JP2002311488A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera which enables a user to easily confirm a photometric state and is easily used. SOLUTION: The camera is provided with a multi-division photometric means to perform photometry by dividing a photographic screen into a plurality of areas and to output photometric values for every area, an exposure calculating means to calculate exposure by using the photometric values of the plurality of photometric areas and weighting coefficients corresponding to the respective photometric areas, an imaging means to image an image of an object in the photographic screen and a monitor 8 to display the image imaged by the imaging means and constituted so that masking processings are performed for each of the plurality of areas according to the weighting coefficients when the image is displayed on the monitor 8.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera having a multi-segment photometry device, and more particularly to a camera which measures light in a plurality of areas in a photographing screen to determine an exposure amount.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a photometry system of a camera, there are, for example, a system of spot photometry, center-weighted photometry, average photometry, and evaluation photometry. In this case, if the photometry area in the photographing screen is limited to a narrow area at the center as in spot photometry, it is easy for the photographer to recognize the photometry area of the subject.

However, in order to determine the exposure amount by the spot metering method, the photographer needs a certain amount of knowledge and experience, so that it is not easy for a general photographer to use. Therefore, many recent cameras adopt a center-weighted metering system or an evaluation metering system.

[0004]

However, in the case of the center-weighted metering system or the evaluation metering system, the final exposure amount is determined by the camera based on a specific evaluation formula. However, there is a disadvantage that it is difficult to understand how much the brightness of the image contributes to the exposure amount.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an easy-to-use camera in which a photometric state can be easily confirmed.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention divides a photographing screen into a plurality of areas and performs photometry.
Multi-segment metering means for outputting a photometric value for each area; exposure calculating means for calculating an exposure based on the photometric values output from the plurality of areas; and output of the respective photometric areas in the exposure calculation Display means for visually displaying the contribution ratio of the camera.

[0007] Further, photometric means for photometrically measuring the inside of the photographing screen,
An image pickup unit for picking up an image of a subject in the photographing screen; and a monitor unit for displaying an image picked up by the image pickup unit. When displaying the subject image on the monitor unit, photometry of the photometering unit is performed. There is provided a camera characterized by superimposing and displaying image data representing distribution characteristics.

[0008] Further, a multi-segment metering means for dividing a photographing screen into a plurality of areas and performing light metering and outputting a metering value for each area, a metering value of the plurality of metering areas and a weighting coefficient corresponding to each metering area. An exposure amount calculating unit that calculates an exposure amount using the image capturing unit; an image capturing unit that captures an image of a subject in the photographing screen; and a monitor unit that displays an image captured by the image capturing unit. Wherein the masking process is performed on each of the plurality of regions in accordance with the weighting coefficient when the image is displayed.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 is a state in which a pop-up unit including a strobe light emitting unit and an image pickup unit is popped up, as viewed from the front upper part of the camera. FIG. 2 is a state in which the pop-up unit is stored, as viewed from the back side of the camera. FIG. 2 shows cross-sectional views of the pop-up unit shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electric circuit configuration of the entire camera shown in FIG.

First, the external structure of a camera according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 1, a pop-up unit 1 is disposed at the center of the upper surface of the camera body of the present embodiment, and a power switch 4 for turning on / off the power of the camera is disposed on the upper surface of the camera. On the upper surface of the camera body, the power switch 4
The release switch 6 for instructing the start of the operation of the silver halide photographing device or the electronic imaging device, and a photometry mode (a spot photometry mode, an average photometry mode, or a center-weighted photometry mode) for photometry of the brightness of the subject are provided at positions opposite to the above. In order to set the photometric mode, a photometric mode setting dial 5 as a photometric mode setting means which is manually rotated is provided.

On the front side of the pop-up unit 1, one member 2 of an image pickup optical system for forming a subject image on an electronic image pickup device and a light emitting panel 3 for transmitting strobe light are provided.
And are mounted so as to be able to pop up from the camera body. In addition, this pop-up unit 1 is linked with the ON operation of the power switch 4,
It pops up mechanically from the camera body.

As shown in FIG. 2, an eyepiece window 7 of an optical viewfinder for observing a subject image based on the subject light transmitted through the silver halide photographing lens is provided on the back of the camera body.
A monitor 8 for displaying an electronic image captured from the electronic image sensor, a confirmation window 9 for confirming the type of film loaded in the camera, and a photometry area corresponding to the photometry mode on the monitor 8 A photometric area display instruction button 10 as a photometric area display instruction means for instructing display to be displayed together with the electronic image is provided. Here, the photometry area display button 10 is displaced from an off state (open state) to an on state (closed state) to lock in conjunction with the first push operation, and is unlocked and released to the on state ( It is connected to a so-called self-locking switch that is displaced from a closed state) to an off state (open state).

