JP2007228233A - Photographic device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photographic device capable of preventing gripping fingers from hiding an image. <P>SOLUTION: The photographic device is provided with an image pickup means for imaging a subject, an image display means having a screen for displaying a subject image imaged with the image pickup means, a region detecting means for detecting either of a covered region covered with the fingers and an uncovered region not covered with the fingers in the screen of the image display means, and a control means for controlling so as to display the subject image in the uncovered region detected with the region detecting means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a photographing apparatus, and more particularly to a photographing apparatus having a large display screen.

  The digital camera is provided with a display screen for displaying a through image or a captured image. In recent years, as disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3, there are many digital cameras that provide various functions by providing a touch panel on a display screen and operating a user's icon displayed on the display screen. .

  In order to improve the operability in such a case and improve the visibility of the displayed image, the display screen tends to be enlarged.

  On the other hand, since the digital camera itself tends to be miniaturized, in the case of a large display screen, most of the back surface of the digital camera may be a display screen. In this case, a part of the image is obscured by a finger holding the digital camera.

Therefore, Patent Document 4 discloses a camera with a monitor that can display the image on a part of the display screen of the LCD without displaying the image on the entire screen, and can check the entire image without obscuring the image. Yes.
JP-A-8-137620 JP 11-136568 A JP 2000-341572 A JP-A-11-289484

  However, since the size of the finger varies from person to person and the gripping position is not constant, in the camera with a monitor disclosed in Patent Document 4, the finger may cover the image.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a photographing apparatus that does not cover an image with a finger to be held.

  In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 is directed to an image pickup means for picking up a subject, an image display means for displaying a subject image picked up by the image pickup means, and a finger on the screen of the image display means. A region detecting means for detecting one of a covered region covered with a non-covered region and an image display region included in the non-covered region determined based on a detection result of the region detecting means. Control means for controlling to display a subject image.

  Here, in the first aspect of the invention, any one of a covered area covered with a finger and an uncovered uncovered area on the screen of the image display means is detected, and an uncovered area determined based on the detection result Since the subject image is controlled to be displayed in the image display area included in the digital camera, it is possible to provide a digital camera that does not cover the image with the finger that is gripped.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the control means performs control so as to display related information related to the subject image in an empty area excluding the image display area and the covering area from the screen of the image display means. .

  Here, since the related information regarding the subject image is displayed in the free area, the free area can be used effectively.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, when the screen is rectangular, the area detecting unit detects an area having a pair of sides as the projection length of the finger on each side of the screen.

  Here, the invention according to claim 3 can obtain the free space by a relatively light process.

  The invention according to claim 4 is an image that represents the whole of the partial image displayed in the image display area and clearly shows the range of the displayed partial image.

  In this case, for example, a navigation screen can be displayed as the related information.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the related information is at least one of shutter speed information, aperture value information, and information representing a luminance distribution of the subject image when the subject is photographed.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, shutter speed information, aperture value information, and information representing the luminance distribution of the subject image can be displayed as related information when the subject is photographed.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the apparatus related information is one or more images obtained by performing image quality correction on the subject image.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, one or more images obtained by performing image quality correction on the subject image can be displayed as related information.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the device related information is an image captured by the imaging unit.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, a thumbnail image obtained by reducing the image captured by the imaging unit can be displayed as the related information.

  The invention according to claim 8 defines the type of the related information to be displayed according to the position of the covering region.

  According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the user can select the type of information to be displayed simply by changing the gripping position.

  The invention of claim 9 further includes recording means for recording digital image data indicating an image picked up by the image pickup means.

  Here, in the invention described in claim 9, digital image data can be recorded.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an imaging device that does not cover an image with a finger to be gripped.

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

  First, with reference to FIG. 1, an external configuration of a digital camera 10 as a photographing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described.

  A front surface of the digital camera 10 is provided with a lens 21 for forming a subject image and a strobe 44 that emits light for irradiating the subject as necessary during photographing. Further, on the upper surface of the digital camera 10, a release button (so-called shutter button) 56A that is pressed when shooting is performed, and a power switch 56B are provided.

