JP2006197478A - Photographing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photographing device which can make a hue of a monitor-displayed image suitable when photographing underwater. <P>SOLUTION: The device includes a WB adjustment part 37 which adjusts white balance of an object image displayed to a picture signal showing the object image in a predetermined adjustment amount. Color chart picture information for adjusting white balance and adjustment amount information indicating an adjustment amount with which the white balance can be properly adjusted by setting it to the WB adjustment part 37 are preliminarily stored in a memory 48. Wherein the adjustment amount is an adjustment amount for each color included in a color chart and it corresponds to a color that most look white when displayed underwater. Specified color information that indicates a color appointed as one that most look white from the color chart displayed by LCD38 underwater is input. The adjustment amount that corresponds to a color indicated by the specified color information is obtained from the memory 48 and set to the WB adjustment part 37. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus, and more particularly to an imaging apparatus having a function of displaying a subject image captured by an imaging unit on a monitor.

  In recent years, the spread of digital cameras has been striking, with annual shipments exceeding that of silver halide cameras. Further, many digital cameras in recent years are provided with a display unit such as a liquid crystal display for monitoring a subject image. Furthermore, this type of digital camera is mounted underwater in a dedicated housing for waterproofing. There are many things that can be taken.

  By the way, when performing underwater photography using a digital camera provided with the display unit as described above and capable of underwater photography, the red component attenuates as the water depth increases, and the photographed subject image becomes It is known that it becomes bluish.

  In other words, in the color of the scenery when a human visually observes underwater, some color remains because the color correction according to the environment is performed to some extent, but the color of the subject image performed at the time of shooting with the digital camera Since the adjustment is performed based on the white balance on the ground, the image becomes bluish overall when underwater shooting is performed.

  In order to avoid this, conventionally, when performing underwater photography with a digital camera, a red filter is attached to the lens to deliberately attenuate the blue component, or a white subject is photographed and the white balance is adjusted accordingly. Was. However, these methods cannot cope with changes in environmental conditions such as water depth and sunlight intensity at the photographing position.

As a technique that can be applied to solve this problem, conventionally, there is a technique that adjusts the white balance measurement result so as to compensate for the attenuation of the red component until the light flux from the subject travels underwater and enters the camera. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-351025

  However, in the technique for adjusting the measurement result of the white balance described above, the white balance for the captured image can be adjusted, but when the subject image is displayed by the display unit provided for monitoring the subject image, There is a problem in that the subject image becomes bluish as in the case of a captured image.

  That is, in water, the spectrum distribution of the subject changes according to the water depth, sunlight intensity, water absorption spectrum, and the like, so that the white balance also changes. Similarly, when the subject image is displayed on the monitor by the display unit of the digital camera, the distance between the photographer and the display unit, the spectrum and light intensity of the display unit, and the presence between the photographer and the display unit. As a result of the white balance of the display screen changing according to the absorption spectrum of the water to be taken, the visual characteristics of the photographer, etc., the subject image displayed on the monitor becomes bluish.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a photographing apparatus that can make the color of the monitor display image suitable for underwater photographing.

  In order to achieve the above object, the imaging apparatus according to claim 1, an imaging unit that generates an image signal indicating a subject image by imaging, a display unit that displays the subject image based on the image signal, and the image Adjustment means for adjusting the white balance of the subject image displayed by the display means with respect to the signal by a preset adjustment amount, image information indicating the color chart for white balance adjustment, and the color chart The white balance can be appropriately adjusted by setting, in the adjustment means, the adjustment amount for each color included and corresponding to the color that appears most white when displayed by the display means in water. Storage means for preliminarily storing adjustment amount information indicating the adjustment amount that can be obtained, and a chart for displaying the color chart by the display means. Display means, designated color input means for inputting designated color information indicating a color that appears as the most white color from the color chart displayed by the display means in water, and a color indicated by the designated color information. Setting means for obtaining a corresponding adjustment amount from the storage means and setting it in the adjustment means.

