JP2003116050A - Digital still camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital still camera capable of carrying out a stroboscope photographing without providing a stroboscopic device. SOLUTION: When a stroboscopic mode of the third party is selected, the exposure is repeated by a CCD image sensor in a constant period T. If it is detected that stroboscopic light from an external stroboscopic device was radiated on a subject based on light-receiving results of a light-receiving sensor which receives reflected light from the subject, image data obtained by the exposure is examined by a microcomputer, and it is determined whether or not the image data is a proper in the amount of exposure. When the image data is a proper in the amount of exposure, the image data is sent to a memory card and is recorded.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital still camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A digital still camera is widely used, which converts an image captured by an image sensor such as a CCD image sensor into image data and stores it in a storage medium such as a memory card. Also, many digital still cameras are equipped with a strobe device, which is convenient for shooting in a dark place.

When the amount of light is insufficient or the shooting range is wide,
When the photographic range cannot be covered by the irradiation range of one strobe device, a strobe device for increasing the number of lights (hereinafter referred to as slave strobe device) called a slave that emits light in response to the light emission of one strobe device is used. Various slave strobe devices and cameras related thereto are known.

For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 5-19338 discloses a slave strobe device which does not respond to pre-light emission (preliminary light emission) for preventing red-eye, but responds to strobe light when main light emission is performed. A camera that does this is described. Further, a camera that emits light from a built-in strobe device when it detects that another strobe device emits light is disclosed in JP-A-6-258695 and 5-61.
No. 109 publication. According to this camera, the strobe device built in the camera can be used as a slave strobe device of another strobe device.

In the one disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-146153, the built-in strobe device built in the camera emits a small amount of light, and in response to this, the slave strobe device starts the light emission, and the second time. It is also known that the amount of strobe light from the slave strobe device is controlled by stopping the emission of light from the slave strobe device with a minute light emission from the built-in strobe device.

Further, in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-61109, an external strobe device such as a camera can be used as a remote control device so that the shutter release is performed when strobe light is emitted in the vicinity of the camera. The cameras that have been used are listed.

[0007]

By using a slave strobe device or a camera having a strobe device with a slave function as described above, it is possible to take a picture with a large amount of light. A strobe device for synchronizing the slave strobe device is required, and a strobe device serving as a slave strobe device or a camera incorporating the strobe device needs to be separately prepared.

Further, in a camera in which an external strobe device can be used as a remote controller, the external strobe device can instruct photographing, but it is difficult to perform stroboscopic photographing with the strobe light from the external strobe device. Is.
Therefore, in the case of performing flash photography, a strobe device that emits light in synchronization with shooting is required.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and enables stroboscopic photography without a strobe device, and provides a sufficient amount of light even when the built-in strobe device has a small amount of light. An object of the present invention is to provide a digital still camera capable of taking a picture of a distant object.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 has an image sensor for picking up an object and a light receiving means for receiving reflected light, and the light receiving result of the light receiving means. Based on the above, a detection unit that detects that the subject is irradiated with strobe light, a control unit that repeatedly executes imaging by the image sensor at predetermined intervals, and the detection unit emits strobe light to the subject. When it is detected that the image has been captured, a recording unit that records an image of one frame being captured at that point in the storage medium is provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a determination means for determining whether or not the image taken at the time point when it is detected that the subject is irradiated with the strobe light is the proper exposure.
The control means stops the image pickup by the image sensor when the determining means determines that the exposure is appropriate.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the recording means records only the image of proper exposure on the recording medium.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the image of the subject irradiated with the strobe light is temporarily held for a plurality of frames, and one of the images of the held plurality of frames is closest to the proper exposure. The recording means records the image selected by the selecting means in the storage medium.

