JP2004341054A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera which enables an operator to set the photographing conditions and to surely recognize a change in information on photographing conditions set in the camera. <P>SOLUTION: The camera is provided with a setting means for setting the photographing conditions for controlling the camera, a storage means for storing the information on the photographing conditions set by the setting means, a recording processing means for writing/reading the information on the photographing conditions in/out of a recording medium which can be attached/detached to/from the camera, a comparing means for comparing the information on the photographing conditions recorded in the recording medium with the information on the photographing conditions stored in the storage means, and an informing means for informing that the information on the photographing conditions recorded in the recording medium is different from that stored in the storage means when both information are different from each other. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a camera that captures and records a still image and a moving image, and more particularly to a camera that allows an operator to set the capturing conditions.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a camera disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-174690 is known as a camera capable of setting adjustment values relating to exposure, exposure, focus detection results, and the like by an operation of an operator.
Further, as an electronic camera capable of reading and writing shooting conditions in a nonvolatile memory, for example, an electronic camera disclosed in JP-A-2001-275037 is known.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-174690 A [Patent Document 2]
JP 2001-275037 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional camera as described above, even if the information on the shooting conditions set for the camera is updated by another person while the camera is not in the hands of a predetermined photographer, there is no change without notice. There is a problem that the photographer may not be able to obtain the intended result.
[0005]
In particular, when the setting is changed for the purpose of mischief or obstruction, there is a problem that the photographer is likely to be damaged.
The present invention has been made to solve such a conventional problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a camera capable of reliably recognizing a change in information relating to shooting conditions set in the camera.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The camera according to claim 1, wherein: a setting unit for setting a shooting condition for controlling the camera; a storage unit for storing information regarding the shooting condition set by the setting unit; Recording processing means for writing and reading to and from a removable recording medium; comparison means for comparing information on the imaging conditions recorded on the recording medium with information on the imaging conditions stored in the storage means; The information processing device is characterized in that it has a notifying means for notifying when the information on the shooting conditions recorded on the medium is different from the information on the shooting conditions stored in the storage means.
[0007]
A camera according to a second aspect is the camera according to the first aspect, further comprising a focus detection device that detects a focus adjustment state of an imaging optical system of the camera, wherein the imaging condition is correction value information that corrects the focus adjustment state. The control means includes drive control means for driving the photographing optical system based on the focus adjustment state and the correction value information.
[0008]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the camera according to the first or second aspect, the recording processing unit is configured to store information on a new shooting condition recorded separately from the information on the shooting condition recorded on the recording medium. An update unit that is readable and updates the information on the imaging condition stored in the storage unit with information on the new imaging condition is provided.
[0009]
A camera according to a fourth aspect is the camera according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the recording medium also serves as a medium for recording a captured image.
[0010]
(Action)
In the camera according to the first aspect, the comparison unit compares the information on the imaging condition recorded on the recording medium with the information on the imaging condition stored in the storage unit.
[0011]
Then, when the information on the photographing conditions recorded on the recording medium is different from the information on the photographing conditions stored in the storage means, the fact is notified to the photographer by the notifying means.
In the camera according to the second aspect, the information on the photographing condition is correction value information for correcting the focus adjustment state of the photographing optical system of the camera.
[0012]
In the camera according to the third aspect, the recording processing means can read information on a new photographing condition recorded separately from the information on the photographing condition recorded on the recording medium.
Then, the updating unit updates the information on the shooting condition stored in the storage unit with information on the new shooting condition.
[0013]
In the camera according to the fourth aspect, the recording medium also serves as a medium for recording the photographed image, and when the camera is not used, by removing the recording medium from the camera, the photographed image and the information on the photographing conditions are simultaneously protected. Is done.
[0014]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0015]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic camera which is an embodiment of the camera of the present invention.
In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a single-lens reflex electronic camera.
FIG. 1 shows a state where the main mirror 11 is down.
In FIG. 1, a photographing lens 15 is detachably attached to the camera body 13.
[0016]
A part of a photographic light beam from a subject (not shown) passes through the photographic lens 15 and is reflected by a quick return mirror 17 which is a half mirror provided on the camera body 13 and guided to an optical finder 19.
[0017]
Another part is transmitted through the quick return mirror 17 and reflected by the sub-mirror 21 to be guided to the phase difference type AF sensor module 23 as a light beam for focus detection.
When the quick return mirror 17 is in the up position, the quick return mirror 17 and the sub-mirror 21 avoid upward, and subject light transmitted through the photographing lens 15 passes through a focal plane shutter 25, which is a mechanical shutter, and a filter 27 to capture an image. To the two-dimensional image sensor 29 which is an image sensor for use.