Next, the structure of the pop-up unit 1 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the pop-up unit 1 has a built-in flash light emitting unit 3A and an imaging unit 2A. The imaging unit 2A includes photographing lenses 2, 11, 13, and 14,
The diaphragm 12, the IC chip 15, the lens frame 16, the flexible substrate 17, and the like are included.

The photographing lenses 2, 11, 13, and 14 are arranged inside the pop-up unit 1 as shown in the figure, and are fixed so that these photographing lenses are supported by the lens frame 16. In this case, a negative lens is used for the photographing lenses 2 and 14, and a positive lens is used for the other photographing lenses 11 and 13.

The IC chip 15 is an IC chip formed by a CMOS process including, for example, a CMOS imager as an electronic image pickup device. The IC chip 15 is disposed at the rear end side on the optical path of the plurality of photographing lenses. It is connected. The IC chip 15 forms a subject image through these photographing lenses, converts the image into an electric signal, and supplies the electric signal to the flexible substrate 17 through a substrate 59 that is electrically connected.

An aperture 12 is formed integrally with the lens frame 16, and the aperture 12 is provided so as to be interposed between the taking lenses 11 and 13. The flexible substrate 17 includes a substrate 59 on which the IC chip 15 is mounted via the substrate 59. An extended portion of the flexible substrate 17 is wired from the pop-up unit 1 to the camera body, and The end portion is electrically connected to a signal processing circuit built in the camera body. As a result, the electric image signal (also referred to as an image signal) output from the IC chip 15 is supplied to a signal processing circuit in the camera body.

On the other hand, the strobe light emitting means 3A includes a light emitting panel 3, a strobe reflector 18, an arc tube 19, a trigger transformer 20, and the like. The arc tube 19 emits strobe light, and emits light when the xenon gas sealed in the arc tube 19 is excited by the trigger transformer 20. The stroboscopic light emitted by the light emitting tube 19 is emitted toward the subject by the strobe reflector 19.

Next, an electric circuit configuration of the camera having the above-described external configuration according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG. First, parts related to the silver halide photographing apparatus will be described.

In FIG. 4, a taking lens for forming a subject image is composed of a positive lens 21 and a negative lens 23, and an aperture mechanism 22 is disposed in the taking lens. The drive of the aperture mechanism 22 is controlled by an aperture drive circuit 35.

The photographing lens is a zoom lens having a variable focal length, and the change of the focal length can be mechanically adjusted by a manually operated member (zoom ring) (not shown). Since this mechanism is a known technique, its details are omitted.

Behind the negative lens 23, there is provided a movable mirror 24 whose central part is a half mirror.
5 is provided so as to reflect the subject light downward.

On the side of the sub-mirror 25 in the direction of the reflected light axis, a separator optical system 29 composed of two optical systems for separating two images is arranged in a direction substantially perpendicular to the drawing. A line sensor 30 is arranged at a position where the subject image is formed by the separator optical system 29, and the line sensor 30 is connected to a line sensor drive circuit 37.

The sub-mirror 25, the separator optical system 29, the line sensor 30 and the like constitute a focus detection device based on a known phase difference method, and the CPU 41 operates based on a signal input via the line sensor drive circuit 37. The distance between the two images is obtained, and driving amount data of the photographing lens for driving to the focus position is calculated.

The drive amount is transferred to a focus drive circuit 34, and the focal positions of the lenses 21 and 23 of the photographing lens are changed. The focus drive circuit 34 includes known drive sources such as an electromagnetic motor and an ultrasonic motor, a driver circuit for controlling these drive sources, an encoder device for detecting the position of a lens, and the like. It is composed.

On the reflected light path of the movable mirror 24, a focusing plate 31, a pentaprism 32, and a finder eyepiece optical system 33 are arranged. In the present embodiment, the reason that the above-mentioned optical viewfinder (the eyepiece window 7; see FIG. 2) is provided in addition to the LCD monitor 8 described later for monitoring the subject is that the camera operator looks at the LCD monitor 8. This is because taking a picture while looking through the optical viewfinder improves the holding performance of the camera and makes it easier to prevent camera shake and the like than taking a picture while taking a picture.

The above-mentioned movable mirror 24 is driven by a mirror driving circuit 36, and the shutter 26 is driven by a shutter driving circuit 38. The movable mirror 24 moves up,
When the shutter 26 is opened, a subject image is formed on the silver halide film 27 and is exposed.

