JP2001352466A - Electronic camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic camera that can relieve a load, imposed on eyes of a photographer caused by looking at an electronic viewfinder over a long time and prevent the photographer from continuously looking at the electronic viewfinder over a long time. SOLUTION: The electronic camera is provided with an LCD 22 that displays an object image on a liquid crystal display device, an eyepiece detection section 30 and an eyepiece discrimination section 2113 that detect whether an eye is in contact with a finder window 21, an internal counter 2114a that measures an eye contact time, and a display control section 2114 that gives commands to a gamma-correction circuit 208 so as to switch the gamma characteristic (1) of gamma correction into a gamma characteristic (2) to reduce the luminance and the contrast of a display image of an electronic viewfinder 20, when the internal counter 2114a measures a 1st prescribed time and allows the LCD 22 to display a warning character S, when the internal counter 2114a registers a 2nd prescribed time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic camera provided with an electronic viewfinder having a display section for displaying a subject image picked up by an image pickup device such as a viewing window or a CCD at the back of the viewing window.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an electronic camera provided with a finder called an electronic view finder (EVF) for displaying a subject image on a liquid crystal has been commercialized. This electronic viewfinder has advantages such as a smaller display size and lower power consumption than an LCD display unit provided in a conventional electronic camera, and almost no parallax that can occur in a camera equipped with a known optical viewfinder. From having
It is being installed in electronic cameras.

The electronic viewfinder has a viewing window substantially similar to the optical viewfinder, and a liquid crystal display (Liquid Crystal Display,
LCD) so that the photographer can visually recognize the subject image displayed on the display device by looking through the viewing window.

[0004]

In an electronic camera provided with an electronic viewfinder, when a subject image is visually recognized by the electronic viewfinder, a photographer looks at the viewing window and approaches a light emitting body (LCD). The eyes are easily tired, and it is not preferable to keep watching the electronic viewfinder for a long time from the viewpoint of eye health.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and reduces the burden on the photographer's eyes by keeping the photographer looking at the electronic viewfinder. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic camera capable of suppressing continuous peeping.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image pickup means for receiving a light image of a subject, photoelectrically converting the light image into image data, and outputting the image data. Display means for displaying the image data output by the means as a subject image, detection means for detecting a photographer's eye movement with respect to the viewing window, and when the eye movement is started to be detected by the detection means, It is characterized by comprising a timing means for starting measurement, and a display control means for changing a display state of the display means when the eyepiece time measured by the timing means exceeds a predetermined time.

According to the present invention, when the light image of the object is received by the image pickup means and photoelectrically converted into image data and output, the image data output by the image pickup means
The image is displayed as a subject image by display means provided behind the viewing window. Then, when the photographer peeks through the viewing window at the subject image displayed on the display means, the detecting means detects the eyepiece movement of the photographer with respect to the viewing window. In this case, at the same time when the eyepiece operation is started to be detected by the detection means, the measurement of the eyepiece time is started by the timer means. When the measured eyepiece time exceeds a predetermined time, the display control means sets the display means. Is changed. This makes it possible to reduce the burden on the eyes of the photographer.

In this case, it is preferable that the display control means is configured to reduce at least one of the brightness and the contrast of the subject image and display the image on the display means. .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image pickup means for receiving a light image of a subject, photoelectrically converting the light image into image data, and outputting the image data.
Display means disposed behind the viewing window to display image data output by the imaging means as a subject image; detection means for detecting a photographer's eye movement with respect to the viewing window; When the operation is started to be detected, a timer means for starting measurement of the eyepiece time, and if the eyepiece time measured by the clock means exceeds a predetermined time,
Warning means for giving a warning for the eyepiece operation.