According to the invention of claim 5, the light receiving means is an image sensor.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention, the predetermined interval is
It is set at equal intervals set in advance.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, a setting means for setting a predetermined interval is provided, and the predetermined interval can be arbitrarily set.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, when it is detected that the subject is irradiated with strobe light, another frame strobe mode for recording in the storage medium an image of one frame being picked up at that time, And means for operating in any one of a normal mode in which an image for one frame captured by the image sensor is recorded in the storage medium in response to a pressing operation of a release button, and for selecting another person strobe mode and a normal mode. It is equipped with.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A front side of a digital still camera embodying the present invention is shown in FIG. 1, and a back side thereof is shown in FIG. On the front surface of the camera body 2, a lens barrel holding an imaging lens 3, a sensor window 5, and a release button 6 are arranged. Further, an LCD 7, an operation unit 8 and a mode switching member 9 are provided on the back surface. Further, a lid 11 is provided on the side surface so as to be openable and closable. By opening the lid 11, the memory card 13 can be inserted into and removed from the memory slot 12.

A CCD image sensor 15 (see FIG. 3) is arranged at the back of the image pickup lens 3, and a subject image is picked up by this CCD image sensor 15. Sensor window 5
A light receiving sensor 16 (see FIG. 3) for detecting that the subject is irradiated with the strobe light in the other-person strobe mode, which will be described later, is arranged in the back of the.

The LCD 7 constitutes a so-called electronic viewfinder for displaying a subject image picked up through the image pickup lens 3 in real time, and is used for image reproduction and the like. By operating this, the operation unit 8
Power on / off, switching between shooting mode and playback mode, settings under various modes, selection of image to play,
Image data can be deleted. In the imaging mode, by sliding the mode switching member 9, the normal mode and the other person's strobe mode can be switched.

When the release button 6 is pressed when the normal mode is selected, the subject image being picked up at the time of pressing is converted into image data and recorded in the memory card 13 as in the case of the digital still camera up to now. It

The other person strobe mode is a mode in which stroboscopic photography is performed using strobe light from an external strobe device and image data of a subject image obtained is recorded in the memory card 13. As the external strobe device, it is possible to use various devices such as a strobe device built into other various cameras, a strobe device attached to the camera, or a slave strobe device which emits light in synchronization with such strobe device. it can.

When the other person's strobe mode is selected, the release button 6 is pressed to start an imaging sequence (hereinafter referred to as another person's strobe sequence) peculiar to this mode, and the release button is pressed during the other person's strobe sequence. When 6 is pressed, the sequence is forcibly ended.

A photographed subject image is recorded as image data in a memory card 13 as a storage medium in which an image is recorded. In this example, the memory card 13 that can be inserted into and removed from the digital still camera is used as a storage medium, but various types of storage media can be used, and an image is stored in a memory built in the digital still camera. Data may be recorded.

The electrical construction of the digital camera 2 is shown in FIG. The microcomputer 20 controls each part of the digital still camera according to the input of various operation signals from the release button 6, the operation part 8 and the mode switching member 9.

Under the control of the microcomputer 20, each part of the digital still camera is driven in a moving image mode, a still image mode, or a continuous still image mode at the time of image pickup. The moving image mode is set when the image being picked up is displayed on the LCD 7 as a moving image, and the still image mode is set when the release button 6 is pressed in the normal mode. While the other person's strobe sequence is being executed, the continuous still image mode is set.

As the CCD image sensor 15, for example, a color image sensor is used. CCD image sensor 1
A driver 5 is driven by the driver 21, receives light from the photographing lens 3, converts the light into charges for a charge accumulation time (exposure time) and accumulates the charges, and the accumulated charges are sequentially transferred and output. The image pickup signal is output with.

In the moving image mode, the CCD image sensor 15 repeats exposure at a constant cycle, for example, 1/60 sec, and outputs an image pickup signal for one field each time exposure is completed. Release button 6 while driving in movie mode
When is pressed to enter the still image mode, the CCD image sensor 15 outputs an image pickup signal for one frame after performing one exposure in response to pressing of the release button 6. Under the continuous still image mode, the CCD image sensor 1
5 repeats exposure at a constant cycle T, for example, 1/30 sec, and outputs an image pickup signal for one frame each time one exposure is completed.

