JP2006184450A - Ring light for imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a ring light for an imaging apparatus made advantageous to a situation that a subject to which a photographer hardly seizes a shutter chance is made to turn the line of sight to a photographic device. <P>SOLUTION: The ring light 10 for the imaging apparatus is equipped with an annular case 12 attached detachably to a digital still camera 100, a plurality of light-emitting elements 14 provided to the case 12 and arrayed to form a ring-like array, and a controller 16 for controlling light emission by the plurality of light-emitting elements 14. Under the control of the controller 16, the plurality of light-emitting elements 14 of the illumination device 12 emit the light in the pattern of simultaneous light emission or in the pattern of selective light emission, whereby a lit part or a unlit part on the front surface 1208 of the case 12 appears as though it is moving (rotating) with respect to the subject. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a ring light for an imaging apparatus.

An annular case that is detachably attached to the imaging device, and a plurality of light-emitting elements that are provided so as to irradiate light forward in a plurality of locations spaced in the circumferential direction on the front surface of the case. There is an illumination device called a ring light that is detachably attached to an imaging device such as a digital still camera or a film camera (see Patent Documents 1 and 2).
JP 2002-99042 A JP 2003-177454 A

This type of conventional ring light emits all of the plurality of light emitting elements simultaneously.
By the way, when photographing an object such as an infant or an infant with an imaging device, it is not easy to turn the line of sight toward the imaging device and it is difficult to obtain a photo opportunity.
The present invention has been made paying attention to the fact that a plurality of light-emitting elements are provided in the above-described illumination device, and the purpose of the present invention is to look at the photographing device with respect to a subject for which it was difficult to obtain a photo opportunity. An object of the present invention is to provide a ring light for an imaging device that is advantageous in making it point.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, the ring light for an image pickup device of the present invention is arranged so as to be detachably attached to the image pickup device, and a ring-shaped array is formed on the front surface of the case, and each is directed forward. A plurality of light emitting elements that irradiate light, and a control device that controls a light emitting operation of the plurality of light emitting elements, and the control device is configured to be capable of individually controlling the plurality of light emitting elements, and The plurality of light emitting elements are configured to emit light with at least two light emission patterns.

  Since a plurality of light emitting elements emit light with at least two light emission patterns by the control device, when an infant or an infant is a subject, the user is interested in the ring light for the image pickup device and turns the line of sight toward the image pickup device. This makes it easy to get a photo opportunity.

  The above object is realized by causing a plurality of light emitting elements provided in the ring light to emit light in at least two light emission patterns.

Next, Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a ring light for an image pickup apparatus according to a first embodiment, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating how the ring light for the image pickup apparatus is attached to the image pickup apparatus, and FIG. It is a perspective view.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control system of the imaging device ring light.
FIG. 5 is a time chart for explaining the operation of the imaging device ring light.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of each light emitting element.
7A to 7D, 8E, and 8F are operation explanatory views of the imaging device ring light 10. FIG.

First, an imaging apparatus to which the imaging apparatus ring light 10 according to the present invention is mounted will be described.
As shown in FIG. 2, in this embodiment, the imaging apparatus is a digital still camera 100.
The digital still camera 100 includes a case main body 102 constituting an exterior, a lens barrel 104 incorporated in a front portion of the case main body 102, a photographing optical system accommodated in the lens barrel 104, and the case main body 102 incorporated in the photographing. An image pickup device (not shown) for picking up a subject image guided by the optical system, a viewfinder (not shown) or a display (not shown) for viewing an image picked up by the image pickup device, and a case main body 102 An accessory mounting camera side connector 106 provided at a location facing the upper surface and an operation member such as a shutter button 108 are provided.
In this embodiment, when the shutter button 108 is half-pressed, an automatic focus adjustment operation is performed by the photographing optical system, and when the shutter button 108 is fully pressed, the shutter is released and the image pickup operation by the image sensor is performed. It is configured to be
A first control signal is output from the camera-side connector 106 when the shutter button 108 is half-pressed, and a second control signal is output from the camera-side connector 106 when the shutter button 108 is fully pressed. It is configured to be.
The camera-side connector 106 is detachably attached to an accessory-side connector provided in an accessory device such as a flashlight, and the digital still camera 100 with the accessory-side connector attached to the camera-side connector 106. The power supply or the electrical signal is transmitted between the device and the accessory.
In the present specification, left and right refer to a state in which the digital still camera 100 is viewed from the front, the subject side is referred to as the front in the optical axis direction of the photographing optical system, and the imaging element side is referred to as the rear.

