JP2006148393A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus for relieving labor and time to minutely confirm a focusing state. <P>SOLUTION: The imaging apparatus includes: an imaging part having an imaging element to pick up the optical image of a subject which is projected via an attached lens; a display unit 60 having a display element to display the image by previewing which is obtained by imaging; an input means to be used for setting position relations among first and second specified positions P1, P2, and first and second specified ranges R1, R2 with the first and second specified positions P1, P2 as a center in the optical image, and a plurality of lenses and the imaging element; a moving means for moving at least one of the lenses and the imaging element so as to establish the plurality of position relations; and a control unit for magnifying areas corresponding to the first and second specified ranges R1, R2 to be larger than the ones displayed by previewing concerning the images which are obtained by imaging, when the position relations are established by the moving means, and displaying the areas in the display part 60. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus for confirming a focus state in detail.

  A digital camera having an image sensor has been proposed. In many cases, the number of pixels of the display element of the display unit included in the digital camera is smaller than the number of pixels of the imaging element. In this case, in order to display the entire image obtained by imaging on the display unit, the image data must be thinned out and resized. It is difficult to confirm the exact focus state by looking at the resized image.

Patent Document 1 discloses an apparatus that displays an image with a small number of thinning-outs in order to check a focus state.
JP-A-11-341315

  However, in the apparatus according to Patent Document 1, if the user is not satisfied with the focus state by confirming the displayed image with a small number of thinned-out images, it is necessary to change the lens position again and repeat the same operation.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus that reduces the trouble of confirming a detailed focus state.

  An imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes an imaging unit having an imaging element that captures an optical image of a subject projected through an attached lens, and a display unit having a display element that displays a preview of an image obtained by imaging. , A specific position in the optical image, a specific range centered on the specific position, input means used to set the positional relationship between the plurality of lenses and the image sensor, and the lens so that the multiple positional relationships are established. The moving unit that moves at least one of the imaging elements, and the moving unit expands the area corresponding to the specific range compared to the preview display for the image obtained by imaging when each of the plurality of positional relationships is established. A control unit for displaying on the display unit.

  Preferably, the number of pixels of the imaging element is larger than the number of pixels of the display element.

  More preferably, the number of pixels in the area corresponding to the specific range of the image sensor is equal to the number of pixels in the area corresponding to the specific range of the display element.

  Preferably, the control unit controls the moving unit, and the moving unit includes an actuator that moves at least one of the lens and the image sensor so that a plurality of positional relationships are established.

  Preferably, the moving unit includes a detecting unit that specifies a positional relationship between the lens and the image sensor, and the display unit displays an image of an area corresponding to the specific range for an image obtained by imaging. The positional relationship specified by the detecting means is displayed.

  Preferably, the control unit detects a contrast value of a region corresponding to a specific range of the image obtained by imaging, and the display unit displays a region corresponding to the specific range of the image obtained by imaging. Display the contrast value.

  Preferably, the input unit selects an image obtained by capturing an image when the positional relationship between an appropriate lens and the image sensor is selected from images of a region corresponding to a plurality of specific ranges displayed by the display unit. Used to do.

  Preferably, when obtaining an image of a region corresponding to a specific range of an image obtained by imaging, the image pickup device sweeps out only charges accumulated in pixels corresponding to the specific range.

  More preferably, the imaging device is a CMOS.

  Preferably, the positional relationship between the lens and the image sensor is set in order to confirm the focus state of the area corresponding to the specific range.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an imaging apparatus that reduces the trouble of detailed focus state confirmation.

  Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The imaging apparatus 1 includes a tilt camera 10, a control unit 50, a display unit 60, and an input unit 70 (see FIG. 1). In order to describe the direction, the imaging apparatus 1 is orthogonal to the optical axis LX in a state where the tilting is not performed (a neutral state where the optical axis LX of the interchangeable lens 11 intersects the imaging surface of the imaging element 31 perpendicularly). The horizontal direction to be described is a first direction x, the vertical direction orthogonal to the optical axis LX is a second direction y, and the horizontal direction parallel to the optical axis LX is a third direction z.