  According to the imaging apparatus of the first aspect, an image signal indicating a subject image is generated by imaging by the imaging unit, and the subject image is displayed by the display unit based on the image signal. The imaging means includes a solid-state imaging device such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) image sensor. The display means includes various display devices such as a liquid crystal display, a plasma display, an organic EL display, and a CRT display.

  Further, the photographing apparatus of the present invention includes an adjustment unit that adjusts a white balance of the subject image displayed by the display unit with respect to the image signal by a preset adjustment amount, and for adjusting the white balance. The image information indicating the color chart and the adjustment amount for each color included in the color chart, and the one corresponding to the color that appears most white when displayed by the display means in water are set in the adjustment means. Accordingly, there is provided storage means in which adjustment amount information indicating the adjustment amount capable of appropriately adjusting the white balance is stored in advance. The storage means includes a RAM (Random Access Memory), an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory), a storage element such as a flash EEPROM (Flash EEPROM), a smart media (SmartMedia (registered trademark)), a flexible disk. And a fixed recording medium such as a hard disk.

  Here, in the present invention, the color chart is displayed by the display means by the chart display means, and designated by the designated color input means as the one that looks the most white from the color chart displayed by the display means in water. Designated color information indicating the selected color is input, and an adjustment amount corresponding to the color indicated by the designated color information is acquired from the storage unit by the setting unit and set in the adjustment unit.

  That is, in the present invention, the color chart is displayed on the display means in the water, and the user of the photographing apparatus designates what appears white from the color chart, and the white of the display image by the display means is based on the designated color. The balance is adjusted so that the color of the monitor display image at the time of underwater photography can be appropriately optimized.

  As described above, according to the photographing apparatus of claim 1, the adjusting unit that adjusts the white balance of the subject image displayed by the display unit with respect to the image signal indicating the subject image with the preset adjustment amount. The image information indicating the color chart for adjusting the white balance, the adjustment amount for each color included in the color chart, and the color that appears whitest when displayed by the display means in water. The color chart displayed in advance by the display means in water is stored in advance as adjustment amount information indicating the adjustment amount by which the white balance can be appropriately adjusted by setting a corresponding one in the adjustment means. The specified color information indicating the color that is designated as the most white color is input, and the color indicated by the specified color information is input. Since the adjustment amount is set to the adjustment means acquires from the storage unit, it can be the color of the monitor display image at the time of underwater photography and suitable.

  In the present invention, as in the invention described in claim 2, the detection means for detecting at least one of water depth and illuminance, and the adjustment amount set in the adjustment means according to the detection result by the detection means. It is good also as a 2nd adjustment means to adjust. As a result, the white balance can be adjusted more accurately. The detection means includes various sensors that can detect a physical quantity to be detected, such as a water depth sensor that detects water depth and an illuminance sensor that detects illuminance.

  Further, according to a third aspect of the present invention, as in the third aspect of the present invention, the color chart of the color chart by the display unit when the determination unit determines whether it is underwater and the determination unit determines that it is not underwater. Prohibiting means for prohibiting display may be further provided. Thereby, unnecessary display of the color chart can be prevented.

  According to the photographing apparatus of the present invention, it is provided with the adjusting unit that adjusts the white balance of the subject image displayed by the display unit with respect to the image signal indicating the subject image with a preset adjustment amount, and the white The image information indicating the color chart for adjusting the balance, the adjustment amount for each color included in the color chart, and the adjustment corresponding to the color that appears to be whitest when displayed by the display means in water Adjustment amount information indicating the adjustment amount that allows the white balance to be adjusted appropriately by setting in the means is stored in advance, and the color chart displayed by the display means in water looks the most white in the water The specified color information indicating the color specified as is input, and the adjustment amount corresponding to the color indicated by the specified color information is entered in advance. Since acquired from the storage means is set to the adjusting means may be a suitable color of the monitor display image at the time of underwater photography, the effect is obtained that.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Here, a case where the present invention is applied to a digital electronic still camera (hereinafter simply referred to as “digital camera”) will be described.