According to the present invention, when the light image of the subject is received by the image pickup means and photoelectrically converted into image data and output, the image data output by the image pickup means
The image is displayed as a subject image by display means provided behind the viewing window. Then, when the photographer peeks through the viewing window at the subject image displayed on the display means, the detecting means detects the eyepiece movement of the photographer with respect to the viewing window. In this case, at the same time as the eyepiece operation is started to be detected by the detection means, measurement of the eyepiece time is started by the timer means, and when the measured eyepiece time exceeds a predetermined time, the warning means causes A warning is issued. Thereby, the photographer is urged to interrupt the eyepiece operation, and it is possible to suppress the photographer from continuing to peek at the display means for a long time.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of an electronic camera according to the present invention will be described.

FIG. 1 is a rear view of the electronic camera 1 according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a top view of the electronic camera 1, and FIG. 3 is a right side view of the electronic camera 1.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, an electronic camera 1
Is provided with a camera body 2, and the camera body 2 is located on the front left side in order to improve the operability of the camera (FIG. 2).
Has a grip portion G projecting upward. A loading chamber 40 for loading the battery of the electronic camera 1 and a loading chamber 15 for loading the memory card M are provided inside the camera body 2. A zoom lens 3 that is movable in the optical axis direction is mounted at a substantially central portion of the front of the camera body 2, and the zoom lens 3 is moved in the optical axis direction by a driving unit (not shown). Thus, the zoom ratio is changed.

At a substantially central portion of the upper surface of the camera body 2, a projection 2a projecting upward from the upper surface is provided, and an electronic viewfinder 20 is provided at the projection 2a. The electronic viewfinder 20 is provided with the projection 2a.
A finder window 21 provided on the back side of the finder, and an LCD 2 provided on the back side of the finder window 21 for displaying a liquid crystal.
2 and an eyepiece 23 for enlarging and displaying the image displayed by the LCD 22 so that the photographer can view the image displayed on the LCD 22 by looking through the finder window 21. It has become. In this case, in order to save power, the electronic viewfinder 20 operates only when the photographer is in the eye in the shooting mode to display an image on the monitor (corresponding to a viewfinder).
And so on.

At the substantially center of the back of the camera body 2, an LC
D (Liquid Crystal Display)
An LCD display unit 10 is provided.
In the shooting mode, the D display unit 10 saves power to save power.
It is configured to operate only when instructed by a predetermined operation button by a photographer to display a captured image on a monitor or the like. In the playback mode, the memory card M
Is configured to reproduce and display the image recorded in the.

The camera body 2 has a CCD (Charge Cou).
An imaging device 4 including a photoelectric conversion element such as a pled device is built in, and the imaging device 4 takes in a light image of a subject and converts it into image data composed of electric signals. The image data is subjected to various kinds of signal processing described later, and is displayed on the electronic viewfinder 20 or the LCD display unit 10.

A shutter button 5 is provided on the right upper surface of the camera body 2. When the photographing mode is selected, the electronic camera 1 captures an image every 1/30 (second), and when the display is instructed on the electronic viewfinder 20, the live view is also displayed on the LCD display unit 10. A view is performed, and the shutter release button 5 is half-pressed to enter a release standby state, and is fully pressed to release the shutter. When the release is completed, the live view is performed again.

A quad switch Z is provided on the right side of the LCD display unit 10. The switches Z1 and Z2 are switches for operating the drive unit to move the zoom lens 3 in the optical axis direction. In conjunction with the movement of the zoom lens 3 by operating the switches Z1 and Z2, the zoom ratio of the subject displayed on the electronic viewfinder 20 or the LCD display unit 10 is changed. Also,
The switches Z3 and Z4 are switches for frame-forwarding the images when selecting an image to be reproduced from the images recorded on the memory card M in the reproduction mode.

A button for manually turning on / off the LCD display unit 10, a mode setting for determining an exposure control value, a mode setting for flash photography, and the like are provided below the quadruple switch Z. An operation button group B including buttons and the like for displaying the menu screen on the LCD display unit 10 is provided.

