JP2008003394A - Camera, camera system, and position adjustment method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate the adjustment of an inclination (parallelism) between a document table and a camera, which is required for copying by use of a copying stand, by capturing and displaying information about inclination to use as a guide for the adjustment. <P>SOLUTION: The camera includes a calculating means which, based on focus adjustments in a plurality of focus detection areas set in a photographing screen, captures information about the inclination of an imaging screen in the case where a subject is assumed to have a flat face. The information about the calculated inclination is displayed on a display means. Following this display, the rotations of the camera in its pitch direction and yaw direction are adjusted. Thus, the inclination (parallelism) between the document table and camera is corrected. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a camera, a camera system, and a posture adjustment method that can determine the inclination (parallelism) between a subject and an imaging surface of the camera.

Conventionally, when making a copy on a copy stand, a camera is mounted on the copy table to adjust the posture in the yaw and pitch directions so that it is level with the document table. A camera that can easily adjust the angle of the camera is known (for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2001-154260 A (P2001-154260A)

  However, in Patent Document 1, there is no standard for adjustment, and adjustment work is complicated.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and displays the tilt information of the imaging surface so that the tilt angle of the camera can be easily corrected while having a simple structure. It is an object of the present invention to provide a camera, a camera system, and a posture adjustment method that can facilitate the posture adjustment work.

  In order to achieve the above object, the camera according to the present invention is a computing means for obtaining tilt information of the imaging surface when the subject is a plane based on focus correction states in a plurality of focus detection areas set in the photographing screen. It is characterized by comprising.

  According to the present invention, by displaying the tilt information of the imaging surface, it is possible to easily adjust the camera posture by easily correcting the tilt angle of the camera while having a simple structure.

  FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention. For example, an autofocus camera that performs focus adjustment using the pupil division type re-imaging method receives a subject image formed by the focus detection optical system using a sensor, calculates the sensor output, and schedules the imaging optical system. By detecting the defocus amount of the subject image plane with respect to the focal plane and driving the focusing lens in accordance with the defocus amount, focusing of the photographing optical system is achieved. As shown in FIG. 1, a lens 2, a focus lens position detection unit 3, a focus motor drive unit 4, an AF detection unit 5, and a focus information evaluation unit 6 are connected to a control device for an automatic focus adjustment camera comprising a CPU 1. The

  In this embodiment, as will be described in detail later, a correction direction display unit 10 for displaying the correction directions of the pitch direction and the yaw direction of the camera is provided.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the automatic focusing camera according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the AF area arrangement in the viewfinder. 4 to 8 are schematic views when the camera correction direction is displayed on the viewfinder.

  In step # 1, the copy stand mode is selected. When the release is pressed halfway in step # 2, the AF operation of the first AF area 11 is started in step # 3.

  If focus is achieved in the first AF area 11 in step # 4, the process proceeds to step # 5, and if focus is not achieved, AF disabled display is performed in step # 12 and the process ends.

  In step # 5, the focus state of the focus areas of the fourth AF area 14 and the fifth AF area 15 in the vertical direction is evaluated.

  From the evaluation results of the focus areas of the fourth AF area 14 and the fifth AF area 15, in step # 6, the correction direction of the pitch direction is determined. If correction is necessary, the process moves to step # 7. As shown in FIG. 5, the correction direction (P) in the pitch direction is displayed on the finder (correction direction display unit 10).

  The correction direction in the pitch direction based on the evaluation results of the focus areas of the fourth AF area 14 and the fifth AF area 15 is a front pin or rear pin state in the fourth AF area 14 and the fifth AF area 15 in the vertical direction. Based on the above, it is determined whether to raise or lower the head of the camera.

  Next, the process proceeds to step # 8. In step # 8, the focal state of the focal areas of the second AF area 12 and the third AF area 13 in the lateral direction is evaluated.

  From the evaluation results of the focus areas of the second AF area 12 and the third AF area 13, in step # 8, the correction direction of the yaw direction is determined. If correction is necessary, the process moves to step # 9. As shown in FIG. 7, the correction direction (Y) of the yaw direction is displayed on the finder (correction direction display unit 10).

  The correction direction of the yaw direction based on the evaluation results of the focal areas of the second AF area 12 and the third AF area 13 is the front pin or the rear pin state in the second AF area 12 and the third AF area 13 in the lateral direction. Based on this, it is determined in which direction left and right of the camera.

  Note that the display of the correction direction is not limited to that shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, and the correction direction of the pitch direction and the yaw direction may be displayed simultaneously as shown in FIG.