[First Embodiment]
First, an external configuration of the digital camera 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  In front of the digital camera 10, a lens 21 for forming a subject image, a strobe 44 that emits light to irradiate the subject when necessary, and a viewfinder used to determine the composition of the subject to be photographed. 20 is provided. On the top surface of the digital camera 10, a release button (so-called shutter) 56A, a power switch 56B, and a mode switch 56C, which are pressed when performing shooting, are provided.

  Note that the release button 56A of the digital camera 10 according to the present embodiment is pressed down to an intermediate position (hereinafter referred to as “half-pressed state”) and to a final pressed position beyond the intermediate position. A two-stage pressing operation of a state (hereinafter referred to as a “fully pressed state”) can be detected.

  In the digital camera 10, the release button 56A is pressed halfway to activate the AE (Automatic Exposure) function to set the exposure state (shutter speed, aperture state), and then AF (Auto Focus). , Automatic focusing) function is performed to control focusing, and then exposure (photographing) is performed when the button is fully pressed.

  The mode changeover switch 56C is rotated when setting to any one of a shooting mode that is a mode for shooting and a playback mode that is a mode for playing back a subject image on the LCD 38 described later.

  On the other hand, on the back of the digital camera 10, an eyepiece of the finder 20 described above, a liquid crystal display (hereinafter referred to as “LCD”) 38 for displaying a photographed subject image, a menu screen, and the like, and a cross cursor A button 56D. The cross-cursor button 56D includes four arrow buttons that indicate four moving directions of up, down, left, and right in the display area of the LCD 38.

  Further, on the back of the digital camera 10, a menu button that is pressed when displaying the menu screen on the LCD 38, a determination button that is pressed when confirming the operation content up to that point, and the previous operation content are displayed. A cancel button that is pressed when canceling and a strobe button that is pressed when setting the light emission state of the strobe 44 are provided.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 2, the main configuration of the electrical system of the digital camera 10 according to the present embodiment will be described.

  The digital camera 10 includes an optical unit 22 including the lens 21 described above, a charge coupled device (hereinafter referred to as “CCD”) 24 disposed behind the optical axis of the lens 21, and an input analog. And an analog signal processing unit 26 that performs various analog signal processing on the signal.

  The digital camera 10 also performs an analog / digital converter (hereinafter referred to as “ADC”) 28 that converts an input analog signal into digital data, and performs various digital signal processing on the input digital data. And a digital signal processing unit 30.

  The digital signal processing unit 30 has a built-in line buffer having a predetermined capacity, and also performs control to directly store the input digital data in a predetermined area of the memory 48 described later.

  The output terminal of the CCD 24 is connected to the input terminal of the analog signal processing unit 26, the output terminal of the analog signal processing unit 26 is connected to the input terminal of the ADC 28, and the output terminal of the ADC 28 is connected to the input terminal of the digital signal processing unit 30. . Accordingly, the analog signal indicating the subject image output from the CCD 24 is subjected to predetermined analog signal processing by the analog signal processing unit 26, converted into digital image data by the ADC 28, and then input to the digital signal processing unit 30.

  On the other hand, the digital camera 10 generates a display signal on the LCD 38 from a signal indicating an image to be displayed on the LCD 38, and the white balance of the display image displayed on the LCD 38 with respect to the signal generated by the LCD interface 36. A white balance adjustment unit (hereinafter referred to as “WB adjustment unit”) 37 that performs adjustment with a preset adjustment amount and supplies it to the LCD 38; a CPU (central processing unit) 40 that controls the operation of the entire digital camera 10; A memory 48 that stores digital image data obtained by photographing, and a memory interface 46 that controls access to the memory 48 are included. The WB adjustment unit 37 is preset for each color with respect to the image signal generated by the LCD interface 36 (here, R (red), G (green), and B (blue) image signals). A multiplier (not shown) for multiplying the gain (corresponding to the adjustment amount) is included, and the image signal generated by the LCD interface 36 is subjected to white balance adjustment through the multiplier. Done.

