JP2007049407A - Photographic device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photographic device wherein a photographing operation is surely carried out putting high priority on a shutter opportunity when the photographing operation is carried out almost at the same time when power is supplied to an unexpected shutter opportunity, and blurring correction is carried out in the case that the photographing operation is continuously carried out subsequently. <P>SOLUTION: When a photographing operation is carried out by pressing a shutter button 12 at the same time when a cover 10a serving also as a power supply switch is opened, processing that inhibits blurring correction is carried out through an internal CPU, Furthermore, when the photographing operation is continued while the cover 10a is kept open, after the power supply switch is turned on, the CPU cancels the processing that inhibits blurring correction after a prescribed time elapses and enables a blurring correction lens to carry out blurring correction suitably. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a photographing apparatus that forms an image of a subject on an image sensor with a photographing lens and generates image data representing the subject.

  Many digital cameras have a camera shake correction function, and many use an angular velocity sensor for camera shake detection so that the camera shake correction function can be operated with high accuracy.

  It is known that this angular velocity sensor requires a little time from when the power is turned on until it reaches a stable operation state. For this reason, when the angular velocity sensor is mounted on the photographing apparatus, there is a problem that proper camera shake correction is not performed when photographing is performed with the photographing apparatus almost at the same time as the power is turned on. Come. The case where the shooting is performed immediately after the power is turned on is usually a case where the photographer tries to take a picture at a certain photo opportunity.

  Therefore, in order to cope with such a problem, two shutter buttons are provided so that one can be used as a shutter button for performing camera shake correction and the other can be used as a shutter button not performing camera shake correction. In the case of taking a picture immediately after the power is turned on, there has been proposed a photography apparatus that recommends the photographer to press the shutter button on the side where no camera shake correction is performed (for example, Patent Document 1). reference). In addition, when it is selected not to perform the shake correction, there is a case where the shake correction is not performed unless the shutter button is half-pressed (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

  Further, among digital cameras that perform such camera shake correction, in order to prevent noise from the DC / DC converter in the digital camera from adversely affecting the angular velocity sensor and the actuator for driving the correction lens. In some cases, instead of a DC / DC converter only when performing camera shake correction, power is supplied from a capacitor (no switch noise) to sensors and actuators including an angular velocity sensor to improve the camera shake correction accuracy ( For example, see Patent Document 3).

  By the way, many digital cameras currently on the market are equipped with an auto power-off function in order to extend the battery life. For this reason, there are many shooting situations in which shooting is performed by pressing the shutter button almost simultaneously when the power is turned on at a photo opportunity. In such a digital camera, if camera shake correction is performed according to the detection result of the angular velocity sensor in such a shooting situation, proper shooting cannot be performed for the above reason.

Although the above problem is solved by providing two shutter buttons as in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, it is necessary to select one of the two shutter buttons by using the technique of this Patent Document 1. There is a risk of accidentally pressing the shutter button on the side that performs shake correction. In addition, when it is selected not to perform the camera shake correction as in the case of Patent Document 2, the camera shake correction is not performed by pressing the button at once, but forgetting to select not to perform the camera shake correction. If there is something wrong, camera shake correction will be performed.
JP-A-7-301840 JP-A-8-227088 JP-A-9-080509

  In view of the above circumstances, in the present invention, when the camera is turned on at a photo opportunity, and photographing is performed at the same time as the power is turned on, the photographing process giving priority to the photo opportunity is surely performed and continues thereafter. An object of the present invention is to provide a photographing apparatus that can reliably perform photographing processing according to photographing conditions when photographing is performed.

A first imaging device of the present invention that achieves the above object is an imaging device that forms an image of a subject on an image sensor with a photographing lens and generates image data representing the subject.
Image stabilization means,
A power switch to put this photographing device in an operating state;
A time measuring means for measuring an elapsed time starting from the time when the power switch is turned on;
And a control unit that prohibits a camera shake correction operation by the camera shake correction unit when it is determined that the elapsed time measured by the time measuring unit is within a predetermined time.

  According to the first photographing apparatus of the present invention, the camera shake correction operation is prohibited when it is determined by the control means that the elapsed time measured by the time measuring means is within a predetermined time.

