JP2006041621A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus for automatically selecting a button operation at a position providing ease of operation depending on a camera angling position so as to prevent malfunction by other buttons. <P>SOLUTION: The imaging apparatus includes: operation blocks 6 for permitting an operation of an optical system or an imaging operation of an image of an object by an imaging means; a longitudinal / lateral / upper / lower position sensor 9 for sensing the longitudinal / lateral / upper / lower imaging position of the imaging apparatus; and a switching control section 11 for selectively applying switching control to any of operations by a plurality of the operation blocks 6 in response to a longitudinal / lateral / upper / lower sensing signal sensed by the longitudinal / lateral / upper / lower position sensor 9. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus that captures an image of a subject.

  Since the camera basically shoots in the horizontal direction, there is a problem that it is difficult to use and difficult to use in a vertical position (vertical shooting). In order to improve that point, products with a so-called “vertical position grip” are known for professional cameras, but this is so large that it is not suitable for compact cameras, and the dedicated vertical button is around the release. Because it is only, it does not give a fundamental solution. There is also the disadvantage that it is much harder to carry.

On the other hand, a technique for providing two or more releases has also been proposed (see Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2). In addition, a technique is known in which a camera that detects a vertical direction by gravity is used to determine which direction the camera is facing (see Patent Document 3).
Japanese Patent No.2804776 JP 2001-33865 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-173984

  However, in the above-mentioned camera, since the buttons to be provided are limited to the release, and there is no way to prevent malfunction due to the position where the camera is held, simply providing multiple releases is not easy to operate. There was an inconvenience that this was insufficient.

  Accordingly, the present invention provides an imaging apparatus that can automatically select an operation of a button at a position where the operation is easy among a plurality of buttons according to the position where the user is holding, and can prevent malfunctions caused by other buttons. With the goal.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object of the present invention, an imaging apparatus of the present invention includes an operation unit that enables an operation of an optical system or an imaging operation of an image of a subject by an imaging unit, and vertical and horizontal and vertical directions of the imaging apparatus. And a switching control means for controlling to selectively switch one of the operations by a plurality of operation means according to the vertical, horizontal, vertical and vertical detection signals detected by the detection means. is there.

  As a result, the detection means automatically determines the position such as the vertical position and the horizontal position using a switch for detecting the direction in which the apparatus is set, and the switching control means automatically uses the function to automatically operate the button according to the posture of the apparatus. To lock it to prohibited use, or automatically replace the assigned function.

  Accordingly, it is possible to effectively use the limited space of the apparatus main body, and to arrange a button that is easy to hold and use in a normal horizontal position and a vertical position without forcing the user to perform a special operation.

  According to the present invention, the buttons can be automatically used or disabled and the assigned functions are switched automatically depending on the orientation of the device that the user has set without performing any special operation. Can be realized.

  Furthermore, since the degree of freedom of button placement is greater than in the past, as a result, it is possible to effectively use the limited space of the camera body, and further downsizing the conventional vertical position grip etc. Can contribute.

  In addition, information such as which button of which function has been replaced, etc. can be automatically displayed on the liquid crystal panel, and it is also possible to notify the user of available buttons by lighting nearby LEDs. If implemented, a camera that is easier to use can be provided.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings as appropriate.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an imaging apparatus according to an embodiment.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of an embodiment in which an imaging apparatus according to the present invention is applied to a digital still camera.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the camera block 1 of the imaging apparatus according to this embodiment condenses incident light and adjusts the amount of incident light around the optical axis and a lens unit of an optical system that can adjust focus and zoom. The iris mechanism is limited to a mechanical type, and the shutter blade is opened by half-pressing a shutter release button, which will be described later, and the focus can be adjusted. A shutter mechanism that closes the camera and finishes the photographing operation, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) imaging device that captures an image of a subject by photoelectrically converting the incident light that has been exposed, and vertical and horizontal required for driving the CCD imaging device And a timing signal generation circuit for generating a transfer pulse and a field shift pulse.

