JP2003029132A - Autofocus camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To rapidly and surely change a focus detecting position in an imaging area. SOLUTION: This camera is provided with a shake detecting module 32 for detecting shake direction and shake amount of a camera body 12, and one range-finding area among a plurality of range-finding regions formed in an imaging region is selected, corresponding to the shake direction and the shake amount of the body 12 detected by the module 32.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an autofocus camera which receives a subject light transmitted through a photographing lens by a photoelectric conversion element and detects a focus using an output signal from the photoelectric conversion element.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an autofocus camera which automatically detects the focus of a taking lens has been widely used. In such an autofocus camera, the subject light that has passed through the image pickup lens is received by a photoelectric conversion element in the focus detection device, and a predetermined calculation process is executed based on an output signal from the photoelectric conversion element to thereby take a photographic lens. A defocus value that represents the amount of deviation from the in-focus position and the direction of deviation is detected, and based on the detected defocus value, the photographic lens is moved in the feeding direction or in the feeding direction. .

In addition, as such an autofocus camera, a camera having a plurality of focus detection positions by arranging a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements so that focus detection at different positions in the image pickup area can be performed is also widely used. ing. In such an autofocus camera having a plurality of focus detection positions, for example, a focus detection position corresponding to a subject at the closest position is programmed to be automatically selected, while a desired switch is operated by operating a changeover switch. The focus detection position can also be manually selected.

As described above, by automatically selecting the focus detection position, even a person unfamiliar with the camera operation can easily perform photographing, and the desired focus detection position can be manually selected. By doing so, it becomes possible to shoot with a desired composition.

[0005]

However, when manually selecting a desired focus detection position, the user of the camera has to operate the changeover switch while visually recognizing the subject from the viewfinder window, and therefore, the operation is performed by a fumbling operation. As a result, it becomes difficult to carry out the operation quickly because of the necessity, and there is a problem that a photo opportunity may be missed.

Such a problem is not limited to the case where a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements are arranged so that the focus can be detected at a plurality of positions in the image pickup area, and an area sensor for picking up an object is constructed. This may also occur in the case of a digital camera in which focus detection in the imaging area is performed based on the output signal from the photoelectric conversion element.

That is, in a digital camera, the angle of the camera with respect to the subject is changed to move the position of the subject image in the image pickup area to another position (for example, a person image captured at the center position in the image pickup area is an edge). It is conceivable to operate the changeover switch so that the focus detection position can be changed to the position of the moved subject image (for example, a human image) when taking an image by moving the focus position. In such a case, a similar problem may occur.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an autofocus camera capable of changing a focus detection position in an image pickup area quickly and reliably.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 provides an output signal from the photoelectric conversion element, which is generated by receiving the subject light transmitted through the photographing lens by the photoelectric conversion element. An autofocus camera capable of detecting focus at a plurality of positions in an image pickup area by using a camera and changing a focus detection position in the image pickup area, and a shake detecting unit for detecting a shake direction and a shake amount of a camera body. And position control means for changing the focus detection position in the imaging area in relation to the shake direction and shake amount of the camera body detected by the shake detection means.

According to this structure, when the camera body is shaken in the predetermined direction, the shake is detected by the shake detecting means, and the focus detection position in the image pickup area is related to the detected shake direction and shake amount. Be changed. Therefore, it is not necessary to manually operate the changeover switch as in the conventional case, and as a result, the focus detection position in the imaging area is changed quickly and reliably. The focus detection position is
It may be changed in the same direction as the shake direction of the camera body or in the opposite direction.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the photoelectric conversion element is composed of a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged at positions different from each other, and the position control means includes the photoelectric conversion element. A photoelectric conversion element which is at least one of a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements and is used for focus detection, the photoelectric conversion element being provided at a position corresponding to the shake direction and shake amount detected by the shake detection means. The feature is that it is selected as a conversion element.

According to this structure, at least one photoelectric conversion element is selected from the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged at different positions corresponding to the detected shake direction and shake amount of the camera body. The focus detection position is changed by. As a result, the focus detection position in the imaging area is changed quickly and reliably. The photoelectric conversion element may be selected in the same direction as the shake direction of the camera body or in the opposite direction.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the photoelectric conversion element is composed of a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements forming an area sensor for imaging an object, and the position control means is A predetermined photoelectric conversion element of a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements forming the area sensor, the photoelectric conversion element being arranged at a position corresponding to a shake direction and a shake amount detected by the shake detection means. Is selected as a photoelectric conversion element used for focus detection.

According to this structure, a predetermined photoelectric conversion element among the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements that form the area sensor, the photoelectric conversion element at a position corresponding to the detected shake direction and shake amount of the camera body. Is selected, the focus detection position is changed. As a result, the focus detection position in the imaging area is changed quickly and reliably. The photoelectric conversion element may be selected in the same direction as the shake direction of the camera body or in the opposite direction.

The invention of claim 4 relates to claims 1 to 3.
In any one of the above, the focus control position is provided with a mode switching unit for setting a shake detection mode that can be changed in accordance with a shake direction and a shake amount of the camera body detected by the shake detecting unit, and the position control It is characterized in that the means executes a change operation of the focus detection position when the shake detection mode is set.

With this configuration, when the camera is switched to the shake detection mode, the focus detection position can be changed in accordance with the shake direction and shake amount of the camera body detected by the shake detecting means. As a result, the focus detection position will not be carelessly changed due to a shake not intended by the user of the camera, and as a result, shooting with a predetermined composition is reliably performed. Note that the focus detection position may be changed in the same direction as the shake direction of the camera body or in the opposite direction.

Further, the invention of claim 5 relates to claims 1 to 4.
In any one of the above, a shake correction unit that performs shake correction corresponding to the shake direction and the shake amount of the camera body is provided, and the shake correction unit is the shake direction of the camera body detected by the shake detection unit. The feature is that shake correction is performed according to the shake amount.

