JP2006030370A - Imaging unit - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging unit which ensures very good operability even when an auto-focus frame is switched to a movement possible mode from a movement disabled mode. <P>SOLUTION: An auto-focusing device includes: a means for specifying a specific frame from an image signal; a means for calculating an evaluation value by extracting a high frequency component within the specified frame; a means for performing switching between the movement and non-movement of the frame; a means for controlling a lens drive means in accordance with the evaluation value; and a focus switching means for performing switching between focusing and non-focusing before a shutter button is half-pressed. In the auto-focusing device, when the means for moving the frame is selected, even when the device has been set so as not to perform focusing before the shutter button is half-pressed, the focus switching means is capable of automatically switching to the means for focusing before the shutter button is half-pressed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus, and more particularly to an imaging apparatus that suppresses power consumption by minimizing focusing when a shutter button is half-pressed in consideration of past history and the like.

An imaging device in the prior art obtains an image signal of a subject through a camera lens, specifies a specific frame and location from the image signal, and presses the shutter button halfway to focus on the specified frame location. Those equipped with means for matching are well known.
Special open / close 6-22195 (pages 5-6, Fig. 3)

However, in the image pickup apparatus described in the related art, the focus is locked before the shutter button is half-pressed, and if the auto-focus mode is set, the half-press is not performed even if the frame is moved. Otherwise, it could not be understood whether the captured image was in focus.
In addition, there was a problem that the battery of the imaging device was large if it was in the mode to focus before pressing the shutter button halfway,
In addition, after switching to the AF (autofocus) frame mode and before pressing the shutter button halfway, it is very easy to switch to the AF (autofocus) mode that keeps the focus locked and does not autofocus. There was also a problem of poor usability.

  Therefore, the function of performing focusing when the shutter button is half-pressed has a problem that must be solved in a configuration that suppresses power consumption without performing focusing under specific conditions.

  In order to solve the above problems, an imaging apparatus according to the present invention is configured as follows.

(1) The imaging apparatus extracts an image input unit that obtains an image signal of a subject via a camera lens, an interface unit that can specify a specific frame from the image signal, and a high-frequency component in the specified frame, Calculated by an evaluation calculation unit that calculates an evaluation value, a frame movement switching unit that switches between a unit that moves the frame and a unit that does not move, a lens driving unit that moves the camera lens and controls focus, and the evaluation calculation unit The lens drive control means for controlling the lens drive means according to the evaluated value, and the focus is not adjusted before the shutter button is half-pressed, and the focus is adjusted after the focus is adjusted when the shutter button is half-pressed. Focuser that can switch between fixed means and means to automatically focus before pressing the shutter button halfway In the autofocus device having the switching means, the focus switching means does not perform focusing before half-pressing the shutter button when the means for moving the frame is selected by the frame movement switching means. Even if the setting has been made, the means is automatically switched to means for automatically focusing before the shutter button is half-pressed.
(2) The focus switching means selects a means for moving the frame by the frame movement switching means, and is set not to focus before the shutter button is half-pressed. After switching to automatic focusing before pressing halfway down, if you change to a means that does not move the frame again, it returns to the setting that does not focus before pressing the shutter button halfway. The imaging apparatus according to (1), wherein the imaging apparatus is configured as described above.
(3) The focus switching means selects a means for moving the frame by the frame movement switching means, and is set not to focus before the shutter button is half-pressed. If the focus is switched automatically before pressing halfway, after the frame is moved, autofocus is performed only once, and then the focus is locked until the frame is moved. The imaging apparatus according to (1), wherein the imaging apparatus is configured as described above.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when the AF frame is switched from the immovable mode to the movable mode, the shutter is automatically released even in the AF mode in which the autofocus operation is not performed before the shutter button is pressed halfway. By automatically switching to AF mode with autofocus before half-pressing the button, the AF frame can be focused at the same position, and the composition after moving the AF frame can be understood quickly, An imaging device with good operability can be provided.

  In addition, when the AF frame movable mode is switched to the AF frame fixed mode, the AF mode before switching the AF frame mode to the AF frame movable mode is changed to the AF mode in which the autofocus operation is not performed before the shutter button is pressed halfway. If it is set, the AF mode is switched to the AF mode without autofocusing before pressing the shutter button halfway, even if the AF mode is set to autofocus before halfway pressing the shutter button. The battery consumption of the device can be suppressed. As a result, even in a small-sized imaging device that requires stamina, the power consumption can be reduced with good operability and the number of shots can be increased.

  Next, an embodiment of an imaging apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an imaging apparatus 10 of the present invention forms a lens 11 that focuses and focuses image light, an image sensor 12 that photoelectrically converts image light obtained through the lens 11, and an image sensor 12. An amplifier 13 for amplifying the video signal obtained in Step 1, a camera signal processing circuit 14 for converting the video signal amplified by the amplifier 13 into a standard television signal and obtaining a high-frequency signal of the set AF frame, and an AF frame position And a control microcomputer 17 for controlling the lens position, a lens drive motor 15 for driving the lens 11 to be focused, a motor driver 16 for driving the lens drive motor 15, and an AF frame mode by switching the AF frame mode. An interface 18 for transmitting and an interface 19 for switching AF mode and transmitting AF mode information to the control microcomputer 17 , A shutter button 20 that is used for focusing, an interface 21 for transmitting the AF frame movement information to the control microcomputer 17, and is largely constituted by.