The image pickup signal from the CCD image sensor 15 is sent to the amplifier 22. The amplifier 22 amplifies the image pickup signal with a predetermined gain and sends it to the signal processing circuit 23. The output of the amplifier 22 is fed back to the driver 21, and the charge accumulation time (exposure time) is controlled based on the output of the amplifier 22 so that the exposure amount of the CCD image sensor 15 becomes appropriate.

The other person's strobe mode is an image capturing and recording of a subject illuminated by a strobe light from an external strobe device, and a proper exposure amount should be obtained when illuminated by the strobe light. Therefore, it is not necessary to control the charge accumulation time of the CCD image sensor 15 during the other person's strobe sequence so that the exposure amount is appropriate. In this example, during the other person's strobe sequence, the release button 6
The charge accumulation time of the CCD image sensor 15 is controlled to be underexposed based on the image pickup signal output when is pressed.

The signal processing circuit 23 separates the image pickup signal into red, green, and blue image signals, and amplifies these image signals by predetermined gains to perform white balance adjustment. Each image signal from the signal processing circuit 23 is sent to the A / D converter 24. A / D converter 24
Outputs red, green, and blue image data obtained by digitally converting each input image signal. The image data from the A / D converter 24 is stored in the data controller 25.
Sent to.

Based on an instruction from the microcomputer 20, the data controller 25 connects the A / D converter 24, the input / output circuit (I / O) 26, the LCD driver 27, the buffer memory 28, and the microcomputer 20 to each other. Controls input and output of image data. Input / output circuit (I / O)
Reference numeral 26 writes and reads image data to and from the memory card 13 mounted in the memory slot 12. The buffer memory 28 is provided to temporarily hold image data, and a memory having a storage capacity of one frame and capable of writing data at high speed is used.

In the moving image mode, the data controller 2
The image data 5 from the A / D converter 24 is LC
Send to the D driver 27. As a result, the subject image being captured is displayed as a moving image on the LCD 7.

In the still image mode, one frame of image data is transferred from the data controller 25 to the buffer memory 2
8 and the image data is once written in the buffer memory 28. After this, the buffer memory 28
From the data controller 25, the image data is sent to the input / output circuit 26, and is written in the memory card 13 by the input / output circuit 26.

In the continuous still image mode, the image data is sent from the data controller 25 to the buffer memory 28 and the microcomputer 20. In the continuous still image mode, the CCD image sensor 15 repeatedly performs exposure at the cycle T and outputs an image pickup signal, so that the image data for one frame is input to the buffer memory 28 and the microcomputer 20 at the cycle T. When new one-frame image data is input, the buffer memory 28 overwrites the previously-written one-frame image data.

In the reproduction mode, the image data of the image selected by operating the operation unit 8 is read from the memory card 13 by the input / output circuit 26 and written in the buffer memory 28. Image data is read from the buffer memory 28 and sent to the LCD driver 27, so that the image stored in the memory card 13 is displayed as a still image on the LCD 7.

The light receiving sensor 16 is arranged behind the sensor window 5, receives the light reflected from the subject, and outputs a photoelectric signal having a signal level corresponding to the intensity of the light. Since the light receiving sensor 16 is used to determine whether or not the strobe light has been emitted to the subject, the light receiving sensor 16 uses S
It is preferable to use a PD (silicon photodiode), a phototransistor or the like having a high response speed.

The control signal from the driver 21 is input to the detection circuit 31. By this control signal, CCD
The detection circuit 31 operates only while the image sensor 15 is accumulating charges (exposure). During the operation of the detection circuit 31, the photoelectric signal from the light receiving sensor 16 suddenly changes,
And when it rises to a predetermined level, a detection signal is sent to the microcomputer 20. This informs the microcomputer 20 that the strobe light from the external strobe device is applied to the subject during exposure.

During execution of the other person's strobe sequence, the microcomputer 20 receives a detection signal,
The image data obtained by the exposure when the detection signal is input is checked to see if the exposure amount is appropriate. If the exposure amount is appropriate, the driving of the CCD image sensor 15 is stopped at that time, and one frame of image data determined to have an appropriate exposure amount is transferred from the buffer memory 28 to the memory card 13. Transfer and record.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described. For example, when the normal mode is selected under the shooting mode, the image data of the subject image, which is driven in the moving image mode and is captured by the CCD image sensor 15, is transferred from the A / D converter 24 to the data controller 25 one after another. Was sent,
LCD driver 2 via this data controller 25
Sent to 7. As a result, the CCD image sensor 15
The subject image being captured is displayed as a moving image on the LCD 7.

