JP2008015351A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging device that surely makes a strobe emit light to a subject without time and effort in various compositions. <P>SOLUTION: The digital camera has the strobe in which a light emitting part is supported so as to be freely swung in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction. The digital camera photographs a picture by detecting the face of a subject from a photographed image (S20), and driving the strobe so as to make the strobe emit light to the detected subject (S22, S24). This makes it possible for the strobe to surely emit light to the subject without time and effort. Accordingly, the degree of freedom in framing is improved. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus, and more particularly to an imaging apparatus provided with a strobe.

  The strobe device is basically fixedly arranged so that the center of the strobe light comes to the center of the screen (lens optical axis), and the light emission is controlled so that the entire exposure screen is properly exposed during strobe photography. As a result, when the main subject (for example, a person) is not at the center of the screen, the center of the screen is bright because the main light cannot be captured using the most effective light quantity. As a result, there was a limit to framing during flash photography.

In order to cope with this, Patent Document 1 proposes an imaging device in which a strobe device is rotatably attached to a main body. Patent Document 2 proposes an imaging apparatus that switches the exposure amount of a strobe in response to a change in focal length in addition to a change in external light luminance. Patent Document 3 proposes an imaging device that controls the light emission of a strobe in accordance with the reflectance of a main subject.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-221868 JP-A-8-286226 JP-A-8-328069

  However, the imaging device described in the above patent document has the following drawbacks. In other words, in the imaging apparatus described in Patent Document 1, since the light emission direction of the strobe is limited only in the vertical (vertical) direction with respect to the lens optical axis, the main subject is in the horizontal (horizontal) direction with respect to the lens optical axis. However, there is a drawback that light cannot be emitted toward the main subject.

  In addition, in the imaging devices described in Patent Documents 2 and 3, the strobe light can be emitted under the optimum conditions according to the subject. For this purpose, it is necessary to arrange the main subject near the center of the screen. The degree of freedom is limited.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus capable of reliably irradiating illumination light toward a main subject in various compositions.

  In order to achieve the above object, the imaging apparatus according to claim 1, an imaging optical system, an imaging unit that acquires an image of a subject via the imaging optical system, and a light emitting unit swing in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction. Illuminating means supported movably, detecting means for detecting a preset position of a photographing object from images obtained from the imaging means, and the light emission for irradiating illumination light toward the photographing object And a calculation unit that calculates a direction of the unit based on a detection result of the detection unit, and a notification unit that notifies the calculation result of the calculation unit.

  According to the image pickup apparatus of claim 1, the light emitting unit of the illumination unit is supported so as to be swingable in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, and the direction for directing the light emitting unit toward a preset photographing target is notified unit. Will be announced by. That is, the position of the photographing target set in advance from the image obtained from the photographing means is detected by the detecting means, and the direction of the light emitting unit for irradiating the illumination light toward the photographing target is calculated based on the detection result. Is calculated by Then, the calculation result of the calculation means is notified by the notification means. This makes it possible to reliably irradiate illumination light toward a subject to be photographed in various compositions.

  In order to achieve the above object, the imaging apparatus according to claim 2 is a photographing optical system, an imaging unit that acquires an image of a subject through the photographing optical system, and a light emitting unit that swings in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction. An illuminating unit supported in a freely movable manner, a driving unit that drives a light emitting unit of the illuminating unit in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction, and a position of a predetermined photographing target is detected from an image obtained from the imaging unit. Detection means, calculation means for calculating the direction of the light emitting unit for irradiating illumination light toward the photographing object based on a detection result of the detection means, and illumination light from the light emitting part toward the photographing target Control means for controlling the drive of the drive means based on the calculation result of the calculation means so that the light is irradiated.

  According to the imaging apparatus of the second aspect, the light emitting unit of the illumination unit is supported so as to be swingable in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, and is automatically directed to a preset photographing target. That is, the position of the photographing target set in advance from the image obtained from the photographing means is detected by the detecting means, and the direction of the light emitting unit for irradiating the illumination light toward the photographing target is calculated based on the detection result. Is calculated by Then, based on the calculation result of the calculation means, the control means controls the drive means, and directs the light emitting part of the illumination means to a preset photographing target. Thereby, in various compositions, it is possible to reliably irradiate illumination light toward a subject to be photographed without taking time and effort.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, in the imaging apparatus according to the second aspect, the driving unit is configured to drive the photographing optical system and drive a light emitting unit of the illuminating unit. It is also provided with switching means for switching the transmission direction of the driving force of the driving means to the photographing optical system or the light emitting part of the illumination means.

  According to the image pickup apparatus of the third aspect, the drive source that drives the photographing optical system and the light emitting unit of the flash light emitting unit is also used. Thereby, the drive source which an imaging device has can be reduced and an imaging device can be reduced in size.

  In order to achieve the above object, the imaging device according to claim 4 is the imaging device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the imaging target is detected by the detection unit together with an image obtained from the imaging unit. Display control means for displaying a mark indicating the position on the display means.

  According to the imaging apparatus of the fourth aspect, an image obtained from the imaging unit is displayed on the display unit, and a mark indicating the position of the photographing target detected by the detection unit is displayed on the display unit. Thereby, the position of the object to be photographed detected by the detecting means can be visually confirmed.

  In order to achieve the object, the imaging device according to claim 5 is a mark displayed on the display unit when a plurality of imaging targets are detected by the detection unit in the imaging device according to claim 4. Selecting means for selecting an arbitrary one of the detection means, and the calculation means detects the direction of the light emitting unit for irradiating illumination light toward the photographing target indicated by the mark selected by the selection means It calculates based on the detection result of a means, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  According to the imaging device of the fifth aspect, when a plurality of preset photographing targets are detected, one photographing target to be irradiated with illumination light can be arbitrarily selected. This improves the degree of freedom of framing when illuminating illumination light toward the subject.

  According to the present invention, illumination light can be reliably irradiated toward the main subject in various compositions.

  The best mode for carrying out a camera according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view showing an embodiment of an imaging apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a rear view showing an embodiment of the imaging apparatus. This imaging device is a digital camera that receives light passing through a lens with an imaging device, converts the light into a digital signal, and records it on a storage medium.

  The camera body 12 of the digital camera 10 is formed in the shape of a horizontally long rectangular box, and on the front thereof, as shown in FIG. 1, a lens 14, a strobe 16, a finder window 18, a self-timer lamp 20, an AF auxiliary light. A lamp 22, a strobe light control sensor 24, and the like are provided. A shutter button 26, a power / mode switch 28, a mode dial 30 and the like are disposed on the upper surface of the camera body 12. On the other hand, on the back of the camera body 12, as shown in FIG. 2, a monitor 32, a viewfinder eyepiece 34, a speaker 36, a zoom button 38, a cross button 40, a MENU / OK button 42, a DISP button 44, and a BACK button 46 Etc. are arranged.

  A battery insertion portion and a memory card slot are provided on the lower surface of the camera body 12 (not shown) via a tripod screw hole and an openable / closable cover. The battery insertion portion and the memory card slot have a battery and a memory. The card is loaded.

