JP2004094103A - Imaging device and operation processing method for imaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate troublesomeness due to frequent switching of displays of long-distance and short-distance bar graphs when a user tries to faithfully vary the focus of an imaging device such as a digital camera almost at the time of switching of long-distance and short-distance side displays. <P>SOLUTION: This imaging device has a display means of displaying the distance of a subject to be focused on from the imaging device with an indicator and a control means of switching the display of the indicator capable of indicating a distance within a 1st range and the display of the indicator capable of indicating a distance within a 2nd range overlapping with the 1st range. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus that displays a distance from a focused object device as a bar.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an imaging apparatus such as a digital camera, when a focus is adjusted by a user's operation, a bar graph is used to indicate a position of a subject to be focused on a display member such as an LCD, so that the entire apparatus can be focused. There is a device that displays where a distance of a subject being in focus is located. In such a case, since the display area of the LCD is limited, if all the settable distances are displayed, the display becomes small and it becomes difficult to read the information. Is displayed separately.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described method, when the focus is frequently changed in the vicinity where the display on the long distance side and the display on the short distance side are switched, the display of the bar graph of the long distance and the short distance is frequently switched, which is troublesome. There was a problem of feeling.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problems, according to the present invention, a display unit that displays a distance of an in-focus subject from an imaging device by an indicator, and a display of an indicator that can indicate a distance within a first range. Control means for switching between display of an indicator capable of indicating a distance within a second range having a range overlapping with the first range.
[0005]
Further, there is provided an operation processing method for an image pickup apparatus having a display unit for displaying a distance of an object to be focused from the image pickup apparatus with an indicator, the method comprising: displaying an indicator capable of indicating a distance within a first range; There is provided an operation processing method characterized by switching between display of an indicator capable of indicating a distance within a second range having a range overlapping with the first range.
[0006]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0007]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of the imaging device according to the present embodiment.
[0008]
In FIG. 1, the imaging device main body 100 is configured as follows.
[0009]
Reference numeral 10 denotes a photographing lens, 12 denotes a shutter having an aperture function, 14 denotes an image sensor that converts an optical image into an electric signal, and 16 denotes an A / D converter that converts an analog signal output of the image sensor 14 into a digital signal.
[0010]
The timing generation circuit 18 supplies a clock signal and a control signal to the imaging device 14, the A / D converter 16, and the D / A converter 26, and is controlled by the memory control circuit 22 and the system control circuit 50.
[0011]
The image processing circuit 20 performs predetermined pixel interpolation processing and color conversion processing on data from the A / D converter 16 or data from the memory control circuit 22. The image processing circuit 20 cuts out and enlarges an image to realize an electronic zoom function.
[0012]
Further, in the image processing circuit 20, predetermined arithmetic processing is performed using the captured image data, and the system control circuit 50 controls the exposure control circuit 40 and the focus control circuit 42 based on the obtained arithmetic result. The focus control circuit 42 can perform TTL (through-the-lens) AF (autofocus) processing and AE (automatic exposure) processing, and the exposure control circuit 40 can perform EF (flash pre-emission) processing. .
[0013]
Further, the image processing circuit 20 performs predetermined arithmetic processing using the captured image data, and executes TTL AWB (auto white balance) processing based on the obtained arithmetic result.
[0014]
The memory control circuit 22 controls the A / D converter 16, the timing generation circuit 18, the image processing circuit 20, the image display memory 24, the D / A converter 26, the memory 30, and the compression / decompression circuit 32.
[0015]
The image data output from the A / D converter 16 is displayed through the image processing circuit 20 and the memory control circuit 22, or the data of the A / D converter 16 is directly displayed through the memory control circuit 22. The data is written to the memory 24 or the memory 30.
[0016]
Reference numeral 24 denotes an image display memory, 26 denotes a D / A converter, and 28 denotes an image display unit composed of a TFT LCD or the like. Image data for display written in the image display memory 24 is transmitted through the D / A converter 26. The image is displayed by the image display unit 28.
[0017]
Note that the electronic viewfinder function can be realized by sequentially displaying captured image data using the image display unit 28. Further, the image display unit 28 can arbitrarily turn on / off the display according to an instruction from the system control circuit 50. When the display is turned off, the power consumption of the imaging device 100 can be significantly reduced. it can.