  The image processing block 2 of the imaging apparatus includes an analog signal circuit that performs noise removal and automatic gain control by correlated double sampling, an A / D conversion circuit that converts the analog signal into a digital signal, and the digital signal. A digital signal processing circuit that separates the luminance signal and the color signal, performs various color signal processing such as white balance and gamma conversion on each signal, generates a signal necessary for the imaging operation, and acquires a captured image; The imaging apparatus includes a main control block 7 that controls the operation of the entire digital still camera.

  The main control block 7 includes a microcomputer, and includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a program ROM (Read Only Memory), a work area RAM (Random Access Memory), and various I / O ports and interfaces (not shown). . The main control block 7 is connected to a lens control unit that drives and controls the zoom mechanism and focus mechanism of the lens unit. Further, the main control block 7 is connected to vertical / horizontal / vertical detection sensors for detecting the orientation of the apparatus.

  Further, the main control block 7 is connected to an operation block 6 such as a shutter release button capable of performing various adjustment operations of the camera block 1 and an image pickup operation by driving a CCD image pickup device when the shutter mechanism is opened and closed by a user input operation. In addition, a removable memory controller 8 is connected to an image display device 3 composed of, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) via the image processing block 2 and includes a removable memory 10 as a removable rewritable recording medium. And an SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory) 4 that temporarily stores generated data, an external interface including an output terminal such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) (not shown), and an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable) Read Only Memory) is connected That.

  Although not shown, the lens unit includes a zoom control mechanism unit having a zoom lens and its drive unit, and a focus control mechanism unit having a focus lens and its drive unit, and is controlled from the main control block 7. A signal is supplied to the zoom control mechanism unit and the focus control mechanism unit of the lens unit via the lens control unit, and the zoom control mechanism unit and the focus control mechanism unit are driven and controlled to perform zoom control or focus control. The

  The shutter release button of the operation block 6 is a momentary-type push switch that is operated to instantly open and close the shutter mechanism when pressed by the user. The shutter release button switches between three states: a state where the switch is not pressed at all (off), a state where the switch is fully pressed (deep press), and a state where the switch is pressed halfway (half press). A function is provided. The three pressed states (off, half-pressed, and deep-pressed) of the shutter release button are determined by the main control block 7. Details of the operation of each button of the operation block 6 in the pressed state will be described later.

  The iris mechanism controls the size of the aperture through which light incident through the lens unit is transmitted by a control signal from the main control block 7. The shutter mechanism is driven by a control signal from the main control block 7 in response to the pressing operation of the shutter release button, and controls the exposure time for transmitting the light incident through the lens unit. The amount of exposure light is controlled by controlling the iris mechanism and the shutter mechanism.

  In this example, the CCD image pickup device is configured as a color image pickup device in which a color filter in which a color filter array is two-dimensionally arranged for each pixel in order to obtain color information is provided on the image pickup surface. Thus, an imaging output signal corresponding to the subject image formed on is obtained.

  The analog signal processing circuit is a circuit that performs analog processing such as sampling processing for noise removal by correlated double sampling and amplification processing by automatic gain control on the image signal supplied from the CCD image sensor. The image signal output from the analog signal processing circuit is supplied to the A / D conversion circuit.

  The A / D conversion circuit samples the analog image signal supplied from the analog signal processing circuit at a predetermined sampling rate, and converts it into a digital image signal. The digital image signal output from the A / D conversion circuit is supplied to the digital signal processing circuit.

  The digital signal processing circuit performs various color signal processing on the digital image signal supplied from the A / D conversion circuit, and from this digital image signal, the image signal for one frame period, and for each pixel for taking a still image. An image signal, a detection area parameter signal for autofocus, and various signals necessary for photometry are generated.

