JP2005107433A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a finder for which an area to be photographed is appropriately presented. <P>SOLUTION: A CCD 5 picks up the image of an object. A display part 1 has light transmitting property from the front side to the back side of the housing of the camera 100, and displays information showing an area where the image is picked up by the CCD 5 so as to superpose it on the image of the object seen through from the back side on the back side. A display image forming part 23 follows an instruction by a CPU 24 and generates information showing the above area based on the image pickup magnification of the image of the object by a zoom lens 4-1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique used in a camera, and more particularly to a technique for observing a composition of a photographed image at the time of photographing.

  The camera is equipped with a viewfinder in order to keep the subject in an appropriate composition within the shooting range of the camera. Most of the finders provided in general cameras have a small eyepiece window for observation, so you can take an instant photo opportunity in a short amount of time from holding the camera to looking into this eyepiece window. May be missed.

  By the way, the field of view of such a finder is provided only in a range that is the same as or very close to the shooting range. For this reason, for example, if a subject moving at high speed is out of the field of view of the viewfinder, it is difficult to recapture the subject within the field of view of the viewfinder. At this time, the photographer once looks from the viewfinder. An operation such as removing the image and confirming the position of the subject with the naked eye is required.

  In order to solve such a problem, what is called a sports finder is well known. The sports viewfinder can grasp the shooting range without pressing your eyes against the eyepiece window, and you do not have to hold the camera close to your face, so you can view the viewfinder out of the shooting range. It can be easily observed with the naked eye.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an improvement of such a sports finder by applying hologram technology. The video camera disclosed in this document includes a display device that superimposes and displays a subject image and a photographed image obtained by an image sensor by projecting the photographed image on a screen that transmits the subject image. This display device can provide the same function as the sports finder and can also observe a photographed image.

In addition, as a technique for providing a function corresponding to such a viewfinder, a digital still camera is equipped with an image display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), and an image picked up by an image pickup device is converted into a so-called through image. There is one that displays on a display device (see, for example, Patent Document 2). The photographer can observe the composition of the photographed image by viewing the display image on the image display device.
JP-A-9-65183 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-8786

  In the technique disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, since the display device is separated into the screen and the projection unit, it is difficult to adjust the position of the both, and it is not easy to downsize the device. Further, since this display device is used in a form in which the screen is erected on the upper surface of the camera, it cannot be said that convenience is good.

Furthermore, in the sports finder, when the shooting condition such as the zoom ratio of the shooting lens or the distance between the camera and the photographer changes, it is necessary to change the index of the shooting range. There is no indication how to deal with the problem.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and a problem to be solved is to provide a finder in which an area to be photographed can be appropriately presented.

  A camera that is one aspect of the present invention is for photographing a subject, and has an imaging means for capturing an image of the subject and light transmittance from the front side to the back side of the camera casing. Display means for displaying information indicating a region imaged by the imaging means superimposed on an image of the subject seen through from the back side, and information indicating the area are displayed in the imaging means. It is configured to include a shootable area generating unit that generates based on an imaging magnification of an image.

  According to this configuration, the information indicating the imaging region is generated based on the imaging magnification in the imaging unit, and the information indicating the imaging region is superimposed on the fluoroscopic subject image and displayed on the display unit. This is a finder in which possible areas are appropriately presented. Furthermore, since the subject image displayed on the display means is an optical image, the subject image display is delayed in time, such as a digital camera that displays the subject image once converted into image data on the LCD as a through image. It is not accompanied.

In the above-described camera according to the present invention, the display unit may be configured to display the above-described information by surrounding a region imaged by the imaging unit in a landscape seen through from the back side. .
According to this configuration, it is possible to indicate a region imaged by the imaging unit in a form that is easy for the camera user (photographer) to understand.

The camera according to the present invention described above further includes user distance measuring means for measuring a distance between the camera and the head of the user of the camera, and the shootable area generating means further includes the distance. The information indicating the region described above may be generated based on the above.
According to this configuration, even when the above-described distance changes, information indicating the imaging region can always be appropriate.

The camera according to the present invention described above further includes user distance measuring means for measuring a distance between the camera and the head of the user of the camera, and the display means further includes information on the distance. You may comprise so that it may display.
According to this configuration, it is possible to perform shooting while maintaining an appropriate distance between the camera and the head of the user of the camera (for example, the distance of clear vision described later), and thus the imaging displayed on the display means Information indicating a region can be used with high accuracy.

Further, in the camera according to the present invention described above, a distance measuring means for measuring a distance between the camera and the head of the user of the camera, and notification of whether or not the distance is within a predetermined range. And a notification means to perform.
According to this configuration, it is possible to perform shooting while keeping an appropriate distance between the camera and the head of the user of the camera, so that information indicating the imaging region displayed on the display unit is used with high accuracy. be able to.

At this time, the notification means may perform the above-described notification by displaying on the display means, for example.
By doing so, it becomes possible to visually recognize whether or not the camera and the head of the user of the camera are at an appropriate distance.

Further, the camera according to the present invention described above further includes subject distance measuring means for measuring the distance between the camera and the subject, and the shootable area generating means further indicates the aforementioned area based on the distance. You may comprise so that information may be produced | generated.
According to this configuration, it is possible to correct a so-called parallax (parallax), which will be described later, on the information indicating the imaging region, and thus it is possible to make the information indicating the imaging region appropriate.

