JP2007017613A - Photographing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photographing apparatus capable of preventing wasteful consumption of a battery by securely detecting a state of a photographing apparatus main body suspended by a strap or estimating the attitude of the photographing apparatus main body. <P>SOLUTION: Using a three-axis acceleration sensor 42 incorporated in an HDD 42, a digital camera 10 detects a vibration of the digital camera 10. A voltage signal indicating the vibration is output from the three-axis acceleration sensor 42 to a CPU 30. The CPU 30 compares the waveform of the voltage signal and the waveform of each voltage signal pre-stored in a ROM 34. Based on the result of this, the CPU 30 controls a lens barrel driving part 44 such that the lens barrel 20 in an extended position is moved to a collapsed position, a power source is automatically turned off, or the time taken to automatically turn off the power source is shortened. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a photographing apparatus, and more particularly, to a photographing apparatus that automatically moves a lens barrel at a feeding position to a retracted position or automatically turns off a power source based on a posture of a photographing apparatus main body.

  Conventionally, when the camera is suspended by a carrying strap, the photographic lens barrel in the extended position is automatically moved to the retracted position to prevent inadvertent damage to the photographic lens barrel. There has been proposed a camera that prevents the battery from being wasted by automatically turning off the power (Patent Document 1).

In the camera of Patent Document 1, an automatic detection switch that is turned on / off by the movement of a movable member that is operated by the weight of the camera is provided in a metal fitting portion of the strap attachment portion. According to this camera, when the taking lens barrel is extended from the camera body and the camera is suspended from the strap, the movable member moves and the automatic detection switch is turned on. In response to this detection signal, the CPU of the camera performs a process of automatically retracting the photographic lens barrel from the extended position to the retracted position, and the photographic lens barrel is housed in the camera body. Thereafter, when a predetermined time elapses in the retracted state, an auto power-off process is executed by the CPU to turn off the camera.
JP 2004-29093 A

  However, since the conventional camera disclosed in Patent Document 1 detects the suspended state of the camera body by an automatic detection switch that is turned on / off by the movement of a movable member that is operated by its own weight, for example, a strap is pulled. In this case, there is a problem in that shooting cannot be performed because the automatic detection switch is on at this time. Further, there has been a drawback that erroneous detection increases when the change in posture of the camera from the horizontal position to the vertical position is digitally detected and discriminated by 1/0.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and can reliably detect that the photographing apparatus main body is suspended by a strap, or predict the support state by detecting the posture of the photographing apparatus main body. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a photographing apparatus capable of preventing wasteful consumption of a battery.

  In order to achieve the object, the invention described in claim 1 is a photographing apparatus body with a strap provided with a retractable / retractable lens barrel, vibration detecting means for detecting vibration of the photographing apparatus body, Attitude detection means for detecting that the imaging apparatus main body is suspended via the strap by the output of vibration detection means, and when the attitude detection means detects that the imaging apparatus main body is suspended. And control means for moving the lens barrel in the extended position to the retracted position.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, a retractable / feeding-out type in which the lens barrel can move between a retracted position housed inside the photographing apparatus main body and a feeding position protruding from the photographing apparatus main body toward the subject. It is premised on the main body of the photographing device with a strap and a lens barrel. And this imaging device has an attitude | position detection means which detects that the imaging device main body was suspended by the output from a vibration detection means. That is, the posture detection means detects the inclination (static acceleration) generated in the photographing apparatus main body when it is suspended by the vibration detection means, and uses the unique voltage signal waveform output from the vibration detection means to photograph the photographing apparatus. Detect that the body is in a suspended state. Then, when it is detected by the posture detection means that the photographing apparatus main body is suspended, the control means moves the lens barrel at the extended position to the retracted position. Thereby, damage to the lens barrel can be prevented.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the object, an imaging device main body with a strap, vibration detection means for detecting vibration of the imaging device main body, and output of the vibration detection means via the strap. When the posture detecting means detects that the photographing apparatus main body is suspended and the posture detecting means detects that the photographing apparatus main body is suspended, the power is turned on after a predetermined time has elapsed since the detection. And a control means for automatically turning it off.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, on the premise of an imaging device main body with a strap, this imaging device detects that the imaging device main body is suspended by an output (voltage signal waveform) from the vibration detecting means. It has posture detection means. That is, the posture detection means detects the inherent vibration generated in the imaging apparatus body when it is suspended by the vibration detection means, and the imaging apparatus body detects the inherent voltage signal waveform output from the vibration detection means. Detect that it is in a suspended state. Then, when the posture detecting means detects that the photographing apparatus main body is suspended, the control means automatically turns off the power after a predetermined time has elapsed from the time of detection. Thereby, useless consumption of the battery can be prevented.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the object, the photographing apparatus main body, vibration detecting means for detecting vibrations of the photographing apparatus main body, and the posture of the photographing apparatus main body based on the output of the vibration detecting means. A posture detecting means for detecting, a predicting means for predicting a support state of the photographing apparatus main body based on a displacement of an output of the posture detecting means, and an automatic operation based on the support state of the photographing apparatus main body predicted by the predicting means. And a control means for calculating the time to turn off the power.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the posture detecting means for detecting the posture of the photographing apparatus main body from the output (voltage signal waveform) from the vibration detecting means is provided, and the displacement of the voltage signal waveform of the posture detecting means is included. Based on the predicted support state of the photographing apparatus main body, the control means calculates a time for automatically turning off the power based on the predicted support state of the photographing apparatus main body.