  Then, when the power is turned on at the photo opportunity and the photographing is performed almost at the same time as the power is turned on, the camera shake detection means is controlled by the control means in consideration of the fact that the camera shake detection means is not yet in a stable operation state. Camera shake correction is prohibited, and photographing processing with priority on photo opportunity is reliably performed. Further, when it is determined by the control means that the elapsed time measured by the time measuring means exceeds a predetermined time, camera shake during photographing is corrected by the camera shake correction means based on the control of the control means. A clear image without blurring can be obtained.

  As described above, when the power switch is turned on at the photo opportunity, and photographing is performed almost simultaneously with the power-on, the photographing process giving priority to the photo opportunity is surely performed, and the photographing is continuously performed after that. In such a case, it is possible to realize a photographing apparatus that can surely perform photographing processing according to the photographing situation, for example, the occurrence state of camera shake.

A second imaging device of the present invention that achieves the above object is an imaging device that forms an image of a subject on an image sensor with a photographing lens and generates image data representing the subject.
Image stabilization means,
A camera shake correction selection switch for selecting whether or not to correct camera shake,
A power switch to put this photographing device in an operating state;
A time measuring means for measuring an elapsed time starting from the time when the power switch is turned on;
If it is determined that the elapsed time measured by the time measuring means is within a predetermined time, even if the camera shake correction selection switch is switched to the side for correcting camera shake, And a control means for prohibiting the correction operation.

  In the first photographing apparatus of the present invention, since the control means always performs camera shake correction, when the power switch is turned on, the photographing is surely performed when the shutter button is pressed and photographing is performed. However, if the camera shake correction selection switch is provided as in the second photographing apparatus of the present invention, the camera shake correction selection switch is set to the negative side. There is no problem if it is switched to.

  However, the user who handles the second photographing apparatus forgets to switch the correction selection switch to the negative side before performing the power-off operation, and takes a picture of the eyelid almost simultaneously when the power is turned on at the photo opportunity. Can happen.

  Therefore, in the second photographing apparatus of the present invention, when the correction selection switch is switched to the correction side, when the power is turned on and photographing is performed at the same time as the power is turned on, the control is performed. The camera shake correction by the camera shake correcting means is prohibited by the means, and the photographing process with priority on the photo opportunity is surely performed.

  In this case, the photographer can switch the correction selection switch so that the second photographing apparatus can cope with a photo opportunity of the eyelid, or the photographer switches the correction selection switch. When the camera forgets, the photographing apparatus itself can automatically detect the state and perform reliable photographing processing corresponding to the photo opportunity.

   As described above, when the camera is turned on at a photo opportunity and the image is taken almost at the same time as the power is turned on, the image taking process giving priority to the photo opportunity is surely performed and the image is taken continuously thereafter. In such a case, it is possible to realize a photographing apparatus that can surely perform photographing processing according to photographing conditions.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

  FIG. 1 is a view showing an appearance of a digital camera 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The digital camera 1 shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B is provided with a slidable cover 10a that also serves as a power switch. When the cover 10a is slid to the right as viewed in the figure, the objective lens 1001 is provided. Is covered and the power switch is turned off, and when it is slid to the left, the objective lens 1001 appears and the power switch is turned on.

  FIG. 1B shows a state in which the cover 10a is slid to the left as viewed in the figure, the objective lens 1001 appears on the surface, the power switch is turned on, and the photographing preparation is completed.

  In the digital camera 1 shown in FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b), subject light that has entered via the objective lens 1001 along the first optical axis from the front extends vertically. 2 is provided with a bending optical system that reflects in a direction along the optical axis 2 and forms an image on a CCD solid-state imaging device (hereinafter referred to as a CCD) described later. This bending optical system 1000 incorporates a correction lens for correcting camera shake. A shutter button 12 is provided on the upper surface of the camera.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of the bending optical system 1000 provided in the digital camera of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of camera shake correction means including a camera shake correction lens.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a camera shake correction lens 1004 is incorporated in the bending optical system. Here, a correction lens is disposed between the zoom lens 1003 and the focus lens 1005.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the camera shake correction lens 1004 includes a first holder 10040 that is movably held in a direction parallel to the first optical axis on the horizontal plane, and the first holder 10040 that It is held by a second holder 10042 that is movably held in a direction parallel to the second optical axis that is above and perpendicular to the first optical axis.