  The lens 14 is constituted by a retractable zoom lens, and is extended from the camera body 12 by setting the camera mode to the photographing mode by the power / mode switch 28. In addition, since the zoom mechanism and the retracting mechanism of the lens 14 are well-known techniques, description of the specific configuration thereof is omitted here.

  The strobe 16 is configured such that its light emitting portion can swing in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction so that strobe light can be emitted toward the main subject. The configuration of the strobe 16 will be described later in detail.

  The viewfinder window 18 is a portion of a viewing window that determines a subject to be photographed.

  The self-timer lamp 20 is configured, for example, as an LED, and emits light when a picture is taken using a self-timer function for taking a picture after a predetermined time has elapsed after a shutter button 26 described later is pressed.

  The AF auxiliary light lamp 22 is configured, for example, as a high-intensity LED, and emits light as necessary during AF.

  The strobe light control sensor 24 adjusts the light emission amount of the strobe 16 as will be described later.

  The shutter button 26 is constituted by a two-stage stroke type switch composed of so-called “half-press” and “full-press”. When the shutter button 26 is “half-pressed”, the digital camera 10 activates AE / AF, and “full-press” to execute shooting.

  The power / mode switch 28 has both a function as a power switch for turning on / off the power of the digital camera 10 and a function as a mode switch for setting the mode of the digital camera 10. It is slidably arranged between “position” and “photographing position”. The digital camera 10 is turned on by sliding the power / mode switch 28 to the “reproduction position” or “photographing position”, and turned off by setting it to the “OFF position”. Then, the power / mode switch 28 is slid and set to “playback position” to set to “playback mode”, and to the “shooting position” to set to “shooting mode”.

  The mode dial 30 functions as shooting mode setting means for setting the shooting mode of the digital camera 10, and the shooting mode of the digital camera 10 is set to various modes depending on the setting position of the mode dial. For example, an “auto shooting mode” in which an aperture, a shutter speed, etc. are automatically set by the digital camera 10, a “movie shooting mode” for moving image shooting, a “person shooting mode” suitable for portrait shooting, and a moving subject shooting “Sports shooting mode”, “Scenery shooting mode” suitable for landscape shooting, “Night scene shooting mode” suitable for sunset and night scene shooting, the scale of the aperture is set by the photographer, and the shutter speed is automatically set by the digital camera 10 The photographer sets the “aperture priority shooting mode” to be set automatically, the shutter speed is set by the photographer, and the “shutter speed priority shooting mode” in which the digital camera 10 automatically sets the aperture scale, the aperture, the shutter speed, etc. Set “Manual Shooting Mode” to automatically detect a person and emit strobe light toward that person. Out shooting mode "(which will be described in detail later), and the like.

  The monitor 32 is composed of a liquid crystal display capable of color display. The monitor 32 is used as an image display panel for displaying a photographed image in the playback mode, and is also used as a user interface display panel for performing various setting operations. In the photographing mode, a through image is displayed as necessary, and is used as an electronic viewfinder for checking the angle of view.

  The zoom button 38 functions as zoom instruction means for instructing zooming, and includes a zoom tele button 38T for instructing zooming to the telephoto side and a zoom wide button 38W for instructing zooming to the wide angle side. In the digital camera 10, when the zoom tele button 38T and the zoom wide button 38W are operated in the shooting mode, the focal length of the lens 14 changes. Further, when the zoom tele button 38T and the zoom wide button 38W are operated in the reproduction mode, the image being reproduced is enlarged or reduced.

  The cross button 40 functions as direction indicating means for inputting instructions in four directions, up, down, left, and right, and is used, for example, for selecting a menu item on a menu screen.

  The MENU / OK button 42 functions as a button (MENU button) for instructing a transition from the normal screen to the menu screen in each mode, and also functions as a button (OK button) for instructing selection confirmation, execution of processing, and the like. To do.

  The DISP button 44 functions as a button for instructing the display switching of the monitor 32. When the DISP button 44 is pressed during photographing, the display of the monitor 32 is switched from ON to framing guide display to OFF. If the DISP button 44 is pressed during playback, the playback mode is switched from normal playback to playback without character display to multi playback.

  The BACK button 46 functions as a button for instructing to cancel the input operation or return to the previous operation state.

  Next, the configuration of the strobe 16 will be described. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the strobe 16.

  The strobe 16 mainly includes a pedestal 202 fixed to the camera body 12, a horizontal oscillating table 204 provided so as to be oscillatable about the horizontal drive axis H with respect to the pedestal 202, and the horizontal oscillating table 204. A strobe case 206 supported so as to be rotatable about a vertical drive shaft V, a strobe light emitting unit 200 provided inside the strobe case 206, and a horizontal swing table 204 are swung horizontally, and the strobe case 206 is The flash drive unit 162 is configured to swing vertically.

  The pedestal 202 is provided horizontally with respect to the camera body 12.

  The horizontal swing table 204 is formed in a rectangular plate shape, and a rotation shaft (not shown) is fixed to the center of the back surface (coaxial with the horizontal drive shaft H). The rotation shaft is supported by a bearing (not shown) provided on the pedestal 202, whereby the horizontal swing table 204 is supported by the pedestal 202 so as to be swingable about the horizontal drive shaft H.

  The strobe case 206 is formed in a rectangular box shape with an open front portion, and a drive shaft 226 is fixed to the back surface thereof horizontally along the longitudinal direction of the case. Both ends of the drive shaft 226 are pivotally supported by support arms 204 a and 204 a erected vertically on the horizontal swing table 204, so that the strobe case 206 is attached to the horizontal swing table 204. And is supported so as to be swingable around the vertical drive shaft V.

  The strobe light emitting unit 200 includes a xenon tube 200a as a light source and a reflector 200b, and is housed in a strobe case 206.

  The strobe drive unit 162 includes a horizontal drive unit 210 that swings the horizontal swing table 204 about the horizontal drive axis H, and a vertical drive unit 220 that swings the strobe case 206 about the vertical drive axis V.

  The horizontal drive unit 210 is mainly provided rotatably on the pedestal 202, a horizontal drive motor 211 provided on the pedestal 202 and capable of forward and reverse rotation, a horizontal drive gear 212 fixed to the output shaft of the horizontal drive motor 211, and the pedestal 202. The first horizontal transmission gear 213 meshed with the horizontal drive gear 212, the second horizontal transmission gear 214 rotatably provided on the pedestal 202 and meshed with the first horizontal transmission gear 213, and the horizontal swing table 204 are illustrated. And a horizontal driven gear 215 that is integrally attached to the rotary shaft that is not engaged and meshed with the second horizontal transmission gear 214. When the horizontal drive unit 210 drives the horizontal drive motor 211, the rotation of the horizontal drive motor 211 is transferred to the horizontal driven gear 215 via the horizontal drive gear 212, the first horizontal transmission gear 213, and the second horizontal transmission gear 214. Then, the rotation shaft of the horizontal swing table 204 is rotated. As a result, the horizontal swing table 204 swings around the horizontal drive axis H with respect to the pedestal 202.