  In the present embodiment, a line connecting the centers of curvature of the lens curved surfaces is defined as an optical axis LX.

  The tilt photographing camera 10 is a digital camera capable of parallel tilt (rise fall and shift tilt) and tilt tilt (swing and tilt tilt). The tilting camera 10 includes an interchangeable lens 11, a front part 20, a rear part 30, a front part moving unit 40, and a lens information reading part 41.

  The interchangeable lens 11 is attached to the lens mount portion 21 of the front portion 20. Interchangeable lenses 11 having different focal lengths are prepared in accordance with the photographing purpose.

  The front portion 20 is movable in the first direction x, and thereby shift tilt is possible. The front portion 20 can move in the second direction y, thereby enabling rise / fall orientation. The front portion 20 can be tilted about an axis parallel to the first direction x, and can be tilted about an axis parallel to the second direction y.

  The front unit 20 includes an AF motor 25 and a lens movement amount information reading unit 26. The AF motor 25 drives the focusing lens FL of the interchangeable lens 11. The lens movement amount information reading unit 26 detects the movement amount mf of the focusing lens FL based on information from the encoder 11b.

  The interchangeable lens 11 includes a ROM 11a and an encoder 11b in which lens specific data relating to the optical characteristics of the photographing optical system is stored.

  The focusing lens FL of the interchangeable lens 11 is moved in the optical axis LX direction by the AF motor 25. Thereby, a focusing operation is performed.

  When the interchangeable lens 11 is attached to the front portion 20, the first communication contact pin 11c provided on the interchangeable lens 11 and the second communication contact pin 21c provided on the lens mount portion 21 of the front portion 20 are used. The lens-specific data can be detected. The lens specific data is information relating to the focal length, the maximum aperture value, the minimum aperture value, and the diameter of the image circle.

  The encoder 11b detects position information of the focusing lens FL in the optical axis LX direction. When the interchangeable lens 11 is attached to the front portion 20, the optical axis LX direction from the focusing lens FL position when focusing on a subject at infinity via the first and second communication contact pins 11c and 21c. The feed amount data corresponding to the feed amount to the subject side can be detected.

  The rear unit 30 includes an image sensor 31 such as a CCD or a CMOS, and an image signal processing circuit 32. An optical image obtained by projecting the subject image through the interchangeable lens 11 is formed on the imaging surface of the imaging element 31. The image sensor 31 converts an optical image into an electrical signal by photoelectric conversion. After being accumulated in the image sensor 31 for a certain period of time, an electrical signal based on the read electric charge is output to the image signal processing circuit 32. The imaging signal processing circuit 32 converts an electrical signal of a subject obtained by imaging with the tilt shooting camera 10 into an image signal that can be observed with the image processing and display unit 60 by the control unit 50 and outputs the image signal to the control unit 50. .

  The front section moving means 40 detects the position of the focusing lens FL moved by the parallel tilt, tilt tilt and focusing operation of the front section 20, and moves the focusing lens FL by the parallel tilt, tilt tilt and focusing operation of the front section 20. Move to a predetermined lens position. The front part moving means 40 includes first and second parallel tilt amount detecting units 401a and 402a, first and second tilted tilt amount detecting units 411a and 412a, and third direction moving for detecting the position of the focusing lens FL. It has the quantity detection part 403a. The front part moving unit 40 is configured to move the focusing lens FL to a predetermined lens position. The first and second parallel tilt driving units 401b and 402b, the first and second tilting tilt driving units 411b and 412b, and the third A direction driving unit 403b is included.

  The first parallel tilt amount detection unit 401 a detects the movement amount (shift tilt movement amount ms) of the front unit 20 in the first direction x and outputs it to the control unit 50. The second parallel tilt amount detection unit 402 a detects the movement amount (rise / fall tilt movement amount mr) of the front unit 20 in the second direction y, and outputs the detected amount to the control unit 50.

