine the adhesion of foreign matter such as dust on the image sensor such as CCD.
It can be easily confirmed using a D monitor device.

[0064]

As described above, according to the imaging apparatus of the present invention, when the dust mode is set, the dust near the CCD is checked by the image display means, and the cleaning mode is immediately displayed on the dust mode screen. , The complicated menu selection operation becomes unnecessary, and the cleaning operation can be started in a short time, so that the maintenance of the camera becomes easy.

Further, according to the imaging apparatus of the present invention, when the cleaning mode is set, after the dust near the CCD is cleaned, the dust mode can be immediately set on the cleaning mode screen. Since the operation is not required and the operation of checking the dust on the CCD can be started in a short time, the checking of the dust and the cleaning operation can be easily repeated, and the maintenance of the camera can be facilitated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a main routine according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an imaging processing routine;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an image display routine.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a cleaning routine.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a display example of the LCD monitor device in the dust mode.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display example of the LCD monitor device in the cleaning mode.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a cleaning routine according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a display example of the LCD monitor device in the cleaning mode.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a display example of a menu screen in a conventional example.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a display example of a main menu screen in a conventional example.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a display example of a dust mode and cleaning mode screen in a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 100 Camera body 120 LCD monitor device 212 CCD (Solid-state image sensor)

Claims (3)

[Claims] A photographing means for photographing a subject; a solid-state imaging device for photographing the subject; a first imaging control means for forming a subject image passing through the photographing means on the solid-state imaging device; Second imaging control means for capturing an image of a foreign substance near the element; image display means for displaying an image signal of a subject imaged by the first and second imaging control means; An image pickup apparatus comprising: a cleaning control unit that controls a camera for removing the image pickup unit; wherein the image display unit displays an image signal of a subject imaged by the second image pickup control unit. With an icon that can be switched to the cleaning control means,
An imaging apparatus comprising: dust mode switching control means. 2. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the dust mode switching control unit includes the second display unit in a screen of the image display unit displaying a cleaning control unit.
An image pickup apparatus characterized in that the image pickup control means is provided with a switchable icon. 3. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image pickup apparatus is a digital camera of an interchangeable lens type and a focal plane shutter type.