Next, the ring light 10 for an imaging device will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, an imaging device ring light 10 includes an annular case 12 detachably attached to a digital still camera 100, a plurality of light emitting elements 14 provided in the case 12, and a plurality of light emitting elements. 14 is provided with a control device 16 (FIG. 4) for controlling the 14 light emission operations. For convenience of explanation, FIG. 3 is shown with a part of the case 12 cut away.
The annular case 12 is formed with an inner diameter larger than the diameter of the photographing optical system (objective lens) exposed at the front end of the lens barrel 104. The annular case 12 has an annular plate-shaped rear surface 1202 and a rear surface 1202. Cylindrical inner peripheral surface 1204 and outer peripheral surface 1206 erected from the inner periphery and outer periphery, respectively, and an annular plate-shaped front surface made of a material that connects the front ends of inner peripheral surface 1204 and outer peripheral surface 1206 and transmits light 1208.
The annular case 12 is mounted coaxially with the lens barrel 104 at the front end of the lens barrel 104 via an adapter lens 110 and an adapter ring 112 as will be described later.
On the inner peripheral surface 1204, engagement claws 1210 are provided at a plurality of locations spaced in the circumferential direction so as to be able to appear and retract, and each engagement claw 1210 is constantly urged in a protruding direction.
On the outer peripheral surface 1206, operation pieces 1212 for projecting the respective engagement claws 1210 in the direction to be retracted are projected, and the operation pieces 1212 are pushed inward in the radial direction of the annular case 12 so that each engagement piece 1210 is Each of the engaging claws 1210 is configured to protrude radially inward from the inner peripheral surface 1204 when it is immersed in the annular case 12 and released from the operation piece 1212.

The case 12 is attached to the digital still camera 100 as follows.
As shown in FIG. 2, an adapter lens 110 and an adapter ring 112 are attached to the front end of the lens barrel 104 of the digital still camera 100.
That is, the female screw portion of the adapter lens 110 is screwed into the male screw portion formed at the front end of the lens barrel 104, and the inner peripheral surface of the adapter ring 112 is fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the front end of the adapter lens 110.
A groove portion 112 </ b> A is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the adapter ring 112.
The rear surface 1202 of the case 12 faces the front surface of the digital still camera 100, the operation pieces 1212 of the case 12 are pushed in, the engaging claws 1210 are immersed, and the adapter ring 112 is inserted inside the inner peripheral surface 1204 of the case 12. . And if each engagement nail | claw 1210 and the groove part 112A correspond, the press of the operation piece 1212 will be cancelled | released.
Thereby, each engaging claw 1210 engages with the groove 112A, and the case 12 is mounted on the outside of the lens barrel 104 coaxially with the lens barrel 104 via the adapter ring 112 and the adapter lens 110 as shown in FIG. Is done.

As shown in FIG. 3, the plurality of light emitting elements 14 are configured by white LEDs in the present embodiment, and are arranged inside the case 12 so as to form a ring-shaped array on the front surface 1208 of the case 12. A plurality of locations spaced in the circumferential direction are provided so as to irradiate light forward.
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, a total of twelve light emitting elements 14 are arranged at equal intervals on the circumference of a single diameter centered on the center of the case 12.
In FIG. 6, reference signs D <b> 1 to D <b> 12 are assigned in order in order to identify the light emitting elements 14 when viewed from the front of the case 12.

As shown in FIG. 3, the imaging device ring light 10 includes an operation unit 20 that is detachably attached to the camera-side connector 106 of the digital still camera 100.
The operation unit 20 includes an operation unit case 22, an accessory-side connector 24 that is provided in the operation unit case 22 and is detachably attached to the camera-side connector 106, and a cable 26 that is provided across the operation unit case 22 and the case 12. have.
The cable 26 is for supplying an electric signal (drive current) from the operation unit 20 to each light emitting element 14.