In the above-described camera according to the present invention, the housing of the camera may be configured to have a frame shape that holds the outer periphery of the display means.
Such a camera has a thin shape with a thin thickness in the front-rear direction, and the display surface of the display means occupies the main area of the camera, so the display content on the display means is in proportion to the size of the camera housing. It can be viewed as a large image.

In the camera according to the present invention described above, the display unit may further display at least one of an aperture, a shutter speed, and an imaging magnification among the imaging conditions in the imaging of the image by the imaging unit. It may be configured.
According to this configuration, the camera user (photographer) can easily grasp the above-described photographing conditions.

In the camera according to the present invention described above, the display unit may be configured to display an image captured by the imaging unit.
According to this configuration, it is possible to simultaneously observe the subject image to be seen through and the image captured by the imaging unit.

The camera according to the present invention described above may be configured using an organic EL (electroluminescence effect) display element.
By doing so, it is possible to display information indicating the imaging region in a bright and easy-to-view display.

  In addition, a camera according to another aspect of the present invention captures a subject, and includes imaging means for capturing an image of the subject and light transmission from the front side to the back side of the camera casing. Display means for displaying information indicating an area captured by the imaging means superimposed on an image of the subject seen through from the back side, and information indicating the area And a shootable area generating unit that generates the image based on a shooting condition in capturing the image by the unit.

  According to this configuration, the information indicating the imaging region is generated based on the shooting conditions in shooting by the imaging unit, and the information indicating the imaging region is displayed on the display unit so as to be superimposed on the fluoroscopic subject image. The means is a finder that can appropriately present the imageable area. Furthermore, since the subject image displayed on the display means is an optical image, there is no time delay in displaying the subject image.

  As described above, according to any aspect of the present invention, it is possible to obtain a finder that can easily capture a subject and appropriately present a shootable region.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
First, FIG. 1 will be described. FIG. 1 shows the appearance of a camera (digital camera) 100 embodying the present invention and the arrangement of main parts constituting the camera.
In FIG. 1, (a) is a front view of the camera 100, and is a view when the camera 100 is viewed from the front. (B) is a right side view of the camera 100, and (c) is a cross-sectional view when the camera 100 is cut at a position indicated by a two-dot chain line indicated by AA in FIG. The figure in (d) is a cross-sectional view when the camera 100 is cut at the position of the two-dot chain line indicated by reference numeral BB in (a), and the figure in (e) is indicated by reference numeral CC in FIG. It is sectional drawing when this camera 100 is cut | disconnected in the position of the dashed-two dotted line shown by. Further, (f) is a left side view of the camera 100.

  1G is a cross-sectional view when the camera 100 is cut at a position indicated by a two-dot chain line indicated by a reference sign DD in FIG. 1A, and FIG. 1H is a top view of the camera 100. It is. (I) is a rear view of the camera 100, and the photographer observes the subject located on the front side of the camera 100 from the rear side and shoots the subject image.

  In FIG. 1, the display unit 1 has light transmittance from the front side to the back side of the camera 100, and various kinds of images are superimposed on an image of a subject seen through from the back side of the camera 100 by a photographer. An image can be displayed. As will be described in detail later, the display unit 1 uses a transmissive display element such as an organic EL (Electroluminescence) display element, ECD (Electrochromic Display), LCD, or the like having such light transmittance.

  The display unit 1 is held by a housing 2. As can be seen by referring to (a) and (i), the display unit 1 occupies the main size in front of the camera 100. The housing 2 has a frame shape that holds the outer periphery of the display unit 1. As shown in (d) and (g), the surface of the display unit 1 is one step lower than the exterior surface of the housing 2 on both the front and back surfaces. This is to protect the display surface of the display unit 1. The opening on the front side of the housing 2 is formed with a slope so that the wall surface forming this step spreads outward. Further, a protrusion 16 is provided on the side surface of the housing 2 over the entire circumference.

  Further, as shown in (a), a photographic lens window 3 is provided on the right side of the front of the camera 100 (left side as viewed from the photographer). As shown in (c), a photographic lens 4 is fitted in the photographic lens window 3, and a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) 5 is arranged at the imaging position of the subject image by the photographic lens 4. Has been.

Further, as shown in (a), an LED (Light Emmiting Diode) 6 is disposed below the photographing lens window 3. The LED 6 is used for notification of the release timing to the subject at the time of timer shooting.
On the other hand, as shown in (a), an operation dial 7 is provided at the upper left end of the front of the camera 100 (upper right end when viewed from the photographer), and a part of the periphery of the operation dial 7 is provided. The operation surface is exposed from the housing 2. The photographer can perform various instructions such as setting of shooting conditions to the camera 100 by rotating or pressing the operation dial 7.

  Further, as shown in (a), a top substrate 8 is provided in the upper casing 2 of the camera 100, and a bottom substrate 9 is provided in the lower casing 2 of the camera 100. Are provided on the bottom surface in a horizontal orientation. The top substrate 8 and the bottom substrate 9 are both printed wiring boards on which various electronic circuit components are mounted. The upper substrate 8 mainly includes a circuit for controlling the operation of the camera 100 including a CPU described later. Further, the bottom substrate 9 is mainly configured with a circuit for processing an image such as an image processing unit and a display image creating unit described later.

  In addition to this, as shown in (c), (e), and (g), as the same printed wiring board, the imaging board 10 is located on the back side and the bottom side in the housing 2 on the right side in front of the camera 100. The power supply board 11 is provided in the inside of the case 2 on the left side of the front of the camera 100 in the direction perpendicular to the front and the direction perpendicular to the bottom. The imaging substrate 10 is configured with a later-described CCD drive circuit and a built-in memory 12 control circuit, and the power supply substrate 11 is configured with a later-described power supply circuit.