On the left side of the LCD display unit 10, there is provided a three-contact type slide switch 6 which can be moved up and down. The slide switch 6 is used to turn on / off a main power supply.
The switch is used for both the switching of F and the mode setting. That is, when the electronic camera 1 is slid to the uppermost position, the main power of the electronic camera 1 is turned on, and a shooting mode in which a still image can be shot is set. When it is slid to the center position, the main power is turned off. When it is slid to the lowermost position, the main power supply is turned on, and a reproduction mode in which a captured image recorded on the memory card M can be reproduced and displayed on the LCD display unit 10 is set.

In addition to the above configuration, the electronic camera 1 according to the present invention includes an eyepiece detection unit 30 for detecting an eyepiece operation on the finder window 21 near the window frame of the finder window 21. . In the electronic camera 1 according to the present invention, the eyepiece detection unit 30 and an eyepiece determination unit described below detect an eyepiece operation by the photographer, and when the eyepiece operation continues for more than a predetermined time, the electronic camera 1 The feature is that the display state of the electronic viewfinder 20 is changed to reduce the load (load reduction processing), or the eyepiece operation is warned to urge the eyepiece operation to be interrupted (eyepiece suppression processing). is there.

The eyepiece detecting section 30 is provided with an overall control section 211.
A light-emitting unit 31 composed of a light-emitting diode that emits infrared light for eyepiece detection, and a light-receiving unit 32 composed of a photodiode that receives infrared light reflected by a reflector. The unit 31 and the light receiving unit 32 are arranged in tandem on the left side of the window frame of the finder window 21.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a specific circuit configuration of the eyepiece detection unit 30.

The light emitting section 31 is an LED that emits infrared light.
(Light emitting diode) and a series circuit of a resistor R1. The light receiving unit 31
It is connected to an overall control unit 211 described later, and a pulse-like drive current is supplied from the overall control unit 211 at a predetermined cycle, and the light emitting element 31a emits light at a predetermined cycle.

The light receiving section 32 includes a light receiving element 32a made of an SPD (silicon photo diode) for receiving infrared light (infrared light emitted from the light emitting section 31 and reflected by an object close to the finder window 21), and a resistor R2. , A inverting amplifier 33 and a capacitor 34. The capacitor 34 is interposed between the connection point a between the light receiving element 32a and the resistor R2 and the input terminal of the inverting amplifier 33.

When the light receiving section 32 receives infrared light and a light receiving voltage (negative voltage) is generated at the connection point a, the capacitor 34
A DC component (a light receiving voltage generated when the light receiving element 32a receives infrared light included in external light other than the infrared light emitted from the light emitting element 31a) is removed from the received light voltage and input to the inverting amplifier 33. It is to make it.

The inverting amplifier 33 inverts the polarity of the received light voltage to a positive voltage and changes the level of the received light voltage to the overall control unit 211.
Amplify to a level that can be handled by An output voltage from the inverting amplifier 33 (hereinafter, referred to as an eyepiece detection voltage) is input to the overall control unit 211. The overall control unit 211
The finder window 21 is determined based on the level of the eye detection voltage.
It is determined whether or not an object is close to the camera (that is, whether or not the photographer is looking through the finder window 21).

FIG. 7 shows the distance D to the reflecting object and the eye detection voltage V.
FIG. 6 is a characteristic diagram showing a relationship with the level of the data. As is clear from this characteristic diagram, when the distance D to the reflective object exceeds D2, the level of the eyepiece detection voltage V is substantially inversely proportional to the distance D to the reflective object, so that the voltage V1 corresponding to the predetermined close distance D1 is reduced. It is possible to determine whether or not the reflective object is close by setting as a threshold value for determining that the reflective object is close and determining whether or not the eyepiece detection voltage V exceeds the threshold value V1.

Therefore, the overall control unit 211 controls the inverting amplifier 3
3 determines whether or not the eyepiece detection voltage V inputted from the camera 3 exceeds the threshold value V1.
It is determined whether or not the user is looking into 1. That is, when V ≧ V1, it is determined that the finder window 21 is being viewed, and
In the case of <V1, it is determined that the finder window 21 has not been viewed.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the system of the electronic camera 1.