  For example, the posture detecting means detects that the photographing apparatus main body is in the horizontal position by the output from the vibration detecting means, and the predicting means leaves the photographing apparatus on the table when the displacement of the output is zero. And the control means automatically reduces the time to turn off the power. On the other hand, when the displacement of the output of the vibration detection means is extremely small due to traffic vibration, the prediction means predicts that the imaging device is installed on the tripod, and the control means maintains the power-on state.

  In addition, the posture detecting means detects that the photographing apparatus main body is in the horizontal position by the output from the vibration detecting means, and the predicting means determines that the displacement main component of the output is a low frequency (for example, 1 to 12 Hz). Predicting that the image is being taken, the control means maintains the power-on state. Furthermore, when the displacement principal component of the output of the vibration detection means is 12 Hz or more at the horizontal positive position, the prediction means predicts that the photographing apparatus is moving, and the control means shortens the time for automatically turning off the power. .

  Furthermore, the posture detecting means detects that the photographing apparatus main body is in the vertical position by the output from the vibration detecting means, and the predicting means is installed on a tripod when the displacement of the output is 0 or very small. The control means maintains the power-on state. Further, in the vertical position, when the displacement main component of the output from the vibration detection means is low frequency (for example, 1 to 12 Hz), the prediction means predicts that the image is being taken, and the control means maintains the power-on state. Furthermore, when the displacement principal component of the output from the vibration detection means is 12 Hz or more in the vertical position, the prediction means predicts that the photographing apparatus is moving, and the time for automatically turning off the power is shortened.

  Next, the posture detecting means detects that the photographing apparatus main body is at the top surface photographing position by the output from the vibration detecting means, and the predicting means is left on the table when the displacement of the output is zero. The control means shortens the time to automatically turn off the power. Further, when the displacement main component of the output from the vibration detecting means is low frequency (for example, 1 to 12 Hz) at the top surface photographing position, the predicting means predicts that the photographing is being performed, and the control means maintains the power-on state. Further, when the displacement principal component of the output from the vibration detecting means is 12 Hz or more at the top surface photographing position, the predicting means predicts that the photographing apparatus is left in the moving bag, and the control means supplies power. Reduce the time to turn off automatically.

  Next, the posture detecting means detects that the photographing apparatus main body is at the right photographing position by the output from the vibration detecting means, and the predicting means predicts that it is left on the table when the displacement of the output is zero. The control means shortens the time to turn off the power automatically. In addition, if the displacement main component of the output from the vibration detecting means is a low frequency (for example, 1 to 12 Hz) at the direct photographing position, the predicting means predicts that the photographing is being performed, and the control means maintains the power-on state. Further, when the displacement principal component of the output from the vibration detection means is 12 Hz or more at the direct photographing position, the prediction means predicts that the photographing apparatus is left in the moving bag, and the control means automatically turns on the power. Time to turn off automatically.

