JP2003107337A - Auto-focusing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an auto-focusing device capable of preventing a focal position which is not desired by a user from being auto-focused even though hand shaking occurs. SOLUTION: When the occurrence of hand shaking is predicted, or when the occurrence of hand shaking is detected, the shape of an AF block 14 being originally a quadrilateral is changed to make end parts of the shape thin so that another object 13 is hard to come into the AF block 14. Concretely, the shape of the AF block 14 is changed into an AF block 14 of a polygon, wherein the number of angles is more than that of an unchanged AF block and angles at end parts of both sides are an acute angle. Thus, it is possible to realize an auto focus device capable of preventing an auto focus from being made at a focal position that is not desired by the user.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an autofocus device used by being built in a digital camera, a video camera or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in an autofocus device, within a range of an autofocus block (hereinafter referred to as an AF block) that designates a partial area (generally, an area near the center of the screen) in image data By calculating an optical physical quantity and using it as an autofocus evaluation value (hereinafter referred to as an AF evaluation value), the extension position of the lens of the digital camera or the video camera is adjusted to the in-focus state.

Specifically, the contrast AF method is often adopted in which the contrast as one optical physical quantity in the AF block is calculated at each moment while moving the lens extension position back and forth, and this is used as the AF evaluation value. There is. Then, when the contrast becomes maximum, it is regarded as the in-focus state, and the lens is moved out to the read-out position at that time to realize the autofocus function. Note that as a contrast calculation method, for example, there is a method of taking a difference in brightness between adjacent pixels and integrating the difference in the entire AF block.

[0004]

Now, FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of an image when the subject 12 (here, “person”) is housed in the AF block 11 and the subject 12 is focused and photographed. .

At this time, A with respect to the lens extension position
The change in the F evaluation value is shown by the graph 41 in FIG. Then, in the graph 41, the point R indicating the peak is determined to be the in-focus lens extension position.

However, there may be cases where the point R on the graph 41 is not considered to be in focus because of camera shake of the user of the digital camera or the video camera. FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an image example in such a case. In FIG.
A subject (here, “house”) 13 other than the subject 12 has entered the AF block 11.

As described above, if another subject 13 enters the AF block 11 due to camera shake, the relationship between the AF evaluation value and the lens extension position is also affected. That is, in FIG. 16, the change in the AF evaluation value with respect to the lens extension position becomes, for example, graph 42 instead of graph 41. In the graph 42, the AF evaluation value rises again in the area on the right side of the point S, and the position of the peak of the AF evaluation value moves to the point T instead of the point R. Therefore, it is erroneously determined that the in-focus lens extension position is at the point T instead of the point R, and the lens is out of focus.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an autofocus device capable of preventing autofocus from being performed at a focus position which is not desired by a user even if a hand shake occurs.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, an optical physical quantity is calculated within the range of an autofocus block that designates a partial area in image data, and the focus of the image data is calculated. An autofocus control means for determining the degree, and a camera shake occurrence determination means for predicting or detecting the occurrence of camera shake, the autofocus control means, when the camera shake occurrence determination means predicts or detects the occurrence of camera shake, It is an autofocus device that changes the shape of the autofocus block.

A second aspect of the present invention is the autofocus device according to the first aspect, wherein the autofocus control means takes in the image data at a predetermined time interval and focuses the image data. The camera shake occurrence determination means is an autofocus device that predicts occurrence of camera shake based on information about the focal length of the image pickup lens and / or information about the predetermined time interval.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided the autofocus device according to the second aspect, wherein the camera shake occurrence determination means is: (a) when the value of the focal length is equal to or greater than a first predetermined value. And / or (b) an autofocus device that predicts that camera shake will occur when the value of the predetermined time interval is equal to or greater than a second predetermined value.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the autofocus device according to the first aspect, wherein the camera-shake occurrence determination means is a velocity element or an acceleration element of a target device for which focus control is performed by the autofocus device. It is an autofocus device that is a camera shake detection device that detects camera shake by detecting a value.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the autofocus device according to the first aspect, wherein the end portion of the shape after the change of the autofocus block is thinner than the shape before the change. is there.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the autofocus device according to the fifth aspect, the shape of the autofocus block is a polygon, and after the change, the corners of the shape are larger than those before the change. It is an autofocus device with a large number of.