When the release button 6 is pressed in the normal mode, the moving image mode is changed to the still image mode, and C
The CD image sensor 15 outputs an image pickup signal for one frame after one exposure is performed in response to the pressing of the release button 6. The image for one frame is transferred to the buffer memory 28 via the data controller 25.
Is written to the buffer memory 25, and is read from the buffer memory 28 after the writing is completed. Then, the image data for one frame is sent to and written in the memory card 13 via the data controller 25. In this way, in the normal mode, the image is recorded in the memory card 13 in response to the pressing operation of the release button 6 as in the conventional digital still camera.

When it is desired to take an image using strobe light in a relatively dark room or the like, the mode switching member 9 is slid to select another person's strobe mode. From the time when the other person's strobe mode is selected until the release button 6 is pressed, driving is performed in the moving image mode. Therefore, similarly to the normal mode, the framing can be determined by observing the LCD 7 on which the subject image being captured is displayed.

The photographer, after determining the framing,
Press the release button 6. As shown in FIG. 4 schematically showing another person's strobe sequence, when the release button 6 is pressed, the other person's strobe sequence is started. Then, in the other person's strobe sequence, the CCD image sensor 15 is driven in the continuous still image mode, and as shown in the timing chart of FIG. 5, the CCD image sensor 15 repeats exposure at a predetermined cycle T, and one exposure is completed. An image pickup signal for one frame is output every time and is converted into image data by the A / D converter 24.

By repeating the exposure at the cycle T as described above, the image data for one frame at the cycle T is transferred to the buffer memory 28 via the data controller 25.
Is sent to the microcomputer 20. The image data is written in the buffer memory 28, and when new one frame of image data is sent to the buffer memory 28 next, the image data is overwritten on the previously written image data. In this way, the buffer memory 2
In the state of 8, the latest image data for one frame is written.

On the other hand, the light receiving sensor 12 starts to receive the reflected light from the subject when the strobe sequence of the other person is started, and outputs a photoelectric signal corresponding to the intensity of the incident reflected light to the detection circuit 31. . The detection circuit 31 operates only during the period when the CCD image sensor 15 is accumulating the electric charge by receiving the control signal from the driver 21. Therefore, for example, even if the external strobe device irradiates the subject with strobe light during a period in which no electric charge is accumulated, no detection signal is generated.

While the CCD image sensor 15 is accumulating electric charges, strobe light is radiated toward the subject, and in response thereto, when the photoelectric signal suddenly reaches a predetermined level or higher, the detection signal from the detection circuit 31 is detected. Is output and sent to the microcomputer 20. The microcomputer 20 to which the detection signal is input waits for the image data obtained by the exposure at the time of inputting the detection signal to be input.

When the above image data is input, a predetermined judgment process for judging whether or not the exposure is proper,
For example, the average brightness level of one frame is calculated from the image data of each color, and it is checked whether the average brightness level is within a predetermined level range. If the calculated average brightness level is within the predetermined level range, it is determined that the exposure amount is appropriate.

It should be noted that the judgment as to whether or not the exposure amount is appropriate is
It is completed by the time the exposure of the next one frame is completed. The method of determining whether the exposure amount is appropriate is not limited to the above. Further, it is determined whether or not the exposure amount is appropriate by weighting the central portion of the screen of one frame, or whether or not the exposure amount is partial, for example, only in the central portion of the screen. Good.

If it is determined by the above determination process that the exposure amount is not appropriate, the image pickup by the CCD image sensor 15 and the output of the image data by the A / converter 24 are continued, and the image data in the buffer memory 28 is updated. It can be rewritten as something.

