JP2006093814A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus in which the number of buttons can be decreased by assigning a mode depending on the posture of the imaging apparatus because "photography state is brought about upon turn on power" and switching can be made between photography and reproduction by simply altering the posture of the imaging apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: When the posture of the imaging apparatus is upside down, an operation mode different from photography mode, e.g. reproduction or communication, is assigned. Usually, photography mode is set at the time of turn on power. If a finger is not touching a shutter button in downward (ground surface) photography posture, reproduction mode is assigned. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an imaging signal processing system and a photographing / reproducing operation control system of a digital still camera using a conventional solid-state imaging device.

  In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an optical system. The optical system 1 includes a lens for imaging a subject on an image plane, a diaphragm for controlling the amount of image plane light, a mechanical shutter for irradiating light from the lens on the image plane only for a necessary time, and the like. Composed. Reference numeral 2 denotes a solid-state image sensor for converting an image of the formed light into an electrical signal, and reference numeral 3 denotes an analog signal processing circuit. The analog signal processing circuit 3 includes a clamp circuit that clamps the analog signal to a reference potential, an AGC circuit that controls gain, an AD conversion circuit that converts the analog signal into a digital signal, and the like. 4 is a digital signal processing circuit that performs image processing on the input signal converted into a digital signal, 5 is an internal storage device that is temporarily used when image processing is performed by the digital signal processing circuit, and 6 is generated by the digital signal processing circuit. An external storage device 7 for storing the image, and a display means 7 for displaying the image generated by the digital signal processing circuit or for displaying the setting / information of the imaging device.

  8 is a CPU / control circuit for controlling 1-7, and 9 is an input operation means for the user to set and instruct camera operation.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing input operation means relating to power-on of the digital still camera and switching of the photographing / playback mode. FIG. 3A shows an example of a switch whose center position is in a power-off state. When shooting (REC), the power is turned on by tilting the switch to the left, and during playback (PLAY), tilting the switch to the right. (B) is an example of a dial switch. When shooting, the power is turned on as a playback mode by rotating by one click and by further rotating by one click (two clicks in total) during playback. Also, (c) is an example in which the camera power supply and the input unit for the shooting / playback mode are independent, unlike (a) and (b). When the POWER switch is pressed with the REC-PLAY slide switch on the left in the figure pressed, power is turned on in the shooting state, and when the POWER switch is pressed with the slide switch turned to the right, power is turned on in the playback state.
JP-A-2-96979

  As described above, the input operation means shown as the conventional example mainly has the following three problems.

  The first is that “power-on = shooting state” does not occur when power is turned on. This requires that the photographer must turn on the power after taking the image.

  The second problem is that even if there are only two operations of shooting and reproduction, there are a plurality of buttons and a procedure is difficult to understand.

  Third, the presence of a plurality of buttons increases the proportion of the input operation means in the limited surface area of the imaging device, which may hinder downsizing of the imaging device itself and is difficult for the photographer to use. For example, it is forced to arrange an unreasonable input operation means.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above points. When the power is turned on, “power-on = shooting state” is established, and it is possible to switch between shooting and playback only by changing the posture of the imaging device. An object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus that can reduce the number of buttons by assigning modes.

  The present invention can solve the above problems by providing the following configuration.

  An optical system that forms an image of a subject, a solid-state imaging device that photoelectrically converts an incident image, an analog signal processing circuit, a digital signal processing circuit, and a storage unit that stores an image generated by the digital signal processing circuit; An image pickup apparatus including display means for displaying images and settings, input operation means that can be set by a photographer, and attitude detection means for detecting the attitude of the image pickup apparatus, and having different operating states depending on the detected attitude This is achieved by an imaging device characterized by assigning.