  The vertical drive unit 220 includes a vertical drive motor 221 that is provided on the horizontal swing table 204 and is capable of forward and reverse rotation, a vertical drive gear 222 that is fixed to the output shaft of the vertical drive motor 221, and an output shaft of the vertical drive motor 221. A fixed vertical drive gear 222, a first vertical transmission gear 223 that is rotatably mounted on the horizontal swing table 204 via a bracket (not shown), and meshed with the vertical drive gear 222, and a horizontal swing table 204 are shown. A second vertical transmission gear 224 that is rotatably provided via a bracket that is engaged with the first vertical transmission gear 223 and is integrally attached to one end of the drive shaft 226 of the strobe case 206. 224 and a vertical driven gear 225 meshed with 224. When the vertical drive unit 220 drives the vertical drive motor 221, the rotation of the vertical drive motor 221 is transferred to the vertical driven gear 225 via the vertical drive gear 222, the first vertical transmission gear 223, and the second vertical transmission gear 224. As a result, the drive shaft 226 of the strobe case 206 rotates. As a result, the strobe case 206 swings around the vertical drive axis V with respect to the horizontal swing table 204.

  According to the strobe 16 configured as described above, when the horizontal drive motor 211 is driven, the horizontal swing table 204 swings around the horizontal drive axis H with respect to the pedestal 202, and as a result, the strobe light emitting unit 200 is driven. Swings horizontally. When the vertical drive motor 221 is driven, the strobe case 206 swings around the vertical drive axis V with respect to the horizontal swing table 204, and as a result, the strobe light emitting unit 200 swings vertically.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration inside the digital camera 10.

  As shown in the figure, the digital camera 10 includes a CPU 110, an operation unit (shutter button 26, power / mode switch 28, mode dial 30, zoom button 38, cross button 40, MENU / OK button 42, DISP button 44, BACK. Button 46, etc.) 112, ROM 116, EEPROM 118, memory 120, VRAM 122, image sensor 124, timing generator (TG) 126, analog processing unit (CDS / AMP) 128, A / D converter 130, image input control unit 132, image Signal processing unit 134, video encoder 136, character MIX unit 138, AF detection unit 140, AE / AWB detection unit 142, aperture drive unit 144, lens drive unit 146, compression / decompression processing unit 148, media control unit 150, storage medium 152 , Face detection unit 154 Flash drive controller 160, a strobe drive unit 162, and a flash light emission control unit 164 and the like.

  The CPU 110 performs overall control of the entire digital camera 10 according to a predetermined control program based on an operation signal input from the operation unit 112.

  The ROM 116 connected to the CPU 110 via the bus 114 stores a control program executed by the CPU 110 and various data necessary for control. The EEPROM 118 relates to the operation of the digital camera 10 such as user setting information. Various setting information and the like are stored. The memory (SDRAM) 120 is used as a calculation work area for the CPU 110 and is used as a temporary storage area for image data and the VRAM 122 is used as a temporary storage area dedicated to image data.

  The image sensor 124 is composed of, for example, a color CCD having a predetermined color filter array, and electronically captures an image of a subject imaged by the lens 14. A timing generator (TG) 126 outputs a timing signal for driving the image sensor 124 in response to a command from the CPU 110.

  The analog processing unit 128 samples and holds the R, G, and B signals for each pixel with respect to the image signal output from the image sensor 124 (a correlated double sampling process), and amplifies the signal to the A / D converter 130. Output to.

  The A / D converter 130 converts the analog R, G, and B signals output from the analog processing unit 128 into digital R, G, and B signals and outputs them.

  The image input control unit 132 outputs digital R, G, and B signals output from the A / D converter 130 to the memory 120.

  The image signal processing unit 134 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, and a gamma correction. Circuit, contour correction circuit, luminance / color difference signal generation circuit, etc., and according to a command from the CPU 110, the input image signal is subjected to necessary signal processing to obtain luminance data (Y data) and color difference data (Cr, Cb data). ) Is generated.

  The video encoder 136 controls display on the monitor 32 in accordance with a command from the CPU 110. That is, in accordance with a command from the CPU 110, the input image signal is converted into a video signal (for example, an NTSC signal, a PAL signal, or a SCAM signal) for display on the monitor 32 and output to the monitor 32. Predetermined character and graphic information synthesized by the character MIX unit 138 is output to the monitor 32.

  The AF detection unit 140 includes a high-pass filter that passes only a high-frequency component of the G signal, an absolute value processing unit, an AF area detection unit that extracts a signal within a predetermined focus area (for example, the center of the screen), and an absolute value within the AF area. It consists of an integration unit that integrates value data.

  The AE / AWB detection unit 142 calculates a physical quantity necessary for AE control and AWB control from the input image signal in accordance with a command from the CPU 110. For example, as a physical quantity required for AE control, one screen is divided into a plurality of areas (for example, 16 × 16), and an integrated value of R, G, and B image signals is calculated for each divided area.

  The diaphragm driving unit 144 and the lens driving unit 146 control the photographing optical system driving unit 124 </ b> A according to a command from the CPU 110, and control the operations of the photographing lens 14 and the diaphragm 15.

  The compression / decompression processing unit 148 performs compression processing in a predetermined format on the input image data in accordance with a command from the CPU 110 to generate compressed image data. Further, in accordance with a command from the CPU 110, the input compressed image data is subjected to a decompression process in a predetermined format to generate uncompressed image data.

  The media control unit 150 controls reading / writing of data with respect to the storage medium 152 loaded in the media slot in accordance with a command from the CPU 110.

  The face detection unit 154 extracts a face area in the image from the input image data in accordance with a command from the CPU 110, and detects the position (for example, the center of gravity of the face area). In this face area extraction, for example, skin color data is extracted from an original image, and a cluster of photometric points determined to be in the skin color range is extracted as a face. In addition, as a method for extracting a face area from an image, a method for determining a face area by converting photometric data into hue and saturation, creating a two-dimensional histogram of the converted hue / saturation, and analyzing it. Or a method for extracting a face candidate region corresponding to the shape of a human face and determining the face region from the feature amount in the region, extracting a human face outline from an image, and determining a face region, There are known methods for extracting a human face by preparing a template having the shape of a human face, calculating the correlation between the template and an image, and using the correlation value as a face candidate region. Can be extracted. Based on the position information of the face detected by the face detection unit 154, the CPU 110 directs the strobe light emitting unit 200 for irradiating the strobe light toward the face (horizontal and vertical directions from a predetermined reference direction). (Tilt angle) is calculated.

  The strobe drive control unit 160 controls driving of the strobe drive unit 162 and controls the direction of the strobe light emitting unit 200 in accordance with a command from the CPU 110. That is, the direction of the strobe light emitting unit 200 is controlled so that the strobe light emitting unit 200 faces the face detected by the face detecting unit 154.

  The strobe light emission control unit 164 controls the light emission of the strobe light emission unit 200 in accordance with a command from the CPU 110.

  Next, the operation of the digital camera 10 of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.

  First, a general image capturing and recording procedure will be described. As described above, the digital camera 10 is set to the shooting mode by setting the power / mode switch 28 to the shooting position, and shooting is possible. Then, when the shooting mode is set, the lens 14 is extended to enter a shooting standby state.