[0018]
The taking lens 15 has a built-in diaphragm 31 for adjusting the amount of light. The filter 27 has both a function of cutting infrared rays and guiding only visible light to the two-dimensional image sensor 29 and a function as an optical low-pass filter.
The camera body 13 includes a system controller 33 composed of a CPU that controls the entire camera, and the system controller 33 appropriately controls the operation of each unit described below.
[0019]
A mirror drive mechanism 35 for driving the quick return mirror 17 up and down and a shutter control circuit 37 for controlling the focal plane shutter 25 are connected to the system controller 33.
An aperture driving mechanism 39 for driving the aperture 31 of the taking lens 15 and a lens control circuit 41 are connected to the system controller 33.
[0020]
Further, the system controller 33 stores a photometric circuit 47 connected to a photometric sensor 45 disposed near the eyepiece 43 of the optical viewfinder 19, and parameters that need to be adjusted in controlling the camera. An EEPROM (Electrical11y Erasab1e Programmab1e Read-0n1y Memory) 49 is connected.
Further, the system controller 33 is connected to a lens information output unit 51 including a CPU or a ROM built in the photographing lens 15 via a contact point between the photographing lens 15 and the camera body 13.
[0021]
Note that the above-described lens control circuit 41 controls a lens driving mechanism 55 for moving a photographing optical system 53 (corresponding to an objective lens) in the photographing lens 15 in the optical axis direction to perform focusing.
The photometric sensor 45 connected to the photometric circuit 47 is a sensor for measuring the luminance of a subject (not shown), and the output is supplied to the system controller 33 via the photometric circuit 47.
[0022]
The system controller 33 controls the lens control circuit 41 to form a subject image on the two-dimensional image sensor 29. Further, the system controller 33 controls an aperture driving mechanism 39 for driving the aperture 31 based on the set Av value, and further outputs a control signal to the shutter control circuit 37 based on the set Tv value. .
[0023]
An image data controller 57 is connected to the system controller 33. The image data controller 57 executes control of each device related to image capturing, storage and display, and correction and processing of an input image signal based on a command from the system controller 33.
The image data controller 57 includes an A / D converter 59 for converting an analog signal corresponding to the subject image output from the two-dimensional image sensor 29 into a digital signal, and an initial output signal of the A / D converter 59. An image processing circuit 61 for processing is connected.
[0024]
The image data controller 57 is connected to a DRAM 63 for temporarily storing the obtained image data (digital data), a D / A converter 65, and an image compression circuit 67.
The DRAM 63 is used as storage means for temporarily storing image data before processing or data conversion into a predetermined format, and image data during and after processing.
[0025]
An image display 69 is connected to the D / A converter 65, and an image data recording medium 71 is connected to the image compression circuit 67.
The image display 69 is a device for displaying image data picked up by the two-dimensional image sensor 29, and includes a color liquid crystal display panel and its attached circuit.
[0026]
Then, the image data controller 57 processes the image data in the DRAM 63 into image data in which characters, graphics, and the like according to the instruction of the system controller 33 are added as a so-called superimpose, and converts this data into a D / A converter. 65.
This image data is converted into an analog signal by a D / A converter 65 and then input to an image display 69, which encodes this signal and drives a liquid crystal panel forming a part of the device. To display an image.
[0027]
The image compression circuit 67 is a circuit for performing compression and conversion (for example, JPEG compression) of the image data stored in the DRAM 63.
Then, the converted image data is stored in the image data recording medium 71.
In this embodiment, as the image data recording medium 71, Compact Flash (registered trademark), which is a kind of a memory card that is detachable from the camera body 13, is used.
[0028]
The image data recording medium 71 may be a removable medium such as another memory card, a removable hard disk, or a floppy (registered trademark) disk.
Further, the system controller 33 has a display circuit 73 for displaying information on the operation mode of the electronic camera and exposure information (shutter time, aperture value, etc.), and a function for allowing the electronic camera to execute a desired operation by the user. An operation switch 75 including a number of switches to be operated is connected.
[0029]
In the camera described above, light from a subject passing through the photographing lens 15 is guided to the AF sensor module 23, which is a phase difference type focus detection unit, and focus detection is performed by detecting a defocus amount.
Then, the image captured by the camera is written to the image data recording medium 71.
[0030]
In addition, by operating the operation switch 75, information relating to shooting conditions such as focus correction value information is set.
Note that the focus correction value information refers to information on a focus detection correction value (offset value).
Then, information relating to photographing conditions such as focus correction value information set by the operation switch 75 is written to the EEPROM 49 which is a nonvolatile storage unit.
[0031]
At the time of photographing, the correction value stored in the EEPROM 49 is added to the defocus amount calculated by the AF sensor module 23, and lens driving for focusing is performed based on the value.
In this embodiment, when the power of the camera is turned off, information relating to shooting conditions such as focus correction value information at that time is written to the image data recording medium 71.