  The procedure for determining the AF operation mode in the imaging apparatus having the above configuration will be described below with reference to FIG. 1 and based on the flowchart shown in FIG.

  First, the AF mode determination procedure is started by the start, and the AF mode is set to the AF mode in which AF is not automatically focused or the shutter button 20 is pressed halfway before the shutter button 20 is pressed halfway by the AF mode setting. Before the operation, the autofocus AF mode is set by the interface 19 of the imaging apparatus (steps ST11, ST12, ST13).

Next, it is determined whether the AF frame mode is a mode in which the AF frame can be moved or a mode in which the AF frame cannot be moved (step ST14).
In step ST14, when the AF frame can be moved, the AF mode is in the AF mode in which the focus is locked and the autofocus is not performed or the shutter button 20 is pressed before the shutter button 20 is half-pressed. Before half-pressing, it is determined whether or not the AF mode is autofocusing (step ST15).

As a result of the determination in step ST15, before the AF mode half-presses the shutter button 20, the focus is locked and in the AF mode in which autofocus is not performed, the AF mode is set to auto-focus before the shutter button 20 is half-pressed. The setting is changed to the AF mode to be performed (step ST16).
In step ST15, if the AF mode is the AF mode for autofocusing before the shutter button 20 is half-pressed, the processing is terminated with the AF mode being set (step ST17).
Furthermore, in the case of setting of a mode in which the AF frame cannot be moved in step ST14, the process is terminated with the AF mode being set (step ST17).

As described above, when the AF frame is not moved, the motor 15 and the motor driver 16 are not moved by not performing autofocusing, so that the power consumption consumed by the motor 15 and the motor driver 16 can be greatly reduced.
From this state, when you want to change the focus position by moving the AF frame, and set the AF frame mode to a movable mode, the AF mode will automatically focus before pressing the shutter button halfway. By switching to, it becomes possible to understand the composition when the focus is moved to the AF frame position without trouble, and the operability is greatly improved.

  Next, the procedure for determining the AF operation mode in the image pickup apparatus having such a configuration of the second example will be described below with reference to FIG. 1 and the flowchart shown in FIG.

  First, the AF mode determination procedure is started by the start, and the AF mode is set to the AF mode in which AF is not automatically focused or the shutter button 20 is pressed halfway before the shutter button 20 is pressed halfway by the AF mode setting. Before the operation, the autofocus AF mode is set by the interface 19 of the imaging apparatus (steps ST11, ST12, ST13).

Next, it is determined whether the AF frame mode is set to a mode in which the AF frame can be moved or set to a mode in which the AF frame cannot be moved (step ST14).
In step ST14, when the AF frame can be moved, the AF mode is set to the AF mode in which the focus is locked and the autofocus is not performed before the shutter button 20 is half-pressed, or the shutter button is pressed halfway. Before pressing, it is determined whether or not the AF mode is autofocusing (step ST15).

  As a result of the determination in step ST15, before the AF mode half-presses the shutter button 20, the focus is locked and in the AF mode in which autofocus is not performed, the AF mode is set to auto-focus before the shutter button 20 is half-pressed. The setting is changed to the AF mode to be performed (step ST16).

In step ST15, if the AF mode is the AF mode for autofocusing before the shutter button 20 is half-pressed, the processing is terminated with the AF mode being set (step ST17).
In step ST14, if the AF frame is not movable, it is determined whether the previous AF frame mode is a mode in which the AF frame can be moved (step ST18).
If it is determined in step ST18 that the previous AF frame movement mode has been set, a mode in which the autofocus operation is not performed before the AF mode before changing to the AF frame movement mode is half-pressed. It was determined (step ST19).

  In step ST19, if the AF mode is an AF mode in which the autofocus operation is not performed before the shutter button 20 is half-pressed, the current AF mode is the AF mode in which the autofocus is performed before the shutter button 20 is half-pressed. However, before the shutter button 20 is half-pressed, by switching to the AF mode in which the autofocus operation is not performed, the motor 15 and the motor driver 16 are consumed without moving the motor 15 and the motor driver 16 shown in FIG. The power consumption can be greatly reduced, and the AF mode does not have to be reset every time, so that the operability is very good.

  Next, the procedure for determining the AF operation mode in the image pickup apparatus having such a configuration of the third example will be described below with reference to FIG. 1 and the flowchart shown in FIG.

  First, the AF mode determination procedure is started by the start, and the AF mode is set to the AF mode in which AF is not automatically focused or the shutter button 20 is held before the shutter button 20 is half-pressed by the AF mode setting. Before half-pressing, the autofocus AF mode is set by the interface 19 of the imaging device (steps ST11, ST12, ST13).

Next, it is determined whether the AF frame mode is a mode in which the AF frame can be moved or a mode setting in which the AF frame cannot be moved (step ST14).
In step ST14, when the AF frame is movable, the focus is locked and the AF mode in which autofocus is not performed or the shutter button 20 is half-pressed before the AF mode half-presses the shutter button 20. Before starting, it is determined whether or not the AF mode is autofocusing (step ST15).

