JP2006270426A - Imaging apparatus, its control method, and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide excellent EVF displaying even when a stopping switch is operated to confirm the state of the depth of field in focus or the degree of blurring in a background during EVF displaying. <P>SOLUTION: An imaging apparatus comprises: an imaging element 14 for converting an optical image to be formed via a photographing lens into an electric signal; an image display device 28 for displaying before-photographing image or a photographing image; and the stopping switch 74 for stopping the diaphragm of the photographing lens to obtain an arbitrary diaphragm value. When the stopping switch 74 is operated in the case of the electronic view finder for displaying the before-photographing image by the image display device 28, the output condition or the processing of the output signal is changed in the imaging element 14. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus capable of confirming a subject image using an electronic viewfinder, a control method thereof, and a computer program.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an electronic still camera having a moving image monitor function, that is, an electronic still camera having a function (electronic viewfinder (EVF) function) for outputting a pre-photographing image to a monitor or the like is known.

  In such an electronic still camera, a video signal obtained by a CMOS or CCD is subjected to predetermined processing by a data processing circuit or the like, and then output as a moving image on a monitor. The frame rate for video output is 1/30 for NTSC and 1/25 for PAL (1/60 and 1/50 for the interlaced system, respectively) as the TV output standard, and the charge accumulation time in CMOS Is usually 1/30 second or less, the data processing circuit or the like must output a video signal to the monitor within 1/30 second or less.

  By the way, in a single-lens reflex camera, the photographer can usually confirm the subject through the optical viewfinder with the light flux that has passed through the photographing lens by the main mirror positioned in front of the imaging surface.

  In addition, since the focus range of the subject changes depending on the aperture of the taking lens (depth of field), in a single-lens reflex camera, an aperture switch for driving the aperture to check the depth of field and the degree of background blur It is possible to check the depth of field and the degree of blur at the aperture when shooting.

  As disclosed in Patent Document 1, a function of outputting an image captured with a Tv / Av value set in a camera to an electronic viewfinder when switching between an optical viewfinder and an electronic viewfinder has been proposed.

  Also, as disclosed in Patent Document 2, a plurality of distance measuring points are designated, an aperture value at which these distance measuring points are within the depth of field is obtained, the aperture is set to the aperture value, and the sensor gain is also switched. A function of an electronic viewfinder that makes the viewfinder image constant has been proposed.

JP 2003-60943 A JP 2002-244025 A

  However, in recent years, EVF has become common sense in digital cameras other than single-lens reflex cameras, and the demand for EVF has increased greatly even in single-lens reflex digital cameras, but none of them has an EVF function because of its configuration.

  In Patent Document 1, an image is displayed under the shooting conditions set when the viewfinder is switched, and an image is displayed. However, since the displayed image is a still image, it is not EVF.

  Further, in Patent Document 2, aperture values that are in focus at a plurality of distance measuring points are obtained by calculation, and EVF display is performed using the aperture values. However, the aperture is not determined because the aperture is not determined unless the distance is measured and focused. In addition, there is no means for setting an arbitrary aperture value, no switch for arbitrarily narrowing the aperture, switching the finder, or no solution for a case where an appropriate image is not obtained only by gain adjustment.

  In compact digital cameras other than single-lens reflex cameras, it was desired that the depth of field can be confirmed in the EVF state, that is, before shooting, but as with single-lens reflex type digital cameras, the actual aperture was reduced as it was. However, there is a problem that the subject image becomes dark.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points. Even when the actual aperture is narrowed down in order to confirm the state of depth of field and the degree of background blur during EVF display, a good EVF can be obtained. The purpose is to obtain a display.

An image pickup apparatus of the present invention is an image pickup element that converts an optical image formed through a taking lens into an electrical signal, and displays an image after shooting or displays an image before shooting as an electronic viewfinder. The image display means, the aperture operation member for narrowing down the aperture of the photographing lens to an arbitrary aperture value within a predetermined range, and the aperture operation at the time of the electronic viewfinder displaying the image before photographing on the image display means It has a feature in that when the member is operated, there is provided a changing means for changing the output condition of the image sensor or the processing of the output signal with respect to the state before the operation.
An image pickup apparatus control method according to the present invention includes an image pickup element that converts an optical image formed through a photographing lens into an electric signal, and an image for displaying an image after photographing or before photographing as an electronic viewfinder. An imaging apparatus control method comprising: an image display means for displaying; and a diaphragm operation member for narrowing a diaphragm of the photographing lens to an arbitrary diaphragm value within a predetermined range, wherein the imaging apparatus includes the imaging device When the narrowing operation member is operated at the time of the electronic viewfinder displaying the image before photographing by the image display means, the output condition of the image sensor or the processing of the output signal is changed with respect to the state before the operation. It is characterized in that a change procedure is performed.
The computer program of the present invention is to display an image sensor that converts an optical image formed through a photographing lens into an electric signal and an image after photographing, or to display an image before photographing as an electronic viewfinder. A computer program for controlling an image pickup apparatus comprising: an image display means; and an aperture operation member for narrowing down the aperture of the photographing lens to an arbitrary aperture value within a predetermined range, wherein the image display means In the electronic viewfinder that displays an image before photographing, when the narrowing operation member is operated, a process of changing the output condition of the image sensor or the processing of the output signal with respect to the state before the operation is performed. It is characterized in that it is executed by a computer.

