JP2009225384A - Camera apparatus, photography support light control method, and photography support light control program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera apparatus for capturing a good-look image of a subject, regardless of the quality of the subject, and also to provide a photography support light control method, and a photography support light control program. <P>SOLUTION: The camera apparatus includes an LED stroboscope 5 comprising a plurality of LEDs 5a-5h of different light-emitting colors. Prior to stroboscopic photography, a control circuit 31 determines the class of a subject based on image data captured by an imaging operation of an image pickup element 63, and further determines an aging state of the subject. In photographing, light-emitting patterns of the LEDs 5a-5h are varied in accordance with the determined class of the subject and aging state, so that the LED stroboscope 5 controls spectral characteristics (spectral radiation characteristics) of photography support light with which the subject is irradiated. Thus, even when food or the like with reduced freshness (with reduced appearance quality) is photographed, a good-looking image similar to the food maintaining freshness is provided. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a camera device having a built-in strobe device including light emitting diodes of a plurality of colors as light emitting elements, a photographing auxiliary light control method, and a photographing auxiliary light control program.

Conventionally, the following Patent Document 1 includes a plurality of color LEDs (light emitting diodes), allows a photographer to manually select a subject type, and changes a light emission pattern of the LED according to the selected subject type. A strobe device is disclosed in which strobe light with different color temperatures is obtained. According to this strobe device, beautiful pictures can be easily taken.
JP 2003-215675 A

  Here, in recent years, for example, managers such as blogs and homepages on the Internet have increased opportunities to photograph foods eaten on the day and post the photographed images on their blogs. In addition, for example, in order to exhibit at an Internet auction, there are increasing opportunities to photograph products owned by exhibitors themselves and post them on an Internet auction homepage. Therefore, it is desired to be able to photograph foods so that they look delicious, or to photograph products so that they appear new. However, since the quality of foods and products deteriorates with time, the appearance of the foods and products inevitably changes with time.

  However, the strobe device of Patent Document 1 always irradiates the same type of subject with strobe light having the same color temperature. For this reason, for example, when shooting food, there is a problem that it may not be possible to take a picture so that it looks delicious depending on the quality at the time of shooting the subject.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and can provide a camera device capable of acquiring a good-looking image of a subject regardless of the quality of the subject, a photographing auxiliary light control method, and a photographing auxiliary light control. The purpose is to provide a program.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, in the camera device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the imaging means for acquiring the image data of the subject, the imaging auxiliary light is emitted toward the subject, and the imaging auxiliary light A light emission control means for controlling the light emission operation of the photographing auxiliary light in the light emission means capable of controlling the spectral characteristics, a first specifying means for specifying the type of the subject, and a subject of the type specified by the first specifying means The second specifying means for specifying the state of change over time in the light source, and the spectral characteristics of the photographing auxiliary light emitted from the light emitting means toward the subject by the light emission operation according to the control of the light emission control means. Characteristic control means for controlling according to the state of change with time in a specific type of subject specified by the specifying means.

  In the camera device according to the second aspect of the present invention, based on the image data acquired by the imaging unit, the state of change with time in the specific subject specified by the first specifying unit is determined. Comprising a state determining unit, wherein the second specifying unit specifies the state determined by the state determining unit as a state of change with time in the specific subject specified by the first specifying unit. To do.

  In the camera device according to a third aspect of the present invention, the state determination unit determines the state of change with time in the subject by dividing it into a plurality of types.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the state determination means includes an acquisition means for acquiring a spectral reflectance characteristic of the subject based on the image data acquired by the imaging means. Based on the spectral reflectance characteristic acquired by the means and the type of the subject specified by the first specifying means, the temporal change state of the subject is determined.