  Then, the posture detecting means detects that the photographing apparatus body is inclined obliquely by the output from the vibration detecting means, and the predicting means is installed on a tripod when the displacement of the output is 0 or very small. The control means maintains the power-on state. Further, in the tilt position, when the displacement main component of the output from the vibration detection means is a low frequency (for example, 1 to 12 Hz), the prediction means predicts that the image is being taken, and the control means maintains the power-on state. Further, when the principal component of displacement of the output from the vibration detecting means is 12 Hz or more at the tilt position, the predicting means predicts that the photographing apparatus is moving, and the control means has time to automatically turn off the power. Shorten. As described above, useless consumption of the battery can be prevented.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first, second, and third aspects, the vibration detecting unit is a three-axis acceleration sensor that detects a fall of a hard disk drive unit built in the photographing apparatus main body. It is characterized by being.

  The invention according to claim 4 pays attention to the fact that the triaxial acceleration sensor for detecting the fall of the hard disk drive unit is mounted on the hard disk drive unit in advance, and this triaxial acceleration sensor is also used as the vibration detecting means of the present invention. As a result, the number of parts and the cost can be reduced.

  The three-axis acceleration sensor uses the X, Y, and Z axes orthogonal to each other as sensitive axes, and when the display values of these three axes (display value = motion acceleration component−gravity acceleration component) simultaneously indicate zero, Is determined to be in a free fall state. In the hard disk drive unit, when free fall is detected by the three-axis acceleration sensor, the head is retracted from the hard disk of the hard disk drive unit by the head retracting means to protect the hard disk and the head. As a method for detecting acceleration by a triaxial acceleration sensor, there are an electrostatic quantity type, a piezoelectric type, and a piezoresistive type. In addition, recent triaxial acceleration sensors are reduced in size and weight, and the presence of the triaxial acceleration sensor does not increase the size of the photographing apparatus main body.

  The acceleration sensor is not limited to the three-axis acceleration sensor mounted in advance on the hard disk drive unit, but for determining the AF distance measuring method of the photographing apparatus, for determining the AE range, and for the photographing apparatus main body. In order to detect the vertical / horizontal posture and display the image on the display unit in an upright state, the image capturing apparatus main body may be built in advance.

  According to the photographing apparatus according to the present invention, the photographing apparatus main body is suspended by the strap because the photographing apparatus main body has the posture detecting means for detecting that the photographing apparatus main body is suspended by the output from the acceleration sensor. Can be reliably detected.

  Further, according to the photographing apparatus according to the present invention, the battery includes the posture detecting means for detecting the posture of the photographing apparatus main body based on the output from the acceleration sensor and the predicting means for predicting the support state of the photographing apparatus main body. Can be prevented from being wasted.

  Furthermore, according to the photographing apparatus according to the present invention, since the three-axis acceleration sensor mounted in advance on the hard disk drive unit is also used as the acceleration sensor, the number of parts and the cost can be reduced.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a photographing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, an example in which the photographing apparatus of the present invention is applied to a digital camera, which is an electronic camera, will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to this and is applied to a camera-equipped mobile phone having a camera function. Applicable.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a digital camera 10 according to an embodiment as viewed from the front, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the digital camera 10 as viewed from the back. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the digital camera 10.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the digital camera 10 has a carrying strap 11 attached to a side surface portion of a camera case (imaging apparatus main body) 12. In addition, a grip portion 14 swelled forward is formed on the left side of the front surface of the camera case 12, and a photographing button 16 is disposed on the upper surface of the camera case 12 where the grip portion 14 is located. Further, a retractable / extending lens barrel 20 that holds the photographing lens 18 is provided in a substantially central portion on the front surface of the camera case 12 so as to protrude forward. Furthermore, a strobe light emitting unit 22 having a xenon tube is provided on the upper right side of the front surface of the camera case 12, and various switches such as a liquid crystal monitor 24 and a mode selection switch 26 as shown in FIG. Each finder 28 is provided at a predetermined position.

  The overall operation of the digital camera 10 is comprehensively controlled by a central processing unit (CPU) 30 as shown in FIG. The CPU 30 functions as a control unit that controls the camera system according to a predetermined program, and also performs a calculation unit such as an automatic exposure (AE) calculation, an automatic focus adjustment (AF) calculation, and a white balance (WB) adjustment calculation. Function as.

  The ROM 34 connected to the CPU 30 via the bus 32 stores programs executed by the CPU 30 and various data necessary for control. The EEPROM 36 stores CCD pixel defect information, various constants / information related to camera operation, and the like. Has been.