  That is, when using the EVF, if the aperture operation member is operated prior to actual shooting, the aperture is narrowed down to the set aperture value. However, when the aperture is narrowed, the incident light quantity to the image sensor is fixed, and EVF Will not be displayed properly. Therefore, in the present invention, in order to obtain appropriate exposure in EVF display, output conditions such as the amplification factor of the signal output from the image sensor and the charge accumulation time of the image sensor are changed.

  According to the present invention, in an imaging apparatus such as a digital camera having an electronic viewfinder, an operation member such as a narrowing switch is operated in order to check the depth of field and the background blur during EVF display. Even when the aperture is narrowed down, a good EVF display can be obtained.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an imaging apparatus according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied. In the figure, reference numeral 100 denotes an image pickup apparatus main body. Reference numeral 12 denotes a shutter for controlling the exposure amount to the image sensor 14. An image sensor 14 converts an optical image into an electric signal. The light beam incident on the photographing lens 310 is guided through the diaphragm 312, the lens mounts 306 and 106, the mirror 130, and the shutter 12 by a single lens reflex method, and forms an optical image on the image sensor 14.

  Reference numeral 16 denotes an A / D converter that converts an analog signal output from the image sensor 14 into a digital signal. A timing generation circuit 18 supplies a clock signal and a control signal to the image sensor 14, the A / D converter 16, and the D / A converter 26, and is controlled by the memory control circuit 22 and the system control circuit 50.

  An image processing circuit 20 performs predetermined pixel interpolation processing and color conversion processing on the data from the A / D converter 16 or the data from the memory control circuit 22. Further, in the image processing circuit 20, predetermined calculation processing is performed using image data captured as necessary, and the system control circuit 50 performs an exposure control unit 40 and a distance measurement control unit 42 based on the obtained calculation result. TTL (through-the-lens) AF (autofocus) processing, AE (automatic exposure) processing, and EF (flash dimming) processing are performed. Further, the image processing circuit 20 performs predetermined arithmetic processing using the captured image data, and also performs TTL AWB (auto white balance) processing based on the obtained arithmetic result.

  In the present embodiment, since the distance measuring unit 42 and the photometric unit 46 are exclusively provided, the AF (autofocus) process and the AE (automatic exposure) are performed using the distance measuring unit 42 and the photometric unit 46 when the optical viewfinder is used. ) Processing and EF (flash dimming) processing. When EVF is used, AF (autofocus) processing, AE (automatic exposure) processing, and EF (flash dimming) processing using the image processing circuit 20 are performed. Switch automatically to perform processing.

  A memory control circuit 22 controls the A / D converter 16, the timing generation circuit 18, the image processing circuit 20, the image display memory 24, the D / A converter 26, the memory 30, and the compression / decompression circuit 32. The data of the A / D converter 16 is sent to the image display memory 24 or the memory 30 via the image processing circuit 20 and the memory control circuit 22, or the data of the A / D converter 16 is directly sent to the image display memory 24 or the memory 30 via the memory control circuit 22. Written.

  Reference numeral 24 denotes an image display memory. Reference numeral 26 denotes a D / A converter. Reference numeral 28 denotes an image display device composed of a TFT LCD or the like, and display image data written in the image display memory 24 is displayed by the image display device 28 via a D / A converter 26. In the case of EVF, the image data captured using the image display device 28 is sequentially displayed to realize the EVF function. Further, the image display device 28 can arbitrarily turn on / off the display according to an instruction from the system control circuit 50, and when the display is turned off, the power consumption of the imaging device can be greatly reduced. .

  Reference numeral 30 denotes a memory for storing captured still images and moving image data, and has a sufficient storage capacity for storing a predetermined number of still image data and a predetermined time of moving image data. Thereby, even in the case of continuous shooting or panoramic shooting in which a plurality of still images are continuously shot, it is possible to write a large amount of images to the memory 30 at high speed. The memory 30 can also be used as a work area for the system control circuit 50.

  Reference numeral 32 denotes a compression / decompression circuit that compresses and decompresses image data by adaptive discrete cosine transform (ADCT) or the like, reads an image stored in the memory 30, performs compression processing or decompression processing, and stores the processed data in the memory 30. Write to.

