JP2004061621A - Digital camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital camera which prevents a wrong photographic mode from being selected. <P>SOLUTION: The digital camera has a plurality of photographic modes (daytime photographic mode, twilight photographic/dawn mode, and night photographic mode) corresponding to respective photographic scenes in the daytime, twilight/dawn, and night. Those photographic modes are selected with a photographic mode select dial. When a shutter release button is half-pressed, a microcomputer specifies photographic modes matching photographic scenes according to time data. Then it is checked whether a specified photographic mode matches a photographic mode selected with the dial and when they do not match each other, an alarm is generated. A case wherein a photographer intentionally selects an inadequate photographic mode is taken into consideration to enables photography in the selected photographic mode by fully pressing the shutter release button even if the alarm is generated. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a digital camera that can select a plurality of shooting modes according to various shooting scenes, and more particularly to a digital camera that prevents erroneous selection of shooting modes.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Digital cameras that record captured images obtained by imaging a subject with an imaging unit such as a CCD as digital data on a memory card have become widespread. The captured image is recorded on a memory card after various image processing such as white balance adjustment and color correction. This image processing is preferably performed appropriately according to various shooting scenes. For this reason, the digital camera has been devised so that appropriate image processing is performed in accordance with various shooting scenes.
[0003]
For example, the white balance is adjusted according to the difference in the color temperature of the subject. The digital camera described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-156874 is provided with a function for manually setting a white balance adjustment value so that an appropriate white balance can be adjusted according to the light source of each shooting scene. However, when setting manually, forgetting to set or setting mistakes are likely to occur. For this digital camera, the subject brightness is measured at the time of shooting, and whether or not the manually set value is appropriate according to the subject brightness. A set value verification function is provided to issue a warning or the like if the difference is noticeable. In this way, white balance adjustment errors due to manual operation are prevented.
[0004]
Further, many digital cameras are provided with a plurality of shooting modes corresponding to various shooting scenes such as a daytime shooting mode suitable for daytime shooting and a nighttime shooting mode suitable for nighttime shooting. For example, a mode selection dial is provided as an operation member for selecting the plurality of shooting modes on the camera body, and the user selects a desired shooting mode by operating the mode selection dial.
[0005]
In each shooting mode, shooting conditions such as an aperture and an exposure time are set according to each shooting scene, and appropriate image processing is performed on the shot image data. In some cases, selection mode information indicating in which shooting mode the shot image was taken is recorded on the memory card together with the image data. In such a case, when the selection mode information is printed. It is referred to and appropriate print processing is performed accordingly. For this reason, when the user uses these shooting modes properly, a good print according to the shooting scene can be obtained.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, since such a mode selection operation is also a manual operation, there are many forgetting to perform the selection operation and selection mistakes, and the image is often shot in a shooting mode that is not suitable for an actual shooting scene.
[0007]
The present invention provides a digital camera that prevents erroneous selection of a shooting mode.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a digital camera of the present invention includes a plurality of shooting modes corresponding to shooting scenes, and a digital camera in which mode selection means for selecting each shooting mode is provided in the camera body. A shooting mode specifying means for specifying an appropriate shooting mode according to a shooting scene actually shot from the plurality of shooting modes, a shooting mode specified by the shooting mode specifying means, and the mode selection operation. And a mode conformity determining unit that determines whether or not the photographing mode selected by the unit matches, and a warning unit that issues a warning when the mode conformance determining unit determines that there is a mismatch. .
[0009]
In the case of the warning, there is provided instruction means for instructing whether or not to execute the shooting mode selected by the mode selection means, and when the instruction means instructs execution of shooting in the shooting mode, The shooting mode may be executed.
[0010]
Another digital camera according to the present invention includes a plurality of shooting modes according to a shooting scene, and a digital camera provided with mode selection means for selecting each shooting mode in the camera body. Among them, a shooting mode specifying means for specifying an appropriate shooting mode according to a shooting scene to be actually shot, a shooting mode specified by the shooting mode specifying means, and a shooting mode selected by the mode selection operation means Mode conformity determining means for determining whether or not and the mode conformity determining means determines that there is a mismatch, a mismatch level determining means for checking the degree of misalignment, and a predetermined level for which the mismatch level is preset. Mode switching means for automatically executing switching processing to an appropriate mode when the range is exceeded. And wherein the digit.
[0011]
The plurality of shooting modes include, for example, a daytime shooting mode suitable for daytime shooting and a nightscape shooting mode suitable for nightscape shooting, and any one of these shooting modes is selected by the mode selection unit. The mode conformity determining means identifies an appropriate shooting mode based on preset time data, and determines whether or not the specified shooting mode matches the selected mode. .