[0018]
The memory 30 for storing captured still images and moving images has a sufficient storage capacity to store a predetermined number of still images and moving images for a predetermined time. The memory 30 can also be used as a work area of the system control circuit 50.
[0019]
A compression / decompression circuit 32 for compressing / decompressing image data by adaptive discrete cosine transform (ADCT) or the like reads the image stored in the memory 30 to perform a compression process or a decompression process, and writes the processed data to the memory 30. These data are stored together with information at the time of capturing the image data into a storage medium to be described later, for example, information such as shooting date and time, continuous shooting, panoramic shooting, and the like.
[0020]
The exposure control circuit 40 that controls the shutter 12 having the aperture function also has a flash dimming function in cooperation with the flash 48.
[0021]
42 is a focus control circuit for controlling the focusing of the taking lens 10,
A zoom control circuit 44 controls zooming of the photographing lens 10. Reference numeral 48 denotes a flash for illuminating the subject, which also has a function of projecting AF auxiliary light and a function of flash light control.
[0022]
The exposure control circuit 40 and the focus control circuit 42 are controlled using the TTL method, and the system control circuit 50 executes the exposure control circuit 40 and the focus control circuit 42 is controlled.
[0023]
It is also possible to instruct the focus control circuit 42 to move to a far distance side or a short distance side with respect to the current distance, and to acquire the current control distance.
[0024]
The system control circuit 50 controls the entire imaging device 100, and the memory 52 stores constants, variables, programs, and the like for the operation of the system control circuit 50. The notifying unit 54 notifies an operating state and a message using characters, images, sounds, and the like in accordance with the execution of the program in the system control circuit 50. And a plurality of such devices, for example, a combination of an LCD, an LED, a sound generator, and the like.
[0025]
The nonvolatile memory 56 can be electrically erased and recorded, and for example, an EEPROM or the like is used.
[0026]
The operation members 60, 62, 64, 66, and 70 are for inputting various operation instructions of the system control circuit 50, and include one or more switches, dials, touch panels, pointing by gaze detection, voice recognition devices, and the like. Composed of
[0027]
Here, these operation members will be specifically described. The mode dial switch 60 can switch and set each function mode such as power-off, automatic shooting mode, shooting mode, panorama shooting mode, playback mode, and multi-screen playback.
[0028]
The shutter switch SW1-62 is turned on during the operation of a shutter button (not shown), and performs AF (auto focus) processing, AE (auto exposure) processing, AWB (auto white balance) processing, EF (flash pre-flash) processing, and the like. Instruct operation start.
[0029]
The shutter switch SW2-64 is turned on when the operation of a shutter button (not shown) is completed, and performs an exposure process of writing a signal read from the image sensor 12 to the memory 30 via the A / D converter 16 and the memory control circuit 22. A development process using an operation in the image processing circuit 20 or the memory control circuit 22; a recording process in which image data is read from the memory 30, compressed by the compression / decompression circuit 32, and written into the recording medium 200 or 210. Instructs the start of a series of processing operations.
[0030]
The image display ON / OFF switch 66 can set ON / OFF of the image display unit 28.
[0031]
With this function, it is possible to save power by cutting off the current supply to the image display unit 28 such as a TFT LCD when taking a picture using the optical finder 104.
[0032]
The quick review on / off switch 68 sets a quick review function for automatically reproducing image data shot immediately after shooting on the image display unit 28. The operation unit 70 has a menu button, a set button, an MF button, a flash setting button, a single shooting / continuous shooting / self-timer switching button, a cross button, a zoom operation button, and the like. In the present embodiment, in particular, the input is detected by the switch and the operation unit, the switch operation is determined by the system control unit 50, and an action is performed on the operation of the buttons.
[0033]
The power control unit 80 includes a battery detection circuit, a DC-DC converter, a switch circuit for switching a block to be energized, and the like. The power control unit 80 detects whether or not a battery is installed, the type of the battery, and the remaining battery level. The DC-DC converter is controlled based on an instruction from the system control circuit 50, and a required voltage is supplied to each unit including a recording medium for a required period.