  Reference numeral 40 denotes a shutter control unit that controls the shutter 12 in cooperation with an aperture control unit 340 that controls the aperture 312 based on photometric information from the photometry unit 46.

  Reference numeral 42 denotes a distance measuring unit for performing AF (autofocus) processing. Light rays incident on the photographing lens 310 are converted into a diaphragm 312, lens mounts 306 and 106, a mirror 130, and a distance measuring unit (not shown) by a single lens reflex method. By making the light incident on the distance measuring unit 42 through the sub-mirror, the in-focus state of the image formed as an optical image can be measured.

  Reference numeral 46 denotes a photometric unit for performing AE (automatic exposure) processing. Light rays incident on the photographing lens 310 are converted into a diaphragm 312, lens mounts 306 and 106, mirrors 130 and 132, and photometry (not shown) by a single-lens reflex system. By making it enter into the photometry part 46 through a lens for exposure, the exposure state of the image formed as an optical image can be measured. The photometry unit 46 also has an EF (flash dimming) processing function in cooperation with the flash 48.

  A flash 48 has an AF auxiliary light projecting function and a flash light control function.

  In the EVF, the system control circuit 50 controls the shutter control unit 40, the aperture control unit 340, and the distance measurement control unit 342 based on the calculation result obtained by calculating the image data captured by the image sensor 14 by the image processing circuit 20. Exposure control and AF (autofocus) control are performed using the video TTL method. At this time, AF (autofocus) control may be performed using both the measurement result by the distance measuring unit 42 and the calculation result obtained by calculating the image data captured by the image sensor 14 by the image processing circuit 20. Further, exposure control may be performed using both the measurement result obtained by the photometry unit 46 and the calculation result obtained by calculating the image data captured by the image sensor 14 by the image processing circuit 20.

  A system control circuit 50 controls the entire image pickup apparatus. A memory 52 stores constants, variables, programs, and the like for operating the system control circuit 50.

  Reference numeral 54 denotes a display unit such as a liquid crystal display device or a speaker that displays an operation state or a message using characters, images, sounds, or the like in accordance with execution of a program in the system control circuit 50. One or a plurality of places are provided near the portion where they are easily visible, and are constituted by a combination of, for example, an LCD, an LED, and a sounding element. The display unit 54 has a part of its function installed in the optical viewfinder 104.

  Among the display contents of the display unit 54, what is displayed on the LCD or the like is, for example, single shot / continuous shooting display, self-timer display, compression rate display, recording pixel number display, recording number display, remaining image number display , Shutter speed display, Aperture value display, Exposure compensation display, Flash display, Red-eye reduction display, Macro shooting display, Buzzer setting display, Clock battery level display, Battery level display, Error display, Multi-digit number information display There are a display of the attachment / detachment state of the recording medium 200, a display of the attachment / detachment state of the lens unit 300, a communication I / F operation display, a date / time display, and a display showing a connection state with an external computer.

  In addition, among the display contents of the display unit 54, what is displayed in the optical viewfinder 104 is, for example, in-focus display, shooting preparation completion display, camera shake warning display, flash charge display, flash charge completion display, shutter speed display, There are an aperture value display, an exposure correction display, a recording medium writing operation display, and the like.

  Further, among the display contents of the display unit 54, what is displayed on the LED or the like includes, for example, in-focus display, photographing preparation completion display, camera shake warning display, camera shake warning display, flash charge display, flash charge completion display, recording medium There are a writing operation display, a macro shooting setting notification display, a secondary battery charge state display, and the like.

  Furthermore, among the display contents of the display unit 54, what is displayed on a lamp or the like includes, for example, a self-timer notification lamp. This self-timer notification lamp may be used in common with AF auxiliary light.

  Reference numeral 56 denotes an electrically erasable / recordable nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM.

  Reference numerals 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, and 74 denote operation means for inputting various operation instructions of the system control circuit 50, such as switches, dials, touch panels, pointing by line-of-sight detection, voice recognition devices, and the like. Consists of a single or a plurality of combinations.

  Here, a specific description of these operating means will be given. Reference numeral 60 denotes a mode dial switch, which is an automatic shooting mode, program shooting mode, shutter speed priority shooting mode, aperture priority shooting mode, manual shooting mode, depth of focus priority (depth) shooting mode, portrait shooting mode, landscape shooting mode, and close-up shooting. Each function shooting mode such as a shooting mode, a sports shooting mode, a night view shooting mode, a panoramic shooting mode, and the like can be switched and set.