When the determination process is performed in this way and it is determined that the exposure amount is appropriate, the microcomputer 20 stops driving the CCD image sensor 15 before the image pickup signal of the next frame is output. To be done. Therefore, when the image data for one frame, which is determined to have an appropriate exposure amount, is written in the buffer memory 28, C
The drive of the CD image sensor 15 is stopped.

After the driving of the CCD image sensor 15 is stopped, the microcomputer 20 accesses the buffer memory 28 via the data controller 25, sends the image data for one frame written therein to the input / output circuit 26, Write to the memory card 13.

When the recording of the image data in the memory card 13 is completed, the release button 6 is in a waiting state. Here, if the release button 6 is pressed again, in the same manner as described above, the strobe light from the external strobe device is irradiated and the subject image captured with an appropriate exposure amount is recorded in the memory card 13.

As described above, the stroboscopic light from the external stroboscopic device is irradiated and the image photographed with an appropriate exposure amount is recorded in the memory card 13, so stroboscopic photography is performed even if the stroboscopic device is not provided. be able to. Even if the digital still camera is equipped with a strobe device, underexposure may occur if the distance to the subject is far from the amount of light emitted by the strobe device. Since the strobe device emits light, an image can be captured with a sufficient exposure amount.
Furthermore, since the digital still camera itself does not need to emit strobe light, it also saves power.

In the above embodiment, it is determined whether or not the exposure amount is proper and the proper image data is recorded in the memory card 13. However, regardless of whether or not the exposure amount is proper, the strobe light is used. It is also possible to record a subject image illuminated with light.

FIG. 6 shows CC in the other person strobe mode.
It shows an example in which the exposure cycle of the D image sensor can be arbitrarily set. It should be noted that, except for the following description, it is similar to the above-described embodiment, and substantially the same constituent members are given the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

In this example, the exposure cycle of the CCD image sensor 15 in the continuous still image mode can be set by operating the operation unit 8 in the stranger strobe mode. When the operation unit 8 is not operated to set the exposure cycle, the CCD image sensor 11 is repeatedly exposed at the cycle T1 as a default setting, as shown in FIG. 6A. If the operation unit 8 is operated to set a small exposure cycle, as shown in FIG.
Conversely, if the exposure cycle is set to a larger value with a smaller cycle T2, the CCD image sensor 15 is repeatedly exposed with a cycle T3 larger than the cycle T1 as shown in FIG. 6C.

FIG. 7 shows an example in which, of the image data of a plurality of frames in which the subject is irradiated with stroboscopic light, the data of the most appropriate exposure is recorded in the memory card. It should be noted that, except for the following description, it is similar to the first embodiment, and substantially the same constituent members are assigned the same reference numerals and explanations thereof are omitted.

In this example, as shown in FIG. 8, the storage area of the buffer memory 28 is first to Nth (N> 1).
It is divided into memory areas. This buffer memory 2
8 has a storage capacity of N frames, for example, 8 frames, and each memory area has a storage capacity of 1 frame.

As shown in the procedure of FIG. 7, writing of image data to the buffer memory 28 is sequentially performed from the first memory area, and the same memory area is used until the detection signal is generated. Image data of new frames are overwritten one after another. When the detection signal is generated,
When the writing of the image data for one frame corresponding to the exposure at the time of occurrence is completed in one memory area, the image data is used in the next memory area to write the image data.

In this way, the image data of N frames of the subject image irradiated with the strobe light is temporarily stored in the buffer memory 28, and the CCD image sensor 1
The exposure by 5 is completed. After that, the microcomputer 20 checks the image data on each memory area, selects the image data for one frame that is closest to the proper exposure amount, and transfers the image data to the memory card 13 for recording.

According to this, in a scene in which an external stroboscopic device irradiates a subject with stroboscopic light a plurality of times, a plurality of images radiated with stroboscopic light are held, and the most appropriate exposure amount among them is obtained. Since the image is recorded in the memory card 13, it is possible to record an image of optimum image quality.

In the above embodiment, the subject image irradiated with the strobe light is captured by a predetermined number (N) of frames, but the number of frames to be captured may be set arbitrarily. In addition, the image data for one frame closest to the proper exposure amount is selected from each image irradiated with the strobe light within a predetermined time, not the number of frames, and the selected image data is transferred to the memory card 13 and recorded. Good.

