JP2005189887A - Camera device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera device capable of easily setting a more appropriate photographing condition in accordance with a subject. <P>SOLUTION: A plurality of parameters prescribing the imaging condition of a camera device and a sample image 103 being the sample of a subject suitable for a photographing mode are stored corresponding to a plurality of photographing modes. At the time of setting the photographing mode, the sample image 103 in accordance with the subject to be photographed is selected and the imaging condition is set based on the parameter corresponding to the sample image 103. Even when many kinds of photographing modes exist, everyone can easily set the more appropriate photographing condition for the subject without causing confusion in the setting of the photographing mode. Simultaneously, the result of photography is easily obtained to suit photographer's taste. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a camera device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, in an electronic still camera, various photographing conditions such as shutter speed and aperture value can be automatically set or manually set according to a photographer's preference. Furthermore, for example, a plurality of shooting modes that automatically set shooting conditions suitable for the type of subject such as portrait, landscape, and night scene are prepared, and the photographer selects the shooting mode in advance, thereby enabling the shutter. Many beginners who do not have specialized knowledge such as speed and aperture value can set more appropriate shooting conditions.

  However, in the case where the shooting conditions are automatically set according to the plurality of shooting modes described above, since the number of shooting modes is generally small, the setting conditions of shooting conditions prepared for each subject type in advance are the greatest common divisor. It will be a thing. Therefore, it is impossible to set shooting conditions that match all subjects, and shooting results are not always obtained according to the preferences of the photographer. For this reason, it is conceivable to prepare more shooting modes, but in that case, the difference between the shooting modes becomes difficult to understand, especially for beginners and the like, causing confusion in shooting mode settings. There was a problem.

  The present invention has been made in view of such conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a camera device that can easily set more appropriate shooting conditions according to the subject.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention of claim 1 is a camera device capable of setting a plurality of shooting modes according to the type of subject, and shooting of the device at the time of shooting according to each shooting mode Control means for controlling the conditions, sample image storage means for storing a plurality of sample images as samples of the subject corresponding to the shooting mode, display means for displaying the sample images stored in the sample image storage means, The image processing apparatus includes selection means for selecting any one of the sample images displayed on the display means, and setting means for setting a shooting mode corresponding to the sample image selected by the selection means.

  In such a configuration, when any sample image displayed on the display means is selected, a shooting mode corresponding to the type of the subject represented by the sample image is automatically set. Therefore, the user can select a shooting mode according to the type of the subject via the sample image that can intuitively understand the type of the subject.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided display control means for controlling the display order of the plurality of sample images on the display means in accordance with the history order previously selected by the selection means in response to a user's request. It was provided. In such a configuration, the user can change the display order of the plurality of sample images in order of history as necessary.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, storage means for storing a plurality of explanation information for explaining the contents of the photographing conditions corresponding to the photographing mode, and explanation information corresponding to the sample image are read from the storage means. Control means for displaying on the display means together with the sample image is provided. In such a configuration, when selecting the sample image, the explanation information explaining the contents of the photographing condition is displayed, so that the photographing result corresponding to the subject can be easily known.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided storage means for storing advice information for teaching a photographing operation suitable for photographing a subject represented by each sample image stored in the sample image storage means, and the sample image. Control means for reading corresponding advice information from the storage means and displaying the information on the display means is provided. In such a configuration, the user can obtain an ideal shooting result under shooting conditions controlled in the selected shooting mode by performing a shooting operation according to the advice information displayed on the display means.

  Further, in the invention of claim 5, there is further provided an imaging means for imaging a subject, a display means for displaying a through image captured by the imaging means in a shooting standby state, and a sample selected by the selection means. Control means for displaying a frame image showing a screen configuration suitable for photographing a subject corresponding to the sample image selected by the selection means in the through image when the image is a predetermined sample image; did. In such a configuration, the user can obtain an ideal shooting result under shooting conditions controlled in the selected shooting mode by performing framing according to the frame image.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, an autofocus function is provided, and the control means sets a focus position within a predetermined area of the through image indicated by the frame image and a focus indicating the set focus position. The mark was displayed on the through image. In such a configuration, the user can obtain a photographing result in an ideal focus state under the photographing conditions controlled in the selected photographing mode by performing framing according to the frame image.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automatic exposure control function for performing spot metering on a photometric position set in a subject and performing exposure control based on the photometric result, wherein the control means uses the frame image. The photometric position is set within a predetermined area of the through image shown. In such a configuration, the user can obtain a photographing result in an ideal exposure state under the photographing conditions controlled in the selected photographing mode by performing framing according to the frame image.