  Reference numeral 62 denotes a shutter switch SW1, which is turned on during the operation of a shutter button (not shown), and performs AF (auto focus) processing, AE (auto exposure) processing, AWB (auto white balance) processing, EF (flash dimming) processing, and the like. Instruct the start of operation. Reference numeral 64 denotes a shutter switch SW2, which is turned on when an operation of a shutter button (not shown) is completed, and exposure in which a signal read from the image sensor 14 is written into the memory 30 via the A / D converter 16 and the memory control circuit 22. Processing, development processing using operations in the image processing circuit 20 and the memory control circuit 22, and a series of recording processing in which image data is read from the memory 30, compressed by the compression / decompression circuit 32, and written to the recording medium 200. The operation start of the process is instructed.

  Reference numeral 66 denotes a playback switch, which instructs the start of a playback operation in which a captured image is read from the memory 30 or the recording medium 200 and displayed by the image display device 28 in the shooting mode state.

  Reference numeral 68 denotes an OVF / EVF switch, which can be set to switch between an optical finder (OVF) and EVF.

  Reference numeral 70 denotes an operation unit including various buttons, a touch panel, and the like. The shutter speed is set when the shutter speed priority shooting mode is set with the menu button, the set button, the macro button, the multi-screen playback page break button, and the mode dial 60. Shutter setting means for setting, aperture value setting means for setting an aperture value when the aperture priority shooting mode is set with the mode dial 60, a flash setting button, a single shooting / continuous shooting / self-timer switching button, a menu Move + (plus) button, Menu move-(minus) button, Playback image move + (plus) button, Playback image-(minus) button, Shooting image quality selection button, Exposure compensation button, Date / time setting button, Panorama mode, etc. Selecting and switching various functions when shooting and playing back Selection / switching button to be set, determination / execution button to set determination and execution of various functions when shooting and playback in panorama mode, and image display ON / OFF switch to set ON / OFF of image display device 28 Quick review ON / OFF switch for setting a quick review function that automatically reproduces image data taken immediately after shooting, CCDRAW for selecting the compression rate of JPEG compression, or digitizing the image sensor signal as it is and recording it on a recording medium Compression mode switch, which is a switch for selecting the mode, playback mode, playback mode that can be set for each function mode such as multi-screen playback / erase mode, PC connection mode, auto focus if shutter switch SW1 is pressed Once the operation starts and once focused, While pushing the one-shot AF mode and the shutter switch SW1 keeps maintaining the state there is the AF mode setting switch or the like which is capable of setting the servo AF mode for continuing the autofocus operation continuously. In addition, the functions of the plus button and the minus button can be selected more easily by providing a rotary dial switch.

  Reference numeral 72 denotes a power switch, which can switch and set each power ON / OFF mode of the imaging apparatus. In addition, the power ON / OFF setting of various accessory devices such as the lens unit 300, the external strobe, and the recording medium 200 connected to the imaging apparatus main body 100 can be switched and set together.

  Reference numeral 74 denotes an aperture switch. When the aperture switch 74 is operated, the aperture 312 of the lens unit 300 is decreased so that the aperture value displayed on the display unit 54 is obtained. The aperture value that can be set for the aperture 312 is limited depending on the performance of the photographing lens 312, but the aperture value can be arbitrarily set within a range having an upper limit and a lower limit. The setting of the aperture value may be adjusted continuously or may be adjusted in stages. In the present embodiment, the aperture switch is taken as an example. However, the aperture may be directly adjusted by the user rotating the aperture ring arranged in the lens barrel.

  Reference numeral 80 denotes a power control unit, which includes a battery detection circuit, a DC-DC converter, a switch circuit for switching a block to be energized, etc., and detects whether or not a battery is installed, the type of battery, and the remaining battery level. The DC-DC converter is controlled based on the result and an instruction from the system control circuit 50, and a necessary voltage is supplied to each unit including the recording medium for a necessary period.

  Reference numerals 82 and 84 denote connectors, and 86 denotes a power source including a primary battery such as an alkaline battery or a lithium battery, a secondary battery such as a NiCd battery, a NiMH battery, or a Li battery, or an AC adapter.

  Reference numeral 90 denotes an interface with a recording medium such as a memory card or hard disk, and reference numeral 92 denotes a connector for connecting to a recording medium such as a memory card or hard disk. A recording medium attachment / detachment detection unit 98 detects whether or not the recording medium 200 is attached to the connector 92. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that there are two systems of interfaces and connectors for attaching a recording medium. Of course, the interface and connector for attaching the recording medium may have a single or a plurality of systems. Moreover, it is good also as a structure provided with combining the interface and connector of a different standard. The interface and the connector may be configured using a PCMCIA card, a CF (Compact Flash (registered trademark)) card, or the like that conforms to a standard. Further, when the interface 90 and the connector 92 are configured using a PCMCIA card, a CF (Compact Flash (registered trademark)) card, or the like, a LAN card, a modem card, a USB card, an IEEE 1394 card, a P1284 card. By connecting various communication cards such as SCSI cards, PHS and other communication cards, image data and management information attached to the image data can be transferred to and from other computers and peripheral devices such as printers. it can.