  In the camera device according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the camera apparatus further includes a storage unit that stores a spectral reflectance characteristic serving as a reference corresponding to each of a plurality of types of subjects that can be determined by the state determination unit. The state determination unit includes a spectral reflectance characteristic acquired by the acquisition unit, and a spectral reflectance characteristic serving as a reference corresponding to the type of subject specified by the first specifying unit stored in the storage unit. Based on the comparison, the state of change with time is determined.

  In the camera device according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the temporal change in the subject specified by the second specifying means when the type of the subject specified by the first specifying means is an article. The condition is the appearance quality.

  In the camera device according to the seventh aspect of the present invention, when the type of the subject specified by the first specifying means is a person, the time-dependent change in the subject specified by the second specifying means The state of is characterized by its age.

  In the camera device according to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the camera device includes a type determining unit that determines the type of the subject based on the image data acquired by the imaging unit, and the first specifying unit includes: The type determined by the type determination unit is specified as the type of the subject.

  Further, in the photographing auxiliary light control method according to the invention of claim 9, a method for controlling spectral characteristics of the photographing auxiliary light irradiated toward the subject, the step of specifying the type of the subject, The method includes a step of specifying a time-dependent change state in the specified type of subject, and a step of controlling the spectral characteristic of the photographing auxiliary light in accordance with the specified time-change state.

  In the photographing auxiliary light control program according to the tenth aspect of the invention, the computer is configured to specify means for specifying the type of subject, means for specifying the state of change with time in the specified type of subject, and to the subject. Then, it functions as a means for controlling the spectral characteristic of the photographing auxiliary light emitted by the light emitting means according to the specified state of change with time.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to acquire an image with good appearance of a subject regardless of the quality of the subject.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1A and 1B are views showing an external appearance of a digital camera 1 according to the present embodiment, where FIG. 1A is a plan view and FIG. 1B is a front view.

  As shown in the figure, an imaging lens 3 and an optical viewfinder 4 are provided on the front surface of the main body 2 of the digital camera 1, and a pair of left and right LED strobes 5 and 5 which are light emitting means of the present invention are provided on both sides of the optical viewfinder 4. Is provided. A power ON / OFF key 6, a shutter key 7, a zoom lever 8, a shooting mode dial 9 and the like are provided on the upper surface of the main body 2.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the digital camera 1. As shown in the figure, the shutter key 7 is linked to a two-stage switch 27 that is turned on when the shutter button is half-pressed and when it is fully pressed, and the zoom lever 8 is turned on only while it is being operated. It is arranged on the upper part of the switch 28. The other input operation unit 29 includes a group of switches corresponding to the various keys shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B except for the shutter key 7 and the zoom lever 8. The on / off information is input to the control circuit 31 via the input circuit 30.

  The control circuit 31 stores a CPU and its peripheral circuits, a photographing auxiliary light control program according to the present invention shown by a flowchart to be described later, a program necessary for realizing various functions as a digital camera, and the like. A microcomputer composed of a ROM, a RAM that is a working memory of the CPU, and the like, and controls each part of the digital camera 1. The ROM is the storage means of the present invention, and the control circuit 31 operates according to the photographing auxiliary light control program, so that the control circuit 31 has the light emission control means, the first setting means, the second setting means, and the characteristic control of the present invention. Functions as a means, a state determination means, an acquisition means, and a type determination means.

  On the other hand, the control circuit 31 includes a display memory 32, a display drive block 33, an image buffer memory 34, an image signal processing unit 35, a compression encoding / decompression decoding unit 36, a still image / moving image memory 37, and an external memory interface 38. The external I / O interface 39 and the power supply control block 40 are connected. The display memory 32 temporarily stores various display data displayed on the electronic viewfinder 26 including an LCD panel provided on the back surface of the main body 2 of the digital camera 1. The display drive block 33 drives the electronic viewfinder 26, and the image buffer memory 34 temporarily stores image data at each stage during various processing of the image data.