    As described above, in the present invention, the user can select a shooting mode according to the type of the subject via the sample image that can intuitively understand the type of the subject. Therefore, even when there are many types of shooting modes, it is possible for anyone to easily set appropriate shooting conditions for the subject without causing confusion in the shooting mode setting. At the same time, the photographing result can be easily obtained according to the photographer's preference.

  In addition, since the display order of a plurality of sample images can be changed by the user in the order of the history as required, the user can change the display order of the sample images in the order of the history so that the user can frequently use the type of subject to be used. The shooting mode corresponding to can be selected immediately, and the usability can be improved.

  Also, when selecting a sample image, since the explanation information explaining the contents of the shooting conditions is displayed when selecting the sample image, it is possible to easily know the shooting result according to the subject. More shooting modes can be provided without causing confusion in the setting.

  Further, the user can obtain an ideal shooting result under shooting conditions controlled in the selected shooting mode by performing a shooting operation according to the advice information displayed on the display means.

  In addition, the user can obtain a result of photographing in an ideal focus state or exposure state under photographing conditions controlled in the selected photographing mode by performing framing according to the frame image.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external view of an electronic still camera 1 according to the present invention. FIG. 1 (a) is a rear view, FIG. 1 (b) is a plan view, and FIG. 1 (c) is a front view.

  The electronic still camera 1 has a fixed lens 4 on the front side, a TFT liquid crystal monitor 18 on the back side, and an optical finder 51 and a strobe 19. The electronic still camera 1 has a power switch 52, a shutter key 53, a zoom operation switch 54, an operation mode switching switch 55 for switching between a recording mode (REC mode) and a playback mode (PLAY mode). Various switches such as a liquid crystal monitor switch 56, a flash key 57, a self-timer key 58, and a menu key 59 are provided.

  FIG. 2 is a block configuration diagram showing an outline of the electrical configuration of the electronic still camera 1. The electronic still camera 1 has an image processing function such as converting an image captured by the CCD 2 as an imaging means into a JPEG format. The MPU 3 is provided as a center. An optical image of the subject is formed on the light receiving surface of the CCD 2 through the fixed lens 4, the focus lens 5, and the diaphragm 6. The focus lens 5 is held by a drive mechanism 7 made of an AF motor or the like, and moves forward and backward on the optical axis when a drive signal output from the AF driver 8 is supplied to the drive mechanism 7 by a control signal from the MPU 3. Perform focusing operation. The diaphragm 6 is driven by a drive signal generated by the diaphragm drive unit 9 based on a control signal from the MPU 3 and adjusts the light quantity of the subject image incident on the CCD 2.

  The MPU 3 is connected with a TG (Timing Generator) 10 that generates a timing signal. A V driver 11 (vertical driver) drives the CCD 2 based on the timing signal generated by the TG 10, and the subject is driven by the CCD 2 accordingly. An analog imaging signal corresponding to the luminance of the image is output and sent to the unit circuit 12. The unit circuit 12 includes a CDS that holds an imaging signal output from the CCD 2, a gain adjustment amplifier (AGC) that is an analog amplifier to which the imaging signal is supplied from the CDS, and an imaging signal that is amplified and adjusted by the gain adjustment amplifier. It comprises an A / D converter (AD) that converts it into image data, and the output signal of the CCD 2 is sampled with the black level matched and sent to the MPU 3 as a digital signal. The sent digital signal (imaging signal) is temporarily stored in the DRAM 13, and after various image processing is performed by the MPU 3, it is finally stored in the flash memory (FLASH) 14 as a compressed video signal. . The stored video signal is read to the MPU 3 as necessary, and is generated into a digital video signal or an analog video signal through processing such as expansion processing, addition of a luminance signal and a color signal.