The CPU 41 obtains an appropriate exposure based on a subject luminance value output from a signal processing circuit 45 described later, a film sensitivity detected by a film sensitivity detection circuit (not shown), and a program chart (not shown). The aperture value of the aperture 22 and the shutter speed are calculated and the shutter 26 is driven and controlled at the shutter speed obtained by this calculation process.

A magnetic recording layer is formed on the silver halide film 27, and a magnetic head 28 is arranged so as to be in contact with the magnetic recording layer. The magnetic head 28 magnetically records various information and is driven by an output of a magnetic head drive circuit 40. Further, a film drive circuit 39 is provided in the camera body, and this film drive circuit 39 performs the winding operation of the film 27 when the photographing of one frame is completed. The magnetic recording by the magnetic head 28 is performed during this winding operation.

The switch input 42 is connected to the release switch 6
A first release switch that is turned on in conjunction with a half-press operation of the shutter release button, a second release switch that is turned on in conjunction with a full-depression operation of the release switch 6, a power switch 4 that is linked with a slide switch, and a photometry mode. Switch such as a photometric mode setting dial 5 or a switch (not shown) for detecting a mechanical mechanism operation. The switch input 42 generates an operation signal or a switch state signal based on one of these switch operations, and supplies the signal to the CPU 41.

The EEPROM 43 is a non-volatile memory, and stores area data (details will be described later) when displaying the photometry area on the monitor 8 and each camera necessary for shipment at a factory while suppressing variations among the cameras. The adjustment value is stored.

Next, parts related to the electronic image pickup apparatus will be described. In FIG. 4, an imaging unit 2A included in the electronic imaging device includes positive lenses 11 and 13, which are imaging lenses for forming a subject image on a CMOS imager formed on an IC chip 15 as described above. The imaging lens includes negative lenses 2 and 14, and a fixed aperture 1 is provided in the imaging lens.
2 are arranged. These are built in the pop-up unit 1 as described above.

The subject image formed on the CMOS imager of the IC chip 15 is converted into an analog video signal.
Further, the data is converted into digital image data by a control circuit (not shown) formed on the IC chip 15,
The signal is output to the signal processing circuit 45.

The signal processing circuit 45 includes a RISC processor, a color processor, and a JPEG core,
The digital video signal obtained from the chip 15 is subjected to compression / expansion processing, white balance processing, edge enhancement processing, electronic zoom processing described later, and conversion into a composite signal (luminance signal, color difference signal) output to the LCD monitor 8. Processing is performed. It is also possible to detect the luminance value of the subject image based on the digital video signal. This will be described later.

The EPROM 47 stores a program to be processed by a processor included in the signal processing circuit 45. SRAM 48 (static RAM), DRAM
49 (dynamic RAM) is a memory for temporarily storing an image before image processing and an image during image processing. The flash memory 50 is a non-volatile memory that stores a finally determined image, and is configured to retain the stored contents even when the power of the camera is turned off.

In this embodiment, the angle of view of the imaging lenses 21 and 23 is substantially the same as the angle of view of the shortest focus (the so-called wide end) of the imaging lenses 21 and 23. When the focal length is changed, the electronic image displayed on the LCD monitor 8 by enlarging (electronic zooming) the electronic image by the signal processing circuit 45 and the latent image recorded on the silver halide film 27 are changed. The angles of view are made to substantially match.

Next, the strobe light emitting device 3A will be described. In FIG. 4, in a strobe light emitting device 3A included in the electronic image pickup device, a xenon gas sealed in the arc tube 19 is excited by a trigger signal output from at least a trigger circuit 44 including a trigger transformer 20. And the light is reflected by the umbrella 18,
Further, the light passes through the light-emitting panel 3 and is irradiated on the subject.

The trigger circuit 44, the arc tube 19, and the reflector 18 are built in the pop-up unit 1, and the light-emitting panel 3 is attached to the side of the pop-up unit 1 as described above (FIG. 3). reference).

In this embodiment, the angle of view of the light emission of the strobe is substantially the same as each of the shortest focus (so-called wide end) captured images of the photographing lenses 21 and 23. The strobe circuit 46 controls charging of a strobe main capacitor (not shown) and a light emission instruction to the trigger circuit 44.

In the camera configured as described above,
The above-described strobe circuit 46 and zoom focus drive circuit 3
4. Aperture drive circuit 35, mirror drive circuit 36, line sensor drive circuit 37, shutter drive circuit 38, film drive circuit 39, magnetic head drive circuit 40, EEPROM4
3, the switch input 42 and the CPU 41
2 are electrically connected by the data bus 52
Data such as control signals and information signals required to execute various functions is transmitted and received via the.