  Reference numeral 104 denotes an optical viewfinder, which can guide the light beam incident on the photographing lens 310 through the stop 312, the lens mounts 306 and 106, and the mirrors 130 and 132 and form an optical image as an optical image by a single lens reflex method. Thereby, it is possible to perform photographing using only the optical viewfinder 104 without using the electronic viewfinder function of the image display device 28. In the optical viewfinder 104, some functions of the display unit 54, for example, a focus display, a camera shake warning display, a flash charge display, a shutter speed display, an aperture value display, an exposure correction display, and the like are installed.

  Reference numeral 120 denotes an interface for connecting the imaging apparatus main body 100 to the lens unit 300. Reference numeral 122 denotes a connector that electrically connects the imaging apparatus main body 100 to the lens unit 300. The connector 122 transmits a control signal, a status signal, a data signal, and the like between the imaging apparatus main body 100 and the lens unit 300, and also has a function of supplying currents of various voltages. The connector 122 may be configured to transmit not only electrical communication but also optical communication, voice communication, and the like.

  Reference numerals 130 and 132 denote mirrors, which can guide light incident on the photographing lens 310 to the optical viewfinder 104 by a single-lens reflex system. The mirror 132 may be either a quick return mirror or a half mirror.

  Reference numeral 200 denotes a recording medium such as a memory card or a hard disk. The recording medium 200 includes a recording unit 202 configured by a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, or the like, an interface 204 with the imaging apparatus main body 100, and a connector 206 for connecting to the imaging apparatus main body 100.

  Reference numeral 300 denotes an interchangeable lens type lens unit. Reference numeral 306 denotes a lens mount that mechanically couples the lens unit 300 to the imaging apparatus main body 100. The lens mount 306 includes various functions for electrically connecting the lens unit 300 to the imaging apparatus main body 100.

  Reference numeral 310 denotes a photographing lens. Reference numeral 312 denotes an aperture. Reference numeral 320 denotes an interface for connecting the lens unit 300 to the imaging apparatus main body 100. A connector 322 electrically connects the lens unit 300 to the imaging apparatus main body 100. The connector 322 transmits a control signal, a status signal, a data signal, and the like between the imaging apparatus main body 100 and the lens unit 300, and also has a function of supplying or supplying currents of various voltages. The connector 322 may be configured to transmit not only electrical communication but also optical communication, voice communication, and the like.

  Reference numeral 340 denotes an aperture control unit, which includes a shutter control unit 40 that controls the shutter 12 based on the photometric information from the photometric unit 46 or the calculation result obtained by calculating the image data captured by the image sensor 14 by the image processing circuit 20. The diaphragm 312 is controlled in cooperation.

  A distance measurement control unit 342 controls focusing of the photographing lens 310.

  A lens system control circuit 350 controls the entire lens unit 300. The lens system control circuit 350 includes a memory for storing operation constants, variables, programs and the like, identification information such as a number unique to the lens unit 300, management information, function information such as an open aperture value, a minimum aperture value, a focal length, It also has a non-volatile memory function for holding current and past set values.

  2 and 3 are flowcharts for explaining a main routine of processing operations in the imaging apparatus of the present embodiment. Upon power-on such as battery replacement, the system control circuit 50 initializes flags, control variables, and the like, and performs predetermined initial settings necessary for each part of the imaging apparatus (step S101).

  The system control circuit 50 determines the setting position of the power switch 72. If the power switch 72 is set to power OFF (step S102), the display of each display unit is changed to the end state, and a flag or control variable is set. Are recorded in the nonvolatile memory 56, and the power control unit 80 performs predetermined end processing such as shutting off unnecessary power sources for the respective parts of the imaging device including the image display device 28. (Step S103), the process returns to Step S102.

  If the power switch 72 is set to ON (step S102), the power control unit 80 determines whether the remaining capacity of the power source 86 and the operation status have a problem in the operation of the imaging apparatus (step S104). If there is a problem, the display unit 54 is used to display a predetermined warning by an image or sound (step S105), and then the process returns to step S102.

  If there is no problem with the power supply 86 (step S104), the system control circuit 50 determines the setting position of the mode dial 60. If the mode dial 60 is set to the photographing mode (step S106), the process proceeds to step S108. . If the mode dial 60 is set to another mode (step S106), the process corresponding to the selected mode is executed (step S107), and the process returns to step S102.