According to this structure, the shake correction unit performs the shake correction corresponding to the shake direction and the shake amount of the camera body detected by the shake detection unit for changing the focus detection position. As a result, the same shake detecting means achieves the two purposes of changing the focus detection position and correcting the shake, and as a result, the configuration of the autofocus camera is simplified.

[0019]

1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an autofocus camera (hereinafter, simply referred to as a camera) according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, a camera 10 is a silver salt camera, and is composed of a camera body 12 and a taking lens 14 arranged on the front surface of the camera body 12, and is held in a predetermined direction by a hand holding the camera body 12. Shake (rotate around the axis) to form multiple distance measurement areas (focus detection positions) in the image pickup area
One of the distance measuring areas is selectable.

The camera body 12 is provided with a mirror box 16 arranged in the center of the inside, a finder 18 arranged in the upper part, and a rear side of the mirror box 16 in front of the film Fl surface. A shutter unit 20,
A focus detection unit 22 arranged in the lower portion, and an AF drive unit 2 arranged in the lower portion in the vicinity of the taking lens 14.
4, a light emitting unit 26 disposed above the finder 18 for emitting flash light, and a mode changeover switch for switching and setting the selection of the distance measurement area to any one of the automatic setting mode and the shake detection mode ( Button) 28, a direction change switch (button) 30 for switching and setting the selection direction of the distance measuring area to either the forward direction mode or the backward direction mode, and for detecting the shake direction and shake amount of the camera body 12. The shake detection module 32 that constitutes the shake detection means and the main body control unit 34 that controls the operation of each unit are provided.

The mirror box 16 is approximately 4 with respect to the optical axis L.
The main mirror 38 arranged at an angle of 5 degrees, and the main mirror 38
Is provided on the rear surface thereof with an auxiliary mirror 40 arranged so as to be inclined by about 90 degrees with respect to the main mirror 38. The finder 18
A focusing plate 42 arranged above the main mirror 38, a prism 44 arranged above the focusing plate 42, and a prism 44.
Corresponding to the display element 50, the photometric unit 46 disposed near the exit surface of the, the eyepiece lens 48 disposed on the back side of the prism 44, the display element 50 disposed near the eyepiece lens 48, The prism 51 is provided at a position where

The display element 50 includes a plurality of light emitting elements such as light emitting diodes, and utilizes the prism 51 to display each distance measuring area 221 to 221 displayed in a field frame 64 described later.
29 (FIG. 3) are respectively lit up, and when one distance measuring area used for focus detection is selected, the selected one distance measuring area is for a fixed time. By being lit and displayed, the distance measuring area used for focus detection can be visually recognized in the visual field when the eyepiece lens 48 is looked into.

The shutter unit 20 constitutes a focal plane shutter which is exposed by a slit formed by a front curtain and a rear curtain. Focus detection unit 2
Reference numeral 2 is provided in the vicinity of a position where the distance from the taking lens 14 is relatively equal to the film Fl, and as shown in FIG. Of the condenser lens array 54, a mirror 56 for changing the traveling direction of the light flux transmitted through the condenser lens array 54, and a detection element 58 formed by integrating a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged behind the mirror 56. And a lens array 60 formed by integrating a plurality of recombination lenses arranged in front of the detection element 58, and a diaphragm mask 62 arranged in front of the lens array 60.

That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the focus detection section 22 has a first distance measuring area 221 displayed at a central position within a field frame 64 displayed within the field of view of the eyepiece lens 48. And the second and third distance measuring areas 222 formed on the left and right and above and below the central distance measuring area 221.
223 and the fourth and fifth distance measuring areas 224 and 225,
The sixth and seventh distance measuring areas 226, 22 are formed on the upper and lower left sides of the second distance measuring area 222 so as to be oblique to each other.
7, and the eighth and ninth distance measuring areas 228 formed on the upper right and lower sides of the third distance measuring area 223 so as to be oblique to each other.
It is formed from a total of nine distance measuring areas with 229,
The nine distance measuring areas 221 to 229 are displayed in the field frame 64. The first distance measuring area 221 includes two distance measuring areas 221a and 221b formed by crossing each other in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction.
Two distance measuring areas 221c and 221b, which are formed by crossing each other diagonally,
221d and a total of four distance measuring areas.

For this reason, the field mask 52 has a field frame 64.
(FIG. 3) Each distance measuring area 221 to 229 formed inside
Corresponding to the opening 521 formed in the central position,
And eight openings 522, 523, 524, 525, 52 formed so as to surround the opening 521 at the center position.
6,527,528,529. Further, the condenser lens array 54 is provided in each opening 5 of the visual field mask 52.
Nine condenser lenses 541, 542, 543, 544, 54 formed at positions corresponding to 21 to 529.
5,558,559,548,549.

As shown in FIG. 4, the detection element 58 is a photoelectric conversion element 581 made up of a CCD or the like at a position corresponding to each of the distance measurement areas 221 to 229 displayed in the field frame 64 (FIG. 3). 582, 583, 584, 585
586, 587, 588, 589, 590, 591, 5
92 is provided. Each of these photoelectric conversion elements includes a reference portion 581a, 582a, 583a, 584a, 58.
5a, 586a, 587a, 588a, 589a, 59
0a, 591a, 592a and reference parts 581b, 582
b, 583b, 584b, 585b, 586b, 587
b, 588b, 589b, 590b, 591b, 592
and b.