Preferably, in the autofocus device according to the sixth aspect, the corner of the end portion becomes an acute angle after the change of the autofocus block.

Preferably, in the autofocus device according to the fifth aspect, the shape before the change of the autofocus block is a polygon and the shape after the change is an ellipse.

According to a seventh aspect of the invention, there is provided the autofocus device according to the fifth aspect, wherein the end portion of the autofocus block includes two end portions facing each other. It is an autofocus device with two thin ends.

An eighth aspect of the present invention is the autofocus device according to the first aspect, wherein the camera shake occurrence determination means detects or also detects a camera shake amount and / or a camera shake direction. Specified by prediction based on the change, the autofocus control means is an autofocus device that changes the shape of the autofocus block according to the amount of camera shake and / or the camera shake direction.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the autofocus device according to the eighth aspect, the autofocus control means includes: (a) the larger the amount of camera shake, the edge of the shape of the autofocus block. A first process for making the portion thinner than the shape before the change; and (b) arranging the autofocus block so as to extend in the same direction as the camera shake direction, the shape of the autofocus block being the same as the camera shake direction. The autofocus device performs at least one of a second process of making the end portion located in the direction thinner than the shape before the change.

The invention according to claim 10 is the autofocus device according to claim 8, wherein when the camera shake amount exceeds a third predetermined value, a warning indicating that the camera shake amount is too large is output. The autofocus device further includes a warning unit that operates.

Preferably, in the autofocus device according to the eighth aspect, the autofocus control means corrects the position of the autofocus block based on the information on the amount of camera shake and / or the camera shake direction.

[0022]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION <Embodiment 1> In the present embodiment, when the occurrence of camera shake is predicted, the shape of the AF block is changed to make the end portion thinner so that another subject is inside the AF block. It is an autofocus device that is difficult to enter.
As a result, it is possible to realize an autofocus device capable of preventing autofocus from being performed at a focus position which is not desired by the user.

Specifically, the rectangular AF block 11 as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 has a larger number of corners than those before the modification as shown in FIG. 1, and the corners at both ends are acute. The polygonal AF block 14 is changed to

In this way, the end portion can be made thin, and even if the user shakes the hand, it is difficult for another subject 13 to enter the AF block 14 as shown in FIG. In this case, the relationship between the AF evaluation value and the lens extension position is as shown by the graph 43 in FIG. 16, and the peak position of the AF evaluation value is less likely to deviate from the point R.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a digital camera as an example of a device including the autofocus device according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the digital camera includes a camera body unit 200 and an image pickup unit 300.

In the image pickup section 300, the zoom motor M
1, auto focus motor M2, diaphragm motor M3
It is driven by a zoom motor drive circuit 215, a focus motor drive circuit 214, and an aperture motor drive circuit 216 provided in the camera body 200. Further, the drive circuits 214 to 216 drive the motors M1 to M3 based on a control signal provided from the overall control unit 270 of the camera body unit 200.

The CCD 303 of the image pickup section 300 takes the optical image of the subject formed by the zoom lens 301
Image signals of red (red), G (green), and B (blue) color components (signals composed of a signal sequence of pixel signals received by each pixel) are photoelectrically converted and output.

The timing generator 314 generates a drive control signal for the CCD 303 based on the reference clock transmitted from the timing control circuit 202 of the camera body 200. The timing generator 314 is, for example,
Timing signal of integration start / end (exposure start / end),
Generates a clock signal such as a read control signal (horizontal synchronizing signal, vertical synchronizing signal, transfer signal, etc.) of the light receiving signal of each pixel, and C
Output to CD303.

The signal processing circuit 313 performs a predetermined analog signal processing on the image signal (analog signal) output from the CCD 303. The signal processing circuit 313 is C
It has a DS (correlated double sampling) circuit and an AGC (auto gain control) circuit, the noise of the image signal is reduced by the CDS circuit, and the level of the image signal is adjusted by adjusting the gain by the AGC circuit.

Next, the blocks of the camera body 200 will be described.

In the camera body 200, the A / D converter 205 converts the signal of each pixel of the image into a 12-bit digital signal (A / D conversion).
The A / D converter 205 converts each pixel signal (analog signal) into a digital signal based on the reference clock for A / D conversion input from the timing control circuit 202.