  Under this photographing mode, the subject light that has passed through the lens 14 forms an image on the light receiving surface of the image sensor 124 via the diaphragm 15. On the light receiving surface of the image sensor 124, a large number of photodiodes (light receiving) are received via red (R), green (G), and blue (B) color filters arranged in a predetermined arrangement structure (Bayer, G stripe, etc.). Elements) are two-dimensionally arranged. The subject light that has passed through the lens 14 is received by each photodiode and converted into a signal charge in an amount corresponding to the amount of incident light.

  The signal charge accumulated in each photodiode is sequentially read out as a voltage signal (image signal) corresponding to the signal charge based on the drive pulse supplied from the timing generator (TG) 126, and is analog processing section (CDS / AMP). 128.

  Analog R, G, and B signals output from the analog processing unit 128 are converted into digital R, G, and B signals by the A / D converter 130 and added to the image input control unit 132. The image input control unit 132 outputs digital R, G, and B signals output from the A / D converter 130 to the memory 120.

  When outputting the captured image to the monitor 32, a luminance / color difference signal is generated by the image signal processing unit 134 from the image signal output from the image input control unit 132 to the memory 120, and the signal is sent to the video encoder 136. The video encoder 136 converts the input luminance / color difference signal into a display signal format (for example, an NTSC color composite video signal), and outputs it to the monitor 32. As a result, an image captured by the image sensor 124 is displayed on the monitor 32.

  The image sensor 124 periodically captures an image signal, periodically rewrites the image data in the VRAM 122 with the luminance / color difference signal generated from the image signal, and outputs the image data to the monitor 32 so that the image is captured by the image sensor 124. Images are displayed in real time. The photographer can confirm the shooting angle of view by viewing the image (through image) displayed in real time on the monitor 32.

  Note that the luminance / color difference signal applied from the VRAM 122 to the video encoder 136 is added to the character MIX unit 138 as necessary, and is combined with a predetermined character, graphic, etc., and then applied to the video encoder 136. As a result, required shooting information and the like are displayed superimposed on the through image.

  Shooting is performed by pressing the shutter button 26. When the shutter button 26 is half-pressed, an S1 ON signal is input to the CPU 110, and the CPU 110 performs AE / AF processing.

  First, an image signal captured from the image sensor 124 via the image input control unit 132 is input to the AF detection unit 140 and the AE / AWB detection unit 142.

  The integrated value data obtained by the AF detection unit 140 is notified to the CPU 110.

  The CPU 110 calculates a focus evaluation value (AF evaluation value) at a plurality of AF detection points while moving the focus lens group of the photographing optical system including the lens 14 by controlling the lens driving unit 146, and the evaluation value is maximum. Is determined as the in-focus position. Then, the lens driving unit 146 is controlled so that the focus lens group moves to the obtained in-focus position.

  The CPU 110 detects the brightness of the subject (subject brightness) based on the integrated value obtained from the AE / AWB detection unit 142, and calculates an exposure value (shooting EV value) suitable for shooting. Then, the aperture value and the shutter speed are determined from the obtained shooting EV value and a predetermined program diagram, and the electronic shutter and the aperture drive unit 144 of the image sensor 124 are controlled according to the determined aperture value and an appropriate exposure amount. At the same time, it is determined from the detected subject brightness whether or not the strobe light emission is necessary.

  The AE / AWB detection unit 142 calculates an average integrated value for each color of the R, G, and B signals for each divided area during automatic white balance adjustment, and provides the calculation result to the CPU 110. The CPU 110 obtains the ratio of R / G and B / G for each divided area from the obtained R accumulated value, B accumulated value, and G accumulated value, and R of the obtained R / G and B / G values. The light source type is discriminated based on the distribution in the / G, B / G color space. Then, according to the white balance adjustment value suitable for the discriminated light source type, for example, the value of each ratio is approximately 1 (that is, the RGB integration ratio is R: G: B≈1: 1: 1 on one screen). As described above, the gain value (white balance correction value) for the R, G, and B signals of the white balance adjustment circuit is controlled to correct the signal of each color channel.

  As described above, the AE / AF process is performed by half-pressing the shutter button 26. The photographer operates the zoom button 38 as necessary to zoom the lens 14 and adjust the angle of view.

  Thereafter, when the shutter button 26 is fully pressed, an S2ON signal is input to the CPU 110, and the CPU 110 starts photographing and recording processing. That is, the image sensor 124 is exposed with the shutter speed and aperture value determined based on the photometric result.

  At this time, when the strobe 16 is caused to emit light, the strobe 16 is caused to emit light via the strobe emission control unit 164. When the amount of light received by the strobe light control sensor 24 reaches a predetermined amount, the strobe light emission control unit 164 cuts off the power supply to the strobe light emission unit 200 and stops the light emission of the strobe 16.

  The image signal output from the image sensor 124 is taken into the memory 120 via the analog processing unit 128, the A / D converter 130, and the image input control unit 132, and is converted into a luminance / color difference signal by the image signal processing unit 134. After that, it is stored in the memory 120.

  The image data stored in the memory 120 is added to the compression / decompression processing unit 148, compressed in accordance with a predetermined compression format (for example, JPEG format), then stored in the memory 120, and a predetermined image recording format (for example, Exif format). Are recorded on the storage medium 152 via the media control unit 150.

  The image recorded on the storage medium 152 as described above can be reproduced and displayed on the monitor 32 by setting the power / mode switch 28 to the reproduction position and setting the mode of the digital camera 10 to the reproduction mode. .

  When the power / mode switch 28 is set to the playback position and the mode of the digital camera 10 is set to the playback mode, the CPU 110 outputs a command to the media control unit 150 and reads the image file recorded last on the storage medium 152. Let it come out.

  The compressed image data of the read image file is added to the compression / decompression processing unit 148, decompressed to an uncompressed luminance / color difference signal, and then output to the monitor 32 via the video encoder 136. As a result, the image recorded on the storage medium 152 is reproduced and displayed on the monitor 32. It is to be noted that the luminance / color difference signal of the image to be reproduced is added to the character MIX unit 138 and synthesized with a predetermined character, figure, or the like as necessary, and then added to the video encoder 136. As a result, predetermined photographing information and the like are displayed on the monitor 32 so as to be superimposed on the photographed image.

  The frame advance of the image is performed by operating the left and right keys of the cross button 40. When the right key of the cross button 40 is pressed, the next image file is read from the storage medium 152 and reproduced and displayed on the monitor 32. When the left key of the cross button 40 is pressed, the previous image file is read from the storage medium 152 and reproduced and displayed on the monitor 32.

  In the digital camera 10 according to the present embodiment, in addition to the normal shooting mode, the face is automatically detected and the flash 16 is emitted toward the person, so that the person can be beautifully photographed in various compositions. It has a person detection shooting mode for this purpose. Hereinafter, a procedure of photographing and recording processing in the person detection photographing mode will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in the person detection photographing mode of the digital camera 10.

  It is determined whether the shooting mode is the person detection shooting mode (step S10). As described above, the setting of the person detection photographing mode is performed by the mode dial. The CPU 110 determines whether or not the person detection shooting mode is set based on the input from the operation unit 112. If it is determined that the person detection shooting mode is set, the process proceeds to step S12. If it is determined that the person detection shooting mode is not set, the process proceeds to step S14.

