JP2009224918A - Operation controller - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an operation controller for remotely controlling an imaging apparatus, which allows a photographer to easily adjust an imaged visual field image to a composition which a photographer intends. <P>SOLUTION: The operation controller 100 receives the imaged visual field image of the imaging apparatus 200 via a communication means 20 and displays it on a display means 16. The operation controller 100 also detects its own direction and/or posture and performs synchronization drive of the direction and/or posture of the imaging apparatus 200 via the communication means 20 on the basis of the detected direction and/or posture information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an operation control device for remotely operating an imaging device that images a subject.

  Conventionally, an operation control device (remote controller) for remotely operating an imaging device such as a digital camera has been widely used. Such an operation control device causes the imaging device to image a subject by transmitting a shooting instruction signal to the imaging device.

  In the operation control device as described above, for example, when remotely operating an imaging device attached to a tripod via a camera platform, a transmitter is installed in the operation control device itself, and this operation control device is used as a subject. Held by a person and caused the imaging device to receive a transmission signal from a transmitter so that the camera platform follows the subject by rotating the pan head in the direction of the operation control device, that is, the subject direction (patent) Reference 1).

The operation control device displays the imaging field-of-view image and the imageable range of the imaging device, and the photographer confirms the imaging field-of-view image and the imageable range by using an operation unit such as a scroll bar provided in the operation control device. Some devices remotely operate the imaging device by instructing to change the direction of the imaging device, zoom, or the like (Patent Document 2).
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-53372 JP-A-10-93855

  However, in the operation control device as described above, the direction of the imaging device is controlled by an operation unit such as a scroll bar. Therefore, a photographer who is unfamiliar with the operation unit can use his / her intended imaging field-of-view image as the operation control device. In order to display, there is a possibility that the knob position of the scroll bar must be corrected many times, and it may take time to control the imaging apparatus.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a remote control device that allows a photographer to easily adjust a captured visual field image in an imaging device to a composition intended by the user. is there.

The operation control device of the present invention includes a communication unit that transmits and receives data to and from an imaging device,
Display means for displaying an imaging field-of-view image of the imaging device received by the communication means;
Detection means for detecting its own orientation and / or posture;
Control means for synchronously driving the azimuth and / or orientation of the imaging device via the communication means based on the orientation and / or orientation information detected by the detection means;
The image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup instruction means for instructing the image pickup of the image pickup apparatus, and remotely controls the image pickup apparatus.

The operation control device of the present invention further includes zoom instruction means for instructing a change in the imaging magnification of the imaging device,
When the allowable operation range of the azimuth and / or orientation of the imaging apparatus reaches a limit value, the zoom instruction unit may instruct the imaging magnification to be changed to the wide side.

  In addition, the operation control device of the present invention may include warning means for warning that the imaging device has reached the wide end.

  According to the operation control device of the present invention, a communication unit that transmits and receives data to and from the imaging device, a display unit that displays an imaging field image of the imaging device that is received by the communication unit, and its own orientation and / or orientation are detected. Detecting means for controlling, direction control means for synchronously driving the orientation and / or orientation of the imaging device via the communication means based on information on the orientation and / or orientation detected by the detection means, and imaging for instructing imaging of the imaging device Since the imaging device is remotely operated with the instruction means, the direction and orientation of the imaging device can be changed almost simultaneously by changing the orientation, that is, the direction and orientation of the operation control device itself. The imaging field image can be adjusted by operating the imaging device while confirming the imaging field image of the imaging device. Thus, even a photographer who is unfamiliar with the operation unit such as the scroll bar can easily adjust the captured visual field image in the imaging device to the composition intended by the operation control device.

  The operation control device of the present invention further includes zoom instruction means for instructing change of the imaging magnification of the imaging apparatus, and when the allowable operation range of the azimuth and / or orientation of the imaging apparatus reaches a limit value, the zoom instruction means If the instruction is made to change the imaging magnification of the imaging device to the wide side, it is possible to follow the desired subject by expanding the field of view even if the operation allowable range of the imaging device is exceeded. .

  In addition, when the operation control device of the present invention includes a warning unit that warns that the imaging device has reached the wide end, the photographer can easily confirm the limit of tracking of the subject by the imaging device. So you can take immediate measures.

