JP2003219256A - Imaging apparatus and method for controlling same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus with which the direction of a camera can be easily matched to a photographing object by remotely controlling the operation of an image pickup part of the camera side with a remote control part. <P>SOLUTION: This imaging apparatus has a communicating means for mutually communicating with the camera part with the remote control part, an image picking up means provided in the camera part and for picking up an image, an image transmission controlling means for transmitting the image picked up by the image picking up means to the remote control part with the communicating means, a displaying means provided in the remote control part and for displaying the image supplied from the camera part by the communicating means, an operating means for creating operation information corresponding to an operation and transmitting the operation information to the camera part by the communicating means, and an operation controlling means for controlling the operation of the image picking up means on the basis of the operation information transmitted from the remote control part by the communicating means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus and a camera remote control method, and more particularly to remote control of the operation of an image pickup optical system of a camera based on a control command from a remote control unit separated from the image pickup apparatus. By doing so, the present invention relates to an imaging device and a camera remote control method capable of easily aligning the orientation of a camera with a subject to be photographed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, a so-called digital camera, which is a camera for converting an image into an electric signal and digitizing the data by using an image sensor such as CCD (Charge Coupled Device) instead of a film Is widespread. Most digital cameras are equipped with a liquid crystal display so that the image taken can be viewed on the spot. The digital camera is generally used by being held by a photographer or supported by a tripod or the like.

[0003]

Conventionally, for example, when photographing oneself as a subject with a digital camera or the like,
With a digital camera without a cell timer, a remote controller for shutters, etc., as shown in FIG. 7, there is no choice but to take a picture at a certain distance (the length of one's arm), and the composition cannot be confirmed. As a result, the subject is off the center of the frame, and it is not possible to shoot with the composition desired by the user.

Further, even a digital camera equipped with a remote control for a shutter is limited to a place where a finder can be seen for composition confirmation without a tripod.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a problem thereof is that the operation of the image pickup section on the camera side is remotely controlled by the remote control section, so that the object to be photographed can be easily controlled. An object of the present invention is to provide an image pickup apparatus and a method for controlling the image pickup apparatus, which can match the orientation of the camera.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to the present invention, as described in claim 1, a camera section for picking up an image and recording the picked-up image, and a camera section for the camera section. In an imaging device having a remote control unit for remotely controlling an operation, a communication unit for communicating with each other between the camera unit and the remote control unit, an imaging unit provided in the camera unit for capturing an image, and the camera And an image transmission control means provided in the remote control section for transmitting an image captured by the image capturing means to the remote control section by the communication section, and supplied from the camera section by the communication section in the remote control section. Display means for displaying the image and the remote control section are provided, and create operation information according to the operation, and the communication means And an operation control unit that is provided in the camera unit and that controls the operation of the imaging unit based on the operation information transmitted from the remote control unit by the communication unit. Is configured.

In such an image pickup apparatus, the operation of the camera section is controlled by the operation from the remote control section, and the subject image photographed by the camera section is displayed on the remote control section during the control. Since the image is displayed on the display unit, the photographer can operate the operation unit of the remote control unit while observing the subject image displayed on the display unit of the remote control unit to determine the composition to be taken. As a result, less rework is required.

Further, according to the present invention, as described in claim 2, the operation control means controls the direction of the image picked up by the image pickup means based on the operation information. Is composed of.

According to such an image pickup apparatus, the direction of the image picked up by the camera section can be controlled by the operation from the remote control section.

Further, according to the present invention, as described in claim 3, the operation control means controls an angle of view of an image picked up by the image pickup means based on the operation information. Is configured as follows.

According to such an image pickup apparatus, the camera section can be zoomed by the operation from the remote control section.

According to the present invention, the remote control unit can be detached from the camera body.
As described in (1), the remote control unit is configured to be detachable from the camera unit.

In order to solve the above problems, according to the present invention, as described in claim 5, a camera section for picking up an image and recording the picked-up image and an operation of the camera section are remotely controlled. A method of controlling an image pickup apparatus having a remote control unit for transmitting an image captured by the camera unit to the remote control unit, displaying an image from the camera unit on the remote control unit,
Operation information according to an operation on the remote control unit is transmitted to the camera unit, and an imaging operation of the camera unit is controlled based on the operation information from the remote control unit. It

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the operation concept of the image pickup apparatus according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, the image pickup apparatus of the present invention comprises a camera section 100 and a remote control section 200. Normally, the camera section 100 and the remote control section 200 are used integrally. When the user photographs himself / herself as a subject, or when the subject is photographed remotely, the remote control unit is detached from the main body of the camera unit 100 and used. In FIG. 2, the remote control unit 200 is the camera unit 10.
0 Shows an image of being attached and detached from the main body.