  An optical system that forms an image of a subject, a solid-state imaging device that photoelectrically converts an incident image, an analog signal processing circuit, a digital signal processing circuit, and a storage unit that stores an image generated by the digital signal processing circuit; An image pickup apparatus including display means for displaying images and settings, input operation means that can be set by a photographer, and attitude detection means for detecting the attitude of the image pickup apparatus, and having different operating states depending on the detected attitude This is achieved by an imaging device characterized by assigning different motions between the front shooting posture and other postures.

  An optical system that forms an image of a subject, a solid-state imaging device that photoelectrically converts an incident image, an analog signal processing circuit, a digital signal processing circuit, and a storage unit that stores an image generated by the digital signal processing circuit; An image pickup apparatus including display means for displaying images and settings, input operation means that can be set by a photographer, and attitude detection means for detecting the attitude of the image pickup apparatus, and having different operating states depending on the detected attitude This is achieved by an imaging device characterized by assigning different motions in an upside down posture and in other postures.

  An optical system that forms an image of a subject, a solid-state imaging device that photoelectrically converts an incident image, an analog signal processing circuit, a digital signal processing circuit, and a storage unit that stores an image generated by the digital signal processing circuit; An image pickup apparatus including display means for displaying images and settings, input operation means that can be set by a photographer, and attitude detection means for detecting the attitude of the image pickup apparatus, and having different operating states depending on the detected attitude In the imaging device characterized by assigning, in the imaging device characterized by assigning different motions between the upside down posture and the other postures, the normal posture is the shooting state, and the upside down posture is the reproduction state. This is achieved by an imaging apparatus characterized by the above.

  An optical system that forms an image of a subject, a solid-state imaging device that photoelectrically converts an incident image, an analog signal processing circuit, a digital signal processing circuit, and a storage unit that stores an image generated by the digital signal processing circuit; An image pickup apparatus including display means for displaying images and settings, input operation means that can be set by a photographer, and attitude detection means for detecting the attitude of the image pickup apparatus, and having different operating states depending on the detected attitude In the imaging device characterized by assigning, the imaging device characterized by assigning different motions in the upside down posture and in other postures is in the shooting state in the normal posture and in the communication state in the upside down posture. This is achieved by an imaging apparatus characterized by the above.

  An optical system that forms an image of a subject, a solid-state imaging device that photoelectrically converts an incident image, an analog signal processing circuit, a digital signal processing circuit, and a storage unit that stores an image generated by the digital signal processing circuit; An image pickup apparatus including display means for displaying images and settings, input operation means that can be set by a photographer, and attitude detection means for detecting the attitude of the image pickup apparatus, and having different operating states depending on the detected attitude This is achieved by an imaging device characterized by assigning an image to the playback state if no finger is placed on the shooting button (shutter button).

  An optical system that forms an image of a subject, a solid-state imaging device that photoelectrically converts an incident image, an analog signal processing circuit, a digital signal processing circuit, and a storage unit that stores an image generated by the digital signal processing circuit; An image pickup apparatus including display means for displaying images and settings, input operation means that can be set by a photographer, and attitude detection means for detecting the attitude of the image pickup apparatus, and having different operating states depending on the detected attitude This is achieved by the imaging device characterized in that, in an imaging device characterized by assigning, in a downward direction, that is, in a posture facing the ground, if a finger is not placed on the shooting button (shutter button), a reproduction state is set.

  The input operation means shown as a conventional example has the following three main problems.

  The first is that “power-on = shooting state” does not occur when power is turned on. This requires that the photographer must turn on the power after taking the image.

  The second problem is that even if there are only two operations of shooting and reproduction, there are a plurality of buttons and a procedure is difficult to understand.

  Third, the presence of a plurality of buttons increases the proportion of the input operation means in the limited surface area of the imaging device, which may hinder downsizing of the imaging device itself and is difficult for the photographer to use. For example, it is forced to arrange an unreasonable input operation means.

