JP2009282143A - Photographic device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photographic device capable of performing photography with an appropriate composition. <P>SOLUTION: The photographic device includes: a first image acquiring part 15 capable of acquiring an image in a first photographic range 45; a second image acquiring part 17, capable of acquiring an image in a second photographic range 47, including subjects D and E which are not included in the first photographic range 45; a decision part 35 for deciding whether the subjects D and E which are not included in the first photographic range 45 but included in the second photographic range 47 enter the first photographic range 45; and a control part 37 performing control, concerning photography according to the decision by the decision part 35. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a photographing apparatus.

Conventionally, many photographing apparatuses such as a single-lens reflex digital camera, a compact digital camera, and a video camera have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2001-167253 A

  There are many opportunities to photograph people and landscapes with single-lens reflex digital cameras, compact digital cameras, video cameras, and the like. Also, when shooting at popular tourist destinations, famous events, and athletic meet events, there are many times when you take pictures that are very important and cannot be retaken. However, only in such situations, a very large number of people gather, there is a lot of traffic, and it is very difficult to take a picture at the desired angle. Even if it was a photo that was taken over time, if you check the photo, there are others who are not related to the corner at all, or in some cases a person who crossed suddenly entered the front, ruining important photos There are many cases where this happens. The conventional photographing apparatus cannot solve such a problem.

  The subject of this invention is providing the imaging device which can image | photograph with a suitable composition.

  The present invention solves the above problems by the following means. In addition, in order to make an understanding easy, although the code | symbol corresponding to embodiment of this invention is attached | subjected and demonstrated, it is not limited to this. That is, the invention of claim 1 includes a first image acquisition unit (15) capable of acquiring an image of the first shooting range (45) and a subject (D, E) not included in the first shooting range (45). ) Including a second image acquisition range (47) including the second image acquisition range (47), and the second image acquisition range (47) and not included in the first image acquisition range (45). A determination unit (35) that determines whether or not the subject (D, E) falls within the first shooting range (45), and a control unit that controls the shooting according to the determination of the determination unit (35) ( 37).

  A second aspect of the present invention is the photographing apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the first optical system (3) for forming an image in the first photographing range (45) and the first optical system (3). And a second optical system (5) that forms an image in the second imaging range (47).

  A third aspect of the present invention is the photographing apparatus according to the second aspect, wherein the second optical system (5) has a wider angle than the first optical system (3). It is.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the photographing apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, further including a warning generation unit (41) that generates a warning, and the control unit (37). The determination unit (35) causes the subject (D, E) included in the second shooting range (47) and not included in the first shooting range (45) to be in the first shooting range (45). When it is determined to enter, the photographing unit is controlled so that the warning generation unit (41) generates a warning.

  A fifth aspect of the present invention is the imaging apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, further comprising a release control unit (39) for controlling a release operation, wherein the control unit (37 ), The subject (D, E) included in the second shooting range (47) and not included in the first shooting range (45) by the determination unit (35) is included in the first shooting range (45). When it is determined to enter, the release control unit (39) performs control so as not to perform the release operation.

  A sixth aspect of the present invention is the photographing apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, further comprising a release control unit (39) for controlling a release operation, wherein the control unit (37 ), The subject (D, E) included in the second shooting range (47) and not included in the first shooting range (45) by the determination unit (35) is included in the first shooting range (45). When it is determined to enter, the release control unit (39) performs control so as to perform a release operation before the subject (D, E) enters the first imaging range (45). Device.

  A seventh aspect of the present invention is the photographing apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the photographing apparatus is included in the second photographing range (47) and is included in the first photographing range (45). A subject detection unit (33) for detecting the subject (D, E) not included and the main subject (A, B, C) included in the first imaging range (45); 37) The subject (D, E) that is included in the second shooting range (47) and not included in the first shooting range (45) is closer to the image side than the main subject (A, B, C). According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a photographing apparatus characterized by varying control relating to photographing depending on whether or not there is.

  The invention of claim 8 is the imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the determination unit (35) is included in the second imaging range (47). It is determined whether or not the subject (D, E) falls within the first shooting range (45) based on the speed of the subject (D, E) not included in the first shooting range (45). This is a characteristic photographing apparatus.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the imaging device which can image | photograph with a suitable composition can be provided.

  Hereinafter, an imaging device according to an embodiment of the present application will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the photographing apparatus according to the present embodiment is a compact digital camera, but the photographing apparatus of the present application is not limited to this, and includes a still camera, a video camera, a mobile phone, and the like.