Returning to FIG. 1, this figure shows a case where an image pickup section (described later) of the camera section 100 placed in a remote place is controlled from the remote control section 200. The camera unit 100 and the remote control unit 200 of the present invention are provided with communication means capable of bidirectionally transmitting and receiving signals. In the camera unit 100, a transmission signal (operation that is wirelessly transmitted from the remote control unit 200 The operation control of the imaging unit is performed based on the operation information included in (operating by generating ()). While the operation of the image capturing unit is controlled, the subject image captured by the camera unit 100 is wirelessly transmitted to the remote control unit 200, and the display means of the remote control unit 200 (example: liquid crystal display (LCD)).
play)) is displayed ().

As described above, according to the image pickup apparatus of the present invention, the operation of the image pickup section of the camera section 100 can be wirelessly controlled while watching the subject image displayed on the display section of the remote control section 200. Remote control unit 2
The composition to be photographed can be freely determined while looking at the subject image displayed on the display unit 00. as a result,
Even when the subject is himself / herself, it is possible to prevent the problem that the position of self-confidence deviates from the center of the frame. Further, since the shutter is released by the remote control unit 200, the subject and the camera unit 1
Since there is no restriction on the distance from the camera unit 100 and the image capturing unit of the camera unit 100 can be directed to the subject to be captured even without a tripod, the place where the camera unit 100 is placed is not limited.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing the structure of the image pickup apparatus according to the present invention.

The camera section 100 includes a lens unit (imaging optical system) 11 including a zoom lens and a focus lens, and a solid-state imaging device CCD (charge coupled) through which an optical image of an object is captured through the lens unit 11.
device) 12 and the CCD 1
2, an image processing unit 13 that performs color tone correction and resolution conversion of an image captured, a memory 14 that stores image data (compressed data) processed by the image processing unit 13, and a camera unit 1
00, a communication unit 17 that performs wireless communication between the remote control unit 200 and a control unit 15 according to a predetermined communication protocol, and a control signal (hereinafter, referred to as a command signal) received via the communication unit 17. Actuator 1 for controlling the lens unit 11 (up, down, left, right, etc.) according to
6 and 6. The communication unit 17 is a computer 300 that implements a protocol capable of communicating with the communication unit 17.
It is possible to receive a control signal from a communication device, a communication device, or the like, and use the camera unit 100 as a surveillance camera by installing the camera unit 100 in a surveillance target area and performing an operation or setting for controlling the surveillance state from the computer 300. It is also possible to do so.

On the other hand, the remote control unit 200 is
A communication unit 21 that performs wireless communication with the camera unit 100 according to a predetermined communication protocol, a display unit (LCD) 24 that receives and displays a subject image captured by the camera unit 100 via the communication unit 21, Operation control of the lens unit 11 of the camera section 100, zoom control, operation section 23 for performing operations such as focusing, and control for transmitting a command signal generated by operation from the operation section 23 to the communication section 21. And a control unit 22 that is responsible for

The camera unit 100 and the remote control unit 200 are connected by a predetermined connector and can be easily attached and detached.

Next, an example of processing performed between the camera section 100 and the remote control section 200 will be described with reference to FIG. In describing this figure, it is assumed that the remote control unit 200 is detached from the main body of the camera unit 100, and that the camera unit 100 is installed at a location distant from the remote control unit 200 (example: a tripod at a remote location). It is supported by etc.). Also,
Assuming that the power supply of the above apparatus is turned on in the initial state, the remote control unit 200 is used when integrated with the camera unit 100.
It is assumed that power is supplied from 0, and power is supplied from itself when detaching.

In such a state, first, the image taken by the CCD 12 of the camera section 100 is transmitted to the remote control section 200 via the communication section 17 (). The image of the subject received () by the communication unit 21 of the remote control unit 200 is L through the control unit 22.
It is sent to the CD 24 and displayed (). The photographer is this L
While looking at the image displayed on the CD, operate the operation button of the operation unit 23 (see the operation panel example of the remote control unit 200 in FIG. 5) (press the Up, Down, Left, Right buttons) (), and the camera Lens unit 11 of section 100
Move up, down, left or right, and decide the composition you want to shoot while zooming. At this time, the operation information according to the operation of the operation button and the operation information according to the zoom operation are generated, and the operation information is carried on the command signal from the control unit 22 and transmitted from the communication unit 21 to the camera unit 100 (). To be done. After receiving the command signal from the remote control unit 200, the communication unit 17 of the camera unit 100 sends the operation information included in the command signal to the control unit 15. The control unit 15 receiving the operation information sends the operation information to the actuator 16 at a predetermined timing. Then, the actuator 16 controls the operation of the imaging unit 10 according to the operation information, for example, controls the lens unit 11 in the vertical and horizontal directions, or controls the zoom lens to perform zooming. In this example, whether one actuator 16 should control the lens unit 11 in the imaging unit 10 based on the operation information obtained via the control unit 15, or the imaging unit 1
Although the form of determining whether 0 is controlled (moved in the vertical and horizontal directions) has been described as one form, the present invention is not limited to such a form, and of course, a structure may be provided in which an actuator for each control is provided. Absent.