  For example, when an image signal for one frame period is generated, a display image signal is generated from the input image signal and supplied to the image display device 3. Further, at the time of still image capturing, one still image signal is generated from the input image signal, encoded, and subjected to processing such as compression, and then supplied to the removable memory 10. At the time of autofocus, a high frequency component in a predetermined area in the screen is detected from the input image signal, a parameter indicating the level of the high frequency component is generated, and supplied to the main control block 7.

  The timing signal generation circuit generates various drive pulses such as vertical and horizontal transfer pulses and field shift pulses required for the CCD image sensor to store and read image signals for each screen. Various pulses generated from the timing signal generation circuit are supplied to the CCD image sensor and used as timing signals for image signal imaging processing and output processing.

  The strobe control unit is a discharge light emitting means such as a so-called xenon lamp, and can emit intense light for a moment and irradiate the subject with light. That is, the strobe control unit can irradiate the subject with a strong flash as auxiliary light for assisting the exposure amount at the time of shooting. Thereby, it is possible to obtain an exposure amount necessary for photographing. The strobe controller is attached to, for example, the front surface or the upper part of the housing, and is provided so as to irradiate light on a subject to be imaged. That is, the strobe control unit is provided so as to irradiate light in the direction of the optical axis of the lens and in the direction from the lens toward the front. The strobe control unit is driven by the charge / light emission control unit, and the light emission timing is controlled by the main control block 7.

Next, the operation of the digital still camera configured as described above will be described.
In the digital still camera of this embodiment, the switching control unit 11 of the main control block 7 determines whether the position is the vertical position or the horizontal position by using the vertical / horizontal vertical detection sensor 9 that detects the orientation of the held camera, and the state The button of the operation block 6 that can be used in accordance with is automatically changed.

  For example, if the release for the vertical position is automatically disabled when in the horizontal position, it will malfunction even if there is a release for the vertical position or various setting buttons at the position where it is touched or grasped by the hand in the horizontal position direction. In addition to being easy to use, it is possible to prevent the overall size of the camera from becoming large, such as a vertical grip.

  Cameras such as single-lens reflex cameras often use different settings such as shutter speed, exposure compensation, AE (auto exposure) lock, ISO sensitivity, strobe, etc. depending on your preference. Also, press the button while turning the dial. In this case, since the camera often shoots with the sides tightened, there are cases where setting becomes extremely difficult when used in a vertical position.

  At that time, using the vertical / horizontal / up / down detection sensor 9, a plurality of buttons having the same function, which are installed in the vertical and horizontal positions, are not used by the switching control unit 11 of the main control block 7. The time is automatically locked. For example, the button for horizontal position is prohibited during vertical shooting.

  In addition, the switching control unit 11 of the main control block 7 automatically replaces the function of a button that is frequently used in the horizontal position with the function of another button that is easily used in the vertical position in the vertical position.

  In addition, by combining the above-described automatic lock and function replacement, it is possible to provide a camera that is easy to use in either vertical or horizontal orientation.

  Further, information such as which buttons are enabled and which buttons are locked, and what function buttons are replaced and the like are automatically displayed on the liquid crystal panel of the image display device 3, and in the vicinity of usable buttons. If the user is contacted by turning on the LED arranged on the camera, a camera that is easier to use can be provided.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of button arrangement, FIG. 2A is a rear view, and FIG. 2B is a side view.
FIG. 2 shows an example of a camera with a button arrangement in which the horizontal position release 21 can be pressed while turning the dial 25 with the right index finger. Here, the dial 25 is disposed on the lens 27 side of the front of the camera, the horizontal position release 21 is disposed at the upper right part of the camera, and the vertical position release 23 is disposed at the lower right part of the camera. Further, a horizontal position strobe button 22 is disposed at the upper center of the camera, and a horizontal position strobe button 24 is disposed at the lower left of the camera.

  Reference numeral 23 denotes a release for the vertical position, which is locked in the horizontal position and does not break even when pressed. As a result, it is possible to place the release 23 for the vertical position on the part touched by the right hand during horizontal shooting.