  The image signal processing unit 35 includes a DSP that executes various processes on an image signal captured by the control circuit 31 from an image sensor 63 described later. The compression encoding / decompression decoding unit 36 decompresses the image data processed by the image signal processing unit when recording, and decompresses and decodes the recorded image data when reproducing the recorded image data. The still image / moving image memory 37 records and saves image data (still image data, moving image data) captured by operating the shutter key 7. The external memory interface 38 is connected to a removable external memory 41. When the external memory 41 is attached, the compressed image data is recorded and saved in the still image / moving image memory 37.

  The external I / O interface 39 is connected to the LAN connector 43 via the LAN communication IF 42, connected to the USB connector 45 via the USB communication IF 44, and connected to the connector 46. A battery 47 and a charge control block 48 are connected to the power supply control block 40, and power from the battery 47 and the charge control block 48 is supplied to each unit via the power supply control block 40 and the control circuit 31. The battery 47 can be charged with electric power supplied from an AC adapter (not shown) connected to the charge control block 48 via the DC input connector 70.

  Further, the control circuit 31 includes a display drive block 49, a focus control block 50, a zoom control block 51, an aperture control block 52, a shutter control block 53, an A / D circuit 54, a timing control & driver 55, and a color temperature detection block 56. A photometry unit 57, a distance measurement unit 58, and a strobe control block 59 are connected.

  The display drive block 49 drives the information display unit 60 that is disposed at a position that is visible from the optical viewfinder 4 and includes a light-transmitting liquid crystal display panel. The information display unit 60 displays various information (such as shutter speed and aperture value) as necessary. The focus control block 50 controls the lens driving block 61 that drives the focus mechanism of the imaging lens 3 to focus the subject image, and the zoom control block 51 enlarges or reduces the subject image according to the operation of the zoom lever 8. Therefore, the lens driving block 62 that drives the zoom mechanism of the imaging lens 3 is controlled.

  The diaphragm control block 52 controls a diaphragm 64 disposed between the imaging lens 3 and the image sensor 63 made of a CCD, and the shutter control block 53 is a shutter disposed between the diaphragm 64 and the image sensor 63. 65 is controlled. The A / D circuit 54 converts an analog image signal input from the image sensor 63 via the CDS / AGC 66 into a digital signal. The timing control & driver 55 generates a timing signal to drive the image sensor 63 and the CDS / AGC 66. The CDS / AGC 66 includes a CDS that removes noise from the image pickup signal output from the image pickup device 63 and a gain adjustment amplifier (AGC) that is an analog amplifier that is supplied with the image pickup signal from the CDS. That is, the timing control & driver 55, the image pickup device 63, the CDS / AGC 66, and the A / D circuit 54 constitute the image pickup means of the present invention.

  The color temperature detection block 56 detects color temperature information based on the image data sent from the control circuit 31 and inputs the detection result to the control circuit 31. The photometry unit 57 processes the photometry signal from the photometry / ranging sensor 67 and inputs the photometry signal to the control circuit 31, and the distance measurement unit 58 processes the distance measurement signal from the photometry / range measurement sensor 67 to control the control circuit 31. To enter. The strobe control block 59 controls the strobe drive block 68 and causes the LED strobes 5 and 5 to emit light as required by the power supplied from the battery 47 via the power control block 40.

  Here, the LED strobes 5 and 5 are composed of eight LEDs (light emitting diodes) 5a to 5h having different emission colors as shown in FIG. The emission colors of the LEDs 5a to 5h are B (blue), BG (blue green), G (green), YG (yellowish green), W (white), Y (yellow), O (orange), R (red). The wavelength of the light of other LEDs excluding the white LED 5e is as shown in the spectral characteristic diagram of FIG. The LED strobes 5 and 5 are selectively driven by the strobe driving block 68 and emit strobe light having various spectral characteristics by individually controlling the relative light emission intensity. To do. Spectral characteristics indicate the distribution of the relative emission intensity of each wavelength component in the light of each LED having a different emission color.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 4C, the BG (blue green), W (white), and R (red) LEDs 5b, 5e, and 5h are selectively driven, and the relative emission intensity of the W (white) LED 5e. Is set to the maximum intensity (“1”), and the relative emission intensity of the LEDs 5b and 5h of BG (blue green) R (red) is controlled to ½ (“0.5”) of the maximum intensity, Strobe light having spectral characteristics similar to sunlight is emitted. 4A shows the spectral characteristics of strobe light when only the W (white) LED 5e is driven at the maximum intensity, and FIG. 4B shows the LED 5b of BG (blue green) R (red). , 5h are the spectral characteristics of strobe light when light is emitted at half the maximum intensity.