The CPU 41 controls the operation of these drive circuits. Further, a data bus 51 is connected to the signal processing circuit 45, and the data bus 51 has an EPROM 47, an SRAM 48, a DR
AM 49 and flash memory 50 are connected. Also in this case, the signal processing circuit 45,
Data such as electronic image data is exchanged between the EPROM 47, the SRAM 48, the DRAM 49, and the flash memory 50. The operations of these circuits are collectively controlled by a processor (not shown) in the signal processing circuit 45.

The CPU 41 and the signal processing circuit 45 are connected by a communication line 53. The CPU 41 and the signal processing circuit 45 transmit and receive control signal data such as the timing of capturing an image signal and the timing of electronic imaging and silver halide photography. This is performed via a line 53.

Next, the photometric method of the camera according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. As described above, the camera according to the present invention can select an average metering, a spot metering, or a center-weighted metering as a metering method by setting the metering mode setting dial 5. An imager on the IC chip 15 can be used as a photometric sensor, and the luminance value of the subject image can be detected based on the image signal (digital video signal).

The imaging surface of the imager is divided into four photometric areas A, B, C, and D (61 to 64) as shown in FIG. The photometry area A at the center of the imaging plane has an area of about 2% of the entire imaging plane, and the other photometry areas are arranged concentrically around the periphery.

The photometric value is calculated according to the photometric mode set by the photometric mode setting dial 5 by determining the average value of the output signals of a plurality of pixels included in each area. For example, in the case of the average photometry mode, an average value of all pixel outputs is calculated and output as a photometry value. In the case of the spot metering mode, an average pixel output value of the metering area A in the imaging screen is calculated and output as a metering value. Further, in the case of the center-weighted photometry mode, the photometric value is output by calculating the average value of the pixel outputs of the photometry area A, the photometry area B, and the photometry area C in consideration of the weighting coefficient for the center-weighted photometry. .

Here, the calculated photometric value in the center-weighted photometric mode is BV, the photometric output of photometric area A is BVa, the photometric output of photometric area B is BVb, and the photometric output of photometric area C is BV.
When Vc and the photometric output of the photometric area D are BVd, the following equation (1) is used.

BV = 0.6 × BVa + 0.3 × BVb + 0.1 × BVc + 0 × BVd (1) Next, the operation of the camera of the present invention will be described with reference to the main flowchart shown in FIG.

When the power switch 4 of the camera shown in FIG. 2 is turned on, or when the battery is inserted and the power is turned on, the CPU 41 is started to start the camera operation, and the main sequence routine shown in FIG. 6 is executed. You. Less than,
The operation of the CPU 41 will be described sequentially.

In the processing of step S1, it is determined whether or not the power switch 4 of the camera has been turned on. If it is determined that the power switch 4 has been turned on, the process proceeds to step S4, where the processing after step S4 is performed. Execute the process. On the other hand, if it is determined that the power switch 4 is off, the process proceeds to step S2, and the processes after step S2 are executed.

When the power switch 4 is off, the LCD monitor 8 is turned on through the signal processing circuit 45 in step S2.
Is instructed to turn off the display. After that, the processing shifts to step S3, and the standby processing 1 is performed. In this standby process 1, before the operation of the CPU 41 is stopped,
41 sets conditions for starting operation again. In the standby processing 1, the operation is set to start when the power switch 4 is turned on.
1 stops its operation and enters a standby state (also called a standby state). When the standby state is released by operating the power switch 4 or the like, the CPU 41 causes the main sequence routine to be executed again, and executes the processing of the first step S1.

On the other hand, when the power switch 4 is turned on,
In the processing of step S4, the drive control is performed so that the photographing lenses 21 and 23 are extended from the retracted position (not shown) to the wide position, and then the main condenser (not shown) included in the flash circuit 46 is charged in the processing of step S5. .

Thereafter, the flow shifts to step S6, in which the built-in timer 1 starts counting. This timer 1
This is a counter that is counted up every predetermined time. At the start of counting, the timer 1 has a counter value of 0, is cleared (reset), and starts counting.

