JP2008211401A - Imaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging device that has an imaging unit to photograph a subject, a zoom unit capable of varying the power of an image of the subject, an operation unit to indicate a variation in the zoom power of the zoom unit, and a shake detecting means of detecting a shake of the imaging device, and varies a varying speed of the zoom power according to a shake amount detected by the shake detecting means when the operation unit varies the zoom power. <P>SOLUTION: It is determined whether a photographer operates a zoom operation unit for zooming. When the depression of the zoom operation unit by the photographer is detected, data input to a swing detecting means is performed. After the data input, it is decided whether a swing amount exceeds a predetermined threshold. When the shake amount of a data camera exceeds the predetermined threshold, the zoom operation is accelerated in speed. When the shake amount is small, the zoom operation is decelerated in speed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus that changes a zoom magnification changing speed.

  An imaging apparatus such as a digital camera has a zoom function, and the zoom magnification can be changed by operating the zoom operation switch to the tele side or the wide side.

  In recent years, those who have increased the zoom magnification have been commercialized. However, since the zoom magnification is increased, it takes time to change the zoom magnification from the wide end to the tele end, and a photo opportunity is missed. To prevent this, there is a method to shorten the time to change the zoom magnification from the wide end to the tele end by increasing the speed of changing the zoom magnification. In this case, the photographer should set an arbitrary zoom magnification. In this case, the zoom magnification is changed at a high speed, so that it passes by, and there is a problem that it is difficult to set to the intended zoom magnification.

  In order to solve the above problem, as proposed in Patent Document 1, the zoom operation switch is configured with a potentiometer or the like so that the output changes according to the operation amount of the switch, and the operation amount of the switch is When it is small, the zoom magnification changing speed is slowed down. When the switch operation amount is large, the zoom magnification changing speed is increased, or the switch is a two-stage switch as proposed in Patent Document 2. Thus, an imaging device has been commercialized in which only the first-stage switch is turned on to slow down the zoom magnification change speed, and when the second-stage switch is turned on, the zoom magnification change speed is increased. .

Alternatively, as disclosed in Patent Document 3 and Patent Document 4, a method for changing a zoom magnification changing speed by an operation method of a zoom operation switch has been proposed.
JP-A-5-107442 Japanese Patent No. 2503823 JP-A-6-3572 JP 2003-279833 A

  However, if the output is changed in accordance with the operation amount of the zoom operation switch or the two-stage switch is used, there is a problem that the mechanical configuration becomes complicated and the cost of parts increases. Further, there is a problem that the operation becomes complicated when the speed of changing the zoom magnification is changed depending on the operation method of the zoom operation switch.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus that can easily set a zoom position intended by a photographer in an imaging apparatus having a zoom function and shake detection means. Yes.

  In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 includes an imaging unit that captures a subject, a zoom unit that can scale the subject, and an operation unit that instructs to change the zoom magnification of the zoom unit. And a shake detection means for detecting shake of the image pickup device, and a change speed of the zoom magnification when the zoom magnification is changed by the operation unit according to a shake amount detected by the shake detection means. An image pickup apparatus having a changing unit.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the imaging apparatus according to the first aspect, a predetermined threshold value of the shake amount detected by the detection unit is provided, and the change unit detects that the detected shake amount is the predetermined amount. The above-mentioned change is performed when the threshold value is exceeded.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the imaging apparatus according to the first aspect, the zoom unit is an optical zoom that optically changes magnification.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the imaging apparatus according to the first aspect, the zoom unit is a digital zoom that performs zooming by signal processing.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the imaging apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the shake detection unit is a shake detection unit of a shake correction apparatus.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the imaging apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the image pickup apparatus further includes a switching unit that can switch ON / OFF the change performed by the changing unit.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an imaging device that changes the zoom magnification changing speed based on the shake amount detected by the shake detection means when the zoom magnification is changed by the operation unit.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described.

  The imaging apparatus of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is an overview of the imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment. (A) is an overview from the front, (b) is an overview from the side, and (c) is an overview from the back. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 2, an image picked up by the image pickup apparatus of the present embodiment is formed on the surface of the CCD 2 by the lens 1, and the image data is converted into electrical data by the CCD. The electrical data is AD-converted by F / E3 (front end: CCD signal processing) and signal-processed by DSP4. The CCD is driven so as to be synchronized with the DSP by the clock of TG5.

  The SDRAM 6 is used for read / write of the AD-converted raw data and signal processed data of the CCD output, and the EEPROM 7 is used for storing data such as adjustment values. In addition, the memory card 8 is used for storing captured images. The LCD 9 is used for displaying an image to be captured or displaying an image recorded on the memory card 8. The DSP 4 also generates evaluation values such as AF, AE, and white balance (in the case of AF, for example, an integrated value for each frequency component of the image, etc.), performs the calculation, and controls the motor 11 together. have.

  Further, the control unit has a function of setting parameters for the DSP 4, F / E, etc., a function of processing an input from the operation switch 12, which is an operation from the photographer, and a brightness at the time of photographing. And a function of controlling the flash unit 13 and a function of controlling the sound processing unit 16 that records sound with the microphone 14 and reproduces it with the speaker 15. Further, the power is converted from a power source 17 (generally a battery but an AC adapter may be used) to a voltage required for each system via a DC-DC 18 and supplied. The shake detected by the shake detection unit 19 is processed by the DSP.