  The memory (SDRAM) 38 is used as a program development area and a calculation work area for the CPU 30, and is also used as a temporary storage area for image data and audio data. An HDD (Hard Disk Drive Unit) 40 is a temporary storage memory dedicated to image data, and has a built-in triaxial acceleration sensor 42 that detects free fall and vibration (dynamic acceleration). When the free fall of the digital camera 10 is detected by the triaxial acceleration sensor 42, the head is retracted from the hard disk of the HDD 40 by a head retracting means (not shown) built in the HDD 40. Further, when the power is turned on, the three-axis acceleration sensor 42 detects vibrations in the three-axis (orthogonal X, Y, and Z-axis) directions generated in the camera case 12, and a voltage indicating the vibration detected for each axis. A signal is output to the CPU 30. The CPU 30 controls the lens barrel drive unit 44 based on the voltage signal output for each axis to store the lens barrel 20 in the extended position in the retracted position, or automatically turns off the power supply. Execute the process. The memory 38 and the HDD 40 can be shared.

  The mode selection switch 26 is an operation means for switching between the photographing mode and the reproduction mode. When the mode selection switch 26 is operated to connect the movable contact piece 26A to the contact a, the signal is input to the CPU 30, and the digital camera 10 is set to the photographing mode. When the movable contact piece 26A is connected to the contact point b, the digital camera 10 is set to a reproduction mode for reproducing a recorded image.

  The shooting button 16 is an operation button for inputting an instruction to start shooting, and includes a two-stroke switch having an S1 switch that is turned on when half-pressed and an S2 switch that is turned on when fully pressed.

  The menu / OK key (not shown in FIG. 2) functions as a menu button for instructing to display a menu on the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 24 and as an OK button for instructing confirmation and execution of the selection contents. This is an operation key that has both functions. A cross key (not shown in FIG. 2) is an operation unit for inputting instructions in four directions, up, down, left, and right, and is a button for selecting an item from a menu screen or instructing selection of various setting items from each menu. Function as. A cancel key (not shown in FIG. 2) is used to delete a desired object such as a selection item, cancel an instruction content, or return to the previous operation state.

  The liquid crystal monitor 24 is also used as a user interface display screen, and displays information such as menu information, selection items, and setting contents as necessary. Although the liquid crystal monitor 24 is a liquid crystal display, other types of display devices such as an organic EL may be used instead.

  The digital camera 10 has a media socket 46, and a recording medium 48 can be attached to the media socket 46. The form of the recording medium is not particularly limited, and various media such as a semiconductor memory card represented by SmartMedia (trademark), a portable small hard disk, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, and a magneto-optical disk can be used.

  The media controller 50 performs necessary signal conversion in order to exchange input / output signals suitable for the recording medium 48 mounted in the media socket 46.

  The digital camera 10 also includes a USB interface unit 52 as communication means for connecting to a personal computer or other external device. By connecting the digital camera 10 and an external device using a USB cable, it is possible to exchange data with the external device. Of course, the communication method is not limited to USB, and other communication methods may be applied.

  Next, the photographing function of the digital camera 10 will be described.

  When the shooting mode is selected by the mode selection switch 26, power is supplied to an imaging unit including a color CCD solid-state imaging device (hereinafter referred to as CCD) 54, and the camera is ready for shooting.

  The lens barrel 20 is an optical unit that includes a photographic lens 18 including a focus lens and a mechanical shutter 56 that also serves as an aperture. The lens barrel 20 is electrically driven by a lens barrel drive unit 44, a lens drive unit 58, and an aperture drive unit 60 that are controlled by the CPU 30, and zoom control, focus control, and iris control are performed.

  The light that has passed through the photographic lens 18 forms an image on the light receiving surface of the CCD 54. A number of photodiodes (light receiving elements) are two-dimensionally arranged on the light receiving surface of the CCD 54, and primary color filters of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) are provided for each photodiode. They are arranged in a predetermined arrangement structure. The CCD 54 has an electronic shutter function for controlling the charge accumulation time (shutter speed) of each photodiode. The CPU 30 controls the charge accumulation time in the CCD 54 via the timing generator 62. Instead of the CCD 54, another type of image sensor such as a MOS type may be used.

  The subject image formed on the light receiving surface of the CCD 54 is converted into a signal charge of an amount corresponding to the amount of incident light by each photodiode. The signal charge accumulated in each photodiode is sequentially read out as a voltage signal (image signal) corresponding to the signal charge based on a drive pulse given from the timing generator 62 in accordance with a command from the CPU 30.