The photoelectric conversion elements 581 to 584 at the central position constitute the first distance measuring area 221, and when the first distance measuring area 221 is selected, the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements are arranged. 581 to 584 will be used for focus detection. Further, the other photoelectric conversion elements 585 to 592 are arranged in the second distance measuring areas 222 to 9th, respectively.
Of the photoelectric conversion elements 585 to 592 when one of the second ranging area 222 to the ninth ranging area 229 is selected. The corresponding photoelectric conversion element of 1 is used for focus detection.

Therefore, the lens array 60 includes the reference portions 581a to 592 of the photoelectric conversion elements 581 to 592.
a and the reference portions 581b to 592b are respectively provided with recombination lenses at positions corresponding to the aperture mask 62.
Are provided with openings formed at positions corresponding to the respective recombination lenses of the lens array 60.

The focus detecting section 22 thus formed has
A so-called phase difference type focus detection device is configured with the AF drive unit 24 and the main body control unit 34.
The subject light incident through the taking lens 14 is the main mirror 3
8 and the auxiliary mirror 40 and corresponding to any one of the distance measurement areas, the reference portion and the reference portion of the photoelectric conversion element (for example, the reference portion 581a and the reference portion 581 of the photoelectric conversion element 581).
When the image is formed in b), the main controller 34 calculates the amount and direction of deviation from the in-focus position by detecting the relative positional relationship between the two formed object images. The taking lens 14 is driven toward the in-focus position based on the calculation result.

The AF drive unit 24 is provided with an actuator such as a DC motor, an encoder for detecting the rotating direction and the rotating speed of the actuator and outputting them to the main body control section 34, a speed reducing system for reducing the rotating speed of the actuator, and the like. ,
The output shaft 64 of the speed reduction system is connected to a lens driving mechanism 86 of the photographic lens 14 which will be described later.

The light emitting unit 26 includes a charging unit 66 including a capacitor for storing light emitting energy and a charging circuit for charging the capacitor, and a light emitting tube 68 for discharging the electric charge stored in the capacitor of the charging unit 66 and converting it into light energy. And a reflector 7 that reflects the flash light from the arc tube 68 forward.
0 and a Fresnel lens 72 for converging or diffusing the flash light in a predetermined range.

The mode changeover switch 28 is arranged on the back side of the camera body 12 and is an automatic setting mode for automatically selecting one of the plurality of distance measuring areas 221 to 229 which is programmed in advance. And for setting one of the plurality of distance measuring areas 221 to 229 to one of the shake detection modes that is selected in accordance with the shake direction and shake amount of the camera body 12. Is. Further, the direction changeover switch 30 is disposed on the back side of the camera body 12, and is a forward direction mode for selecting one of the plurality of distance measurement areas 221 to 229 in the shake direction of the camera body 12, In addition, it is for setting one of the reverse direction modes in which one of the plurality of distance measuring areas 221 to 229, which is the direction opposite to the shake direction of the camera body 12, is selected. .

In the present embodiment, the mode changeover switch 28 is set to the shake detection mode when it is pressed and is set to the automatic setting mode when it is not pressed. Has been done. Therefore, in order to set the shake detection mode, it is necessary to maintain the pressed state of the mode changeover switch 28. Further, the direction changeover switch 30 is configured so that the forward mode and the reverse mode are repeatedly set in order by repeatedly performing the pressing operation.

The shake detection module 32 is, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, a first angular velocity sensor 321 for detecting an angular velocity in the X-axis direction which is the left-right direction of the camera body 12.
A second angular velocity sensor 322 for detecting an angular velocity of the camera body 12 in the vertical direction of the Y-axis;
Oscillation circuits 323, 324 that drive the second angular velocity sensors 321, 322, and the first and second angular velocity sensors 321, 321.
Differential amplifiers 325, 3 for detecting the output signal from 322
26 and integration circuits 327 and 328. These first and second angular velocity sensors 321, 322
The angular velocity is detected by detecting the Coriolis force generated by the rotational movement of a vibrating mechanical-electrical energy conversion element such as a piezoelectric body.

That is, the first and second angular velocity sensors 32
1, 322, for example, two driving piezoelectric elements 76, 78 are arranged at a predetermined interval on one side surface of a vibrating body 74 having a triangular prism shape, and detection piezoelectric elements 80, on the other two side surfaces.
82 is arranged and configured. In the first and second angular velocity sensors 321 and 322 having such a configuration, the drive signal is supplied from the oscillation circuits 323 and 324 to the drive piezoelectric elements 76 and 78, so that the vibrating body 74 bends and vibrates.
When the vibrating body 74 rotates about its axis in this state, detection signals are output from the two detection piezoelectric elements 80 and 82 according to the Coriolis force generated thereby.

In this case, the two detection piezoelectric elements 80, 8
The detection signal from one of the two detecting piezoelectric elements increases according to the rotational angular velocity, and the detection signal from the other detecting piezoelectric element decreases according to the rotational angular velocity. Therefore, the amount of shake of the vibrating body 74 can be detected by amplifying these detection signals by the differential amplifiers 325 and 326 and taking them out through the integrating circuits 327 and 328. here,
The first angular velocity sensor 321 detects the shake amount in the X-axis direction, and the second angular velocity sensor 322 detects the shake amount in the Y-axis direction. Therefore, by combining these two shake amounts, the camera body The shake direction and shake amount of 12 can be obtained.

The main body control unit 34 executes C for executing arithmetic processing.
It has a PU, a ROM for storing processing programs and data, and a RAM for temporarily storing data. Each controlled part is connected to the main body control part 34 by a wiring 94 arranged on the flexible printed board 92 via an interface circuit (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 6, the main body control unit 34 includes a mode discriminating unit 34a, a shake direction / shake amount calculating unit 34b, a shake amount discriminating unit 34c, and a distance measuring area discriminating unit 34.
Each of the function realizing units as the d and the distance measurement area selecting unit 34e is provided. The mode discriminating unit 34a discriminates which of the automatic setting mode and the shake detection mode the distance measuring area is set to. The shake direction / shake amount calculation unit 34b includes the first and second angular velocity sensors 321 and 32.
The shake direction (shake angle) and shake amount of the camera body 12 are calculated by vector-synthesizing each shake amount in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction of the camera body 12 detected by 2 based on a predetermined arithmetic expression. Is.