The timing control circuit 202 is configured to generate a reference clock for the timing generator 314 and the A / D converter 205. The timing control circuit 202 is controlled by the overall control unit 270.

The digital signal converted by the A / D converter 205 is sent to the image processing section 240 and the overall control section 270.
Are input respectively. The digital signal input to the image processing unit 240 is subjected to various image processing in the image processing unit 240, stored in the memory card 91 as a captured image, or used as a live view display image. On the other hand, the digital signal input to the overall control unit 270 is used by the overall control unit 270 to calculate the brightness, color balance, contrast, etc. of the incident light from the subject.

The image memory 209 is a memory for storing image data output from the image processing unit 240. The image memory 209 has a storage capacity for one frame. That is, in the image memory 209, the CCD 303 is
When it has pixels in rows and m columns, it has a storage capacity of data for n × m pixels, and the data of each pixel is stored at a corresponding address.

The VRAM (video RAM) 210 is an LC
It is a buffer memory of an image reproduced and displayed in D10.
The VRAM 210 has a storage capacity capable of storing image data corresponding to the number of pixels of the LCD 10.

The flash control circuit 217 is a circuit for controlling the light emission of the built-in flash 5, and the overall control section 270.
The built-in flash 5 is caused to emit light for a predetermined time based on the light emission start signal from the.

The card interface 212 is an interface for writing and reading images to and from the memory card 91 via the card slot 17.

The operation unit 250 includes various switches and buttons, and information input by a user is transmitted to the overall control unit 270 via the operation unit 250.

The overall control section 270 is composed of a microcomputer, and centrally controls the photographing function and the reproducing function. The overall control unit 270 is a CPU that is the main unit
271, a ROM 273 in which a program for organically controlling the driving of each member in the image pickup unit 300 and the camera body unit 200 described above is stored, and a RAM 272 serving as a work area for performing calculation work. There is. In addition,
A program recorded in a recording medium such as the memory card 91 can be read out via the card interface 212 and stored in the ROM 273.

Now, FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the functions of the overall control unit 270. In FIG. 4, the contrast calculation unit 263, the distance calculation unit 264, and the autofocus (AF) control unit 265 are the R of the overall control unit 270.
It is a functional block showing a function realized by a program stored in the OM 273. Then, the contrast calculation unit 263 and the AF control unit 265 are integrated to realize the function of the autofocus device according to the present embodiment.

The contrast AF method is also used in the autofocus control of the present embodiment. That is, the contrast of the signal from the A / D converter 205 is evaluated by the contrast calculation unit 263, the AF control unit 265 gives a signal to the focus motor drive circuit 214 so that the contrast becomes the highest, and the position of the focus lens 311 is changed. Drive it.

The shooting distance to the main subject is calculated by the distance calculation unit 264 which has acquired the information on the focus position of the focus lens 311 from the AF control unit 265.

In the present embodiment, as described above, when the occurrence of camera shake is predicted, the shape of the AF block has a larger number of corners than before the change, and the corners at both ends are changed. Change to a polygonal AF block with an acute angle.

The AF block is generated in the AF control unit 265. Although the AF block image is superposed on the imaging screen by the image processing unit 240,
The contrast calculation unit 263 calculates the contrast in the F block.

Therefore, the AF control unit 265 predicts the occurrence of camera shake and determines the shape of the AF block with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15.
The quadrangular AF block 11 as described above may be changed to a polygonal AF block 14 as shown in FIG. The prediction of the occurrence of camera shake and the change of the shape of the AF block can be easily performed only by changing the program of the overall control unit 270.

Here, a method of predicting the occurrence of camera shake will be described.

The longer the focal length of the image pickup lens, the longer the distance between the subject and the image pickup lens. Comparing the case where the distance between the subject and the imaging lens is long and the case where the distance is short, if the amount of camera shake is the same, the former has a greater effect on the image. This is because the longer the distance is, the more the amount of rotation and movement of the camera due to camera shake is amplified and appears on the screen.

That is, it can be predicted that the longer the focal length of the image pickup lens, the higher the possibility of occurrence of camera shake. Therefore, the program of the AF control unit 265 may be modified so as to predict that the camera shake will occur when the value of the focal length of the imaging lens is equal to or greater than a predetermined value (such as a few mm). The focal length information is calculated by the AF control unit 265 acquiring the zooming magnification of the zoom lens 301 set by the user from the zoom motor drive circuit 215. This focal length information has been conventionally calculated for transmission to the distance calculation unit 264, but in the present application, this information is also used for the prediction of the occurrence of camera shake.

