JP2003005264A - Imaging device and its control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging device that has excellent user-friendliness and high security, and to provide its control method. SOLUTION: The imaging device comprises mount parts 2 and 22 on and from which a photographic lens 21 can be attached and detached, a mirror driving means to drive a mirror 5 disposed between the mount parts 2 and 22 and an imaging element 15, a shutter driving means to drive a shutter 13 disposed between the mount part 2 and the imaging element 15, a mirror position detecting means to detect the up or down state of the mirror 5, a cleaning mode setting means to clean a foreign matter adhered to the vicinity of the imaging element 15 and its resetting means. When a cleaning mode is reset by the cleaning mode resetting means, a mirror down is carried out, and a shutter close operation is carried out after the detection of the mirror down.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image pickup device capable of recording information with an image pickup device and having a replaceable lens, for example, a single-lens reflex type image pickup device, and more particularly to cleaning foreign substances adhering to the vicinity of the image pickup device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in this type of image pickup apparatus, an image of a subject incident from an optical system is photographed by using an image pickup element, and an image signal obtained as a result is subjected to signal processing and converted into image information. Various electronic still cameras have been proposed in which the image information is recorded in a recording means including a memory card having a built-in flash memory, a flexible disk, or a hard disk.

Among them, there is an example of an electronic still camera in which an image pickup device, an image processing circuit, and a recording means are incorporated in a single-lens reflex type camera whose lenses can be exchanged. As an advantage of this type of electronic still camera, since a large number of interchangeable lens groups can be used, it is possible to capture an image that better reflects the photographer's intention.

However, in an electronic still camera with a replaceable lens, foreign matter such as dust and dirt inside the camera moves due to lens replacement, mirror driving, and shutter operation.
Then, it may adhere to the cover glass of the image sensor or the surface of an optical low-pass filter or an infrared cut filter arranged near the image sensor. When photographing is performed with foreign matter attached, there is a problem that a shadow of the foreign matter is imaged on the image sensor along with the subject image, and good photographing cannot be performed.

Therefore, in the electronic still camera with interchangeable lenses disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-125152,
Some have a cleaning mode for the photographer to easily clean the surface of an optical low-pass filter or an infrared cut filter arranged near the cover glass of the image sensor or the image sensor. When cleaning with such an electronic still camera, the cleaning mode is set. When the cleaning mode is set by operating the operation member such as the set button or dial, the mirror is raised and the shutter front curtain is driven. By doing so, the shutter is opened. Then, when the photographer finishes the cleaning operation, the cleaning mode is reset by operating the operation member as in the cleaning mode setting, and the shutter is closed by running the shutter rear curtain from the open state of the shutter. And
The mirror is moved down to charge the mirror and the shutter, and the photographing standby state is set.

[0006]

However, in the above conventional example, while the photographer is performing cleaning,
The reset operation member in the cleaning mode may be operated by mistake. In that case, there is a problem that the shutter open state is released as it is and the shutter is damaged.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image pickup apparatus excellent in operational usability and highly safe, and a control method thereof.

[0008]

An image pickup apparatus according to the present invention comprises a mount section to which a taking lens is attachable / detachable, a mirror drive section for driving a mirror arranged between the mount section and an image pickup element, and the mount. Drive means for driving a shutter arranged between the image pickup device and the image pickup device, a mirror position detection device for detecting the up and down states of the mirror, and cleaning foreign matter adhering to the vicinity of the image pickup device. When the cleaning mode is set by the cleaning mode setting unit, the mirror driving unit causes the mirror to raise the mirror and the shutter driving unit opens the shutter. And cleaning by the cleaning mode resetting means When the mode is reset, the mirror driving unit causes the mirror to move down, and the mirror position detecting unit detects the mirror down, and then the shutter driving unit performs a shutter closing operation. To do.