  Further, as shown in (c), the built-in memory 12 which is a semiconductor memory in which various data such as image data representing an image photographed by the camera 100 is stored is on the right side of the front of the camera 100. In addition, as shown in (a), (e), and (g), the inside of the left case 2 on the front side of the camera 100 is A plate-like battery 13 that is a power source of the camera 100 is mounted.

Further, when the camera 100 is not carried, a stand contact 14 which is a contact for receiving power supply from the camera stand on which the camera 100 is placed is connected to the camera 100 as shown in the left side view of FIG. It is provided on the side.
The main components of the camera 100 according to this embodiment are arranged as described above. In addition, as shown in (g) and (i), the rear side of the casing 2 is recessed from the rear side of the casing 2 to the inner side of the casing 2 in the right direction from the center when viewed from the photographer. A finger placement surface 15 is provided. The camera 100 is assumed to be held by the photographer with the right hand. When the right side of the camera 100 is held with the right hand, the camera 100 is held with the right hand along the long side of the finger rest surface 15 and held. It has an easy structure. Further, on the back side of the housing 2, a window 17 having a light-emitting unit 30 and a line sensor 31 for measuring a photographer distance, which will be described later, is provided.

Next, FIG. 2 will be described. This figure shows the configuration of the camera 100 shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, the same components as those shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.
The photographing lens 4 has a zoom lens 4-1 for providing a zoom function and a focus lens 4-2 for focusing, and forms a subject image on the surface of the CCD 5.

The CCD 5 converts an optical image representing a subject image into an electrical signal.
The imaging unit 21 amplifies an electrical signal, which is an analog signal output from the CCD 5, to a predetermined magnitude, converts it to a digital signal, and outputs image data representing an image representing a subject image.

  The image processing unit 22 performs image processing, such as γ correction, edge enhancement, and white balance correction, on the image data output from the imaging unit 21. Further, when image data is stored in the built-in memory 12, data compression processing of the image data is performed as necessary.

  The built-in memory 12 stores the image data that has been processed by the image processing unit 22 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 24 and records a captured image. When the camera 100 reproduces an image, the image data stored in the built-in memory 12 is read and transferred to the display image creating unit 23.

  The display image creation unit 23 displays image data output from the image processing unit 22 at the time of shooting an image, and an image expressed by image data read from the built-in memory 12 at the time of playback of a recorded image. Is generated and displayed on the display unit 1 at a predetermined position and size. If the image data read from the built-in memory 12 is compressed data, data expansion processing is performed. In addition, a screen that displays various information related to the operation of the camera 100 sent from the CPU 24, for example, a setting status such as an aperture, a shutter speed, or a zoom ratio at the time of a shooting operation is generated and displayed on the display unit 1. Furthermore, an imaging display frame described later is created in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 1 and displayed on the display unit 1.

  A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 24 controls the overall operation of the camera 100 by executing a control program prepared in advance. For example, a calculation process for creating a shooting area frame, which will be described later, Processing for calculating the luminance of the captured image is performed. The control program may be stored in advance in the CPU 24 itself, or may be stored in advance in an external semiconductor memory (not shown) that can be read out by the CPU 24.

The operation unit 25 has the operation dial 7 described above, acquires the operation content of the photographer with respect to the operation dial 7 and notifies the CPU 24 of the operation content.
The zoom motor 26 and the focus motor 27 move the zoom lens 4-1 and the focus lens 4-2, respectively, under the control of the CPU 24.

  The subject distance measuring unit 28 measures the distance between the camera 100 and the subject in order to realize an autofocus (autofocus) function. In the present embodiment, a photoelectric conversion element is provided as the subject distance measuring unit 28 in order to realize an autofocus function using a phase difference distance measuring method which is a well-known distance measuring method. The camera 100 may employ so-called contrast AF that moves the focus lens 4-2 to a position where the contrast of the acquired subject image is maximized. In this case, the subject distance measuring unit 28 is used as dedicated hardware. It is not necessary to provide.

  The photographer (user) distance measuring unit 29 measures the distance between the camera 100 and the head (more precisely, the pupil) of the photographer (user). In the present embodiment, the photographer distance measuring unit 29 is a distance sensor based on a known so-called active method, that is, the infrared light emitted from the light emitting unit 30 and reflected by the photographer's head is returned to the line sensor. This distance is measured based on the difference in detection position (incident angle of infrared light) when detected at 31. Although details will be described later, the CPU 24 causes the display image creation unit 23 to create a shooting region frame having a size based on the distance and the zoom ratio by the zoom lens 4-1 and causes the display unit 1 to display the frame.

  The power supply unit 32 converts the voltage of the battery 13 into a predetermined voltage and supplies power to each unit of the camera 100. When the CPU 24 detects that the camera stand 200 having a function as an external power supply is attached via the stand contact 14, the power supply unit 32 that has received the notification from the CPU 24 indicates that the battery Instead of 13, the input is switched so that power is supplied from the power supply unit 201 provided in the camera stand 200 via the stand contact 14. Note that a secondary battery may be used as the battery 13, and the battery 13 may be charged when receiving power from the camera stand 200.

