JP2005110128A - Imaging apparatus and imaging control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform appropriate photographing preparation such as exposure control or focus control in response to a purpose of photographing. <P>SOLUTION: In the imaging apparatus, an object is photographed and a captured object image is recorded as image data. The imaging apparatus includes a shutter button (303) for instructing photographing, and a system control part (50) for determining an operational status of the shutter button and controlling photographing while taking precedence to a speed or to image quality in accordance with a result of the determination. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus that captures and records an image and an imaging control method.

  Some conventional electronic cameras have a two-stage shutter. In a two-stage shutter, in general, when the shutter button is half-pressed, that is, when it is pressed lightly, the first switch (SW1) is turned on to automatically prepare for shooting such as exposure adjustment and focus control. When the shutter button is fully pressed through this SW1, that is, when the shutter button is pressed deeply, the second switch (SW2) is turned on, and an image is recorded (photographed).

  Such an electronic camera automatically performs high-precision exposure control, focus control, and the like when SW1 is turned on. Therefore, even when the shutter button is fully pressed all at once, SW2 is turned on after passing through SW1. Shooting is always performed after automatically performing high-precision exposure control and focus control (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In addition, a configuration has been proposed in which whether or not to take red-eye mitigation measures during flash photography is controlled according to the time from when SW1 is turned on to when SW2 is turned on (see, for example, Patent Document 2). .

JP-A-6-265987 JP-A-7-303205

  When shooting a scene that can wait for a time lag from when the shooting is instructed until actual shooting, it is preferable to shoot after performing exposure control and focus control with high accuracy, but for example, shooting a fast-moving subject Even if you want to shoot without a time lag after instructing shooting, etc., a high-precision exposure control and focus control will be performed, so a time lag will occur before actual shooting is performed, I missed a photo opportunity.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to enable preparation for shooting such as appropriate exposure control and focus control according to the purpose of shooting.

  In order to achieve the above object, an imaging apparatus according to the present invention that captures an image of a subject and records the captured subject image as image data includes: a shooting instruction unit that instructs shooting; and a determination that determines an operation state of the shooting instruction unit And control means for controlling photographing with either speed priority or image quality priority according to the determination result by the determination means.

  In addition, the imaging control method of the present invention that captures an image of a subject and records the captured subject image as image data includes an imaging instruction step for instructing imaging, a determination step for determining an operation state of the imaging instruction means, and the determination And a control process for controlling the photographing with either speed priority or image quality priority according to the determination result in the process.

  According to the above configuration, it is possible to prepare for photographing such as appropriate exposure control and focus control according to the purpose of photographing.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes an imaging device such as a digital camera.

  In the image pickup apparatus 100, 10 is a photographing lens group, 12 is a shutter having a diaphragm function, 14 is an image sensor that converts an optical image into an electrical signal, and 16 is an A / A that converts an analog signal output of the image sensor 14 into a digital signal. A D converter 18 is a timing generation circuit that supplies a clock signal and a control signal to the image sensor 14, the A / D converter 16, and the D / A converter 26, and is controlled by the memory control unit 22 and the system control unit 50. The

  An image processing unit 20 performs predetermined pixel interpolation processing and color conversion processing on the data from the A / D converter 16 or the data from the memory control unit 22. Further, the image processing unit 20 performs predetermined calculation processing using the captured image data, and the system control unit 50 performs the exposure control circuit 40 and the distance measurement control circuit 42 based on the obtained calculation result. TTL (through the lens) AF (autofocus) processing, AE (automatic exposure) processing, and EF (flash pre-emission) processing are performed. Further, the image processing unit 20 performs predetermined calculation processing using the captured image data, and also performs TTL AWB (auto white balance) processing based on the obtained calculation result.

  A memory control unit 22 controls the A / D converter 16, the timing generation circuit 18, the image processing unit 20, the image display memory 24, the D / A converter 26, the memory 30, and the compression / decompression circuit 32. Data of the A / D converter 16 is written into the image display memory 24 or the memory 30 through the image processing unit 20 and the memory control unit 22 or directly through the memory control unit 22.

  Reference numeral 24 denotes an image display memory, 26 denotes a D / A converter, 28 denotes an image display unit including a TFT LCD, and the image data for display written in the image display memory 24 passes through the D / A converter 26. Displayed by the image display unit 28. An electronic viewfinder function can be realized by sequentially displaying image data captured using the image display unit 28. The image display unit 28 can arbitrarily turn on / off the display according to an instruction from the system control unit 50. When the display is turned off, the power consumption of the imaging apparatus 100 can be significantly reduced. it can.