  As a result of the determination in step ST15, before the AF mode half-presses the shutter button 20, the focus is locked and in the AF mode in which autofocus is not performed, the AF mode is set to auto-focus before the shutter button 20 is half-pressed. The setting is changed to the AF mode to be performed (step ST16).

In step ST15, when the AF mode is the AF mode in which the autofocus is performed before the shutter button 20 is half-pressed, the AF frame movement instruction is issued next from the autofocus movement instruction interface 21, and the AF frame movement is completed. If it is determined that it is not possible to move, after autofocusing, once the focus is achieved, a mode in which focus is not achieved is set (steps ST21 and ST22).
Thereby, even if the AF frame is moved freely, the focus is achieved, and after the focus is achieved, the motor 15 and the motor driver 16 are not moved, so that power consumption can be suppressed.

In step ST14, if the AF frame cannot be moved, it is determined whether the previous AF frame mode is a mode in which the AF frame can be moved (step ST18).
When it is determined in step ST18 that the previous AF frame movement mode has been set, the AF mode before the change to the AF frame movement mode is a mode in which the autofocus operation is not performed before the shutter button 20 is half-pressed. (Step ST19).

  In step ST19, if the AF mode is an AF mode in which the autofocus operation is not performed before the shutter button 20 is half-pressed, the current AF mode is the AF mode in which the autofocus is performed before the shutter button 20 is half-pressed. However, before the shutter button 20 is half-pressed, by switching to the AF mode in which the autofocus operation is not performed, the motor 15 and the motor driver 16 are consumed without moving the motor 15 and the motor driver 16 shown in FIG. The power consumption can be greatly reduced, and the AF mode does not have to be reset every time, so that the operability is very good.

  When the AF frame is switched from immovable to movable mode when shooting with the imaging device, the shutter button is automatically pressed halfway before the shutter button is pressed halfway, even in the AF mode where autofocus operation is not performed. By automatically switching to the autofocus AF mode from the front, it is possible to focus on the position where the AF frame is aligned, and the composition after moving the AF frame can be understood quickly and imaging with very good operability Providing equipment.

  In addition, when switching from the AF frame movable mode to the AF frame fixed mode, the AF mode before switching the AF frame mode to the AF frame movable mode is the AF mode in which the autofocus operation is not performed before the shutter button is pressed halfway. If the AF mode is set to autofocus before the shutter button is pressed halfway before switching to the AF mode without autofocus before pressing the shutter button halfway, The battery consumption of the imaging device can be suppressed. This provides an imaging apparatus that can reduce power consumption and increase the number of shots even in a small imaging apparatus that requires stamina.

1 is a block diagram schematically showing an imaging apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a mode for switching an autofocus operation in relation to the AF frame mode condition among the operations. FIG. 6 is a flowchart in which, in addition to the AF frame mode conditions, the mode for switching the autofocus operation is added in relation to the previous AF frame mode and AF mode conditions. In addition, in addition to the AF frame mode conditions in the operation, a mode for switching the autofocus operation is added in relation to the previous AF frame mode and AF mode conditions, and the autofocus operation mode is once focused by autofocus. It is the flowchart which added the mode which does not focus after having matched.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11; Lens, 12: Image pick-up element, 13; Amplifier, 14; Camera signal processing circuit, 15; Lens drive motor, 16; Motor driver, 17: Control microcomputer, 18; Interface (AF frame mode setting), 19; AF mode setting), 20; shutter button, 21; interface (AF frame movement instruction).

Claims (3)

Image input means for obtaining an image signal of a subject via a camera lens;
Interface means capable of designating a specific frame from the image signal;
An evaluation calculation means for extracting high-frequency components within a specified frame and calculating an evaluation value;
Frame movement switching means for switching between means for moving the frame and means for not moving the frame;
Lens driving means for moving the camera lens and controlling focus;
Lens drive control means for controlling the lens drive means in accordance with the evaluation value calculated by the evaluation calculation means;
Focusing is not performed before the shutter button is pressed halfway, but when the shutter button is pressed halfway, after focusing, the focus is fixed and the focus is automatically adjusted before halfway pressing the shutter button. Focus switching means capable of switching between means for performing;
In an autofocus device having
When the focus switching means selects the means for moving the frame by the frame movement switching means, the focus switch means does not focus even before the shutter button is pressed halfway. An image pickup apparatus characterized in that it automatically switches to means for automatically performing focusing before half-pressing.   The focus switching means selects the means for moving the frame by the frame movement switching means, and is set to not focus before pressing the shutter button halfway. After switching to automatically focus before switching, when changing to the means that does not move the frame again, it returns to the setting that does not focus before pressing the shutter button halfway The imaging apparatus according to claim 1.   The focus switching means selects the means for moving the frame by the frame movement switching means, and is set to not focus before pressing the shutter button halfway. When switching to focus automatically before starting, after moving the frame, auto focus is performed only once, and then the focus is locked until the frame is moved. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1.

Images