  The ROM of the control circuit 31 described above stores the following various types of data corresponding to a plurality of subject types, as well as used in strobe shooting described later. In the present embodiment, the subject type is “person”, “fresh fish”, “vegetable”, “meat”, etc., as shown in FIGS. It is subdivided into three types according to the state of change. In other words, “persons” are “baby”, “children and youths”, and “old people” divided according to their approximate ages, and other “fresh fish”, “vegetables”, and “meat” are “Freshness / New”, “Freshness / Medium”, and “Freshness / Old” sorted by appearance quality.

  Then, in the ROM of the control circuit 31, as shown in FIG. 5, a sample image (thumbnail data) 101 representing the subject type described above and photographing whose contents are determined in advance corresponding to each subject type. Condition setting data 102 is stored. The shooting condition setting data 102 includes a flash emission condition 103 and a plurality of setting parameters such as a white balance 104, an ISO sensitivity 105, a photometry method 106, a focus mode 107, an AF area 108, and the like. Unlike the other photographing condition setting data 102, the contents are determined in advance corresponding to the above-described types.

  Here, specific contents of the strobe light emission condition 103 will be described. The strobe emission condition 103 is the relative emission intensity of each LED 5a to 5h (including “0” when not lit) for causing the LED strobes 5 and 5 to emit photographing auxiliary light having specific spectral characteristics (spectral radiation characteristics). The specific spectral characteristics are the spectral reflectance characteristics of the subject when the subject is a specific subject corresponding to the corresponding subject type and type. Is a combination of relative light emission intensities in order to make (optimize) a more ideal state. Further, the spectral reflectance characteristic in a more ideal state is, for example, the average skin spectral reflectance characteristic of a healthy person of an age group corresponding to the corresponding type when the subject type is “person”. In addition, in the case of foodstuffs such as “fresh fish”, “vegetables”, “meat meat” of the subject type, the spectral reflectance characteristics when the freshness of each food is in a good state. The spectral reflectance characteristic indicates the distribution of the relative intensity (spectral reflectance) of each wavelength component in the subject image.

  That is, FIG. 6A shows the spectral reflectance characteristics A in a state of good freshness in general meat (the example is the reddish portion of pork) and the freshness with the passage of storage days (in this example, 4 days). And the strobe emission condition 103 corresponding to “freshness / old” of “meat” is the spectral reflectance characteristic B of the subject at the time of shooting. A light emission pattern for obtaining photographing auxiliary light having spectral characteristics as shown in FIG. 6B that is close to the spectral reflectance characteristic A in a good state is set in advance.

  The ROM of the control circuit 31 stores a plurality of type determination data 110 shown in FIG. 7 corresponding to each of the subject types described above. The type determination data 110 is data used as a determination reference when determining the type of a subject included in a photographed image, and includes contour graphic data 111 indicating a typical contour shape related to a corresponding type of subject. , Characteristic data 112 indicating characteristics such as typical colors, patterns, and textures, and model data 113 indicating typical structural characteristics.