Further, when the camera 100 is mounted on the camera case 300, the power supply unit 32 supplies power to the backlight 301 provided in the camera case 300 via the power contact 33. The backlight 301 illuminates the display unit 1 from the front side of the camera 100.
When the camera 100 is placed on the camera stand 200, the backlight 202 provided in the camera stand 200 illuminates the display unit 1 from the front side of the camera 100.

Next, FIGS. 3 and 4 will be described. These drawings show the structure of the display unit 1.
In the first example shown in FIG. 3, the organic EL display element 41 and the ECD 42 are overlapped to form the display unit 1.
When the organic EL display element 41 is operated, light is emitted to the back side of the camera 100.

  When the ECD 42 is operated, transmission of light from the front side to the back side of the camera 100 can be blocked by applying a predetermined voltage between electrodes to be described later. As a result, the subject is seen through the display unit 1. It becomes impossible to see. For example, when an image recorded in the built-in memory 12 is reproduced and displayed on the display unit 1, the visibility of the reproduced image is improved by blocking light transmission by the ECD 42. On the other hand, if the light is transmitted through the ECD 42, the reproduced image can be observed through the light source and the space like a positive slide in a silver salt camera.

  The structure of the organic EL element 41 shown in the figure, that is, a structure in which a glass substrate, an anode, a hole transport layer, a light emitting layer, an electron transport layer, a cathode, and an insulating transparent layer are sequentially laminated is well known. Further, the structure of the ECD 42 shown in the figure, that is, a structure in which a glass substrate, an electrode, a coloring layer, an electrolytic layer, a coloring layer, and an electrode are sequentially laminated is also well known.

  As the structure of the display unit 1, the structure of the organic EL element 41 is laminated on the front side of the display unit 1 shown in FIG. 3 so that light is emitted to the back side of the camera 100. You may enable it to present the present picked-up image (what is called a through image) etc. with CCD5 with respect to the to-be-photographed object. This is convenient because a self-portrait can be confirmed on the front side of the camera 100 when the photographer himself is photographed with the camera 100.

It is also possible to further stack the structure of the organic EL element 41 on the back side of the display unit 1 shown in FIG. 3 so that two screens can be presented to the photographer at the same time.
On the other hand, in the second example shown in FIG. 4, the display unit 1 is formed using a light transmissive LCD 43, and the LCD 43 is operated in a state where light is incident from the front side of the camera 100. Thus, the photographer can visually recognize the display from the back side of the camera 100.

The structure of the LCD 43 shown in the figure, that is, a structure in which a polarizing plate, a substrate and electrodes, a liquid crystal layer, a counter electrode, a color filter, and a polarizing plate are sequentially laminated is also well known.
Next, a display screen example on the display unit 1 of the camera 100 and a process performed by the CPU 24 to display the screen on the display unit 1 will be described.

  First, display screen examples shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 will be described. These drawings are images taken by the camera 100 displayed on the display unit 1 when the camera 100 according to the present embodiment is in an operation mode for performing a photographing operation (hereinafter referred to as “photographing mode”). It is a screen for various information display regarding.

First, the components of these display screens will be described with reference to FIG.
In FIG. 5A, 51 is the current setting value of the aperture value of the lens 4, and 52 is the current setting value of the shutter speed.

  Reference numeral 53 denotes a photographing area frame, which is a frame indicating a range recorded as a photographed image in a landscape including a subject seen through the display unit 1 by the photographer. Since the subject seen through on the display unit 1 is irrelevant to the setting position of the zoom lens 4-1, that is, the zoom ratio, the shooting area frame 53 needs to be set in accordance with the change of the shooting area due to the change in the zoom ratio. There is. And unlike the conventional look-in type finder, the display unit 1 can freely select the interval between the display unit and the photographer's eyes, and the subject size to be seen through changes according to this interval. It is also necessary to set it based on this.

Reference numeral 54 denotes a numerical value indicating the distance between the camera 100 and the photographer's head, which is a measurement result by the photographer distance measuring unit 29.
Reference numeral 55 denotes a zoom ratio display lever, and reference numeral 55-1 denotes a current zoom position display. The current setting state of the zoom lens 4-1 is indicated by the display position of the current zoom position display 55-1 on the zoom ratio display lever 55. The display of the zoom ratio display lever 55 will be described in more detail. The display shown in FIG. 5A indicates that the zoom lens 4-1 is set to the wide (wide angle) end. The display shown in 5 (b) indicates that the zoom lens 4-1 is set to the telephoto (telephoto) end.

  By the way, when FIG. 5A is compared with FIG. 5B, in addition to the display of the zoom ratio display lever 55, the size (size) of the shooting area frame 53 is different. In (b), as a result of the zoom lens 4-1 being set at the telephoto end, the range recorded as a photographed image in the landscape including the subject seen through the display unit 1 by the photographer is shown in (a). Also shows that it has become narrower.

  5C, the photographer's head is far from the camera 100 as compared to the state of the camera 100 in FIG. 3A, as can be seen from the interval display 54 between the camera 100 and the photographer's head. (The interval has increased from 20 cm to 40 cm). In the display of (c), the shooting area frame 53 is expanded from that of (a) by this distance, so that it is recorded as a shot image of a landscape including a subject seen through the display unit 1 by the photographer. Indicates that the range is properly enclosed.