  Each of the first holder 10040 and the second holder 10042 is bent at one end to form a bent portion, and electromagnetic coils 100411, 100411 are provided at the bent portions, respectively. U-shaped yokes 10041a and 10042a are respectively disposed so as to sandwich the electromagnetic coils 100411 and 100411 of these bent portions from both sides. Magnets 100411a and 1004111a are attached to inner wall surfaces on one end side of the U-shaped yokes 10041a and 10042a, respectively. Accordingly, when a current is passed through the electromagnetic coils 10000411 and 100411, an attractive force or a repulsive force acts between the electromagnetic coils 10000411 and 100411 and the magnets 1004111a and 10000421a to adjust the position of the correction lens 1004.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the digital camera 1 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the operation of the digital camera 1 is controlled by the CPU 100 as a whole. The CPU 100 controls a series of operations of the entire digital camera 1 according to a program stored in the ROM 101. During the processing related to a series of operations, the CPU 100 performs appropriate processing by appropriately rewriting variables on the RAM 102 as a work area according to the processing.

  A power switch 11a that operates in conjunction with the cover 10a is connected to the input side of the CPU 100. When the power switch 11a is turned on, the CPU 100 detects that the power is turned on.

  In the digital camera 1 of the present embodiment, when the CPU 100 detects that the power switch 11a is turned on, a through image processing process is activated and a subject image is displayed on a display screen (not shown). ing.

  Here, the configuration shown in FIG. 2 and the operation of each unit will be briefly described along the flow of an image signal representing a through image signal.

  The bending optical system provided in the digital camera of this embodiment includes an objective lens 1001, a zoom lens 1003 via a prism, a correction lens 1004, and a focus lens 1005 as shown in FIG. The subject light is imaged on the CCD 110 by these lenses. When the focus lens 1005 in the bent optical system is disposed at the focal point, the CPU 100 receives the distance measurement result in the AF (Auto Focus) unit 120 at the subsequent stage, and the driver 1005a performs the focus based on the instruction from the CPU 100. The lens 1005 is always driven. In this way, the subject light that is always in focus is imaged on the CCD 110, and the focus is adjusted every time a timing signal is supplied from a clock generator (not shown) under the control of the CPU 100. The image signal representing the subject light (hereinafter referred to as a through image signal) is output from the CCD 110 one after another. Further, the CPU 100 causes the driving unit (not shown) to adjust the aperture diameter of the diaphragm based on the photometric result of the AE (Auto Exposure) / AWB (Auto White Balance) unit 121, or emits photographing auxiliary light from the auxiliary light emitting unit (not shown). is doing.

  In this way, the through image signal is successively output from the CCD 110 to the CDSAMP 111, the noise is reduced by the CDSAMP 111, and the through image signal with the noise reduced is supplied to the A / D converter 112 at the subsequent stage. The A / D converter 112 performs processing for converting a through image signal with reduced noise into a digital signal.

  The through image signal converted into a digital signal by the A / D conversion unit 112 is guided to the bus 130 by the data input unit 113.

  The through image signal guided to the bus 130 is supplied to the signal processing unit 114 via the bus 130, and the through image signal composed of RGB is converted into Y (luminance signal), C (chroma signal) by the signal processing unit 114. Is converted to a live view image signal, and the converted YC signal is further supplied to the display unit 117. The display unit 117 displays an image based on the YC signal on the display screen. Here, as described above, the through image signal generated by the CCD 110 is supplied to the display unit 117 one after another in response to the timing signal from the clock generator, so that the through image signal is switched one after another at a predetermined time by the display unit 117. The subject captured by the objective lens 1001 is displayed on the display screen as a through image as it is.

  With such a configuration, a through image that is in focus at any time is displayed on the display screen.

  Here, when the shutter button 12 is pressed while viewing the focused through image, the CPU 100 starts shooting processing. Before describing this photographing process, the configuration of a camera shake correction unit that corrects camera shake that may occur due to the pressing operation of the shutter button 12 will be briefly described.

  In the digital camera 1 of the present embodiment, as described with reference to FIG. 2, the correction lens 1004 is incorporated in the bending optical system, and the correction lens 1004 is driven two-dimensionally so that camera shake correction is performed. It has become. In FIG. 4, for the sake of simplicity, it is shown that the correction lens 1004 is driven in the direction of the arrow by the correction unit 1004a and correction is performed one-dimensionally. It is driven two-dimensionally by the correction unit 1004a having the electromagnetic coil (100411 or 100411) and the magnet (100411a or 1004111a) described in the above, and shake correction with high accuracy is performed.