In addition, the contrast calculation unit 263 uses the AF
The control unit 265 fetches the image data from the A / D conversion unit 205 at a predetermined time interval for the autofocus calculation for determining the degree of focusing of the image data, and transfers the calculation result to the AF control unit 265. ing. If the time interval for capturing the image data (the AF calculation shooting interval) is large, there is a high possibility that the content of the captured image will change significantly due to camera shake before the next data capture.

That is, it can be predicted that the longer the AF calculation shooting interval for determining the degree of focus, the higher the possibility of camera shake. Therefore, the program of the AF control unit 265 may be changed so as to predict that the camera shake will occur when the AF calculation shooting interval is equal to or more than a predetermined value (such as comma seconds until the next frame is acquired). The AF control unit 265 acquires the information on the AF calculation shooting interval from the contrast calculation unit 263.

In summary, the AF control section 265
It is a camera shake occurrence determination means for predicting the occurrence of camera shake based on the focal length of the imaging lens and the information on the AF calculation shooting interval. At the same time, it is also an autofocus control means for changing the shape of the AF block when the occurrence of camera shake is predicted.

Further, since the contrast is calculated in the AF block and the calculation result is given to the AF control section 265 to contribute to the determination of the degree of focusing, the contrast calculation section 263 also constitutes an autofocus control means. It can be said that they are doing.

Therefore, for example, even if camera shake occurs when another subject exists behind the subject, another subject is less likely to enter the AF block due to the shape change of the AF block, and the focus position not desired by the user. It is possible to prevent the subject from being autofocused.

Further, in the AF control section 265 which is a camera shake occurrence judging means, the focal length of the image pickup lens and the AF
By predicting the occurrence of camera shake based on the information on the shooting interval for calculation, it is possible to predict the occurrence of camera shake inexpensively without providing a camera shake detection device such as a gyro.

Further, the AF control section 265 predicts that the camera shake will occur when the focal length value is equal to or greater than a predetermined value and when the AF calculation shooting interval value is equal to or greater than the predetermined value. Therefore, by setting these predetermined values appropriately,
The occurrence of camera shake can be easily predicted.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart collectively showing the flow of the above processing. First, the AF control unit 265
Shows the information of the lens focal length by the zoom motor drive circuit 21.
5 (step ST1a). Next, the AF control unit 265 takes in information on the shooting interval for AF calculation from the contrast calculation unit 263 (step ST2a).

Then, the AF control section 265 determines whether or not the value of the lens focal length is equal to or larger than a predetermined value and whether or not the value of the AF calculation shooting interval is equal to or larger than a predetermined value (step ST3a). If both are above a certain value,
It is judged that there is a possibility of camera shake, and the shape of the AF block for preventing camera shake as shown in FIG. 1 is adopted (step S
T5a). On the other hand, if not, it is determined that there is no possibility of camera shake, and the standard AF block shape as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 is adopted (step ST4a).

The focal length of the image pickup lens and A
Any of the information regarding the F calculation shooting interval may be used to predict the occurrence of camera shake, or only one of them may be used to predict the occurrence of camera shake.

Regarding the shape of the AF block, the end of the shape after the change may be thinner than the shape before the change. By doing so, even when there is another subject behind the subject, it is possible to make it difficult for another subject to enter the autofocus block because the end portion of the autofocus block is thin. .

Further, from the rectangular AF block 11 as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, to the polygonal AF block as shown in FIG.
Even if the shape of the AF block is polygonal as in the case of changing to the block 14 and the number of the corners after the change is larger than that of the shape before the change, the end can be thinned. .

Furthermore, after the AF block is changed, the end portion can be made thin even if the end portion has an acute angle.

Further, by making both ends of the AF block which face each other thin, it is possible to reduce the influence of intrusion of another subject on either side. Therefore, it is easy to prevent another subject from entering the autofocus block.