[0034]
Reference numeral 82 denotes a connector, 84 denotes a connector, and 86 denotes a power supply unit including a primary battery such as an alkaline battery or a lithium battery, a secondary battery such as a NiCd battery, a NiMH battery, or a Li battery, and an AC adapter.
[0035]
90 and 94 are interfaces with recording media such as memory cards and hard disks, 92 and 96 are connectors for connecting to recording media such as memory cards and hard disks, and 98 is a connector 92 and / or 96 to which a recording medium 200 or 210 is mounted. This is a recording medium attachment / detachment detection unit for detecting whether or not the recording medium is attached.
[0036]
In the present embodiment, the interface and the connector for attaching the recording medium are described as having two systems. Of course, the interface and the connector for attaching the recording medium may have a single or plural number of systems. Further, a configuration may be adopted in which interfaces and connectors of different standards are provided in combination.
[0037]
The interface and the connector may be configured using a standard such as a PCMCIA card or a CF (Compact Flash (R)) card.
[0038]
Further, when the interfaces 90 and 94 and the connectors 92 and 96 are configured using a standard such as a PCMCIA card or a CF (Compact Flash (R)) card, a LAN card, a modem card, a USB card, an IEEE 1394 card By connecting various communication cards such as a P1284 card, a SCSI card, a communication card such as a PHS, and the like, image data and management information attached to the image data can be transferred to and from other peripheral devices such as a computer and a printer. Can fit.
[0039]
Reference numeral 104 denotes an optical finder, which enables photographing using only the optical finder without using the electronic finder function of the image display unit 28.
[0040]
A communication unit 110 has various communication functions such as RS232C, USB, IEEE1394, P1284, SCSI, modem, LAN, and wireless communication.
[0041]
Reference numeral 112 denotes a connector for connecting the imaging apparatus 100 to another device by the communication unit 110 or an antenna in the case of wireless communication.
[0042]
200 and 210 are recording media such as a memory card and a hard disk. The recording media 200 and 210 include recording units 202 and 212 including a semiconductor memory and a magnetic disk, interfaces 204 and 214 with the imaging device 100, and connectors 206 and 216 for connecting to the imaging device 100.
[0043]
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the imaging device. Reference numeral 2-7 denotes a mode dial switch corresponding to 60, which can switch and set various function modes such as power-off, automatic shooting mode, shooting mode, panoramic shooting mode, playback mode, and multi-screen playback.
[0044]
For example, by selecting a position for selecting a reproduction mode with the dial 2-7, the imaging apparatus is set in a reproduction mode for reproducing an image, and by selecting a position for selecting a manual shooting mode, in an imaging mode for shooting a subject image. It is possible to start. An image captured by the camera is displayed on an image display unit 2-9 (corresponding to the image display unit 28) such as an LCD (liquid crystal display).
[0045]
The set buttons 2-1, the menu buttons 2-2, the MF buttons 2-3, the cross buttons 2-4, and the drive buttons (single shooting / continuous shooting / (Self-timer switching button) 2-5 and DISPLAY button 2-6. The 2-8 shutter button corresponds to Sw1-62 / Sw2-64, and has a configuration in which Sw1-62 is turned on when pressed lightly, and Sw2-64 is turned on when pushed further.
Next, an operation method when the user adjusts the focus of the imaging device using the MF button 2-3, which is a feature of the present embodiment, will be described below.
[0046]
As described above, the imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment can perform focus adjustment using AF (auto focus) that automatically adjusts the focus, but the user operates the MF button 2-3 as follows. Thus, it is possible to specify a control mode operating in MF (manual focus), and to specify a distance of a subject to be focused in the MF mode.
1. When the imaging apparatus is in the AF mode, the MF button 2-3 is pressed. The operation mode shifts to MF in which the user manually adjusts the focus.
2. When the imaging apparatus is in the MF operation mode, the upward direction of the cross button 2-4 is pressed while the MF button 2-3 is pressed down. The focus control circuit is set so that the object distance to be focused is on the far side. The imaging lens 10 is driven by 42.
3. When the image pickup apparatus is in the MF operation mode, the down direction of the cross button 2-4 is pressed down while the MF button 2-3 is pressed down... The focus control circuit is set so that the object distance to be focused is on the short distance side. The imaging lens 10 is driven by 42.