  In step S12, the CPU 110 determines whether the shutter button 26 is half-pressed. That is, it is determined whether or not an S1 ON signal is input from the operation unit 112. If it is determined that the shutter button 26 is half-pressed, AE and AF control is performed (step S16).

  When the main subject is focused by AF, the CPU 110 performs face detection processing (step S18). That is, the image data obtained from the image sensor 124 is added to the face detection unit 154 to perform face area extraction processing. Then, based on the face detection result in the face detection unit 154, it is determined whether or not there is a human face in the image (step S20). If “YES”, the process proceeds to step S22, and if “NO”, the process returns to step S14. When it is determined in step S20 that there is a human face in the image, the CPU 110 calculates the direction of the strobe light emitting unit 200 necessary to emit strobe light toward the detected face (step S22). Then, based on the calculation result, the CPU 110 controls the driving of the strobe driving unit 162 via the strobe driving control unit 160 and drives the strobe light emitting unit 200 so that the center of the optical axis of the strobe 16 faces the person. (Step S24).

  In step S26, the CPU 110 detects whether or not the shutter button 26 is fully pressed. That is, it is determined whether or not an S2ON signal is input via the operation unit 112. If it is determined that the shutter button 26 is fully pressed, the image sensor 124 is exposed with the determined shutter speed and aperture value based on the result of photometry in the same procedure as in the normal shooting mode, and at the same time, the strobe is The light is emitted toward (step S28). Thereafter, the image signal output from the image sensor 124 is recorded in the memory 120 in the same procedure as in the normal shooting mode (step S30).

  According to the present embodiment, since the strobe 16 is automatically driven in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction so that the strobe light emitting unit 200 faces the direction of the subject, the strobe can be reliably emitted to the subject. it can. Further, since the strobe 16 is automatically driven, the strobe can be surely emitted to the subject without taking time and effort. Further, even when the subject is not in the center of the screen, the strobe can be reliably emitted to the subject, so that the degree of freedom of framing is improved.

  In this embodiment, the rotation angle of the horizontal swing table 204 and the strobe case 206 is detected using an encoder and the rotation of the horizontal drive motor 211 and the vertical drive motor 221 is controlled. By controlling this, the horizontal swing table 204 and the strobe case 206 may be rotated by a predetermined angle.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the direction of the strobe light emitting unit 200 is automatically changed so that the strobe light is emitted toward the face detected by the face detecting unit 154, but only the direction to be directed is notified. The direction of the strobe light emitting unit 200 may be changed manually. For example, the orientation (horizontal and vertical inclination angles) of the strobe light emitting unit 200 for irradiating the strobe light toward the face detected by the face detecting unit 154 is displayed on the monitor 32, and the photographer can The direction of the strobe light emitting unit 200 may be changed manually. In this case, it may be moved electrically using a motor or the like as in the above embodiment, or may be moved manually.

<Second Embodiment>
In the image pickup apparatus according to the first embodiment, the strobe light emitting unit 200 is swung horizontally and vertically by the horizontal drive motor 211 and the vertical drive motor 221, but the strobe light emitting unit 200 is swung. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the strobe light emitting unit 200 may be swung horizontally or vertically by using the driving force of the driving unit of the photographing optical system.

  The imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment uses the driving force of the zoom motor 231 to swing the strobe light emitting unit 200 in the horizontal direction. FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of a zoom driving unit for driving the strobe light emitting unit 200 in the horizontal direction by the zoom motor 231 that performs zoom driving of the photographing optical system in the imaging apparatus of the present embodiment. In the figure, the same portions as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in the figure, there is provided an output switching mechanism that switches the transmission destination of the driving force of the zoom motor 231 between the zoom lens side and the strobe side. By this output switching mechanism, the transmission destination of the driving force of the zoom motor 231 is provided. Switch between the zoom lens side and the flash side.

  The output switching mechanism mainly includes a pinion gear 232 fixed to the output shaft 231 a of the zoom motor 231, an arm plate 233 rotatably provided on the output shaft 231 a of the zoom motor 231, and a front end of the arm plate 233. A second gear 234 that is movably provided and meshed with the pinion gear 232, a pair of electromagnets 239 and 239a that magnetically attach the arm plate 233, and a zoom side drive that transmits the driving force of the zoom motor 231 to the zoom lens side. The gear 235 and a strobe side drive gear 213 ′ that transmits the driving force of the zoom motor 231 to the strobe side.

  The zoom motor 231 can be rotated forward and backward, and is provided inside the camera body 12 so that the output shaft 231a of the zoom motor 231 is parallel to the central axis of the zoom cam barrel 238 for zoom driving.

  The pinion gear 232 is fixed to the output shaft 231a of the zoom motor 231. The pinion gear 232 rotates forward and backward as the output shaft 231a of the zoom motor 231 rotates forward and backward, and transmits the driving force of the zoom motor 231 to the second gear 234. To do.

  The arm plate 233 has an elongated plate shape having a pair of convex portions, and one end in the longitudinal direction is provided to be rotatable with respect to the output shaft 231a of the zoom motor 231. Moreover, it is made of a soft magnetic material so as to be attracted by the electromagnets 239 and 239a.

  The second gear 234 is rotatably provided with respect to a support shaft 233 a provided at the other end in the longitudinal direction of the arm plate 233 so as to mesh with the pinion gear 232. The second gear 234 rotates around the output shaft 231 a of the zoom motor 231 together with the arm plate 233 in accordance with the rotation of the pinion gear 232.

  The pair of electromagnets 239 and 239a is provided inside the camera body 12 so as to limit the rotation of the arm plate 233 when the pair of convex portions of the arm plate 233 and the electromagnets 239 and 239a come into contact with each other. That is, when the arm plate 233 and the second gear 234 rotate around the output shaft 231a of the zoom motor 231 and come to a place where the second gear 234 and the zoom-side drive gear 235 mesh with each other, the electromagnet 239 and the arm plate When the second gear 234 and the strobe-side drive gear 213 ′ come into contact with each other, the electromagnet 239a and the convex portion of the arm plate 233 come into contact with each other. The rotation is limited. Further, when the electromagnets 239 and 239a are turned on while the convex portions of the arm plate 233 are in contact with the electromagnets 239 and 239a, the electromagnets 239 and 239a attract the arm plate 233 and stop the rotation of the arm plate 233. .

  The zoom side drive gear 235 is rotatably provided in the camera body 12 via a bracket (not shown) so as to mesh with the second gear 234. When the zoom side drive gear 235 meshes with the second gear 234, the zoom side drive gear 235 meshes with the rotation of the second gear 234 with the zoom side drive gear 235, and a bracket (not shown) is provided inside the camera body 12. Is transmitted to the zoom cam cylinder 238 via a fourth gear 236 that is rotatably provided and a zoom drive gear 237 that is meshed with the fourth gear 236 and formed on the outer periphery of the zoom cam zoom cam cylinder 238. Perform zooming operation.