Further, in the image pickup apparatus of the present invention, when the cleaning mode is reset by the cleaning mode resetting means, the mirror driving means causes the mirror to move down, and the mirror position detecting means does not detect the mirror down. And, the shutter closing operation by the shutter driving means is prohibited to issue a warning.

Further, according to the control method of the image pickup apparatus of the present invention, there is provided a mount section to which a taking lens is attachable / detachable, a mirror driving means for driving a mirror arranged between the mount section and the image pickup element, and the mount section. And a shutter drive means for driving a shutter arranged between the image sensor, a mirror position detection means for detecting an up and down state of the mirror, and a cleaning for cleaning foreign matters adhering to the vicinity of the image sensor. A method of controlling an image pickup apparatus having a mode setting means and a resetting means thereof, wherein when the cleaning mode is set by the cleaning mode setting means, the mirror driving means causes the mirror to move up and the shutter driving means. To open the shutter and release the cleaning mode. When the cleaning mode is reset by the setting means, the mirror driving means causes the mirror to move down, and the shutter position detecting means detects the mirror down, and then the shutter driving means performs the shutter closing operation. It is characterized by

Further, in the control method of the image pickup apparatus of the present invention, when the cleaning mode is reset by the cleaning mode reset means, the mirror driving means causes the mirror to move down, and the mirror position detecting means causes the mirror to move down. If it is not detected, the shutter closing operation by the shutter driving means is prohibited and a warning is issued.

Further, the storage medium of the present invention is a computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to function as any of the above means. The storage medium of the present invention is a computer-readable storage medium that stores a program for executing the processing procedure of any one of the above methods.

According to the present invention, even when the cleaning mode is reset by the photographer during the cleaning operation of the foreign matter adhering to the vicinity of the image pickup device, the open state of the shutter is not released. As a result, it is possible to prevent the shutter from traveling carelessly and being damaged. Also, since a warning is issued, the photographer can easily recognize that the cleaning mode has been reset.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of an image pickup apparatus and a control method therefor according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a central sectional view of an image pickup device according to the present invention. In this embodiment, an electronic still camera is taken as an example. The interchangeable lens 20 that is attachable to and detachable from the camera 1 shown in FIG. 1 is fixed by a mount portion 2 on the camera side and a mount portion 22 on the lens side. The contact portion 3 of the camera 1 and the contact portion 24 of the interchangeable lens 20 contact each other to establish an electrical connection, detect that the interchangeable lens 20 is attached to the camera 1, and detect the contact between the contact portion 3 and 24. Communication for controlling power supply and power supply from the camera 1 to the interchangeable lens 20.

The light flux transmitted through the taking lens 21 of the interchangeable lens 20 enters the main mirror 5 of the camera 1. The main mirror 5 is a half mirror, and the reflected light flux is guided to the finder. Then, the transmitted light flux is reflected downward by the sub-mirror 7 and guided to the focus detection device 5.

The focus detection device 5 detects the defocus amount of the taking lens 21 and calculates the lens drive amount for driving the taking lens 21 so that the taking lens 21 is in focus. When the lens driving amount is sent to the interchangeable lens 20 via the contact points 3 and 24, the interchangeable lens 20 controls a motor (not shown) to drive the taking lens 21 to perform focus adjustment.

The main mirror 5 is adhesively fixed to a mirror holding frame 6 and is rotatably supported by a hinge shaft 6a. The sub mirror 7 is adhesively fixed to the sub mirror holding frame 8, and the sub mirror holding frame 8 is rotatably supported by the main mirror holding frame 6 by a hinge shaft (not shown). The light flux guided to the finder by the main mirror 5 forms a subject image on the focusing plate 9, and the photographer observes the subject image on the focusing plate 9 via the pentaprism 11 and the eyepiece lens 12. It is configured.

A shutter 13 is arranged behind the sub-mirror 7, and its shutter curtain 13a is normally closed. An optical filter 14 in which an optical low-pass filter and an infrared cut filter are integrated is arranged behind the shutter 13, and a light flux transmitted through the optical filter 14 is incident on an image sensor 15 arranged further rearward during photographing. It is configured. The above description is the main configuration of the electronic still camera in the standby state in this embodiment.