  A remote controller (hereinafter referred to as a remote controller) as an operation control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, a digital camera will be described as an example of an imaging apparatus that is remotely controlled by a remote controller. 1A is a rear view of the remote controller 100 of the present embodiment, and FIG. 1B is a top view of FIG. In the present embodiment, the surface of the remote controller 100 on the side where the liquid crystal monitor 16 is disposed will be described as a back surface, and the surface on the side where the antenna 20 is disposed will be described as an upper surface.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, the remote controller 100 of this embodiment is provided with a power switch 11 and a print switch 12 on the lower left side, and a menu on the right side. A button 13 and a display button 14 are disposed, and a cross / OK button 15 is disposed substantially at the center. A liquid crystal monitor (LCD; display means) 16 is disposed above.

  The power switch 11 is a switch for setting the power of the remote controller 100 and the digital camera 200 to ON or OFF, and the print switch 12 is connected to a printer as an external device 38 or a liquid crystal monitor 16 via a wireless communication unit 37 described later. An instruction is given to print the displayed captured image.

  Each time the menu button 13 is pressed, the liquid crystal monitor 16 displays various menus for setting a shooting mode such as still or moving image, strobe emission mode, self-timer ON / OFF, recording pixel number, sensitivity, and the like. It is.

  The display button 14 is a button for switching ON / OFF of the display of the liquid crystal monitor 16, various guide displays, ON / OFF of character display, and the like when pressed.

  The cross / OK button 15 includes an outer cross button 15a and a substantially center OK button 15b. The cross button 15a selects a menu item from a menu screen displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 16, and displays various items in each menu. This is an operation button for instructing selection of a setting item, and the OK button 15b is a button for confirming an item selected by the cross button 15a. Of the cross button 15a, the left and right buttons also function as a one-frame backward button and a one-frame forward button, respectively, in the playback mode.

  The liquid crystal monitor 16 functions as an electronic viewfinder for confirming the subject by displaying the imaged field of view of the digital camera 200 at the time of shooting, as well as reproducing and displaying still images and moving images after shooting, and various setting menus. Display.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1A, a zoom switch 17 for manually instructing a change in the imaging magnification of the digital camera 200 is disposed on the right side when viewed from the back of the remote controller 100. The zoom switch 17 is The side is a tele zoom switch 17T for changing the imaging magnification, that is, the zoom to the tele side, and the lower side is a wide zoom switch 17W for changing the zoom to the wide side.

  As shown in FIG. 1 (a), the release button (imaging instruction means) 18 that instructs the digital camera 200 to instruct main imaging is manually controlled on the left side as viewed from the back, and the focus of the digital camera 200 is manually controlled downward. A focus operation switch 19 is provided. The release button 18 is configured in a two-stage manner of half-pressing (S1 = ON) and full-pressing (S2 = ON). By half-pressing, the automatic focusing process (AF process) and automatic exposure by the digital camera 200 are performed. Processing (AE processing) is instructed, and full imaging of the subject by the digital camera 200 is instructed by a full press operation.

  The focus operation switch 19 is a focus operation FAR switch 19F that moves the focus lens 50a (see FIG. 5) of the digital camera 200 to the far side, and a focus operation NEAR switch 19N that moves the lower side to the near side.

  On the top surface of the remote controller 100, as shown in FIG. 1B, an antenna 20, a shutter speed setting dial 21, and an aperture setting dial 22 are arranged in this order from the left side. The antenna 20 transmits / receives data to / from the digital camera 200. The shutter speed setting dial 21 is for manually adjusting the shutter speed of the digital camera 200, and the aperture setting dial 22 is for manually adjusting the aperture of the digital camera 200.

  Next, the internal configuration of the remote controller 100 will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the remote controller 100.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the remote controller 100 according to the present embodiment includes the power switch 11, the print switch 12, the menu button 13, the display button 14, the cross / OK button 15, the zoom switch 17, the release switch as the operation system of the remote controller 100. A button 18, a focus operation switch 19, a shutter speed setting dial 21, an aperture setting dial 22, and an ISO sensitivity setting unit 23, and an operation system control unit 24 that is an interface for transmitting operation contents of these switches, buttons, and dials to the CPU 25. Is provided.

