JP2006251347A - Photographing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent automatic focusing from being canceled when a half-pressed state of a shutter button is undesirably canceled. <P>SOLUTION: The photographing device which performs automatic focusing by half-press operation of the shutter button 26 and performs photographing by full-push operation of the above shutter button detects that a user's finger is in touch with the above shutter button, and a controller 10 controls so as not to cancel the above automatic focusing as long as the user's finger is in touch with the above shutter button even if the half-press operation of the above shutter button is canceled, and so as to cancel the above automatic focusing when the user's finger has left the above shutter button. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a photographing apparatus such as a silver salt camera or a digital still camera.

  Focus lock in an imaging apparatus having an autofocus function is determined by only determining the state of a switch that is turned on when the shutter button is half-pressed, and maintaining a so-called half shutter state.

Further, in Patent Document 1, a digital sensor that starts an autofocus function when a light sensor or a touch sensor is disposed on a shutter button and a user's finger touches the shutter button to block light on the light sensor or touch the touch sensor. A camera autofocus start mechanism is disclosed.
JP 2004-007221 A

  As described above, the conventional photographing apparatus fixes the focus by maintaining the half-pressed state of the shutter button, and there is a problem that the user must maintain the delicate half-pressed state. It was. Also, since it is difficult to maintain the half-pressed state, the finger pressing the shutter button slightly loosens during the operation of changing the orientation of the photographic device after focus lock, and the half-pressed state is released and the subject to be focused is focused. There was also a problem of taking images that did not match.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to prevent autofocus from being released when the shutter button is half-pressed undesirably. An object of the present invention is to provide a photographing apparatus capable of performing the above.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, autofocus means for performing autofocus by half-pressing operation of the shutter button, detection means for detecting that a user's finger is in contact with the shutter button, and full pressing of the shutter button If the user's finger is touching the shutter button even when the shutter button is half-pressed, the autofocus by the autofocus unit is not released and the user's finger And control means for controlling to release the autofocus when the shutter button is released.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the detection means is configured such that the user's finger moves the shutter to the shutter due to a short circuit between an electrode provided on the shutter button and an electrode provided on the imaging apparatus body. It is characterized by detecting that the button is touched.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the detecting means detects that a user's finger is in contact with the shutter button by a blood flow sensor provided on the shutter button. It is characterized by.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the control means controls to release the autofocus immediately when a user's finger leaves the shutter button. .

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, when the user's finger is separated from the shutter button, the control means controls to release the autofocus after a predetermined time has elapsed. Features.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the photographing apparatus for performing autofocus by half-pressing the shutter button and photographing by full-pressing the shutter button, the shutter button is provided with detection means, and the shutter button is half-pressed. Even if the operation is canceled, if the user's finger is touching the shutter button, the auto focus is not canceled. If the half-pressed state of the shutter button is canceled undesirably, the auto focus will be canceled. Can not be.

  According to the invention described in claim 2, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 1, it is possible to easily detect whether or not the user's finger is in contact with the shutter button.

  According to the invention described in claim 3, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 1, it is possible to easily detect whether or not the user's finger is in contact with the shutter button.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 1, when the user releases his / her finger from the shutter button, an unnecessary autofocus state is not maintained.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect of the present invention, even if the user's finger moves away from the shutter button, the autofocus state is established if the user touches the shutter button again within a predetermined time. Since it is maintained, autofocus is not released when the finger is undesirably released.

[First Embodiment]
(Configuration of the first embodiment)
The photographing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Although a digital still camera will be described as an example here, it is needless to say that the present invention can be similarly applied to a silver salt camera.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the digital still camera according to the present embodiment includes a controller 10, an image sensor 12, a semiconductor memory 14, a liquid crystal display unit 16, an operation unit 18, a power supply unit 20, a focus lens drive motor 22, and a zoom lens. A drive motor 24 is included.

  Here, the controller 10 controls the entire digital still camera. The controller 10 records image data captured from the image sensor 12 in the semiconductor memory 14 or displays an image on the liquid crystal display unit 16. Various processes are performed by switch operation input from the operation unit 18.

  The power supply unit 20 supplies power to each unit in the digital still camera under the control of the controller 10.