  The signal output from the CCD 54 is sent to an analog processing unit (CDS / AMP) 64 where the R, G, and B signals for each pixel are sampled and held (correlated double sampling processing), amplified, and then A / Applied to D converter 66. The dot sequential R, G, B signals converted into digital signals by the A / D converter 66 are stored in the memory 38 via the image input controller 68.

  The image signal processing circuit 70 processes the R, G, and B signals stored in the memory 38 in accordance with a command from the CPU 30. That is, the image signal processing circuit 70 includes a synchronization circuit (a processing circuit that converts a color signal into a simultaneous expression by interpolating a spatial shift of the color signal associated with the color filter array of the single CCD), a white balance correction circuit, It functions as an image processing means including a gamma correction circuit, a contour correction circuit, a luminance / color difference signal generation circuit, and the like, and performs predetermined signal processing using the memory 38 in accordance with a command from the CPU 30.

  The RGB image data input to the image signal processing circuit 70 is converted into a luminance signal and a color difference signal by the image signal processing circuit 70 and subjected to predetermined processing such as gamma correction. The image data processed by the image signal processing circuit 70 is recorded in the HDD 40.

  When the captured image is output to the liquid crystal monitor 24, the image data is read from the HDD 40 and sent to the video encoder 72 via the bus 32. The video encoder 72 converts the input image data into a predetermined signal for display (for example, an NTSC color composite video signal) and outputs the converted signal to the liquid crystal monitor 24.

  When the shooting button 16 is pressed halfway and S1 is turned on, the digital camera 10 starts AE and AF processing. That is, the image signal output from the CCD 54 is input to the AF detection circuit 74 and the AE / AWB detection circuit 76 via the image input controller 68 after A / D conversion.

  The AE / AWB detection circuit 76 includes a circuit that divides one screen into a plurality of areas (for example, 16 × 16) and accumulates RGB signals for each divided area, and provides the accumulated value to the CPU 30. The CPU 30 detects the brightness of the subject (subject brightness) based on the integrated value obtained from the AE / AWB detection circuit 76, and calculates an exposure value (shooting EV value) suitable for shooting. In accordance with the obtained exposure value and a predetermined program diagram, the aperture value and the shutter speed are determined, and the CPU 30 controls the electronic shutter and iris of the CCD 54 to obtain an appropriate exposure amount.

  The AE / AWB detection circuit 76 calculates an average integrated value for each color of the RGB signals for each divided area during automatic white balance adjustment, and provides the calculation result to the CPU 30. The CPU 30 obtains an integrated value of R, an integrated value of B, and an integrated value of G, obtains a ratio of R / G and B / G for each divided area, and R of these R / G and B / G values. The light source type is discriminated based on the distribution in the color space of / G, B / G, etc., and the white balance adjustment value suitable for the discriminated light source type is set so that, for example, each ratio value is about 1. The gain value (white balance correction value) for the R, G, and B signals of the balance adjustment circuit is controlled to correct the signal of each color channel. If the gain value of the white balance adjustment circuit is adjusted so that the above-described ratio values are values other than 1, an image in which a certain color remains can be generated.

  The AF control in the digital camera 10 is, for example, a contrast AF that moves a focusing lens (a moving lens that contributes to focus adjustment among the lens optical systems constituting the photographing lens 18) so that the high-frequency component of the G signal of the video signal is maximized. Applies. That is, the AF detection circuit 74 cuts out a signal in a focus target area set in advance in a high-pass filter that passes only a high-frequency component of the G signal, an absolute value processing unit, and a screen (for example, the center of the screen). An area extraction unit and an integration unit that integrates absolute value data in the AF area are configured.

  The integrated value data obtained by the AF detection circuit 74 is notified to the CPU 30. The CPU 30 calculates a focus evaluation value (AF evaluation value) at a plurality of AF detection points while moving the focusing lens by controlling the lens driving unit 58, and determines a lens position where the evaluation value is a maximum as a focus position. To do. Then, the lens driving unit 58 is controlled so as to move the focusing lens to the obtained in-focus position. The calculation of the AF evaluation value is not limited to a mode using the G signal, and a luminance signal (Y signal) may be used.

  The shooting button 16 is pressed halfway, AE / AF processing is performed when S1 is turned on, the shooting button 16 is fully pressed, and the shooting operation for recording starts when S2 is turned on. The image data acquired in response to S2 ON is converted into a luminance / color difference signal (Y / C signal) in the image signal processing circuit 70, subjected to predetermined processing such as gamma correction, and then stored in the memory 38. The

  The Y / C signal stored in the memory 38 is compressed according to a predetermined format by the compression / expansion circuit 78 and then recorded on the recording medium 48 via the media controller 50. For example, a still image is recorded in JPEG format.

