JP2007208866A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera with which even a beginner can easily photograph a sounding object. <P>SOLUTION: Zoom microphones 31-1, 31-2, 31-3, 31-4 capture sounds of an object. Based on levels of the sounds captured by the zoom microphones 31-1 to 31-4, a position of the object is specified and the position or direction of the object is displayed on a finder 15. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a camera.

Conventionally, an optical apparatus described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-161350 is known. This optical apparatus is stored in a processing means for processing a bird sound detected from a microphone, a first storage means for storing in advance information relating to a plurality of bird sounds, and a sound processed by the processing means and a storage means. And a discriminating means for discriminating the type of bird that emitted the sound detected by the microphone by comparing with the detected sound.
JP-A-6-161350

  When observing or shooting a specific type of bird in a forest or forest, it is difficult to identify the position of the bird to be observed / photographed from multiple types of calls even if the above optical equipment is used. Met.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a camera that can easily shoot an object that emits sound even if it is a beginner.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 comprises a plurality of sound collecting means and a control means for specifying the position of the sound source based on the sound information detected by the sound collecting means. Features.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the camera according to the first aspect, a sound collection control means for changing a sound collection range of the sound collection means is provided.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the camera according to the second aspect, the sound collection control means changes a sound collection range of the sound collection means in accordance with a focal length of a lens.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the camera according to any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention, the camera includes a storage unit that stores predetermined sound information in advance.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the camera according to the fourth aspect, the specifying means for specifying the sound source based on a comparison result between the sound detected by the sound collecting means and the sound information stored in the storage means. It is characterized by having.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the camera according to any one of the first to fifth aspects of the present invention, the camera includes a display unit that displays a captured image, and the display unit includes information on the identified sound source in the captured image. It is characterized by displaying.

  According to the present invention, even a beginner can easily photograph an object that emits sound.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a front view of a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  This camera includes a camera body 10, a lens barrel 20 (see FIG. 2A), and a hood 30.

  The hood 30 is detachably attached to the lens barrel 20. Four zoom microphones (sound collecting means) 31-1, 31-2, 31-3, 31-4 are arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the hood 30 at intervals of 90 °. The zoom microphones 31-1 to 31-4 have a zoom microphone function (a function of collecting sound by changing the directivity angle and sound level of the microphone in conjunction with the zoom operation).

  2A is a side view of the camera, and FIG. 2B is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the photographing range and the sound collection range.

  In the lens barrel 20, a zoom lens 22 (see FIG. 3) and a diaphragm (not shown) are arranged. The image captured through the zoom lens 22 is displayed on the display device (display means) 12 (see FIG. 3). Further, an LED display device (not shown) is provided in the optical viewfinder 15 (FIG. 7) as a display means. A specific LED is turned on to display the position and direction of the sound source on the screen of the finder 15.

  A cable 35 is laid between the zoom microphones 31-1 to 31-4 and the camera body 10. Sound information captured by the zoom microphones 31-1 to 31-4 is transmitted to the camera body 10 via the cable 35.

  As shown in FIG. 2B, the sound collection range R of the zoom microphones 31-1 to 31-4 and the shooting range 12A overlap each other, and the sound emitted from the shooting range 12A is the zoom microphones 31-1 to 31-31. 4 is collected. The zoom microphone 31-1 has high sensitivity to sound from above, the zoom microphone 31-2 has high sensitivity to sound from below, and the zoom microphones 31-3 and 31-4 have high sensitivity to sound from the left and right directions. Therefore, for example, when the sound level captured by the zoom microphone 31-1, 31-2, 31-4 is lower than the sound level captured by the zoom microphone 31-3, the target object is in the sound collection direction of the zoom microphone 31-3. You can see that there is. A portion RC where the sound collection ranges of the zoom microphones 31-1 to 31-4 overlap is an area having the same sound collection level.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  This camera includes a zoom lens 22, zoom microphones 31-1, 31-2, 31-3, 31-4, a microphone circuit 11, a display device 12, a storage device (storage means) 13, and a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 14. I have.

  The zoom lens 22 is disposed in the lens barrel 20, and optically enlarges the image by moving the lens to change the focal length.

  As for the characteristics of the zoom microphones 31-1 to 31-4, the stereo directivity works on the wide side, and the monaural front directivity that captures the sound of the object sharply as the telephoto side is set. The zoom microphones 31-1 to 31-4 output voltage signals corresponding to the level of the collected sound.

  The microphone circuit 11, the display device 12, the storage device 13, and the CPU 14 are provided in the camera body 10.

  The microphone circuit 11 converts the voltage signals output from the zoom microphones 31-1 to 31-4 into corresponding digital signals, and supplies them to the CPU 14 as signals such as sound collection levels.

  On the display device 12, information (for example, the direction and position of the sound source) related to the photographing target (sound source) is displayed together with the image captured through the zoom lens 22.