Further, the shake amount discriminating section 34c determines the shake direction /
It is for determining whether or not the shake amount of the camera body 12 calculated by the shake amount calculation unit 34b exceeds a specified value.
The distance measuring area determination unit 34d includes the shake direction / shake amount calculation unit 3
Whether or not there is a distance measuring area to be selected in the shake direction calculated in 4b is determined based on the currently selected distance measuring area.

The range-finding area selection unit 34e determines that the shake amount calculated by the shake direction / shake amount calculation unit 34b exceeds the specified value, and that the shake direction / shake amount calculation unit 34b calculates the shake amount. When there is a distance measurement area to be selected in the direction, it is one of the plurality of distance measurement areas 221 to 229, and the shake of the camera body 12 calculated by the shake direction / shake amount calculation unit 34b. The distance measuring area existing in the direction (or the direction opposite to the shake direction) is selected, and the focus detection is performed by the output signal from the photoelectric conversion element corresponding to the selected distance measuring area. The distance measuring area selecting unit 34e maintains the currently selected distance measuring area when there is no distance measuring area to be selected in the calculated shake direction (or the opposite direction to the shake direction).

When the shake amount of the camera body 12 does not exceed the specified value, it is considered that the shake of the camera 10 is not intended by the user, and the operation of selecting the distance measuring area is not performed. Further, in the case where there are a plurality of distance measuring areas existing in the shake direction of the camera body 12 (or existing in the opposite direction to the shake direction) at positions where the distance from the center portion in the image pickup area is different, shake direction / shake amount calculation Part 3
4b, select a distance measurement area at a distance corresponding to the shake amount of the camera body 12 (that is, if the shake amount is small, select a close distance area, and if the shake amount is large, move to a distant position. You can select the distance measurement area in.

The taking lens 14 includes a taking optical system 96, a lens barrel 98 that holds the taking optical system 96, and the lens barrel 98 that has an optical axis L.
The lens drive mechanism 100 is driven in a feeding direction A1 that is parallel to the camera body 12 and is away from the camera body 12, and a feeding direction A2 that is a direction that is close to the camera body 12.
And the focal length and F value of the lens are stored,
The lens control unit 102 that transmits various pieces of information on the fourth side to the main body control unit 34 on the camera main body 12 side.

The lens driving mechanism 100 is composed of a helicoid, a gear for rotating the helicoid, and the like.
The photographing optical system 96 and the lens barrel 98 are integrally moved to the feeding direction A1 side or the feeding direction A2 side in accordance with the direction of deviation from the in-focus position with respect to the subject by the driving force of the actuator in the AF driving unit 24 on the second side. Let In addition,
The lens driving mechanism 100 constitutes a driving unit that drives the taking lens 14 together with the AF driving unit 24. The lens control unit 102 is a CP that executes a predetermined calculation process.
U, a ROM for storing processing programs and data, and a RAM for temporarily storing data.

FIG. 7 shows a camera 1 constructed as described above.
9 is a flow chart for explaining a selection processing operation when the shake detection mode is set among the selection processing operations of the distance measuring area of 0. First, the distance measuring areas 221 to 229
The mode determination unit 34a determines whether or not the mode for selecting is set to the shake detection mode (step # 1). This determination is performed by determining whether or not the mode changeover switch 28 is pressed.
It is assumed that the direction change switch 30 is set to the forward mode.

If the determination in step # 1 is affirmative, the position of the currently selected distance measuring area (one of the plurality of distance measuring areas 221 to 229) used for focus detection is determined. The display element 50 is lit and displayed for a fixed time (step # 3). In the initial state, the first distance measuring area 221 at the center position is set to be lit and displayed. If the determination in step # 1 is negative, the process waits until the determination is positive.

Next, the first and second shake detection modules 32
Camera body 1 with second angular velocity sensors 321 and 322
The angular velocity detection operation of No. 2 is started (step # 5). In the shake detection module 32, when the shake detection mode is set by pressing the mode changeover switch 28, the oscillation circuits 323 and 324 (FIG. 5) are activated to supply a drive signal, thereby detecting the angular velocity. Start operation. Then, when a certain period of time has passed, the outputs from the first and second angular velocity sensors 321 and 322 are respectively detected as integrated values (step # 7).

Next, 2 from the shake detection module 32
Based on the two output values (integral values), the shake direction and shake amount of the camera body 12 are calculated by the shake direction / shake amount calculation unit 34b (step # 9).

Next, the shake amount determination section 34c determines whether or not the calculated shake amount of the camera body 12 exceeds a specified value (step # 11). If the determination in step # 11 is affirmative, it is determined whether or not there is a distance measurement area to be selected in the calculated shake direction of the camera body 12 (that is, in the calculated shake direction of the camera body 12). Whether or not the area can be moved) is discriminated by the distance measurement area discrimination unit 34d (step # 13), and if the discrimination is affirmed, the distance measurement area existing in the calculated shake direction is the distance measurement area selection unit 34e. And the selected distance measuring area is lit and displayed on the display element 50 for a fixed time (step # 15).

If the determination in step # 11 is negative, the process returns to step # 1 and the subsequent steps are repeatedly executed. When the determination in step # 13 is negative, the currently selected distance measuring area is maintained, and the process returns to step # 1 to repeat the subsequent steps.