  The display of the correction direction is not limited to the arrows shown in FIGS. 4 to 8, and the correction direction may be displayed using other shapes.

  Further, the correction direction may be displayed by changing the color.

  Furthermore, when the correction display is performed on the finder, the display forms of the second to fifth AF areas 11 to 14 may be changed. The correction direction may be displayed by changing the shape, color, brightness, blinking state, and the like of the second to fifth AF areas 11-14.

  Furthermore, the display of the correction direction is not limited to the viewfinder, and may be displayed by a rear LCD or a dedicated display portion. Even when a tripod or the like is used without using a copying table, a parallel relationship with the subject can be obtained, so that it is also effective when shooting with the wall surface kept parallel.

  Next, if correction is necessary, the process moves to step # 11. The photographer makes corrections along the displayed correction direction. That is, if all of the plurality of first to fifth AF areas 11 to 15 are in focus, the level can be confirmed, so that the plurality of first to fifth AF areas 11 to 15 focus, rear pin, and front pin Based on the information, when the level is not set, the leveling operation can be easily performed based on the correction display in the pitch direction and the yaw direction. If a correction display is displayed in the viewfinder, leveling can be performed while looking through the viewfinder. A spirit level is not required.

  Specifically, when the photographer manually corrects, the camera 22 and the camera 22 are rotated by rotating the camera mounting table 21 provided on the column 20 of the copying table in the pitch direction, as shown in FIG. The inclination angle of the lens 23 can be corrected. Further, as shown in FIG. 9B, the tilt angle of the camera 22 and the lens 23 can be corrected by rotating the camera mounting table 21 provided on the column 20 of the copying table in the yaw direction. FIGS. 9A and 9B are schematic diagrams showing a state in which the tilt direction of the camera is corrected when the camera is installed on the copying table.

  Further, the posture (tilt angle) of the camera may be automatically corrected. For example, the camera mounting table of the copying table can be automatically rotated in the pitch direction and the yaw direction by an electric motor such as an ultrasonic motor or a transmission mechanism such as a cam mechanism. In this case, the camera control device side is configured to send a control signal for correcting the tilt angle of the camera mounting table based on the tilt information in the pitch direction and the yaw direction to a drive control mechanism such as an electric motor of the camera mounting table. If you have. In this case, based on the control signal, the camera mounting table automatically rotates the camera in the pitch direction and the yaw direction as in the case shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, thereby leveling the camera. It can be done automatically and easily.

  Next, in step # 13, since the parallel prone state has been obtained, the focus is displayed. Release and exit.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above, A various deformation | transformation is possible.

It is a block block diagram concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of the automatic focus adjustment camera which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows AF area arrangement | positioning in a finder. It is a schematic diagram when the correction direction (pitch direction) of the camera is displayed on the viewfinder. It is a schematic diagram when the correction direction (pitch direction) of the camera is displayed on the viewfinder. It is a schematic diagram when the camera correction direction (yaw direction) is displayed on the viewfinder. It is a schematic diagram when the camera correction direction (yaw direction) is displayed on the viewfinder. It is a schematic diagram when the correction direction (pitch direction and yaw direction) of the camera is displayed on the viewfinder. (A) (b) is a schematic diagram which respectively shows the state which corrects the inclination direction of a camera, when a camera is installed in a copying stand.

Explanation of symbols

  10 ... Correction direction display section (finder), 21 ... Camera mounting table.

Claims (8)

  A camera comprising calculation means for obtaining tilt information of an imaging surface when a subject is a flat surface based on focus adjustment states in a plurality of focus detection areas set in a photographing screen.   The camera according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying tilt information of the imaging surface.   The camera according to claim 1, further comprising output means for outputting the tilt information of the imaging surface to the outside.   The camera according to claim 2, wherein the display unit changes a display form of the focus detection area based on the tilt information.   The camera according to claim 2, wherein the display unit displays an adjustment direction of the posture of the camera based on the tilt information. In the camera system which has a camera given in any 1 paragraph of Claims 1 thru / or 5,
A camera system comprising posture control means for adjusting the posture of the camera based on the tilt information.   An attitude adjustment method for a camera, characterized in that, based on focus adjustment states in a plurality of focus detection areas set in a shooting screen, tilt information of an imaging surface when a subject is a plane is obtained.   The camera posture adjustment method according to claim 7, wherein the posture of the camera is adjusted based on the tilt information.

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