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
As shown in FIG. 1, a lens barrel 12 incorporating a photographing lens 11 and a strobe light emitting unit 13 for emitting strobe light are provided on the front surface of a digital camera 10 embodying the present invention. The lens barrel 12 is retracted into the camera body when the power of the digital camera 10 is off, and is extended forward from the camera body when the power is turned on. Behind the lens barrel 12, a CCD image sensor as an imaging means is arranged. A slot 16 in which a memory card 14 is set is provided on the side surface of the digital camera 10.
[0013]
The captured image data is converted into an EXIF format image file standardized by, for example, JEITA (Electronic Information Technology Industries Association) and recorded on the memory card 14. The image file is given a sequential number of file names such as 0001, 0002, etc. so that each frame can be identified in the memory card 14. As is well known, an EXIF format file is obtained by adding EXIFTAG data to image data compressed in the JPG format.
[0014]
The EXIFTAG data includes additional information related to image data such as shooting condition data relating to shooting conditions such as exposure time, aperture value, brightness value, presence / absence of flash emission, shooting date / time data, and shooting mode information described later. included. In the EXIF format, a TIFF format that is an uncompressed format is defined in addition to a JPG format that is a compressed format as a format of image data.
[0015]
On the upper surface of the digital camera 10, a release button 17 and a shooting mode selection dial 18 having a donut shape so as to surround the outer periphery of the release button 17 are provided. The digital camera 10 can select a plurality of shooting modes according to the shooting scene. Each shooting mode is selected by a shooting mode selection dial 18. The plurality of shooting modes include a daytime mode suitable for daytime shooting, a nighttime mode suitable for nighttime shooting, and a dusk / dawn mode suitable for dusk and dawn.
[0016]
In each of these shooting modes, shooting is performed based on shooting conditions set in advance for each mode, and appropriate image processing corresponding to each mode is performed. For example, in night shooting mode, a night scene is captured by increasing the exposure time, and in image processing, a portion corresponding to low luminance (dark place) does not increase the signal level, but on the other hand, Image processing such as raising the signal level is performed on the portion corresponding to the luminance. By doing this, it is possible to clarify the contrast between a dark part such as a night sky and a bright part such as illumination. In the dusk / dawn mode, the signal level of the bright part is not increased so that the bright brightness of the sky at dusk or dawn is captured as it is. When comparing the color temperature, the daytime is higher than the dusk or dawn. Therefore, an adjustment value corresponding to each shooting mode is also set in white balance adjustment.
[0017]
Also, shooting mode information indicating in which shooting mode the shooting was performed is recorded in the image file. When an image is printed by the printer, the image processing is performed with reference to the shooting mode information.
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 2, marks 19 a, 19 b, and 19 c corresponding to each shooting mode are provided on the upper surface of the shooting mode selection dial 18. The mark 19a represents the daytime shooting mode, the mark 19b represents the dusk shooting mode, and the mark 19c represents the nighttime shooting mode. The photographing mode is selected by rotating the photographing mode selection dial 18 so that the marks 19a, 19b, and 19c are aligned with the scale 21 provided on the main body. The mark 19d represents a setup mode for performing various settings, and when the mark 19d is aligned with the scale 21, the mode is shifted to the setup mode.
[0019]
As shown in FIG. 3, on the back surface of the digital camera 10, an operation unit 25 including a power button 24 is provided in addition to an electronic viewfinder (hereinafter referred to as EVF) 26 and a display 27. In the photographing mode, the EVF 26 displays a through image output from the CCD image sensor. The photographer can check the shooting scene using the EVF 26. Of course, an optical viewfinder may be used instead of the EVF 26. The display 27 is used for reproducing and displaying an image stored in the memory card 14 in the reproduction mode and for displaying a setting screen for performing various settings in the setup mode.
[0020]
The mode lever 28 is an operation member that switches between a shooting mode in which shooting is performed and a playback mode in which image playback is performed. The general-purpose key 29 is an operation member for performing a plurality of different types of operations, and includes four keys 29a, 29b, 29c, and 29d arranged vertically and horizontally. In the shooting mode, the upper and lower keys 29a and 29c function as zoom buttons. The key 29b functions as a selection key for selecting the flash mode of the strobe device. The operation modes of the strobe device include a red-eye reduction mode for reducing the red-eye phenomenon, a forced light-emitting mode for forcibly emitting light regardless of subject brightness, and a light-emission prohibiting mode for forcibly prohibiting strobe light emission. When the key 29b is pressed, the plurality of light emission modes are sequentially switched.