  The focus lens drive motor 22 is controlled by the controller 10 and changes the focus distance by changing the position of a photographing lens (not shown) with a motor (not shown). Similarly, the zoom lens driving motor is controlled by the controller 10 to change the zoom of the photographing lens.

  The operation unit 18 is provided with a shutter button 26. The shutter button 26 is a push button, and as shown in FIG. 2A, a two-stage switch (half shutter switch 26A, full shutter switch 26B) is turned on depending on the depth of pressing. ing. That is, when the shutter button 26 is pressed halfway (half-pressed operation state), when the half-shutter switch 26A is turned on as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2C, the full shutter switch 26B is turned on.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of the digital still camera according to the present embodiment. The shutter button 26 is disposed on the upper surface of the camera body 28. In this embodiment, the shutter button 26 is configured as a conductive electrode 30. An electrode 32 is disposed on the camera body 28 side. In this case, the electrode 32 is disposed at a position where at least one finger other than the index finger comes into contact with the user holding the camera body 28 with the right hand and putting the index finger on the shutter button 26.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the electrode 30 is connected to the base of a transistor Tr whose collector is connected to a predetermined power supply potential via a resistor R1, and the electrode 32 is connected to a ground potential. The emitter of the transistor Tr is connected to the ground potential via the resistor R2, and is connected to the controller 10 so as to monitor the emitter potential.

  Therefore, when the user touches the shutter button 26 when the user presses the shutter button 26, the electrode 30 and the electrode 32 are short-circuited via the user's hand, so the controller 10 connects the shutter button 26 to the user. It can be detected that the finger is touching. That is, such a circuit configuration constitutes detection means for detecting that the user's finger is in contact with the shutter button 26.

(Operation of the first embodiment)
Next, the operation of the digital still camera according to the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.

  FIG. 5A shows an operation flowchart of processing executed by the controller 10 at a predetermined cycle in the photographing mode.

  That is, the controller 10 first determines whether or not the half shutter switch 26A is turned on by a half-press operation of the shutter button 26 (step S10). If the half shutter switch 26A is not turned on, this process is terminated.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the half shutter switch 26A is turned on, a known autofocus is started (step S12), and the focus lock function is turned on (step S14).

  Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the full shutter switch 26B is turned on by the full pressing operation of the shutter button 26 (step S16). If it is determined that the full shutter switch 26B is not turned on, it is determined whether or not the electrodes 30 and 32 are short-circuited (step S18). If it is determined that the electrodes 30 and 32 are short-circuited, the focus lock function is continued (step S20), and the process returns to step S16.

  Thus, if it is determined that the full shutter switch 26B is turned on by the full pressing operation of the shutter button 26 (step S16), a well-known photographing operation is executed (step S22), and the process is terminated.

  If it is determined in step S18 that the electrodes 30 and 32 are not short-circuited, the focus lock function is released (step S24), and the process is terminated.

  As described above, if the focus is locked according to the half-pressing operation of the shutter button 26, the half-pressing operation (turning on the half-shutter switch 26A) of the shutter button 26 is not determined thereafter, so that the half-pressing state is released. However, as long as the electrodes 30 and 32 are short-circuited, that is, as long as the user's finger touches the shutter button 26, the focus lock is not released.

  That is, while the finger is touching the shutter button 26, the focus lock state executed in response to turning on of the half shutter switch 26A is continued. Therefore, if the user wants to keep the focus fixed, the finger is momentarily off. However, it is possible to prevent the focus lock state from being easily released.

  Accordingly, an undesired half-pressed state is released such that the finger pressing the shutter button 26 is slightly loosened during the operation of changing the orientation of the photographing apparatus after the focus is locked, and the half-pressed state is released. Even if there is, the focus lock is not released unless the finger is released from the shutter button 26, so that the user can take an image focused on the subject to be focused.

  Further, even if the user does not maintain the delicate half-pressed state of the shutter button 26, the user only has to remove his / her finger from the shutter button 26, so that it is possible to provide an imaging device that is very easy to use.

(Modification of the first embodiment)
FIG. 5B shows an operation flowchart of processing executed in a predetermined cycle in the shooting mode by the controller 10 of the digital still camera according to the modification of the first embodiment.

  Note that steps S10 to S22 are as described with reference to FIG.