  The first tilt tilt amount detection unit 411 a detects a rotation amount around the axis parallel to the first direction x of the front unit 20, that is, the tilt tilt angle ω <b> 1, and outputs it to the control unit 50. The second tilt tilt amount detection unit 412 a detects a rotation amount around the axis parallel to the second direction y of the front unit 20, that is, the swing tilt angle ω 2, and outputs it to the control unit 50.

  The third direction movement amount detection unit 403a detects the third direction movement amount mz when the front unit 20 is moved in the third direction z mainly for focusing operation, and outputs it to the control unit 50.

  The first parallel tilt drive unit 401b includes an actuator that moves the front unit 20 in the first direction x for shift tilt. The second parallel tilt drive unit 402b includes an actuator that moves the front unit 20 in the second direction y for rise / fall tilt.

  The first inclined tilt drive unit 411b includes an actuator that rotates the front unit 20 about an axis parallel to the first direction x for tilt tilt. The second parallel tilt drive unit 412b includes an actuator that rotates the front unit 20 about an axis parallel to the second direction y for swinging tilt.

  The third direction driving unit 403b includes an actuator that moves the front unit 20 in the third direction z mainly for a focusing operation. The focusing operation is not only performed by driving the third direction driving unit 403b and moving the front unit 20 in the third direction z, but also driving the AF motor 25 to move the focusing lens FL in the optical axis direction. It is also done by letting. The focusing operation is also performed by a tilt tilt operation.

  The lens information reading unit 41 detects lens specific data from the ROM 11 a of the interchangeable lens 11 and outputs it to the control unit 50.

  The control unit 50 is a control unit that controls each unit related to imaging. The control unit 50 includes a moving amount mf of the focusing lens FL, a shift tilt moving amount ms of the front unit 20, a rise / fall tilt moving amount mr of the front unit 20, a tilt tilt angle ω1 of the front unit 20, a swing tilt of the front unit 20. Based on the angle ω2 and the third direction movement amount mz of the front portion 20, the position of the focusing lens FL is specified.

  The control unit 50 drives the AF motor 25 to move the focusing lens FL, the first and second parallel tilt drive units 401b and 402, the first and second tilt tilt drive units 411b and 412b, and the third direction drive. The unit 403b is driven to move the front unit 20, and the focusing lens FL is moved to a predetermined lens position. The lens position is set at a plurality of locations by the user via the input unit 70. The lens position is set assuming a position where an image obtained when the specific range R of the specific position P in the composition including the subject is captured is close to the focus state assumed by the user.

  The control unit 50 displays the entire image obtained by imaging on the display unit 60 (preview display, see FIG. 2), and displays the image obtained by imaging corresponding to the specific range R on the display unit 60 (focusing). Confirmation display, see FIGS. 3 and 4.

  The specific position P and the specific range R are arbitrarily determined by the user via the input unit 70. The user's arbitrary means a place where the user wants to confirm the focus state in the composition assumed by the user. The specific range R is specified by a rectangular horizontal length h and a vertical length v centered on the specific position P. Further, the location of the specific position P is not limited to one. The size of the specific range R is preferably set so that the number of pixels of the image sensor 31 corresponding to the specific range R is equal to or less than the number of pixels of the display element of the display unit 60. However, the specific position P is not limited to the center of the specific range R, and may be a position included in the specific range R.

  In the present embodiment, description will be made assuming that five lens positions (first to fifth lens positions) are set. In the present embodiment, description will be made assuming that two specific positions P (first and second specific positions P1, P2) are set. The first specific range R1 of the first specific position P1 is a rectangular shape having a first horizontal length h1 and a first vertical length v1, and the second specific range R2 of the second specific position P2 is the second A rectangular shape having a horizontal length h2 and a second vertical length v2.