The operation in steps # 11 to 15 will be further described with reference to FIG. That is, the nine distance measuring areas 221 to 229 shown in FIG.
Such an arrangement can be shown, and the distance measuring area at the central position is selected in the initial state. Now
If the determination in step # 11 is negative, the camera 10
It is considered that the shake is not intended by the user, and the selection of the distance measurement area is maintained as it is.

On the other hand, when the determination in step # 11 is affirmative, when the shake direction calculated based on the output value from the shake detection module 32 is the D1 direction, the D1
Since there is a distance measuring area to select in the direction,
The distance measuring area is newly selected and lit and displayed for a certain period of time. Note that when the shake direction is calculated to be the D1 direction, if the distance measurement area has already been selected by the previous shake operation, there is no distance measurement area to be selected in the D1 direction. Is maintained as is.

If the determination in step # 11 is affirmative, and the shake direction calculated based on the output value from the shake detection module 32 is the D2 direction, then the D2
Since there is a distance measuring area to select in the direction,
The distance measuring area is selected and is lit and displayed for a fixed time. When it is calculated that the shake direction is the D2 direction, and there is no distance measurement area to be selected in the D2 direction if the distance measurement area has already been selected by the previous shake operation, that distance measurement area is selected. Is maintained as is.

Similarly, when the determination in step # 11 is affirmative, when the shake direction calculated based on the output value from the shake detection module 32 is any one of the directions D3 to D8, the corresponding direction If there is a distance measuring area to be selected, that distance measuring area is selected. In addition, D
A predetermined angle is set in each of the 1 to D8 directions, and any distance measuring area existing within the angle is selected. When a plurality of distance measuring areas are set in the directions D1 to D8, the distance measuring areas are selected according to the shake amount calculated based on the output value from the shake detecting module 32. .

When the direction change switch 30 is switched to the reverse mode, if the shake direction calculated based on the output value from the shake detection module 32 is, for example, the D1 direction, the reverse direction is set. If the range-finding area existing in a certain D3 direction is selected and the shake direction calculated based on the output value from the shake detection module 32 is the direction D2, for example, the range-finding area existing in the opposite direction D4 is detected. Will be selected. in this way,
Since the forward direction mode and the reverse direction mode can be set by switching the direction changeover switch 30,
The direction in which the distance measuring area is selected can be selected according to the habits and preferences of the user of the camera, thus improving the usability of the camera.

FIG. 9 is a view showing the schematic arrangement of an autofocus camera (hereinafter, simply referred to as a camera) according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, the camera 12
Reference numeral 0 denotes a digital camera, which is composed of a camera body 122 and a taking lens 124 arranged on the front surface of the camera body 122, and is shaken in a predetermined direction by a hand holding the camera body 122 (rotates around an axis). When the position of the subject image in the imaging area is moved to another position (for example, the person image captured at the central position in the imaging area is moved to the end position), the subject image (for example, ,
The distance measuring area (focus detection position) is moved following the movement of the person image).

The camera body 122 includes a solid-state image pickup device 126 such as a CCD arranged in the center of the inside, a liquid crystal monitor 128 arranged on the back side, and a taking lens 124 which is a lower part.
AF drive unit 130 disposed in the vicinity of the position, a light emitting unit 132 disposed in the upper part for emitting flash light, a fixed mode for fixing the distance measuring area to the central position of the imaging area, and the distance measuring area The camera body 122
And a shake detection module 136 for detecting the shake direction and shake amount of the camera body 122. The mode changeover switch (button) 134 is set to switch to any one of shake detection modes that can be changed according to the shake direction and shake amount of the camera body 122.
And a main body control unit 138 that controls the operation of each unit.

The solid-state image pickup device 126 is composed of an area sensor in which a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements are arranged in a matrix, and a photoelectric conversion element which picks up an image of a subject on the image pickup surface and forms the image pickup surface. The focus detection is performed by a photoelectric conversion element in a predetermined area of the area. The liquid crystal monitor 128 displays the subject image captured by the solid-state image pickup device 126 at the time of shooting on the monitor and also displays the distance measurement area corresponding to the photoelectric conversion element in a predetermined area for focus detection.

Focus detection by the photoelectric conversion element in the area corresponding to the distance measuring area is performed by moving the taking lens 124 in the feeding direction (A1 direction in the drawing) or the feeding direction (A2 direction in the drawing) while moving the respective movements. This is performed by a known method in which a high-frequency component included in the image signal output from the photoelectric conversion element at the position is extracted, and the position where the extracted high-frequency component has a peak is the in-focus position.

Further, when the distance measuring area is set to the fixed mode, focus detection is performed by the photoelectric conversion elements of the same number of vertical and horizontal areas in the central portion of the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements constituting the solid-state image pickup element 126. It is supposed to be. At this time, on the liquid crystal monitor 128, as shown in FIG. 10, a distance measuring area 140 formed of, for example, a quadrangular frame in the center portion, which is a position corresponding to the photoelectric conversion element for which focus detection is performed, is a subject image ( For example, it is displayed so as to be superimposed on a person image). This distance measuring area 140
Is displayed based on the ranging area display data stored in the storage means such as the ROM of the main body controller 138.

This range-finding area 140 is shown in FIG. 11 when the camera body 122 is slanted and moved in the lower left direction as indicated by an arrow in a state where the range-finding area is switched from the fixed mode to the shake detection mode. As shown in, the image is moved in the upper right direction, which is the opposite direction of the shake direction of the camera body 122 in response to the movement of the subject image (for example, a person image), and is displayed over the subject image (for example, a person image). It has become so. The movement of this distance measuring area 140 is
When the camera body 122 is shaken, it is executed corresponding to the shake direction and shake amount of the camera body 122 detected by the shake detection module 136. This distance measuring area 140
The photoelectric conversion element used for focus detection also moves to the photoelectric conversion element in another area, for example, in the same number in the vertical and horizontal directions, corresponding to the movement of.