  Further, in the ROM of the control circuit 31, a plurality of spectral reflectance characteristic data 120 shown in FIG. 8 correspond to each type of each subject type as in the above-described strobe light emission condition 103 (FIG. 5). It is remembered. The spectral reflectance characteristic data 120 is data used as a reference when determining which of the above-mentioned types the subject corresponds to when the type of the photographing target is any of the above-described subject types. Specifically, it is data indicating spectral reflectance characteristics of a standard subject corresponding to each type. For example, the characteristic J which is the spectral reflectance characteristic data corresponding to the subject type “Meat” and the type corresponding to “freshness / new” is the spectral reflectance characteristic A shown in FIG. Further, the characteristic K, which is the spectral reflectance characteristic data corresponding to the subject type “meat” and the type corresponding to “freshness / medium”, is the spectral reflectance characteristic B shown in FIG.

  In the digital camera 1 having the above-described configuration, when a predetermined strobe shooting mode that is prepared in advance and forcibly emits the LED strobes 5 and 5 is set by the shooting mode dial 9, the control is performed. The circuit 31 executes processing according to the flowchart of FIG. 9 based on the program.

  That is, the control circuit 31 starts driving the image sensor 63 as soon as the strobe shooting mode is set, and starts acquiring a through image and displaying the acquired through image on the electronic viewfinder 26 (step S1). Next, the function setting contents in the digital camera 1 set by the user are confirmed, and it is confirmed which mode, “automatic” or “manual” is selected as the subject discrimination mode (step S2). Note that the contents of the subject determination mode can be appropriately changed by a predetermined key operation even during the display of a through image. Thereafter, the control circuit 31 executes the following processing according to the setting contents of the subject discrimination mode.

  Here, first, a process when the manual mode is selected (or selected) as the subject determination mode will be described. In the manual mode, the control circuit 31 allows the user to perform a predetermined key operation to select the type of subject to be photographed (step S3), and further classifies the subject into any type of the selected subject type. Whether or not to be performed is selected (step S4).

  That is, in step S3, a first selection screen (not shown) including the above-described sample image thumbnail data 101 and the like is displayed on the electronic viewfinder 26, which is a selection screen showing candidates of selectable subject types. When a corresponding subject type is selected and any one of the candidates is selected, a second selection image (not shown) indicating a type (see FIG. 5) that can be selected for the selected subject type is further displayed. The desired subject type and type are selected from the first and second selection screens. Thus, the type of the subject and the type to which the subject corresponds are specified.

  At this time, for example, when the photographing target is a baby, the user selects “person” as the subject type and further selects “baby” as the type. For example, if the subject to be photographed is meat with a slightly reduced freshness, “meat” is selected as the subject type, and “freshness / medium” is selected as the type.

  Next, the control circuit 31 reads out the strobe lighting conditions corresponding to the selected subject type and type from the ROM based on the previous selection result, and determines the strobe lighting conditions at the time of photographing (step S5). Further, when it is detected that the shutter key is half-pressed (YES in step S6), other shooting conditions corresponding to the selected subject type and type are read from the ROM, and the subject is subjected to AF control according to the shooting conditions. And the aperture value and shutter speed at the time of shooting are determined by AE control according to the shooting conditions (step S7). Until the shutter key is half-pressed (NO in step S6), the user can change the type of subject and its type.

  Subsequently, when it is detected that the shutter key has been fully pressed (YES in step S14), at that time, a flash photographing process is executed in accordance with the flash emission condition determined in step S5 and other photographing conditions (step S15). ). That is, for example, when the subject type selected by the user is “person” and the type is “baby”, the spectral characteristic of the photographing auxiliary light irradiated to the subject is changed to a spectral characteristic suitable for photographing a baby (strobe). When the flash photography is performed under the condition 1) in the light emission condition 103 and the subject type selected by the user is “Meat” and the type is “Freshness / Medium”, the subject is irradiated. The stroboscopic photographing is performed in a state where the spectral characteristic of the photographing auxiliary light to be controlled is controlled to the spectral characteristic suitable for photographing meat with slightly reduced freshness (condition 5 in the stroboscopic light emission condition 103).