  The system control circuit 50 determines whether or not the recording medium 200 is loaded, acquires management information of image data recorded on the recording medium 200, and the operating state of the recording medium 200 is the operation of the imaging apparatus, particularly the recording medium. It is determined whether or not there is a problem in the recording / reproducing operation of the image data (step S108). If there is a problem, a predetermined warning is displayed by an image or sound using the display unit 54 (step S105). ), The process returns to step S102. Determination of whether or not the recording medium 200 is mounted, acquisition of management information of image data recorded on the recording medium 200, and the operation state of the recording medium 200 is the operation of the imaging apparatus, particularly recording and reproduction of image data on the recording medium As a result of determining whether or not there is a problem in the operation (step S108), if there is no problem, the process proceeds to step S109.

  The system control circuit 50 checks the setting state of the OVF / EVF changeover switch 68 for selecting OVF / EVF as a finder to be used (step S109), and if OVF is selected, sets the OVF flag (step S110). If EVF has been selected, the EVF flag is set (step S111), and after the flag has been set, the process proceeds to step S112.

  By switching the OVF / EVF switch 68, the subject is photographed while being confirmed by the optical viewfinder 104, and the image display device 28 performs the predetermined processing described above for the image data obtained by photographing the subject by the image sensor 14. It is possible to select whether to display an image. When an image is displayed by EVF, the image is picked up by the image sensor 14 at a predetermined interval (frame rate), and the image to be displayed on the image display device 28 is switched.

  The system control circuit 50 uses the display unit 54 to display various setting states of the imaging device using images and sounds (step S112). Note that if the image display of the image display device 28 is ON, the image display device 28 is also used to display various setting states of the imaging device using images and sounds.

  Next, if the shutter switch SW1 is not pressed (step S121), the process returns to step S102. If the shutter switch SW1 is pressed (step S121), the system control circuit 50 performs a distance measurement process to focus the photographing lens 310 on the subject, and performs a photometry process to determine an aperture value and a shutter time. Distance / photometry processing is performed (step S122), and the process proceeds to step S123. In the photometric process, the flash is set if necessary.

  The system control circuit 50 determines the state of the OVF / EVF flag stored in the internal memory of the system control circuit 50 or the memory 52 (step S123). If the OVF flag is set, the process proceeds to step S125, and the EVF If the flag has been set, the image pickup device 14 picks up an image for EVF display, and an image display process for displaying the image on the image display device 28 while updating it at a predetermined interval is performed (step S124). The process proceeds to step S125. Details of the EVF display process in step S125 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  As described above, when the EVF flag is set in step S123, processing for displaying an image in EVF (step S124) is performed, and when the shutter switch SW2 is pressed in step S125 and shooting is performed. In addition, it is possible to easily check the captured image.

  Subsequently, if the shutter switch SW2 is not pressed (step S125), the current process is repeated until the shutter switch SW1 is released (step S126). If the shutter switch SW1 is released (step S126), the process returns to step S102.

  If the shutter switch SW2 is pressed (step S125), the system control circuit 50 determines whether or not the memory 30 has an image storage buffer area capable of storing the captured image data (step S127). If there is no area where new image data can be stored in the image storage buffer area, a predetermined warning display is performed with an image or sound using the display unit 54 (step S128), and the process returns to step S102.

  For example, immediately after the maximum number of images that can be stored in the image storage buffer area of the memory 30 is taken, the first image to be read from the memory 30 and written to the storage medium 200 is still unrecorded on the recording medium 200. An example of this state is a case where one free area cannot be secured in the image storage buffer area of the memory 30 yet.

  When the captured image data is compressed and stored in the image storage buffer area of the memory 30, it can be stored in consideration of the fact that the amount of compressed image data varies depending on the compression mode setting. In step S127, it is determined whether or not the area is on the image storage buffer area of the memory 30.

  If there is an image storage buffer area capable of storing the image data captured in the memory 30 (step S127), the system control circuit 50 reads out an image signal that has been imaged and accumulated for a predetermined time from the image sensor 14, and performs A / D. A photographing process for writing image data photographed in a predetermined area of the memory 30 through the converter 16, the image processing circuit 20, the memory control circuit 22, or directly from the A / D converter through the memory control circuit 22 is executed. (Step S129). Details of the photographing process in step S129 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  When the photographing process (step S129) is completed, various development processes including an AWB (auto white balance) process, a gamma conversion process, and a color conversion process are performed (step S130).

  Along with execution of a series of photographing, the system control circuit 50 reads out the image data stored in the image storage buffer area of the memory 30, and via the interface 90 and the connector 92, a memory card, a compact flash (registered trademark) card, etc. The recording process for writing to the recording medium 200 is started (step S131). This recording start process is performed on the image data every time new image data that has been shot and finished a series of processes is newly written in the empty image portion of the image storage buffer area of the memory 30. During the writing of the image data to the recording medium 200, in order to clearly indicate that the writing operation is being performed, a recording medium writing operation display such as blinking an LED is performed on the display unit 54.