  Further, the MPU 3 is connected to the MROM 15, the power supply circuit 16, the operation key unit 17 including the various switch groups shown in FIG. 1, the TFT liquid crystal monitor 18, and the strobe 19. The MROM 15 is a program ROM in which an operation program for the MPU 3 is recorded. Further, the MROM 9 stores program AE data constituting a program diagram showing a combination of an aperture value (F) corresponding to an appropriate exposure value (EV) at the time of shooting and a shutter speed. The MPU 3 functions as a setting unit, a limiting unit, and a display control unit of the present invention by operating in accordance with the operation program using the built-in RAM as a working memory. Further, according to the program diagram, the charge accumulation time of the CCD 2, the degree of opening of the diaphragm 6, the gain setting of the gain adjustment amplifier (AGC) of the unit circuit 12, etc. are performed. The charge accumulation time set by the MPU 3 is supplied as a shutter pulse to the V driver 11 via the TG 10, and the charge accumulation time, that is, the exposure time is controlled by the V driver 11 driving the CCD 2 according to this. That is, the CCD 2 functions as an electronic shutter. The operation program stored in the MROM 9 includes a program related to autofocus control. Based on the program, the MPU 3 drives the focus lens 5 to perform focusing (autofocus).

  The TFT liquid crystal monitor 18 displays sequentially captured images as through images in the recording mode, and displays images based on analog video signals generated from the image data recorded in the flash memory 14 in the reproduction mode. The strobe 19 is driven as necessary to emit auxiliary light when the video capture key is operated (when shooting).

  The MROM 15 is a sample image storage means and storage means of the present invention, and separately from the above-described data, the photographing condition data 101 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the additional information data 102 shown in FIG. Image data constituting a plurality of sample images 103 as exemplified in (a) to (c) is stored. In addition, although each sample image 103 is shown as a schematic image in this figure, it is an image actually taken or an image according to it. The shooting condition data 101 is a shooting condition of the electronic still camera 1 set in advance corresponding to each of a plurality of scene shooting modes (29 types in the present embodiment) that can be selected when setting a scene selection mode to be described later. More specifically, it is composed of the following data as shown in the figure. That is, it is composed of parameters indicating control contents of a plurality of control items that can be controlled in the electronic still camera 1 such as focus control, shutter speed, aperture, EV shift amount, sensitivity,.

  The additional information data 102 (FIG. 5) is additional information data stored corresponding to the scene shooting mode together with the shooting condition data, and specifically, a scene description such as “photographs a landscape and a person”. , Is composed of three types of comment data, such as advice information such as “The background is clearly blurred when using zoom”, and control explanation such as “macro mode is set and the saturation is set higher”. A plurality of sample images 103 shown in FIG. 6 are images corresponding to each scene shooting mode together with the shooting condition data and the additional information data, and serving as samples of subjects suitable for shooting in each scene shooting mode. 6A shows a sample image corresponding to the scene shooting mode “1” (person and landscape 1), and FIG. 6B corresponds to the scene shooting mode “2” (people and landscape 2). An example of a sample image corresponding to scene shooting mode “3” (up) is shown in FIG.

  The program data and the like stored in the MROM 15 described above may be stored on another recording medium such as an IC card that is separately provided or detachably mounted as long as the recorded contents can be retained. The program data may be recorded, and the program data may be supplied from another device such as a personal computer. The DRAM 13 has an area for storing the selection history order data 104 shown in FIG. 7 in addition to the digital signal storage area at the time of imaging described above. The selection history table 104 is a table indicating the display order of the above-described sample image 103 and additional information data 102 (each comment data) at the time of setting a scene select mode, which will be described later, and is display order data (1 in this embodiment). And the scene number of the shooting mode corresponding to the order. Note that the display order data and the scene number coincide with each other at the beginning of use of the electronic still camera 1 or immediately after battery replacement.

  Next, the operation after the mode selection is designated by the operation of the menu key 59 in the electronic still camera 1 having the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  That is, in the electronic still camera 1, when the shooting mode setting mode is selected, first, the mode selection screen 201 as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed on the TFT liquid crystal monitor 18 (step S1). The mode selection screen 201 includes three shooting modes of “normal (full auto)”, “portrait”, “landscape”, and “night view” similar to those described in the prior art to the photographer, and the shooting mode according to the present invention. Is a screen for selecting one of a scene selection mode for designating and a predetermined function setting mode, displaying these selection candidates, and performing a predetermined operation in a state in which this screen is displayed. Display the description of the assigned key at the same time.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the function setting mode has been selected and the display order switching operation has been performed by a predetermined key operation (step S2). If the display order switching operation has not been performed, the scene selection is continued. It is determined whether or not a mode has been selected (step S3). If the scene select mode is not selected (NO in step S3), the process returns to step S1 and if another mode is selected, the operation proceeds to that mode. On the other hand, when the scene select mode is selected, the display on the TFT liquid crystal monitor 18 is switched to the scene select selection screen 202 shown in FIG. 10 (step S4).