  Reference numeral 30 denotes a memory for storing captured still images and moving images, and has a sufficient storage capacity to store a predetermined number of still images and a predetermined time of moving images. Thereby, even in continuous shooting or panoramic shooting in which a plurality of still images are continuously shot, it is possible to write a large amount of images to the memory 30 at high speed. The memory 30 can also be used as a work area for the system control unit 50.

  A compression / decompression circuit 32 compresses / decompresses image data by adaptive discrete cosine transform (ADCT) or the like, reads an image stored in the memory 30, performs compression processing or decompression processing, and stores the processed data again in the memory. Write to 30.

  Reference numeral 40 denotes a shutter 12 having an aperture function, an exposure control circuit for controlling an electronic shutter for controlling the accumulation time from the charge discharging operation to the reading operation of the image sensor 14 by the timing generation circuit 18 and for controlling the imaging sensitivity adjustment circuit 15. Yes, it also has a flash light control function in cooperation with the flash 48.

  Reference numeral 42 denotes a distance measuring control circuit that controls the focusing of the photographing lens group 10, reference numeral 44 denotes a zoom control circuit that controls zooming of the zoom lens 10, and reference numeral 46 denotes a barrier control circuit that controls the operation of the protection device 102 that is a barrier. . A flash 48 has an AF auxiliary light projecting function and a flash light control function.

  The exposure control circuit 40 and the distance measurement control circuit 42 are controlled using the TTL method, and the system control unit 50 performs the exposure control circuit 40 and the distance measurement based on the calculation result obtained by calculating the captured image data by the image processing unit 20. Control is performed on the control circuit 42.

  Reference numeral 50 denotes a system control unit that controls the entire imaging apparatus 100, and reference numeral 52 denotes a memory that stores constants, variables, programs, and the like for operation of the system control unit 50. Reference numeral 54 denotes a display unit such as a display device or a speaker that notifies the user of an operation state, a message, or the like using characters, images, sounds, or the like according to execution of a program in the system control unit 50. One or a plurality of places are installed near the operation unit in an easily visible position. For example, it is composed of a combination of LCD, LED, sound generation element, and the like. In addition, the display unit 54 is partially installed in the optical viewfinder 104.

  Among the display contents of the display unit 54, what is displayed on the LCD or the like includes single shot / continuous shooting display, self-timer display, compression rate display, number of recorded pixels, number of recorded pixels, number of remaining images that can be captured, shutter Speed display, Aperture value display, Exposure compensation display, Flash display, Red-eye reduction display, Macro shooting display, Buzzer setting display, Clock battery level display, Battery level display, Error display, Multi-digit number information display and recording There are a display state of the media 200 and 210, a communication I / F operation display, a date / time display, and the like.

  Among the display contents of the display unit 54, what is displayed in the optical viewfinder 104 includes in-focus display, camera shake warning display, flash charge display, shutter speed display, aperture value display, exposure correction display, and the like.

  Reference numeral 56 denotes an electrically erasable / recordable nonvolatile memory, such as an EEPROM. Reference numerals 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, and 70 are operation means for inputting various operation instructions of the system control unit 50, such as a switch, a dial, a touch panel, pointing by gaze detection, a voice recognition device, or the like. Consists of multiple combinations.

  Hereinafter, the operation means will be described. Reference numeral 60 denotes a mode dial switch, which can switch and set various function modes such as power-off, automatic shooting mode, shooting mode, panoramic shooting mode, playback mode, multi-screen playback / erase mode, and PC connection mode.

  Reference numeral 62 denotes a shutter switch SW1, which is turned on during the operation of the shutter button 303 shown in FIG. 2 (to be described later) (half-pressing the shutter button 303), AF (autofocus) processing, AE (automatic exposure) processing, AWB (auto white balance). ) Process, EF (flash pre-emission) process and the like start operation.

  Reference numeral 64 denotes a shutter switch SW2, which is turned on when an operation of a shutter button 303 shown in FIG. 2 described later is completed (a full press of the shutter button 303), and a signal read from the image sensor 12 is converted to an A / D converter 16 and a memory control unit 22. Exposure processing for writing image data into the memory 30 through the image processing, development processing using computations in the image processing unit 20 and the memory control unit 22, reading out the image data from the memory 30, compression in the compression / decompression circuit 32, and recording An instruction to start an operation of a series of processing called recording processing for writing image data on the medium 200 or 210 is given.