While the operation control of the image pickup section 10 is being performed as described above, the subject projected on the lens unit 11 is picked up by (returns to) the CCD 12 and the image processing section 1
After being image-processed in 3, the image is sent to the remote control unit 200 via the control unit 15 and the communication unit 17, and the LCD 24
Is displayed in.

As described above, the subject image displayed on the LCD 24 of the remote control unit 200 changes following the operation of the operation button of the operation unit 23, so that the photographer can confirm the composition he / she wants to take. It can be done almost in real time, and you can shoot with the composition you want.

Further, as described above, since the operation information includes control information for the telephoto (T) / wide-angle (W) zoom and the focus adjustment, these operation controls can be performed remotely. It can be carried out.

In the above example, the image pickup section 10 of the camera section 100
The example of performing operation control of the camera using the operation buttons provided in the remote control unit 200 has been taken up.
Of course, it does not matter if the operation control of the image pickup unit 10 is performed by an operation stick instead of the operation button. FIG. 6 shows an example of the operation panel of the remote control unit 200 in such a case.

Further, the communication section 21 of the remote control section 200 realizes wireless connection by the same protocol as the communication section 17 of the camera section 100. The protocol may be wireless, for example, 2.45 GHz.
Covers a short distance of about 10 m using the radio wave of the band,
One of the preferable wireless communications is a short-distance weak transmission output mobile communication technology called "Bluetooth" that realizes a maximum transfer rate of 721 kbps with a one-to-one connection. In addition, a wireless LAN communication system defined by IEEE 802.11 can be applied.

In the above example, the wireless communication functions of the communication section 17 of the camera section 100 and the communication section 21 of the remote control section 200 serve as communication means and the image pickup section 1 of the camera section 100.
The image capturing function of 0 is used as an image capturing unit and the control unit 1 of the camera unit 100.
5, the transmission control function of 5 is an image transmission control unit, the display function of the display unit (LCD) 24 of the remote control unit 200 is a display unit, the operation function of the operation unit 23 is an operation unit, and the actuator 16 of the camera unit 100 is imaged. The part control function corresponds to the operation control means.

[0031]

As described above, according to the first to fifth aspects of the invention.
According to the present invention described, the operation of the image pickup unit of the camera is controlled by the operation of the remote control unit, and the image photographed by the camera unit is displayed on the display unit while the operation is being controlled. While observing the image of the subject displayed on the screen, it becomes possible to operate the operation unit of the remote control unit to decide the composition to be taken. As a result, it is possible to reduce the number of retakes and improve the convenience of the user. In addition, by installing the camera unit at an arbitrary location, the subject can be monitored, so that it can be used as a surveillance camera.

[0032]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an operation concept of an image pickup apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an image in which a remote control unit is detached from a camera body.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of an image pickup apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of processing between a camera unit and a remote control unit.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example (No. 1) of an operation panel of the remote control unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example (No. 2) of the operation panel of the remote control unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a conventional example in which a digital camera photographs itself as a subject.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Imaging unit 11 lens unit 12 CCD 13 Image processing unit 14 memory 15 Control unit 16 actuators 17 Communications Department 21 Communications Department 22 Control unit 23 Operation part 24 Display (LCD) 100 camera section 200 Remote control section 300 computers

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image pickup apparatus having a camera section for picking up an image and recording the picked-up image, and a remote control section for remotely controlling the operation of the camera section, wherein the camera section and the remote control section are provided. A communication unit that communicates with each other, an image pickup unit that is provided in the camera unit and takes an image, and an image that is provided in the camera unit and that is taken by the image pickup unit and that is transmitted to the remote control unit by the communication unit An image transmission control unit, a display unit provided in the remote control unit for displaying the image supplied from the camera unit by the communication unit, and provided in the remote control unit to create operation information according to an operation. Operation means for transmitting to the camera section by the communication means, and a remote controller provided in the camera section. An image pickup apparatus comprising: an operation control unit that controls an operation of the image pickup unit based on the operation information transmitted from the troll unit by the communication unit. 2. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation control unit controls a direction of an image picked up by the image pickup unit based on the operation information. 3. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation control unit controls an angle of view of an image picked up by the image pickup unit based on the operation information. 4. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the remote control unit is attachable to and detachable from the camera unit. 5. A control method for an image pickup apparatus, comprising: a camera section for picking up an image and recording the picked-up image; and a remote control section for remotely controlling the operation of the camera section. The selected image is transmitted to the remote control unit, the image from the camera unit is displayed on the remote control unit, operation information corresponding to an operation on the remote control unit is transmitted to the camera unit, and the remote control A method of controlling an image pickup apparatus, comprising: controlling an image pickup operation of the camera unit based on the operation information from the unit.