As shown in FIG. 4, the operation unit 20 includes a battery 2002, a regulator 2004, a DC / DC converter 2006, a power switch 2008, an operation unit 2010, a switching unit 2012, a microcomputer 2014, and the like.
The power supplied from the battery 2002 is configured to be supplied to the regulator 2004 and the DC / DC converter 2006 via the power switch 2008.
The power source stabilized by the regulator 2004 is supplied to the microcomputer 2014, and the power source boosted by the DC / DC converter 2006 is supplied to each light emitting element 14 via the switching unit 2012.
As shown in FIG. 1, the operation unit 2010 includes a power key 2011A for power on / off provided on the outer surface of the operation unit case 22, and a mode switching key 2011B for setting the switching between the first and second operation modes. Have.
The operation unit 2010 turns on and off the power switch 2008 based on the operation of the power key 2011A, and gives a command signal for instructing the microcomputer 2014 to switch a light emission pattern to be described later based on the operation of the mode switching key 2011. It is configured as follows.
The microcomputer 2014 executes a predetermined control program, so that the command signal input from the operation unit 2010 and the first and the above-described first and second input from the digital still camera 100 via the accessory side connector 24 and the camera side connector 106. The operation of the switching unit 2012 is controlled based on the second control signal.
The switching unit 2012 is configured to be able to switch on / off the supply of power supplied from the DC / DC converter 2006 to each light emitting element 14 based on the control of the microcomputer 2014. Has been.
In the present embodiment, the control device 16 includes a switching unit 2012 and a microcomputer 2014.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to FIG. 4, FIG. 5, FIG. 7, and FIG. 7 and 8, the light emitting element 14 that is lit is not hatched, and the light emitting element 14 that is turned off is displayed by being hatched.
The case 12 of the imaging device ring light 10 is attached to the lens barrel 104 of the digital still camera 100 in advance, and the accessory side connector 24 of the imaging device ring light 10 is attached to and electrically connected to the camera side connector 106. Shall.
When the power key 2011A of the operation unit 20 is turned on, the power switch 2008 is turned on and the power is turned on.
When the mode switching key 2011B is set to the first operation mode, the microcomputer 2014 switches the switching unit 2012 so that the drive current is supplied to all the light emitting elements D1 to D12 among the light emitting elements 14 at the same time. To control.
As a result, the light emitting element 14 emits light in a simultaneous light emission pattern in which all the light emitting elements D1 to D12 emit light simultaneously, and the illumination light is evenly applied to the subject in front of the digital still camera 100.
In this state, when the shutter button 108 is pressed, the shutter is released and the imaging operation is executed.

When the mode switching key 2011B is set to the second operation mode, the microcomputer 2014 performs the following control by controlling the switching unit 2012.
In FIG. 5, Q1 to Q12 indicate drive signals supplied from the switching unit 2012 to the light emitting elements D1 to D12, respectively, and an H level in each waveform indicates an ON state in which the drive signal is supplied, and an L level. Indicates an off state in which no drive signal is supplied.
That is, the user presses the shutter button 108 halfway with the lens barrel 104 of the digital still camera 100 facing the subject such as an infant or an infant.
Then, the first control signal is supplied from the digital still camera 100 to the microcomputer 2014.
Thereby, in the period T1 of FIG. 5, the microcomputer 2014 turns off all the drive signals Q1 to Q12.
Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 7A, all the light emitting elements D1 to D12 are extinguished.
Next, in the period T2 in FIG. 5, the microcomputer 2014 turns on all the drive signals Q1 to Q12.
Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 7B, all the light emitting elements D1 to D12 are turned on.

Next, in a period T3 in FIG. 5, the microcomputer 2014 turns off the three drive signals Q1, Q4, Q7, and Q10 for a predetermined period and turns on all the remaining drive signals.
As a result, as shown in FIG. 7C, the light emitting elements D1, D4, D7, and D10 are turned off, and the remaining light emitting elements D2, D3, D5, D6, D8, D9, D11, and D12 are turned on. That is, light is emitted in a selective light emission pattern in which only some of the light emitting elements 14 selected from the plurality of light emitting elements 14 emit light.
Next, the microcomputer 14 turns off the three drive signals Q2, Q5, Q8, and Q11 for a predetermined period, and turns on all the remaining drive signals.
As a result, as shown in FIG. 7D, the light emitting elements D2, D5, D8, and D11 are turned off, and the remaining light emitting elements D1, D3, D4, D6, D7, D10, D11, and D12 are turned on. That is, light is emitted in a selective light emission pattern in which only some of the light emitting elements 14 selected from the plurality of light emitting elements 14 emit light.
Next, the microcomputer 14 turns off the three drive signals Q3, Q6, Q9, and Q12 for a predetermined period and turns on the remaining drive signals.
As a result, as shown in FIG. 8E, the light emitting elements D3, D6, D9, and D12 are extinguished, and the remaining light emitting elements D1, D2, D4, D5, D7, D8, D10, and D11 are turned on. That is, light is emitted in a selective light emission pattern in which only some of the light emitting elements 14 selected from the plurality of light emitting elements 14 emit light.
When light emission by such a selective light emission pattern is repeated, the illuminated portion (eight light emitting elements 14) or the extinguished portion (remaining 4) of the front surface 1208 portion of the case 12 when viewed from the subject side. The individual light emitting elements 14) will appear to rotate.
That is, such a selective light emission pattern includes a dynamic light emission pattern that causes the plurality of light emitting elements 14 to emit light at different light emission times.
In other words, this dynamic light emission pattern is a light emission pattern in which the light emitting elements 14 that emit light are sequentially shifted in the circumferential direction.
When the user fully presses the shutter button 108 of the digital still camera 100, the microcomputer 2014 that has received the second control signal receives all the drive signals Q1 to Q12 during the period T4 in FIG. Are all turned on, and the light emitting element 14 is caused to emit light with the simultaneous light emission pattern.
As a result, as shown in FIG. 8F, in a state where all the light emitting elements D1 to D12 are turned on and the illumination light is irradiated on the subject, the shutter of the digital still camera 100 is released and the imaging operation is performed. Is called.