Then, the processing shifts to the judgment processing of the following step S7, and it is judged whether or not the first release switch is turned on by pressing the release switch 6 by the judgment processing. In this case, when it is determined that the first relays switch is off, the process proceeds to step S12, and conversely, when it is determined that the first relays switch is on, the process proceeds to step S8. Execute the processing of

In the processing in the <photometry> subroutine of step S8, an instruction is controlled via the communication line 53 so as to take in an image signal from an imager on the IC chip 15, and then, based on the taken-in image signal, an image in the image screen is displayed. Calculate the brightness. In this case, the photometric value depends on the photometric mode set by the photometric mode setting dial 5, that is, in the average photometric mode, the average value of all pixel outputs, and in the spot photometric mode, the central area ( The pixel output average value of the photometry area A) in FIG. 5, and in the case of the center-weighted photometry mode, a weighted operation value of the pixel output of the central area and the peripheral area is output.

Thereafter, the process proceeds to a <ranging / focus adjustment> subroutine of step S9, and the process proceeds to step S9 based on the signal input via the line sensor drive circuit 37.
An image interval is obtained, and driving amount data of the photographing lens for driving to the focus position is processed. Thereafter, the obtained drive amount is transferred to a zoom / focus drive circuit 34 to control the drive, thereby changing the focal position of each of the lenses 21 and 23 of the photographing lens.

Then, by the processing of the <exposure calculation> subroutine of the subsequent step S10, a known technique is performed based on the photometric value obtained in the processing of step S8 and the film sensitivity detected by a film sensitivity detection circuit (not shown). Then, the aperture value and the shutter speed of the aperture 22 for obtaining the proper exposure are calculated (that is, the exposure calculation process), and the process proceeds to the subsequent step S11.

In the processing of the <exposure sequence> subroutine of step S11, an instruction control is performed to execute an exposure sequence (also referred to as a photographing sequence).
An image is taken by a CMOS imager and the silver halide film 27 is exposed. Thereafter, the process returns to step S7.

On the other hand, if the first release switch is off in the processing in step S7, it is determined in step S12 whether or not the photometry area display instruction switch linked to the photometry area display instruction button is on. Is determined, the process proceeds to step S13 when it is determined that the switch is on, and the process after step S14 is performed when it is determined that the switch is off.

In the processing of the <display photometry area> subroutine of step S13, a subject image is picked up by an electronic image pickup device,
The electronic image obtained thereby is displayed on the monitor 8, and the image is displayed so that the photometric area corresponding to the photometric mode can be visually confirmed. Details regarding this processing will be described later.

In the determination processing in step S14, it is determined again whether or not the power switch 4 of the camera is on. If it is determined that the power switch 4 is on, the processing in and after step S15 is executed. .

On the other hand, if it is determined that the power switch 4 is off, the process returns to step S2, and the processes after step S2 are executed. Then, in the determination processing of step S15, it is determined whether or not the timer 1 overflows. In other words, the timer 1 overflows when a predetermined time elapses from the start of counting, and therefore, the presence / absence of overflow is determined in this determination processing. In this case, if it is determined that the timer 1 has overflowed, the process proceeds to step S16. Conversely, if it is determined that the timer 1 has not overflown, the process returns to step S7, and the processes after step S7 are repeatedly executed. Is done. In other words, this is because if the operation switch such as the power switch 4 is not operated even after the lapse of the predetermined time, the CPU 41 is set in a standby state (standby state) for energy saving.

Thereafter, when the timer 1 overflows, the signal processing circuit 45 is executed in step S16.
Is instructed to turn off the display of the LCD monitor 8, and the process proceeds to step S17.

In the process of step S17, control is performed so as to execute the standby process 2. In the standby process 2, similarly to the process in step S3, before the operation of the CPU 41 is stopped, a condition setting for the CPU 41 to restart the operation after the stop is performed. In the standby 2, the operation is set to be started by a change of a switch linked to the operation button. Thereafter, the CPU 41 stops the operation and enters a standby state (also referred to as a standby state).
When the standby state is released by operating the power switch 4 or the like, the CPU 41 returns the processing to step S5 again, and executes the processing after step S5.

Next, the processing of the exposure sequence in step S11 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. First, in step S18, the signal processing circuit 45
Is instructed to turn off the display of the LCD monitor 8, and the process proceeds to the determination processing of the subsequent step S 19.

In the determination processing of step S19, the state of the second release switch which is turned on in conjunction with the full depression of the release switch 6 is checked, and if it is determined that the second release switch is turned on, the process shifts to step S21, and conversely. If it is determined that the switch has not been turned on, the processing shifts to the determination processing of step S20.

In the determination processing of step S20, the first
The state of the release switch is checked, and if it is determined that the release switch is not turned on, the process returns to the main routine shown in FIG.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the switch is on, the process returns to step S19, and the determination process is repeated. Then, in step S21, drive control is performed so that the aperture 22 is stopped down to the set aperture value by the output of the aperture drive circuit 35. In this case, the aperture value is determined in advance in the main routine by a known technique based on subject brightness, film sensitivity, and the like.