  When the playback mode is selected by the mode selection switch 26, the compressed data of the final image file (last recorded file) recorded on the recording medium 48 is read. When the file related to the last recording is a still image file, the read compressed image data is expanded to an uncompressed YC signal via the compression / expansion circuit 78 and then passed through the image signal processing circuit 70 and the video encoder 72. Are converted into display signals and then output to the liquid crystal monitor 24. Thereby, the image content of the file is displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 24.

  During single-frame playback of still images (including playback of the first frame of a movie), the file to be played can be switched (forward / reverse frame advance) by operating the right or left key of the four-way controller. it can. The image file at the frame-advanced position is read from the recording medium 48, and still images and moving images are reproduced and displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 24 in the same manner as described above. The digital camera 10 is driven by the power of the battery 82 supplied through the power supply circuit 80. The above is the overall configuration of the camera 1.

  By the way, the digital camera 10 according to the embodiment uses a triaxial acceleration sensor (acceleration sensor) 42 built in the HDD 42 to detect vibration generated in the digital camera 10. An output signal (voltage signal) indicating vibration is output from the triaxial acceleration sensor 42 to the CPU (attitude detection means, prediction means, control means) 30, and the CPU 30 stores the waveform of the voltage signal in the ROM 34 in advance. And the lens barrel drive unit 44 is controlled based on the result, and the lens barrel 20 at the extended position is moved to the retracted position, or the power is automatically turned off. Control to calculate and shorten the time to automatically turn off the power.

  More specifically, the ROM 34 stores unique voltage signal waveforms generated in the camera case 12 when the camera case 12 is suspended through the strap 11 as shown in FIG. 4 (FIG. 7). (Refer to the sensor output diagram when the strap is suspended.) When the digital camera 10 is turned on, a voltage signal indicating the inclination detected by the three-axis acceleration sensor 42 is output to the CPU 30, and the CPU 30 creates a voltage signal waveform based on the output voltage signal. The voltage signal waveform and the voltage signal waveform stored in the ROM 34 are compared, and when they match, it is detected that the digital camera 10 is in the suspended state. When it is detected that the lens is in the suspended state, the CPU 30 controls the lens barrel driving unit 44 in FIG. 3 to move the lens barrel 20 in the extended position to the retracted position shown in FIG. Thereby, according to the digital camera 10, careless damage of the lens barrel 20 at the time of carrying can be prevented.

  When the triaxial 2 detects that the camera case 12 is suspended through the strap 11, the CPU 30 controls the lens barrel driving unit 44 in FIG. The cylinder 20 is moved to the retracted position shown in FIG. Thereby, according to the digital camera 10, careless damage of the lens barrel 20 at the time of carrying can be prevented. In addition, immediately after this, by automatically turning off the power, it is possible to prevent wasteful consumption of the battery 82.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the retraction operation of the lens barrel 20 by the CPU 30 and the operation of automatically turning off the power.

  First, when the power of the digital camera 10 is turned on (S (STEP) 100), the CPU 30 controls the lens barrel driving unit 44 so that the lens barrel 20 is extended forward from the camera case 12 and is positioned at the initial position. . Next, when the shooting button 16 is half-pressed (S110), a full-pressing operation of the shooting button 16 and a subsequent shooting operation are started according to a normal routine (S120). On the other hand, if the shooting button 16 is not pressed halfway, the timer count starts when the power is turned on or when the lens barrel 20 reaches the initial position (S130), and the non-operating time of the shooting button 16 reaches a certain time. If it exceeds (S140), the zoom position of the taking lens 18 is read (S150), and the attitude of the camera case 12 is detected based on the output (voltage signal waveform) from the triaxial acceleration sensor 42 (S160). Thereafter, when it is determined that the camera case 12 is suspended via the strap 11 (S170), the lens barrel drive unit 44 is controlled to retract the lens barrel 20 (S180). If it is not determined that the camera case 12 is suspended via the strap 11, the processes of S110 to S170 are repeated.