  The ISO sensitivity setting unit 23 displays the ISO sensitivity setting items on the liquid crystal monitor 16 by using the menu button 13 or the cross / OK button 15 and selects and confirms the desired ISO sensitivity. The ISO sensitivity thus transmitted is transmitted to the CPU 25 via the operation system control unit 24.

  The CPU 25 comprehensively controls the remote controller 100 in accordance with the operations of the various buttons, switches, dials, and signals from the respective function blocks. A data bus 26 is connected to the CPU 25, and the data bus 26 is connected to each functional block described later, and various signals and data are transmitted / received via the data bus 26.

  The memory controller 27 transmits image data received from the digital camera 200 via the wireless communication unit 37 described later to the main memory 28 via the data bus 26. The main memory 28 transmits the transmitted image data. Remember.

  The compression / decompression unit 29 performs a compression process on the image data in a compression format such as JPEG to generate an image file. In the playback mode, the compression / decompression unit 29 reads the compressed image file from the external recording medium 33 and performs decompression processing.

  The MPEG encoder / decoder 30 performs encoding into MPEG moving image data and decoding of MPEG compression encoded moving image data.

  The display control unit 31 is for causing the liquid crystal monitor 16 to display image data stored in the main memory 28 or image data after being decompressed by the compression / decompression unit. The image data is, for example, a luminance (Y) signal and The color (C) signal is converted into a composite signal that is combined into one signal and output to the liquid crystal monitor 16.

  The media control unit 32 reads an image file or the like stored in the external recording medium 33 or writes an image file. The external recording medium 33 stores various data such as image files.

  The audio input / output unit 34 is connected to a speaker 35 and a microphone 36, and inputs / outputs audio signals via the speaker 35 or microphone 36.

  The wireless communication unit (communication means) 37 is for transmitting and receiving various types of data including image data wirelessly. For example, the wireless communication unit (communication means) 37 includes an infrared port that can perform IrDA infrared data communication, and is an antenna for wireless communication. 20 to perform wireless communication with an external device 38 to be described later. In the present invention, any communication means may be used as long as it performs wireless communication. For example, a wireless telephone line, a wireless LAN, digital TV transmission / reception, UWB (Ultra Wide Band), TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access). CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), W-CDMA (Wideband Code Multiple Access), and IMT2000 (International Mobile Telecommunications-2000) may be used.

  The external device 38 stores, in addition to the imaging device 200, a printer for printing image data transmitted from the wireless communication unit 37, a display device (such as a television) for displaying an image based on the image data, and image data. An electronic device (such as a personal computer) including a storage device may be used.

  The invention is characterized in that the remote controller 100 includes a detection unit 40 that detects its own orientation and / or orientation. The detection unit 40 includes an orientation sensor 41 that detects its own orientation and its own orientation. And an attitude sensor 42 for detecting.

  The attitude sensor 42 is described in, for example, a vibration gyro attitude sensor manufactured by Tokimec Co., Ltd .; VSAS-1GM or VSAS-2GM, and Hitachi, Ltd. information magazine "Hatsukku April 2005 issue P15-P16". An attitude detection unit or the like can be used. In this case, since the position and the magnetic direction can be measured by the GPS or the magnetic direction sensor built in the attitude sensor 42, the direction sensor 41 can also be used as the attitude sensor 42.

  Further, the posture sensor 42 may detect the posture by detecting the angle between the two axes and the direction of gravity, for example. Here, FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a method of detecting the posture. 3B is a view when viewed from the arrow E1 in FIG. 3A, and FIG. 3D is a view when viewed from E2 in FIG. 3C.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, when the horizontal center line of the back surface D1 of the rectangular parallelepiped D is the rotation axis A1, and the vertical center line of the back surface D1 is the reference line B, as shown in FIG. And an angle with respect to the rotation axis A1, that is, a vertical inclination, is obtained by detecting a rotation angle R1 about the rotation axis A1 between the center G1 of the back surface D1 and the line G extending in the gravity direction.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3A, when an axis perpendicular to the rotation axis A1 when viewed from the upper surface D2, that is, a straight line passing through the center C1 of the rear surface D1 and parallel to the upper surface D2, is defined as the rotation axis A2. ), (D), by detecting a rotation angle R2 about the rotation axis A2 between the reference line B and the line G extending in the direction of gravity, the posture with respect to the rotation axis A2, that is, the inclination in the left-right direction is determined. Ask. In this way, the posture in two directions is detected.