  Note that the release button 56A of the digital camera 10 according to the present embodiment is pressed down to an intermediate position (hereinafter referred to as “half-pressed state”) and to a final pressed position beyond the intermediate position. A two-stage pressing operation of a state (hereinafter referred to as a “fully pressed state”) can be detected.

  In the digital camera 10, the release button 56A is pressed halfway to activate the AE (Automatic Exposure) function to set the exposure state (shutter speed and aperture state), and then AF (Auto Focus (automatic focus) function works to control the focus, and then exposure (photographing) is performed when it is fully pressed.

  On the other hand, on the back of the digital camera 10, a photographed subject image, a through image, a menu screen, and the like are displayed, and a large liquid crystal display (hereinafter referred to as “LCD”) 38 provided with a touch panel, and photographing is performed. There is provided a mode changeover switch 56C that is slid and operated when setting a shooting mode that is a mode to be performed and a reproduction mode that is a mode for reproducing a subject image on the LCD 38.

  The digital camera 10 is further provided with a forced light emission switch 56E that is pressed when setting the forced light emission mode, which is a mode in which the flash 44 is forced to emit light during photographing.

  Next, the configuration of the electrical system of the digital camera 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  The digital camera 10 includes an optical unit 22 including the lens 21 described above, a charge coupled device (hereinafter referred to as “CCD”) 24 disposed behind the optical axis of the lens 21, and an input analog. And an analog signal processing unit 26 that performs various analog signal processing on the signal.

  The digital camera 10 also performs an analog / digital converter (hereinafter referred to as “ADC”) 28 that converts an input analog signal into digital data, and performs various digital signal processing on the input digital data. And a digital signal processing unit 30.

  The digital signal processing unit 30 has a built-in line buffer having a predetermined capacity, and also performs control to directly store the input digital data in a predetermined area of the memory 48 described later.

  The output terminal of the CCD 24 is connected to the input terminal of the analog signal processing unit 26, the output terminal of the analog signal processing unit 26 is connected to the input terminal of the ADC 28, and the output terminal of the ADC 28 is connected to the input terminal of the digital signal processing unit 30. . Accordingly, the analog signal indicating the subject image output from the CCD 24 is subjected to predetermined analog signal processing by the analog signal processing unit 26, converted into digital image data by the ADC 28, and then input to the digital signal processing unit 30.

  On the other hand, the digital camera 10 generates a signal for displaying a subject image, a menu screen or the like on the LCD 38 and supplies the signal to the LCD 38, a touch panel 39, and a CPU (central processing unit) that controls the operation of the entire digital camera 10. Device) 40, a memory 48 for storing digital image data obtained by photographing, and a memory interface 46 for controlling access to the memory 48.

  Further, the digital camera 10 includes an external memory interface 50 for enabling the portable memory card 52 to be accessed by the digital camera 10, a compression / decompression processing circuit 54 for performing compression processing and decompression processing on digital image data, and resizing. And a circuit 37.

  In the digital camera 10 of the present embodiment, a VRAM (Video RAM) is used as the memory 48 and a smart media (Smart Media (registered trademark)) is used as the memory card 52. The touch panel 39 may be either pressure-sensitive or electrostatic, and detects the position coordinates of the area covered from the outside and outputs it. The resizing circuit 37 is a circuit that resizes the size of an image.

  The digital signal processing unit 30, the LCD interface 36, the CPU 40, the memory interface 46, the external memory interface 50, the touch panel 39, the resizing circuit 37, and the compression / decompression processing circuit 54 are connected to each other via a system bus BUS. Accordingly, the CPU 40 controls the operation of the digital signal processing unit 30 and the compression / decompression processing circuit 54, displays various information via the LCD interface 36 to the LCD 38, receives output from the touch panel 39, and sends it to the memory 48 and the memory card 52. Access via the memory interface 46 and the external memory interface 50 can be performed.

  On the other hand, the digital camera 10 includes a timing generator 32 that mainly generates a timing signal for driving the CCD 24 and supplies the timing signal to the CCD 24, and the driving of the CCD 24 is controlled by the CPU 40 via the timing generator 32.