  Next, when the lens barrel 20 is retracted, the time for auto power off (operation for automatically turning off the power) is automatically shortened (S190), and the timer count is started (S200). If the digital camera 10 is operated by the user during this time (S210), the photographing operation is started according to a normal routine (S120). On the other hand, if the digital camera 10 is not operated (S210) and the counted time exceeds the set time (S220), auto power off is performed. By the above operation, careless damage of the lens barrel 20 when the digital camera 10 is carried can be prevented, and wasteful consumption of the battery 82 can be prevented.

  Further, the CPU 30 of the digital camera 10 predicts the support state of the camera case 12 based on the displacement of the voltage signal waveform output from the triaxial acceleration sensor 42, and sets the auto power-off time based on the predicted support state. Calculate and execute auto power off. The posture of the digital camera 10 can be detected by the DC component of the voltage signal output from each sensitive axis of the triaxial acceleration sensor 42, and the support state of the digital camera 10 is output from each sensitive axis. It can be predicted by the amount of displacement of the voltage signal.

  For example, as shown in the table of FIG. 6, when the CPU 30 detects that the digital camera 10 is in the horizontal position based on the output (DC component of the voltage signal) from the triaxial acceleration sensor 42, the CPU 30 detects the triaxial acceleration sensor. When the output value from 42, that is, the displacement of the vibration value detected by the triaxial acceleration sensor 42 is 0, it is predicted that the digital camera 10 is left on the table (at the time of “Left on the desk” in FIG. 7). (Refer to the sensor output diagram) and reduce the auto power-off time. On the other hand, when the amount of displacement is extremely small due to traffic vibration, it is predicted that the digital camera 10 is installed on the tripod, and the power-on state is maintained. Further, when the displacement main component is a low frequency (for example, 1 to 12 Hz) at the horizontal positive position, it is predicted that photographing is being performed, and the power-on state is maintained. Further, when the displacement principal component is 12 Hz or more at the horizontal positive position, it is predicted that the digital camera 10 is moving, and the time for auto power off is shortened.

  Furthermore, when the CPU 30 detects that the digital camera 10 is in the vertical position based on the output from the triaxial acceleration sensor 42 (DC component of the voltage signal), the CPU 30 outputs the output value from the triaxial acceleration sensor 42, that is, triaxial. When the displacement of the vibration value detected by the acceleration sensor 42 is 0 or very small, it is predicted that the vibration sensor is installed on the tripod, and the power-on state is maintained. Further, in the vertical position, when the displacement principal component is a low frequency (for example, 1 to 12 Hz), it is predicted that shooting is in progress (see the sensor output diagram of “when shooting is held” in FIG. 7), and the power-on state is maintained. To do. Further, when the displacement principal component is 12 Hz or more in the vertical position, it is determined that the digital camera 10 is moving, and the time for auto power off is shortened.

  Next, when the CPU 30 detects that the digital camera 10 is at the top surface shooting position based on the output from the triaxial acceleration sensor 42 (DC component of the voltage signal), the CPU 30 outputs the output value from the triaxial acceleration sensor 42, that is, When the displacement of the vibration value detected by the triaxial acceleration sensor 42 is 0, it is predicted that the vibration value is left on the table, and the time for auto power off is shortened. Further, at the top surface photographing position, when the displacement main component is a low frequency (for example, 1 to 12 Hz), it is predicted that photographing is being performed, and the power-on state is maintained. Further, when the displacement principal component is 12 Hz or more at the top surface photographing position, it is predicted that the digital camera 10 is left in the moving bag, and the time for auto power off is shortened.

  Next, the CPU 30 detects that the digital camera 10 is directly under the shooting position based on the output from the triaxial acceleration sensor 42 (DC component of the voltage signal), and the CPU 30 outputs the output value from the triaxial acceleration sensor 42, that is, triaxial. When the displacement of the vibration value detected by the acceleration sensor 42 is 0, it is predicted that the vibration value is left on the table, and the auto power-off time is shortened. Further, when the main displacement component is at a low frequency (for example, 1 to 12 Hz) at the photographing position immediately below, it is predicted that photographing is being performed, and the power-on state is maintained. Further, if the displacement is 12 Hz or more at the direct photographing position, it is predicted that the digital camera 10 is left in the moving bag, and the auto power-off time is shortened.