  At this time, the orientation sensor 41 uses a known magnetic orientation sensor, MI sensor (Magneto-impedance sensor), or the like.

  The control unit 43 synchronously drives the azimuth and / or orientation of the imaging apparatus 200 via the wireless communication unit 37 based on the azimuth and / or orientation information detected by the detection unit 40. This synchronous drive will be described in detail after the digital camera 200 is described.

  The warning unit 45 warns the operator of the remote controller 100 when the imaging magnification of the digital camera 200 described later reaches the wide end, and may sound a warning sound from the speaker 35 or the liquid crystal monitor 16. A warning may be displayed.

  The remote controller 100 is configured as described above.

  Next, the digital camera 200 remotely operated by the remote controller 100 will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 4A is a rear perspective view of the digital camera 200 of the present embodiment, and FIG. 4B is a front perspective view. In the present embodiment, the surface of the digital camera 200 on the side where the camera-side liquid crystal monitor 48 is disposed will be described as a back surface, and the surface on which the camera-side antenna 87 is disposed will be described as an upper surface.

  On the back of the digital camera 200, as shown in FIG. 4A, a camera-side liquid crystal monitor 48 for displaying an image acquired by shooting and various information, an optical viewfinder 49 for checking a subject at the time of shooting, An operation system 46 including operation switches, operation dials, operation buttons and the like for performing various settings of the digital camera 200 such as a shooting mode is provided. A camera-side release button 47 is provided on the right side of the upper surface when viewed from the back, and a camera-side antenna 87 is provided on the left side. In addition, the front surface of the digital camera 200 includes a photographing lens 50, a finder window 49a, and a strobe 73a.

  Further, the digital camera 200 of the present invention includes an electric camera platform 83 on the lower surface as shown in FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b). The camera platform 83 includes a camera fixing portion 83a connected to the digital camera body, a screw hole 83b formed at the substantially lower center, a tripod fixing portion 83c to which a tripod (not shown) is connected, a camera fixing portion 83a and a tripod fixing. It is comprised with the drive part 83d arrange | positioned between the parts 83c. The drive unit 83d includes a motor, gears, and the like (not shown). As shown in FIG. 4B, the drive unit 83d is centered on an axis I1 extending from the front to the back, an axis I2 extending in the left-right direction, and an axis I3 extending in the vertical direction. Thus, it is configured to be electrically rotated. A known mechanism can be used as the operating mechanism of the pan head unit 83. In this embodiment, the pan head unit 83 is used by being fixed to a tripod. However, for example, the pan head unit 83 may be used by being fixed to a table having a flat surface, a wall surface of a building, a pillar beside a road, or the like.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram showing a functional configuration of the digital camera 200 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the digital camera 200 includes a camera-side operation system control unit 74 that is an interface part for transmitting the operation contents of the operation system 46 and the camera-side release button 47 to the camera-side CPU 75.

  The optical system includes a focus lens 50a and a zoom lens 50b that constitute the photographing lens 50. Each lens can be moved in the optical axis direction by a focus lens driving unit 51 and a zoom lens driving unit 52 each including a motor and a motor driver. The focus lens drive unit 51 is based on the focus drive amount data output from the AF processing unit 62 or the operation amount data of the focus operation switch 19 of the remote control 100 input via the antennas 20 and 87. Controls the movement of each lens based on the operation amount data of the zoom lever or the operation amount data of the zoom switch 17 of the remote controller 100 input via the antennas 20 and 87.

  The diaphragm 54 is driven by a diaphragm driving unit 55 including a motor and a motor driver. The aperture driving unit 55 adjusts the aperture diameter based on aperture value data output from the AE processing unit 63 or operation amount data of the aperture setting dial 21 of the remote controller 100 input via the antennas 20 and 87.

  The shutter 56 is a mechanical shutter and is driven by a shutter drive unit 57 including a motor and a motor driver. The shutter drive unit 57 responds to a signal generated by pressing the camera-side release button 47 and the shutter speed data output from the AE processing unit 63 or from the remote control-side release input via the antennas 20 and 87. The opening / closing of the shutter 56 is controlled according to the signal generated by pressing the button 18 and the operation amount data of the shutter speed setting dial 21.