  FIG. 10 shows the scene selection selection screen 202 in the initial setting state. The scene selection selection screen 202 displayed here includes the scene number “1” in the shooting mode and the sample image 103 corresponding thereto. , Display additional information, that is, scene description (“Scenery and people are copied.”) And advice information (“Frame is displayed.”). In addition, when displaying the sample image 103 of the scene number in which the corresponding control description exists, the control description is also displayed. The description of the keys assigned to the predetermined operation is also continuously displayed on the scene select selection screen 202. Thereafter, in response to the operation of the selection button (in this embodiment, [+] and [−] of the zoom button 54), the scene number “1”, the sample image 103, and the additional information constituting the scene selection selection screen 202 are displayed. Are changed in ascending order or descending order in the order of the scene number, that is, feed display is performed (step S5).

  On the other hand, if the shutter key 53 (decision key) is pressed in a state where any sample image 103 or the like is displayed in the meantime, that is, in a state where any shooting mode is selected (YES in step S6), first, The sequence number of the scene number data in the selection history table 104 described above is moved up to the position corresponding to the first display order of the scene number corresponding to the sample image 103 selected here, and the other scene numbers are The selection history table 104 is updated, which is sequentially lowered while maintaining the previous arrangement order (step S7). Next, the shooting conditions at the time of shooting in the electronic still camera 1 are set based on the parameters set according to the scene number corresponding to the selected sample image 103, and the mode is shifted to the REC mode and the TFT liquid crystal monitor 18 is set. A through image is displayed (step S8). That is, the shooting standby state is set.

  That is, when the photographer selects the sample image 103 corresponding to the subject to be photographed, photographing conditions suitable for photographing the subject are automatically set. Therefore, even when there are many shooting modes in which shooting conditions are set more finely than in the past, as shown in FIGS. Appropriate shooting conditions can be easily set. At the same time, it is possible to easily obtain a photographing result according to the photographer's preference.

  Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the focus mode set corresponding to the selected scene number is area specific (step S9). If the result of such determination is NO, there is no movement of the focus area, and FIG. The focus mark 203 is displayed at the center of the through image 301 as shown in FIG. On the other hand, for example, when the selected scene number is “1” to “6” and a scene in which a subject is included is selected (YES in step S9), as shown in FIG. A frame image 204 showing the arrangement of persons suitable for the scene is displayed in the through image 301, the focus area is moved into a predetermined area corresponding to the frame image 204, and the focus mark 203 is displayed in the area. (Step S10). Therefore, the photographer can obtain an ideal photographing result under appropriate photographing conditions corresponding to the scene selected by the user only by performing framing by arranging a person or the like at a position corresponding to the frame image 204. It becomes possible. The example of the through image 301 illustrated in FIG. 12 is a case where the selected scene number is “2” and the scene is “person and landscape 2”.

  When the result of the determination in step S9 is NO, or after the processing in step S10 is completed, the photometry method set corresponding to the selected scene number is spot photometry (multi). It is discriminate | determined (step S11). When the selected scene number is “1” or the like and the determination result is YES, the spot photometry position in the through image 301 is set to a position set corresponding to the selected scene. Move (step S12). For example, when the selected scene number is “1”, the spot photometry position is moved into a predetermined area corresponding to the frame image 204. Therefore, the photographer only needs to perform framing by placing a person at a position corresponding to the frame image 204, and the photographing result in an ideal exposure state under appropriate photographing conditions corresponding to the scene selected by the photographer. Can be obtained.

  Then, the display state of the through image 301 described above is maintained until the shutter key 53 is pressed (NO in step S13), and if the shutter key 53 is pressed in the meantime (YES in step S13), the above-described step S8 is performed. In addition to performing imaging under the imaging conditions set in (1), the captured image is recorded (step S14). Thereafter, until the scene select mode is canceled (NO in step S15), the above-described operations after step S4 are repeated, and when the scene select mode is canceled, the process returns to step S1.