In the subsequent step S22, the driving of the movable mirror 24 is controlled by the output of the mirror driving circuit 36 so as to retreat outside the photographic optical path, and the flow proceeds to step S23. In the process of step S23, an imaging instruction is supplied to the signal processing circuit 45, and in the subsequent process of step S24, the shutter 26 is driven by the output of the shutter drive circuit 38 so that the shutter speed is set to the set shutter speed value. And shoot. In this case, the shutter speed value is determined in advance in the main routine similarly to the aperture value.

Thereafter, it is determined in the following step S25 whether or not the imaging has been completed. If it is determined that the imaging has been completed, the process proceeds to step S26. If not, the determination processing is performed again. And repeat until the imaging is completed.

It should be noted that whether or not the imaging has been completed is determined by a control signal (command) transferred from the signal processing circuit 45 via the communication line 53. When receiving the control signal indicating the end of the imaging, the CPU 41 controls so as to execute the processing after step S26 to which the above-mentioned transition is made.

Then, by the processing of step S26, drive control is performed so that the movable mirror 24 retracted by the mirror-up processing of step S22 is returned to a normal position in the photographing optical path, and the processing shifts to step S27. .

In the process of step S27, the aperture driving circuit is controlled so that the aperture mechanism 22, which has been in the aperture state in the aperture process of step S21, returns to the open state, and the process proceeds to step S28.

In the process of step S28, the film drive circuit 39 is driven and controlled to wind up the silver halide film 27 by one frame. In this case, CP
When the magnetic head drive circuit 40 is driven and controlled by the U 41, predetermined data is magnetically recorded on the magnetic recording layer of the silver halide film 27 by the magnetic head 28. This magnetic recording operation is known in the art. The detailed description is omitted here.

When the magnetic recording of the data on the silver halide film 27 is completed, the subroutine "display image processing" of the following step S29 is executed. In this subroutine,
An instruction control signal for executing the display image processing is supplied to the signal processing circuit 45 via the communication line 53, and the signal processing circuit 45 converts the display image processing (the captured electronic image into a displayable state on the monitor 8). Process).

In step S30, an instruction control signal for executing the display operation is supplied to the signal processing circuit 45 via the communication line 53, thereby instructing the LCD monitor 8 to execute the display operation. As a result, the captured image is displayed on the LCD monitor 8.

Here, the operation of the <display image processing> subroutine will be described in more detail. In this subroutine, the CPU 41 supplies an instruction control signal for executing the display image processing to the signal processing circuit 45 via the communication line 53. The processor in the signal processing circuit 45 receives this signal and starts display image processing. A processor (not shown) in the signal processing circuit 45 detects the focal length of the photographing lenses 21 and 23 from a zoom encoder (not shown), and determines the magnification β of the electronic zoom based on the detected focal length information. . After that, the processor in the signal processing circuit 45 converts the image data stored in the SRAM 48 or the DRAM 49 so as to be enlarged to the enlargement factor β of the electronic zoom, and stores the converted image data in the memory again. Storage control as described above. After that, a control signal indicating that the display image processing has been completed is supplied to the CPU 41.

The CPU 41 having received the control signal then gives a display ON instruction to the signal processing circuit 45 in step S30 in the above described photographing sequence processing routine shown in FIG. Let it run.

Returning to FIG. 7, after the image display operation is performed in S30, a data storage instruction is supplied to the signal processing circuit 45 in the subsequent processing of step S31. In response, the signal processing circuit 45 controls the digital image data compressed by the image processing to be stored in the flash memory 50. When a control signal indicating the end of data storage is received from the signal processing circuit 45, the routine of the imaging sequence is completed, and the process returns to the main routine.

Next, the <light metering area display> subroutine will be described with reference to FIG. In this subroutine, an image of a subject is picked up by an electronic image sensor, an electronic image obtained by the image pickup is displayed on a monitor 8, and a photometric region corresponding to a photometric mode can be visually confirmed on the image. Display.

First, in step S41, an imaging instruction is supplied to the signal processing circuit 45, and in the following determination processing in step S42, it is determined whether or not imaging has been completed. Move to step S43.

Next, <display image processing> in step S43
A subroutine is executed to convert the captured image into a form suitable for display. The operation of this subroutine is as described above, and will not be described.