  The storage device 13 is a memory in which sound information of a limited object (for example, a bird) classified by location, season, etc. is stored in advance. The storage device 13 includes an IC memory card, a ROM (Read Only Memory), and the like.

  The CPU 14 is composed of, for example, a one-chip microcomputer. The CPU 14 analyzes the sound collection level based on a sound collection control means for changing the sound collection range of the zoom microphones 31-1 to 31-4 in conjunction with the zoom function of the lens and a predetermined processing control program. Control means for specifying the direction and position of the sound source, and specifying means for specifying the sound source based on the comparison result between the sound detected by the zoom microphones 31-1 to 31-4 and the sound information stored in the storage device 13. Function.

  Next, a method for photographing an object will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the positional relationship between the photographer and the bird.

  A plurality of types of objects (eg, birds) live in forests and forests. Therefore, the photographer M entering the forest or the forest can hear various bird calls from various directions. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, different bird voices may be heard from three directions. However, the appearances of the birds B1, B2, and B3 are hidden in the tree W, and it is difficult for the photographer M to visually confirm the appearance of the birds B1, B2, and B3.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a method of shooting an object, FIG. 6A is a side view of the camera when the zoom microphone function is activated, and FIG. 6B is a shooting range and sound collection range at that time. It is a figure for demonstrating the relationship of these. In FIG. 5, S1 to S4 indicate steps.

  The camera is directed toward the object, and the zoom function of the zoom lens 22 is operated to change the shooting range 12A shown in FIG. 2B to the shooting range 12B shown in FIG. 6B.

  The sound collection range of the zoom microphones 31-1 to 31-4 changes from R to R2 (from the wide side to the telephoto side) according to the change in the focal length (see FIG. 6B). As a result, a range for searching for an object is narrowed down.

  First, the sound of the object is captured by the zoom microphones 31-1 to 31-4 (S1).

  Next, each sound collection level is analyzed by the CPU 14 with respect to the sound information of the object captured by the zoom microphones 31-1 to 31-4 (S 2).

  As a result of the analysis, the position and direction of the sound source (object) are specified (S3).

  Thereafter, the position and direction of the sound source are displayed on the screen of the finder 15 (FIG. 7) (S4). The direction of the camera is adjusted so that this display comes to a portion RC where the sound collection ranges of the zoom microphones 31-1 to 31-4 overlap.

  The position of the sound source is indicated, for example, as follows (see FIG. 7).

  FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams showing an example of a method for indicating the position of a sound source.

  FIG. 7A is a diagram showing a state in which a specific LED of the LED display device is turned on based on a control signal from the CPU 14 at the position P1 of the object in the screen of the optical viewfinder, and FIG. 7B is not shown. It is a figure which shows the state which displayed the arrow in the position P1 of the target object in the screen of an optical finder based on the control signal from DSP (Digital Signal Processor). Note that the arrow in FIG. 7B can be displayed at the left end of the screen of the finder 15 to indicate that the object is in the direction indicated by the arrow.

  According to this embodiment, since the position of the object is specified based on the sound levels of the zoom microphones 31-1 to 31-4, the object can be easily photographed even by a beginner.

  Note that the target bird's cry is stored in the storage device 13 as sound information in advance, and the sound of the object captured by the zoom microphones 31-1 to 31-4 is compared using the CPU 14. You may make it identify a bird. By doing so, the object can be easily identified, and even a beginner can shoot the object more easily. For example, the target bird is identified by comparing the frequency characteristic of the sound signal of the object captured by the zoom microphones 31-1 to 31-4 with the frequency characteristic of the bird call stored in advance in the storage device 13. be able to.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2A is a side view of the camera, and FIG. 2B is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the photographing range and the sound collection range. FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the positional relationship between the photographer and the bird. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a method for photographing an object. FIG. 6A is a side view of the camera when the zoom microphone function is activated, and FIG. 6B is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the shooting range and the sound collection range at that time. FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams showing an example of a method for indicating the position of a sound source.

Explanation of symbols

  12: display device (display means), 13: storage device (storage means), 14: CPU (control means, sound collection control means, specifying means), 15: finder, 31-1, 31-2, 31-3, 31-4: Zoom microphone (sound collecting means), R, R1, R2, R3, R4: Sound collection range.

Claims (6)

A plurality of sound collecting means;
And a control means for specifying the position of the sound source based on the sound information detected by the sound collecting means.   The camera according to claim 1, further comprising sound collection control means for changing a sound collection range of the sound collection means.   The camera according to claim 2, wherein the sound collection control means changes a sound collection range of the sound collection means in accordance with a focal length of a lens.   The camera according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising storage means for storing predetermined sound information in advance.   5. The camera according to claim 4, further comprising a specifying unit that specifies the sound source based on a comparison result between the sound detected by the sound collecting unit and the sound information stored in the storage unit.   6. The camera according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying a photographed image, wherein the display means displays information relating to the specified sound source in the photographed image.

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