  On the other hand, during the above operation, at any point when the scene select mode is selected, if the function setting mode is selected and a display order switching operation is performed by a predetermined key operation (NO in step S2), The display order of the sample image 103 and the additional information corresponding to the sample image 103 in step S5 after the scene select mode is selected is indicated by the selection history table 104 sequentially restrained in the above-described step S7 from the scene number order (default order). Are switched in the order of the recorded history (step S16). Therefore, the photographer can switch the display order of the sample images 103 and the like in the selection state of the scene select mode as necessary in order of history, so that when selecting the shooting mode in the scene select mode, A frequently used shooting mode can be selected immediately, which is convenient.

  In the present embodiment, when the shooting mode is selected in the scene selection mode, the frame image 204 is displayed according to the selected shooting mode, and the focus area is a predetermined area corresponding to the frame image 204. The focus mark 203 is displayed in the area and the focus mark 203 is displayed in the area. For example, the “portrait” which is the same photographing mode as that described in the related art from the mode selection screen 201 shown in FIG. The same processing may be performed even when selected. Even in such a case, it is possible to obtain a photographing result in an ideal exposure state under such a photographing mode.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the case has been described in which the above-described shooting condition data 101, additional information data 102, and image data constituting a plurality of sample images 103 are stored in the MROM 15, but they correspond to each other. Each data may be received from another device such as a personal computer and stored in the storage unit, or may be received from another device via a communication unit such as the Internet and stored in the storage unit. With such a configuration, it is possible to easily update the shooting mode that can be used in the scene select mode. Especially when using communication means such as the Internet, the shooting method that is popular at that time is used. A shooting mode in which shooting can be performed can be quickly used by the apparatus.

It is a figure which shows the external appearance of the electronic still camera which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is a block block diagram of the same electronic still camera. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the imaging condition data recorded on program ROM. FIG. 4 is a diagram continuing from the bottom of FIG. 3. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the additional information data currently recorded on program ROM. It is a figure which shows the sample image currently recorded on program ROM. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the selection history table recorded on DRAM. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the electronic still camera at the time of imaging | photography using scene select mode. It is a figure which shows the selection screen of a mode. It is a figure which shows a scene selection selection screen and its change. It is a figure which shows the screen structure of the through image at the normal time. It is a figure which shows the screen structure of the through image after the specific scene is selected.

Explanation of symbols

1 Electronic still camera 2 CCD
3 MPU
13 DRAM
15 MROM
101 Shooting Condition Data 102 Additional Information Data 103 Sample Image 104 Selection History Table 202 Scene Select Selection Screen 204 Frame Image 301 Through Image

Claims (7)

  A camera device capable of setting a plurality of shooting modes according to the type of subject, wherein the control unit controls the shooting conditions of the device at the time of shooting according to each shooting mode, and a sample of the subject corresponding to the shooting mode A sample image storage unit that stores a plurality of sample images, a display unit that displays a sample image stored in the sample image storage unit, and a selection that selects any one of the sample images displayed on the display unit And a setting unit for setting a shooting mode corresponding to the sample image selected by the selection unit.   The display control means according to claim 1, further comprising: a display control means for controlling the display order of the plurality of sample images on the display means in the order of history selected in the past by the selection means in response to a user's request. Camera device.   Storage means for storing a plurality of explanation information for explaining the contents of the photographing conditions corresponding to the photographing mode, and control means for reading the explanation information corresponding to the sample image from the storage means and displaying it on the display means together with the sample image The camera device according to claim 1, further comprising:   Storage means for storing advice information for teaching a photographing operation suitable for photographing a subject represented by each sample image stored in the sample image storage means; and advice information corresponding to the sample image is read from the storage means and displayed. 4. The camera apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising control means for displaying on the means.   Furthermore, when the imaging unit that images the subject, the display unit that displays the through image captured in the imaging standby state by the imaging unit, and the sample image selected by the selection unit is a predetermined sample image, 5. The control unit according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit that displays a frame image indicating a screen configuration suitable for photographing a subject corresponding to the sample image selected by the selection unit. The camera device described.   An autofocus function is provided, and the control means sets a focus position within a predetermined region of the through image indicated by the frame image, and displays a focus mark indicating the set focus position on the through image. The camera device according to claim 5.   An automatic exposure control function that performs spot metering on a photometric position set in a subject and performs exposure control based on the photometric result is provided, and the control means includes the photometric position within a predetermined area of a through image indicated by the frame image. The camera apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, wherein: is set.

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