  Then, the captured image acquired by the strobe shooting is recorded and stored in the still image / moving image memory 37 or the external memory 41 (step S16), and one shooting is completed.

  Therefore, when the manual mode is selected as the subject discrimination mode, the user simply selects the type of subject to be photographed and the type to which the subject is appropriate before photographing, regardless of age. It is possible to easily obtain an image of a person with a more natural and beautiful color, an image that looks fresh (appears delicious) regardless of freshness, that is, an image that looks good.

  Next, processing when the automatic mode is selected (or selected) as the subject determination mode will be described. In the automatic mode, the control circuit 31 sequentially confirms whether or not the shutter key is half-pressed after starting the display of the through image, and if it is detected that the shutter key is half-pressed (YES in step S8), the AF control is performed. In step S9, the camera focuses on the subject and determines the aperture value and shutter speed at the time of shooting by AE control.

  Subsequently, based on the above-described type determination data 110 (see FIG. 7), the subject type in the subject portion focused by AF control is automatically determined (step S10). In such processing, first, a subject area is determined based on luminance (gradation value) or color difference signal in an image captured immediately before by the image sensor 63. Next, three types of similarities are acquired using the image data of the subject area. That is, a contour line is extracted from the subject region, and the similarity between the extracted contour shape and each contour graphic data 111 corresponding to the subject type is acquired. In addition, the features such as the color, pattern, and texture of the subject area are analyzed, and the similarity between the analysis result and each feature data 112 corresponding to the subject type is acquired. Further, the structural features of the subject area are analyzed, and the similarity between the analysis result and each model data corresponding to the subject type is acquired. After that, among the above three types of similarity, the type determination data 110 that has obtained the highest similarity that is equal to or higher than a predetermined reference value is specified, and the subject type corresponding to it is focused. It is determined that the type of the subject in the broken part.

  Subsequently, in the image used for the above determination, the spectral reflectance characteristic of the subject portion is acquired based on the component ratio of the color information included in the image data of the subject portion that has been focused by AF control, and the determination is made first. Among the types of the selected subject types, the type corresponding to the spectral reflectance characteristic data 120 indicating the characteristics closest to the acquired spectral reflectance characteristics is specified, and the type is the subject of the portion that has been focused. Is determined to be the corresponding type (step S11). For example, if the focused subject is “baby”, the subject type is determined to be “person” in step S10, and the characteristic A and the characteristic corresponding to the subject type “person” are determined in step S11. Each spectral reflectance characteristic of B and characteristic C is used as a reference for specifying the type of the determined subject type “person”. Then, the spectral reflectance characteristics of the subject portion acquired based on the image data are compared with the spectral reflectance characteristics corresponding to the characteristics A, characteristics B, and characteristics C, respectively. As a result, if the spectral reflectance characteristic corresponding to the characteristic A is the closest to the spectral reflectance characteristic acquired based on the image data, the determined subject type “person”, that is, the portion that has been focused is determined. The type of the subject is identified as “baby”, which is the type corresponding to the characteristic A.

  Next, the flash emission conditions corresponding to the subject type and type determined in steps S10 and S11 are read from the ROM, determined as the flash emission conditions at the time of shooting (step S12), and further, the determined flash emission conditions are set. The other shooting conditions indicated by the shooting condition setting data 102 corresponding to the determined subject type and type are determined as other shooting conditions for shooting (step S13).

  Thereafter, when it is detected that the shutter key is fully pressed (YES in step S14) (YES in step S14), at that time, the flash emission condition determined in step S12 and the other shooting conditions determined in step S13 are set. The corresponding flash photographing process is executed (step S15). That is, for example, when the subject to be photographed is “baby”, the spectral characteristic of the photographing auxiliary light applied to the subject is automatically controlled to the spectral characteristic suitable for photographing the baby (condition 1 in the flash emission condition 103). This is suitable for shooting meat with automatically reduced spectral characteristics of the auxiliary light emitted to the subject when the subject is "meat" with a slightly reduced freshness. The flash photography is performed in a state where the spectral characteristics (condition 5 in the flash emission condition 103) are controlled.