  First, the basic structure of the photographing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 1 shows the appearance of a photographing apparatus (compact digital camera) according to the present embodiment, where (a) shows a front view and (b) shows a rear view.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the compact digital camera 1 includes a first optical system 3 and a second optical system 5 independently. When the photographer presses a power button (not shown), a shutter (not shown) is opened, and light from a subject (not shown) is collected by the first optical system 3 and the second optical system 5 to be displayed on an image surface (not shown). An image is formed on an image pickup device (not shown) (for example, CCD or CMOS). The subject image formed on the image sensor is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 7 disposed on the back surface of the compact digital camera 1. The photographer determines the composition of the subject image while looking at the liquid crystal monitor 7, and then presses the release button 9 to photograph the subject image with the image sensor and records and saves it in a memory (not shown).

  The compact digital camera 1 is also provided with an auxiliary light emitting unit 11 that emits auxiliary light when the subject is dark, a function button 13 that is used for setting various conditions of the compact digital camera 1, and the like.

  The photographing apparatus according to the present embodiment has a configuration for performing control related to photographing by predicting in advance when a subject unintended for photographing enters the range that the photographer intends to photograph. Have. This configuration will be described next.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a characteristic configuration of the photographing apparatus of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the compact digital camera 1 includes a first image acquisition unit 15 that can acquire an image of the first shooting range 45 (see FIG. 4) and a subject that is not included in the first shooting range 45. And a second image acquisition unit 17 capable of acquiring an image of the second imaging range 47 (see FIG. 4). An image (first image) in the first shooting range 45 is formed by the first optical system 3, and an image (second image) in the second shooting range 47 is provided independently of the first optical system 3. Two optical systems 5 are formed. The second optical system 5 has a wider angle than the first optical system 3, and the shooting range 47 of the second image acquisition unit 17 can be wider than the shooting range 45 of the first image acquisition unit 15.

  The first image acquisition unit 15 includes an image buffer 19 and an image processing unit 21, and the second image acquisition unit 17 similarly includes an image buffer 23 and an image processing unit 25. The image processing unit 21 sends the first image data to the processing unit 27, and the image processing unit 25 sends the second image data to the processing unit 27.

  The processing unit 27 detects a subject in the first image and the second image, a setting unit 29 that performs various settings relating to the first image and the second image, an image recognition unit 31 that recognizes the first image and the second image, and the like. Subject detection unit 33, a determination unit 35 that determines whether or not a subject that is included in the second image and not included in the first image falls within the shooting range of the first image acquisition unit 15, and according to the determination of determination unit 35 A control unit 37 that performs control related to photographing, a release control unit 39 that is controlled by the control unit 37 and controls the release operation of the photographing apparatus 1, a warning generation unit 41 that is controlled by the control unit 37, and the like. The release control unit 39 is connected to the release switch 43.

  Next, an example of an operation according to the above-described configuration for predicting entry of a subject and performing control related to shooting will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 3 is an example of the operation of the imaging apparatus of FIG. 1 and is a flowchart showing the operation of the imaging control for the subject approach.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the first image and the second image in the photographing apparatus of FIG. Here, the alternate long and short dash line 45 represents the imaging range of the first image acquisition unit 15, and the first image within this range includes main subjects A, B, and C that the photographer intends to shoot. An alternate long and two short dashes line 47 represents a shooting range of the second image acquisition unit 17, and a second image within this range is not included in the first image and is a subject that is not intended to be shot (hereinafter referred to as a non-main subject) D, E Is included. As indicated by arrows in FIG. 4, the non-main subjects D and E are moving at a certain speed toward the center of the screen.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a series of operations relating to shooting control is started from step S1, and the compact digital camera 1 is turned on in step S2. In step S3, the first and second image acquisition units 15 and 17 are activated.

  In step S4, the setting unit 29 sets the shooting range 47 of the second image acquisition unit 17, and determines the range for monitoring the entry of the subject. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the shooting range 47 of the second image acquisition unit 17 is set wider than the shooting range 45 of the first image acquisition unit 15 so that the subject can be predicted to enter from the top, bottom, left, and right. Note that the shooting ranges 45 and 47 of the first and second image acquisition units 15 and 17 are not limited to the composition illustrated in FIG. 4 and can be set at any position and in any size. For example, when there is a high possibility that a non-main subject enters from the left side as viewed from the photographer, the shooting range 47 can be set only to the left side of the shooting range 45 (a range including the non-main subject D). In step S4, such setting is performed.