4.2. Or 4. In either case, release either the MF button 2-3 or the cross button ... The driving of the imaging lens 10 stops, and the focus adjustment operation stops.
5. When the imaging apparatus is in the MF operation mode, the user presses the MF button 2-3, does not perform any of the operations 2 and 3, and releases the MF button 2-3 ... The operation mode is shifted to the AF mode.
[0047]
When the control mode is shifted to the control mode operated by the MF by the above operation, an indicator indicating the distance of the currently focused subject from the imaging device 100 on the image display unit 2-9 is superimposed on the captured image. An icon indicating the MF mode is displayed.
[0048]
Therefore, when the user presses the MF button 2-3, it is possible to recognize in which mode the imaging apparatus 100 is currently operating by checking the display / non-display of the indicators and icons. is there. In addition, two types of indicators, ie, an indicator 5-1 capable of indicating a long-distance range and an indicator 5-2 capable of indicating a short-distance range, are switched and displayed according to the distance of the object to be focused. Each example is shown in FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b). As shown in FIG. 5, in the present embodiment, a bar graph is used as an indicator, and ranges that can be shown in each of FIGS. 5A and 5B overlap. Although a bar graph is used in the present embodiment, any indicator that can indicate the current position (distance) within a predetermined range can be applied to the present embodiment.
[0049]
The display control method of the indicator will be described with reference to the operation processing flowchart of the system control 50 shown in FIG. The memory 50 has two tables, a distance table TAB_A (4-1) on the long distance side and a distance table TAB_B (4-2) on the short distance side, and these tables are used in the processing of FIG. The actual indicator is displayed.
[0050]
Further, in the tables 4-1 and 4-2 in FIG. 4, 4-3 and 4-4 and 4-5 and 4-6 respectively have values common to 50 cm and 40 cm. The larger value, that is, 50 cm is VAL_A smaller value, that is, 40 cm is used as VAL_B in the following description.
[0051]
Further, the current position of the imaging lens 10 can be acquired from the focus control circuit 42. Therefore, when the focal length is moved by the above operation, the currently set position of the imaging lens 10 is acquired, and a table (not shown) indicating the relationship between the position of the imaging lens and the in-focus subject distance corresponding to the position of the imaging lens 10 is obtained. From the distance of the subject.
[0052]
First, in step S3-1, it is determined whether or not the indicator is already being displayed. If not, the process proceeds to step S3-2 to determine whether to display the indicator based on the table of TAB_A or TAB_B.
In step S3-2, it is determined whether the given current distance is equal to or greater than VAL_B. If it is determined that the value is equal to or greater than VAL_B, the process proceeds to step S3-3, and a table (hereinafter, referred to as TAB) used for displaying the indicator is set to TAB_A. That is, in this case, the indicator on the far side is displayed.
[0053]
On the other hand, if No is determined in step S3-2, the process proceeds to step S3-4, where TAB_B is set as the TAB and the indicator on the short distance side is displayed.
[0054]
Then, the process proceeds to step S3-5, in which a variable (Focus) for maintaining the distance of the currently focused subject is stored in Prev, and in the process of S3-10, the drawing of the indicator corresponding to the variable is performed. Do. In step S3-10, by comparing the number of distance elements included in the corresponding table with the order of the current distance, what percentage of the entire indicator should be filled with a predetermined color. Judge and draw the indicator.
[0055]
By the way, in the judgment of step S3-1, if the table is already displayed, the process proceeds to step S3-6, and it is determined whether the table currently in use needs to be changed from TAB_A to TAB_B or from TAB_B to TAB_A. It is determined according to the distance of the subject to be in a rush.
[0056]
If it is determined in step S3-6 that the distance given this time is equal to or greater than VAL_A (Focus ≧ VAL_A) and the distance displayed immediately before is smaller than VAL_A (Prev <VAL_A), the process proceeds to step S3-7. , TAB_B to TAB_A.
[0057]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S3-6 that table switching is not necessary, the process proceeds to step S3-8, in which the distance given this time is smaller than VAL_B (Focus <VAL_B) and the distance displayed immediately before. Is greater than or equal to VAL_B (Prev ≧ VAL_A), the process proceeds to step S3-9, and switching from TAB_A to TAB_B is performed. Here, if it is determined that the table switching is not necessary, the currently used table is used as it is. The table to be used is determined by the above-described process, and the indicator is drawn in the process of step S3-10.