[0032]
Further, in this embodiment, the image data recording medium 71 includes new focus correction value information and the like in the image data recording medium 71 by using an external device such as a computer in order to distinguish the information from the information at the time of turning off the camera. Information on the photographing conditions can be written.
The focus correction information written to the image data recording medium 71 is written with a predetermined file name, and can be identified by the file name.
[0033]
The file name is assigned by the system controller 33 of the camera when the power of the camera is turned off, and by an external device such as a computer when the image data recording medium 71 is detached from the camera. Even when a general-purpose computer is used, a specific file name can be definitely given by using dedicated software.
[0034]
Hereinafter, an operation performed by the system controller 33 at the time of starting the above-described camera will be described with reference to a flowchart illustrated in FIG.
In this embodiment, for simplification of the description, an example will be described in which the information relating to the shooting conditions written in the image data recording medium 71 is only the focus correction value information.
[0035]
When a power switch, one of the operation switches 75, is turned on, power is supplied to the system and the system controller 33 starts operating.
First, in step S1, the focus correction value information written at the time of shutting down the camera is read from the EEPROM 49 into a memory built in the system controller 33.
[0036]
Next, in step S2, the focus correction value information written when the camera was shut down is read from the image data recording medium 71.
Next, in step S3, it is compared whether the focus correction value information read from the EEPROM 49 in step S1 is different from the focus correction value information read from the image data recording medium 71 in step S2. If they are the same, the process proceeds to step S6, and if they are different, the process proceeds to step S4.
[0037]
In step S4, a warning (notification) indicating that the focus correction value information has been changed and a warning display prompting an input operation of acknowledging that the process proceeds to the next step are performed.
That is, when the focus correction value information has been changed, a warning display of “AF correction value has been changed. OK?” Is displayed.
In step S5, the process waits until there is an operation of 0K, and if there is an operation of 0K, the process proceeds to step S6.
[0038]
In step S6, it is checked whether or not new focus correction value information has been written to the image data recording medium 71. If not, the process proceeds to a camera activation routine, and if so, the process proceeds to step S7.
In step S7, new focus correction value information is read from the image data recording medium 71, and compared with the focus correction value information from the EEPROM 49 read in step S1, and if they are the same, the process proceeds to a camera activation routine, and if different, the process proceeds to step S8.
[0039]
In step S8, the value represented by the focus correction value information of the EEPROM 49 read in step S1 is displayed as the current focus correction value, the value represented by the focus correction value information read in step S7 is displayed as a new focus correction value, A rewriting permission / prohibition display prompting an input operation to rewrite to a new value is displayed.
In step S9, the process waits until an input operation is performed, and proceeds to step S10 when the input operation is performed.
[0040]
In step S10, it is determined whether the performed input operation is a rewrite OK input operation or a cancel input operation. If there is an input operation for rewriting OK, the process proceeds to step S11, and if there is an input operation for cancellation, the process proceeds to a camera activation routine.
In step S11, the focus correction value information in the internal memory of the system controller 33 read in step S1 is rewritten with the information read in step S7, and the focus correction value information stored in the EEPROM 49 is also replaced with the information read in step S7. rewrite.
[0041]
Next, in step S12, the new focus correction value information in the image data recording medium 71 is deleted, and thereafter, the process proceeds to a camera activation routine.
Then, when the camera is shut down, the focus correction value information set for the camera at that time is written into the EEPROM 49 from the memory built in the system controller 33 and is written into the image data recording medium 71.
[0042]
At this time, if there is focus correction value information written at the previous shutdown in the image data recording medium 71, it is overwritten (replaced).
In the camera described above, when the focus correction value information recorded on the image data recording medium 71 as the recording medium is different from the focus correction value information stored in the EEPROM 49 as the storage means, the fact is indicated by a display circuit. Since the photographer is notified by 73, the change of the focus correction value information can be reliably recognized.
[0043]
Then, since the change of the focus correction value information can be reliably recognized, the user can remove the image data recording medium 71 from the camera when leaving the camera and reinsert it when resuming use. It is easy to find out that the data has been rewritten, and it is possible to prevent the possibility of shooting with incorrect focus correction value information and shooting with poor focus.
[0044]
Note that the reason why focus correction value information is required in the above-described camera is that, in general, in a phase difference AF camera, a focus detection error occurs due to a change over time of the AF device or the camera and a change due to an environment.
In addition, when a similar subject is repeatedly photographed at substantially the same distance, a certain amount of defocus may always occur due to the unevenness of the subject or the movement in the front-rear direction. This is because the probability of obtaining an image that is in focus is extremely low.
[0045]
Further, in the camera described above, the focus correction value information stored in the EEPROM 49 as the storage means can be easily and reliably updated to the focus correction value information recorded on the image data recording medium 71 as the recording medium.