  As described above, the input operation means shown as the embodiment mainly has the following three effects. First, when the power is turned on, “power-on = shooting state” becomes possible. Since this assigns only the posture of a specific imaging device as a playback mode, all power-on operations in the normal state are in the photographing state. Secondly, it is possible to switch between photographing and reproduction only by a very simple operation of only changing the posture of the imaging apparatus. Third, it is possible to reduce the number of buttons by assigning a mode according to the attitude of the imaging apparatus to change the mode that has been conventionally performed by button operation. This contributes to downsizing of the image pickup apparatus.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples.

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

  FIG. 4 shows an example of input operation means of the solid-state imaging device that can be achieved in the present invention.

[First embodiment]
In normal shooting, there are postures such as a normal position (front), an upward direction, a downward direction, a vertical position, and the like, and it is impossible to take an image with an upside down posture in an imaging device with a shutter button on the top. Therefore, in the present invention, the upside down posture of the imaging apparatus is assigned to a mode other than the shooting mode.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the present embodiment. FIG. 5A is a diagram showing normal photographing (particularly showing the normal position), and the instant photographing mode is set when the power is turned on. In this figure, the photographer is informed of the photographing mode by displaying “REC” on the display means, but this may be a lamp that exists separately.

  Next, FIG. 5B is a diagram showing the reproduction mode by turning the imaging apparatus upside down.

  Although not shown in the figure, when it is possible to communicate with other devices wirelessly or the like, the upside-down posture of the imaging apparatus is communicated with a personal computer as shown in FIG. 5C, FIG. Communication with other printers is also possible.

[Second Example]
If it is possible to detect whether or not there is a finger on the shutter button, it is possible to assign another mode other than the upside down posture as in the first embodiment.

  Whether the shutter button has a finger can be detected by using a pressure sensor, a fingerprint sensor, a temperature sensor, or the like.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining this embodiment. FIG. 6A shows a shooting mode because a finger is placed on the shutter button, and FIG. 6B shows a playback mode because no finger is placed.

  As described above, the first and second embodiments have been described. However, since there is a possibility that the photographer can perform a photographing operation that cannot be assumed, the photographer can separately set whether to permit reproduction or the like upside down. preferable.

  Also, since there are cases where the shutter is released without touching the direct imaging device such as remote control shooting or timer shooting, in those shooting modes, the shooting mode is set even if the shutter button is not in the down (ground) orientation. Or measures such as not changing the mode are required.

The block diagram which shows the structure of the imaging device of this invention Block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional imaging device The figure which shows the example of the input operation means in connection with the conventional power activation and imaging | photography mode The figure which shows the example of the input operation means of the imaging device in this invention Explanatory drawing of upside down posture in the present invention Explanatory drawing of the downward (ground) orientation in the present invention

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Optical system 2 Solid-state image sensor 3 Analog signal processing circuit 4 Digital signal processing circuit 5 Internal storage device 6 External storage device 7 Display means 8 CPU / control circuit 9 Input operation means 10 Posture detection means

Claims (7)

  An optical system that forms an image of a subject, a solid-state imaging device that photoelectrically converts an incident image, an analog signal processing circuit, a digital signal processing circuit, and a storage unit that stores an image generated by the digital signal processing circuit; An image pickup apparatus including display means for displaying images and settings, input operation means that can be set by a photographer, and attitude detection means for detecting the attitude of the image pickup apparatus, and having different operating states depending on the detected attitude An imaging device characterized by assigning.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein different operations are assigned in a front shooting posture and in other postures.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein different operations are assigned in an upside down posture and in other postures.   4. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging apparatus is in a shooting state in a normal posture and is in a reproduction state in an upside down attitude.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging apparatus is in a shooting state in a normal posture and is in a communication state in an upside down attitude.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a reproduction state is set unless a finger is placed on the shooting button (shutter button).   7. The imaging apparatus according to claim 6, wherein when the finger is not placed on the shooting button (shutter button) when the posture is facing downward, that is, facing the ground, the imaging apparatus is in a playback state.

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