[0058]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the user adjusts the focus in the manual focus mode, the indicator indicating the distance of the subject to be focused is switched and displayed according to the long distance and the short distance. However, the switching frequency of the indicators is reduced by having an overlapping range (40 cm to 50 cm) that can be commonly displayed by both indicators in determining whether to switch between the short distance and the long distance indicators.
[0059]
In this embodiment, using the values in the table shown in FIG. 4, the indicator on the far side shown in FIG. The indicator on the short distance side can be expressed from 50 cm to 2 cm. However, in the present invention, the range of the focus controllable distance, the distance to be switched, and the distance range that can be commonly expressed by the indicator according to the distance. It is clear that the size of the table can be freely set by changing the way of holding the numerical values in the table.
[0060]
As described above, in the present embodiment, it is possible to freely set various distance ranges, distances at which the indicators are switched, and the size of the distance range commonly expressed by a plurality of indicators.
[0061]
In the present embodiment, the number of indicators to be switched and displayed is two. However, it is easy to further increase the number of indicators by adding a condition for switching the indicators to the process of FIG. It is possible to display indicators according to a plurality of distance ranges by using the present invention.
[0062]
According to the present invention, as an example, a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to an imaging apparatus via a network such as the Internet, and a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the imaging apparatus stores the program code in a storage medium. This can be achieved by reading out and executing the program code.
[0063]
In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the function of the CPU 50 of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.
[0064]
As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy (R) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, or the like is used. Can be.
[0065]
When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It also includes the case where some or all of the actual processing is performed and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.
[0066]
Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into the memory provided on the function expansion board inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. A CPU or the like provided in the board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.
[0067]
When the present invention is applied to the storage medium, the storage medium stores program codes corresponding to the above-described flowcharts. Will be stored in a storage medium.
[0068]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when the indicator indicating the distance of the subject to be focused is switched and displayed in the display area divided into the long distance and the short distance, the indicator overlaps with the indicators on the long distance side and the short distance side. By providing such a range, display switching between a long distance and a short distance is not frequently performed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an imaging device according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an imaging device according to the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is an operation processing flowchart of the imaging apparatus according to the embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a data table used in an operation process for displaying an indicator.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an indicator displayed on an image display unit 2-9.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Imaging lens 42 Focus control circuit 2-9 Image display units 5-1 and 5-2 Indicator

Claims (8)

Display means for displaying the distance of the focused object from the imaging device with an indicator,
Control means for switching between display of an indicator capable of indicating a distance within the first range and display of an indicator capable of indicating a distance within a second range having a range overlapping the first range. An imaging device comprising: 2. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to display an indicator capable of indicating a distance within the first range, wherein the distance of the focused object from the imaging device is a first value. When smaller, an indicator capable of indicating the distance within the second range is displayed,
In a state where an indicator capable of indicating a distance within the second range is displayed, the distance of the focused object from the imaging device is compared with a second value larger than the first value. When the distance is larger, an indicator capable of indicating the distance within the first range is displayed. 2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit displays the indicator when a user of the imaging apparatus manually adjusts the focus. An operation processing method of an imaging apparatus having a display unit that displays a distance of an in-focus subject from the imaging apparatus with an indicator,
Switching between display of an indicator capable of indicating a distance in a first range and display of an indicator capable of indicating a distance in a second range having a range overlapping the first range. Characteristic operation processing method. 5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein an indicator capable of indicating a distance within the first range is displayed, and when a distance of the focused object from the imaging device is smaller than a first value. Display an indicator that can indicate the distance within the range of 2,
In a state where an indicator capable of indicating a distance within the second range is displayed, the distance of the focused object from the imaging device is compared with a second value larger than the first value. When the distance is larger, an indicator capable of indicating the distance within the first range is displayed. 5. The operation processing method according to claim 4, wherein the indicator is displayed when a user of the imaging apparatus manually adjusts the focus. A program for executing the operation processing method of the imaging device according to claim 4. A storage medium storing the program according to claim 7.

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