  Further, the digital camera 10 includes an external memory interface 50 for enabling the portable memory card 52 to be accessed by the digital camera 10, and a compression / decompression processing circuit 54 for performing compression processing and decompression processing on the digital image data. It is configured to include.

  In the digital camera 10 of the present embodiment, a flash memory is used as the memory 48, and a smart media (Smart Media (registered trademark)) is used as the memory card 52.

  The digital signal processing unit 30, the LCD interface 36, the CPU 40, the memory interface 46, the external memory interface 50, and the compression / decompression processing circuit 54 are connected to each other via a system bus BUS. Therefore, the CPU 40 controls the operation of the digital signal processing unit 30 and the compression / decompression processing circuit 54, displays various information via the LCD interface 36 to the LCD 38, and R, G, and R through the LCD interface 36 to the WB adjustment unit 37. B Gain setting for each color and access to the memory 48 and the memory card 52 via the memory interface 46 and the external memory interface 50 can be performed, respectively.

  On the other hand, the digital camera 10 includes a timing generator 32 that mainly generates a timing signal for driving the CCD 24 and supplies the timing signal to the CCD 24, and the driving of the CCD 24 is controlled by the CPU 40 via the timing generator 32.

  Further, the digital camera 10 is provided with a motor drive unit 34, and driving of a focus adjustment motor, a zoom motor, and an aperture drive motor (not shown) provided in the optical unit 22 is also controlled by the CPU 40 via the motor drive unit 34. The

  In other words, the lens 21 according to the present embodiment has a plurality of lenses, is configured as a zoom lens that can change (magnify) the focal length, and includes a lens driving mechanism (not shown). The lens drive mechanism includes the focus adjustment motor, the zoom motor, and the aperture drive motor, and these motors are each driven by a drive signal supplied from the motor drive unit 34 under the control of the CPU 40.

  Further, the release button 56A, the power switch 56B, the mode switch 56C, the cross cursor button 56D, various buttons such as a menu button, and switches (generically referred to as “operation unit 56” in the figure) are connected to the CPU 40. The CPU 40 can always grasp the operation state of the operation unit 56.

  In addition, the digital camera 10 includes a charging unit 42 that is interposed between the strobe 44 and the CPU 40 and charges power for causing the strobe 44 to emit light under the control of the CPU 40. Further, the strobe 44 is also connected to the CPU 40, and the light emission of the strobe 44 is controlled by the CPU 40.

  By the way, the digital camera 10 according to the present embodiment is provided with a display white balance adjustment function for adjusting the white balance of an image displayed on the LCD 38 when performing underwater shooting, and the display white balance adjustment function is provided. In order to achieve this, in a predetermined area of the memory 48, image information indicating a color chart for white balance adjustment (hereinafter referred to as “color chart image information”), a gain for each color included in the color chart, and underwater The gain obtained in advance is assumed to be that the white balance can be optimized by applying the multiplier corresponding to the color that appears to be the most white when displayed on the LCD 38 at the multiplier 38 of the WB. Information (hereinafter referred to as “gain information”) is stored in advance.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of the display state of the color chart displayed on the LCD 38 by the color chart image information. As shown in the figure, the color chart according to the present embodiment is centered on a rectangular color area that becomes white when referred to on the ground, and the green color becomes stronger toward the upper left corner of the figure, and the lower left of the figure. A rectangular color region having a predetermined same size so that the blue color becomes stronger as it approaches the corner and the red color becomes stronger as it approaches the right end of the figure (in the example shown in the figure, a 7 × 7 matrix). Are arranged in a shape.

  On the other hand, FIG. 4 schematically shows an example of gain information. As shown in the figure, the gain information according to the present embodiment corresponds to each of the rectangular color areas constituting the color chart, and corresponds to the color that appears to be whitest when displayed on the LCD 38 in water. The gain for each of R, G, and B obtained in advance as the one that can appropriately adjust the white balance of the display image in water by the LCD 38 by applying what is to be performed by the multiplier of the WB adjustment unit 37. It is supposed to be shown.