  A CCD 58, which is an image sensor, is provided behind the optical system. The CCD 58 has a photoelectric surface in which a large number of light receiving elements are two-dimensionally arranged, and subject light that has passed through the optical system forms an image on the photoelectric surface and is subjected to photoelectric conversion. In front of the photocathode, a microlens array for condensing light on each pixel and a color filter array in which filters of R, G, and B colors are regularly arranged are arranged. The CCD 58 outputs the charge accumulated for each pixel as a serial analog photographing signal line by line in synchronization with the vertical transfer clock and horizontal transfer clock supplied from the CCD control unit 59. The time for accumulating charges in each pixel, that is, the exposure time is determined by an electronic shutter drive signal given from the CCD controller 59.

  Also, the ISO sensitivity of the CCD 58 is adjusted by the CCD control unit 59 so that an analog imaging signal having a predetermined size can be obtained. The ISO sensitivity can be adjusted to a value output by the ISO sensitivity setting unit 23 of the remote controller 100 input via the antennas 20 and 87.

  The analog photographing signal captured from the CCD 58 is input to the analog signal processing unit 60. The analog signal processing unit 60 includes a correlated double sampling circuit (CDS) that removes noise from the analog signal, an auto gain controller (AGC) that adjusts the gain of the analog signal, and an A / D that converts the analog signal into a digital signal. It consists of a converter (ADC). The image data converted into the digital signal is CCD-RAW data having R, G, and B density values for each pixel.

  The timing generator 72 generates a timing signal. By supplying this timing signal to the shutter drive unit 57, the CCD control unit 59, and the analog signal processing unit 60, the operation of the camera-side release button 47 and the shutter 56 are controlled. The opening / closing, the taking-in of the charge of the CCD 58, and the processing of the analog signal processing unit 60 are synchronized.

  The strobe control unit 73 causes the strobe 73a to emit light during shooting. Specifically, when the strobe flash mode is set to strobe on, and when the strobe flash mode is set to the auto mode, the strobe 73a is turned on when a pre-image to be described later does not have a predetermined brightness, and the strobe is set at the time of shooting. 73a is caused to emit light. On the other hand, when the strobe light emission mode is set to strobe off, the strobe 73a is prohibited from emitting light during shooting.

  The image input controller 61 writes the CCD-RAW data input from the analog signal processing unit 60 in the frame memory 66.

  The frame memory 66 is a working memory used when various digital image processing (signal processing) described later is performed on image data. For example, an SDRAM (data transfer device that performs data transfer in synchronization with a bus clock signal having a fixed period. Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory) is used.

  The camera-side display control unit 71 displays the image data stored in the frame memory 66 on the camera-side liquid crystal monitor 48 as a through image, or the image data stored in the camera-side external camera-side external recording medium 70 in the playback mode. Is displayed on the camera-side liquid crystal monitor 48. The through image is taken by the CCD 58 at predetermined time intervals while the shooting mode is selected.

  The AF processing unit 62 and the AE processing unit 63 determine shooting conditions based on the pre-image. This pre-image is the result of the camera-side CPU 75 that has detected a half-press signal generated when the camera-side release button 47 or the remote-side release button 18 is half-pressed causing the CCD 58 to perform pre-photographing. It is an image represented by stored image data.

  The AF processing unit 62 detects the focal position based on the pre-image and outputs focus drive amount data (AF processing). As a focus position detection method, for example, a passive method that detects a focus position using a feature that the contrast of an image is high when a desired subject is in focus can be considered.

  The AE processing unit 63 measures subject luminance (photometric value) based on the pre-image, determines an aperture value, shutter speed, and the like based on the measured subject luminance, and outputs aperture value data and shutter speed data (AE). processing). The AWB processing unit 64 automatically adjusts white balance at the time of shooting (AWB processing).

  The exposure and white balance can be set by manually operating the digital camera 200 or the remote controller 100 when the shooting mode is set to the manual mode. Even when the exposure and white balance are automatically set, the photographer can manually adjust the exposure and white balance by giving instructions from the operation system 46 on the camera side or various operation systems of the remote controller 100. It is.

