JP2006093765A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus capable of realizing the operability immediately responding to the intention of a photographer in the case of executing a focus operation by manual focusing. <P>SOLUTION: The imaging apparatus includes a slide mechanism section 16 capable of being manually slid, and when a slide operation is applied to the slide mechanism section 16, the slide mechanism section 16 drives a focus lens drive section 15 in response to the slide operation to change a position of a focus lens 11. Further, a display image displayed on a display section 14 is switched into an image with high definition to allow a user to visually recognize a focusing state of an imaged image in an imaging section 12. The user operates the slide mechanism section 16 while confirming a focus state of the display image of the display section 14 to be able to simply and quickly carry out manual focus adjustment. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus, and more specifically, to an imaging apparatus having a manual focus function provided in a digital camera or a portable terminal with a camera function.

  Digital cameras, and mobile terminals with camera functions in which camera functions are added to mobile phones, PDAs, and the like have become widespread. The focus adjustment of the digital camera or the camera of the mobile terminal with a camera function is generally performed by an autofocus function, that is, a so-called autofocus function. In addition to the normal autofocus function, this type of camera is provided with a manual focus adjustment function, that is, a manual focus function. However, the frequency of use of the manual focus adjustment function by the user is low, and even when the user uses it, the lens drive operability is poor, and the focus adjustment is often difficult due to the small display size.

  For example, when performing focus adjustment by manual focus in an imaging device of a digital camera or a camera-equipped mobile terminal, the user can better determine the focus state of a captured image by increasing the display screen size of an LCD or the like as much as possible. It becomes easier to use with improved usability. However, as described above, in particular, a portable terminal with a camera function such as a mobile phone or a PDA has a limit on the display screen size, which is very difficult to use at present.

  Camera functions added to many current portable terminals are increasing in pixel count, and it is possible to take a picture with a considerably large number of pixels compared to the number of pixels of a display device. That is, normally, the captured image is greatly reduced and displayed on the display screen. Here, in the reduction process, since the pixels are generally averaged for reduction, the edge component necessary for focus determination tends to be lost, and the focus determination becomes more difficult.

For example, in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, a part of a captured image displayed on a display device is cut out and displayed by using a display changeover switch when performing manual focus. Thus, an electronic camera is disclosed in which focus adjustment is performed with high accuracy. Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which a sensor that detects whether or not a hand touching a member that performs a manual operation is provided and display switching is performed when the hand touches the member.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-298791 JP 2002-51239 A

When shooting with manual focus, especially when shooting using the camera function of mobile terminals such as mobile phones and PDAs, the display screen of the LCD that displays the captured image when performing focus adjustment is small. Manual focus adjustment is difficult.
In addition, regarding the camera function of the mobile terminal, since the lens is driven by pressing a key when performing adjustment by manual focus, there is a problem that the operability is poor and the lens cannot be driven smoothly. This is one of the causes that make it difficult to use the focus.

  Further, the techniques of Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 have a problem that the focus adjustment and the cut-out display operation are separated and the operability is poor. Further, in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to separately provide a sensor for detecting that a hand performing manual operation is touched, which is disadvantageous in terms of cost, and in order to restore the display, a manual is required. There is a problem that it is necessary to release the hand from the member to be operated, and the operability is deteriorated. Further, in Patent Document 2, since the lens part protruding in front of the camera body is an essential constituent requirement, there is a problem that versatility is low and the usage frequency is extremely limited.

  The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances as described above, and in a digital camera, a portable terminal having a camera function, etc., when performing a focus operation by manual focus, an operability that immediately responds to the intention of the photographer. It is another object of the present invention to provide an imaging apparatus that can be realized and that can easily perform focus adjustment even in a display apparatus with a small display screen.

  In order to solve the above problems, a first technical means includes a focus lens, a focus lens driving unit that drives the focus lens in a focal direction, an imaging unit that performs imaging with light incident through the focus lens, and an imaging In the imaging apparatus having the display unit that displays the displayed image, the imaging apparatus includes a slide mechanism unit that can be manually operated by a slide operation. When the slide operation is performed on the slide mechanism unit, the imaging apparatus performs the slide operation. Accordingly, the focus lens driving unit is driven to change the position of the focus lens, and the display screen displayed on the display unit is switched to a high-definition image so that the in-focus state of the captured image in the imaging unit can be visually recognized. It is characterized by that.

  The second technical means is the first technical means, when the number of pixels that can be displayed on the display unit is set to be smaller than the number of pixels of the captured image of the imaging unit, and the slide mechanism unit is not operated. The image captured by the imaging unit is reduced and displayed on the display unit, and when a slide operation is performed on the slide mechanism unit, the reduced image is switched to a high-definition image. Is.