That is, the image is observed in a large monitor of an external device such as a computer, or is stored in the EEPROM 49 using the focus correction value information stored in the image data recording medium 71 based on the result of analyzing the image after the image is processed by the image processing software. The obtained focus correction value information can be easily and reliably changed, and convenience can be increased.
[0046]
Furthermore, in the above-described camera, the captured image and the focus correction value information can be simultaneously recorded on the image data recording medium 71, which is a recording medium. Therefore, when the camera is not used, the image data recording medium 71 can be transferred from the camera. By removing, it is possible to simultaneously protect the captured image and the information on the imaging conditions.
That is, it is effective and convenient to remove the image data recording medium 71 when away from the camera in order to prevent erasure and falsification of the image, but this operation can also prevent rewriting of the focus correction value information at the same time. .
[0047]
Note that, in the above-described embodiment, for simplification of the description, an example has been described in which the information relating to the shooting conditions written in the image data recording medium 71 is only the focus correction value information, but the present invention is limited to this embodiment. Instead, for example, information on the following photographing conditions may be processed in addition to the focus correction value information.
[0048]
Further, the following information on the photographing conditions may be processed alone or in plural.
That is, as information on the photographing conditions, in addition to the focus correction value information, a photographing mode (Auto / Manua1), a finder system (OVF / EVF), a photographing setting display (ON / OFF), and an image size (L, M, S) , Image compression ratio (super fine, fine, standard), drive (single / continuous / high-speed continuous / self-timer), focus (normal / macro / distant view. (Fixed at infinity)), exposure compensation (-2 to +2, 1/2 step), and information on white balance (auto / sunlight / cloudy sky light / incandescent light / fluorescent light).
[0049]
When there is a plurality of pieces of information relating to shooting conditions, for example, when a warning display indicating that the focus correction value information has been changed is performed, the operator checks the display and proceeds to the subsequent steps. If the change is unexpected, check that there are no other setting items that have been changed unintentionally after the camera startup operation is completed, and then set the changed items again. A camera can be used, or another camera can be used due to the possibility that the defect has been intentionally crafted.
[0050]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which a non-volatile storage medium including the EEPROM 49 is used as the storage unit. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. A memory that can be widely used, and a memory that needs to continue supplying a small amount of standby current when the power is turned off may be used.
[0051]
Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the operation switch 75 is used as the setting unit has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. It may be constituted by one or a combination of a plurality of recognition devices.
Further, in the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the recording medium is also used as the image data recording medium 71. However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. In this case, it is more preferable to use a medium that can be easily attached to and detached from the camera than a memory card of an existing standard.
[0052]
Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to a single-lens reflex electronic camera has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment, and a camera for capturing a still image and a moving image may be used. Can be widely applied.
[0053]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the camera according to the first aspect, when the information on the photographing condition recorded in the recording medium is different from the information on the photographing condition stored in the storage unit, the photographer notifies the photographer of the difference. , It is possible to reliably recognize a change in information regarding the shooting conditions set for the camera.
[0054]
According to the camera of the second aspect, it is possible to reliably recognize a change in the correction value information set in the camera.
In the camera according to the third aspect, the information about the photographing condition stored in the storage means can be easily and reliably updated to the information about the new photographing condition recorded on the recording medium.
In the camera according to the fourth aspect, when the camera is not used, by removing the recording medium from the camera, it is possible to simultaneously protect the captured image and the information on the imaging conditions.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a camera according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation of the camera of FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
15 Shooting Lens 23 AF Sensor Module 33 System Controller 49 EEPROM
71 Image data recording medium 73 Display circuit 75 Operation switch

Claims (4)

Setting means for setting shooting conditions for controlling the camera;
Storage means for storing information about the shooting conditions set by the setting means,
Recording processing means for writing and reading information on the shooting conditions on a recording medium detachable from the camera,
Comparing means for comparing information on the shooting conditions recorded on the recording medium with information on the shooting conditions stored in the storage means;
Notifying means for notifying when the information on the shooting conditions recorded on the recording medium and the information on the shooting conditions stored in the storage means are different,
A camera comprising: The camera according to claim 1,
A focus detection device that detects a focus adjustment state of an imaging optical system of the camera,
The shooting condition is correction value information for correcting the focus adjustment state,
The camera according to claim 1, wherein the control unit includes a drive control unit that drives the photographing optical system based on the focus adjustment state and the correction value information. The camera according to claim 1 or 2,
The recording processing means can read information on a new shooting condition recorded separately from the information on the shooting condition recorded on the recording medium, and stores information on the shooting condition stored in the storage means, A camera, comprising: updating means for updating information on a new shooting condition. The camera according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A camera according to claim 1, wherein said recording medium also serves as a medium for recording a photographed image.

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