  The image processing unit 68 performs image quality correction processing such as gradation correction, sharpness correction, and color correction on the image data of the main image, CCD-RAW data as Y data that is a luminance signal, and Cb data that is a blue color difference signal. And YC processing for converting into YC data composed of Cr data which is a red color difference signal. The main image is captured from the CCD 58 by the main photographing executed when the release buttons 47 and 18 on the camera side or the remote control side are fully pressed, and the frame memory 66 is transmitted via the analog signal processing unit 60 and the image input controller 61. It is an image by the image data stored in. The upper limit of the number of pixels of the main image is determined by the number of pixels of the CCD 58. For example, the number of recorded pixels can be changed by setting such as fine and normal. On the other hand, the number of images of the through image and the pre-image is smaller than that of the main image.

  The internal memory 69 stores various constants set in the digital camera 200, a program executed by the camera-side CPU 75, and the like. The camera-side CPU 75 comprehensively controls each part of the main body of the digital camera 200 in accordance with signals from various processing units such as the operation system 46 and the AF processing unit 62.

  The pan head unit 83 is a limit switch (hereinafter, referred to as a mechanical limit switch) that is mechanically actuated when the permissible operating range of each rotation around the axis I1, the axis I2, and the axis I3 of the driving unit 83d reaches a limit value. 84) and a pan head control unit 85 that controls the operation of the drive unit 83d, that is, the pan head unit 83. The limit SW 84 may detect an increase in motor load, that is, a limit of the allowable operation range by detecting an increase in motor current in a motor (not shown) of the drive unit 83d. The pan head control unit 85 will be described in detail later.

  In the digital camera 200, the compression / decompression processing unit 65, the media control unit 67, the audio input / output unit 78, the MPEG encoder / decoder 77, the detection unit 80, the wireless communication unit 86, and the data bus 76 on the camera side are the above-described remote controllers. Since the function is substantially the same as that of the side, description thereof is omitted. The digital camera 200 of this embodiment is configured as described above.

  Next, an operation of remotely operating the digital camera 200 using the above-described remote controller 100 will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a series of processes of the remote controller 100, and FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the operation of synchronous driving. In FIG. 7, the left figure is the remote controller 100, the right figure is the digital camera 200, (a) is an example of the figure seen from the back, (b) is an example of the figure seen from the left side as seen from the back, (c). Is an example of a view as seen from above.

  When the power switch 11 is turned on by an operator of the remote controller 100, the remote controller 100 and the digital camera 200 are turned on to start operations. As shown in FIG. 6, the remote controller 100 first receives a status such as a captured field image of the digital camera 200 (step S1). The captured visual field image is obtained by receiving through image data from the digital camera 200 by the wireless communication unit 37 via the antennas 87 and 20 on the camera side and the remote controller, and the data bus 26, the memory controller 27, the main memory 28, and the display control. It is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 16 via the unit 31.

  Next, the CPU 25 causes the attitude sensor 42 of the detection unit 40 to detect the left / right tilt angle Ra of the remote controller 100 (step S2), as shown in the left diagram of FIG. 7A, and the left / right tilt angle Ra detected by the control unit 43 is detected. Then, the data is transmitted to the digital camera 200 via the antennas 20 and 87 (step S3), and as shown in the right diagram of FIG. 7A, the digital camera 200 is synchronized so that the horizontal tilt angle Ra ′ is Ra = Ra ′. Drive.

  That is, the pan head control unit 85 controls the drive unit 83d so that the difference between the left / right tilt angle Ra ′ detected by the attitude sensor 82 of the detection unit 80 of the digital camera 200 and the left / right tilt angle Ra transmitted from the remote controller 100 is eliminated. It is rotated around the axis I1 (see FIG. 4B).

  Further, the CPU 25 causes the attitude sensor 42 to detect the vertical tilt angle Rb of the remote controller 100 as shown in the left diagram of FIG. 7B (step S4), and the vertical tilt angle Rb detected by the control unit 43 in the same manner as described above. And transmitted to the digital camera 200 via the antennas 20 and 87 (step S5), and as shown in the right diagram of FIG. 7B, the digital camera 200 is synchronously driven so that the vertical tilt angle Rb ′ is Rb = Rb ′. Let At this time, the pan head control unit 85 rotates the drive unit 83d around the axis I2 (see FIG. 4B).