  Further, as an example, a case of a camera with a button arrangement in which the vertical position release 23 (yellow) is pressed with the right index finger is shown. Reference numeral 23 denotes a release for the vertical position, which is locked in the horizontal position and does not break even when pressed. As a result, it is possible to place the release 23 for the vertical position on the part touched by the right hand during horizontal shooting.

  In addition to the release, the strobe button for setting the strobe mode etc. can also be used with the left hand in the horizontal position while pressing the horizontal strobe button 24 (orange) with the right index finger and turning the dial 25 (blue) with the left hand in the vertical position. By changing the button, such as turning the dial 25 (blue) with the right index finger while using the position strobe button 22 (purple), it is possible to arrange the button at an easy-to-use position.

  Further, the LED disposed near the horizontal position release 21 (red) and the horizontal position flash button 24 (orange) is turned on in the horizontal position, and the vertical position release 23 (yellow) and the vertical position are used in the vertical position. An LED arranged near the strobe button 22 (purple) is turned on, and a button that is selected to be operable in the horizontal position or the vertical position is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 26.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of automatic button locking.
In FIG. 3, the horizontal position release 21 (red) is enabled and usable in the horizontal position, but is locked in the vertical position and disabled. The vertical position release 23 (yellow) is enabled and usable in the vertical position, but is locked in the horizontal position and disabled.

  The button can be used or not used by distinguishing the LED arranged near the button in red or yellow and displayed on the liquid crystal panel 26.

As a result, the vertical position release 23 hits the user's right hand when in the horizontal position, but is in a use-prohibited state, and thus does not malfunction.
Note that the horizontal position release 21 may be in a usable state because it does not hit the user's left hand during the vertical position.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of automatic function replacement of buttons.
In FIG. 4, the green button 41 at the center of the back surface 31 is used as an exposure correction function and the pink button 42 at the top right of the back surface is used as an AE lock function in the horizontal position. While the green button 41 is pressed with the thumb of the right hand and the blue dial 25 shown in FIG. 2 is turned with the index finger of the right hand, the aperture value is adjusted. Is difficult.

  Therefore, the exposure correction function is changed to the pink button 42 near the dial 25 when in the vertical position so that the aperture value can be easily adjusted when the vertical position is set. Incidentally, the pink button 42 in the horizontal position is used as the AE lock function, but in the vertical position, the green button 41 becomes the AE lock function by replacing the function with the green button 41.

  The function switching state of the button is distinguished by the green or pink lighting of the LED arranged near the button and displayed on the liquid crystal panel 26.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the vertical / horizontal / vertical detection sensor.
In FIG. 5, the moving unit G contacts each detection unit by gravity according to the orientation of the apparatus. Thereby, each detection part outputs the output signal of a detection voltage by detecting the contact of the moving part G electrically or magnetically.

  For example, when the moving unit G moves in the x direction due to gravity, the moving unit G contacts the Vx detecting unit. As a result, the Vx detection unit outputs an output signal of the detection voltage Vx. Conversely, when the moving unit G moves in the −x direction opposite to the x direction due to gravity, the moving unit G contacts the −Vx detection unit. As a result, the -Vx detector outputs an output signal of the detected voltage -Vx. At this time, for example, the output signal of the detection voltage Vx by the Vx detector becomes the detection signal in the lateral direction of the apparatus.

  Further, when the moving unit G moves in the y direction perpendicular to the x direction and the vertical plane due to gravity, the moving unit G contacts the Vy detecting unit. Thereby, the Vy detector outputs an output signal of the detection voltage Vy. Conversely, when the moving unit G moves in the −y direction opposite to the y direction due to gravity, the moving unit G contacts the −Vy detection unit. As a result, the -Vx detector outputs an output signal of the detected voltage -Vx. At this time, for example, an output signal of the detection voltage Vy from the Vy detection unit becomes a detection signal in the vertical direction of the apparatus. Further, the output signal of the detection voltage −Vy by the −Vy detection unit is also a detection signal in the vertical direction opposite to the apparatus.