  In FIG. 2, in the preview display, the first specific position P1 is indicated by a cross, the first specific range R1 is indicated by a two-dot chain line, the second specific position P2 is indicated by a circle, and the second specific range R2 is indicated by a dotted line. FIG. 3 shows an image in the first specific range R1, information on the lens position, and a contrast value in the focus confirmation display. FIG. 4 shows an image in the second specific range R2, information on the lens position, and a contrast value in the focus confirmation display. FIGS. 3 and 4 show that the focusing lens FL is set at the first lens position among the five lens positions as information on the lens position.

  In the focus confirmation display, the number of pixels of the display element of the display unit 60 corresponding to the specific range R is displayed in correspondence with the number of pixels of the image sensor 31 corresponding to the specific range R. desirable. In the present embodiment, this is defined as the same size display.

  In the present embodiment, the control unit 50 controls the image sensor 31 on the image sensor 31 corresponding to the specific range R that is the same as the number of pixels of the display unit 60 based on the preset number of pixels of the display unit 60 and the aspect ratio. The position information of each pixel is grasped.

  When a plurality of specific positions P are set, a plurality of controls for displaying an image of a specific range R at the specific position P may be displayed on one display screen. In the present embodiment, the image corresponding to the first specific range R1 and the image corresponding to the second specific range R2 are displayed on separate display screens.

  The control unit 50 detects the contrast value of the image within the specific range R at the specific position P.

  The imaging device 1 may include an external storage device (not shown) that records the image signal output from the control unit 50. The imaging apparatus 1 temporarily stores information on the specific position P and the specific range R in the composition including the subject and information on the lens position of the focusing lens FL in the control unit 50 or the like.

  The display unit 60 displays an image corresponding to the image signal. The number of pixels of the display element included in the display unit 60 is smaller than the number of pixels of the image sensor 31. When a personal computer monitor is used as the display unit 60, the number of pixels of the display element is about 1 million pixels (SXGA type, 1280 × 1024 pixels, XGA type, 1024 × 768 pixels). In the embodiment, the number of pixels of the image pickup device 31 is at least 2 million pixels or more. The display unit 60 performs a focus confirmation display (see FIGS. 3 and 4) for displaying an image in a specific range R at a specific position P in addition to a preview display (see FIG. 2) for displaying the entire image. In the case of preview display, the display unit 60 displays an image whose number of data has been reduced (thinned out) so that the entire image is displayed by the control unit 50. In the focus confirmation display, the display unit 60 displays an image that is not thinned out by pixels (same size display) or an image that has a smaller number of thinnings than in the preview display.

  The display unit 60 provides, as support information for determining the lens position of the focusing lens FL, an aperture value at the time of shooting, a focal length, a shooting distance calculated from lens-specific data and the position of the focusing lens FL, and a depth of field. Is displayed (not shown).

  The display unit 60 displays the position information pi of the focusing lens FL during the focus confirmation display. The display unit 60 displays the moving amount mf, the shift tilt moving amount ms, the rise / fall tilt moving amount mr, the tilt tilt angle ω1, the swing tilt angle ω2, the third direction moving amount mz, and the contrast value of the focusing lens FL. (See FIGS. 3 and 4).

  The input unit 70 is an input unit such as a keyboard or a mouse, and the user uses the input unit 70 to input a lens position for moving the focusing lens FL and the number of lens positions to be set. Further, the user uses the input unit 70 to set the specific position P, the specific range R of the specific position P, and the number of specific positions P on the image obtained by imaging. In addition, the user uses the input unit 70 to select an image captured at an appropriate lens position from among images captured at a plurality of lens positions in order to select an image in an appropriate focus state.