  Next, FIG. 6 will be described. The display screen shown in FIG. 6 is different from that shown in FIG. 5 in that an appropriate interval display 56 is displayed instead of the interval display 54 between the camera 100 and the photographer's head. This appropriate interval display 56 is a value in which the interval between the camera 100 measured by the photographer distance measuring unit 29 and the photographer's head is set in the camera 100 in advance, for example, a so-called clear vision distance (normal visual acuity). It is a display that shows whether or not it is appropriate for a distance of about 25 cm to 30 cm, which is a distance at which a person with a mark can easily see a thing without being conscious of it. 56-1 is displayed brightly, for example (if it is within), 56-2 is displayed for short, and 56-3 is displayed brightly for long. The appropriate interval display 56 is a notification means for notifying whether or not the distance is within a predetermined range. Of course, this notification may use sound.

  In FIG. 6, (a) shows that the zoom lens 4-1 is set to the wide end, and (b) shows that the zoom lens 4-1 is set to the tele end. Yes. Therefore, the relationship of the size of the photographing display frame 53 in (a) and (b) is the same as that in (a) and (b) in FIG.

Here, the relationship between the shooting angle of view of the camera 100 and the shooting display frame 53 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 7 is a view of the camera 100 as viewed from the top, in which the left side is the front side of the camera 100 and the right side is the back side. In the figure, it is assumed that the photographer's pupil is located on a straight line passing through the center of the rectangular display unit 1 and passing through the center of the display unit 1.

The variables shown in FIG.
L is the distance between the camera 100 and the photographer's pupil, and the distance between the camera 100 and the photographer's head measured by the photographer distance measuring unit 29 is used.
α is a shooting angle of view and is determined by the shooting lens 4. This value changes depending on the zoom ratio setting.

At this time, the horizontal width N of the imaging region frame 53 may be set so that the viewing angle when the photographer's pupil sees the vertical lines on both sides of the imaging region frame 53 is α. That is,
N = 2 × Ltan (α / 2) ………… (1)
And it is sufficient. However, if the horizontal width of the display unit 1 is M, the viewing angle β when the photographer's pupil sees both horizontal ends of the display unit 1 is
β = 2 × tan ⁻¹ (M / 2 / L) (2)
Therefore, the imaging region frame 53 is displayed on the display unit 1 only in the range of β ≧ α.

Although the above description is about the horizontal width of the shooting area frame 53, the vertical width of the shooting area frame 53 can be considered similarly.
Next, the imaging area calculation process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8 will be described. This process is performed by the CPU 24 executing the above-described control program. Based on the above description, the size of the shooting region frame 53 is calculated, and the shooting region frame 53 having the size is displayed on the display image creating unit 23. It is the process which makes it produce and display on the display part 1. FIG.

This process is started at predetermined intervals when the camera 100 is set to the shooting mode.
First, the main flow of the imaging area calculation process shown in FIG.
In S101, a process for calculating the horizontal width of the shooting area frame 53 is performed, and in a subsequent S102, a process for calculating the vertical width of the shooting area frame 53 is performed.

In the subsequent S103, processing for sending the horizontal width and vertical width values of the shooting area frame 53 calculated by the processes of S101 and S102 described above to the display image creating section 23 to create the shooting area frame 53 is performed.
In S104, a process of giving an instruction to display the created shooting area frame 53 at the center of the display unit 1 to the display image creating unit 23 is performed. Thereafter, the shooting area calculation process is terminated, and the CPU 24 performs other processes. Execute.

Next, the width calculation process shown in FIG. 8B will be described. This process is a process performed in S101 of (a).
First, in S <b> 111, a process of acquiring the value of the distance L between the camera 100 and the photographer's pupil from the measurement result by the photographer distance measuring unit 29 is performed.

  In S112, processing for obtaining the current setting state of the zoom ratio obtained from the current position of the zoom lens 4-1 controlled by the CPU 24 is performed. In subsequent S113, the shooting angle of view α at this zoom ratio is determined. For example, a process of obtaining by referring to a table prepared in advance is performed.

In S114, the predetermined value of the horizontal width M of the display unit 1 and the value of L acquired by the processing of S111 described above are substituted into the above-described equation (2), and both horizontal ends of the display unit 1 are photographed. A process of calculating the viewing angle β when the person's pupil sees is performed.
In S115, a process of comparing the value of α acquired by the process of S113 and the value of β calculated by the process of S114 is performed. If β ≧ α (the determination result of S115 is Yes), the process proceeds to S116. If β <α (the determination result in S115 is No), the process proceeds to S117.

In S116, the value of L acquired by the process of S111 and the value of α acquired by the process of S113 are substituted into the above-described equation (1), and the process of calculating the horizontal width N of the imaging region frame 53 is performed. Thereafter, the lateral width calculation process is terminated and the process returns to the original process.
In S117, the calculation result of the value of the horizontal width N of the imaging region frame 53 is set to ∞ (infinite), and thereafter, this horizontal width calculation process is terminated and the process returns to the original process.

The above processing is the width calculation processing. Here, when ∞ is sent from the CPU 24 as the value of the horizontal width N, the display image creating unit 23 does not display the vertical bars on both sides constituting the imaging region frame 53 on the display unit 1.
The processing content of the vertical width calculation process, which is the process of S102 of FIG. 8A, is the same as the horizontal width calculation process shown in FIG.

The imaging region frame 53 is displayed on the display unit 1 by performing the above processing by the CPU 24.
In the above-described shooting area calculation process, the shooting area frame 53 created by the display image creation unit 23 is displayed at the center of the display unit 1, but instead, shooting is performed close to the subject. In consideration of so-called parallax (parallax) due to the difference between the position of the photographing lens 4 and the position of the pupil of the photographer who sees through the display unit 1, which is particularly noticeable in so-called macro photography, the camera 100 and the subject The display position of the imaging region frame 53 on the display unit 1 may be changed based on the distance between the two. The parallax correction according to the subject distance will be described with reference to FIG.