[0021]
The general-purpose key 29 functions as a cursor movement key for moving the cursor displayed on the display 27. When various settings are performed on the setting screen displayed on the display 27, the setting item is selected by moving the cursor in the screen using the general-purpose key 29. When an image is reproduced and displayed on the display 27, a frame to be displayed is selected. The confirm / execute button 31 is used when confirming the selected item or frame.
[0022]
An indicator 32 is provided inside the general-purpose key 29. The indicator 32 displays a selected shooting mode, a flash emission mode, and the like. As shown in FIG. 4, the indicator 32 is divided into a photographing mode display area 32a and a light emission mode display area 32b, and the display of each mode is made in these areas 32a and 32b. The photographer can confirm the currently selected shooting mode by the position of the shooting mode selection dial 18 and the mode display of the indicator 32.
[0023]
The digital camera 10 has a function of specifying an appropriate shooting mode corresponding to an actual shooting scene based on date / time data acquired from a clock circuit built in the main body. When the release button 17 is pressed halfway, the currently selected shooting mode is detected from the selected position of the shooting mode selection dial 18, and it is checked whether the specified shooting mode matches the selected mode. It is done. In the case of mismatch, as shown in FIG. 5, for example, a warning message “Inappropriate selection of shooting mode” is displayed on the EVF 26. This warning display prevents erroneous selection of the shooting mode.
[0024]
However, the photographer may intentionally select a shooting mode that does not match the shooting scene. Therefore, in order to respect such a photographer's intention, the digital camera 10 can perform shooting even in an inappropriate shooting mode. The EVF 26 displays a confirmation message such as “when the release button is fully pressed, a picture is taken in this mode” along with the warning display. When the release button 17 is fully pressed in accordance with this guidance, the selected shooting mode is determined and shooting in that mode is executed even if it does not match the appropriate shooting mode.
[0025]
FIG. 6 shows the electrical configuration of the digital camera 10 of the present invention. The microcomputer 41 controls each unit of the digital camera 10 in accordance with a command input from the operation unit 25 according to each selected mode. The lens barrel 12 and the photographic lens 11 are driven by a drive motor 42, and the lens barrel 12 is extended and retracted, and focus adjustment is performed. The microcomputer 41 controls the rotation amount of the drive motor 42 via the motor driver 43. The diaphragm 44 is driven by an AE control circuit (not shown).
[0026]
A CCD image sensor 46 is disposed behind the photographic lens 11. As is well known, the CCD image sensor 46 has a photocathode formed by arranging a large number of light receiving elements in a matrix, and photoelectrically converts subject light imaged on the photocathode. In front of the photocathode, a microlens array for condensing light on each pixel, and a color in which filters of each color are regularly arranged so that each pixel corresponds to one of R, G, and B, respectively. A filter array is arranged.
[0027]
The CCD image sensor 46 is driven by a CCD driver 47. The charge accumulation time (exposure time) of the CCD image sensor 46 is determined according to the electronic shutter drive signal supplied from the CCD driver 47. Then, in synchronization with the vertical transfer clock and the horizontal transfer clock supplied from the CCD driver 47, the charges accumulated for each pixel are output as a serial imaging signal line by line.
[0028]
An imaging condition setting LUT 48 that stores imaging condition data corresponding to each imaging mode is connected to the microcomputer 41. At the time of shooting, the LUT 48 is referred to determine the charge accumulation time of the CCD image sensor 46 and the aperture value. Further, the microcomputer 41 detects the focal position based on the imaging signal obtained by the CCD image sensor 46 and determines the amount of movement of the photographing lens 11. As the focus detection method, for example, a passive method that detects a focus position using a feature that the high-frequency component of the imaging signal is the largest in a focused state is employed.
[0029]
The image pickup signal output from the CCD image sensor 46 is input to the A / D converter 52 after noise is removed by the correlated double sampling process and amplified by the amplifier 51. The A / D converter 52 digitally converts the image pickup signal to generate image data, which is sequentially input to the image data processing circuit. The image data processing circuit 53 performs image processing such as matrix calculation processing, white balance adjustment, and gamma correction on the input image data. Also in this image processing, the image processing condition setting LUT 54 connected to the microcomputer 41 is referred to and appropriate image processing corresponding to each of the above-described photographing modes is performed.