  When the focusing lens FL is moved to a plurality of lens positions, an image is taken of a position (specific position P) and a range (specific range R) for which a focus state is to be confirmed from a composition including the subject (provisional shooting). When images obtained by imaging are displayed, the user observes these images and confirms the focus state. The user uses the input unit 70 to select an appropriate focus state image from among a plurality of focus state images. The control unit 50 moves the focusing lens FL to the lens position when the selected image is obtained, and shoots the entire composition including the subject (main shooting). Since the focus state of the image in the specific range R can be confirmed in advance, the subject can be photographed in a state close to the focus state assumed by the user.

  In particular, when using an image sensor with millions of pixels or tens of millions of pixels, such as a digital camera with a relatively large image area corresponding to the medium format film size, the entire image obtained by imaging is not thinned out. Cannot display the whole image (cannot display the same size). It is difficult to check the focus state in detail using the entire image with the data thinned out. In the present embodiment, by displaying only the specific range R in which the focus is to be confirmed on the display unit 60, it is possible to confirm the focus state in detail by looking at the image without performing the data thinning.

  The display unit 60 displays the contrast value for the image in the specific range R. By selecting the lens position when the contrast value is the highest, it is possible to obtain an image in which the image in the specific range R is in focus.

  When the tilt tilt operation is performed, it is possible to focus on a plurality of positions on the subject at different distances from the tilt shooting camera 10. In the present embodiment, the tilt tilt operation and the operation of focusing on a plurality of positions at different distances from the tilt shooting camera 10 on the subject are easily performed by setting a plurality of specific positions P and specific ranges R. Is possible.

  The focus state confirmation procedure of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In step S11, the imaging device 1 is turned on, and an image obtained by imaging with the imaging device 31 is displayed on the display unit 60 (preview display, see FIG. 2). In the preview display, data thinning is performed, and the entire image obtained by imaging is displayed on the display unit 60.

  In step S <b> 12, the user operates the input unit 70 to set a specific position P where the user wants to check the focus state in the composition including the subject. In step S <b> 13, the user operates the input unit 70 to set the size of the specific position P, that is, the specific range R. By performing the operations in steps S12 and S13 a plurality of times, it is possible to set a plurality of locations where the focus state is to be confirmed.

  In step S14, the user operates the input unit 70 to set the position (lens position) of the focusing lens FL when photographing the specific position P and the specific range R. Specifically, the position of the focusing lens FL in the optical axis LX direction driven by the AF motor 25, the position of the front portion 20 in the first direction x due to the shift tilt of the first parallel tilt drive unit 401b, and the second parallel tilt drive unit. The position of the front portion 20 in the second direction y by the rise / fall tilt of 402b, the tilt tilt angle by the driving of the first tilt tilt driving portion 411b, the swing tilt angle by the driving of the second tilt tilt driving portion 412b, the third direction The position of the front part 20 in the third direction z by driving the drive part 403b is set. Multiple lens positions are set. By setting a plurality of lens positions, it is possible to obtain a subject image in a state close to the focus state assumed by the user in a single focus state confirmation procedure.

  In step S15, the focusing lens FL is moved to a plurality of lens positions set in step S14, and in step S16, a composition including the subject is imaged at the positions (temporary shooting). When the focusing lens FL is moved, the actual position of the focusing lens FL is changed to the first and second parallel tilt amount detecting units 401a and 402a, the first and second tilt tilt amount detecting units 411a and 412a, and the third direction. It is specified by the movement amount detection unit 403a.

  In step S <b> 17, the charge accumulated in the image sensor 31 is read by provisional imaging. In the case where the image pickup device 31 is a CMOS that can be partially read, charge reading is performed only for the region of the image pickup device 31 corresponding to the specific range R at the specific position P. As a result, the processing speed can be increased as compared with the case of reading out charges from all pixels.

  In step S18, it is determined whether or not provisional photographing has been performed at all the lens positions set at a plurality of positions. If all provisional photographing has not been performed, the process returns to step S15. If all provisional photographing has been performed, the image of the specific range R at the specific position P obtained by the plurality of provisional photographing is displayed on the display unit 60 in step S19. The display unit displays information on the lens position such as the moving amount mf of the focusing lens FL and the contrast value of the image in the specific range R as lens position information pi together with the image (see FIGS. 3 and 4). It should be noted that the display of the provisionally captured image at each lens position can be arbitrarily switched by the user operating the input unit 70.