  Next, the CPU 25 causes the direction sensor 41 to detect the direction of the remote controller 100, that is, the direction of the reference line B, for example, the northeast direction, as shown in the left diagram of FIG. 7C (step S6). The azimuth is transmitted to the digital camera 200 via the antennas 20 and 87 (step S7), and is synchronously driven so that the azimuths of the digital camera 200 are the same as shown in the right figure of FIG. At this time, the pan head control unit 85 rotates the drive unit 83d around the axis I3 (see FIG. 4B).

  While the power source of the remote controller 100 is turned on, the remote controller 100 and the digital camera 200 are synchronously driven by repeating the processes in steps S2 to S7.

  A feature of the present invention is that the orientation and / or orientation of the digital camera 200 is synchronously driven based on the orientation and / or orientation information detected by the detection unit 40 of the remote controller 100 as described above.

  In this way, since the direction and orientation of the digital camera 200 can be changed substantially simultaneously by changing the orientation, that is, the direction and orientation of the remote controller 100, the photographer can change the digital camera 200 with the liquid crystal monitor 16 of the remote controller 100 using the remote controller 100. It is possible to adjust the captured visual field image by operating the digital camera 200 while confirming the captured visual field image. Thus, even a photographer who is unfamiliar with the operation unit such as the scroll bar can easily adjust the captured visual field image in the digital camera 200 to the composition intended by the remote controller 100.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the remote controller 100 determines whether or not the CPU 25 has performed a zoom operation with the zoom switch 17 (step S8). If the zoom operation has been performed (step S8; YES), the operation of the zoom switch 17 is performed. The amount data is transmitted to the digital camera 200 to instruct a zoom operation (step S9). At this time, if the zoom lens 50b of the digital camera 200 has reached the wide end, the warning unit 45 warns the operator of the remote controller 100. On the other hand, if the zoom operation is not performed in step S8 (step S8; NO), the CPU 25 shifts the process to step S10.

  Next, the CPU 25 determines whether or not the focus operation is performed by the focus operation switch 19 (step S10). If the focus operation is performed (step S10; YES), the operation amount data of the focus operation switch 19 is sent to the digital camera 200. Transmit and instruct the focus operation (step S11). On the other hand, if the focus operation is not performed in step S10 (step S10; NO), the CPU 25 shifts the process to step S12.

  Next, the CPU 25 determines whether the half-press or full-press operation has been performed by the release button 18 (step S12). If the half-press or full-press operation has been performed (step S12; YES), the half-press operation is performed. In this case, a half-press signal is transmitted to the digital camera 200 and a release operation is instructed (step S13). On the other hand, if the release operation is not performed in step S12 (step S12; NO), the CPU 25 shifts the process to step S14.

  The CPU 25 determines whether or not the power switch 11 has been turned off (step S14). If the power switch 11 has been turned off (step S14; YES), the CPU 25 transmits a power-off operation to the digital camera 200 (step S15). ) Turn off the remote control 100. On the other hand, if the power switch 11 is not turned off in step S14 (step S14; NO), the CPU 25 shifts the process to step S1 and repeats the subsequent processes.

  In this way, the remote control of the digital camera 200 by the remote controller 100 is performed.

  The remote controller 100 according to the present embodiment includes the operation system such as the zoom switch 17 and the focus operation button as described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the present invention, and at least the imaging of the imaging apparatus as the operation system. If the imaging instruction means for instructing is provided, the other operation system may not be provided. In this case, steps S8 to S11 in FIG. 6 are omitted.

  Moreover, although the remote control 100 of this embodiment is provided with the warning part 45, although this invention is not restricted to this and it is more preferable to provide the warning part 45, it does not need to be provided.

  Next, a remote controller 100 'according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the remote controller 100 ′ according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a series of processes of the remote controller 100 ′. Note that the remote controller 100 ′ of the present embodiment has a configuration substantially similar to that of the remote controller 100 of the above embodiment, and therefore similar parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted, and only different parts will be described.