  That is, in this modification, when it is determined in step S18 that the electrodes 30 and 32 are not short-circuited, a timer (not shown) provided in the controller 10 is reset / started (step S26). Then, the focus lock function is continued (step S28), and it is determined again whether or not the electrodes 30, 32 are short-circuited (step S30). If it is determined that the electrodes 30 and 32 are not short-circuited, it is determined whether or not the timer has counted a predetermined time (step S32). If the predetermined time has not yet been reached, the process returns to step S28.

  As described above, the loop of Step S28 to Step S32 waits for the electrodes 30 and 32 to be short-circuited again for a predetermined time after the electrodes 30 and 32 are not short-circuited. If the electrodes 30 and 32 are short-circuited again during the predetermined time (step S30), the process returns to step S20.

  On the other hand, when the timer has counted the predetermined time (step S32), the timer is stopped (step S34), the focus lock function is released (step S24), and the process is performed. finish.

  By doing so, the focus lock state can be maintained even if the user's finger is undesirably separated from the shutter button 26.

  When the user's finger is separated for a predetermined time or more, it is determined that the user has intentionally released his / her finger, and the focus lock is released. Therefore, it is possible to cope with the case where the user positively stops half-pressing in order to release the focus lock.

[Second Embodiment]
(Configuration of Second Embodiment)
As shown in FIG. 6, a digital still camera as a photographing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention (which can be applied to a silver halide camera) is further added to the configuration of the digital still camera according to the first embodiment. A blood flow sensor 34 is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 7A, the blood flow sensor 34 includes an infrared LED 34A and a phototransistor 34B disposed at a portion of the shutter button 26 where the user's fingertip 36 contacts. FIG. 7B is a circuit configuration diagram of the blood flow sensor 34, and the phototransistor 34B is connected in series with a resistor R3 between a predetermined power supply potential and a ground potential, and the light of the phototransistor 34B. A detection output signal is supplied to the controller 10.

  That is, the blood flow sensor 34 can detect the strength of the blood flow from the reflected light from the red blood cells of the blood vessel of the fingertip. For example, when the shutter button 26 is strongly pressed with the fingertip 36, the blood flow is weakened and the reflected light is also weakened. Therefore, by detecting the change in the reflected light with the phototransistor 34B, it is possible to determine the strength of pressing the finger.

  FIGS. 8A and 8B show light detection output signals of the phototransistor 34B when the shutter button 26 is pressed down weakly with the fingertip 36 and when the shutter button 26 is pressed down strongly. With the presence or absence of this pulse, the controller 10 can determine the pressed state.

(Operation of Second Embodiment)
FIG. 9 shows an operation flowchart of processing executed by the controller 10 at a predetermined cycle in the photographing mode.

  That is, the controller 10 first determines whether or not the half shutter switch 26A is turned on by a half-press operation of the shutter button 26 (step S40). If the half shutter switch 26A is not turned on, this process is terminated.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the half shutter switch 26A is turned on, a known autofocus is started (step S42), and the focus lock function is turned on (step S44).

  Thereafter, the output signal of the blood flow sensor 34 is read (step S46), and it is determined whether or not it is at a high (H) level (step S48). If it is determined that the level is H, a timer (not shown) provided in the controller 10 is reset / started (step S50). Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the full shutter switch 26B is turned on by the full pressing operation of the shutter button 26 (step S52). If it is determined that the full shutter switch 26B is not turned on, the output signal of the blood flow sensor 34 is read again (step S54), and it is determined whether or not it is at a low (L) level. (Step S56). At this time, if it is determined that the L level has been reached, the process proceeds to step S58.

  Further, when it is determined in step S48 that the output signal of the blood flow sensor 34 is at the H level, the process proceeds to step S58.

  That is, in step S58, the timer is reset / started. Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the full shutter switch 26B is turned on by the full pressing operation of the shutter button 26 (step S60). If it is determined that the full shutter switch 26B is not turned on, the output signal of the blood flow sensor 34 is read again (step S62), and it is determined whether or not it is at the H level (step S64). ). If it is determined that it has become H level, the process proceeds to step S50.

  As described above, when the shutter button 26 is strongly pressed with the fingertip 36, the output signal of the blood flow sensor 34 alternately repeats the H level and the L level, so that the loop of steps S50 to S64 is repeated.