  In FIG. 9, (a) shows a display screen on the display unit 1 at the time of shooting with a subject at a distant view. In this case, parallax correction is unnecessary, so shooting is performed at the center of the display surface of the display unit 1. A display frame 53 is displayed. On the other hand, (b) shows a display screen on the display unit 1 at the time of shooting with a subject in the foreground. In this case, in order to correct the parallax, the display screen of the display unit 1 is slightly above the left end. A shooting display frame 53 is displayed. That is, the shooting display frame 53 in (b) displays the shooting display frame 53 closer to the position of the shooting lens 4 in the camera 100 than in (a), and the range of images shot through the shooting lens 4 is displayed. It is a more appropriate reflection.

  In order to display the shooting display frame 53 in accordance with the subject distance in this way, for example, in the processing step of S104 of the shooting region calculation process shown in FIG. A process of acquiring the distance between the camera 100 and the subject, a process of acquiring the display position of the photographing display frame 53 at this distance on the display unit 1 by referring to a previously prepared table, and the like. What is necessary is just to make CPU24 perform the process which gives the display image preparation part 23 the instruction | indication which displays the imaging | photography area | region frame 53 in a position.

Next, image display on the display unit 1 when the camera 100 is operating in the shooting mode will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11.
In this camera 100, in the shooting mode, the display unit 1 that allows the subject to be seen through displays a through image of the subject imaged by the CCD 5 or a recorded image recorded in the built-in memory 12. Can do.

  In the display example shown in FIG. 10, in FIG. 10A, the display unit 1 makes a subject image 61 of a subject (a car in the figure) visible. At this time, when the photographer operates the operation dial 5 to give a predetermined instruction to the camera 100, as shown in (b), a through image 62 about the subject imaged by the CCD 5 at that time is displayed on the display unit 1. The photographer sees an image in which the subject image 61 and the through image 62 overlap each other.

  As can be seen from the zoom ratio display lever 55, the zoom lens 4-1 is set to the wide end in (b). Here, when the photographer operates the operation dial 5 to give an instruction to move the zoom lens 4-1 toward the telephoto end, the size of the shooting area frame 53 is reduced as described above, while the image display frame. The through image 62 displayed in 63 is enlarged. The display on the display unit 1 when the zoom lens 4-1 is thus moved to the telephoto end from the state of (b) is an image display example shown in (c) of FIG. 10.

FIG. 11 shows a display example when an image to be displayed on the display unit 1 is an already recorded image recorded in the built-in memory 12 in place of the through image 62.
In (a), when the display unit 1 is seeing through the subject image 61 of the subject, the photographer gives a predetermined instruction to the camera 100 by operating the operation dial 5, thereby recording the instruction. The completed image (recorded image 64) is displayed in the image display frame 63 of the display unit 1, and the photographer sees an image in which the subject image 61 and the recorded image 64 overlap.

It should be noted that the photographer operates the operation dial 5 in the display state of (a) to give a predetermined instruction to the camera 100, whereby the photographer is displayed on the display unit 1 as shown in (b) and (c) of FIG. The size and display position of the displayed recorded image 64 can be changed.
In addition, depending on the change in the shooting conditions, such as when the photographer changes the zoom ratio at the time of shooting, when the distance to the subject image 61 is changed, or when the brightness is changed due to changes in the weather or shooting location, etc. 11 (b) and 11 (c), the subject image 61 and the recorded image 63 can be easily and appropriately changed by changing the display position and size of the recorded image 64, the zoom ratio, or the display brightness. The photographer can visually recognize it. Similar processing can be realized when a through image is displayed on the display unit 1 shown in FIG.

  Next, a description will be given of a photographing image display process that is a process performed by the CPU 24 to display the screen as shown in FIG. 10 or 11 on the display unit 1 when the camera 100 is operating in the photographing mode. To do. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of this processing.

This process is also performed by the CPU 24 executing the above-described control program, as in the shooting area calculation process shown in FIG. 8, and a predetermined interval when the camera 100 is set to the shooting mode. The execution starts.
First, in S <b> 201, processing for acquiring the content of an instruction corresponding to an operation performed on the operation dial 7 is performed.

  In subsequent S202, a process is performed to determine whether the content of the instruction relates to the display of the image or to indicate that the display of the image has been stopped. If the instruction is related to the display of the image, the image is displayed in S203. If it is an instruction to stop display, the process proceeds to S206.

  In S203, it is determined whether or not the content of the instruction indicates a display request for the through image 62. If the determination result is Yes, the process proceeds to S205. On the other hand, if the determination result in S203 is No, it is considered that the display request for the recorded image 64 has been indicated, and in S204, an instruction is given to the display image creation unit 23 and image data relating to the instruction to the operation dial 7 is incorporated. A process of reading out from the memory 12 and performing an image expansion process to obtain it as a display image is performed, and then the process proceeds to S208. The display image creation unit 23 executes processing according to instructions from the CPU 24.

  In S205, the current zoom ratio setting state in the zoom by the zoom lens 4-1 is acquired, and it is determined whether or not the zoom ratio is “wide”, that is, whether the zoom lens 4-1 is positioned at the wide end. The If the determination result in S205 is Yes, an instruction is given to the display image creation unit 23 in S206 to delete the display image displayed on the display unit 1, and the display image creation unit 23 is deleted. Performs processing in accordance with instructions from the CPU 24. Then, after finishing the process of S206, the image display process at the time of photographing is finished, and the CPU 24 executes other processes.