In the figure, the same members as those shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The CCD area sensor 41 (hereinafter referred to as CCD 4)
Abbreviated as 1. ) Is an image sensor composed of a CCD color area sensor, and converts an optical image of a subject formed by the zoom lens 3 into image signals of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) color components (each pixel). And a signal composed of a signal sequence of the pixel signals received by the photoelectric conversion device.

The timing generator 314 generates a drive control signal for the CCD 41 based on the reference clock CLK0 transmitted from the general controller 211.
Further, for example, a clock signal such as a timing signal of integration start / end (exposure start / end) and a readout control signal (horizontal synchronization signal, vertical synchronization signal, transfer signal, etc.) of a light receiving signal of each pixel is generated and output to the CCD 41. I do.

The signal processing section 313 performs predetermined analog signal processing on an image signal (analog signal) output from the CCD 41. The signal processing unit 313 reduces the noise of the image signal and adjusts the level of the image signal.

The A / D converter 205 converts each pixel signal (analog signal) of the image signal input from the imaging device 4 into, for example, a 10-bit digital signal.

The driving of the timing control circuit 201 is controlled by the general control section 211. Timing control circuit 2
01 is a clock CL based on the reference clock CLK0.
K1 is generated, and the clock CLK1 is output to the timing generator 314. Further, the timing control circuit 201 controls the A / D based on the reference clock CLK0.
A conversion clock CLK2 is generated.
K2 is output to the signal processing unit 313 and the A / D conversion unit 205.

The black level correction circuit 206 corrects the black level of the A / D converted pixel signal (hereinafter referred to as pixel data) to a reference black level. The WB circuit 207 performs level conversion of pixel data of each of the R, G, and B color components so that the white balance is also adjusted after the γ correction. The WB circuit 207 converts the level of the pixel data of each of the R, G, and B color components using the level conversion table input from the overall control unit 211.

The gamma correction circuit 208 corrects gamma characteristics of pixel data. As shown in FIG. 6, the γ correction circuit 208 changes the display state of the electronic viewfinder 20 (load reduction processing) by using two types of γ with different γ characteristics.
It has a correction table. The characteristic is a characteristic that makes the image quality of a normal monitor image suitable, and the characteristic is a characteristic in which the brightness and the contrast are smaller than the above characteristic.

The image memory 209 stores the pixel data output from the gamma correction circuit 208 in the photographing mode, and stores the image data recorded on the memory card M after the predetermined signal processing in the reproduction mode. It is a memory for storing. This image memory 209 has a capacity to store pixel data of each color component in one frame.

The image memory 210 is a buffer memory for image data reproduced and displayed on the LCD display unit 10.
It has a storage capacity of image data corresponding to the number of pixels of the CD display unit 10.

The image memory 212 is a buffer memory for image data reproduced and displayed on the electronic viewfinder 20, and has a storage capacity for image data corresponding to the number of pixels of the LCD 22.

In the photographing standby state, each pixel data of the image picked up by the image pickup unit 3 every 1/30 (second) is A
After predetermined signal processing is performed by the / D converters 205 to γ correction circuit 208, the signals are stored in the image memory 209, and are also stored in the image memories 210 and 21 via the overall controller 211.
2 to the electronic viewfinder 20 or LCD
It is displayed on the display unit 10. Thus, the photographer can visually recognize the subject from the image displayed on the electronic viewfinder 20 or the LCD display unit 10. Also,
In the reproduction mode, the image read from the memory card M is subjected to predetermined signal processing by the overall control unit 211, then transferred to the image memory 210, and reproduced and displayed on the LCD display unit 10.

The card I / F 213 is an interface for writing image data to the memory card M and reading image data.

An operation unit 215 includes a switch for detecting a release operation of the shutter button 5, slide switches 6, 4
It includes a series switch Z and the operation button group B, and inputs various operation information to the overall control unit 211 from these switches.

Image data is recorded in the memory card M in a time-series arrangement. For each frame, a thumbnail image of the image taken into the image memory 209 after the photographing instruction and a JPEG (Joint Photographic Coding Experts).
The compressed image compressed by the Group method is stored together with index information (information such as a frame number, an exposure value, and a shutter speed) on the captured image.