  Reference numeral 66 denotes an image display ON / OFF switch which can set ON / OFF of the image display unit 28. With this function, when photographing using the optical viewfinder 104, it is possible to save power by cutting off the current supply to the image display unit 28 including a TFT LCD or the like.

  Reference numeral 68 denotes a quick review ON / OFF switch, which sets a quick review function for automatically reproducing image data taken immediately after photographing. In the present embodiment, in particular, a function for setting a quick review function when the image display unit 28 is turned off is provided.

  Reference numeral 70 denotes an operation unit including various buttons, a touch panel, etc. In addition to the mode switching lever 302, menu button 305, and set button 306 shown in FIG. 2, a macro / non-macro switching button, a multi-screen playback page break button, a flash setting button, Single-shot / continuous-shot / self-timer switching button, menu shift + (plus) button, menu shift-(minus) button, playback image shift + (plus) button realized in the form of a cross button 309 in FIG. And a reproduced image- (minus) button, a shooting image quality selection button, an exposure correction button, a date / time setting button, an image deletion button, an image deletion cancel button, and the like.

  A power control unit 80 includes a battery detection circuit, a DC-CD converter, a switch circuit that switches a block to be energized, and the like, and detects the presence / absence of a battery, the type of battery, and the remaining battery level. In addition, the DC-DC converter is controlled based on an instruction from the system control unit 50, and a necessary voltage is supplied to each unit including the recording medium for a necessary period.

  Reference numerals 82 and 84 denote connectors, 86 denotes a primary battery such as an alkaline battery or a lithium battery, a secondary battery such as a NiCd battery, NiMH battery, or Li battery, an AC adapter, or the like.

  90 and 94 are interfaces with a recording medium such as a memory card or a hard disk, 92 and 96 are connectors for connecting to a recording medium such as a memory card or a hard disk, and 98 is a recording medium 200 or 210 attached to the connector 92 or 96. It is a recording medium attachment / detachment detection circuit that detects whether or not the recording medium is present.

  In the present embodiment, it is assumed that there are two interfaces and connectors for attaching a recording medium. Of course, the interface and the connector for attaching the recording medium may have a single or a plurality of systems, any number of systems. Moreover, it is good also as a structure provided with combining the interface and connector of a different standard.

  The interface and connector can be configured using a PCMCIA card, a CF (Compact Flash (registered trademark)) card, or the like that conforms to a standard. When the interfaces 90 and 94 and the connectors 92 and 96 are configured using a PCMCIA card, CF card or other standard, LAN card, modem card, USB card, IEEE 1394 card, P1284 card, SCSI card, PHS, etc. By connecting various communication cards such as the above-mentioned communication card, image data and management information attached to the image data can be transferred to and from other computers and peripheral devices such as a printer.

  Reference numeral 102 denotes a barrier that is a protective device that prevents the imaging unit from being soiled or damaged by covering the imaging unit including the photographing lens group 10 of the imaging device 100.

  Reference numeral 104 denotes an optical viewfinder, which can take an image using only the optical viewfinder without using the electronic viewfinder function of the image display unit 28. In the optical viewfinder 104, some functions of the display unit 54, for example, a focus display, a camera shake warning display, a flash charge display, a shutter speed display, an aperture value display, an exposure correction display, and the like are installed.

  A communication circuit 110 has various communication functions such as RS232C, USB, IEEE1394, P1284, SCSI, modem, LAN, and wireless communication.

  Reference numeral 112 denotes a connector for connecting the imaging apparatus 100 to another device by the communication circuit 110 or an antenna in the case of wireless communication.

  Reference numerals 200 and 210 denote recording media such as a memory card and a hard disk. The recording media 200 and 210 include recording units 202 and 212 each formed of a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, and the like, interfaces 204 and 214 with the imaging device 100, and connectors 206 and 216 for connecting to the imaging device 100, respectively. ing.

  FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view illustrating an appearance of an electronic camera as an example of the imaging apparatus having the above-described configuration.

  In FIG. 2, reference numeral 301 denotes a power button for turning on / off the power. Reference numeral 302 denotes a mode switching lever that can switch and set each function mode such as a shooting mode, a playback mode, a moving image shooting mode, and a still image shooting mode. Reference numeral 303 denotes a shutter button. The shutter button 303 has a two-stage switch configuration as described above, and the shutter switch SW1 (62) is turned on when half-pressed, and the shutter switch SW2 (64) is turned on when fully pressed.