By the way, in the electronic still camera having such a large image pickup device, since the focus plate 9 and the main mirror 5 cannot be downsized, the distance between the optical filter 14 and the image pickup device 15 is widened. Is difficult to obtain. Since the distance between the image sensor 15 and foreign matter such as dust adhering to the optical filter 14 is short, the shadow of the foreign matter does not greatly blur and enters the subject image on the image sensor. The image taken in this state will also have black shadows of foreign matter, and the quality of the image will be significantly reduced.
It is necessary to be able to clean such foreign matter as needed.

FIG. 2 is a central sectional view of the camera 1 for explaining the state of the electronic still camera when a cleaning mode for removing foreign matters such as dust adhering to the surface of the optical filter 14 is set. . With the interchangeable lens 20 removed from the camera 1, the photographer sets the cleaning mode in order to clean the optical filter 14. Then, first, the main mirror 5 and the sub mirror 7 are retracted from the photographing optical path by the mirror-up operation. Then, the shutter curtain 13a of the shutter 13 is made to travel, and the shutter 13 is opened so that the optical filter 1
4 is exposed. In this state, the photographer can remove foreign matter adhering to the surface of the optical filter 14 by air blowing or wiping.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an electric circuit of the electronic still camera according to the present invention. The camera 100 and the interchangeable lens 200 include the communication contacts 120 and 220 and the power supply contact 12.
1, 221 are connected.

The camera 100 includes a mirror drive circuit 105 for driving a main mirror 101 and a sub mirror 102,
A mirror position detection circuit 118 that detects whether the main mirror 101 is in the up state or the down state, a focus detection device 103 that detects the defocus amount of the photographing lens 201, and a photometric circuit that measures the brightness of the subject to determine the exposure during photographing. 1
04, a shutter drive circuit 106 for driving the shutter curtain of the shutter 107, an image pickup element drive circuit 112 for driving the image pickup element 116 to read an image pickup signal from the image pickup element 116, and a RAM for storing the read image pickup signal.
113, a signal processing circuit 114 for converting the image pickup signal stored in the RAM 113 into predetermined image data, a flash memory 115 for storing the image data, a camera power supply circuit 109 for supplying electric power to each electric circuit and lens of the camera. , Warning means 1 for issuing an abnormal operation of the camera 100
19, a mode switch 122 for setting modes such as a shooting mode and a cleaning mode, and a release switch 12 for activating a release operation of the camera
3. The camera CPU 108 controls the circuits and controls the lens by communicating with the lens.

Here, the release switch 123 is a switch (SW1) (not shown) which is turned on by the first stroke pushing operation to perform photometry and distance measurement, and is turned on by the second stroke pushing operation for exposure. A switch (SW2) (not shown) for activating the release operation is provided.

The interchangeable lens 200 drives a focus control circuit 206 for controlling a focus drive motor 205 for adjusting the focus of the photographing lens 201 based on the defocus amount of the focus detection device 103 of the camera, and the diaphragm blades of the diaphragm 204. A diaphragm control circuit 202 for controlling the diaphragm drive motor 203, a lens power supply circuit 208 for supplying electric power to each electric circuit in the lens, and a lens CPU 2 for controlling these electric circuits based on the communication result with the camera CPU.
07.