The overall control unit 211 is composed of a microcomputer, and includes the inside of the image pickup device 4 and the camera main unit 2 described above.
The driving of each of the members is organically controlled, and the photographing operation of the electronic camera 1 is totally controlled. Also, the overall control unit 2
11 is an RA for microcomputer work.
M2111 and a flash memory 2112 storing a microcomputer program.

The overall control unit 211 includes an eyepiece determination unit 2
113 and a display control unit 2114.

The eyepiece determination section 2113 takes in the eyepiece detection voltage from the eyepiece detection section 30 and determines whether or not this eyepiece detection voltage exceeds the above threshold value, thereby determining whether or not the finder window 21 is in view. Is determined.

The display control unit 2114 is provided with the eyepiece determination unit 2
If it is determined that the eyepiece is detected by the user, the electronic viewfinder 20 is operated.

The display control unit 2114 has an internal counter 2114a.
The counting is started by 4a. When the time measured by the internal counter 2114a exceeds the first predetermined time, a command is issued to switch the γ characteristic in the γ correction of the γ correction circuit 208 from the characteristic to the characteristic. As a result, the brightness and contrast of the image displayed on the electronic viewfinder 20 are smaller than those of the previous images.

On the other hand, when the eyepiece operation is interrupted before the first predetermined time is exceeded, the electronic viewfinder 20
FF is performed.

When the time measured by the internal counter 2114a exceeds a second predetermined time longer than the first predetermined time, the display control unit 2114, as shown in FIG. In a state where the brightness and contrast are smaller than those of a normal image, a warning character S stating “It has been viewed for a long time” is further displayed on the display screen of the electronic viewfinder 20.

Next, the load reduction processing and the eyepiece suppression processing according to the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, the photographer turns on the power of the electronic camera 1 via the slide switch 6 (step # 1).
Then, various initial setting processes are performed (step # 2). Next, when an eyepiece operation is detected (YES in step # 3),
The power of the electronic viewfinder 20 is turned on (step # 4).

In step # 4, the electronic viewfinder 20
When the power supply is turned on, the internal counter 2113a starts counting (step # 5), and sets the γ characteristic to the characteristic (step # 6). Then, it is again determined whether or not the photographer is looking into the electronic viewfinder 20 (step # 7). If the photographer is looking (YES in step # 7),
Wait for 5 seconds (step # 8). Then, it is determined whether or not the internal counter 2113a has counted two minutes (step # 9). If it has not counted two minutes (step # 9).
(NO at 9), and returns to the process of step # 7. On the other hand, if the counter is counting 2 minutes (YE in step # 9)
S), γ characteristics are set as characteristics (step # 10).
Thereby, the γ correction circuit 208 sets the γ based on the characteristic.
The correction is performed, and the display screen of the electronic viewfinder 20 becomes slightly dark overall.

Next, it is determined whether or not the internal counter 2113a has counted 5 minutes (step # 11). If it has not counted 5 minutes (YES in step # 11), the processing in step # 7 is performed. If 5 minutes are counted (NO in step # 11), a warning display as shown in FIG. 8 is displayed on the electronic viewfinder 20 screen (step # 1).
2).

If the photographer does not look into the electronic viewfinder 20 in step # 7 (NO in step # 7),
After waiting for 5 seconds (step # 13), it is determined again whether the photographer is looking into the electronic viewfinder 20 (step # 14). If the photographer is looking into the electronic viewfinder 20 in step # 14 (step # 1
If the answer is YES in step 4), the process proceeds to step # 9, and if the photographer is not looking through electronic viewfinder 20 (NO in step # 14), electronic viewfinder 20 is turned off (step # 15).

As described above, when the photographer's eye movement continues for two minutes, the brightness and contrast of the image displayed on the electronic viewfinder 20 are made relatively smaller than those of the previous image, and Since the entire display screen of the viewfinder 20 is configured to be slightly dark, the burden on the eyes of the photographer can be reduced.
The photographer can recognize that the electronic viewfinder 20 is viewed too long.