  In step S5, the image recognition unit 31 recognizes the first and second images. In step S6, the release button 9 is pressed halfway to turn the release switch 43 halfway. In step S <b> 7, the determination unit 35 determines whether or not the non-main subject detected by the subject detection unit 33 falls within the shooting range 45 of the first image acquisition unit 15. When it is determined to enter, the process proceeds to step S8. When it is determined that the camera does not enter, the state of monitoring the approach is maintained, and the first image is taken by fully pressing the release button 9.

  In step S8, the control unit 37 causes the warning generation unit 41 to generate a warning, the release control unit 39 does not perform the release operation (release is prohibited), and the release control unit 39 performs the release operation early before the entry of the non-main subject. Control. Of these methods, the photographer can set in advance which method corresponds to the entry of the non-main subject, and the response methods can be combined. For example, release prohibition and warning, early release and warning.

  The occurrence of a warning is specifically to generate sound, vibration, light, etc. to notify the photographer of the entry of a non-main subject. When the photographer receives the warning and stops pressing the release button 9 fully, it is possible to prevent the photograph of the non-main subject entering. In addition, when the release is prohibited, the release operation is not performed even if the photographer accidentally presses the release fully when entering, so that it is possible to prevent taking a photograph of a non-main subject entering as in the case of a warning. . Further, in the early release, the release control unit 39 automatically performs the release operation before entering, so it is possible to take a picture in which a non-main subject has not entered.

  Next, in the photographing apparatus according to the present embodiment, specific examples of each photographing control in which various settings are changed according to different situations will be shown. In the following embodiments, the following situation is assumed to be common. That is, the photographer sets the shooting ranges 45 and 47 of the first and second image acquisition units 15 and 17 to the composition illustrated in FIG. Also, the main subjects A, B, and C included in the first image shown in FIG. 4 represent the father, mother, and child, respectively, and the photographer has a composition in which the main subjects of the father A, mother B, and child C are in the center. I'm trying to shoot at. From the left and right sides of father A, mother B, and child C, another person D and another person E who do not intend to shoot are moving at a certain speed toward the center of the screen.

(First embodiment)
In the first embodiment, the subject detection unit 33 detects each subject having RGB color information and vector amount speed / acceleration information. For ease of explanation, it is assumed that the situation is simplified and father A has red, mother B has blue, child C has yellow, others D have purple, and others E have green color information. In addition, it is assumed that father A, mother B, and child C are substantially stationary, that other person D is moving at a speed faster than that of other person E, and that other person D is about to enter shooting range 45.

  Under such circumstances, the determination unit 35 determines that another person D having color information (purple) other than red, blue, and yellow, which is included in the second image and not included in the first image, is in the shooting range 45. It is determined that another person D enters the shooting range 45 based on the information that the speed / acceleration is equal to or higher than a predetermined value toward the center. And the control part 37 performs imaging | photography control. As described above, the shooting control method is warning, release prohibition, early release, or a combination thereof, and the above-described effects can be obtained.

(Second embodiment)
In the second embodiment, it is assumed that another person D and another person E are moving at a certain speed, and not only the other person D but also another person E is about to enter the shooting range 45. Other than that, the same settings and conditions as in the first embodiment are used.

  Under such circumstances, the determination unit 35 determines that the other person D and the other person E having color information (purple and green) other than red, blue, and yellow, which are included in the second image and not included in the first image. The other person D and the other person E are determined to enter the photographing range 45 based on the information that the speed / acceleration is equal to or higher than a predetermined value toward the center of the photographing range 45. And the control part 37 performs imaging | photography control. As described above, the shooting control method is warning, release prohibition, early release, or a combination thereof, and the above-described effects can be obtained.

  In the first and second embodiments, it is set so as to correspond to the entry of a non-main subject having color information different from that of the main subject, but the non-main subject having color information of the same color as the main subject. You may set so that it may correspond also to the approach of. Even when three or more non-main subjects try to enter, the same shooting control can be performed.

(Third embodiment)
The third embodiment is a case where the photographer recognizes in advance another person D as a subject to be troubled when entering the photographing range 45. The photographer uses the setting unit 29 to set in advance that the non-main subject to be careful of entering is a purple subject that is the color information of another person D. Other than that, the same settings and conditions as in the first embodiment are used.