On the other hand, if the determination result in S205 is No, the process proceeds to S207, an instruction is given to the display image creation unit 23, and the image data representing the image captured at that time by the CCD 5 is displayed as the display image. The process of acquiring from 21 is performed.
It should be noted that the determination processing in S205 is such that when the zoom ratio of the camera 100 is in the “wide” state, the through image 62 is not displayed even if a request for display of the through image 62 is made by the photographer. This is to save consumption. Here, as in the display example of FIG. 10B, the through image 62 can be displayed even when the zoom ratio of the camera 100 is in the “wide” state. The process of S205 may be deleted from the flowchart shown in FIG. 12, and the process may be advanced to S207 if the determination result of S203 is Yes.

  In S208, image data representing an image captured at that time by the CCD 5 is acquired from the imaging unit 21, and the brightness of the entire image, that is, the brightness of the surroundings of the camera 100 is calculated. A process for determining whether the value falls within the range of the appropriate value is performed. Here, if this brightness is within the range of the appropriate value, the process proceeds to S211 as it is. On the other hand, if the brightness is brighter than the appropriate value, in S209, the brightness is changed to be increased when the display image is displayed on the display unit 1, and thereafter, the process proceeds to S211. If the brightness is darker than the appropriate value, a change is made to lower the brightness when displaying the display image on the display unit 1 in S210, and the process then proceeds to S211. The processing from S208 to S211 is performed by changing the display luminance in accordance with the brightness around the camera 100 when an organic EL display element that is a display element to be illuminated is used as the display unit 1. It is for improving the visibility.

In S211, it is determined whether or not an instruction to change the display size of the display image has been made by operating the operation dial 7. Only when this determination result is Yes, in S212, the display image display size setting is changed. Processing for instructing the display image creating unit 23 is performed.
In subsequent S213, it is determined whether or not an instruction to change the display position of the display image has been made by operating the operation dial 7. Only when this determination result is Yes, in S214, the change in the setting of the display position of the display image is changed. Is displayed to the display image creation unit 23.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 11A, when there are many portions where the display of the subject 61 and the display of the recorded image 64 are superimposed, when the photographer operates the operation dial 7 to instruct, the above-described S212 and S214 are performed. This processing is performed by the CPU 24, and as shown in FIGS. 11B and 11C, the size of the recorded image 64 is reduced and the subject image 61 is moved to a position where it can be easily seen. As a result, the subject and the captured image or recorded image can be easily and appropriately visually recognized. Also, the photographer can more easily and appropriately visually recognize the relationship between the subject and the photographed image.

In S <b> 215, processing for sending an instruction to display the display image on the display unit 1 to the display image creating unit 23 is performed. Upon receiving this instruction, the display image creating unit 23 displays a display image of a predetermined size together with the image display frame 63 at a predetermined position on the display unit 1 according to the setting made previously.
After the processing of S215 is finished, the image display processing at the time of shooting is finished, and the CPU 24 executes other processing.

The above-described processing is the shooting image display processing, and the CPU 24 performs this processing, whereby images such as those shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 are displayed on the display unit 1.
Next, image composition shooting, which is one of the applied shooting operations that can be performed using the camera 100, will be described with reference to an image display example shown in FIG.

FIGS. 13A and 13B show examples of image display during composite shooting. FIG. 13A shows the case where the zoom ratio of the camera 100 is in the “wide” state, and FIG. 13B shows the case where the zoom ratio of the camera 100 is “tele”. Each case is shown.
In the display screen example shown in FIG. 13, the display unit 1 displays a shooting area frame 53 and allows a subject image 61 of a subject (a person in FIG. 13) to be seen through on the left side in the shooting area frame 53. ing. On the other hand, on the right side in the photographing area frame 53, a recorded image 64 relating to an instruction from the photographer is displayed. The display size of the recorded image 64 changes according to the size of the shooting area frame 53, that is, the zoom ratio of the camera 100.

  When the photographer operates the operation dial 7 to give a release instruction while this screen is displayed on the display unit 1, the subject is photographed, and the subject image 61 is displayed as in the screen display in the photographing region frame 53. And the recorded image 64 are generated on the left and right, and a combined image is generated and recorded in the built-in memory 12. This is the image composition shooting by the camera 100.

  When the photographer operates the operation dial 7, the image combination shooting mode process performed by the CPU 24 when the camera 100 is instructed to change the mode to the image combination shooting mode which is an operation mode for performing this image combination shooting. Will be described. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of this processing.

This process is also performed by the CPU 24 executing the above-described control program, similarly to the shooting area calculation process shown in FIG.
First, in step S301, an instruction is given to the display image creating unit 23, and image data of a recorded image according to an instruction from the photographer is read from the built-in memory 12 and data decompression is performed.

In subsequent S <b> 302, the imaging region calculation process shown in FIG. 8 is performed and the imaging region frame 53 is displayed on the display unit 1.
In S303, an instruction is given to the display image creation unit 23, and the size of the recorded image is changed to the right half size of the shooting area frame 53.

In S304, an instruction is further given to the display image creating unit 23, and a process of displaying the recorded image whose size has been changed by the process of the previous step in the right-half-field area in the shooting area frame 53 of the display unit 1 is performed.
In S305, it is determined whether or not the release (shooting instruction) has been made by the operation of the operation dial 7 by the photographer. If the release is confirmed (the determination result is Yes), the process proceeds to S306. On the other hand, if the release is not confirmed (determination result is No), the process returns to S301 and the above-described process is repeated.