  That is, the gain corresponding to the rectangular color region (rectangular color region that appears white on the ground) positioned at the center of the color chart shown in FIG. For example, when the rectangular color region that appears whitest when displayed on the LCD 38 in water is a rectangular color region adjacent to the right side of FIG. 3 of the rectangular color region positioned at the center of the color chart. 4, the gain adjacent to the right side of the gain located at the center of FIG. 4 (in the figure, R is “1.2”, G and B are “0.9”) is a multiplier of the WB adjustment unit 37. By applying, the white balance of the display image in water by the LCD 38 can be optimized.

  For the gain, a gain obtained in advance by an experiment such as a sensory test by a person using the actual digital camera 10 or a computer simulation based on a design specification of the digital camera 10 can be applied.

  When the digital camera 10 according to the present embodiment is set to the white balance setting mode (hereinafter referred to as “WB setting mode”) on the menu screen displayed on the LCD 38 by pressing the menu button, the above-described operation is performed. The white balance gain can be set using a color chart.

  Next, an overall operation at the time of shooting of the digital camera 10 according to the present embodiment will be briefly described.

  First, the CCD 24 performs imaging through the optical unit 22 and sequentially outputs analog signals for R, G, and B indicating the subject image to the analog signal processing unit 26. The analog signal processing unit 26 performs analog signal processing such as correlated double sampling processing on the analog signal input from the CCD 24 and sequentially outputs the analog signal to the ADC 28.

  The ADC 28 converts the R, G, and B analog signals input from the analog signal processing unit 26 into 12-bit R, G, and B signals (digital image data) and sequentially outputs them to the digital signal processing unit 30. To do. The digital signal processing unit 30 accumulates digital image data sequentially input from the ADC 28 in a built-in line buffer and temporarily stores the digital image data directly in a predetermined area of the memory 48.

  The digital image data stored in a predetermined area of the memory 48 is read out by the digital signal processing unit 30 under the control of the CPU 40, and white balance adjustment is performed by applying a digital gain according to a predetermined physical quantity. Processing and sharpness processing are performed to generate 8-bit digital image data.

  The digital signal processing unit 30 performs YC signal processing on the generated 8-bit digital image data to generate a luminance signal Y and chroma signals Cr and Cb (hereinafter referred to as “YC signal”), and the YC signal. Are stored in an area different from the predetermined area of the memory 48.

  The LCD 38 is configured to display a moving image (through image) obtained by continuous imaging by the CCD 24 and can be used as a finder. When the LCD 38 is used as a finder, the LCD 38 is generated. The YC signal is sequentially output to the LCD 38 via the LCD interface 36 and the WB adjustment unit 37. As a result, a through image is displayed on the LCD 38.

  Here, at the timing when the release button 56A is half-pressed by the user, after the AE function is activated and the exposure state is set as described above, the AF function is activated and focus control is performed, and then the fully-pressed state continues. The YC signal stored in the memory 48 at that time is compressed in a predetermined compression format (in this embodiment, JPEG format) by the compression / decompression processing circuit 54 and then the external memory interface 50 is And recorded as an electronic file in the memory card 52.

  Next, the operation of the digital camera 10 when the display white balance adjustment function is activated will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 shows a processing flow of a white balance adjustment processing program executed by the CPU 40 of the digital camera 10 every predetermined time (in this embodiment, every second) in order to make the display white balance adjustment function work. In the flowchart, the program is stored in a predetermined area of the memory 48 in advance.

  In step 100 of the figure, it is determined whether or not the WB setting mode is set. If the determination is negative, the white balance adjustment processing program is terminated. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 102. .

  In step 102, the color chart image information is read out from the memory 48 and the color chart (see also FIG. 3) is displayed on the LCD 38. In the next step 104, the input of predetermined information from the user of the digital camera 10 is awaited. Do. Prior to executing the processing of step 102, the CPU 40 sets a gain value predetermined for color chart display by the LCD 38 underwater as a gain for each color of the multiplier in the WB adjustment unit 37.