  Under such circumstances, the determination unit 35 determines that another person D, who is a subject having purple color information set in advance and not included in the first image, is included in the shooting range. Based on the information that the speed / acceleration is greater than or equal to a predetermined value toward the center of 45, it is determined that another person D enters the shooting range 45. And the control part 37 performs imaging | photography control. As described above, the shooting control method is warning, release prohibition, early release, or a combination thereof, and the above-described effects can be obtained.

  In particular, according to the third embodiment, it is possible to prepare for the entry of a specific subject. In addition, by setting in advance conditions for specifying a non-main subject to be careful of entering, even if the subject suddenly enters the shooting range 47, shooting control can be performed accurately.

  Even when there are a plurality of subjects that are in trouble when entering the shooting range 45 and the photographer recognizes them in advance, the same shooting control as in the third embodiment is possible. For example, it is assumed that there are many people wearing blue clothes at an event or the like, and those people may enter the shooting range 45. The photographer uses the setting unit 29 to set in advance that the non-main subject to be careful of entering is a subject having blue color information. Under such circumstances, the determination unit 35 detects the shooting range of one or a plurality of subjects having blue color information set in advance that are included in the second image and not included in the first image. Based on the information that the speed / acceleration is greater than or equal to a predetermined value toward the center of 45, it is determined that the shooting range 45 is entered. And the control part 37 performs imaging | photography control.

(Fourth embodiment)
In the fourth embodiment, the subject detection unit 33 detects each subject having RGB color information, vector amount speed / acceleration information, and distance information from the image plane. Assume that father A has red, mother B has blue, child C has yellow, others D have purple, and others E have green color information. The father A, mother B, and child C are substantially stationary, and the other person D and the other person E are moving at a certain speed. The other person D is on the image side of the main subject of the father A, mother B, and child C, and the other person E is not on the image side of the main subject (that is, farther than the main subject for the photographer). .

  In addition, the photographer sets the control unit 37 so that the control related to shooting differs depending on whether or not the non-main subject is closer to the image side than the main subject. For example, warning and release are prohibited when the non-main subject is closer to the image side than the main subject, and only the warning is given when the non-main subject is not closer to the image side than the main subject (distant from the photographer). Is set to. Two situations are assumed: a situation where another person D is about to enter the shooting range 45 and a situation where another person E is about to enter the shooting range 45.

  When another person D tries to enter the shooting range 45, the determination unit 35 has color information (purple) other than red, blue, and yellow, which is included in the second image and not included in the first image, from the main subject. The other person D on the image side determines that the other person D enters the shooting range 45 based on the information that the speed / acceleration of a predetermined value or more toward the center of the shooting range 45. And the control part 37 performs warning and release prohibition.

  When another person E tries to enter the shooting range 45, the determination unit 35 has color information (green) other than red, blue, and yellow, which is included in the second image and not included in the first image, from the main subject. When the other person E enters the shooting range 45 due to the information that the other person E who is not on the image side (distant from the photographer) has a speed / acceleration of a predetermined value or more toward the center of the shooting range 45. to decide. And the control part 37 performs only a warning.

  The effects of shooting control are as described above. In particular, according to the fourth embodiment, it is possible to perform different shooting control depending on whether or not the non-main subject is closer to the image side than the main subject. For example, a subject that may block the main subject is dealt with by release prohibition or early release, and a subject that passes only behind the main subject only has a warning or ignores the approach. It is possible to take. For a subject passing behind the main subject, if the distance from the image plane is greater than a predetermined value, the warning may be switched to ignore the entry.

  In addition to the first to fourth embodiments described above, various shooting controls are possible.

  As described above, according to the photographing apparatus according to the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent the composition of the photograph from being destroyed due to the entry of the subject, and the photographer can photograph with a desired composition.

  Note that the photographing apparatus according to the present embodiment includes two optical systems in one camera and predicts the entry of a non-main subject in advance, but the two optical systems are not necessarily essential.

  The second optical system 5 may be smaller than the first optical system 3 as long as it has a performance that can detect a non-main subject. For this reason, cost can be suppressed even when two optical systems are used.

  The setting unit 29 not only sets the shooting ranges 45 and 47, but also what information is taken from each subject, and what subject is in what state based on the information. Whether to enter 45 or how to respond to the entry can be set.