  The strobe side drive gear 213 ′ is rotatably provided with respect to a pedestal 202 (not shown) provided inside the camera body 12 so as to mesh with the second gear 234. The strobe-side drive gear 213 ′ meshes with the second gear 234, so that the strobe-side drive gear 213 ′ rotates the second gear 234 with a horizontal transmission gear train (not shown) and a horizontal swing table 204 (see FIG. (Not shown) is transmitted to a horizontal driven gear 215 ′ (not shown) integrally attached to the rotation shaft of the rotation shaft of the horizontal swing table 204. As a result, the horizontal swing table 204 and the strobe case 206 (not shown) provided so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction with respect to the horizontal swing table 204 swings around the horizontal drive shaft H with respect to the pedestal 202. To do. Thereby, the strobe light emitting unit 200 provided in the strobe case 206 swings in the horizontal direction.

  Here, the horizontal transmission gear train is composed of a plurality of gears including two bevel gears whose rotation axes are orthogonal to each other, and all the gears constituting the horizontal transmission gear train are rotatable with respect to the pedestal 202. Is provided. Both ends of the horizontal transmission gear train mesh with the strobe side drive gear 213 'and the horizontal driven gear 215', so that the horizontal transmission gear train transmits the rotation of the strobe side drive gear 213 'to the horizontal driven gear 215'.

  Next, a zoom operation method and a method of swinging the strobe light emitting unit 200 around the horizontal drive axis H will be described.

  First, the zoom operation is performed by transmitting the rotational force of the zoom motor 231 to the zoom cam cylinder 238 as described below.

  As the zoom motor 231 rotates clockwise, the pinion gear 232 rotates clockwise. As the pinion gear 232 rotates, the second gear 234 engaged with the pinion gear 232 rotates counterclockwise around the support shaft 233a and rotates clockwise around the output shaft 231a of the zoom motor 231. Then, it meshes with the zoom side drive gear 235. Accordingly, the clockwise driving force of the zoom motor 231 is transmitted to the zoom cam cylinder 238 via the pinion gear 232, the second gear 234, the zoom side drive gear 235, the fourth gear 236, and the zoom drive gear 237, and the zoom cam The cylinder 238 rotates clockwise. The second gear 234 rotates clockwise around the output shaft 231a of the zoom motor 231, so that the arm plate 233 rotates simultaneously around the output shaft 231a of the zoom motor 231 simultaneously with the second gear 234. Move. The rotation of the arm plate 233 is stopped at a place where the convex portion of the arm plate 233 comes into contact with the electromagnet 239, that is, a place where the second gear 234 and the zoom side drive gear 235 are engaged.

  When the zoom cam cylinder 238 is rotated counterclockwise, the zoom motor 231 is rotated counterclockwise with the arm plate 233 attached to the electromagnet 239. The arm plate 233 is attracted to the electromagnet 239 by turning on the electromagnet with the convex portion of the arm plate 233 being in contact with the electromagnet 239. As the zoom motor 231 rotates counterclockwise, the pinion gear 232 rotates counterclockwise. Since the arm plate 233 is attracted to the electromagnet 239, when the pinion gear 232 rotates counterclockwise, the second gear 234 rotates clockwise while being engaged with the zoom-side drive gear 235. Thereby, the counterclockwise driving force of the zoom motor 231 is transmitted to the zoom cam cylinder 238 via the pinion gear 232, the second gear 234, the zoom side drive gear 235, the fourth gear 236, and the zoom drive gear 237, The zoom cam cylinder 238 rotates counterclockwise.

  With the above operation, the lens 14 is moved to the tele side and the wide side to perform a zoom operation.

  When the zoom operation is completed, the strobe light emitting unit 200 is swung around the horizontal drive axis H by the zoom motor 231.

  If the zoom motor 231 is rotated counterclockwise with the arm plate 233 not attracted to the electromagnet 239, that is, with the electromagnet 239 turned off, the pinion gear 232 rotates counterclockwise together with the zoom motor 231. When the pinion gear 232 rotates counterclockwise, the second gear 234 meshed with the pinion gear 232 rotates counterclockwise around the output shaft 231a of the zoom motor 231 while rotating clockwise around the support shaft 233a. It rotates around and engages with the strobe side drive gear 213 ′. Accordingly, the counterclockwise driving force of the zoom motor 231 is transmitted to the horizontal driven gear 215 ′ via the pinion gear 232, the strobe side driving gear 213 ′, and the horizontal transmission gear train, and the horizontal swing table 204 and the strobe case. 206 is driven around the horizontal drive axis H in one direction. The rotation of the arm plate 233 is stopped at a place where the arm plate 233 comes into contact with the electromagnet 239a, that is, a place where the second gear 234 and the strobe side drive gear 213 'are engaged.

  When the horizontal swing table 204 is driven to the other about the horizontal drive shaft H, the zoom motor 231 is rotated clockwise with the arm plate 233 attached to the electromagnet 239a. The arm plate 233 is attracted to the electromagnet 239a by turning on the electromagnet in a state where the convex portion of the arm plate 233 is in contact with the electromagnet 239a. As the zoom motor 231 rotates clockwise, the pinion gear 232 rotates clockwise. Since the arm plate 233 is attracted to the electromagnet 239a, when the pinion gear 232 rotates clockwise, the second gear 234 rotates counterclockwise while engaging with the strobe side drive gear 213 '. As a result, the clockwise driving force of the zoom motor 231 is transmitted to the horizontal driven gear 215 ′ via the pinion gear 232, the strobe side driving gear 213 ′, and the horizontal transmission gear train, and the horizontal swing table 204 and strobe case 206 are transmitted. Is driven around the horizontal drive shaft H to the other.

  In this way, the horizontal swing table 204 and the strobe case 206 are swung around the horizontal drive shaft H by rotating the zoom motor 231 in the forward and reverse directions. As a result, the strobe light emitting unit 200 provided in the strobe case 206 swings in the horizontal direction.

  When the driving of the horizontal swing table 204 is completed, the zoom motor 231 is rotated clockwise with the arm plate 233 not attracted to the electromagnet 239a, that is, with the electromagnet 239a turned off. As the arm plate 233 and the second gear 234 rotate clockwise around the rotation shaft 232a of the pinion gear 232, the engagement between the second gear 234 and the strobe side drive gear 213 ′ is released, and the second gear 234 It meshes with the zoom drive gear 235 again. Thereby, the driving force of the zoom motor 231 is transmitted again to the zoom lens side.

  According to the output switching mechanism configured as described above, after the zoom driving is completed, the transmission destination of the driving force of the zoom motor 231 is switched from the zoom lens side to the strobe side. As a result, the zoom motor 231 causes the strobe light emitting unit. 200 is swung horizontally. Since the zoom motor 231 is not normally used after being used for framing, there is no problem even if the zoom motor 231 is used as a drive source of the strobe light emitting unit 200.

  According to the present embodiment, by using the zoom motor 231 as the drive source for swinging the strobe light emitting unit 200 in the horizontal direction, the drive source (motor) included in the digital camera including the strobe 16 ′ can be reduced. it can. Thereby, a digital camera can be reduced in size.