  When the color chart is displayed on the LCD 38 by the process of step 102, the user of the digital camera 10 moves the display position of the color chart as a whole by operating the cross cursor button 56D, so that the rectangular color that looks the most white is displayed. The area is positioned at the center of the display area of the color chart, and then the enter button is pressed. In response to this, information indicating that the determination button has been pressed by the CPU 40 and a rectangular color region designated by the user as the one that looks the most white (the rectangular color positioned at the center of the color chart display region by the user) As a result of the input of information indicating (region), step 104 becomes affirmative and the process proceeds to step 106.

  In step 106, the gain corresponding to the rectangular color area (rectangular color area specified by the user) indicated by the information input in step 104 is read from the memory 48, and in the next step 108, the read gain is set to WB. After setting the gain of the multiplier of the adjustment unit 37 in the WB adjustment unit 37, the white balance adjustment processing program is terminated.

  The processing of step 102 of the white balance adjustment processing program is the chart display means of the present invention, the processing of step 104 is the specified color input means of the present invention, the processes of steps 106 and 108 are the setting means of the present invention, Each corresponds.

  As described above in detail, in the present embodiment, a preset adjustment amount is used to adjust the white balance of the subject image displayed by the display means (here, the LCD 38) with respect to the image signal indicating the subject image. Adjustment means (here, the WB adjustment unit 37), and image information (here, color chart image information) indicating the color chart for adjusting the white balance and the color information included in the color chart. The adjustment amount that can adjust the white balance appropriately by setting, in the adjustment unit, an adjustment amount that corresponds to the color that appears whitest when displayed by the display unit in water. Adjustment amount information (here, gain information) is stored in advance, and the color displayed by the display means in water The designated color information indicating the color designated as the most white color from the chart is input, and the adjustment amount corresponding to the color indicated by the designated color information is acquired from the storage means and set in the adjustment means. Therefore, the color of the monitor display image during underwater photography can be made favorable.

[Second Embodiment]
In the second embodiment, an example will be described in which the display white balance adjustment function can automatically adjust the gain set in the WB adjustment unit 37 based on the water depth and the illuminance. .

  First, with reference to FIG. 6, the main configuration of the electrical system of the digital camera 10 ′ according to the present embodiment will be described. 6 that are the same as those in FIG. 2 are assigned the same reference numerals as in FIG. 2 and descriptions thereof are omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the digital camera 10 ′ according to the second embodiment is only provided with an underwater detection sensor 62, a water depth sensor 64, and an illuminance sensor 66 each connected to the CPU 40. This is different from the digital camera 10 according to the first embodiment. Conventionally known sensors can be applied as the underwater detection sensor 62, the water depth sensor 64, and the illuminance sensor 66.

  As described above, the display white balance adjustment function mounted on the digital camera 10 ′ according to the second embodiment automatically sets the gain set in the WB adjustment unit 37 based on the water depth and the illuminance. Therefore, in addition to the gain information shown in FIG. 4 as an example, the memory 48 of the digital camera 10 ′ has a function of adjusting the water depth and the gain set in the WB adjustment unit 37. Information indicating the adjustment coefficient corresponding to the amount of change in illuminance (hereinafter referred to as “adjustment coefficient information”) is also stored in advance.

  FIG. 7 schematically shows an example of adjustment coefficient information. As shown in the figure, the adjustment coefficient information according to the present embodiment is based on the water depth and illuminance at the time of setting the gain to the WB adjustment unit 37 using a test chart by the user as a reference value. And an adjustment coefficient corresponding to at least one change amount of illuminance, and by multiplying the gain set in the WB adjustment unit 37 for each corresponding color using a test chart by the LCD 38. A coefficient value for each of R, G, and B obtained in advance as an appropriate white balance of the display image in water is indicated.