  In step S20, the user selects an appropriate focus state of the image in the specific range when the focusing lens FL is located. In step S21, the focusing lens FL is moved to the selected lens position, and an image is captured using all the pixels of the image sensor 31 (main photographing).

  In the present embodiment, the movement of the front unit 20 has been described as being automatically moved using an actuator, but may be moved manually by the user. Although the form which moves the front part 20 and the focusing lens FL was demonstrated, the form which moves the rear part 30 containing the image pick-up element 31 may be sufficient.

  In the present embodiment, the embodiment using the tilt shooting camera capable of parallel tilt and tilt tilt has been described, but a camera having no tilt shooting function may be used. In this case, the lens position can be moved only in the third direction z for the focusing operation.

It is a block diagram of each part of the imaging device in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a preview display. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the image of the area | region corresponding to a 1st specific range. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the image of the area | region corresponding to a 2nd specific range. It is a flowchart which shows a focus state confirmation.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Imaging device 10 Aori shooting camera 11 Interchangeable lens 11a ROM
11b Encoder 11c First communication contact pin 20 Front part 21 Lens mount part 21c Second communication contact pin 25 AF motor 26 Lens movement amount information reading part 30 Rear part 31 Imaging element 32 Imaging signal processing circuit 40 Front part moving means 41 Lens information reading unit 50 Control unit 60 Display unit 70 Input unit 401a, 402a First and second parallel tilt amount detection unit 401b, 402b First and second parallel tilt drive unit 403a Third direction movement amount detection unit 403b Third direction Drive unit 411a, 412a First and second tilt tilt amount detection units 411b, 412b First and second tilt tilt drive units LX Optical axes P1, P2 First and second specific positions R1, R2 First and second specific ranges h1, h2 first and second horizontal lengths v1, v2 first and second vertical lengths

Claims (10)

An imaging unit having an imaging element that captures an optical image of a subject projected through an attached lens;
A display unit having a display element for previewing an image obtained by imaging;
An input means used to set a specific position in the optical image, a specific range centered on the specific position, and a positional relationship between the plurality of lenses and the imaging element;
Moving means for moving at least one of the lens and the image sensor so that the plurality of positional relationships are established;
A control unit that enlarges an area corresponding to the specific range and displays it on the display unit with respect to an image obtained by imaging when each of the plurality of positional relationships is established by the moving unit; An imaging apparatus comprising:   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the number of pixels of the imaging element is larger than the number of pixels of the display element.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the number of pixels in a region corresponding to the specific range of the imaging element is equal to the number of pixels in a region corresponding to the specific range of the display element. The control unit controls the moving means;
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the moving unit includes an actuator that moves at least one of the lens and the imaging element so that the plurality of positional relationships are established. The moving means has a detecting means for specifying a positional relationship between the lens and the imaging element,
2. The display unit according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays the positional relationship specified by the detection unit when displaying an image of an area corresponding to the specific range with respect to an image obtained by the imaging. The imaging device described. The control unit detects a contrast value of a region corresponding to the specific range of the image obtained by the imaging,
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays the contrast value when displaying a region corresponding to the specific range of the image obtained by the imaging.   The input means selects an image obtained by capturing an image when the positional relationship between the appropriate lens and the image sensor is selected from among a plurality of images corresponding to the specific range displayed by the display unit. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image pickup apparatus is used to perform the operation.   The image pickup device sweeps out only charges accumulated in pixels corresponding to the specific range when obtaining an image of a region corresponding to the specific range of the image obtained by the imaging. The imaging device described.   The image pickup apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the image pickup element is a CMOS. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a positional relationship between the lens and the image pickup device is set in order to confirm a focus state of a region corresponding to the specific range.

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