Further, when the photographer's eye movement has been continued for 5 minutes, a warning letter S stating "It has been too long" is displayed on the display screen of the electronic viewfinder 20 to display the eye movement. , And is prompted to interrupt the eyepiece operation, so that it is possible to prevent the photographer from continuing to look into the electronic viewfinder 20 for a long time.

In the present invention, in addition to the above embodiment, the following modifications can be adopted.

(1) After a warning is displayed on the display screen of the electronic viewfinder 20, if a certain period of time has elapsed, the power of the electronic viewfinder 20 is forcibly turned off to forcibly interrupt the eyepiece operation. It may be.

(2) In the above embodiment, the image data is processed (by changing the γ characteristic) to darken the subject image displayed on the electronic viewfinder 20. Not limited to this, for example, the above LCD
When an illumination device for irradiating 22 from the back side thereof to the finder window 21 side is provided, the output voltage of the illumination device may be reduced to reduce the brightness of the display screen. . That is, it is only necessary that the state of the display screen of the electronic viewfinder 20 visually recognized by the photographer changes. (3) The warning display may be a mark as well as the above-described characters, or the entire screen may blink. Further, a warning may be given by sound.

[0063]

According to the present invention, the display state of the display means is changed by the display control means when the eyepiece time measured by the timing means exceeds a predetermined time. The burden on the eyes of the user can be reduced, and the photographer can recognize that he / she has been watching the display means for a long time.

When the eyepiece time measured by the timer means exceeds a predetermined time, a warning means is provided to warn the photographer of the eyepiece operation by the warning means. It is possible to prompt the photographer and prevent the photographer from continuing to peep at the display means for a long time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of an electronic camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the electronic camera.

FIG. 3 is a left side view of the electronic camera.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of an eyepiece detection unit.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an electronic camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a γ correction table.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a distance to a reflection object in an eyepiece detection unit and an eyepiece detection voltage taken by an overall control unit.

FIG. 8 is an example of a warning display displayed on the display screen of the electronic viewfinder.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating operations of a load reduction process and an eyepiece suppression process according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 LCD display unit 20 Electronic viewfinder 21 Viewfinder window 22 LCD 23 Eyepiece 30 Eyepiece detection sensor 31 Light emitting unit 32 Light receiving unit 208 γ correction circuit 2113 Eyepiece determination unit 2114 Display control unit 2114a Internal counter

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) // H04N 101: 00 H04N 101: 00 (72) Inventor Katsuhito Shinkawa 2-3 Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi 13 Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Toshiyuki Tanaka 2-3-13 Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka City Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2H054 AA01 2H102 AB11 BB08 CA11 5C022 AA13 AC03 AC08 AC13 AC18 AC32 AC42 AC52 AC69

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image pickup means for receiving a light image of a subject, photoelectrically converting the light image into image data and outputting the image data, and disposed behind a viewing window to display the image data output by the image pickup means as a subject image. Display means, detecting means for detecting the eyepiece movement of the photographer with respect to the viewing window, and when the eyepiece movement is detected by the detecting means,
An electronic camera, comprising: a timing unit for starting measurement of an eyepiece time; and a display control unit for changing a display state of the display unit when the eyepiece time measured by the timing unit exceeds a predetermined time. . 2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the display control means is configured to reduce at least one of luminance and contrast of the subject image and display the image on the display means. camera. 3. An image pickup means for receiving a light image of a subject, photoelectrically converting the light image into image data and outputting the image data, and disposed behind the viewing window to display the image data output by the image pickup means as a subject image. Display means, detecting means for detecting the eyepiece movement of the photographer with respect to the viewing window, and when the eyepiece movement is detected by the detecting means,
An electronic camera, comprising: a timing unit for starting measurement of an eyepiece time; and a warning unit for giving a warning for the eyepiece operation when the eyepiece time measured by the timing unit exceeds a predetermined time.