  The remote controller 100 'of this embodiment is further provided with a zoom instruction section (zoom instruction means) 17' in addition to the remote controller 100 of the above embodiment. The zoom instruction unit 17 ′ rotates when the limit SW 84 of the pan head unit 83 of the digital camera 200 is actuated, that is, around the axis I1, the axis I2, or the axis I3 shown in FIG. When the allowable range of operation reaches a limit value, the digital camera 200 is automatically instructed to change the imaging magnification to the wide side.

  Next, an operation for remotely operating the above-described digital camera 200 using the remote controller 100 'of the present embodiment will be described. In FIG. 9, the same processes as those in the flowchart of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 9, when receiving the status such as the captured visual field image of the digital camera 200 (step S1), the remote controller 100 ′ detects whether or not the limit switch 84 is activated via the antenna 20 (step S20). ). When it is detected that the limit SW 84 is activated (step S20; YES), the zoom instruction unit 17 ′ instructs the imaging magnification of the digital camera 200 to be changed to the wide side, and drives the zoom lens driving unit 52 (step). S21). On the other hand, when the operation of the limit SW 84 is not detected in step S20 (step S20; NO), the CPU 25 shifts the process to step S22.

  In this way, when the operation allowable range of the azimuth and / or orientation of the digital camera 200 reaches a limit value, the zoom instruction unit 17 ′ instructs to change the imaging magnification of the digital camera 200 to the wide side. Even if the operation allowable range of the digital camera 200 is exceeded, it is possible to follow the desired subject by widening the field of view.

  Next, the CPU 25 determines whether or not the zoom lens 50b of the digital camera 200 has reached the wide end (step S22). If the zoom lens 50b has reached the wide end (step S22; YES), the warning unit 45 is controlled by the remote controller. The side LCD 16 is warned by displaying the wide end (step S23). On the other hand, if the wide end has not been reached in step S22 (step S22; NO), the CPU 25 shifts the process to step S2.

  In this way, by warning that the digital camera 200 has reached the wide end by the warning unit 45, the operator of the remote control 100, that is, the photographer can easily confirm the limit of tracking of the subject by the digital camera 200. Immediate measures can be taken.

  As described above, the remote control of the digital camera 200 by the remote controller 100 'is performed.

The operation control device of the present invention is not limited to the remote controller 100 of the above embodiment, and can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Rear view of remote control (a) and top view of remote control (b) The block diagram which shows the internal structure of the remote control of FIG. The figure explaining the attitude | position detection method by an attitude | position sensor Rear view of digital camera (a) and front perspective view of digital camera (b) The block diagram which shows the internal structure of the digital camera of FIG. Flowchart of a series of processes of the remote controller in FIG. 2 (part 1) Flowchart of a series of processes of the remote control of FIG. 2 (part 2) Diagram explaining synchronous drive of remote control and digital camera The block diagram which shows the internal structure of the remote control of another embodiment Flowchart of a series of processes of the remote controller of FIG. Flowchart of a series of processes of the remote control in FIG. 8 (part 2)

Explanation of symbols

100 Remote control (operation control device)
16 LCD monitor (display means)
17 Zoom switch 17 'Zoom instruction section (zoom instruction means)
18 Release button (imaging instruction means)
20 Remote control antenna 37 Wireless communication unit (communication means)
40 Remote control side detection unit (detection means)
41, 81 Orientation sensor 42, 82 Attitude sensor 43 Control unit (control means)
45 Warning section (Warning means)
200 Digital camera (imaging device)
80 Camera side detector 83 Head unit 84 Limit SW
85 pan head controller 87 camera side antenna

Claims (3)

A communication means for transmitting and receiving data to and from the imaging device;
Display means for displaying an imaging field-of-view image of the imaging device received by the communication means;
Detection means for detecting its own orientation and / or posture;
Control means for synchronously driving the orientation and / or orientation of the imaging device via the communication means based on the orientation and / or orientation information detected by the detection means;
An operation control apparatus comprising: an imaging instruction unit that instructs imaging of the imaging apparatus, and remotely operating the imaging apparatus. Zoom instruction means for instructing a change in imaging magnification of the imaging apparatus;
2. The instruction to change the imaging magnification to the wide side by the zoom instruction unit when an allowable operation range of the azimuth and / or orientation of the imaging apparatus reaches a limit value. The operation control device described.   The operation control apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a warning unit that warns that the imaging apparatus has reached a wide end.

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