  Further, when the moving unit G moves in the z direction perpendicular to the x direction and the y direction by gravity, the moving unit G contacts the Vz detecting unit. Thereby, the Vz detection unit outputs an output signal of the detection voltage Vz. Conversely, when the moving unit G moves in the −z direction opposite to the z direction due to gravity, the moving unit G contacts the −Vz detecting unit. As a result, the -Vz detection unit outputs an output signal of the detection voltage -Vz. At this time, for example, an output signal of the detection voltage Vz by the Vz detection unit becomes a detection signal in the downward direction of the apparatus. Further, the output signal of the detection voltage −Vz by the −Vz detection unit becomes a detection signal in the upward direction of the apparatus.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a switching control unit that realizes automatic button locking. 6 shows the configuration of the switching control unit 11 of the main control block 7 for automatically locking the buttons of the operation block 6 shown in FIG. 1 in accordance with the detection signal of the vertical / horizontal vertical detection sensor 9 shown in FIG. FIG. FIG. 6 corresponds to the description of FIG. 3 described above.

  In FIG. 6, when the output voltage V21 from the horizontal position release 21 and the output voltage V24 from the horizontal position strobe button 24 are supplied to the valid switching unit (horizontal position) and the invalid switching unit (vertical position) 61, they are valid. When the detection signal from the vertical / horizontal up / down detection sensor 9 is a detection signal Vx indicating the horizontal direction, the switching unit (horizontal position) and the invalid switching unit (vertical position) 61 output the output voltage V21 from the horizontal position release 21 and The output voltage V24 from the horizontal position strobe button 24 is validated, and the processing of the operation using the output voltage V21 from the horizontal position release 21 and the output voltage V24 from the horizontal position strobe button 24 is executed.

  At this time, when the detection signal from the vertical / horizontal vertical detection sensor 9 is the detection signal Vy indicating the vertical direction, the valid switching unit (horizontal position) and the invalid switching unit (vertical position) 61 are from the horizontal position release 21. The output voltage V21 and the output voltage V24 from the horizontal position strobe button 24 are invalidated, and the operation processing by the output voltage V21 from the horizontal position release 21 and the output voltage V24 from the horizontal position strobe button 24 is discontinued. Then, the operation by this is locked.

  When the output voltage V23 from the vertical position release 23 and the output voltage V22 from the vertical position strobe button 22 are supplied to the valid switching unit (vertical position) and the invalid switching unit (horizontal position) 62, the valid switching unit. When the detection signal from the vertical / horizontal up / down detection sensor 9 is the detection signal Vy indicating the vertical direction, the (vertical position) and invalid switching unit (horizontal position) 62 outputs the output voltage V23 from the vertical position release 23 and the vertical position. The output voltage V22 from the strobe button 22 is validated, and the operation processing based on the output voltage V23 from the vertical position release 23 and the output voltage V22 from the vertical position strobe button 22 is executed.

  At this time, the valid switching unit (vertical position) and the invalid switching unit (horizontal position) 62 are detected from the vertical position release 23 when the detection signal from the vertical / horizontal up / down detection sensor 9 is the detection signal Vx indicating the horizontal direction. The output voltage V23 and the output voltage V22 from the vertical position strobe button 22 are invalidated, and the processing of the operation by the output voltage V23 from the vertical position release 23 and the output voltage V22 from the vertical position strobe button 22 is canceled. Then, the operation by this is locked.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a switching control unit that realizes automatic function switching of buttons. 7 shows the configuration of the switching control unit 11 of the main control block 7 for automatically switching the function of the buttons of the operation block 6 shown in FIG. 1 in accordance with the detection signal of the vertical / horizontal vertical detection sensor 9 shown in FIG. FIG. FIG. 7 corresponds to the description of FIG. 4 described above.