<Second Embodiment> The present embodiment is a modification of the first embodiment. That is, in the present embodiment, the AF control unit 265 predicts the occurrence of camera shake in the first embodiment.
Instead of the above, an autofocus device is adopted instead of which a camera shake detection device such as a gyro or an acceleration sensor is adopted, and the camera shake detection device judges the occurrence of camera shake. Further, in the present embodiment, when the amount of camera shake is equal to or larger than a certain amount, a warning that the amount of camera shake is too large is output to the user.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a digital camera including the autofocus device according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, in addition to the configuration of the digital camera of FIG.
0 and a warning unit 290 are further provided.

Further, like FIG. 4, FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the function of the overall control unit 270 in the present embodiment. 7 is different from FIG. 4 in that the AF control unit 265
Is a point for exchanging signals with the camera shake detection unit 280 and the warning unit 290.

The camera shake detection unit 280 is a camera shake detection device that detects camera shake by detecting the value of a velocity element (translational velocity, angular velocity, etc.) or the value of an acceleration element (translational acceleration, angular acceleration, etc.) applied to a digital camera. There
Specifically, it is the above-mentioned gyro or acceleration sensor. The camera shake detection unit 280 is the camera shake occurrence determination means in the present embodiment.

For detecting the camera shake, for example, when a speed element or an acceleration element having a predetermined value or more is applied to the camera shake detection section 280, a signal "camera shake" is given.
80 is output to the AF control unit 265. Further, the information on the applied speed and acceleration is also transmitted from the camera shake detection unit 280 to the AF control unit 265 as the information on the camera shake amount.

The warning unit 290 is, for example, a sounding device that sounds a warning sound such as a buzzer, or an image processing device that superimposes a warning display on an image and displays it on the LCD 10. The AF controller 265
Based on the information on the amount of camera shake transmitted from the camera shake detection unit 280, it is determined whether the amount of camera shake exceeds a predetermined value,
When it exceeds the predetermined value, the warning unit 290 is controlled to output a warning that the amount of camera shake is too large. Receiving the control signal, the warning unit 290 emits the above-mentioned warning sound and warning display.

As described above, if the camera-shake detecting unit 280 is a camera-shake detecting device that detects camera-shake by detecting a velocity element or an acceleration element, the occurrence of camera-shake can be reliably detected.

When the amount of camera shake exceeds a predetermined value, the warning unit 280 outputs a warning indicating that the amount of camera shake is too large, so that the user can be prompted to suppress the camera shake.

Since the other structures are the same as those of the autofocus device according to the first embodiment, the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart collectively showing the flow of processing in this embodiment. First, AF
The control unit 265 provides information on the amount of camera shake to the camera shake detection unit 280.
(Step ST1b).

Then, the AF control section 265 determines whether or not the value of the amount of camera shake is equal to or larger than a predetermined value (step ST
2b) If the value is equal to or larger than the predetermined value, it is determined that there is camera shake.
Then, it is determined whether or not the amount of camera shake is within a certain value (exceeds a predetermined value) (step ST4b), and if it is not within the certain value, an instruction is given to the warning unit 290 to issue a warning sound or a warning display. Give (step ST5b). After that, the process returns to step ST1b again, and the AF control unit 265 takes in the information on the amount of camera shake from the camera shake detection unit 280.

If the amount of camera shake is within a certain value, the shape of the AF block for preventing camera shake as shown in FIG. 1 is adopted (step ST6b). Also, step ST2
If it is determined that there is no camera shake in b, then FIG. 14 and FIG.
A standard AF block shape such as 5 is adopted (step ST3b).

Note that the warning unit 290 can also be applied to the autofocus device according to the first embodiment. In that case, the AF control unit 265 needs to obtain the information on the amount of camera shake from some functional block other than the camera shake detection unit 280. For example, the image data captured by the contrast calculation unit 263 for contrast calculation is analyzed. Then, the amount of camera shake information may be acquired.

That is, the contrast calculator 263
For example, comparing a certain image data with the image data of the next frame to recognize a change in the image data, and performing pattern matching between both images to create a motion vector,
It suffices to detect the speed and the acceleration.

By doing so, even in the autofocus device according to the first embodiment, which is configured not to have the camera shake detection unit 280, it is possible to create information on the camera shake amount and issue a warning that the camera shake is too large. .

<Third Embodiment> The present embodiment is a modification of the second embodiment. That is, the present embodiment is an autofocus device that detects not only the amount of camera shake but also the direction of camera shake by the camera shake detection unit 280 and changes the shape of the AF block according to the amount of camera shake and the direction of camera shake. Also,
In the present embodiment, when the amount of camera shake is equal to or greater than a certain amount, a warning that the amount of camera shake is too large is output to the user while A
The correction of the position of the F block is also performed.