  An image display unit 304 displays captured images, menu screens, operation states, and the like. Since the image display unit 304 normally uses an LCD (liquid crystal display), it will be referred to as an LCD hereinafter. A screen for reproducing a still image and / or a moving image is also displayed on the LCD 304. Reference numeral 305 denotes a menu button which is used to enter and exit a menu screen for changing shooting parameters and camera settings. A SET button 306 is used for determining a menu. Reference numeral 307 denotes a delete button, which can specify deletion of an image. Reference numeral 308 denotes a display button, which is a button for switching presence / absence of display on the LCD 304. Reference numeral 309 denotes a cross button, which is used to move items on the menu screen using the up / down / left / right buttons, or to push the left / right buttons to perform image forwarding in the playback mode.

  If high-precision exposure control and focus control are always performed in the shooting process, a time lag occurs until shooting, and there is a possibility that a photo opportunity will be missed in a scene where it is desired to shoot quickly.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, a conventional photographing method in which photographing is performed by turning on SW2 (64) after waiting for completion of photographing preparation such as high-precision exposure control and focus control in response to turning on SW1 (62) of shutter button 303. In addition, when SW2 (64) is turned on within a predetermined time after SW1 (62) is turned on, that is, when the shutter button 303 is fully depressed, exposure control for high-speed shooting is performed. There is a photographing method in which focus control is performed and photographing is performed with a shorter time lag. The latter shooting method is called quick shooting. In the present embodiment, a means for selecting either the conventional photographing method or quick photographing is provided.

  At the time of quick shooting, for example, high-speed shooting can be realized by using the exposure value used in the electronic viewfinder display for exposure control and moving the lens to a fixed point and fixing the focus for focus control. . However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it goes without saying that either method or another method may be used.

  FIG. 3 is a setting screen for quick shooting on / off in the menu screen displayed on the LCD 304. When the menu button 305 is pressed, a menu screen is displayed, and the cross-shaped button 309 is operated to select quick shooting, and quick shooting on / off shown in FIG. 3 is set. Only when the quick shooting is on, when the shutter button 303 is fully pressed at once, the quick shooting is performed.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the photographing process in the present embodiment. Note that the photographing process shown in FIG. 4 is executed under the control of the system control unit 50.

  When SW1 is turned on in step S41 and SW2 is turned on within a predetermined time after pressing, that is, when the shutter button 303 is fully pressed at once (YES in step S42), it is determined whether quick shooting is turned on or off in step S43. . If ON, the process proceeds to step S44 to perform high-speed exposure control and focus control, and after completion, photographing is performed (step S46). On the other hand, if quick shooting is off (NO in step S43), high-precision exposure control and high-precision focus control are performed in step S45, and shooting is performed after completion (step S46).

  If SW2 is not turned on after a predetermined time has passed after turning on SW1 in step S41 (NO in step S42), whether or not SW1 is still on in step S47, that is, the shutter button 303 is half-pressed. Find out if it remains. If SW1 is OFF, that is, if the half-press of the shutter button 303 is released, the procedure returns to step S41 without waiting for the next SW1 to be turned on without preparing for photographing. On the other hand, if SW1 is still ON in step S47, that is, if the shutter button 303 remains half-pressed, it is determined that quick shooting is not performed regardless of the content of the quick shooting on / off setting, and high in step S48. Accurate exposure control and focus control are performed, and preparation for shooting is completed.

  After completion of shooting preparation, it is checked whether SW1 is in an ON state (step S49), and further, it is checked whether SW2 is turned on (step S50). If SW1 is released before SW2 is turned ON (OFF in step S49), the process ends, and the process returns to step S41 to wait for the next shutter button 303 to be pressed. If SW1 is ON (ON in step S49) and SW2 is ON (ON in step S50), the process proceeds to step S46 and photographing is performed.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when quick shooting is set, when the shutter button 303 is pressed all at once, high-speed exposure control and focus control are performed. Since the time lag until the image is displayed can be shortened, it is possible to perform shooting with priority on speed. In addition, when the shutter button 303 is half-pressed to fully pressed for a predetermined time or more, high-precision exposure control and focus control are performed, so that priority can be given to image quality.

  In this way, it is possible to prepare for photographing such as appropriate exposure control and focus control according to the purpose of photographing.

  In the above embodiment, the processing is changed according to whether quick shooting is turned on or off. However, it may be configured to always perform control when quick shooting is turned on.