According to the present embodiment, it is obvious that shooting can be performed in a state in which the subject is irradiated with a sufficient amount of irradiation light by causing the plurality of light emitting elements 14 to emit light in a simultaneous light emission pattern as in the conventional case. When an infant or an infant is a subject, the selective light emission pattern is executed so that the ring light 10 for the imaging device can be interested and the line of sight can be naturally directed to the digital still camera 100. It becomes easy to obtain a photo opportunity.
Further, in this embodiment, the plurality of light emitting elements 14 emit light in a dynamic light emission pattern, so that the lit portion or the extinguished portion of the front surface 1208 of the case 12 moves as if moving (rotating). (As it does), it can make it more interested in subjects such as infants and toddlers, and it is even easier to get a photo opportunity.
Further, when the subject looks at each light emitting element 14 of the ring light 10 for the imaging device, the iris (pupil) in the eyeball of the subject can be changed in the closing direction, which is advantageous in suppressing the red-eye phenomenon.
Note that the red-eye phenomenon means that when the subject is illuminated with a flashlight or the like at the time of shooting, the illumination light entering from the pupil of the subject is reflected by the capillaries in the eyeball and the pupil portion is shot red. Say.
Conventionally, in order to prevent such a red eye phenomenon, the flashlight is lightly emitted immediately before the imaging operation is performed to change the direction in which the pupil is closed, and then the flashlight is emitted to perform imaging. Although the operation is performed, the same effect can be obtained in this embodiment.

Next, Example 2 will be described.
Example 2 differs from Example 1 in the mode of light emission operation of each light emitting element 14 of the ring light 10 for the imaging device.
9A to 9D are operation explanatory views of the imaging device ring light 10 according to the second embodiment.
First, as shown in FIG. 9A, all the light emitting elements 14 are extinguished.
Next, as shown in FIG. 9B, three light emitting elements 14 spaced 120 degrees apart are turned on and the remaining nine light emitting elements 14 are extinguished. The light emitting element 14 emits light with a dynamic light emission pattern.
As a result, the lit part (three light emitting elements 14) or the extinguished part (9 light emitting elements 14) of the front surface 1208 of the case 12 as viewed from the subject side is rotating. Will look like.
Next, as shown in FIG. 9C, the number of light-emitting elements 14 to be lit is increased from three to six, and the number of light-emitting elements 14 to be extinguished is reduced from nine to six. The light emitting element 14 is caused to emit light with the same dynamic light emission pattern.
As a result, the illuminated part (six light emitting elements 14) or the extinguished part (six light emitting elements 14) of the front surface 1208 of the case 12 as viewed from the subject side is rotated. Will look like.
Further, as shown in FIG. 9D, the number of light-emitting elements 14 to be lit is increased from 6 to 9, and the number of light-emitting elements 14 to be extinguished is reduced from 6 to 3, The light emitting element 14 is caused to emit light with the same dynamic light emission pattern.
As a result, the illuminated part (9 light emitting elements 14) or the extinguished part (three light emitting elements 14) of the front surface 1208 of the case 12 as viewed from the subject side is rotated. Will look like.
That is, the light emitting element 14 is caused to emit light by the same dynamic light emitting pattern as that of Example 1, and this dynamic light emitting pattern shifts the light emitting elements 14 that emit light one after another in the circumferential direction, and 1 of the light emitting elements 14 that emit light. The light emission pattern is obtained by increasing or decreasing the number of light emitting elements 14 that emit light every circumference.
Finally, all twelve light emitting elements 14 are caused to emit light in a simultaneous light emission pattern so that illumination light is irradiated on the subject.