  A third technical means is characterized in that, in the second technical means, the high-definition image is an image generated by cutting out a part of the image picked up by the image pickup unit and performing a reduction process. It is a thing.

  According to a fourth technical means, in any one of the first to third technical means, the slide mechanism unit changes a resistance value according to a slide operation of the slide mechanism unit, whereby a voltage value corresponding to the slide operation is obtained. The focus lens driving unit changes the position of the focus lens based on a change in voltage value.

  According to a fifth technical means, in any one of the first to fourth technical means, the imaging device detects that the slide operation is finished after the slide operation of the slide mechanism unit is performed, and displays the result on the display unit. The display screen to be returned is returned to the state before the slide operation is performed.

  According to the present invention, in a digital camera or a portable terminal with a camera function, as a means for performing manual focus adjustment, using a slide mechanism unit having a slide function, driving a focus lens according to the slide operation, By switching the display screen, it is possible to realize operability that immediately responds to the intention of the photographer, and it is possible to easily perform focus adjustment even in a display device having a small number of display pixels.

  As described above, in an imaging apparatus having a configuration for displaying a captured image on a display screen, the captured image is usually greatly reduced and displayed on the display screen. In the reduction process, since the pixels are generally averaged for reduction, the edge component necessary for focus determination tends to be lost, which makes it more difficult to determine focus.

  In the present invention, a part of the picked-up image before reduction, in which no edge component is missing, is basically appropriate, but the center part of the image is appropriate. Then, by displaying the cut image on the display screen, a high-definition image at a level at which the focus can be determined visually is displayed. The switching operation for displaying a part of the pre-reduced image on the display screen is automatically executed in conjunction with manual focus adjustment. It is possible to provide an imaging apparatus capable of performing the above adjustment.

In addition, a slide mechanism unit is provided as an operation means for performing focus adjustment.
For example, in a portable terminal that is assumed to be easy to carry, the size of each operation member, accessory member, and the like provided in the portable terminal is necessarily limited. On the other hand, in the present invention, the slide mechanism portion is constituted by a part having a slide mechanism such as a slide volume, and is used as an operation means for driving the focus lens. Such a slide volume is often provided as a small component, and since the area is not so large, it is not difficult to add it to a portable terminal. By using a part having such a slide mechanism as an operation means for driving the lens of the camera, the operability can be significantly improved. The focus adjustment by operating the slide mechanism and the switching of the display screen are performed in conjunction with each other, so that the convenience of manual focus on a portable terminal or the like is improved and the use frequency is expected to increase. can do.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of an imaging device of the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a configuration example of an embodiment of an imaging apparatus of the present invention.
The imaging device 1 includes a focus lens 11 that changes a focal length by moving in the focal direction, and an imaging unit 12 that performs imaging with light incident through the focus lens 11 using an imaging element such as a CCD or a CMOS sensor. The image processing unit 13 that performs image processing such as reduction on the captured image obtained by the imaging unit 12 and generates a display image, and the display unit that displays the display image processed by the image processing unit 13 14, a lens drive unit 15 that drives the focus lens 11 in the focus direction for focus adjustment, a slide mechanism unit 16 including a slide volume having a slide mechanism, and a signal from the slide mechanism unit 16 The control unit 17 controls the lens driving unit 15, the image processing unit 13, the display unit 14, and the like.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a normal captured image and a display image on the display unit in the imaging apparatus. As described above, the number of pixels of the imaging unit 12 is considerably larger than the number of pixels of the display unit 14. Normally, the captured image 20 is reduced by the image processing unit 13 and the display image 21 is displayed. Is generated and displayed on the display unit 14. In this example, the captured image of the imaging unit 12 has a pixel number of 768 × 1024, and the display unit 14 can display a pixel number of 240 × 320.

The slide mechanism unit 16 is configured by a slide volume whose resistance value is changed by a slide operation. When the slide mechanism unit 16 is operated by a user, a variable voltage is applied according to the change of the resistance value. It can be easily generated.
The control unit 17 can detect that the slide mechanism unit 16 is manually operated by monitoring the voltage value of the slide mechanism unit 16. When the slide mechanism unit 16 is operated, it is recognized that the focus of the camera is being adjusted.