  Further, the digital camera 10 is provided with a motor drive unit 34, and driving of a focus adjustment motor, a zoom motor, and an aperture drive motor (not shown) provided in the optical unit 22 is also controlled by the CPU 40 via the motor drive unit 34. The

  In other words, the lens 21 according to the present embodiment has a plurality of lenses, is configured as a zoom lens that can change (magnify) the focal length, and includes a lens driving mechanism (not shown). The lens drive mechanism includes the focus adjustment motor, the zoom motor, and the aperture drive motor. These motors are each driven by a drive signal supplied from the motor drive unit 34 under the control of the CPU 40.

  Furthermore, the release button 56A, the power switch 56B, the mode changeover switch 56C, and the forced light emission switch 56E (generally referred to as “operation unit 56” in the figure) are connected to the CPU 40, and the CPU 40 performs these operations. The operation state for the unit 56 can be always grasped.

  In addition, the digital camera 10 includes a charging unit 42 that is interposed between the strobe 44 and the CPU 40 and charges power for causing the strobe 44 to emit light under the control of the CPU 40. Further, the strobe 44 is also connected to the CPU 40, and the light emission of the strobe 44 is controlled by the CPU 40.

  Next, an overall operation at the time of shooting of the digital camera 10 according to the present embodiment will be briefly described.

  First, the CCD 24 performs imaging through the optical unit 22 and sequentially outputs analog signals for R (red), G (green), and B (blue) indicating the subject image to the analog signal processing unit 26. The analog signal processing unit 26 performs analog signal processing such as correlated double sampling processing on the analog signal input from the CCD 24 and sequentially outputs the analog signal to the ADC 28.

  The ADC 28 converts the R, G, and B analog signals input from the analog signal processing unit 26 into 12-bit R, G, and B signals (digital image data) and sequentially outputs them to the digital signal processing unit 30. To do. The digital signal processing unit 30 accumulates digital image data sequentially input from the ADC 28 in a built-in line buffer and temporarily stores the digital image data directly in a predetermined area of the memory 48.

  Digital image data stored in a predetermined area of the memory 48 is read out by the digital signal processing unit 30 under the control of the CPU 40, and a white balance is adjusted by applying a digital gain according to a predetermined physical quantity. Processing and sharpness processing are performed to generate digital image data of predetermined bits, for example, 8 bits.

  The digital signal processing unit 30 performs YC signal processing on the generated digital image data of predetermined bits to generate a luminance signal Y and chroma signals Cr and Cb (hereinafter referred to as “YC signal”), and a YC signal. Are stored in an area different from the predetermined area of the memory 48.

  The LCD 38 is configured to display a moving image (through image) obtained by continuous imaging by the CCD 24 and can be used as a finder. When the LCD 38 is used as a finder, the LCD 38 is generated. The YC signals thus output are sequentially output to the LCD 38 via the LCD interface 36. As a result, a through image is displayed on the LCD 38.

  Here, when the release button 56A is half-pressed by the user, after the AE function is activated and the exposure state is set as described above, the AF function is activated and focus control is performed, and then the fully-pressed state is continued. In this case, the YC signal stored in the memory 48 at this time is compressed in a predetermined compression format (in this embodiment, JPEG format) by the compression / decompression processing circuit 54 and then passed through the external memory interface 50. To the memory card 52.

  Next, processing executed by the digital camera described above will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing processing executed when the user holds the digital camera.

  Step 101 is a determination as to whether or not a covered area has been detected. When a covered area is detected, a covered area calculation process is executed in step 102. This covering area calculation process is a process for obtaining an image display area included in the non-covering area, and will be described in detail later.

  In step 103, an image is displayed in the image display area obtained by the covering area calculation process. Thereafter, in step 104, related information display processing is executed. The related information display process is a process for displaying information on the subject, and will be described in detail later.

  Next, the covering area calculation process will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 shows the coordinates used in the covering area calculation process. The coordinates shown in FIG. 4 correspond to the LCD and are used to execute processing based on position coordinates output from the touch panel. In the case of FIG. 4, the covered area 60 indicates an area covered with a user's finger.

  In this coordinate, the value that X can take is from 0 to N, and the value that Y can take is from 0 to M. This (N, M) is the number of pixels in the X-axis direction (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the horizontal direction) and the number of pixels in the Y-axis direction (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the vertical direction) in the LCD, respectively. .