  Then, the photographed image acquired by the strobe photographing is recorded and stored in the still image / moving image memory 37 or the external memory 41, and one photographing is completed.

  Although omitted in FIG. 9, if the subject type cannot be determined in step S <b> 10 described above, that is, if any of the already described three types of similarity has not reached the predetermined reference value, the control circuit 31. It is determined that the subject type cannot be determined, and a message or mark indicating that is displayed on the electronic viewfinder 26 or the information display unit 60, and all shooting conditions including the flash emission conditions are set according to AE control. Move to strobe shooting.

  Therefore, when the automatic mode is selected as the subject discrimination mode, the user simply presses the shutter key, and the skin color is more natural and beautiful regardless of age, and the person is fresh regardless of freshness. An image that looks like (appears delicious), that is, an image that looks good can be acquired very easily.

  As described above, in the digital camera 1 according to the present embodiment, when photographing in a predetermined strobe photographing mode prepared in advance, the spectral characteristics of the photographing auxiliary light by the LED strobes 5 and 5 are not limited to the subject type. By controlling according to the corresponding type, it is possible to easily obtain a good-looking image regardless of the quality of the subject such as age and freshness. In addition, when the manual mode is set as the subject discrimination mode, although the user needs to select the type and type of the subject, the spectral characteristics of the photographing auxiliary light can be controlled more accurately. When the automatic mode is set as the subject discrimination mode, the accuracy of the control is slightly lowered, but it is not necessary to select the type and type of the subject at the time of shooting, and higher convenience can be secured. it can.

  Here, in this embodiment, the user is allowed to select both the subject type and the type to which the subject corresponds as a set, or the determination is made automatically, but the following may be used. For example, as the subject determination mode, a mode in which the user selects the subject type and automatically determines only the type corresponding to the subject may be provided. In addition, when the automatic mode is set as the subject determination mode, if the subject type cannot be determined, only the type corresponding to the subject may be automatically determined after the user selects it.

  Further, when the automatic mode is set as the subject discrimination mode, the type to which the subject corresponds is determined based on the subject type and the spectral reflectance characteristics of the subject. The determination method is not limited to this, and the type to which the subject corresponds may be determined based on other information. The same applies to the determination of the subject type, and the subject type may be determined by a method other than that described above.

  In the above description, the present invention is applied to the digital camera 1 in which a pair of left and right LED strobes 5 and 5 are incorporated. However, the present invention emits light in the same manner as the LED strobes 5 and 5, for example. The present invention can also be applied to the digital camera 1 to which another strobe device having a plurality of LEDs having different colors can be mounted. However, when the strobe device has general versatility, information on the basic spectral characteristics of the photographing auxiliary light obtained by the strobe device is stored on the camera side or obtained from the strobe device. Accordingly, it is necessary to control the spectral characteristics of the photographing auxiliary light during photographing.

  In the present invention, the photographing auxiliary light for controlling the spectral characteristics does not need to be flash light that is emitted instantaneously. It may be one that continuously emits light (lights up). Further, the built-in or mounted strobe device or the like may have a light emitting element other than the LED, for example, as long as the spectral characteristics of the auxiliary photographing light emitted from the strobe device can be controlled.