  In step S56, when it is determined that the level is not L, that is, the shutter button 26 is not pressed strongly with the user's fingertip 36, or the fingertip 36 is separated from the shutter button 26, the timer sets the predetermined time. It is determined whether or not the time has been measured (step S66). If the predetermined time has not yet been reached, the process returns to step S52. Accordingly, in this case, the focus lock function is continued.

  Similarly, when it is determined in step S64 that the H level has not been reached, that is, the user has not pressed the shutter button 26 strongly with the fingertip 36, or the fingertip 36 has moved away from the shutter button 26, the timer is set for a predetermined time. It is determined whether or not the time has been counted (step S68). If the predetermined time has not yet been reached, the process returns to step S60. Accordingly, in this case as well, the focus lock function is continued.

  In this manner, the shutter button 26 is not pressed strongly with the fingertip 36, or it is waited for the shutter button 26 to be pressed again for a predetermined time after the fingertip 36 leaves the shutter button 26.

  Thus, if it is determined in step S52 or step S60 that the full shutter switch 26B is turned on by the full depression of the shutter button 26, a well-known shooting operation is executed (step S70), and the process is terminated. .

  On the other hand, if the timer has counted the predetermined time in step S66 or step S68, the timer is stopped (step S72), and then the focus lock function is released (step S74). ), The process is terminated.

  With the operation as described above, the same effect as that of the modified example of the first embodiment can be obtained.

  Of course, by omitting waiting for a predetermined time by the timer, the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

  Although the embodiments have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

  Furthermore, the above embodiments include inventions at various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriately combining a plurality of disclosed constituent elements. For example, even if some constituent elements are deleted from all the constituent elements shown in the embodiment, at least one of the problems described in the column of the problem to be solved by the invention can be solved, and is described in the column of the effect of the invention. When at least one of the effects is obtained, a configuration in which this configuration requirement is deleted can be extracted as an invention.

FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram of a digital camera as a photographing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 2A to 2C are diagrams for explaining the relationship between the pressed state of the shutter button and the states of the half shutter switch and the full shutter switch, respectively. FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the digital still camera according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a circuit configuration of the detection means. FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating an operation flowchart of processing executed in a predetermined cycle in the shooting mode by the controller of the digital still camera according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 5B is a modification of the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the operation | movement flowchart of the process performed with a predetermined period by the controller of the digital still camera in an example at the time of imaging | photography mode. FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a digital camera as a photographing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7A is a diagram illustrating the structure of the blood flow sensor, and FIG. 7B is a circuit configuration diagram of the blood flow sensor. FIG. 8A shows a photodetection output signal of a phototransistor when the shutter button is pressed down weakly, and FIG. 8B shows a photodetection output signal when the shutter button is pressed down strongly. FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an operation flowchart of processing executed at a predetermined cycle in the shooting mode by the controller of the digital still camera according to the second embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

    DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Controller, 12 ... Image pick-up element, 14 ... Semiconductor memory, 16 ... Liquid crystal display part, 18 ... Operation part, 20 ... Power supply part, 22 ... Lens drive motor for focus, 24 ... Lens drive motor for zoom, 26 ... Shutter button 26A ... Half shutter switch, 26B ... Full shutter switch, 28 ... Camera body, 30, 32 ... Electrode, 34 ... Blood flow sensor, 34A ... Infrared LED, 34B ... Phototransistor, 36 ... Fingertip, Tr ... Transistor, R1 , R2, R3 ... resistance.

Claims (5)

Autofocus means for performing autofocus by half-pressing the shutter button;
Detecting means for detecting that the user's finger is in contact with the shutter button;
Photographing means for photographing by fully pressing the shutter button;
Even if the half-press operation of the shutter button is released, if the user's finger is touching the shutter button, the autofocus by the autofocus means is not released, and if the user's finger is away from the shutter button, the above Control means for controlling to cancel the autofocus;
An imaging apparatus comprising:   The detection means detects that a user's finger is in contact with the shutter button by a short circuit between an electrode provided on the shutter button and an electrode provided on the photographing apparatus main body. The imaging apparatus according to 1.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit detects that a user's finger is in contact with the shutter button by a blood flow sensor provided on the shutter button.   The photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit performs control so as to immediately release the autofocus when a user's finger leaves the shutter button.   The photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit performs control so as to release the autofocus after a predetermined time has elapsed when a user's finger is separated from the shutter button.

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