Subsequently, in step S44, the photometric mode set by the photometric mode setting dial 5 is checked. Here, if the spot metering mode is set, the display processing of the spot mask is instructed to the signal processing circuit 45 in step S45. The spot mask display process is a process of performing a mask display process so that the spot metering region can be visually confirmed on the captured image acquired in the processes of steps S41 to S43. Specifically, first, the CPU 41 reads the image data of the spot photometric mask stored in the EEPROM 43 and transmits the image data to the signal processing circuit 45. In response, the signal processing circuit 45
Is to perform a process of superimposing the spot photometric mask image data sent from the CPU 41 on the image data subjected to the electronic zoom process in the <display image process> subroutine described above.

When the center-weighted photometry mode is set, the CPU instructs the signal processing circuit 45 to display the center-weighted mask in step S46. The display processing of the center-weighted photometric mask is performed in steps S41 to S41.
This is to perform a mask process on the captured image acquired in the process 43 so that the weighting of the center-weighted photometry can be visually confirmed. More specifically, first, the CPU 41
3 is read and transmitted to the signal processing circuit 45. In response to this, the processor in the signal processing circuit 45 performs a process of superimposing the center-weighted photometric mask image data sent from the CPU 41 on the image data subjected to the electronic zoom process in the <display image process> subroutine. is there.

If the average photometry mode is set, the signal processing circuit 45 is instructed in step S47 to have no mask. In this case, step S41
No processing is performed on the captured image acquired in the processing of S43.

After a mask instruction is given in any of steps S45, S46 and S47, a display ON instruction is given to signal processing circuit 45 in step S48. Signal processing circuit 45
Receives the signal, and causes the monitor 8 to display an image on which the mask processing according to the photometry mode has been performed.

After the mask superimposed display is performed, it is checked in step S49 whether the photometry area display instruction switch is still on. If it is not on, the photographer intends to end the display of the photometric area, so the process proceeds to step S50, instructs the signal processing circuit 45 to turn off (turn off) the monitor display, and returns. .

On the other hand, if the photometry area display instruction switch is on in step S49, it is checked in step S51 whether the first release switch is on. Here, if the first release switch is on,
Since the photographer is about to start the photographing operation by pressing the release button 6, the display of the photometric area should be ended and the operation should be shifted to the photographing operation.

If the first release switch has not been turned on, the flow returns to step 41 to repeat the operation up to this.
Therefore, a simple moving image is displayed on the monitor 8, and a mask corresponding to the photometry mode is continuously superimposed on the image.

Here, the form of display performed in the <photometry area display> subroutine will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. FIG. 9A shows a display state when the mask processing is not performed. When the average photometry mode is selected, the display is performed in this mode.

FIG. 9B shows a display state when the spot metering mode is selected. At this time, an opaque mask is applied to an area other than the area of about 2% at the center of the imaging screen, and it can be visually confirmed that photometry is not performed at an area other than the center.

FIG. 9C shows a display state when the center-weighted metering mode is selected. In the center-weighted metering mode, the weighting coefficients (0.6, 0.3, and 0.6) of the center-weighted metering are applied to the metering value output of the metering regions A, B, C, and D in FIG. Since the photometric value is calculated by multiplying by 0.1, 0), the transmittance of the range corresponding to the photometric area A is 1 (that is, no mask is applied) and the range corresponding to the photometric area B is displayed on the monitor display. Has a transmittance of 0.
5. A mask in which the transmittance corresponding to the photometric area C is 0.12 and the transmittance corresponding to the photometric area D is 0 (opaque) is superimposed. Therefore, on the monitor 8, an image on which a mask having a different density is displayed in accordance with a ratio (contribution ratio) at which the output of each photometry area affects the photometry value is displayed. You can visually check how much the value is affected.

That is, in the camera of the present invention, the photometric distribution characteristics when the electronic image pickup device 15 is used as photometric means are stored as image data in a storage element (storage means) such as the EEPROM 43 in advance, and the monitor 8 ( When displaying the subject image picked up by the electronic image pickup device 15 (imaging means) on the monitor means), the image data (image mask) representing the photometric distribution is superimposed and displayed.

However, the mask itself has nothing to do with the photometric value, and is merely used to allow the photographer to confirm the effect of each photometric value in the divided photometric region on the final photometric value. Therefore, it is not necessary to set the transmittance to exactly correspond to the weight of each photometric area (contribution rate to the final photometric value output). In other words, there is no problem even if the image is displayed in such a manner that the photographer can grasp it sensuously or in a more easily understandable form.

FIG. 10 shows an example in which a mask whose transmittance gradually decreases from the center to the periphery is superimposed and displayed as a mask representing the image of center-weighted photometry. The gradation from the center to the periphery of this mask is
Although the weighting does not match the actual weighting of the photometric area, the gradual change of the weighting from the photometric area A to the D is expressed by a gradation, and the photographer is more likely to be displayed than the display form of FIG. Is easy to grasp the image of center-weighted metering.