  The coverage area calculation process shown in FIG. 5 will be described using these coordinates. First, symbols used in FIG. 5 will be described.

  Symbols k, s, and t shown in step 201 are loop counters, and symbols p, q, and r are information indicating the size and position of an image to be displayed. The symbol R shown in step 202 is a set of points in the covered area.

  Symbols n and m shown in steps 204 and 205 are set to the smallest value among n and m that satisfy N: M = n: m and can display an image with n × m pixels. For example, when N = 12, M = 4, and an image can be displayed with the number of pixels of 3 × 1, n = 3 and m = 1. The symbol L shown in step 210 is a value determined by L = N / n = M / m.

The symbol A shown in step 202 is defined by the following equation.
A (s, t, k)
= {(X, y) | 0 ≦ s ≦ x ≦ s + nk ≦ N, 0 ≦ t ≦ y ≦ t + mk ≦ M}
This set A is a set showing areas in which an image can be displayed on the LCD, and covers a range from an area where an image with the minimum number of pixels is displayed to an area where an image with the maximum number of pixels is displayed. It is. More specifically, the area indicated by A is a rectangular area whose horizontal sides are s to s + nk and whose vertical sides are t to t + mk. When s increases, the region moves in the horizontal direction, and when t increases, the region moves in the vertical direction. Therefore, s and t are parameters for moving the area in order to search for an area that does not overlap the finger. Moreover, the area of the area | region which A shows is so large that k is large.

  The flowchart will be described below. Step 201 is initialization of each parameter. The next step 202 is to determine whether or not the area indicated by A and the intersection of R is φ (empty set). This determination can be made based on whether or not there is a pixel included in A among the R elements. If it is determined that the set is not an empty set, the process proceeds to the next step 204.

  If it is determined that it is an empty set, the area indicated by A does not overlap with the finger, and in step 203, s, t, and k are substituted for p, q, and r, respectively, in order to record the area. . In this step 203, the values determined to be empty sets in step 202 are overwritten one after another, but from the definition of A, the area of the area indicated by A is n × m × (k squared). Since k is monotonically increasing, information on a region having the largest area is always recorded.

  The determination in the next step 204 is a determination as to whether or not the area indicated by A has reached the maximum value in the vertical direction. If a negative determination is made in step 204, the region is moved in the vertical direction by incrementing t in step 205, and the determination in step 202 is performed again.

  If an affirmative determination is made in step 204, 0 is substituted for t in step 206. Next, the determination in step 207 is performed. This determination is a determination as to whether or not the area indicated by A has reached the maximum value in the horizontal direction. If a negative determination is made in step 207, the region is moved in the horizontal direction by incrementing s in step 208, and the determination in step 202 is performed again.

  If an affirmative determination is made in step 207, 0 is substituted for s in step 209. Next, a determination at step 210 is made. This determination is a determination as to whether k and L are equal. This is a determination as to whether or not the area indicated by A has reached the size of the entire screen. If a negative determination is made, the region is increased by one by incrementing k in step 211, and the determination in step 202 is performed again.

  With the above processing, the image display area {(x, y) | p ≦ x ≦ p + nr, q ≦ y ≦ q + mr} is determined, so that an image can be displayed at the size and position indicated by this area. The area excluding this area and R is an empty area.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a display example of an image. FIG. 6 shows a covered area 60 and an image 62, and shows that the covered area 60 and the image 62 do not overlap. In addition, digital image data indicating an image can be recorded on the above-described memory card.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 7, an area having a pair of sides formed by projecting a finger on each side of the screen may be detected as a covered area 61.

  Next, a related information display process (see step 105 in FIG. 3) for displaying related information related to the subject image in the empty area will be described with reference to FIG. This process is a process for displaying information about the subject in an empty area excluding the area for displaying the image 62 (see FIG. 6) and the covering area 60.

  Note that the types of related information displayed in the present embodiment include a navigation screen, shutter speed information, aperture value information, a luminance histogram, a through-image whose image quality has been corrected, and a previously captured image.