In S306, an instruction is given to the display image creating unit 23, and a process for obtaining image data of a captured image of the subject image 61 captured at this time by the CCD 5 according to a predetermined capturing condition is performed.
In S307, an instruction is given to the display image creation unit 23, and the recorded image 64 is the size of the left half of the photographed image in which the subject image 61 is represented and the right half of the photographed region frame 53 obtained by the process of S303. And a process for generating a composite image in which left and right are arranged side by side.

  In S308, the display image creating unit 23 is further instructed to perform data compression on the image data representing the composite image generated by the processing in the previous step, and the composite image data after compression is stored in the built-in memory. 12 is recorded. Thereafter, the processing returns to S301 and the above-described processing is repeated.

The above processing is the image composition shooting mode processing, and when this processing is performed by the CPU 24, the composition of the person who is the subject and the person who has been photographed in advance, which is also called “two-shot shooting function”, etc. Images can be taken.
In the above-described image composition shooting mode processing, the composite image is generated by arranging the person who is the subject on the left side and the pre-photographed person on the right side, but it is also easy to reverse the left and right arrangement. Can do. It is also possible to easily generate a composite image by designating the size and display position of the recorded image 64 with the operation dial 7 and displaying a photographed image at an arbitrary position within the photographing region frame 53. .

  In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various improvements and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

It is a figure which shows the external appearance of the camera which implements this invention, and arrangement | positioning of the main components. It is a figure which shows the structure of the camera shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the 1st example of the structure of a display part. It is a figure which shows the 2nd example of the structure of a display part. FIG. 10 is a diagram (part 1) illustrating an example of a display screen; It is FIG. (2) which shows the example of a display screen. It is a figure explaining the relationship between a photography angle of view and a photography display frame. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of imaging region calculation processing. It is a figure which shows the mode of the parallax correction | amendment according to to-be-photographed object distance. FIG. 5 is a first diagram illustrating an example of image display during a shooting operation; FIG. 10 is a second diagram illustrating an example of image display during a photographing operation. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of the image display process at the time of imaging | photography. It is a figure which shows the example of the image display at the time of composite imaging | photography. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of an image synthetic | combination imaging | photography mode process.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Display part 2 Housing | casing 3 Shooting lens window 4 Shooting lens 5 CCD
6 LED
7 Operation Dial 8 Top Board 9 Bottom Board 10 Imaging Board 11 Power Board 12 Built-in Memory 13 Battery 14 Stand Contact 15 Finger Placing Surface 21 Imaging Unit 22 Image Processing Unit 23 Display Image Creation Unit 24 CPU
25 Operation Unit 26 Zoom Motor 27 Focus Motor 28 Subject Distance Measuring Unit 29 Photographer Distance Measuring Unit 30 Light Emitting Unit 31 Line Sensor 32 Power Supply Unit 33 Power Supply Contact 41 Organic EL Display Element 42 ECD
43 LCD
51 Aperture 52 Shutter speed 53 Shooting area frame 54 Interval with photographer 55 Zoom ratio display lever 55-1 Current zoom position 56 Appropriate interval display 61 Subject image 62 Through image 63 Image display frame 64 Recorded image 100 Camera 200 Camera stand 201 Power source 202 Backlight 300 Camera case 301 Backlight

Claims (12)

A camera for photographing a subject,
Imaging means for capturing an image of the subject;
Information indicating an area imaged by the imaging unit superimposed on an image of the subject seen through from the back side, having light transparency from the front side to the back side of the camera casing. Display means for displaying;
An imaging region generating unit that generates information indicating the region based on an imaging magnification of the image in the imaging unit;
A camera characterized by comprising:   The camera according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays the information by surrounding a region imaged by the imaging unit in a landscape seen through from the back side with a frame. Further comprising user ranging means for measuring the distance between the camera and the head of the user of the camera;
The imaging region generation unit further generates information indicating the region based on the distance.
The camera according to claim 1. Further comprising user ranging means for measuring the distance between the camera and the head of the user of the camera;
The display means further displays information about the distance;
The camera according to claim 1. Ranging means for measuring the distance between the camera and the head of the user of the camera;
A notifying means for notifying whether or not the distance is within a predetermined range;
The camera according to claim 1, further comprising:   The camera according to claim 5, wherein the notification unit performs the notification by displaying on the display unit. Subject measuring means for measuring the distance between the camera and the subject;
The imaging region generation unit further generates information indicating the region based on the distance.
The camera according to claim 1.   The camera according to claim 1, wherein a housing of the camera has a frame shape that holds an outer periphery of the display unit.   9. The display unit further displays at least one of an aperture, a shutter speed, and an imaging magnification among imaging conditions for imaging the image by the imaging unit. The camera according to any one of the above.   The camera according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the display unit displays an image captured by the imaging unit.   The camera according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the display unit is configured using an organic EL (electroluminescence effect) display element. A camera for photographing a subject,
Imaging means for capturing an image of the subject;
Information indicating an area imaged by the imaging unit superimposed on an image of the subject seen through from the back side, having light transparency from the front side to the back side of the camera casing. Display means for displaying;
Shootable area generating means for generating information indicating the area based on a shooting condition in imaging of the image by the imaging means;
A camera characterized by comprising:

Images