  That is, in the adjustment coefficient information shown in FIG. 7, the adjustment coefficient surrounded by a thick line and having R, G, and B of “1.0” is set as an adjustment coefficient corresponding to the reference value, for example, the reference value When there is almost no amount of change in water depth from and the amount of change in illuminance is greater than or equal to a predetermined unit amount and less than 2 unit amounts, an adjustment factor ( In the figure, R is “1.05”, G is “1.0”, and B is “0.95”), for each of the R, G, and B colors for the gain set in the WB adjustment unit 37. By multiplying every time, the white balance of the display image in water by the LCD 38 can be optimized.

  The adjustment coefficient can be obtained in advance by an experiment such as a sensory test by a person using the actual digital camera 10 or a computer simulation based on a design specification of the digital camera 10.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the digital camera 10 'when the display white balance adjustment function is activated will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 shows the flow of processing of the white balance adjustment processing program executed by the CPU 40 of the digital camera 10 ′ every predetermined time (in this embodiment, every second) in order to make the display white balance adjustment function work. The program is stored in a predetermined area of the memory 48 in advance.

  First, in step 200, it is determined whether or not the digital camera 10 'is present in water based on the detection result by the underwater detection sensor 62. If the determination is negative, the white balance adjustment processing program is terminated and the determination is affirmative. When it becomes determination, it transfers to step 202.

  In step 202, it is determined whether or not the WB setting mode is set. If a negative determination is made, the process proceeds to step 214 described later. If an affirmative determination is made, the process proceeds to step 204.

  In step 204, the color chart image information is read from the memory 48 and the color chart (see also FIG. 3) is displayed on the LCD 38. In the next step 206, input of predetermined information from the user of the digital camera 10 is awaited. . Prior to executing the processing of step 204, the CPU 40 sets a gain value predetermined for color chart display by the LCD 38 underwater as the gain for each color of the multiplier in the WB adjustment unit 37.

  When the color chart is displayed on the LCD 38 by the process of step 204, the user of the digital camera 10 moves the display position of the color chart as a whole by operating the cross cursor button 56D, so that the rectangular color that looks the most white is displayed. The area is positioned at the center of the display area of the color chart, and then the enter button is pressed. In response to this, information indicating that the determination button has been pressed by the CPU 40 and a rectangular color region designated by the user as the one that looks the most white (the rectangular color positioned at the center of the color chart display region by the user) As a result of the input of information indicating (region), step 206 is affirmative and the process proceeds to step 208.

  In step 208, the gain corresponding to the rectangular color area (rectangular color area specified by the user) indicated by the information input in step 206 is read from the memory 48, and in the next step 210, the read gain is set to WB. After setting the gain of the multiplier of the adjustment unit 37 to the WB adjustment unit 37, in the next step 212, the water depth and illuminance at this time are detected by the water depth sensor 64 and the illuminance sensor 66, and a predetermined value in the memory 48 is obtained. After storing the reference value in the area, the process proceeds to step 214.

  In step 214, it is determined whether or not the reference value (that is, the water depth and illuminance when the gain is set in the WB adjustment unit 37 using the test chart) is already stored in a predetermined area of the memory 48. If the determination is affirmative, the white balance adjustment processing program is terminated, and if the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 216.

  In step 216, the water depth and illuminance at this time are detected by the water depth sensor 64 and the illuminance sensor 66, and at least one of the water depth and illuminance is predetermined 1 with respect to a reference value stored in a predetermined area of the memory 48. It is determined whether or not the amount has changed by a unit amount or more. If the determination is negative, the white balance adjustment processing program is terminated. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 218.

  In step 218, an adjustment coefficient corresponding to the amount of change in at least one of water depth and illuminance with respect to the reference value is read from the memory 48, and in the next step 220, the read adjustment coefficient is set to the gain set in the WB adjustment unit 37. On the other hand, after adjusting the gain by multiplying each corresponding color, the white balance adjustment processing program is terminated.

  It should be noted that the processing of step 200 of the white balance adjustment processing program is the determination means and prohibition means of the present invention, the processing of step 204 is the chart display means of the present invention, and the processing of step 206 is the specified color input means of the present invention. , Steps 208 and 210 correspond to the setting means of the present invention, and Steps 218 and 220 correspond to the second adjusting means of the present invention.