  Among these, the navigation screen is a screen that expresses the entire partial image displayed in the display area and clearly shows the range of the partial image shown. As conventionally used, this navigation screen is a screen having a function of displaying a specified range enlarged or reduced when the range is specified with a touch pen, for example.

  Hereinafter, the flowchart will be described. In step 301, it is determined whether W ≦ M × 1/4. Here, W indicates the Y coordinate of a point belonging to the covered area. The method of determining W may be, for example, the maximum value among the Y coordinates of the points belonging to the covering area, or may be an intermediate value between the maximum value and the minimum value of the Y coordinates of the points belonging to the covering area.

  If an affirmative determination is made in step 301, a navigation screen is displayed in step 302. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a screen on which a navigation screen 64 is displayed.

  In step 303, it is determined whether W ≦ M × 2/4. If an affirmative determination is made in step 303, shutter speed information, aperture value information, and luminance histogram are displayed in step 304. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen on which a shutter speed / aperture value information 66 and a luminance histogram 68 when a subject is photographed are displayed.

  In step 305, it is determined whether W ≦ M × 3/4. If an affirmative determination is made in step 305, one or more through images that have undergone image quality correction processing in step 306 are displayed. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen on which three image quality correction images 70 obtained by performing image quality correction processing on a through image by a digital signal processing unit are displayed. As an image displayed here, an image that has been subjected to different image quality correction processing, such as a white balance adjusted image, an image that has been subjected to gamma processing, an image that has been subjected to sharpness processing, and the like including images at the time of auto bracket shooting may be displayed. Alternatively, an image at the time of auto bracket shooting may be displayed.

  If a negative determination is made in step 305, the previously captured image is displayed in step 307. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen on which a previously captured image 72 is displayed. The previously photographed image indicates, for example, an image photographed immediately before or a thumbnail image obtained by reducing an image recorded in advance.

  As described above, the digital camera according to the present embodiment displays the device-related information to be displayed by determining the type of the device-related information according to the position of the covering region, so that the user only changes the gripping position. The type of information can be selected.

It is a figure which shows the structure on the external appearance of the digital camera which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the electric system of the digital camera which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process performed when a digital camera is hold | gripped. It is a figure which shows a coordinate. It is a flowchart which shows a covering area | region calculation process. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of an image. It is a figure which shows a vacant area. It is a figure which shows an apparatus information display process. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen as which the navigation screen was displayed. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen where the shutter speed and aperture value information, and the histogram were displayed. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen where the image quality correction image was displayed. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen on which the image image | photographed previously is displayed.

Explanation of symbols

10 Digital Camera 21 Lens 22 Optical Unit 24 CCD
26 Analog signal processor 28 ACD
30 Digital Signal Processing Unit 32 Timing Generator 34 Motor Drive Unit 36 LCD Interface 39 Touch Panel 52 Memory Card 54 Compression / Expansion Processing Circuit 56A Release Button 60, 61 Covered Area 62 Image 64 Navigation Screen 66 Shutter Speed and Aperture Value Information 68 Histogram 70 Image Quality Corrected image 72 Image taken before

Claims (9)

Imaging means for imaging a subject;
Image display means having a screen for displaying the subject image captured by the imaging means;
An area detecting means for detecting either one of a covered area covered with a finger on the screen of the image display means and an uncovered uncovered area;
Control means for controlling to display the subject image in an image display area included in the non-covering area determined based on the detection result of the area detecting means;
A photographing apparatus having   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit performs control so as to display related information regarding the subject image in an empty area excluding the image display area and the covering area from the screen of the image display means. When the screen is rectangular,
The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the area detecting unit detects, as a covering area, an area having a pair of sides projected from the finger on each side of the screen.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the related information is an image that represents an entire partial image displayed in the image display area and that clearly indicates a range of the displayed partial image.   4. The photographing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the related information is at least one of shutter speed information, aperture value information, and information representing a luminance distribution of the subject image when the subject is photographed.   The photographing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the related information is one or more images obtained by performing image quality correction on the subject image.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the related information is a thumbnail image obtained by reducing an image captured by the imaging unit.   The imaging device according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein a type of the related information to be displayed is determined according to a position of the covering region.   The photographing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a recording unit that records digital image data indicating an image captured by the imaging unit.