The structure of the digital camera including the autofocus device according to the present embodiment is the same as that of the second embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

Next, the operation of the autofocus device according to this embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, camera shake detection unit 280 detects not only the amount of camera shake but also the direction of camera shake.

The camera-shake detecting device such as a gyro or an acceleration sensor is originally not limited to the information on the magnitude of velocity and acceleration.
We have also obtained information on that direction. In the present embodiment, the camera shake detection unit 280 uses the information about the direction of the speed and the acceleration as information about the camera shake direction by the AF control unit 26.
Further output to 5.

In the AF control section 265, the shapes of the AF blocks for the camera shake prevention are, for example, a plurality of types, and the ROM 27 is used.
3 and RAM 272. That is, for example, as shown in the AF blocks 14a to 14c in FIGS. 9 to 11, the shape of the AF block is changed to RO according to the direction of camera shake.
The AF block shape is selected from a plurality of types of AF block shapes stored in the M273 and the RAM 272 and changed. Here, the AF blocks are arranged so that they extend in the same direction as the camera shake direction, and the AF
Of the shape of the block, the end portion located in the same direction as the camera shake direction is made thinner than the shape before the change. This allows
The shape of the AF block can be changed to a more appropriate shape according to the state of camera shake.

FIG. 9 shows a case where the camera shake direction is vertical to the screen as an example (the arrow indicates the camera shake direction). In this case, the camera shake extends in the vertical direction and both ends thereof are thin. The shape AF block 14a is selected.
Further, FIG. 10 shows, as an example, the case where the camera shake direction is parallel to the direction extending from the upper right corner to the lower left corner of the screen. In this case, the camera shake extends in the same direction as the camera shake direction, and both ends thereof are thin. The AF block 14b is selected. Further, FIG. 11 shows the case where the camera shake direction is parallel to the direction extending from the upper left to the lower right of the screen, contrary to the case of FIG. 10, and in this case, the camera shake extends in the same direction as the camera shake direction, and The AF block 14c whose both ends are thin is selected.

In the above description, the ROM 273 is used.
Although the case where one is selected from a plurality of types of AF block shapes prepared in the RAM 272 and the RAM 272 is shown, in addition to this, for example, the AF control unit 265 is selected according to the detected camera shake direction.
May generate the shape of the AF block in real time.

The shape of the AF block may be changed according to the amount of camera shake. For example, in FIG. 1, another subject 13 is more likely to enter the AF block 14 as the amount of camera shake increases. In this case, as the amount of camera shake increases, the end of the shape of the AF block 14 may be made thinner (more acute) than the shape before the change. Then, depending on the state of camera shake, a more appropriate A
The shape of the F block can be changed.

The shape change of the AF block according to the amount of camera shake and the camera shake direction as described above can be easily performed only by changing the program of the overall controller 270.

Further, the shape of the AF block is changed according to the amount of camera shake and the camera shake direction as described in the second embodiment.
The invention can be applied not only to the autofocus device according to the first embodiment, but also to the autofocus device according to the first embodiment.

In that case, as described in the last stage of the second embodiment, the contrast calculation unit 263 may be made to create a motion vector, and the direction of camera shake may be detected from the motion vector. Then, the information about the camera shake direction is also provided from the contrast calculation unit 263 to the AF control unit 265, and if the AF control unit 265 performs the shape change processing of the AF block according to the camera shake amount and the camera shake direction as described above. Good.

Further, in the present embodiment, when the amount of camera shake is equal to or larger than a certain amount, a warning that the amount of camera shake is too large is output to the user and the position of the AF block is corrected.

When the information on the camera shake amount and the camera shake direction is obtained from the camera shake detection unit 280 or the contrast calculation unit 263, the AF control unit 265 uses the information on the camera shake amount and the camera shake direction to correct the position of the AF block. It is possible to That is, if the position of the AF block is moved in the opposite direction of the camera shake by the same amount as the amount of camera shake based on the camera shake direction and the amount of camera shake, the same subject remains within the AF block. be able to. That is, it is easy to prevent another subject from entering the AF block.