  In FIG. 7, an output voltage V41 from an exposure correction button (horizontal position) and an AE lock button (vertical position) 41 is supplied to an exposure correction function switching unit (horizontal position) and an AE lock function switching unit (vertical position) 71. The exposure correction function switching unit (horizontal position) and the AE lock function switching unit (vertical position) 71, when the detection signal from the vertical / horizontal vertical detection sensor 9 is the detection signal Vx indicating the horizontal direction, The output voltage V41 from the horizontal position) and the AE lock button (vertical position) 41 is switched to the exposure correction function, and the exposure correction function by the output voltage V41 from the exposure correction button (horizontal position) and the AE lock button (vertical position) 41. The process of the operation by is executed.

  At this time, the exposure correction function switching unit (horizontal position) and the AE lock function switching unit (vertical position) 71 are displayed when the detection signal from the vertical / horizontal up / down detection sensor 9 is the detection signal Vy indicating the vertical direction. (Horizontal position) and the output voltage V41 from the AE lock button (vertical position) 41 are switched to the AE lock function, and the AE lock is performed by the output voltage V41 from the exposure correction button (horizontal position) and the AE lock button (vertical position) 41. Executes operation processing by function.

  When the output voltage V42 from the AE lock button (horizontal position) and the exposure correction button (vertical position) 42 is supplied to the AE lock function switching unit (horizontal position) and the exposure correction function switching unit (vertical position) 72, The AE lock function switching unit (horizontal position) and the exposure correction function switching unit (vertical position) 72, when the detection signal from the vertical / horizontal up / down detection sensor 9 is the detection signal Vx indicating the horizontal direction, ) And the output voltage V42 from the exposure correction button (vertical position) 42 are switched to the AE lock function, and the operation by the AE lock function by the output voltage V42 from the AE lock button (horizontal position) and the exposure correction button (vertical position) 42 is performed. Execute the process.

  At this time, the AE lock function switching unit (horizontal position) and the exposure correction function switching unit (vertical position) 72, when the detection signal from the vertical / horizontal vertical detection sensor 9 is the detection signal Vy indicating the vertical direction, The output voltage V42 from the (horizontal position) and the exposure correction button (vertical position) 42 is switched to the exposure correction function, and the exposure correction by the output voltage V42 from the AE lock button (horizontal position) and the exposure correction button (vertical position) 42 is performed. Executes operation processing by function.

  Further, not only detection in the vertical and horizontal directions, but also switching control based on detection in the vertical direction as described below may be performed. In this case, it is easier to operate when the button is placed on the back side of the device when it is facing upward, and conversely, when it is facing downward, it is easier to operate when the button is placed on the front side of the device. The case of such an arrangement is described as an example.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a switching control unit that realizes automatic button locking by up and down. FIG. 8 shows the configuration of the switching control unit 11 of the main control block 7 for automatically locking the buttons of the operation block 6 shown in FIG. 1 according to the detection signal of the vertical / horizontal vertical detection sensor 9 shown in FIG. FIG. FIG. 8 corresponds to the description of FIG. 3 described above.

  In FIG. 8, the output voltage V81 from the upper position release (rear side) 81 and the output voltage V82 from the upper position strobe button (rear side) 82 are valid switching units (upper position (rear side)) and invalid switching units. When supplied to (lower position (front side)) 85, the effective switching unit (upper position (rear side)) and the invalid switching unit (lower position (front side)) 85 detect detection signals from the vertical / horizontal vertical detection sensor 9. Is the detection signal −Vz indicating the upward direction, the output voltage V81 from the upper position release (rear side) 81 and the output voltage V82 from the upper position strobe button (rear side) 82 are validated. The processing of the operation by the output voltage V81 from the release (back side) 81 and the output voltage V82 from the upper position strobe button (back side) 82 is executed.

  At this time, the valid switching unit (upper position (rear side)) and the invalid switching unit (lower position (front side)) 85 are when the detection signal from the vertical / horizontal vertical detection sensor 9 is a detection signal Vz indicating a downward direction. The output voltage V81 from the upper position release (rear side) 81 and the output voltage V82 from the upper position strobe button (rear side) 82 are invalidated, and the output voltage V81 from the upper position release (rear side) 81 The processing of the operation by the output voltage V82 from the strobe button for the upper position (back side) 82 is stopped, and the operation by this is locked.