  In this embodiment, the zoom motor 231 is used as the horizontal driving source of the strobe light emitting unit 200 and the dedicated motor is used as the vertical driving source of the strobe light emitting unit 200. A dedicated motor may be used as the direction driving source, and the zoom motor 231 may be used as the vertical driving source of the strobe light emitting unit 200. In the present embodiment, the zoom motor 231 is used as the horizontal drive source of the strobe light emitting unit 200. However, the zoom motor 231 is not limited to the zoom motor, and a motor for driving an aperture, a motor for driving a shutter, and a motor for driving a focus lens. Etc. may be used together.

  In the present embodiment, a pair of convex portions is provided on the main body of the elongated plate-like arm plate 233, and the convex portions are brought into contact with the electromagnets 239 and 239a. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the arm plate 233 is elongated. The arm plate 233 main body may be brought into contact with the electromagnets 239 and 239a by using only the plate-shaped arm plate 233 main body.

<Third Embodiment>
In the imaging apparatus according to the first embodiment, the case where only one person's face is detected in the image has been described. However, the number of detected person's faces is not limited to one. The imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment displays a plurality of faces on a monitor when a plurality of faces are detected, and emits a strobe toward the face selected from the faces.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing in the person detection photographing mode of the imaging apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the same portions as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  When it is determined in step S20 that there is a human face in the image, the CPU 110 determines whether there are a plurality of human faces in the image (step S32). If “YES”, the operation proceeds to step S34, and if “NO”, the operation proceeds to step S36.

  When it is determined in step S32 that there are a plurality of human faces in the image, as shown in FIG. 8, the CPU 110 displays a through image on the monitor 32 and displays the detected individual human faces. A frame (target display), which is a mark indicating the position of the object to be photographed, is blinked so as to surround (step S34). Thereafter, the photographer selects the face (target) of the person that causes the strobe to emit light from among the plurality of displayed target displays. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the cursor is displayed at the target display location, and the cursor is moved by pressing the “L”, “R”, “UP”, “DOWN” buttons of the cross button 40. Done. When the photographer presses the MENU / OK button 42 while the cursor is moved on the selected target display, the selection of the selected target display is determined. For example, in FIG. When the second target is selected and determined, as shown in FIG. 9, the selected target display is turned on, and the other target displays are turned off (step S38).

  If it is determined in step S32 that there is one person's face in the image, as shown in FIG. 10, the CPU 110 displays a through image on the monitor 32 and also detects the detected person's face ( A frame (target display), which is a mark indicating the position of the object to be imaged, is turned on at the target location (step S36).

  According to the present embodiment, even when a plurality of subjects are detected, the photographer can select the most important subject among them, so that the degree of freedom of framing is improved. In addition, since the composition of the photograph to be taken and the subject to which the strobe light is emitted can be confirmed at the time of photographing, the photograph having the desired composition can be surely taken.

  In the present embodiment, the target display is performed by surrounding the detected person's face with a square frame. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it may be circled or pointed by an arrow. In this embodiment, the photographer is notified of the target by displaying the through image and the target display on the monitor. However, the through image and the target display may be displayed on the finder window, or by voice. The target may be notified to the photographer.

<Fourth embodiment>
In the image pickup apparatus of the first embodiment, the strobe is built in the image pickup apparatus, but the form of the strobe is not limited to this. In the imaging apparatus of the present embodiment, when shooting with the external strobe device 240 connected to the digital camera 10 ′, the direction and amount of movement of the external strobe device to the photographer to cause the strobe to emit light toward the face. It is to inform.

  FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view showing a digital camera according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the same portions as those in the first embodiment and the third embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  A hot shoe grip 250 is attached to the digital camera 10 ′, and an external strobe device 240 is attached to the hot shoe grip 250.

  The hot shoe grip 250 includes a substantially cylindrical grip portion 252 that is held by the photographer, a substantially cylindrical hot shoe 254 provided on the upper portion of the grip portion, and a plate-like stay 256. The stay 256 is attached to the bottom surface side of the digital camera 10 ′ through a tripod screw hole (not shown) provided on the bottom surface of the camera body 12 ′ of the digital camera 10 ′.

  The external strobe device 240 is attached to the upper side of the hot shoe 254, a main body 242 attached to the hot shoe 254, and a horizontal swing block provided so as to be swingable about a horizontal rotation axis H with respect to the main body 242. 244, and a light emitting unit 246 provided so as to be swingable about a vertical rotation axis V with respect to the horizontal swing block 244.

  The main body 242 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and is detachably attached to the hot shoe 254 via a leg portion (not shown) provided on the bottom surface.

  The horizontal swing block 244 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped, and a rotation shaft (not shown) is integrally formed on the bottom surface of the horizontal swing block 244 coaxial with the horizontal rotation shaft H. The rotation shaft is supported by a bearing (not shown) provided on the main body 242, whereby the horizontal swing block 244 is supported so as to be swingable about the horizontal rotation axis H with respect to the main body 242. .

  The light emitting unit 246 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped, and a rotating shaft 248 is provided on the inner surface of the light emitting unit 246 coaxial with the vertical rotating shaft V. The rotation shaft 248 is pivotally supported by a support arm (not shown) provided on the horizontal swing block 244, so that the light emitting unit 246 can swing around the vertical swing axis V with respect to the horizontal swing block 244. Supported by

  In order to set the horizontal rotation angle of the light emitting unit 246, a horizontal rotation angle scale 242a is provided on the back surface of the main body 242, and a horizontal scale 244a is provided on the back surface of the horizontal swing block 244. Yes. Further, in order to set the vertical rotation angle of the light emitting unit 246, a vertical rotation angle scale 246a is provided on the side surface of the light emitting unit 246, and is perpendicular to the side surface side of the light emitting unit 246 of the rotation shaft 248. A direction scale 248a is provided. By aligning the horizontal scale 244a with the center of the horizontal rotation angle scale 242a and aligning the vertical scale 248a with the center of the vertical rotation angle scale 246a, the optical axis L ′ of the light emitting unit 246 is aligned with the lens optical axis L. Become parallel. Note that the direction of the external strobe device 240 when the optical axis L ′ of the light emitting unit 246 is parallel to the lens optical axis L is the reference direction of the external strobe device 240.

  The photographer rotates the horizontal swing block 244 so that the horizontal scale 244a matches the predetermined angle display of the horizontal rotation angle scale 242a. As a result, the horizontal swing block 244 and the light emitting unit 246 are swung around the horizontal rotation axis H, and the optical axis L ′ of the light emitting unit 246 is shifted from the lens optical axis L by a predetermined angle in the horizontal direction. Become.

  In addition, the photographer rotates the light emitting unit 246 so that the vertical scale 248a is aligned with a predetermined angle display on the vertical rotation angle scale 246a. Accordingly, the light emitting unit 246 is swung around the vertical rotation axis V, and the optical axis L ′ of the light emitting unit 246 is shifted from the lens optical axis L by a predetermined angle in the vertical direction.

  According to the external strobe device 240 configured as described above, when the photographer rotates the horizontal swing block 244, the horizontal swing block 244 and the light emitting unit 246 are swung around the horizontal rotation axis H, As a result, the light emitting unit 246 is swung horizontally. When the photographer rotates the light emitting unit 246, the light emitting unit 246 is swung around the vertical rotation axis V, and as a result, the light emitting unit 246 is swung vertically.