When cleaning the optical filter 117, the cleaning mode is set by the mode switch 122 and a cleaning mode set signal is input to the switch input circuit 110. When the SW1 ON signal is input to the switch input circuit 110, the camera CPU
Reference numeral 108 controls the mirror drive circuit 105 to bring the main mirror 101 and the sub mirror 102 into the mirror-up state. In order to open the shutter 107, the camera CP
By controlling the shutter drive circuit 106 by U108, the shutter curtain is caused to run and the shutter is opened. In this state, the photographer can remove foreign matter attached to the surface of the optical filter 117 by air blowing or wiping.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining the operation from setting to resetting of the cleaning mode. In step S301, the mode switch 122
It is determined whether or not the cleaning mode has been set by, and if set, the process proceeds to step S302. In step S302, it is determined whether or not SW1 is turned on by pressing the release switch 123 to activate the cleaning mode, and if it is turned on, the process proceeds to step S303. In step S303, the mirror drive circuit 105 is controlled to perform the mirror-up operation. In step S304, the main mirror 10 is detected by the mirror position detection circuit 118.
It is detected whether or not 1 is in the up state, and if it is in the up state, the process proceeds to step S305, and if not, the process proceeds to step S307.

In step S307, a warning means 1 is issued to the photographer to inform the photographer that the mirror-up has not been normally operated.
A warning is issued by sounding or displaying by 19. In step S305, the shutter drive circuit 106 is controlled so that the shutter front curtain travels to open the shutter 107,
In step S306, the cleaning mode is set. In this state, the photographer can remove foreign matter adhering to the surface of the optical filter 117 by air blowing or wiping.

Next, the reset operation of the cleaning mode will be described. In step S308, it is determined whether or not the cleaning mode is changed to another mode by operating the mode switch 122 in the cleaning mode set state, and if changed, the process proceeds to step S309. In step S309, the mirror drive circuit 105 is controlled to perform the mirror-down operation. In step S310, the main mirror 10 is detected by the mirror position detection circuit 118.
It is detected whether or not 1 is in the down state. If the down state is the down state, the process proceeds to step S311. If not, the process proceeds to step S316.

In step S316, the warning means 119 issues a warning to the photographer by sounding or displaying.
In step S317, it is determined whether or not SW1 is turned on by pressing the release switch 123. If it is turned on, the process proceeds to step S318, and if it is not turned on, the photographer is continuously warned by sounding or displaying. In step S318, similarly to step S310, the mirror position detection circuit 118 detects again whether or not the main mirror 101 is in the down state. If it is down, go to step S319, and if not down, go to step S319.
Return to 316. In step S319, step S31
The warning by the pronunciation or display performed in 6 is stopped, and the process proceeds to step S311.

In step S311, the shutter drive circuit 106 is controlled so that the shutter rear curtain travels and the shutter 1
07 is closed. In step S312, charge driving of the mirror and the shutter is started by the driving unit for returning the mirror and the shutter to the photographing standby state. In step S313, it is determined whether or not the return of the mirror and the shutter to the shooting standby state is completed. If not completed, the charge driving is continued for a predetermined time, and if completed, the process proceeds to step S314. In step S314, the charge drive started in step S312 is stopped,
In step S315, the cleaning mode is reset.

Here, each functional block and processing procedure shown in the above embodiment may be configured by hardware, or by a microcomputer system including a CPU or MPU, ROM and RAM, and the operation thereof. You may make it implement | achieve according to the work program stored in ROM or RAM. In addition, a software program for realizing the function of each function block is supplied to the RAM so as to realize the function of each function block,
What was implemented by operating each said functional block according to the program is also contained in the category of this invention.

In this case, the software program itself realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the program itself and the means for supplying the program to the computer, for example, the recording medium storing the program are It constitutes the invention. As a storage medium for storing such a program, in addition to ROM and RAM, for example, a flexible disk, a hard disk,
Optical disc, magneto-optical disc, CD-ROM, CD-
I, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD, zip, magnetic tape, or a non-volatile memory card can be used.

Further, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by executing the supplied program by the computer, but also the OS (operating system) or other application software running the program on the computer. Needless to say, such a program is included in the embodiment of the present invention even when the functions of the above-described embodiment are jointly realized.