The amount of movement of this distance measuring area 140 is set as follows. That is, when the shake angle in the X-axis direction when the camera body 122 is shaken is θ and the focal length of the lens is f, the movement amount X in the X-axis direction of the subject image on the imaging surface of the solid-state image sensor 126 is , X = f · si
It is a value obtained by the formula of nθ (or X = f · tan θ). When the shake angle in the Y-axis direction when the camera body 122 is shaken is γ and the focal length of the lens is f, the Y of the subject image on the image pickup surface of the solid-state image pickup device 126 is Y.
The amount of movement Y in the axial direction is Y = f · sinγ (or Y = f
・ Tan γ) is the value obtained by the equation.

Therefore, the amount of movement of the distance measuring area 140 on the liquid crystal monitor 128 is set in accordance with the amount of movement of the subject image on the image pickup surface of the solid-state image pickup device 126. It should be noted that the amount of movement of the distance measuring area 140 is such that the subject image on the image pickup surface of the solid-state image pickup device 126 is moved in the direction opposite to the shake direction of the camera body 122, so
It is calculated as a movement amount in the direction opposite to the swung direction of 2.

The AF drive unit 130 includes an actuator such as a DC motor, an encoder for detecting the rotating direction and the rotating speed of the actuator, and outputting them to the main body control section 140.
The photographic lens 12 is provided with a deceleration system or the like for decelerating the rotation speed of the actuator, and through the output shaft 142 of the deceleration system.
4 is connected to a lens driving mechanism 144 described later.

The light emitting unit 132 includes a charging unit 146 including a capacitor for storing light emitting energy and a charging circuit for charging the capacitor, and a light emitting tube 14 for discharging electric charges stored in the capacitor of the charging unit 146 to convert into light energy.
8, a reflector 150 for reflecting the flash light from the arc tube 148 forward, and a Fresnel lens 152 for condensing or diffusing the flash light in a predetermined range.

The mode changeover switch 134 is arranged on the back side of the camera body 122, and is a fixed mode for automatically setting the distance measuring area for focus detection to a position corresponding to the central position of the image pickup surface of the solid-state image pickup device 126. , And the shake detection mode in which the distance measurement area is moved in accordance with the subject image on the image pickup surface of the solid-state image pickup device 126 that moves in correspondence with the shake direction and shake amount of the camera body 122, and is set. It is for. In the present embodiment, the mode changeover switch 134 is set to the shake detection mode when it is pressed and is set to the fixed mode when it is not pressed, as in the case of the first embodiment. Is configured to. Therefore, to set the shake detection mode, the mode changeover switch 1
It is necessary to maintain the pressed state of 34.

The shake detection module 136 has the same structure as the shake detection module 32 in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 5, and is for detecting the angular velocity in the X-axis direction which is the left-right direction of the camera body 122. The first angular velocity sensor 321 and the second angular velocity sensor 322 for detecting the angular velocity in the Y-axis direction, which is the vertical direction of the camera body 122.
An oscillation circuit 323, 324 for driving the first and second angular velocity sensors 321, 322, a differential amplifier 325, 326 for detecting output signals from the first and second angular velocity sensors 321, 322, and an integrating circuit. 327 and 328.

The main body controller 138 comprises a CPU for executing arithmetic processing, a ROM for storing processing programs and data, and a RAM for temporarily storing data. Each controlled unit is connected to the main body control unit 138 via an interface circuit (not shown).

In addition, the main body control section 138 has a structure shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, the mode determination unit 138a, the shake angle calculation unit 138b, the movement amount calculation unit 138c, the distance measurement area determination unit 1
38d and each function implementation unit as the distance measurement area display control unit 138e. This mode discrimination unit 138a
It is for determining whether the distance measurement area is set to the fixed mode or the shake detection mode. The shake angle calculation unit 138b calculates a shake angle θ in the X axis direction and a shake angle γ in the Y axis direction when the camera body 122 is shaken in a predetermined direction, based on the shake direction and the shake amount detected by the shake detection module 136. It is calculated by

The movement amount calculation section 138c is used for the liquid crystal monitor 12
8 is used to determine the amount of movement of the distance measuring area on the X-axis, and the deflection angles θ and Y in the X-axis direction determined by the deflection angle calculation unit 138b.
It is calculated based on the above calculation formula using the deflection angle γ in the axial direction. The distance measurement area determination unit 138d determines whether or not the movement is possible based on the calculated movement amount, based on the current display position of the distance measurement area. The distance measurement area display control unit 138e displays the distance measurement area 140 on the liquid crystal monitor 128 on the liquid crystal monitor 128 based on the movement amount calculated by the movement amount calculation unit 138c (composite display).

As in the case of the first embodiment, the taking lens 124 has a taking optical system 156, a lens barrel 158 for holding the taking optical system 156, and the camera body 122 with the lens barrel 158 parallel to the optical axis L. A lens driving mechanism 160 that drives in a feeding direction A1 that is a direction away from the camera body and a feeding direction A2 that is a direction that is close to the camera body 122, and the focal length and F value of the lens are stored, and the photographing lens is stored. The lens controller 162 transmits various information on the 124 side to the body controller 140 on the camera body 122 side. The lens control unit 162 includes a CPU that executes predetermined arithmetic processing,
A ROM for storing processing programs and data and a RAM for temporarily storing data are provided.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart for explaining the movement processing operation when the shake detection mode is set in the movement processing operation (selection processing) of the distance measuring area in the camera 120 configured as described above. Is. First,
The mode determining unit 138a determines whether or not the mode for selecting the distance measuring area 140 is set to the shake detection mode (step # 21). This determination is performed by determining whether or not the mode changeover switch 134 is pressed.