FIG. 9 shows a CCD for picking up a subject image instead of a light receiving sensor as a light receiving means for receiving reflected light.
It shows an example using an image sensor. It should be noted that, except for the following description, it is the same as the first embodiment, and substantially the same constituent members are assigned the same reference numerals and explanations thereof are omitted.

In this example, the microcomputer 20
Calculates the average brightness level from the image data input in the continuous still image mode, and when the average brightness level is higher than the average brightness level of the previous frame by a predetermined value or more, the current frame uses strobe light during the exposure. Is determined to have been irradiated. According to this, it is possible to detect whether or not the subject is irradiated with strobe light without providing a dedicated light receiving sensor.

In each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the digital still camera having no built-in strobe device has been described.
The present invention can be applied to a digital still camera with a built-in strobe device and a digital still camera with an external strobe device.

[0066]

As described above in detail, according to the digital still camera of the present invention, the image pickup by the image sensor is repeatedly executed at a predetermined interval to detect that the strobe light from the outside is applied to the subject. Since one frame of the image being picked up is recorded in the storage medium at that time, strobe light can be taken by using strobe light from an external strobe device even if the strobe device is not provided. . Further, since the external strobe device emits light near the subject to obtain a sufficient exposure amount, it is possible to perform imaging with an appropriate exposure amount even when the distance to the subject is long.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a front side appearance of a digital camera embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of the back side of the digital camera.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital camera.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an outline of another person's strobe sequence.

FIG. 5 is a timing chart at the time of another person strobe sequence.

FIG. 6 shows an example in which an exposure interval in the other person strobe mode can be arbitrarily set.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of recording an image closest to proper exposure among a plurality of images irradiated with strobe light.

8 is an explanatory diagram showing a buffer memory in the example of FIG. 7. FIG.

FIG. 9 shows an example in which a CCD image sensor is also used as a light receiving means.

[Explanation of symbols]

3 shooting lens 5 sensor window 6 Release button 9 Mode switching member 13 memory card 15 CCD image sensor 16 Light receiving sensor 20 microcomputer 26 I / O circuit 28 buffer memory

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Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A digital still camera for recording an image obtained by capturing an image of a subject in a storage medium, comprising: an image sensor for capturing the image of the subject; and a light receiving means for receiving reflected light. Based on the detection means, an object is irradiated with stroboscopic light by a detection means for detecting that the object is irradiated with stroboscopic light from the outside, a control means for repeatedly performing imaging by the image sensor at predetermined intervals. A digital still camera, comprising: a recording unit configured to record an image of one frame being picked up at that time in the storage medium when it is detected. 2. A judgment means for judging whether or not the image taken at the time when the strobe light is detected to be irradiated on the subject is proper exposure, and the control means is judged to be appropriate by the judgment means. The image pickup by the image sensor is stopped when it is determined that the exposure is performed.
The described digital still camera. 3. The digital still camera according to claim 2, wherein the recording means records only an image of proper exposure on the storage medium. 4. An image of a subject irradiated with strobe light is temporarily held for a plurality of frames, and one frame image closest to the proper exposure is selected from among the held images of the plurality of frames. 2. The digital still camera according to claim 1, further comprising a selection unit, wherein the recording unit records the image selected by the selection unit in the storage medium. 5. The digital still camera according to claim 1, wherein the light receiving unit is the image sensor. 6. The digital still camera according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined intervals are equal intervals set in advance. 7. The digital still according to claim 1, further comprising a setting unit for setting the predetermined interval, wherein the predetermined interval can be set arbitrarily. camera. 8. A strobe mode for another person in which, when it is detected that a subject is irradiated with stroboscopic light, an image of one frame being captured at that time is recorded in the storage medium, and a release button pressing operation. In response to the operation, the image sensor operates to operate in any one of a normal mode for recording an image of one frame captured in the storage medium, and a means for selecting the other person's strobe mode and the normal mode is provided. The digital still camera according to any one of claims 1 to 7.