The position correction of the AF block according to the amount of camera shake and the camera shake direction as described above can be easily performed only by changing the program of the overall control unit 270.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart collectively showing the flow of processing in the present embodiment. The flow from steps ST1b to ST4b is the same as in the case of FIG.

In the case of this embodiment, step ST4b.
If the amount of camera shake is not within a certain value, the warning unit 290
Is instructed to issue a warning sound or warning display (step ST5b), and the AF block position is also corrected (step ST8b). Then, after that, the process returns to step ST1b again, and the AF control unit 265 takes in the information on the amount of camera shake from the camera shake detection unit 280.

If the amount of camera shake is within a certain value, the camera shake detector 280 or the contrast calculator 26
In step 3, the camera shake direction is calculated (step ST7
b), based on that information and the amount of camera shake,
The control unit 265 adopts an AF block having a shape suitable for the camera shake state as shown in FIGS. 9 to 11 (step ST6b).

<Modification> In the first to third embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 9 to 11, the AF block before the change is a quadrangle, and the AF block after the change is a hexagon. .

However, for example, the AF block 14 in FIG.
As shown in d, the changed shape may be an ellipse. Even if the shape is elliptical as described above, the changed end portion can be made thin.

[0097]

According to the first aspect of the invention, the autofocus control means changes the shape of the autofocus block when the camera shake occurrence determination means predicts or detects the occurrence of camera shake. Therefore, for example, even if camera shake occurs when another subject exists behind the subject,
By changing the shape of the autofocus block, it is possible to prevent another subject from easily entering the autofocus block and being autofocused at a focus position not desired by the user.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the camera-shake occurrence determination means predicts the occurrence of camera-shake based on the information on the focal length of the imaging lens and / or the information on a predetermined time interval. Therefore, it is possible to inexpensively predict the occurrence of camera shake without providing a camera shake detection device such as a gyro.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the camera-shake occurrence judging means is (a) when the value of the focal length is equal to or more than the first predetermined value, and / or (b) at a predetermined time interval. When the value is greater than or equal to the second predetermined value, it is predicted that hand shake occurs. Therefore, by appropriately setting the first and second predetermined values, it is possible to easily predict the occurrence of camera shake.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the camera-shake occurrence judging means is a camera-shake detecting device for detecting camera-shake by detecting a velocity element value or an acceleration element value.
Therefore, the camera shake occurrence determination unit can reliably detect the occurrence of camera shake.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, the end portion of the shape after the change of the autofocus block is thinner than the shape before the change. Therefore, for example, even when another subject exists behind the subject, the other end of the autofocus block can be made harder to enter into the autofocus block because the end portion of the autofocus block is thin. .

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the shape of the autofocus block is a polygon, and the number of corners after the change is larger than that before the change. Therefore, by increasing the angle of the end portion of the autofocus block, the end portion can be made thin.

After changing the autofocus block, the corners of the end portions become acute angles. Therefore, the changed end portion can be made thin.

The shape of the autofocus block before the change is a polygon, and the shape after the change is an ellipse. Therefore, the changed end portion can be made thin.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the end portion of the autofocus block includes two end portions facing each other, and both ends are thin after the change. Therefore, it is easy to prevent another subject from entering the autofocus block.

According to the ninth aspect of the invention, the autofocus control means (a) makes the end portion of the shape of the autofocus block thinner as the camera shake amount becomes larger than the shape before the change. (B) Arranging the autofocus block so as to extend in the same direction as the camera shake direction, and making the end of the shape of the autofocus block located in the same direction as the camera shake direction thinner than the shape before the change. At least one of the two processes is performed. Therefore, the shape of the autofocus block can be changed to a more appropriate shape according to the amount of camera shake and / or the direction of camera shake.

According to the invention described in claim 8, the camera-shake occurrence judging means determines the camera-shake amount and / or the camera-shake direction.
Specified by detection or prediction based on a change in image data, the autofocus control unit changes the shape of the autofocus block according to the amount of camera shake and / or the direction of camera shake. Therefore, the shape of the autofocus block can be changed to a more appropriate shape according to the state of camera shake.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, there is further provided warning means for outputting a warning that the amount of camera shake is too large when the amount of camera shake exceeds a third predetermined value. Therefore, it is possible to urge the user to suppress camera shake.