If the determination in step # 21 is affirmative, the angular velocity detection operation of the camera body 12 by the first and second angular velocity sensors 321 and 322 of the shake detection module 136 is started (step # 23). It should be noted that the shake detection module 136 includes a mode changeover switch 134.
When the shake detection mode is set by the pressing operation of, the oscillation circuits 323 and 324 are actuated and the drive signal is supplied to start the angular velocity detection operation. If the determination in step # 21 is negative, the process waits until the determination is positive.

Next, the current position of the distance measuring area 140 is determined by the distance measuring area display control section 138e by the liquid crystal monitor 128.
It is displayed (combined) on the subject image above (step # 25). This display position is set to the center position of the liquid crystal monitor 128 in the initial state. Then, when a certain time has elapsed, the first and second angular velocity sensors 32
The outputs from 1 and 322 are detected as integrated values (step # 27).

Then, based on the two output values (integral values) from the shake detection module 136, the shake angle θ in the X-axis direction and the shake angle γ in the Y-axis direction of the camera body 122 are calculated by the shake angle calculation unit 138b. (Step # 29). Then, the movement amount of the distance measuring area 140 is calculated by the movement amount calculation unit 138c based on the calculated shake angles θ and γ and the focal length f of the lens (step # 3).
1). The movement amount of the distance measuring area 140 is such that the subject image on the image pickup surface of the solid-state image pickup device 126 is moved in the direction opposite to the shake direction of the camera body 122, and thus the camera body 12
2 is calculated as the amount of movement in the direction opposite to the swung direction.

Then, based on the calculated shake angles θ and γ of the camera body 122 and the amount of movement of the distance measuring area 140, it is determined whether or not the camera body 122 can move in a direction opposite to the shaken direction. The distance is determined by the distance measurement area determination unit 138d (step # 33). For example, since the coordinate value of the movement destination is given from the coordinate value of the movement source based on the calculated shake angles θ and γ and the movement amount of the distance measuring area 140, whether or not the movement is possible from the coordinate value of the movement destination. Can be determined.

If the determination in step # 33 is affirmative, the camera body 122 is calculated based on the calculated shake angles θ and γ of the distance measuring area 140 and the movement amount of the distance measuring area 140.
The distance measuring area 140 is moved in the direction opposite to the shaked direction, and the distance measuring area display control unit 138e displays the object area on the liquid crystal monitor 128 in an overlapping manner (composite display) (step # 35). When the determination in step # 33 is negative, the distance measurement area 140 maintains the current display position, and the process returns to step # 21 and the subsequent steps are repeatedly executed.

As described above, the autofocus cameras 10 and 120 according to the embodiment of the present invention have the camera body 1 as described above.
Since the distance measuring area position (focus detection position) in the imaging area is changed in relation to the shake direction and shake amount of 2,122, it is not necessary to manually operate the changeover switch as a result. The distance measuring area position (focus detection position) in the imaging area can be changed quickly and reliably.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and various modifications as described below can be adopted.

(1) In the first embodiment, the shake direction and shake amount of the camera body 12 are calculated based on a predetermined arithmetic expression, but the invention is not limited to this. For example, the relationship between the output value from the shake detection module 32 and the shake direction and shake amount of the camera body 12 is stored in a storage unit such as a ROM of the main body control unit 34 in a table format, and the shake direction of the camera body 12 and The shake amount may be read from the table based on the output value from the shake detection module 32.

(2) In the second embodiment, the shake angle of the camera body 122 and the movement amount of the distance measuring area are calculated based on a predetermined arithmetic expression, but the present invention is not limited to this. . For example, the relationship between the output value from the shake detection module 136 and the shake angle of the camera body 122 or the movement amount of the distance measurement area is stored in a table format in a storage unit such as a ROM of the body control unit 138, and the camera body is stored. 1
The shake angle of 2 and the movement amount of the distance measuring area may be read from the table based on the output value from the shake detection module 136.

(3) In the first embodiment, the distance measuring area is selected according to the shake direction and shake amount of the camera body 12 obtained based on the output value from the shake detection module 32. However, this shake detection module 32
The shake direction and the shake amount of the camera body 12 obtained based on the output value from can be used for other purposes.

For example, as shown in FIG. 14 (a schematic diagram of the main part of the camera 10 shown in FIG. 1 centering on the taking lens 14 portion), the taking lens 14 portion has the optical axis in the X-axis direction and the Y axis.
A camera shake correction lens 164 that corrects camera shake by deflecting in the axial direction is provided, while camera shake correction is performed based on the shake direction and shake amount of the camera body 12 obtained based on the output value from the shake detection module 32. By arranging a driving means such as a gear for driving the lens 164 in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction in the lens driving mechanism 100, the camera shake of the camera body 12 can be corrected. In this case, the shake correction lens 164, the shake detection module 32, and the lens driving mechanism 100 constitute a shake correction unit.

As described above, when the camera shake correction is performed by the shake direction and shake amount of the camera body 12 obtained based on the output value from the shake detection module 32, for example, by automatically operating the mode changeover switch 28 (FIG. 1). It may be realized only when the setting mode is set.

Further, this camera shake correction can be realized not only in the case of the silver halide camera according to the first embodiment but also in the case of the digital camera according to the second embodiment with the same configuration. In the case of the digital camera according to the second embodiment, the solid-state image sensor 1 is used based on the output value from the shake detection module 136 without using the shake correction lens.
It can also be realized by executing image processing on the subject image captured in 26.

(4) In the first and second embodiments, the angular velocity sensors 321 and 322 are used to detect the shake direction and shake amount of the camera body 12.122, but the invention is not limited to this. . For example, it is possible to use other sensors such as an acceleration sensor.