  When the control unit 17 detects that the slide mechanism unit 16 is manually operated, the control unit 17 controls the image processing unit 13 and the display unit 14 to cut out a part of the image captured by the imaging unit 12 and display the display unit. 14 is displayed. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the processing example. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the control unit 17 cuts out a part of the captured image 20 by the imaging unit 12, generates a display image 22, and causes the display unit 14 to display the display image 22. That is, here, using the operation of the slide mechanism unit 16 as a trigger, the display on the display unit 14 is switched from a state where a normal reduced image is displayed to a state where a part of the captured image is displayed. Since an image obtained by cutting out a part of the image is not subjected to normal reduction processing, a higher-definition image can be obtained as compared with a normal reduced image, and visibility in a focus state can be improved.

  The control unit 17 controls the lens driving unit 15 in accordance with the voltage value of the slide mechanism unit 16 and sets the position of the focus lens 11 simultaneously with the display switching as described above. That is, here, when the user manually changes the slide volume of the slide mechanism unit 16, the focus of the focus lens is automatically changed according to the position of the slide volume.

  With the above configuration, the movement of the focus lens 11 (focus adjustment) and the display switching of the display unit 14 useful for determining the focus adjustment can be performed simultaneously by operating the slide mechanism unit 16. The user can perform manual focus adjustment simply and quickly by operating the slide mechanism unit 16 while confirming the focus state of the display image on the display unit 14.

  When the focus adjustment operation by the user is completed, the voltage value of the slide mechanism unit 16 is naturally stabilized. Since the control unit 17 monitors the voltage value of the slide mechanism unit 16, if the voltage value does not change for a predetermined period, it can be recognized that the focus adjustment state has ended. Therefore, the control unit 17 controls the image processing unit 13 and the display unit 14 to switch the display of the display unit 14 so as to return to the display state before the focus adjustment state as shown in FIG.

  As described above, in the manual focus operation in which the user manually adjusts the focus, the slide mechanism unit 16 using the slide mechanism is used as an operation unit for driving the focus lens 11, so that the smooth focus lens 11 can be used. Drive can be performed. Further, when the focus lens 11 is driven, the display on the display unit 14 is automatically switched, so that the focus adjustment state can be visually confirmed, and accurate manual focus adjustment can be performed easily and smoothly. In addition, it can be performed at a low cost.

  Further, if the driving of the focus lens by the lens driving unit 15 is based on voltage value control, the focus lens 11 can be controlled by outputting the variable voltage signal of the slide mechanism unit 16 directly to the lens driving unit 15. At this time, the control unit 17 only needs to detect a change in the voltage value of the slide mechanism unit 16 and switch the display of the display unit 14, so that manual focus adjustment can be performed with a simpler configuration.

It is a figure for demonstrating the structural example of one Embodiment of the imaging device of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the captured image at the normal time in an imaging device, and the display image of a display part. It is a figure which shows an example of the captured image at the time of manual focus adjustment in an imaging device, and the display image of a display part.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Imaging device, 11 ... Focus lens, 12 ... Imaging part, 13 ... Image processing part, 14 ... Display part, 15 ... Lens drive part, 16 ... Slide mechanism part, 17 ... Control part, 20 ... Captured image, 21, 22: Display image.

Claims (5)

  An imaging apparatus having a focus lens, a focus lens driving unit that drives the focus lens in a focal direction, an imaging unit that performs imaging using light incident through the focus lens, and a display unit that displays the captured image In this case, the imaging apparatus has a slide mechanism portion that can be manually slid. When the slide operation is performed on the slide mechanism portion, the image pickup apparatus drives the focus lens drive portion according to the slide operation. And changing the position of the focus lens and switching the display screen displayed on the display unit to a high-definition image so that the in-focus state of the captured image in the imaging unit can be visually recognized. .   The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the number of pixels that can be displayed on the display unit is set to be smaller than the number of pixels of the captured image of the imaging unit, and when the slide mechanism unit is not operated, The image captured by the imaging unit is reduced and displayed on the display unit, and the slide image is switched from the reduced image to the high-definition image when a slide operation is performed on the slide mechanism unit. An imaging apparatus characterized by the above.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the high-definition image is an image generated by cutting out a part of an image captured by the imaging unit and not performing the reduction process. .   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the slide mechanism unit outputs a voltage value corresponding to the slide operation by changing a resistance value according to the slide operation of the slide mechanism unit. An imaging apparatus configured to be capable of changing the position of the focus lens based on a change in the voltage value.   5. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the imaging device detects that the slide operation has been completed after the slide operation of the slide mechanism unit has been performed, and displays the slide unit on the display unit. An imaging apparatus, wherein a display screen is returned to a state before the slide operation is performed.

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