The autofocus control means corrects the position of the autofocus block based on the information on the amount of camera shake and / or the camera shake direction. Therefore, it is easy to prevent another subject from entering the autofocus block.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a shape of an AF block after a change when a hand shake is predicted to occur.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining that it is difficult for another subject to enter the AF block after change.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital camera including the autofocus device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing functions in the overall control unit 270 of the digital camera shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a process of the autofocus device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital camera including an autofocus device according to second and third embodiments of the present invention.

7 is a block diagram showing functions of the overall control unit 270 of the digital camera shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a process of the autofocus device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing another example of the shape of the AF block after the change when the occurrence of camera shake is detected.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another example of the shape of the AF block after the change when the occurrence of camera shake is detected.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing another example of the shape of the AF block after the change when the occurrence of camera shake is detected.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a process of the autofocus device according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing another example of the shape of the AF block after the change when the occurrence of camera shake is detected.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of an image when a subject is placed in an AF block and is focused and photographed.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of an image in a case where the digital camera or the video camera is out of focus due to camera shake of a user.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a change in AF evaluation value with respect to a lens extension position.

[Explanation of symbols]

11, 14, 14a-14d AF block 12 subject 13 Another subject 270 Overall control unit 271 CPU 272 RAM 273 ROM 263 Contrast calculation unit 265 AF controller 280 Image stabilizer 290 Warning section

Front page continuation (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G03B 17/18 H04N 5/232 Z H04N 5/225 G02B 7/11 N 5/232 D G03B 3/00 A F term ( Reference) 2H011 AA01 BA31 BB04 DA00 2H051 AA01 BA45 BA47 CB22 CE14 CE23 DA38 DA39 GA03 GA04 GA10 GA12 2H102 AB08 5C022 AB26 AB55 AC18 AC42 AC54 AC74

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An auto-focus control means for calculating an optical physical quantity within a range of an auto-focus block that designates a part of the image data, and determining the degree of focusing of the image data, and the occurrence of camera shake. And a camera shake occurrence determination means for predicting or detecting the occurrence of the camera shake, wherein the auto focus control means changes the shape of the auto focus block when the camera shake occurrence determining means predicts or detects the occurrence of the camera shake. 2. The autofocus device according to claim 1, wherein the autofocus control unit captures the image data at a predetermined time interval, determines a degree of focusing of the image data, The camera shake occurrence determination means is an autofocus device that predicts occurrence of camera shake based on information about the focal length of the imaging lens and / or information about the predetermined time interval. 3. The autofocus device according to claim 2, wherein the camera shake occurrence determination means includes: (a) when the value of the focal length is equal to or greater than a first predetermined value, and / or (b) ) An autofocus device that predicts that a camera shake will occur when the value of the predetermined time interval is equal to or greater than a second predetermined value. 4. The auto-focus device according to claim 1, wherein the camera-shake occurrence determination means detects a camera shake by detecting a value of a velocity element or an acceleration element of a target device for which focus control is performed by the auto-focus device. An autofocus device that is a camera shake detection device that detects motion. 5. The autofocus device according to claim 1, wherein an end portion of the shape after the change of the autofocus block is thinner than a shape before the change. 6. The autofocus device according to claim 5, wherein the autofocus block has a polygonal shape.
After the change, the auto focus device has more corners than the shape before the change. 7. The autofocus device according to claim 5, wherein the end portion of the autofocus block includes two end portions facing each other, and after the change, both of the end portions are thin. Focus device. 8. The autofocus device according to claim 1, wherein the camera-shake occurrence determination means also detects a camera-shake amount and / or a camera-shake direction, and specifies the camera-shake amount and / or camera-shake direction by prediction based on a change in the image data. The autofocus control means changes the shape of the autofocus block according to the amount of camera shake and / or the direction of camera shake. 9. The autofocus device according to claim 8, wherein the autofocus control means: (a) the greater the amount of camera shake, the more the end of the shape of the autofocus block is changed to the shape before being changed. A first process for making the size smaller than that; (b) arranging the autofocus block so as to extend in the same direction as the camera shake direction, and arranging an end portion of the shape of the autofocus block located in the same direction as the camera shake direction. An autofocus device that performs at least one of a second process of making the shape thinner than the shape before the change. 10. The autofocus device according to claim 8, further comprising warning means for outputting a warning that the amount of camera shake is too large when the amount of camera shake exceeds a third predetermined value. Focus device.