(5) In the second embodiment, the distance measuring area is moved in accordance with the movement of the subject image, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the photoelectric conversion elements forming the solid-state image sensor 126 are divided into a plurality of areas while being fixed, and a plurality of distance measuring areas corresponding to the plurality of areas are displayed on a liquid crystal monitor or a finder window. Then, as in the case of the first embodiment,
Corresponding to the shake direction and shake amount of the camera body 122, 1
It is also possible to select the distance measurement area of.

(6) As shown in the first and second embodiments, the autofocus camera according to the present invention is generated by receiving the subject light transmitted through the taking lens by the photoelectric conversion element. Which enables focus detection at a plurality of positions in the image pickup area by using the output signal from the photoelectric conversion element, and makes it possible to change the focus detection position in the image pickup area. A shake detection module (shake detection means) for detecting the shake amount, and a main body control unit (position for changing the focus detection position in the imaging area in relation to the shake direction and shake amount of the camera body detected by the shake detection module). Control means), but may be configured as follows.

That is, the forward mode in which the photoelectric conversion element in the same direction as the shake direction detected by the shake detection module (shake detection means) is selected, and the photoelectric conversion element in the opposite direction to the detected shake direction is selected. A direction switching switch (direction switching means) for selecting one of a reverse mode and a main body control section (position control means) for switching the photoelectric conversion element in the forward direction when the mode is switched to the forward mode. Alternatively, the photoelectric conversion element in the reverse direction may be selected when it is selected and switched to the reverse mode. According to this configuration, when the forward mode is selected, the photoelectric conversion element that is in the same direction as the shake direction of the camera body is selected, and when the reverse mode is selected, the shake direction is opposite to the shake direction of the camera body. A certain photoelectric conversion element is selected. As a result, the direction in which the focus detection position is changed can be selected according to the habits and preferences of the user of the camera, and the usability of the camera is improved.

[0089]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A shake detection unit that detects the shake direction and the shake amount of the camera body, and a position control unit that changes the focus detection position in the imaging area in relation to the shake direction and the shake amount of the camera body detected by the shake detection unit. Since it is provided, it is not necessary to manually operate the changeover switch as in the conventional case, and as a result, the focus detection position in the imaging area can be changed quickly and reliably.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an autofocus camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of a focus detection unit of the autofocus camera shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a distance measurement area displayed in a field frame of the autofocus camera shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a photoelectric conversion element corresponding to the distance measuring area shown in FIG.

5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a shake detection module used in the autofocus camera shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram for explaining a function of a main body control unit of the autofocus camera shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining a range-finding area selection processing operation of the autofocus camera shown in FIG. 1.

8A and 8B are schematic diagrams for explaining a range-finding area selection processing operation of the autofocus camera shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an autofocus camera according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a monitor screen for explaining a moving state of a distance measuring area of the autofocus camera shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a monitor screen for explaining a moving state of a distance measuring area of the autofocus camera shown in FIG. 9.

12 is a block diagram for explaining a function of a main body control unit of the autofocus camera shown in FIG.

13 is a flow chart for explaining a movement processing operation of a distance measurement area of the autofocus camera shown in FIG.

FIG. 14 is a schematic configuration diagram of a main part for explaining a modification of the autofocus camera shown in FIG. 1.

[Explanation of symbols]

10, 120 Autofocus camera 12, 122 Camera body 14, 124 Photographing lens 28, 134 Mode changeover switch (mode changeover means) 30 Direction changeover switch (direction changeover means) 32, 136 Shake detection module (shake detection means) 34, 138 Body control unit (position control means) 126 Solid-state image sensor 128 Liquid crystal monitor 140 Distance measuring area (focus detection position) 164 Shake correction lenses 221 to 229 Distance measuring area (focus detection position) 321 First angular velocity sensor 322 Second Angular velocity sensors 581 to 592 Photoelectric conversion element

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Atsutaka Ito             2-3-3 Azuchi-cho, Chuo-ku, Osaka             Kokusai Building Minolta Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2F112 AB07 BA05 CA02 DA05 DA26                       DA28                 2H011 BA31 BB02 DA00                 2H051 BA42 CB21 CB29 DA03 DA08                       EB20

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A focus detection at a plurality of positions in an imaging area is enabled by using an output signal from the photoelectric conversion element, which is generated by receiving the subject light transmitted through the taking lens by the photoelectric conversion element, and imaging the same. An autofocus camera capable of changing a focus detection position in an area, wherein shake detecting means for detecting the shake direction and shake amount of the camera body, and shake direction and shake amount of the camera body detected by the shake detecting means. And a position control means for changing the focus detection position in the image pickup area. 2. The photoelectric conversion element is composed of a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged at mutually different positions, and the position control means is at least one photoelectric conversion element of the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements. The photoelectric conversion element arranged at a position corresponding to the shake direction and the shake amount detected by the shake detecting means is selected as a photoelectric conversion element used for focus detection. The autofocus camera described in 1. 3. The photoelectric conversion element is composed of a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements forming an area sensor for imaging a subject, and the position control means is a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements forming the area sensor. A predetermined photoelectric conversion element, which selects a photoelectric conversion element arranged at a position corresponding to the shake direction and shake amount detected by the shake detection means as a photoelectric conversion element used for focus detection. The autofocus camera according to claim 1, wherein: 4. A mode switching means for setting a shake detection mode in which the focus detection position can be changed in accordance with the shake direction and shake amount of the camera body detected by the shake detection means, and the position control means is provided with the 4. The autofocus camera according to claim 1, wherein the focus detection position changing operation is executed when the shake detection mode is set. 5. A shake correction unit that performs shake correction according to a shake direction and a shake amount of the camera body is provided, and the shake correction unit corresponds to the shake direction and the shake amount of the camera body detected by the shake detection unit. The autofocus camera according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the autofocus camera is configured to perform shake correction.