  In the example of FIG. 2, a biaxial angular velocity sensor 140 is provided so that the correction unit 1004 a can accurately drive the correction lens 1004. Here, the CPU 100 instructs the correction unit 1004a according to the detection signal from the angular velocity sensor 140 to drive the correction lens 1004 so that the correction unit 1004a cancels camera shake.

  When the shutter button 12 of the digital camera 1 having such a configuration is pressed, the CPU 100 receives an operation of the shutter button 12 and starts photographing processing. In this example, the CPU 100 receives an operation signal from the shutter button 12 and controls a timing generator (not shown) to supply an exposure start signal to the CCD 110. After a predetermined shutter time, the CPU 100 supplies an exposure end signal to the CCD 110 this time. As a result, the CCD 110 generates a captured image when the shutter button is operated, and the generated image signal is output to the subsequent CDSAMP 111. As described above, when the image signal is output to the CDSAMP 111 in synchronization with the exposure end signal, the noise reduction processing is performed by the CDSAMP 111, and the image signal subjected to the noise reduction processing is supplied to the A / D converter 112 and digitally processed. Converted to a signal. The image signal converted into the digital signal is guided to the bus 130 by the data input unit 113 and temporarily stored in the memory 150. When the output of the image signal from the CCD 110 is completed and all the image signals are stored in the memory 150, the CPU 100 reads the image signal from the memory 150 and sends the image signal to the signal processing unit 114 via the bus 130. Supply. When the signal processing unit 114 performs conversion processing, this time, the image signal is supplied to the compression / decompression unit 115 and compressed by the compression / decompression unit 115 to generate an image file composed of compressed image data and compression information. Let Then, the CPU 100 instructs the recording unit 116 to record the image file on a recording medium such as a memory card.

  In the digital camera according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the power switch is operated in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the cover 10a, so that photographing can be performed immediately even at a photo opportunity. Yes. If the above-described camera shake correction is performed when the cover 10a is opened using the digital camera having such a configuration and the image is taken in the bag, the detection result of the angular velocity sensor that remains uneasy about the detection accuracy is obtained. As a result, camera shake correction is performed accordingly, and there is a possibility of failing shooting.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, the CPU 100 activates an internal timer when the power is turned on by opening the cover 10a, and the shutter button is pressed within a predetermined elapsed time from the time when the power is turned on. If it is determined that the correction has been performed, the camera shake correction operation is prohibited so that the correction unit 1004a does not drive the correction lens 1004. By doing so, blur correction is not performed according to the detection result of the angular velocity sensor, and there is no possibility of missing a photo opportunity due to no shooting failure.

  In the digital camera 1 of the present embodiment, the influence of the camera shake is relatively suppressed by using the high-sensitivity CCD 110 to make the shutter speed faster than usual, and further correction by the correction lens is performed. Trying to correct camera shake with higher accuracy. For this reason, even if processing for prohibiting camera shake correction is performed when shooting is performed by pressing the shutter button at the same time that the cover is opened, an image that is greatly blurred cannot be obtained.

  Further, when shooting is continuously performed with the cover open, shooting is often performed slowly, and camera shake correction is performed in accordance with the detection of the angular velocity sensor 140, assuming that there are few shootings that care about the shutter chance. There is also.

  In this way, a process for prohibiting camera shake correction is performed so that the CPU can detect that shooting is performed with priority on the shutter chance and the shutter button is pressed at the same time as the cover is opened. By doing so, the features of this digital camera, in which the cover and the power switch are linked, are exhibited to the maximum extent.

  As described above, even if the power is turned on at the photo opportunity of the bag and shooting is performed at the same time as the power is turned on, shooting with priority on the shutter chance is surely performed, and shooting is continued after that. In such a case, the shooting process according to the shooting situation (for example, when there is a high possibility of camera shake from the length of the shutter speed determined according to the field brightness condition, etc.) is reliably performed. An imaging device that can be realized is realized.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the second embodiment.

  FIG. 5 shows a rear view of the digital camera in addition to the front view shown in FIG.

  The configuration is the same as that of FIG. 1 except that a camera shake correction selection switch 160 shown in the rear view of FIG. 5C is provided.

  6 is the same as the configuration of FIG. 4 except that the camera shake correction selection switch 160 is connected to the input unit of the CPU 100.