[0030]
Image processed image data is temporarily stored in the frame memory 56. The EVF 26 outputs the image data stored in the frame memory 56 and displays a through image. When the release button 17 is fully pressed, the image data written in the frame memory 56 is sent to the compression / expansion circuit 57. The compression / decompression circuit 57 performs a compression process on the image data and outputs it to the read / write circuit 58. The read / write circuit 58 writes the compressed image file to the memory card 14. In the reproduction mode, after the read / write circuit 58 reads the image file from the memory card 14, it is decompressed by the compression / decompression circuit 57 and then output to the display 27.
[0031]
The strobe device 59 includes a strobe light emitting unit 13 and a circuit board including a main capacitor and a trigger circuit. The strobe device 59 operates according to the selected light emission mode.
[0032]
The clock circuit 60 oscillates a date and time measurement signal and outputs it to the microcomputer 41. This date / time data is output to the image file as additional data. In addition, as shown in FIG. 7, the time zone LUT 61 stores time zones that are considered appropriate to be selected corresponding to each shooting mode of the daytime shooting mode and the nighttime shooting mode. . The time zone corresponding to the daytime shooting mode is set to, for example, 7:00 to 16:00, and the time zone corresponding to the nighttime shooting mode is set to, for example, 18:00 to 4:00. Since the sunset time zone and the sunrise time zone change according to the season, the time zone data may be stored for each season.
[0033]
Based on the time data obtained by the clock circuit 60, the microcomputer 41 identifies an appropriate shooting mode among the shooting modes of the daytime shooting mode, the dusk shooting mode, and the nighttime shooting mode. When the time data does not correspond to either the daytime shooting mode or the nighttime shooting mode, the dusk / dawn mode is specified as an appropriate shooting mode. The specified shooting mode is compared with the shooting mode selected by the shooting mode selection dial 18 to check whether or not they match. When it is determined that they do not match, a warning message is displayed on the EVF 26. To do.
[0034]
Hereinafter, the operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. When shooting with the digital camera 10, the photographer operates the shooting mode selection dial 18 to select a shooting mode according to the shooting scene. The photographer peeks at the EVF 26 and performs framing, and then presses the release button 17 halfway. When the release button 17 is half-pressed, photometry and focus adjustment are performed, and the microcomputer 41 specifies an appropriate shooting mode according to the shooting scene based on the time data acquired from the clock circuit 60.
[0035]
If the specified shooting mode does not match the selected shooting mode, a warning message is displayed on the EVF 26. If the photographer has erroneously selected the shooting mode, the photographer reselects the shooting mode with this warning message. As a result, it is possible to prevent the shooting from being performed while an inappropriate shooting mode is selected. Photographing is performed under photographing conditions corresponding to the photographing scene, and appropriate image processing corresponding to the photographing scene is performed on the obtained image data.
[0036]
In addition, when the photographer intentionally selects an inappropriate shooting mode, if the release button 17 is fully pressed according to the confirmation message, shooting is performed in the selected shooting mode. The image data is recorded on the memory card 14 together with additional information (date data and shooting mode information) after image processing corresponding to the shooting mode is performed. In the case of continuing shooting, the above procedure is repeated.
[0037]
When printing an image recorded on the memory card 14, the printer refers to the shooting mode information in the image file and performs appropriate image processing according to the shooting mode. Therefore, a good print can be obtained.
[0038]
Further, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 9, when the shooting mode selected by the shooting mode selection dial and the shooting mode specified according to the shooting scene do not match, the specified (appropriate) shooting mode is specified. The switching process may be automatically performed. For example, when the night mode is selected with the shooting mode selection dial and the shooting is performed during the daytime, the microcomputer 41 is automatically set regardless of the selection position of the shooting mode selection dial. Therefore, the process is switched to the daytime shooting mode and shooting is performed in that mode.
[0039]
Also, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 10, when it is determined that the shooting mode selected by the shooting mode selection dial and the specified appropriate shooting mode do not match, there is a difference between them. The inconsistency level is checked, and when the inconsistency level is outside a predetermined range set in advance, the process for switching to an appropriate photographing mode may be automatically executed.
[0040]
For example, an allowable range (predetermined range) of deviation is set to 1 hour. When shooting at 17:30 with the shooting mode selection dial 18 selected, the deviation from the dusk / dawn mode, which is an appropriate shooting mode, is within one hour. In this case, it is determined that the mismatch level is within a predetermined range, and shooting is performed in the selected shooting mode (night shooting mode). On the other hand, when the night mode is selected and the shooting time is 16:30, it is determined that the discrepancy level is out of the predetermined range, and switching to the appropriate shooting mode (dusk / dawn mode) is performed. And shooting is performed in that mode.