  As described above in detail, in this embodiment, in addition to the effects in the first embodiment, the adjustment unit (here, the WB adjustment unit 37) is set according to the detection result of the water depth and the illuminance. Since the adjustment amount (here, gain) is adjusted, the white balance can be adjusted more accurately.

  Further, in the present embodiment, it is determined whether or not it is underwater, and when it is determined that it is not underwater, display of the color chart by the display means (here, LCD 38) is prohibited, so that the color chart is unnecessary. Display can be prevented.

  In the second embodiment, the case where the adjustment coefficient information is stored in advance in a table format has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, for example, at least one of water depth and illuminance. A function in which the change amount is an input value and an adjustment coefficient corresponding to the change amount is stored in advance, and the gain set in the WB adjustment unit 37 is adjusted using the function. In this case, the storage capacity required to store the adjustment coefficient information can be greatly reduced.

  In addition, the configuration of the digital camera according to each of the above-described embodiments (see FIGS. 1, 2, and 6) is merely an example, and it is needless to say that the configuration can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  The processing flow of the white balance adjustment processing program described in each of the above embodiments (see FIGS. 5 and 8) is also an example, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the present invention. Needless to say.

  The configuration of the test chart (see FIG. 3) applied in each of the above embodiments is also an example, and it goes without saying that the test chart can be changed as appropriate without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  Further, the configuration and values (see FIGS. 4 and 7) of gain information and adjustment coefficient information applied in each of the above embodiments are examples, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the present invention. Needless to say. For example, it is not always necessary to hold the adjustment coefficient corresponding to both the water depth and the illuminance as the adjustment coefficient information, and the adjustment coefficient corresponding to only one of the water depth and the illuminance may be held.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a digital electronic still camera has been described. However, the present invention can be applied to a digital video camera, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a mobile phone, a personal computer, and the like. The present invention is applicable to any information processing apparatus that has a photographing function, a display unit that displays a photographed image by the photographing function, and that can display the photographed image underwater on the display unit. Needless to say, you can.

It is an external view which shows the external appearance of the digital camera which concerns on embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the principal part structure of the electric system of the digital camera which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is the schematic which shows the example of a display state of the test chart which concerns on embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the gain information which concerns on embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process of the white balance adjustment process program which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the principal part structure of the electric system of the digital camera which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the adjustment coefficient information which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process of the white balance adjustment process program which concerns on 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

10 Digital camera 24 CCD (Imaging means)
37 WB adjustment unit (adjustment means)
38 LCD (display means)
40 CPU (chart display means, designated color input means, setting means, second adjustment means, determination means, prohibition means)
48 memory (memory means)
62 Underwater detection sensor 64 Water depth sensor (detection means)
66 Illuminance sensor (detection means)

Claims (3)

Imaging means for generating an image signal indicating a subject image by imaging;
Display means for displaying the subject image based on the image signal;
Adjusting means for adjusting the white balance of the subject image displayed by the display means with respect to the image signal by a preset adjustment amount;
The image information indicating the color chart for adjusting the white balance, the adjustment amount for each color included in the color chart, and the one corresponding to the color that looks the most white when displayed by the display means in water Storage means for preliminarily storing adjustment amount information indicating the adjustment amount capable of appropriately adjusting the white balance by setting the adjustment means;
Chart display means for displaying the color chart by the display means;
Designated color input means for inputting designated color information indicating a color designated as the most white color from the color chart displayed by the display means in water;
Setting means for obtaining an adjustment amount corresponding to the color indicated by the designated color information from the storage means and setting the adjustment amount in the adjustment means;
An imaging device with Detection means for detecting at least one of water depth and illuminance;
Second adjustment means for adjusting the adjustment amount set in the adjustment means in accordance with a detection result by the detection means;
The imaging device according to claim 1, further comprising: Determination means for determining whether or not it is underwater;
A prohibiting means for prohibiting display of the color chart by the display means when it is determined by the determination means that it is not underwater;
The imaging device according to claim 1, further comprising:

Images