  In the digital camera 1 of the first embodiment, an example in which camera shake correction is always performed at the time of shooting according to the detection result of the angular velocity sensor 140 has been shown, but as in the digital camera 1 of the second embodiment. Some camera shake correction selection switches 160 allow the photographer to determine whether or not to perform camera shake correction.

  In the case of the configuration shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, if the camera shake correction switch 160 is switched to the negative side, even if the shutter button 12 is pressed at the same time as the cover 10a is opened, shooting is performed. There is no problem because image stabilization is not performed.

  However, if the user forgets to switch the camera shake correction switch 160 to the negative side before closing the cover 10a and performing the power-off process, the shutter button 12 is pressed at the same time as the cover 10a is opened, and a photo opportunity is taken. When trying to do so, camera shake correction is performed and there is a risk of missing a photo opportunity. If the user notices the position of the camera shake correction selection switch 160 when the user is opening the cover 10a and switches the switch to the negative side, there is no possibility that shooting cannot be performed, but there is a shutter chance due to a momentary time lag. Is likely to miss.

  Therefore, when the CPU 100 included in the digital camera 1 of the present embodiment counts the elapsed time from the time when the power is turned on by the timer 100a and determines that the elapsed time is within a predetermined time, Even when the camera shake correction selection switch 160 is switched to the side to be corrected, the camera shake correction operation by the correction unit 1004a is prohibited.

  In this way, even if the camera shake correction selection switch 160 is switched to the camera shake correction side, the power is turned on at the photo opportunity, and the shutter button is pressed almost simultaneously with the power on, and the image is taken. Even so, the risk of failing shooting due to camera shake correction being prohibited is remarkably reduced, and shooting with priority on the shutter chance is surely performed.

  Further, if a camera shake correction selection switch is provided as in the digital camera of the second embodiment, it is possible to prevent camera shake correction at any time by performing an operation when it is desired to perform shooting with priority on photo opportunity.

  As described above, when power is turned on at the photo opportunity of a bag and shooting is performed almost at the same time as the power is turned on, shooting with priority on shutter chance is surely performed, and shooting is continued after that. In such a case, it is possible to realize a photographing apparatus that can surely perform photographing processing according to photographing conditions.

It is a figure which shows the digital camera which is 1st Embodiment of the imaging device of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the process part arrange | positioned inside the digital camera 1 of FIG. It is a figure explaining the structure of a bending optical system. It is a figure explaining the structure of the camera-shake correction means integrated in the bending optical system. It is a figure which shows the digital camera which is 2nd Embodiment of the imaging device of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the process part arrange | positioned inside the digital camera 1 of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 Digital Camera 10a Cover 12 Shutter Button 100 CPU
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1000 Bending optical system 1001 Objective lens 1002 Prism 1003 Zoom lens 1004 Correction lens 1004a Correction | amendment part 10041 10042 Holder 1000041 100421 Electromagnetic coil 10041a 10042a Yoke 10000411a 10000421a Magnet 1005 Focus lens 1005a Driver 110 CCD
111 CDSAMP
112 A / D conversion unit 113 Data input unit 114 Signal processing unit 115 Compression / decompression unit 116 Recording unit 117 Display unit 120 AE / AWB unit 121 AF unit 130 Bus 140 Angular velocity sensor 150 Memory 160 Correction selection switch

Claims (2)

In a photographing apparatus that forms an image of a subject on an image sensor with a photographing lens and generates image data representing the subject,
Image stabilization means,
A power switch to put this photographing device in an operating state;
Time measuring means for measuring an elapsed time starting from the time when the power switch is turned on,
An imaging apparatus comprising: control means for prohibiting a camera shake correction operation by the camera shake correction means when it is determined that the elapsed time measured by the time measuring means is within a predetermined time. In a photographing apparatus that forms an image of a subject on an image sensor with a photographing lens and generates image data representing the subject,
Image stabilization means,
A camera shake correction selection switch for selecting whether or not to correct camera shake,
A power switch to put this photographing device in an operating state;
Time measuring means for measuring an elapsed time starting from the time when the power switch is turned on,
If it is determined that the elapsed time measured by the time measuring means is within a predetermined time, even if the camera shake correction selection switch is switched to the side for correcting camera shake, An imaging apparatus comprising: control means for prohibiting the correction operation.

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