  Also, the output voltage V83 from the lower position release (front side) 83 and the output voltage V84 from the lower position strobe button (front side) 84 are valid switching unit (lower position (front side)) and invalid switching unit (upper side). When supplied to the position (rear side) 86, the effective switching unit (lower position (front side)) and the invalid switching unit (upper position (rear side)) 86 receive a detection signal from the vertical / horizontal vertical detection sensor 9. When the detection signal Vz indicates the direction, the output voltage V83 from the lower position release (front side) 83 and the output voltage V84 from the lower position strobe button (front side) 84 are validated, and the lower position release ( The processing of the operation by the output voltage V83 from the front side 83 and the output voltage V84 from the lower position strobe button (front side) 84 is executed.

  At this time, the valid switching unit (lower position (front side)) and the invalid switching unit (upper position (back side)) 86 are when the detection signal from the vertical / horizontal vertical detection sensor 9 is the detection signal −Vz indicating the upward direction. Invalidates the output voltage V83 from the lower position release (front side) 83 and the output voltage V84 from the lower position strobe button (front side) 84, and outputs the output voltage V83 from the lower position release (front side) 83. And the processing of the operation by the output voltage V84 from the strobe button for lower position (front side) 84 is stopped, and the operation by this is locked.

  In the case of upward, it is easier to operate buttons that require relatively simple operation on the front side of the device, and buttons that require relatively complicated operations on the back side. In some cases, it is easier to operate buttons that require relatively complicated operations on the front side of the device, and buttons that require relatively simple operations on the front side of the device. The case is described as an example.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a switching control unit that realizes automatic function switching of buttons by up and down. 9 shows the configuration of the switching control unit 11 of the main control block 7 for automatically switching the function of the buttons of the operation block 6 shown in FIG. 1 in accordance with the detection signal of the vertical / horizontal vertical detection sensor 9 shown in FIG. FIG. FIG. 9 corresponds to the description of FIG. 4 described above.

  In FIG. 9, the output voltage V91 from the exposure correction button (upper position (rear side)) and AE lock button (lower position (rear side)) 91 is the exposure correction function switching unit (upper position (rear side)) and AE lock. When supplied to the function switching unit (lower position (rear side)) 93, the exposure correction function switching unit (upper position (rear side)) and the AE lock function switching unit (lower position (rear side)) 93 are vertically and horizontally up and down. When the detection signal from the detection sensor 9 is the detection signal −Vz indicating the upward direction, the output voltage V91 from the exposure correction button (upper position (rear side)) and the AE lock button (lower position (rear side)) 91. Is switched to the exposure correction function, and the processing of the operation by the exposure correction function by the output voltage V91 from the exposure correction button (upper position (back side)) and the AE lock button (lower position (back side)) 91 is executed.

  At this time, the exposure correction function switching unit (upper position (rear side)) and the AE lock function switching unit (lower position (rear side)) 93 detect the detection signal Vz indicating that the detection signal from the vertical / horizontal vertical detection sensor 9 indicates the downward direction. , The output voltage V91 from the exposure compensation button (up position (rear side)) and AE lock button (lower position (rear side)) 91 is switched to the AE lock function, and the exposure compensation button (up position (rear side)) is switched. Side)) and an AE lock button (lower position (rear side)) 91, and the processing of the operation by the AE lock function by the output voltage V91 is executed.

  The output voltage V92 from the AE lock button (up position (front side)) and the exposure correction button (down position (front side)) 92 is changed to the AE lock function switching unit (upper position (front side)) and exposure correction function switching. AE lock function switching unit (upper position (front side)) and exposure correction function switching unit (lower position (front side)) 94 are vertically and horizontally up / down detection sensors. 9 is the detection signal −Vz indicating the upward direction, the output voltage V92 from the AE lock button (upper position (front side)) and the exposure correction button (lower position (front side)) 92 is AE. By switching to the lock function, the processing of the operation by the AE lock function by the output voltage V92 from the AE lock button (upper position (front side)) and the exposure correction button (lower position (front side)) 92 is executed.