  The external strobe device 240 is connected to a sync terminal (not shown) provided in the digital camera 10 'via a cable (not shown), and emits light in synchronization with photographing.

  The operation of the digital camera of the present embodiment configured as described above is as follows.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing in the person detection photographing mode of the digital camera according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

  When one face is detected in step S32, the CPU 110 calculates the direction of the external strobe (horizontal and vertical angles with respect to the reference direction) for emitting strobe light toward the detected target. When a plurality of faces are detected in step S32, when a target is selected in step S38, the CPU 110 directs the direction of the external strobe to emit strobe light toward the target (horizontal with respect to the reference direction). , The angle in the vertical direction) is calculated (step S40).

  Based on the horizontal and vertical angles with respect to the reference direction calculated in step S40, the direction and angle at which the external strobe device 240 should be moved are displayed on the monitor 32 as shown in FIG. 11 (step S42). In accordance with the display on the monitor 32, the photographer matches the angle display indicating the horizontal rotation angle scale 242a on the horizontal scale 244a with the horizontal angle with respect to the reference direction displayed on the monitor 32, and uses the vertical scale 248a. By making the angle display indicating the vertical rotation angle scale 246a coincide with the angle in the vertical direction with respect to the reference direction displayed on the monitor 32, the strobe is emitted toward the subject.

  According to the present embodiment, by moving the external strobe according to the guidance displayed on the monitor, the strobe can be reliably emitted to the subject in various compositions. In addition, since the composition of the photograph to be taken and the subject to which the strobe light is emitted can be confirmed at the time of photographing, the photograph having the desired composition can be surely taken.

  In this embodiment, only the external strobe device 240 is used to emit strobe light to the subject. However, both the external strobe device 240 and the strobe device inside the digital camera are used to emit strobe light to the subject. You may make it light-emit.

  In this embodiment, the external strobe device 240 is detachably attached to the hot shoe grip 250. However, the external strobe device 240 is fixed to the digital camera 10 ′ without using the hot shoe grip 250. May be.

  In the above embodiment, a xenon tube is used as the light source of the strobe. However, the light source of the strobe is not limited to this. For example, an LED or the like may be used.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the flash light is emitted as a flash when photographing a still image has been described as an example. However, the present invention can also be applied to a case where shooting is performed by irradiating a video light during so-called moving image shooting. it can. That is, the face of the subject is detected at the time of moving image shooting, and the video light is irradiated toward the face for shooting. In this case, the face may be detected sequentially to change the direction of the light emitting unit, or the face may be detected periodically to change the direction of the light emitting unit.

  The application of the present invention is not limited to a digital camera, and can be similarly applied to an imaging apparatus such as a mobile phone with a camera and a video camera.

1 is a front perspective view of a first embodiment of a digital camera to which the present invention is applied. It is a rear view of 1st Embodiment of the said digital camera. It is the perspective view which saw through the principal part content of the strobe 16 of 1st Embodiment of the said digital camera. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of 1st Embodiment of the said digital camera. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process in the person detection imaging | photography mode of 1st Embodiment of the said digital camera. It is a schematic block diagram of the zoom drive part for driving a strobe light emission part to a horizontal direction with the zoom motor for zoom drive of 2nd Embodiment of the digital camera to which this invention was applied. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process in the person detection imaging | photography mode of 3rd Embodiment of the digital camera to which this invention is applied. It is explanatory drawing of the person detection imaging | photography mode of 3rd Embodiment of the said digital camera. It is explanatory drawing of the person detection imaging | photography mode of 3rd Embodiment of the said digital camera. It is explanatory drawing of the person detection imaging | photography mode of 3rd Embodiment of the said digital camera. It is a back perspective view which shows one Embodiment of 4th Embodiment of the digital camera to which this invention was applied. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process in the person detection imaging | photography mode of 4th Embodiment of the said digital camera.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10, 10 '... Digital camera, 12 ... Camera body, 14 ... Lens, 16, 16' ... Strobe, 18 ... Finder window, 20 ... Self-timer lamp, 22 ... AF auxiliary light lamp, 24 ... Strobe light control sensor, 26 ... Shutter button, 28 ... Power / mode switch, 30 ... Mode dial, 32 ... Monitor, 34 ... Viewfinder eyepiece, 38 ... Zoom button, 40 ... Cross button, 42 ... MENU / OK button, 44 ... DISP button, 46 ... BACK button, 110 ... CPU, 112 ... operation unit, 114 ... bus, 116 ... ROM, 118 ... EEPROM, 120 ... memory (SDRAM), 122 ... VRAM, 124 ... image sensor (CCD), 126 ... timing generator (TG) 128 ... Analog processing unit (CDS / AMP), 130 ... A / D conversion , 132: Image input control unit, 134: Image signal processing unit, 136: Video encoder, 138: Character MIX unit, 140: AF detection unit, 142: AE / AWB detection unit, 144: Aperture drive unit, 146: Lens drive , 148 ... compression / decompression processing unit, 150 ... media control unit, 152 ... storage medium, 154 ... face detection unit, 160 ... strobe drive control unit, 162 ... strobe drive unit, 164 ... strobe light emission control unit, 200 ... strobe light emission 204: Horizontal swing table, 206 ... Strobe case, 210 ... Horizontal drive unit, 220 ... Vertical drive unit, 240 ... External strobe device, 244 ... Horizontal swing block, 246 ... Light emitting unit

Claims (5)

Photographic optics,
Imaging means for acquiring an image of a subject via the photographing optical system;
Illumination means in which the light emitting unit is supported so as to be swingable in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction
Detecting means for detecting a preset position of a photographing object from images obtained from the imaging means;
A calculation unit that calculates the direction of the light emitting unit for irradiating illumination light toward the photographing target based on a detection result of the detection unit;
Notification means for notifying the calculation result of the calculation means;
An imaging apparatus comprising: Photographic optics,
Imaging means for acquiring an image of a subject via the photographing optical system;
Illumination means in which the light emitting unit is supported so as to be swingable in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction
Driving means for driving the light emitting part of the illuminating means horizontally and vertically;
Detecting means for detecting a preset position of a photographing object from images obtained from the imaging means;
A calculation unit that calculates the direction of the light emitting unit for irradiating illumination light toward the photographing target based on a detection result of the detection unit;
Control means for controlling the driving of the driving means based on the calculation result of the calculating means so that illumination light is emitted from the light emitting unit toward the subject to be photographed;
An imaging apparatus comprising:   The driving means is used both for driving the photographing optical system and for driving the light emitting portion of the illuminating means, and for switching the transmission direction of the driving force of the driving means to the photographing optical system or the light emitting portion of the illuminating means. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: Display means;
Display control means for displaying a mark indicating the position of the photographing target detected by the detection means on the display means together with an image obtained from the imaging means;
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, further comprising: A selection means for selecting any one of the marks displayed on the display means when a plurality of photographing objects are detected by the detection means;
The calculation means calculates the direction of the light emitting unit for irradiating illumination light toward the photographing target indicated by the mark selected by the selection means based on a detection result of the detection means. Item 5. The imaging device according to Item 4.

Images