  The present invention is not limited to the digital camera in which the strobe device described above is built-in or can be mounted, but may be applied to other camera devices such as a digital video camera, and further to a strobe device mounted on any camera device. You can also

It is the figure which showed the external appearance of the digital camera which concerns on this Embodiment, (a) is a top view, (b) is a front view. It is a block diagram which shows the circuit structure of the digital camera. (A) is a configuration of the LED strobe of the digital camera, and (b) is a spectral characteristic diagram when the LED strobe is fully lit. It is a figure which shows an example of the light emission pattern of the LED strobe, and the spectral characteristic of the strobe light at that time. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the sample image data and imaging condition setting data which are memorize | stored in ROM of the control circuit. (A) is the figure which showed the example of the spectral reflectance characteristic according to the freshness in meat generally, (b) is the relative light emission intensity of each LED of LED strobe corresponding to the meat in the state where freshness fell. It is a figure which shows a combination. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the data for classification determination memorize | stored in ROM of the control circuit. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the spectral reflectance characteristic data memorize | stored in the ROM. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the control circuit in this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1 Digital Camera 3 Imaging Lens 5 LED Strobe 5a-5h LED
7 Shutter key 9 Shooting mode dial 26 Electronic viewfinder 31 Control circuit 49 Display drive block 54 A / D circuit 55 Timing control & driver 56 Color temperature detection block 59 Strobe control block 60 Information display section 63 Image sensor 66 CDS / AGC
68 Strobe driving block 102 Shooting condition setting data 103 Strobe light emission condition 110 Type determination data 120 Spectral reflectance characteristic data

Claims (10)

Imaging means for acquiring image data of a subject;
Light emission control means for controlling the light emission operation of the photographing auxiliary light in the light emitting means that irradiates the subject with the photographing auxiliary light and can control the spectral characteristics of the photographing auxiliary light;
First specifying means for specifying the type of the subject;
Second specifying means for specifying the state of change over time in the subject of the type specified by the first specifying means;
The spectral characteristics of the photographing auxiliary light emitted from the light emitting unit toward the subject by the light emission operation according to the control of the light emission control unit are changed over time in the specific type of subject specified by the second specifying unit. A camera device comprising: characteristic control means for controlling according to a state. Based on the image data acquired by the imaging means, comprising a state determination means for determining a time-dependent change state in the specific subject specified by the first specification means,
The said 2nd specific means specifies the state determined by the said state determination means as a time-dependent change state in the specific subject specified by the said 1st specific means. Camera device.   The camera apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the state determination unit determines a state of change with time in the subject by dividing the state into a plurality of types.   The state determination unit includes an acquisition unit that acquires the spectral reflectance characteristic of the subject based on the image data acquired by the imaging unit, and is specified by the spectral reflectance characteristic acquired by the acquisition unit and the first specifying unit. 4. The camera device according to claim 2, wherein a state of change with time of the subject is determined based on the type of the subject. A storage unit that stores a spectral reflectance characteristic serving as a reference corresponding to each of a plurality of types of subjects that can be determined by the state determination unit;
The state determination unit includes a spectral reflectance characteristic acquired by the acquisition unit, and a spectral reflectance characteristic serving as a reference corresponding to the type of subject specified by the first specifying unit stored in the storage unit. The camera device according to claim 3, wherein the time-dependent change state is determined based on a comparison of the above.   6. The appearance quality is a state of change with time in the subject specified by the second specifying means when the type of the subject specified by the first specifying means is an article. Any one of the camera devices.   7. The time change state in the subject specified by the second specifying means when the type of the subject specified by the first specifying means is a person, is an age. Or a camera device as described. Based on the image data acquired by the imaging means, provided with a type determination means for determining the type of the subject,
The camera device according to claim 1, wherein the first specifying unit specifies the type determined by the type determination unit as the type of the subject. A method of controlling the spectral characteristics of the auxiliary shooting light that is emitted toward the subject,
Identifying the type of the subject;
Identifying the state of change over time in the identified type of subject;
Controlling the spectral characteristic of the photographing auxiliary light in accordance with the specified state of change over time;
A method for controlling a photographing auxiliary light, comprising: Computer
Means for identifying the type of subject,
Means for identifying the state of change over time in the identified type of subject;
Means for controlling the spectral characteristic of the photographing auxiliary light emitted by the light emitting means toward the subject according to the specified state of change over time;
Shooting auxiliary light control program to function as.

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