[0041]
In the above embodiment, as a plurality of shooting modes corresponding to different shooting scenes, a plurality of shooting modes corresponding to a plurality of different time zones are provided, and an appropriate shooting mode based on date and time data is selected from the plurality of shooting modes. In the example of determining whether or not the specified shooting mode matches the shooting mode selected by the shooting mode selection dial, there are a plurality of shooting modes corresponding to different shooting scenes. In addition to a plurality of shooting modes corresponding to time zones, various shooting modes can be considered.
[0042]
For example, an outdoor shooting mode suitable for outdoor shooting and an indoor shooting mode suitable for indoor shooting are provided, an appropriate shooting mode is specified according to these different shooting scenes, and the shooting mode matches the selected shooting mode. You may make it determine whether to do. In this case, for example, by using GPS (Global Positioning System), area information of the shooting location is acquired, and it is appropriate to check whether the shooting location is indoor or outdoor based on the area information. A shooting mode is specified, and a discrepancy with the selected shooting mode is determined. In this case, it is necessary to provide an area information receiving device for using GPS in the digital camera.
[0043]
Further, as a plurality of shooting modes corresponding to different shooting scenes, a landscape shooting mode or a person shooting mode corresponding to the subject type may be provided. In this case, for example, the distance of the main subject is measured by the focus detection device, and the subject type is checked according to the measured distance. That is, if the distance is within a predetermined distance, it is determined that the subject is a person, and if the distance is longer than the predetermined distance, it is determined that the subject is a landscape. Then, an appropriate shooting mode is specified according to the determined subject, and it is checked whether or not the specified shooting mode matches the shooting mode selected by the shooting mode selection dial.
[0044]
In the above embodiment, an example in which only a shooting mode specialized for each shooting scene is provided has been described. However, for example, a standard shooting mode that can handle a plurality of shooting scenes may be provided. Good. In this standard shooting mode, standard shooting conditions are set so that a plurality of shooting scenes can be handled, and standard processing is also performed for image processing.
[0045]
As a warning, a warning lamp or voice may be used instead of the warning message.
[0046]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the present invention, in a digital camera having a plurality of shooting modes corresponding to shooting scenes, the shooting mode selected by the shooting mode selection unit and the shooting scene actually shot are selected. It is checked whether the appropriate shooting mode specified matches, and if they do not match, a warning is issued or the camera automatically switches to the appropriate shooting mode. Selection can be prevented.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a digital camera.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a shooting mode selection dial.
FIG. 3 is a rear view of the digital camera.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an indicator.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a warning message.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing contents stored in a time zone LUT.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a photographing procedure.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an example of automatically performing switching processing to an appropriate shooting mode.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an example in which a mismatch level is checked and a process for switching to an appropriate shooting mode is performed when the deviation is outside a predetermined range.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Digital Camera 17 Release Button 18 Shooting Mode Selection Dial 27 Display 32 Indicator 41 Microcomputer 60 Clock Circuit 61 Time Zone LUT

Claims (4)

In the digital camera provided with a plurality of shooting modes according to the shooting scene, and mode selection means for selecting each of these shooting modes provided in the camera body,
A shooting mode specifying means for specifying an appropriate shooting mode according to a shooting scene that is actually shot from the plurality of shooting modes;
Mode conformity determining means for determining whether or not the shooting mode specified by the shooting mode specifying means matches the shooting mode selected by the mode selection operation means;
A digital camera, comprising: warning means for issuing a warning when the mode conformity determining means determines that they do not match. In the case of the warning, there is provided instruction means for instructing whether or not to execute the shooting mode selected by the mode selection means. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein a photographing mode is executed. In a digital camera provided with a plurality of shooting modes according to the shooting scene and provided with mode selection means for selecting each shooting mode in the camera body,
A shooting mode specifying means for specifying an appropriate shooting mode according to a shooting scene that is actually shot from the plurality of shooting modes;
Mode conformity determining means for determining whether or not the shooting mode specified by the shooting mode specifying means matches the shooting mode selected by the mode selection operation means;
A discrepancy level determination means for examining the degree of deviation when the mode conformity determination means determines that the discrepancy is;
A digital camera comprising mode switching means for automatically executing switching processing to an appropriate mode when the mismatch level exceeds a predetermined range set in advance. The plurality of shooting modes include a daytime shooting mode suitable for daytime shooting and a nightscape shooting mode suitable for nightscape shooting, and one of these shooting modes is selected by the mode selection means In addition, the mode conformity determination unit specifies an appropriate shooting mode based on preset time data, and determines whether or not the specified shooting mode matches the selected mode. The digital camera according to claim 1.

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