  The system control circuit 50 determines whether or not the shutter switch SW1 has been pressed (step S132). If the shutter switch SW1 has been released (step S132), the process returns to step S102. If the shutter switch SW1 has been pressed (step S132), the process waits until the shutter switch SW1 is released.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the EVF display processing in step S125. The display on the image display device 28 is output to the image display device 28 at a frame rate for outputting a moving image of the optical image formed on the image sensor 14.

  First, the aperture fixing flag is initialized (step S301), the mirror is raised (step S302), the light beam is incident on the shutter 12, charge accumulation of the image sensor 14 is started (step S303), and the shutter 12 is immediately activated. Is opened (step S304), and the image sensor 14 is exposed (step S305). The upper limit of the exposure time is determined by the frame rate because an optical image formed on the image sensor 14 is output as a moving image to the image display device 28.

  After the charge accumulation of the image sensor 14 is completed (step S306), an image pickup signal is read from the image sensor 14 (step S307), and a distance measurement value calculation (step S308) and a photometry value calculation (step S309) are performed by the image processing device 20. Then, development (step S310) is performed and displayed on the image display device 28 (step S311).

  Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the lens is in focus from the distance measurement value obtained in step S308 (step S312). If the lens is not in focus, the lens is driven by the shift amount (step S313).

  Further, it is checked whether or not the exposure amount on the imaging surface is appropriate from the photometric value obtained in step S309 (step S314), and if it is out of the appropriate range, the image output to the image display device 28 is appropriate. The appropriate image output condition is changed so as to be (step S315). The appropriate image output condition is aperture control of the diaphragm 312 for controlling charge accumulation in the image sensor 14, switching of the charge accumulation time (electronic shutter) of the image sensor 14, or from the image sensor 14. Gain switching for amplifying and attenuating the output of the imaging signal.

  Next, it is confirmed whether or not the aperture switch 74 has been operated (step S316). If the aperture switch 74 is OFF, the aperture fixing flag is cleared (step S317) and the image display device 28 The process proceeds to a check process (step S323) of whether or not to continue the subject display.

  If the aperture switch 74 is ON, the aperture fixing flag is checked to check whether the aperture 312 is already fixed (step S318). If the aperture 312 has already been reduced to a predetermined aperture value and is fixed, the process proceeds to step S323 to check whether or not to continue displaying the subject on the image display device 28, and the aperture 312 is still reduced. If not, a flag indicating that the diaphragm 312 has been throttled is set, and the diaphragm 312 is driven to a predetermined diaphragm value (step S320). By fixing the diaphragm 312, the parameters of the appropriate image output conditions are changed so that the image displayed by the EVF is appropriate. Therefore, the exposure amount is calculated again (step S 321), and the image display device 28 is displayed. The appropriate image output condition is changed so that the output image is appropriate.

  By operating the aperture switch 74, the user expects to check the depth of field and background blur in EVF. If the image displayed on the EVF is extremely overexposed or underexposed, Since the depth and blur cannot be confirmed, the image displayed on the EVF must have a proper exposure.

  Therefore, specifically, when the aperture value after the aperture 312 is reduced is larger than the aperture value of the appropriate image output condition in step S315 (a narrowing condition), the amount of light incident on the image sensor 14 decreases. Therefore, the gain of the imaging signal output from the imaging device 14 is increased, or the charge accumulation time of the imaging device 14 is increased. However, the upper limit of this charge accumulation time is usually determined by the frame rate, but when the aperture value is fixed by the operation of the aperture switch 74 and a proper image cannot be obtained even by gain switching, A charge accumulation time for obtaining a proper image regardless of the rate is set.

  On the other hand, when the aperture value after the aperture 312 is reduced is smaller than the aperture value of the appropriate image output condition in step S315 (the aperture opening condition), conversely, the gain is decreased or the charge accumulation time is shortened. .

  Note that the gain of the image pickup signal output from the image pickup device 14 may be adjusted in the output stage of the image pickup device 14, that is, in the state of an analog signal, or adjusted in terms of image processing after being converted into a digital signal. You may make it do.

  Further, the change of the proper image output condition of the image sensor 14 may not be performed in the shooting mode in which the shutter time and the aperture value can be arbitrarily set.

  When conditions for obtaining an appropriate image are set in this way and display in EVF is continued in step S323, the process returns to step S303 to repeat a series of operations.

  When the EVF display is terminated in step S323, the shutter 12 is closed (step S324), the mirror 130 is lowered, the charge accumulation of the image sensor 14 is terminated (step S326), and the EVF display is terminated.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the photographing process in step S129. In the photographing process, various signals are exchanged between the system control circuit 50 and the aperture control unit 340 or the distance measurement control unit 342 via the interface 120, the connector 122, the connector 322, the interface 320, and the lens control unit 350. Done.