  Further, the shooting ranges 45 and 47 can be set at arbitrary positions and at arbitrary sizes as described above. Furthermore, a range for monitoring the entry of a non-main subject can be set separately within the shooting range 45 of the first image acquisition unit 15. For example, when shooting from a position overlooking the main subject, when the face of the main subject is often captured in the shooting range 45, the upper part of the shooting range 45 (eg, the face of the main subject is captured). May be set to monitor entry only.

  In addition, in order to detect a subject that may enter, RGB color information, vector speed / acceleration information, distance information from the image plane, shape (contour, belongings, hairstyle, etc.) information, motion vector, etc. Information can be used. Whatever information is used, the approach of the subject can be predicted with the same high accuracy.

  The main / non-main subjects are not limited to people.

  Further, the approach may be monitored with a subject that is out of focus as a non-main subject.

  In addition, the determination by the determination unit 35 is set so that color information is not taken from the non-main subject and all the objects having a speed / acceleration of a predetermined value or more toward the center of the shooting range 45 are determined to enter. You can also.

  Further, the determination by the determination unit 35 (whether or not the subject enters the shooting range 45 of the first image acquisition unit 15) is not limited to the determination based on the speed of the subject. For example, it is determined whether the subject is a moving object (such as a person, a dog, or a car) or a non-moving object (such as a building or a tree). If the subject is a moving object, the subject is the first image acquisition unit 15. It may be estimated that it falls within the shooting range 45.

  The setting unit 29 can also set a time for which the release operation is prohibited when the release is prohibited.

  In addition, in order to explain the present invention in an easy-to-understand manner, the configuration requirements of the embodiment have been described, but the present invention is not limited to this.

The external appearance of the imaging device (compact digital camera) concerning this embodiment is shown, (a) shows a front view and (b) shows a rear view, respectively. It is a block diagram which shows the characteristic structure of the imaging device of FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation of the imaging apparatus in FIG. 1 and an operation of imaging control with respect to a subject approach. It is a figure which shows an example of the 1st image and 2nd image in the imaging device of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Compact digital camera 3 1st optical system 5 2nd optical system 15 1st image acquisition part 17 2nd image acquisition part 33 Subject detection part 35 Judgment part 37 Control part 39 Release control part 41 Warning generation part 45 1st image acquisition part 15 shooting ranges A, B, C Main subject D, E Non-main subject

Claims (8)

A first image acquisition unit capable of acquiring an image of the first imaging range;
A second image acquisition unit capable of acquiring an image of a second imaging range including a subject not included in the first imaging range;
A determination unit that determines whether or not the subject that is included in the second shooting range and not included in the first shooting range is included in the first shooting range;
An imaging apparatus comprising: a control unit that performs control related to imaging according to the determination of the determination unit. An imaging apparatus according to claim 1,
A first optical system for forming an image of the first imaging range;
An imaging apparatus comprising: a second optical system that is provided independently of the first optical system and that forms an image in the second imaging range. An imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
The photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second optical system has a wider angle than the first optical system. It is an imaging device given in any 1 paragraph of Claims 1-3,
It has a warning generation part that generates a warning,
When the determination unit determines that the subject included in the second shooting range and not included in the first shooting range is included in the first shooting range, the warning generation unit issues a warning. An imaging device that controls to generate. It is an imaging device given in any 1 paragraph of Claims 1-4,
It has a release control unit that controls the release operation.
When the determination unit determines that the subject included in the second shooting range and not included in the first shooting range is within the first shooting range, the release control unit performs a release operation. An image pickup apparatus that is controlled so as not to perform. It is an imaging device given in any 1 paragraph of Claims 1-4,
It has a release control unit that controls the release operation.
The control unit determines that the subject is included in the first imaging range when the determination unit determines that the subject included in the second imaging range and not included in the first imaging range is included in the first imaging range. An imaging apparatus, wherein the release control unit performs control so as to perform a release operation before entering the range. It is an imaging device given in any 1 paragraph of Claims 1-6,
A subject detection unit that detects the subject that is included in the second shooting range and not included in the first shooting range, and a main subject included in the first shooting range;
The control unit varies the control related to shooting depending on whether or not the subject included in the second shooting range and not included in the first shooting range is closer to the image side than the main subject. Shooting device to do. It is an imaging device given in any 1 paragraph of Claims 1-7,
The determination unit determines whether or not the subject is in the first shooting range based on a speed of the subject that is included in the second shooting range but not in the first shooting range. Shooting device to do.

Images