  At this time, the AE lock function switching unit (upper position (front side)) and the exposure correction function switching unit (lower position (front side)) 94 detect the detection signal Vz in which the detection signal from the vertical / horizontal vertical detection sensor 9 indicates the downward direction. , The output voltage V92 from the AE lock button (upper position (front side)) and exposure correction button (lower position (front side)) 92 is switched to the exposure correction function, and the AE lock button (upper position (front side)) is switched. Side)) and an exposure correction button (lower position (front side)) 92, the processing of the operation by the exposure correction function by the output voltage V92 is executed.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a frame table for vertical and horizontal composition. FIG. 10 shows the composition for portrait and landscape when the switching control unit 11 of the main control block 7 shown in FIG. 1 performs composition processing on the captured image in response to the detection signal of the portrait, landscape, and vertical detection sensor 9 shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows a frame table.

  In FIG. 10, the horizontal image 104 is processed to be combined with the horizontal composite frame 103 stored in the horizontal composite frame table 101, and the vertical composite frame table 102 is processed with respect to the vertical image 106. Are processed so as to synthesize the vertical composite frame 105 stored in the.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and other functions of the imaging apparatus may be controlled to be switched according to detection of various directions of the apparatus.

It is a figure block diagram which shows the structure of the imaging device of embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of button arrangement | positioning, FIG. 2A is a rear view, FIG. 2B is a side view. It is a figure which shows the example of the automatic lock of a button. It is a figure which shows the example of a function automatic exchange of a button. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a vertical / horizontal top / bottom detection sensor. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the switching control part which implement | achieves the automatic lock of a button. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the switching control part which implement | achieves the function automatic replacement | exchange of a button. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the switching control part which implement | achieves the automatic lock of the button by up-down. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the switching control part which implement | achieves the automatic function switching of the button by up-down. It is a figure which shows the frame table for vertical / horizontal composition.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Camera block, 2 ... Image processing block, 3 ... Image display apparatus, 4 ... SDRAM, 6 ... Operation block, 7 ... Control block, 8 ... Removable memory controller, 9 ... Vertical / horizontal vertical detection sensor, 10 ... Removable memory, 11 ... Switch control unit, 21 ... Horizontal position release, 22 ... Horizontal position strobe button, 23 ... Vertical position release, 24 ... Vertical position strobe button, 25 ... Dial, 26 ... Liquid crystal panel, 27 ... Lens, 31, 43 ... Back, 9 ... 10 ... 41 ... Green button (exposure correction (horizontal position), AE lock (vertical position)), 42 ... Pink button (AE lock (horizontal position), exposure correction (vertical position)), 101 ... Horizontal composite frame table, 102 ... Vertical composite frame table,

Claims (5)

In an imaging device that captures an image of a subject with an imaging unit via an optical system,
Operating means for enabling operation of the optical system or imaging of a subject image by the imaging means;
Detecting means for detecting vertical and horizontal arrangements of the imaging device;
An image pickup apparatus comprising: a switching control unit that performs control so as to selectively switch any one of the operations by the plurality of operation units in accordance with vertical, horizontal, vertical and vertical detection signals detected by the detection unit. The imaging device according to claim 1,
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the switching control unit enables or disables an operation by any of the operation units in accordance with the vertical / horizontal / up / down detection signals.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the switching control unit switches functions of any of the operation units in accordance with the detection signals in the vertical and horizontal directions.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the switching control unit switches an image synthesis frame by any of the operation units in accordance with the vertical / horizontal / up / down detection signals.   The switching control means displays an selective switching state of operations by the plurality of operation means on a display unit.

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