  Consider a case where the lens shown in FIG. 1 is pointed at a subject and the zooming operation switch 12 is operated by the photographer to determine a composition for photographing while looking at the LCD. When the photographer is trying to decide on a rough composition, the camera will move left and right and up and down, so the shake amount obtained from the shake detection unit will be a large value. It is desirable to move at high speed. When a rough composition is determined and the photographer wants to make fine adjustments to the composition, the photographer tries to prevent the camera from moving as much as possible. In such a state, it is desirable for the photographer to operate the zoom operation at a low speed and to stop at the target magnification. The imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment described above is not limited to this, and can be applied within a range that does not deviate. In this embodiment, the zoom is handled as an optical zoom or a digital zoom.

  Processing of the zoom operation of the imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating processing of the imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  In the imaging apparatus shown in FIG. 1, it is determined whether or not the photographer has performed a zoom operation using the zoom operation unit (step S101). When it is detected that the photographer has pressed the zoom operation unit (step S101 / YES), data input to the shake detection means is performed (step S102). When pressing of the zoom operation unit by the photographer is not detected (step S101 / NO), the process does not proceed to the next process. After the data input, it is determined whether or not the shaking amount exceeds a predetermined threshold value (step S103). When the shake amount of the data camera exceeds the predetermined threshold value (step S103 / YES), the zoom operation is speeded up (step S104). When the shake amount is small, the zoom operation is slowed down (step S105).

  According to the present embodiment, it is possible to perform optimum zoom speed control according to the state without performing expensive parts or a special operation method. Note that the zoom speed is not limited to the binary values of high speed and low speed as shown here, but the zoom speed may be linearly changed according to the shake amount.

  A second operation of the imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a second configuration of the imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  Many recent imaging apparatuses have a built-in camera shake correction function and are commercialized. The camera shake correction function shown in FIG. 4 has an effect of reducing the camera shake of an image obtained by detecting the camera shake at the time of photographing with the camera shake detection unit 20 and canceling it with the camera shake correction unit 21. The same effect can be obtained by using the hand movement detection unit as the shake detection unit described above.

  As described above, the present invention can obtain the following effects in an imaging apparatus having a zoom function and shake detection means.

  According to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide an imaging apparatus that can easily set the zoom position intended by the photographer by changing the zoom magnification change speed based on the shake amount detected by the shake detection unit.

  In addition, it is possible to provide an imaging apparatus that can easily set the optical zoom position intended by the photographer by changing the optical zoom magnification change speed based on the shake amount detected by the shake detection unit.

  In addition, it is possible to provide an imaging apparatus that can easily set the digital zoom position intended by the photographer by changing the digital zoom magnification changing speed based on the shake amount detected by the shake detection unit.

  Further, by changing the optical zoom and digital zoom magnification changing speed according to the shake amount detected by the shake detection means, it is possible to provide an imaging apparatus that can easily set the optical zoom and digital zoom positions intended by the photographer.

  In addition, it is possible to provide an imaging apparatus that can easily set the zoom position intended by the photographer by changing the zoom magnification changing speed based on the shake amount detected by the camera shake detection means.

  Furthermore, the change of the zoom magnification change speed can be turned on / off based on the shake amount detected by the shake detection means, and the zoom magnification change speed can be changed as necessary. Therefore, it is possible to provide an imaging apparatus that can be easily set to the zoom position.

It is a general-view figure which shows the imaging device in this embodiment. (A) is an overview from the front, (b) is an overview from the side, and (c) is an overview from the back. It is a block diagram showing the 1st composition of the imaging device in this embodiment. It is a flowchart figure which shows the process of the imaging device in this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the 2nd structure of the imaging device in this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1 Lens 2 CCD
3 F / E
4 DSP
5 TG
6 SDRAM
7 EEPROM
8 Memory card 9 LCD
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Motor 12 Operation switch 13 Strobe part 14 Microphone 15 Speaker 16 Audio | voice processing part 17 Power supply part 18 DC-DC
19 Camera shake detection unit 20 Camera shake detection unit 21 Camera shake correction unit

Claims (6)

An image capturing unit for capturing a subject;
A zoom unit capable of scaling the subject;
An operation unit for instructing to change a zoom magnification of the zoom unit;
Shake detection means for detecting shake of the imaging device;
An imaging apparatus comprising: changing means for changing the zoom magnification changing speed based on a shake amount detected by the shake detecting means when the zoom magnification is changed by the operation unit.   The predetermined threshold value of the shake amount detected by the detection means is provided, and the changing means performs the change when the detected shake amount exceeds the predetermined threshold value. The imaging apparatus according to 1.   The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the zoom unit is an optical zoom that optically changes magnification.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the zoom unit is a digital zoom that performs zooming by signal processing.   5. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shake detection unit is a shake detection unit of a shake correction apparatus.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a switching unit that can switch ON / OFF a change made by the change unit.

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