  Needless to say, the effects similar to those of the first embodiment can be obtained in the second embodiment as well, depending on the movement of the lit or extinguished portion of the front surface 1208 of the case 12 when viewed from the subject side. In addition, since the area of the lit or extinguished part is increased or decreased, the flashing change in the front 1208 portion of the case 12 becomes various, making the subject more interesting. You can attract a given gaze.

In addition, although the Example demonstrated the case where the several light emitting element 14 was arrange | positioned on the circumference of the single diameter centering on the center of the cyclic | annular case 12, several light emitting elements 14 are cyclic | annular cases. Of course, they may be arranged on two or more circumferences having different diameters around the center of twelve.
When the plurality of light emitting elements 14 are arranged on two or more circumferences having different diameters around the center of the annular case 12 as described above, the control device controls blinking of the plurality of light emitting elements 14. For example, a simple pattern such as a star shape or a striped pattern, a mark or a symbol can be displayed, and the pattern, the mark or the symbol can be blinked or rotated. The change of the blinking in the front 1208 portion becomes more diverse, making the subject more interesting and attracting the line of sight.

In addition, the light emission pattern of the some light emitting element 14 is not limited to the light emission pattern shown in Example 1, 2, Various conventionally well-known light emission patterns are employable.
In the embodiment, the case where the imaging device to which the imaging device ring light 10 is attached is a digital still camera, but the imaging device to which the illumination device of the present invention is attached is not limited thereto. Of course, various electronic devices such as a personal digital assistant (PDA) with a camera, a mobile phone with a camera, or various imaging devices such as a digital still camera may be used.

1 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a ring light for an imaging device according to Embodiment 1. FIG. It is attachment explanatory drawing with respect to the imaging device of the ring light for imaging devices. It is a perspective view which shows the state with which the ring light for imaging devices was mounted | worn with the imaging device. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the control system of the ring light for imaging devices. It is a time chart explaining operation | movement of the ring light for imaging devices. It is explanatory drawing of each light emitting element. (A)-(D) are operation | movement explanatory drawings of the ring light 10 for imaging devices. (E), (F) is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the ring light 10 for imaging devices. (A)-(D) are operation | movement explanatory drawings of the ring light 10 for imaging devices in Example 2. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Digital still camera, 10 ... Illuminating device, 12 ... Ring-shaped case, 14 ... Light emitting element, 2012 ... Switching part, 2014 ... Microcomputer.

Claims (9)

A case detachably attached to the imaging device;
A plurality of light emitting elements that are arranged to form a ring-shaped array on the front surface of the case and irradiate light forward, respectively;
A control device for controlling the light emitting operation of the plurality of light emitting elements,
The control device is configured to be capable of individually controlling the plurality of light emitting elements, and configured to cause the plurality of light emitting elements to emit light in at least two light emission patterns.
A ring light for an imaging device.   The at least two light emission patterns include a simultaneous light emission pattern that causes all of the plurality of light emitting elements to emit light simultaneously and a selective light emission pattern that causes only a part of the light emitting elements selected from the plurality of light emitting elements to emit light. The ring light for an imaging device according to claim 1.   The ring light for an imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selected light emission pattern includes a dynamic light emission pattern that causes the plurality of light emitting elements to emit light at different light emission times.   The ring light for an imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the dynamic light emission pattern is a light emission pattern in which light emitting elements to emit light are sequentially shifted in a circumferential direction.   The dynamic light emission pattern is a light emission pattern in which light emitting elements to emit light are sequentially shifted in the circumferential direction, and the number of light emitting elements to emit light is increased or decreased for each turn of the light emitting elements to emit light. The ring light for an imaging device according to claim 3.   2. The ring light for an imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the case has an annular shape and is detachably attached coaxially with the lens barrel at a radially outer side of the lens barrel in which the photographing optical system is accommodated.   The ring light for an imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of light emitting elements are arranged on a single circumference.   2. The ring light for an imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of light emitting elements are arranged on a plurality of circumferences that are concentric with each other and have different radii.   The at least two light emission patterns include a simultaneous light emission pattern that causes all of the plurality of light emitting elements to emit light simultaneously, and a selective light emission pattern that causes only a part of the light emitting elements selected from the plurality of light emitting elements to emit light, The ring light for an imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the simultaneous light emission pattern is executed last by the control device.

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