  Furthermore, in the above embodiment, it is determined whether or not to perform quick shooting according to the time when the shutter button 303 shifts from SW1 to SW2. However, the present invention is not limited to this, for example, a quick shooting instruction button There are various ways of giving instructions, such as quick shooting when the instruction button and the shutter button 303 are simultaneously pressed, and the present invention is not limited to the way of giving instructions.

  Further, the present invention is not limited to a device composed of a single device, and can be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices (for example, a camera head, an interface device, a control device, etc.).

  Another object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium (or recording medium) in which a program code of software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is recorded to a system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or CPU) of the system or apparatus. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by the MPU) reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an operating system (OS) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the actual processing and the processing is included. Examples of the storage medium for storing the program code include a flexible disk, hard disk, ROM, RAM, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, CD-ROM, CD-R, DVD, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, MO, and the like. Can be considered. Also, a computer network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or a WAN (Wide Area Network) can be used to supply the program code.

  Furthermore, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion card inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function is determined based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the CPU or the like provided in the expansion card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

  When the present invention is applied to the above-described storage medium, the program code corresponding to the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 described above is stored in the storage medium.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the imaging device in embodiment of this invention. 1 is a rear perspective view showing an external appearance of an electronic camera that is one form of an imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the quick imaging | photography on / off setting screen in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the imaging | photography process in embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100: Imaging device, 10: Shooting lens group, 12: Shutter, 14: Image sensor, 16: A / D converter, 18: Timing generation circuit, 20: Image processing part, 22: Memory control part, 24: Image display Memory: 26: D / A converter, 28: Image display unit, 30: Memory, 32: Image compression / decompression circuit, 40: Exposure control circuit, 42: Distance control circuit, 44: Zoom control circuit, 46: Barrier Control circuit, 48: flash, 50: system control unit, 52: memory, 54: display unit, 56: non-volatile memory, 60: mode dial switch, 62: shutter switch SW1, 64: shutter switch SW2, 66: image display ON / OFF switch, 68: Quick review ON / OFF switch, 70: Operation part, 80: Power supply control part, 82, 84: Connector, 86: Electricity 90, 94: interface, 92, 96: connector, 98: recording medium attachment / detachment detection circuit, 102: barrier, 104: optical finder, 110: communication circuit, 112: connector (or antenna), 200, 210: Recording medium 202, 212: Recording unit, 204, 214: Interface, 206, 216: Connector, 301: Power button, 302: Mode switching lever, 303: Shutter button, 304: Display unit, 305: Menu button, 306: SET button, 307: delete button, 308: display button, 309: cross button

Claims (8)

An imaging apparatus that captures a subject and records the captured subject image as image data,
Photographing instruction means for instructing photographing;
Determining means for determining an operation state of the photographing instruction means;
An image pickup apparatus comprising: a control unit that performs shooting control with either speed priority or image quality priority according to a determination result by the determination unit.   The photographing instruction means is a two-stage shutter button capable of setting two kinds of states, a half-pressed state and a fully-pressed state, and the determining means takes a transition from the half-pressed state to the fully-pressed state. It is determined whether the time exceeds a predetermined time, and the control means performs the speed-prioritized shooting control when the time is less than the predetermined time, and performs the image quality-prioritized shooting control when the time exceeds the predetermined time. The imaging device according to claim 1. A setting unit for setting and canceling the speed-prioritized shooting control;
2. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein, when the speed-prioritized shooting control is canceled by the setting unit, the control unit performs the image quality-prioritized shooting control regardless of an operation state of the shooting instruction unit. Or the imaging device of 2.   The image quality priority shooting control performs high-precision exposure control and focus control, and the speed priority shooting control performs exposure control and focus control that can be executed in a shorter time than the high-precision exposure control and focus control. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging apparatus is performed. An imaging control method for capturing a subject and recording the captured subject image as image data,
A shooting instruction process for instructing shooting;
A determination step of determining an operation state of the photographing instruction means;
An imaging control method comprising: a control step of performing shooting control with either speed priority or image quality priority according to a determination result in the determination step. A setting step of setting and releasing the speed-prioritized shooting control;
6. The imaging control with priority on image quality is performed in the control step when the shooting control with priority on speed is canceled in the setting step, regardless of an operation state of the imaging instruction means. The imaging control method described.   A program executable by an information processing apparatus, comprising program code for realizing the imaging control method according to claim 5.   A storage medium readable by an information processing apparatus, wherein the program according to claim 7 is stored.

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