  The system control circuit 50 moves the mirror 130 to the mirror-up position by a mirror driving unit (not shown) (step S501), and according to the photometric data stored in the internal memory or the memory 52 of the system control circuit 50, the aperture control unit 340 Thus, the aperture 312 is driven to a predetermined aperture value (step S502).

  The system control circuit 50 performs the charge clear operation of the image sensor 14 (step S503), starts the charge accumulation of the image sensor 14 (step S504), and then opens the shutter 12 by the shutter control unit 40 (step S305). Then, exposure of the image sensor 14 is started (step S506). Here, it is determined whether or not the flash 48 is necessary based on the flash flag (step S507). If necessary, the flash 48 is caused to emit light (step S508).

  The system control circuit 50 waits for the exposure of the image sensor 14 to end according to the photometric data (step S509), closes the shutter 12 by the shutter control unit 40 (step S510), and ends the exposure of the image sensor 14.

  The system control circuit 50 drives the aperture 312 to the open aperture value by the aperture controller 340 (step S511), and moves the mirror 130 to the mirror down position by the mirror driver (not shown) (step S512).

  If the set charge accumulation time has elapsed (step S513), the system control circuit 50 ends the charge accumulation of the image sensor 14 (step S514), and then reads out the charge signal from the image sensor 14, and the A / D converter 16, the photographed image data is written to a predetermined area of the memory 30 via the image processing circuit 20, the memory control circuit 22, or directly from the A / D converter 16 via the memory control circuit 22 (step S515). When the series of processing is finished, the photographing processing routine S129 is finished.

  In the embodiment described above, a single-lens reflex camera has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the present invention is also applied to a compact digital camera or the like provided with a diaphragm operation member for driving a diaphragm. Can be applied.

  An object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and store the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus in the storage medium. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by reading and executing the program code.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the program code itself and the storage medium storing the program code constitute the present invention.

  As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

  Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (basic system or operating system) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. Needless to say, a case where the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized by performing part or all of the actual processing and the processing is included.

  Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written to a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the CPU or the like provided in the board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the imaging device of embodiment to which this invention is applied. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the main routine of the processing operation in the imaging device of this embodiment. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the main routine of the processing operation in the imaging device of this embodiment. It is a flowchart for demonstrating EVF display processing. It is a flowchart for demonstrating imaging | photography processing.

Explanation of symbols

12: Shutter 14: Image sensor 20: Image processing circuit 28: Image display device 42: Distance measuring unit 46: Photometric unit 50: System control circuit 74: Aperture switch 100: Imaging device body 104: Optical viewfinder 130: Mirror 132: Mirror 300: Lens unit 312: Aperture 342: Ranging control unit 350: Lens system control circuit

Claims (7)

An image sensor that converts an optical image formed through the taking lens into an electrical signal;
Image display means for displaying an image after shooting, or for displaying an image before shooting as an electronic viewfinder,
A diaphragm operation member for narrowing the diaphragm of the photographing lens to an arbitrary diaphragm value within a predetermined range;
When the aperture operation member is operated at the time of the electronic viewfinder displaying the image before photographing by the image display means, the output condition of the image sensor or the processing of the output signal is changed with respect to the state before the operation is performed. An imaging apparatus comprising: a changing unit that   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the changing unit changes an amplification factor of the output signal.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the changing unit changes a charge accumulation time of the imaging element in the output condition.   The change unit does not change the output condition of the image sensor or the processing of the output signal in a shooting mode in which the shutter time and the aperture value can be arbitrarily set. The imaging device described in 1.   An optical viewfinder is used, and when using the optical viewfinder, autofocus processing and automatic exposure processing are performed using a distance measuring means and photometry means, and when using an electronic viewfinder, autofocus processing is performed based on a signal output from the image sensor. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein automatic exposure processing is performed. An image sensor for converting an optical image formed through a photographing lens into an electric signal, an image display means for displaying an image after photographing or displaying an image before photographing as an electronic viewfinder, and A control method for an imaging apparatus including a diaphragm operation member for narrowing a diaphragm of a photographing lens to an arbitrary diaphragm value within a predetermined range,
When the aperture operation member is operated when the imaging apparatus is an electronic viewfinder that displays an image before photographing on the image display means, the output condition or output of the imaging element with respect to the state before being operated A control method for an imaging apparatus, characterized in that a change procedure for changing signal processing is performed. An image sensor for converting an optical image formed through a photographing lens into an electric signal, an image display means for displaying an image after photographing or displaying an image before photographing as an electronic viewfinder, and A computer program for controlling an imaging device including a diaphragm operation member for narrowing a diaphragm of a photographing lens to an arbitrary diaphragm value within a predetermined range,
When the aperture operation member is operated at the time of the electronic viewfinder displaying the image before photographing by the image display means, the output condition of the image sensor or the processing of the output signal is changed with respect to the state before the operation is performed. A computer program for causing a computer to execute a changing process.

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