Up to now, when an operation member for instructing the display of a photometry area is operated, an image of a subject is taken by an image pickup device, and the taken image is displayed on a monitor screen provided on the back of the camera. A camera that displays and superimposes a mask indicating the photometry area on the image has been described. However, like a video camera or an electronic still camera,
In a camera having an electronic viewfinder instead of an optical viewfinder, a similar photometric area display may be performed on the electronic viewfinder.

Although the transmittance of the mask is set to 0 (opaque) for an area that does not contribute to the photometric value, the present invention is not limited to this. Above all, there is an advantage that the surrounding situation can be checked.

Instead of using a monochromatic mask,
It may be expressed by a difference in color. The present invention implemented by the above-described embodiments can be variously modified without departing from the gist of the present invention.

According to the camera of the present embodiment, in a multi-segment metering camera that divides a photographed screen into a plurality of regions and measures the light, and outputs a metering value for each region, the amount of light in each of the light The problem that the contribution ratio of the output is difficult to understand is solved, and the camera becomes easy to use.

Although the present invention has been described based on the embodiments, the present invention includes the following inventions. (1) a selecting means for selecting one of a plurality of photometric modes, a multi-segment photometric means for dividing a photographic screen into a plurality of areas and performing photometry, and outputting a photometric value for each area; An exposure calculation unit configured to calculate a light exposure by changing a contribution ratio of a plurality of photometry values according to a photometry mode selected by the selection unit; a storage unit configured to store image data corresponding to the photometry mode; Imaging means for imaging a subject image in a shooting screen;
A camera, comprising: monitor means for synthesizing and displaying a subject image picked up by the image pickup means and a photometric mode-compatible image stored in the storage means. (2) selection means for selecting one of a plurality of photometry modes, multi-segment photometry means for dividing a photographing screen into a plurality of areas, performing photometry, and outputting a photometry value for each area, and the selection means Exposure amount calculation means for calculating the exposure amount by changing the contribution ratio of the photometry values output from the plurality of areas according to the photometry mode selected in the above, and an imaging means for imaging a subject image in the shooting screen And monitor means for displaying a subject image picked up by the image pickup means, wherein the monitor means depends on the contribution ratio of the plurality of photometric values to the exposure amount.
A camera, wherein the density of a display image is made different for each of the plurality of regions.

[0099]

According to the present invention, since the photometric state can be easily confirmed, the camera is easy to use.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention at the upper front.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of a rear surface of the camera according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a pop-up unit of the camera according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electric circuit configuration of the entire camera.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a photometry method of the camera according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a main flowchart for explaining the operation of the camera according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an exposure sequence process in step S11 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a <photometry area display> subroutine of step S13 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is an image diagram for explaining a display mode performed in a <photometry area display> subroutine of step S13 in FIG. 6, and FIG. 9A shows a display state in a case where mask processing is not performed. (B) is a display state when the spot metering mode is selected. (C) is a display state when the center-weighted metering mode is selected.

FIG. 10 shows <light metering area display> in step S13 in FIG.
FIG. 9 is an image diagram illustrating another form of display performed in a subroutine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Pop-up unit 5 Metering mode setting dial 6 Release switch 8 Monitor 10 Metering area display button 15 IC chip

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A multi-segment metering means for dividing a photographic screen into a plurality of areas and performing photometry, and outputting a photometric value for each area, and calculating an exposure amount based on the photometric values output from the plurality of areas. And a display means for visually displaying the contribution of the output of each of the photometric areas in the calculation of the exposure amount. 2. The monitor according to claim 1, further comprising: a photometric unit configured to perform photometry in a photographic screen; an imaging unit configured to capture an image of a subject in the photographic screen; and a monitor configured to display an image captured by the imaging unit. A camera characterized by superimposing and displaying image data representing the photometric distribution characteristics of the photometric means when displaying the subject image on the means. 3. A multi-segment metering unit that divides a photographing screen into a plurality of areas and measures the light, and outputs a metering value for each area, a metering value of the plurality of metering areas and a weighting coefficient corresponding to each metering area. And an exposure amount calculating unit that calculates an exposure amount using: an image capturing unit that captures an image of a subject in the shooting screen; and a monitor unit that displays an image captured by the image capturing unit. A camera, characterized in that when displaying the image on a monitor means, a masking process is performed on each of the plurality of regions in accordance with the weighting coefficient.