  When the CPU 30 detects that the digital camera 10 is tilted obliquely by the output from the triaxial acceleration sensor 42 (DC component of the voltage signal), the CPU 30 outputs the output value from the triaxial acceleration sensor 42, that is, 3 When the displacement of the vibration value detected by the axial acceleration sensor 42 is 0 or extremely small, it is predicted that the vibration sensor is installed on a tripod, and the power-on state is maintained. Further, when the displacement main component is at a low frequency (for example, 1 to 12 Hz) at the tilt position, it is predicted that photographing is being performed, and the power-on state is maintained. Further, when the displacement principal component is 12 Hz or more at the tilt position, it is predicted that the digital camera 10 is moving (refer to the sensor output diagram at the time of “movement” in FIG. 7), and the time of auto power off is set. Shorten. As described above, useless consumption of the battery 82 can be prevented.

  By the way, in the digital camera 10 of the embodiment, paying attention to the fact that the triaxial acceleration sensor 42 for detecting the fall of the HDD 40 is mounted on the HDD 40 in advance, the triaxial acceleration sensor 42 is used as the acceleration sensor of the present invention. Since they are also used, the number of parts and cost can be reduced.

  The triaxial acceleration sensor 42 uses the X, Y, and Z axes orthogonal to each other as sensitive axes, and when the display values of these three axes (display value = motion acceleration component−gravity acceleration component) simultaneously show zero, the digital camera It is determined that 10 is in a free fall state. In the HDD 40, when free fall is detected by the three-axis acceleration sensor 42, the head is retracted from the hard disk of the HDD 40 by the head retracting means to protect the hard disk and the head. As a method of detecting acceleration by the triaxial acceleration sensor 42, there are an electrostatic quantity type, a piezoelectric type, and a piezoresistive type. Further, the recent triaxial acceleration sensor 42 is reduced in size and weight, and the presence of the triaxial acceleration sensor does not increase the size of the photographing apparatus main body.

  The acceleration sensor is not limited to the triaxial acceleration sensor 42 mounted in advance on the HDD 40, but for determining the AF distance measurement method of the digital camera 10, for determining the AE range, and for the camera case 12. In order to detect the vertical / horizontal orientation of the image and display the image on the display monitor 24 in an upright state, the image may be built in the digital camera 10 in advance.

Front perspective view of a digital camera of an embodiment Rear perspective view of the digital camera shown in FIG. The block diagram which showed the whole structure of the digital camera shown in FIG. 1 is a perspective view in which the digital camera shown in FIG. 1 is suspended through a strap. The flowchart which showed an example of the operation | movement which automatically turns off the lens barrel retracting operation and power supply by CPU. Diagram showing a list of auto power-off items based on the posture of the digital camera Explanatory drawing which showed the voltage signal output from each output shaft of a 3-axis acceleration sensor

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Digital camera, 11 ... Strap, 12 ... Camera case, 16 ... Shooting button, 18 ... Shooting lens, 20 ... Lens barrel, 24 ... Liquid crystal monitor, 26 ... Mode selection switch, 30 ... CPU, 34 ... ROM, 40 ... HDD, 42 ... 3-axis acceleration sensor, 44 ... Lens barrel drive unit, 54 ... Color CCD solid-state imaging device, 70 ... Image signal processing circuit

Claims (4)

A main body of the photographing device with a strap having a retractable / retractable lens barrel;
Vibration detecting means for detecting vibration of the photographing apparatus body;
Posture detecting means for detecting that the photographing apparatus main body is suspended through the strap by the output of the vibration detecting means;
Control means for moving the lens barrel in the extended position to the retracted position when the posture detecting means detects that the photographing apparatus main body is suspended;
An imaging apparatus comprising: A camera body with a strap,
Vibration detecting means for detecting vibration of the photographing apparatus body;
Posture detecting means for detecting that the photographing apparatus main body is suspended through the strap by the output of the vibration detecting means;
Control means for automatically turning off the power after a predetermined time has elapsed from the time of detection when the posture detection means detects that the photographing apparatus body is suspended;
An imaging apparatus comprising: A photographing device body;
Vibration detecting means for detecting vibration of the photographing apparatus body;
Posture detecting means for detecting the posture of the photographing apparatus main body based on the output of the vibration detecting means;
Predicting means for predicting a support state of the photographing apparatus main body based on a displacement of an output of the posture detecting means;
Control means for automatically calculating a time to turn off the power based on the support state of the photographing apparatus body predicted by the prediction means;
An imaging apparatus comprising:   4. The photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vibration detecting means is a three-axis acceleration sensor that detects a fall of a hard disk drive unit built in the photographing apparatus main body. .

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