Further, after the supplied program is stored in the memory provided in the function expansion board of the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, it is stored in the function expansion board or function expansion unit based on the instruction of the program. It goes without saying that the present invention also includes a case where the CPU or the like performs a part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the cleaning mode is reset in this type of image pickup apparatus, the shutter closing operation is performed after detecting that the mirror is in the down state. I am trying. As a result, even if the photographer accidentally resets the cleaning mode while cleaning the foreign substances adhering to the vicinity of the image sensor with a cleaning tool such as a blower, the cleaning tool does not bring the mirror into the normal down state, so the shutter open There is an effect that it can be prevented from being released and the rear curtain of the shutter travels accidentally and damages the shutter. Further, in such a case, since the warning is issued, there is an effect that the photographer can easily recognize that the cleaning mode is reset by mistake.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a central sectional view of an electronic still camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a central cross-sectional view for explaining the state of the electronic still camera when the cleaning mode is set in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an electric circuit of the electronic still camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart diagram illustrating an operation from setting to resetting of a cleaning mode according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1,100 cameras 2 Camera mount 3 Camera contacts 5,101 Main mirror 6a hinge shaft 7,102 submirror 13,107 shutter 14,117 Optical filter 15,116 Image sensor 20,200 Interchangeable lens 21 Shooting lens 22 Lens mount 24 Lens contact 118 Mirror position detection circuit 119 Warning means 122 mode switch 123 Release switch

Front page continuation (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G03B 19/12 G03B 19/12 5C022 H04N 5/225 H04N 5/225 A E // H04N 101: 00 101: 00 F Term (Reference) 2H054 CA14 2H081 AA01 DD02 2H100 EE06 2H101 EE31 EE51 2H102 AB00 BA21 BB41 5C022 AA13 AC18 AC51 AC55 AC69

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A mount part to which a taking lens can be attached and detached,
Mirror driving means for driving a mirror arranged between the mount section and the image pickup element, shutter driving means for driving a shutter arranged between the mount section and the image pickup element, and raising and lowering the mirror. It has a mirror position detecting means for detecting a down state, a cleaning mode setting means for cleaning foreign matters adhering to the vicinity of the image sensor and a resetting means for the cleaning mode setting means, and when the cleaning mode is set by the cleaning mode setting means. When the mirror drive unit causes the mirror to move up, the shutter drive unit causes the shutter to open, and the cleaning mode reset unit resets the cleaning mode, the mirror drive unit causes the mirror to move down. Let, before Imaging apparatus being characterized in that to perform the shutter closing operation by the shutter driving means after detecting the mirror-down the mirror position detector. 2. The image pickup device according to claim 1, wherein when the cleaning mode is reset by the cleaning mode resetting means, the mirror driving means causes the mirror to move down, and the mirror position detecting means causes the mirror to move down. The image pickup apparatus is characterized in that the shutter closing operation by the shutter driving means is prohibited and a warning is issued if the above is not detected. 3. A mount part to which a taking lens can be attached and detached,
Mirror driving means for driving a mirror arranged between the mount section and the image pickup element, shutter driving means for driving a shutter arranged between the mount section and the image pickup element, and raising and lowering the mirror. A method for controlling an image pickup apparatus, comprising mirror position detection means for detecting a down state, cleaning mode setting means for cleaning foreign matter adhering to the vicinity of the image pickup element, and resetting means for the cleaning mode setting means. When the cleaning mode is set, the mirror is driven by the mirror driving means, the shutter is driven by the shutter driving means to open the shutter, and the cleaning mode is reset by the cleaning mode resetting means. By means of Control method for an imaging apparatus Rah is mirror-down, characterized in that to perform the shutter closing operation by the shutter driving means after detecting the mirror down at the mirror position detecting means. 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein when the cleaning mode is reset by the cleaning mode resetting means, the mirror driving means causes the mirror to move down, and the mirror position detecting means causes the mirror to move down. If not detected, a shutter closing operation by the shutter driving means is prohibited to issue a warning, and a method for controlling an image pickup apparatus. 5. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to function as each unit according to claim 1. 6. A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for executing the processing procedure of the method according to claim 3 or 4.